Hobnob

Hobnob: "Hobnob, Inc. Corporate Headquarters:

5850 Ellsworth Avenue
Suite 300
Pittsburgh, PA 15232

Phone: 412.924.0630
FAX: 412.362.1440

E-mail: info@hobnob.com"

Altoona Mirror: Pittsburgh Law Blogger gets ink

Sorry Mike, not you this time.

Altoona Mirror - Making It Happen For You
It’s still up in the air as to whether bloggers are entitled to the same First Amendment rights as other media, and whether bloggers could be sued for libel and defamation, according to media attorney David Strassburger, partner in Strassburger, McKenna, Gutnick & Potter law firm in Pittsburgh.

Amazon.com: Sprintsalo: A Cerebral Approach to Training for Peak Swimming Performance: Books: David C. Salo

It is always nice to have nice things said about the work you do.

Amazon.com: Sprintsalo: A Cerebral Approach to Training for Peak Swimming Performance: Books: David C. SaloSprintsalo, November 4, 2003
Reviewer: 'tiffanygp' (Portland, Oregon)
This is one of the best swimming books written. It outlines Dave's approach to his training methods that eventually lead his team to win BIG TIME! Great book, I wish it was in print, my copy was stolen by another coach!

Recently I got a request, again, for the book, SprintSalo. This was the second book I ever published. A friend in California is back into coach, as am I. He wanted a copy of the book. So, I check here, like the rest of the world.

Every once in a while I wonder if I should get back into publishing books. I take a nap and the thought passes.

Google's China Problem (and China's Google Problem) - New York Times

Lots of buzz this week on the net with the visit to America of China's President. I don't have THAT much to say and would rather talk about the WPIAL AA Boys Tennis Champion, a girl. But, here is another chance to smear some additional photos from my archive.
Tomorrowland in Hong Kong Disney.

Google's China Problem (and China's Google Problem) - New York Times Inside the New China

A four-hour television series and interactive web site by The Times, The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and the ZDF network of Germany.

Disney in Hong Kong, techie cool.

What others are saying, (sorta like self promotion) -- around the Diamond issue

I've gotten a few off-line emails. Generally, I hate off-line emails. Send your comments to the blog, or to a list, or expect the comments to flow out of my mouth some day or onto my own blog.

I'm not so good at thinking on my feet when I've got a bunch of secrets to protect. So, I live best when there are NO secrets to protect. So, I don't really like to be burdened with secrets in the first place. This is a public effort for the public good. I love to be open and try to walk that talk.

Hi Mark,

I just wanted to drop you a note to thank you for very honestly, intellectually, and eloquently destroying these ridiculous arguments that Michele and CO. are making to justify their ridiculous, vindictive actions. ( Bitter, . . Party of 3 your table is ready ) I particularly enjoyed the “come to the commons, drop a turd and call it air freshener” That ROCKS!

Not that it matters (as you write addressing points not people) but I just thought I let you know that .....

Russ will over-come this non-issue with the character and ideology that has carried him to this place, . . and also with the help of intelligent, principled writers like yourself who excel in calling a spade, a spade. . . . Thank you Mark.

Clean sweep journey man.

I took this photo on the streets in China. There, the number one issue with the Communist Party is to fight corruption. They do a lot of clean up too. Lots and lots of people are on trash pick-up jobs. The city landscapes are often way better than anything we have here in terms of efforts to clean up.

Sorta sorry state <;/

That feud is over now.

ALL APOLOGIES. The super-secret folks at the www.politicspa.com Web site sure are sensitive.

Two weeks ago in this space, we accurately reported the Internet site for governmental geeks and policy wonks was off-line and printed speculation widely discussed in political circles as to the reason why.

Last week, we noted the Web site's return and welcomed back its operators.

This egregious conduct resulted in the anonymous people who run the site throwing a hissy fit, demanding a retraction and an apology for publishing correct information.

We're not sure if this qualifies, but we are indeed sorry that we don't apologize for printing facts.

