Gladly in a chain gang -- them, not me

Philadelphia Inquirer | 07/01/2006 | Blinq | Gladly in a chain gang: "This is the back story to why Richardson is taking a couple weeks off from his job - with his boss' OK - and heading to a park in Mundys Corner, Pa., about an hour and 20 minutes outside Pittsburgh, where today he begins his Survivor-style stunt for a cause.

He'll leave his son with his in-laws, and with his wife's blessings, join 13 other animal lovers who are trying to do without books, TV, radio, showers or cigarettes.

They must wear collars. They get a half-hour a day to call home or receive visitors. They share four tiny port-a-johns.

Some contestants have said they'll donate the car to an animal charity. Aija Nicole Gillman, 18, of Pinckneyville, Ill., explained in her application why she's competing: She feels, 'as Gandhi did, that you can tell a lot about a country by the way it treats its animals.'"

Keep you eye on the road, little doggy. Next someone will be asking for doggie helmets and doggie seat belts for cars. Wait, one of those has already been suggested. See the comments for the answer.

Russ Diamond pointers

Russ Diamond, Independent for Governor, pointers:

Audio Podcasts
Blog
Discussion Group
Downloads
Events
Issues
Volunteer

If you'd like to join me in Western PA this weekend, I'll be in Ford City tonight and tomorrow, and in the Pittsburgh area after that. There's a very special (and inexpensive -- only $17.76!) fund raiser on July 4. You can find all these details here:

http://www.russdiamond.org/cgi-bin/calendar.cgi?

If you live in another part of the state, you can still get signatures at a number of locations. Any outdoor event is a great place to do this. Have a suggestion? Let us know. We'll post it here:

http://www.russdiamond.org/cgi-bin/sigevents.cgi?

If you need to download a petition, want to read a few signature tips and tricks, or if you need us to send you a petition, please go to Signature Central:

http://www.russdiamond.org/petition.html#top

Article: Opinion - Test your freedom IQ

Hex -- 20 Questions and Answers from A, B or C (mostly).

Article: Opinion - Test your freedom IQ As July 4 approaches, ask yourself how well you understand the principles upon which the nation was founded

The quiz has its purpose put up in lights, but that's the way the cookie curmbles in a free lunch kinda way.

What are you doing on the 4th of July? Anything for the sake of independence -- or to be more independent?

Murphy forced to get cozier with City Council

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Murphy forced to get cozier with City Council: "Councilman Doug Shields, who asked for the investigation in 2004, said it 'is obvious now what happened. ... There was a conspiracy of sorts between [firefighters union President Joe] King and Mayor Murphy that each would get what they want and leave the city behind.'

The deal went down in the spring of 2001. We all knew what happened then. Why didn't he ask for the investigation in 2001?

Total Immersion Swimming - a marathon swim around NYC

Way to crow Terry. You're the man! Swimming is such a smart sport.

Total Immersion Swimming In June 2002, I swam the 28.5-mile Manhattan Island Marathon (MIMS), partially to celebrate completing a half century of life with a physical challenge. I also swam it to demonstrate how it was possible to easily complete a swim requiring considerable endurance by training for economy instead of super fitness. My first MIMS was a complete success. I enjoyed every mile, finished easily, took one-third fewer strokes than any other swimmer, and felt great the next day.

Meanwhile, we've got a relay meet in the AM. Got to be at South Fayette at 8:15 am check in for a meet at 9.

Boy, I hate this meet as I consider it a major waste of time. I didn't write up a letter to give to all the others on deck, as per my head coach's suggestion. I'll only offend. But I don't like to waste my time and go through motions -- like wasted strokes -- that don't really help in life.

Relays are an important part of swimming. Swimming isn't a team sport. But, a relay only event that is without real challenges is not welcomed.

Now, I post this the night before, not because I don't want a meet. No way. We really need a meet. But, so I can eat my words in less than 24 hours if I get it all wrong. If the meet experience turns out to be different, I'll blog about it. End of the pool. Corner of the world. This aint Manhattan pal.

Call for Speakers: Ohio LinuxFest

We get a "blog in" while I wait for a Youth Technology Summit and might need to trek to Ohio for a LinuxFest.

