
Green pond scum.... Well, green is happy if you have a mood ring, like Judy Moody. And, green is good to say, "Earth Day!"
As fit citizens, neighbors and running mates, we are tyranny fighters, water-game professionals, WPIAL and PIAA bound, wiki instigators, sports fans, liberty lovers, world travelers, non-credentialed Olympic photographers, UU netizens, church goers, open source boosters, school advocates, South Siders, retired and not, swim coaches, water polo players, ex-publishers and polar bear swimmers, N@.
Here's five reasons, not counting the allegations against him in the court papers, because they're merely allegations at this point, why I won't support the guy and why I think everyone here should be loyal to this cause and not the man behind the curtain.For starters, learn to count. Any way you add, the number does not include five. The court papers have not materialized, so they are only allegations. When you serve papers to the court, you need to also serve the opposition. That has not happened.
He (Russ Diamond) makes a controversial decision to run for office and it causes operation clean sweep to fall into chaos.NO. The decision to run for office is only "controversial" to those who want to sustain the status quo.
He is unable to heal the break in the group.
The activists he punished made offers and even made them publicly.The activists were not active, hence they were not activist. And, if they were, they would have been known. And, there was no punishment. They were not entitled to anything as they didn't create a darn thing. They were takers.
If he didn't put his candidacy before operation clean sweep my instinct tells me we would not be in this brouhaha.If he didn't start PA Clean Sweep, he would not have made a brouhaha at the outset. Perhaps you feel that more than 100 candidates throughout the state are not a brouhaha. I feel that Russ was out to rattle some cages. He rattled too many when he got drafted for a race for the Gov's mansion. Those that wanted to suppress the movement, from inside, had to act in negative ways then.
I've never signed up with his campaign and now that I see what he's about I won't.Lots of people won't sign up for his campaign. Go to the sidelines, again. Don't do anything here. Lack of action is the point of your being. Go for it.
The only place he could have gotten my email was from this group.
So, he sends out requests for money for his campaign to Clean Sweep people while he says he's the chairman of Clean Sweep and while he should be raising money for Clean Sweep and Clean Sweep candidates.So you want to be in politics yet you are offended by a request for money. Get a life.
On a discussion board for Clean Sweep he again asks for help getting him on the ballot even though he says he's not a Clean Sweep candidate.Getting on the ballot should happen before being a clean sweep candidate, if you ask me. Case in point: I am not on the ballot. I am not a clean sweep candidate. However, I am running for PA Senate (42nd). If anyone wants to help me get on the ballot, I would like to get your help. As I get on the ballot, I may then ask for a clean sweep nod, but frankly, I don't think it brings me much. First things first.
He says he is resigning from Clean Sweep to make a clean break of it, but he does this a week after he jumps into the race, and uses a televised publicity stunt to do it.Right. That's good. Effective. Prudent.
Smear without anything...
Yeah this bickering should stop and it goes both ways.
I've said my peace about it and now I'll get back to stuffing envelopes for my local candidate.You can't show up to a commons, drop a turd into the well of democracy, and call it a freshener -- and get away with saying you've done a peace enhancement.
Please help swell the crowd at Temple Sinai (5505 Forbes Avenue, Squirrel Hill) Sunday, May 21, 2006 1:30-5:00 PM by attending a Citizens Hearing on Health Care Reform chaired by Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) who is the Prime Sponsor-HR 676 "United States National Health Insurance Act: Also known as the "Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act" Let our public official know we want single-payer health care.
-- Nearly 46 million Americans and 1.5 million Pennsylvanians are uninsured.
-- 50 million have inadequate health insurance in the USA.
-- 18,000 Americans die each year because of no Health Care Coverage.
-- Half of all personal bankruptcies in the U.S. are related to debt from medical expenses.
A SINGLE PAYER HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IS THE SOLUTION TO THE HEALTH CARE CRISIS IN THE USA.
Profits and administrative overhead currently take 25-30% of health care premium dollars. Medicare programs have only a 3% overhead. These savings and negotiated drug prices can help provide the necessary money to provide comprehensive high quality health care to all U.S. citizens.
-- Hear the testimony of local citizens concerning the health care crisis in our region.