If this doesn't suffice, people, at least get the name of this newspaper right if you again attempt to use it to try to increase your Web site's loyal readers beyond a few dozen. We're the Tribune-Review.

Trust us -- we'll get your names correct should we ever decide to print them.

Philadelphia Inquirer on Pa. legislators boost their pay day by day by...

Philadelphia Inquirer | 04/23/2006 | Pa. legislators boost their pay day by day by... Pa. legislators boost their pay day by day by...
Three lawmakers used the generous $141 per diem to collect more than $46,000 each over the last two years.

By Mario F. Cattabiani, Inquirer Staff Writer

Per diem means 'by the day' in Latin.

State Rep. Gaynor Cawley (D., Lackawanna) speaks it fluently.

So do Reps. Christopher Sainato (D., Lawrence) and Mark Cohen (D., Phila.).

Over the last two years, the three lawmakers each have collected more than $46,000 in per diems - flat payments given to lawmakers for meals and lodging while on official duty.

That's tops among the state's 253 legislators, and about double what the average House and Senate member collects, an Inquirer review of expense records shows.

Another great article.

The Mercury - Diamond comes out of the rough

The Mercury - Diamond comes out of the rough Diamond comes out of the rough, by Tony Phyrillas

The blue jeans and black T-shirt are gone. Russ Diamond is wearing a suit and tie these days.

Diamond, a thorn in the side of the political establishment for nearly a year, wants to be taken seriously. He wants to be Pennsylvania’s next governor.

Great article.

Part 2 of a crap trap

My response: Alright then. I guess I've worked tirelessly for
PACleanSweep since July because I want to sustain the status quo?

Apples and Oranges. But really, Apple Seeds to Apple Pie.

You want to get a free ride with what you did in the past? What you did in the past has nothing to do with what you are doing today. You can't rest on your laurels.

many people have raised the notion that Diamond's candidacy is controversial.

I don't buy that notion, for the reasons I mentioned. That is the crap trap. Because a lot of folks don't vote -- that does not mean that the best thing to do is not vote.

To me, (a repeat), the fact that Diamond is a candidate boils down to a decision of the individual, Diamond himself. I can't tell him what to do. You can't tell him what to do. If you want to say otherwise, you stand for less personal freedom. Diamond's decision to be a candidate or not should have nothing to do with you as his master. Diamond, nor anyone else, should NOT be a slave to anyone else.

The "controversial elements" of the Diamond effort should be (and could be) the CAMPAIGN, not being a candidate. There is no controversy to run or not to run. But I hope there is a lot of controversial aspects on what he says, how he says it, what messages people hear, and how this all unfolds with voters, media, supporters and other candidates. That is the "sustained conversations of the campaign" -- and that will rub people all different ways. That's the message and that's the essence of the interactions among politics. That's where the controversial elements MUST reside.

The BISHOP of the Pittsburgh Diocese could choose to run for PA Governor -- and that won't be a 'controversial decision.' He would be permitted to run for public office if he so chooses. If the Bishop shows up to a political TV debate and brings altar boys and the tall red Bishop's hat -- well, then comes a "controversial" moment.

Thanks for the spelling tips, BTW. I was in the middle of a lot of Earth Day fun and didn't touch up the typos until now.

Everyone has a right to be concerned. Everyone has a right to vote with their feet and leave organizations. Fine. But, you fail when you make a concern about the future into a threat. This goes to the core RIGHT -- the DIAMOND decision wasn't theirs to MAKE. To stay or leave is up to them.

I'm glad Diamond chooses to run his campaign with a 'my way or highway' approach. He should. It is his right, again. You are foolish to project otherwise onto him.

The board can be delicate now (OMG) -- after it shattered its good will. They (and posts like yours) screwed up and lost valued time and relationships. They over-reacted and injected more poison into the landscape than we'll ever be able to measure, today and for years to come.

Our opponents can now make the case that Diamond used PACleanSweep to promote himself have a valid point. Handling the matter DELICATELY was the RESPONSIBILITY of the Board of Directors.