The fourth annual Ohio LinuxFest will again be held in Columbus, Ohio, and presenters are needed to deliver talks about Free and Open Source Software topics.

The event will take place on September 30, 2006, and proposals should be submitted by *July 10* using the on-line form available from http://www.ohiolinux.org/speak.html.

Once again, the LinuxFest will be held at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Over 700 people attended last year, and a larger turnout is anticipated for 2006.

Sponsorship opportunities are also available for companies and projects interested in having a booth on the exhibit floor.

Registration for attendees begins on July 1, and, as always, will be free. A conference pass may be purchased which will get you a t-shirt, lunch, and other goodies.

LinuxFest web site http://www.ohiolinux.org/

More than 700 look west and attend the event in the west -- in Columbus, Ohio -- on technology with an open source foundation.

Most Americans Endorse Third Party: Angus Reid Consultants

Most Americans Endorse Third Party: Angus Reid Consultants: "(Angus Reid Global Scan) – Many adults in the United States believe it is time to form a national political organization that could challenge Republicans and Democrats in different elections, according to a poll by Opinion Dynamics released by Fox News. 50 per cent of respondents think a third national political party would be a good idea.

In American presidential elections, candidates require 270 votes in the U.S. Electoral College to win the White House. In November 2004, Republican incumbent George W. Bush earned a second term after securing 286 electoral votes from 31 states. Democratic nominee John Kerry received 252 electoral votes from 19 states and the District of Columbia. As far as the popular vote is concerned, Bush garnered 51.03 per cent of all cast ballots, with Kerry getting 48.04 per cent.

In 1992, Ross Perot received 18.9 per cent of the popular vote as a third party candidate, but won no electoral votes. In 1996, Perot garnered 8.48 per cent of all cast ballots as the Reform Party nominee."

Blog In called for Sunday at Sq Hill Library

pittsburgh bloggers | Write here in Pittsburgh... The long-awaited Pittsburgh BlogIN Feel free to use this photo as a Blog In logo.

Nail on the head insight about media by Poynteronline media critic

E-Media Tidbits from Friday, June 30, 2006, posted by Amy Gahran is called, Let's Link to Legislation

News organizations routinely cover the legislative process -- especially about the real or potential effects of bills and laws. In most cases the full text of those bills and laws, and information about their status, are
available online.

Why, then, is it so rare to see an online news story that links to the bill or law being covered? Or that at least cites the reference number so people can look up and follow the legislation on their own? Why do most news organizations consistently cite the party and state/district of legislators, but omit brief citations and links to the products of their efforts on our behalf?

For example, today's Washington Post includes this story: House Passes Bill Ending Ban On Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/29/AR2006062
902078.html). Nowhere does that story cite the specific bill number, let alone link to the bill text and info via the Library of Congress' Thomas (http://thomas.loc.gov/) online database. (For the record, the bill discussed in that story is H.R. 4761 (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:H.R.4761:) . There -- see how easy and brief that was?)

Similarly, an AP story
(http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/14934229.htm) which ran today on Philly.com reports on the Penn. General Assembly: "School districts would have to conduct exit interviews with students who are dropping out or withdrawing from school, or who have accumulated more than 10 unexcused absences, under a bill passed by the House 164-28 and sent to the Senate." Which bill? Hey, statehouse legislative info is online too! I found this bill: HB 1729
(http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/BT/2005/0/HB1729P4438.HTM) .

Here's why this common oversight bugs me so much.

The reason we report on the legislative process is to empower citizens to more easily follow what their government is doing. That makes it easier for citizens to get involved in the legislative process (something I discussed in my blog The Right Conversation (http://www.rightconversation.com/2006/06/writing_to_cong.html)
yesterday).

In legislative circles, having correct reference numbers goes a long way toward helping you find the right people to deal with and knowing where to get involved in the process. This makes civic involvement more effective, efficient, and rewarding. Little links and citations in news stories can help make all that happen.

...And yes, I realize legislative documents are long and ugly. So what? If key portions of the text are buried way down in the document, link to the document and then also provide a separate window or page giving the relevant text, with section citations. That content isn't protected by copyright, after all.