-- Learn about single-payer solutions, also known as Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act, specifically HR 676, introduced by US Rep. John Conyers with 68 co-sponsors, and PA SB 1085, introduced by State Senator Jim Ferlo.
-- Listen to the responses of our state and national elected officials to single-payer options.
Participate in building an action plan to advocate for single-payer health care.
List of Hearing Co-Sponsors in comments.
For more information, please contact Sandy Fox, Hearing Coordinator, at sm2fox@yahoo.com or write to the Western PA Coalition for Single-Payer Health Care, P.O. Box 81915, Pittsburgh, PA 15217.
DownUnder Coffeehouse on Saturday, Apr 22 from 7:30-9:30 to hear Eve Goodman and Jack. Eve is a wonderful singer-songwriter, whose intricate guitar-playing and insightful lyrics will leave you captivated. The band Jack features three of the most loved songwriters from the Calliope Songwriters Circle: Stacy Mates, Dave LaRose and George Kantor. Come hear some of Pittsburgh's most exciting singer-songwriters in a relaxed coffeehouse atmosphere.
The DownUnder Coffeehouse is open one Saturday each month in Allegheny Unitarian Universalist Church, 416 West North Ave, North Side. Suggested donation is $5.00. Desserts and coffee will be available. Call 412-322-4261 or see www.alleghenyuu.org for more details.
Capitolwire: Swann endorses Sen. Jubelirer, risking conservative GOPNext, would someone ask Swann if he thinks Tom Murphy, old Pgh Mayor, should come out of retirement and seek another term in high elected office. He has experience too.
ire.
By Peter L. DeCoursey, Bureau Chief, Capitolwire
PITTSBURGH (April 22) – Weeks after a group of statewide conservatives buttonholed Lynn Swann to tell him to back away from public support of Senate President Pro Tem Robert Jubelirer, R-Blair, Swann endorsed Jubelirer while responding to a reporter's question here.
First, asked if he would endorse Jubelirer, Swann said, " … I certainly hope that, you know, whether it's a Sen. Jubelirer, or anybody else, that we have that kind of expertise there, that will help in the process of reforming government."
Asked again if he believed 30th Senate district voters should re-elect Jubelirer, Swann said, "Yeah, I think he would be a valuable ally in the Legislature."

Jazz scholarship applicants sought - PittsburghLIVE.com: "Jackie Chan to record song for Beijing Olympics
Jackie Chan, Andy Lau, Alan Tam and other Hong Kong entertainers will record a pop song to promote the 2008 Beijing Olympics, an assistant to Tam said.
The song, titled 'Olympics Beijing,' is separate from the official theme song for the 2008 Games, the assistant, who only gave her surname, Lam, told The Associated Press on Thursday.
She said the Mandarin-language song, written by Eddie Ng, will be aired in China. It was unclear if the song would be released on CD.
Lam said Chan has signed on for the project but hasn't recorded his part yet. Others who have already completed their portions are Lau, Tam, Hacken Lee, Shirley Kwan, Andy Hui, William So and Jordan Chan, she said.
Other big names in the entertainment industry are involved with the Beijing Olympics, a major source of pride for the Chinese.
Famed Chinese director Zhang Yimou will oversee the design of the opening and closing ceremonies. American director Steven Spielberg has also signed on as a consultant for the two ceremonies."

A Blogfest Over a Project in Brooklyn - New York Times Like any developer, Forest City Ratner has had to contend with suspicious community groups, concerned politicians and skeptical editorial boards while seeking approval for the 8.7-million-square-foot venture.I've ranted a bit about how we do "blogfests" in our city -- as a social thing and nothing more. In New York, they have a "blogfest" with purpose and social implications.
But Atlantic Yards may well be the first large-scale urban real estate venture in New York City where opposition has coalesced most visibly in the blogosphere.
Office 2004 Benchmarks on Intel-based Macs The big question is this: Does Microsoft Office 2004 run well enough on the new Intel-based Macs? Or should you delay your purchase of these machines?The real question for me -- has been for years -- is all about OpenOffice.org. I don't want to run Microsoft Office because I've been using OpenOffice.org on a PC.