Opponents always can make some valid points. You can't play only defense and win. You get points, they get points -- the winner is the one with the most points. The goal isn't to NEVER give the opponent a valid point. In football, you don't PUNT on first down. In hockey, you don't put all your players out there in the crease as GOALKEEPERS.

So, if Diamond did this Clean Sweep efforts to promote himself -- is that like the Governor going around the state to promote himself by giving away money (WAMS) on 4-foot cardboard checks? Of course there are valid points to be made on all sides. I'd say Diamond's self promotion is about 1,000 less than the acts of Rendell who spends money from the Commonwealth's taxpayers.

Likewise, if the Bishop runs for Governor, are people going to say he served the church as a way to promote himself too? Ask what's the real score?

The counter to my claim of "do-little board" being "I don't know cause I wasn't there" -- so I'm ignorant just proves me right again. Committed activists are not invisible. And, even if I have a blind spot, your counter should be more than a time card with 1,000 hours logged. And, you go back to the outset in that you want a free pass for past efforts for putting a turd into the well just now. This is today.

The next chapter isn't about a re-hash of the past chapter. You worked, fine. That's water over the dam. That's gone now. What is "fresh" is your repeat of a "crook" sling.

The student in class who got an "F" today can't go to the teacher and say, "I want an A on this paper because I got an A last month." Today's trash talk (without clear reasoning, IMHO) should NOT be ignored because of last month's good deeds. Deal with the time line of past, present and future. Otherwise, you're fooling yourself and your experiences and expectations are going to be at odds with many various forces.

This is a big state. You don't need to get along with everyone. There are saints and sinners -- and plenty of folks in the middle. Life is short. You can't please everyone. Fine....

Here is my take home advice: Live in the present. If we all lived in the present, we'd all be better off.

I hope you had a good day stuffing envelopes and picking up trash being that it is Earth Day and lots of folks were doing lots of things out and about today.

Freedom of Information Act = FOIA

'File Your Own FOIA' Party! Sponsored by the ACLU of PA, the Pittsburgh Bill of Rights Defense Campaign, and the American Friends Service Committee

From 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 at Friends Meeting House (4836 Ellsworth Avenue).

The last FOIA event was so successful that it is going to happen again. Join us for our next workshop that will walk you through filing your own 'Freedom of Information Act' request. Materials (except stamps) will be provided. Light refreshments will be served - pot luck contributions gratefully accepted but not required.

Upcoming Immigrants' Rights Events

Monday, April 24th, 7pm - 8:30pm, Town Hall Meeting on Immigrants' Rights with local immigration lawyer Adrian Roe and Reverend Linda Theophilus at Pitt's William Pitt Union - Ballroom.

At 10 am on Tuesday, April 25, support the Immigrants' Rights Resolution at Pittsburgh City Council, Council chambers, City County Building, Grant Street, Downtown.

At 3 pm on Monday, May 1, Immigrants' Rights Vigil, Allegheny Courthouse and Jail
2nd Avenue, Downtown. At 5 pm, Immigrants' Rights March, a permitted march from the Allegheny Courthouse and Jail to Mellon Square Park at 6th Ave. and William Penn Place.

All events are free and open to the public.

Green pond scum.... Well, green is happy if you have a mood ring, like Judy Moody. And, green is good to say, "Earth Day!"

Crap trap Q & A about Diamond

I should not step here, as a crap-trap has been set. Nonetheless, I will dance around it, as it needs to be knocked down. However the best way to be is positive and direct. So, if you really want to get to the heart of the matter, listen to this podcast.

One-Man Think Tank: Russ Diamond weighs in on Swann endorsing Jubelirer Click on the link below to hear independent for governor Russ Diamond weigh in on Swann's endorsement of Jubelirer ...

Now back to the thread. ITALIC words are from a public email on another list. My reply is plain text.

---

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.