This is an easy -- and important -- problem to fix. Looking up legislation online and crafting a link from the reference number shouldn't be considered a burdensome task or a luxury. I think these days it's essential for legislative coverage, especially in mainstream publications. And empowering your audience always enhances loyalty.

Maybe use the upcoming Independence Day holiday to launch a new policy of linking to legislation. You might be surprised how much your community will appreciate this service.

I have plenty to say about this type of thinking and actions in the real world. First off, the linking would be nice. Most of all, the linking needs to happen in the online editions, more so than in the print editions. So, I endorse the concepts of the above article.

Secondly, linking isn't the only step needed to get to the promised land of citizen engagement. This is why I've crafted and toyed with the wiki framework at Platform.For-Pgh.org. A value added service, such as this local wiki, can go a long way to helping with clarity of thought for community-wide issues. But, this isn't an easy slam dunk proposition. Plenty of heavy lifting is involved. And, the journalists are a big part of the key, but so too are editors, management and most of all, citizen participants with specific issues and points of view to flog.

Thirdly, copyright, copyleft, public domain, deep-links, and many other "turf battles" can mount rather quickly in these efforts.
Books for sale on the streets in China -- where the freedom of the press needs to operate out of a container for the sake of mobility.

Furthermore, (4th) it would not be hard for the new state-house whip to wiggle the legislative agenda's digital dust by putting in aa new folder organization on a web site in Harrisburg. That might make hundreds, if not thousands of links go dead. That would suck for editors at newspapers.

Finally, I've been noodling on these issues for a few years now and I'm just steps away from releasing my more formal presentations to various players in our media spaces in the region -- and even some nationally. If you'd like to learn more, come on over to our 4th of July party and we'll chat.
I'm about to dive in -- and you could witness these spalshes.

Councilman cited for harassment

If I'm at a softball game, I want Jeff Koch in the stands.

Lending a hand -- not a fist.

Councilman cited for harassment Councilman cited for harassment

Thursday, June 29, 2006 By Jonathan D. Silver and Rich Lord, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

City Councilman Jeffrey Koch was cited by a Pittsburgh police officer for harassment and disorderly conduct during a girls softball game Sunday night in Brookline.

Mr. Koch will receive the citations in the mail from narcotics Detective Brian Nicholas.

The citations concern allegations that Mr. Koch used his chest to bump Detective Nicholas' brother, Joseph Nicholas, Brookline's softball coach, as he tried to break up a fight at the game, which took place at the Brookline Memorial Recreation Center in the 1400 block of Brookline Boulevard.

Joseph Nicholas, who is also a Pittsburgh police officer and is assigned to the Hill District station, was off-duty at the time.

In a statement released late yesterday, Mr. Koch said, 'Any citation given would be unwarranted. I did absolutely nothing wrong. It is my intention to zealously challenge any citations or allegations of wrongdoing.'

I don't know jack about this case. I've just seen media reports. But, I feel that Jeff did nothing wrong. Jeff is going to stand up to someone and step between trouble if it is on a field.

A bump of the chest, ... give us a break. Make Jeff citizen of the day.

In his statement, Mr. Koch described the incident as a "minor altercation that did not involve me. The only thing that I can say about this is that at no time did I act inappropriately, and at no time did I violate any law."

One of Mr. Koch's foes in the special election, Jason Phillips, of the South Side Flats, criticized Mr. Koch during the public comment period at council's meeting yesterday.

"I don't think a children's sporting event is the place to flex your muscle," Mr. Phillips said. "I believe you are guilty of at least bad judgment. ... When you do things like that, you put others at risk. You're supposed to be a pillar of our community. Please represent us. Don't embarrass us.

Phillips full statement should be made public. I didn't see it. Anyone got it?

However, a children's sporting event is a fine place to teach lessons and insist that we play well together. Bad judgement is running away. Bad judgement is closing the parks. Bad judgement is a do-nothing attitude. Bad judgement is swinging a fist.

It is hard to be a peace maker. It is easy to button your lips and hire an attorney. It is easy to pile on too, Jason.