Faces. Masks from the Opera in SW China.The Times suspended Michael Hiltzik's Golden State blog http://goldenstateblog.latimes.com/ on Thursday after the columnist admitted he's posted comments using pseudonyms."That is a violation of The Times ethics guidelines, which requires editors and reporters to identify themselves when dealing with the public," says the paper. "The policy applies to both the print and online editions of the newspaper. The Times is investigating the postings.

Blogs offer new avenue for businesses - PittsburghLIVE.com 'It is of growing importance for businesses to read blogs, and consider writing their own blogs,' said Mike Woycheck, information systems technologist for the Pittsburgh Technology Council. 'It's something businesses have to pay attention to, because it's not going to go away.'Keep your own blog too -- but on matters of civic concern, local issues, trends and news reactions, pipe them over here.
Woycheck is a founder of Pittsburgh Bloggers, which began in late 2004 and now lists more than 400 local Web logs. Most are personal, but some, including The Bloomery and Mt. Lebanon's Aldo Coffee Co. blogs, are business-based.
All aboard.... our photo in a reflection before we board the Maglev in Shanghi.
Sifry's Alerts The blogosphere is over 60 times bigger than it was only 3 years ago.
No fans to light the Pirates' flame 'I think fans have been gracious,' he said. 'And maybe not vocal enough, maybe not vociferous enough with their displeasure. That's my opinion.'
It is a difficult viewpoint to refute, one that requires no more than a casual glance around PNC Park to reinforce.
There are no brown bags over anyone's heads, no banners advocating change, no boycotts being staged. Rarely are there boos when the home side fares poorly.
GASP's 3rd annual hybrid car display and test-drive event is set from 11 am to 5 pm on Saturday, May 20, 2006, at the Venture Outdoors Festival on Pittsburgh's North Shore, near Heinz Field.
FREE! Rain or shine. Parking will be available for $5. Parking is free for hybrid owners who display their cars!
* Test drive some of the latest hybrid electric cars to be introduced to the market.
* Talk to hybrid car owners about their experiences owning and driving vehicles using this new technology.
* Dealers will be on hand if you have questions about purchasing a new hybrid.
* Find out what financial incentives you can get when buying a hybrid vehicle.
* Information about upcoming hybrid vehicles will be available.
If you already own a hybrid car, we'd love to display it on Saturday, May 20. You can provide a valuable service by being available to answer questions about your experiences owning a hybrid and showing off your car's unique features! (Your car will only be on display and not used for test drives.)
WE ARE LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS:
* to help publicize the event by posting flyers and forwarding this e-mail message to friends
* to display their hybrid cars (see description above)
* to find hybrid car owners who will display their cars
* to put GASP in touch with dealerships who may be interested in participating in the event
* to make wooden free-standing sign frames
* to help at the event: setting up, handing out information, signing up test drivers, taking pictures, cleaning up.
If you can help with any of these, please contact GASP at 412-325-7382 or bridget@gasp-pgh.org.
Don't miss the free Venture Outdoors Festival with hands-on outdoor activities. It will be fun for the whole family! http://www.ventureoutdoors.org/VOFest.asp
Tony Phyrillas: Three men walk into a bar …: "Three men walk into a bar …
A Democrat, a Republican and a Libertarian walk into a bar. No, this isn't a joke. It happened. The three men spent hours discussing ways to fix Pennsylvania's broken government and by the end of the night, all three agreed on almost all of the issues. Imagine that.
The Democrat is Irv Livingood, who is challenging 14-year incumbent Rep. Dante Santoni Jr. in the 126th District. The Republican is Bill Reed, who is taking on 20-year incumbent Rep. Dennis Leh in the 130th District. The former Libertarian is Russ Diamond, founder of PaCleanSweep and independent candidate for governor of Pennsylvania.
"
Article: "“Reaching out to help a neighbor, I think, is exactly what Jesus would've wanted us to do,” Frank said. “From my perspective, politicians should have a sacred trust with the people.”


Police are looking for an escaped prisoner who managed to evade a deputy. Carlos Harris, 34, was last seen running through Oakland naked after he was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital with an eye injury. He reportedly jumped a sheriff's deputy and fled.
Police are investigating two attacks by teenagers near Carrick High School. One victim told KDKA-TV that he was beaten near the Rec Center, and another group of teens beat another victim nearer to the school. Police have made one arrest, but believe that numerous teens were involved.