To be a man behind the curtain, one would need to be behind a curtain. If one is visible, in plain view, with a spotlight to shine and be shined upon -- there is not man behind the curtain. The one's who are behind the curtain might be ones who run a blog at blogspot and don't put up personal identification. That has unfolded on a number of instances so far.

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.

A party loyalist would NOT want to see an Independent in the race. There is no controversy in the decision. The decision is a personal decision that Russ Diamond gets to make. If anyone finds controversy in the decision of another -- then that shows a lack of respect for freedom of the individual.

He is unable to heal the break in the group.

When you have a cancer, a doctor may be unable to heal the body. At times -- you just whack it off. If your legs were lazy -- or worse, filled with disease, I'd want to cut them off and live, rather than die.

The group was not a group as the others beyond Russ Diamond did nothing. They were instructed to help and they failed to act, repeatedly, for months. So, the rehab failed. The surgical strike makes good sense in my view.

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.

The public noise was made, and it has little impact except to undermine and prove points of true loyalty (to the status quo).

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.

But, to go to your lack of logic, the brouhaha had begun in earnest long ago for Russ Diamond. It didn't start yet for the inactive board members -- because they were waste-cases. Your instincts are wrong.

He claims that his campaign has nothing to do with Clean Sweep but he sends me a request for money.

He sends requests to money to everyone in PA, I hope. Same too with other campaigns.

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.

I have your email too. So what.

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.

It is prudent for Diamond to know if he is on the ballot before he even considers getting a clean sweep approval (how ironic is that anyway).

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...

To say 'he might be a crook' can have a reply, 'you might be a rapist.' Proof, evidence, justifications are needed and you've got NONE. That's a smear that shows stupidity. Your insults are a reflection on you.

Yeah this bickering should stop and it goes both ways.

It goes against logic most of all. It goes against facts most of all. It goes against history most of all. Sure, it goes both ways. But really, it is time to think again because the insults are not spilled in a vacuum. We have seen what's what for many months.

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.

Go back to stuffing envelopes for the local candidate -- and it might just be Ed Rendell, your local candidate. Working for a local candidate is nice, but it might not really be a help in my opinion.

To be loyal to a cause, without a person, is the essence of living in an ivory tower. To be a real patriot is to be loyal to both real people and a real causes. In an effective world, the person and ideas go hand in hand.

Health Care Event, Sunday, May 21 at 1:30 pm

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.

Two concerts tonight at two venues (North Side and Oakland)

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.

And in Oakland, Caliope hosts a big folk concert too. I'm not sure if tickets are still available for the gig in Oakland.

Swann backs Jubelirer

This is being called a bomb, as in Swann dropped a bomb -- on himself. The statements came at at PIIN hosted event. PIIN = Pgh Interfaith Impact Network. I wanted to attend this event, but it didn't work out for me. I'm not too sure they would have wanted to see my "Jeff Diamond" for Governor petitions on the sidewalk. Perhaps they will now embrace them after Swann's showing.

Furthermore, Swann does not need to worry about lifting the ire of only the conservatives. Rather that is going to play poorly to all reformers as well.

Capitolwire: Swann endorses Sen. Jubelirer, risking conservative GOP
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."

Next, 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.

P-G article.

Olympic Song and Steven Spielberg at Opening & Closing Ceremonies

Let the games begin...

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."

See the Olympic Rings on the top of this gate. The figures on the top edges are volleyball players. The photo was take in Chengdu in the area of the provincial volleyball team's gym and residental spaces.

A Blogfest Over a Project in Brooklyn - New York Times

Station Square is FOREST CITY, fix-is-in Forest City, the Cleveland Firm, the Harrah's partner. Seems like they ran into a buzz saw from online advocates in New York.

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.

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.

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.

Office 2004 Benchmarks on Intel-based Macs

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.

Blogger gets sacked for talk back posts to self as another. No Pseudonyms!

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.

These faces can put drama into your site's comments as visiting bloggers, if you only invite them -- and make up the identities. But that would never happen HERE!

Rants from Russ and others

Clean sweep, walking along.

See the comments....