Standing tall does NOT put others at risk -- it makes others more safe. Standing tall puts oneself at risk. Having our parks turn to violence is a sure way to have countless others risk their personal safety and peace of mind -- just going near a park.

Zone 3 tidbits

I noted that Tom L, frequent blog reader and regular running mate poster -- was elected to the zone 3 safety committee in some official capacity. Same too with Bob Hillen and the campaign manager for Bruce Kraus. Keep up the heat and good work guys.

Next, Zone 3 has been selected by The Pittsburgh Mediation Center, in conjunction with the Allegheny County Juvenile Court System to participate in “a neighborhood-based accountability panel, comprised of community members who volunteer to meet with first time juvenile offenders who ADMIT to a crime to discuss the offense, and hold the youths accountable for their actions to determine appropriate responses including community service, educational activities and/or restitution.”

The Pittsburgh Mediation Center will be present at the July Public Safety Meeting to do a brief presentation.

Interested panel volunteers should email our NAN leader at her cafe and she will compile a list for the center.

Around and about -- Schedule with Russ Diamond

Contact: Russ Diamond, Independent for Governor
Cell: (717) 383-3025
Email: media@russdiamond.org
Website: http://www.russdiamond.org
Schedule URL: http://www.russdiamond.org/cgi-bin/calendar.cgi?

7/1/2006 6:00 p.m.
Ford City Heritage Days Parade
9th St & 4th Ave
Ford City PA 16226

Meet in front of the Hoagie Shop at 9th St & 4th Ave. Enjoy the parade with Russ Diamond!

Event Contact: John F. Czekanski, 724-763-8143, stoptax@alltel.net

7/2/2006 12:00 p.m.
Ford City Heritage Days
9th St & 4th Ave
Ford City PA 16226

Meet in front of the Hoagie Shop at 9th St & 4th Ave. Get signatures with Russ and the folks from STOP!

Event Contact: John F. Czekanski, 724-763-8143, stoptax@alltel.net

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7/3/2006 2:00 p.m.
Pittsburgh Three Rivers Regatta
Point State Park
101 Commonwealth Place
Pittsburgh PA 15222

Join Russ and Mark Rauterkus at the Regatta and get signatures! Meet at the fountain at 2:00 PM!

Event Contact: Mark Rauterkus, 412-298-3432, mark@rauterkus.com

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7/4/2006 8:30 a.m.
Brentwood Independence Day Parade
Brentwood
2900 Brownsville Rd
Brentwood PA 15227

Russ will be participating in this Pittsburgh area parade with friends from the S.T.O.P. group. It's time to ABOLISH property taxes! Let's make it "Independents" Day! See Russ off at the parking lot near Burger King (address above) and then cheer him on as he goes!

Event Contact: Nick Cenci, 412-881-1979, pghcenci@comcast.net

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7/4/2006 11:00 a.m.

Rosslyn Farms
Rosslyn Farms PA

Russ will make an appearance with Mark Rauterkus at Rosslyn Farms to shake hands with spectators!

Event Contact: Mark Rauterkus, 412-298-3432, mark@rauterkus.com

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7/4/2006 12:00 p.m.
Meet 'n' Greet
Point View Hotel
3720 Brownsville Rd
Pittsburgh PA 15227

Shake hands with Russ Diamond and Mark Rauterkus!

Event Contact: Nick Cenci, 412-881-1979, pghcenci@comcast.net

7/4/2006 1:00 p.m.
Meet 'n' Greet
VFW Post 1810 Brentwood
3801 Saw Mill Run Blvd
Brentwood PA 15227

Shake hands with Russ Diamond and Mark Rauterkus!

Event Contact: Nick Cenci, 412-881-1979, pghcenci@comcast.net

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7/4/2006 4:00 p.m.
Press Conference
Home of Mark Rauterkus
108 S 12th Street
Pittsburgh PA 15203

Press conference with Russ Diamond. Media are invited.

Event Contact: Mark Rauterkus, 412-298-3432, mark@rauterkus.com

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7/4/2006 5:00 p.m.
1776 Fundraiser for Russ Diamond's Campaign!
Paparazzi Ristorante
2100 East Carson Street
Pittsburgh PA 15203

Come join Russ for the 1776 Fundraiser! Cost is only $17.76 for this very special event for a great cause! Please RSVP in advance!

Event Contact: Mark Rauterkus, 412-298-3432, mark@rauterkus.com

7/4/2006 6:30 p.m.
Open House
Home of Mark Rauterkus
108 S 12th Street
Pittsburgh PA 15203

Come chat with Russ and view fireworks from the back deck (we ask that you do not bring your own fireworks - sorry.)

Event Contact: Mark Rauterkus, 412-298-3432, mark@rauterkus.com

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7/5/2006 7:30 a.m.
Meet 'n' Greet
Tom's Diner
1715 East Carson Street
Pittsburgh PA 15203

Come shake hands with Russ from 7:30-9:00 am!

Event Contact: Mark Rauterkus, 412-298-3432, mark@rauterkus.com

PA House OKs end to Kennywood tax

Kennywood -- and local officials seething RED thanks to Harriburg's nebbyness.

House OKs end to Kennywood tax Bars $1.5 million levy; W. Mifflin officials hot; Senate must vote on it

Friday, June 30, 2006
By Tom Barnes and Jan Ackerman, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

HARRISBURG -- The state House has angered West Mifflin officials by approving a bill to permit Kennywood Park to stop paying $1.5 million a year in amusement tax revenue to the borough and school district.

'This is a sweetheart deal for Kennywood,'' West Mifflin council President William Welsh said yesterday. 'Kennywood has tried to have the tax eliminated every year.''

Hummm.... Could it be another sweetheart deal?

How about if we gave Kennywood a slots license! That should fix em. I'd rather save Kennywood Park rather than the race horses and the PA race horse industry.

But seriously, I have advocated the ending of the RAD Tax. And, I think that the Allegheny County RAD Tax that is paid by Kennywood should end. That amount is less, I expect, than what it pays locally. But, the RAD Tax for Kennywood goes directly to other organizations that compete with Kennywood in a day-in-day-out basis.

Why should Kennywood subsidize the ballet? Or, why should Kennywood subsidize the Carnegie Science Center?

I don't want Kennywood to get any tax nor RAD money. And, I want Kennywood to pull its own weight. But, I don't think it is wise for Kennywood to charge its customers extra just to have that money flow to other nonprofits who are in direct competition with the park.

As for West Mifflin, and most of the Mon Valley --- well --- I don't know how much they are all on the up and up? That big bend in the Mon seems to match how staight the politicians operate in them thar parts.

We all love Kennywood, even standing in line for the Jackrabbit.

Scratch my back with a pink slip

Love him, but folks, getting fired is no big deal. And, M.L. is getting a radio job in the next breath.

Two Koreas struggle in meeting to create joint Olympic team - Thursday June 29, 2006 1:49PM

Sports are games of time, space and relationship, so wrote Kevin DeForrest, a friend and author. I fully agree.

The Olympics make a set of games with countless opportunities for interactions, relations and relationships. But, they happen in time.

Given this era, it is of little suprise that the North and South could get much established.

SI.com - Olympics - Two Koreas struggle in meeting to create joint Olympic team - Thursday June 29, 2006 1:49PM North and South Korean officials struggled to make a symbolic dream become a reality on Thursday when they failed to agree on the details of a joint team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the Asian Games later this year.

Delegates from the South and the North could not overcome major hurdles such as the composition of the teams and the selection criteria during a meeting, officials said.

Chairs at an art museum in Hong Kong. Each chair was made with different materials and texture. They are in a circle -- and empty.

Free and Open Source Software for K12 Schools

Free and Open Source Software for K12 Schools

[412] 4th of July -- Independent and a 1776 gathering

[412] 4th of July -- Independent and a 1776 gathering: "Dear Patriotic and Independent Neighbors! Our 4th of July schedule is listed below. I hope I can see you at our 16th annual open house or else at one of these events.

Come out as our special guest is Russ Diamond, Independent candidate for Governor of Pennsylvania. Russ and I are working to get ourselves on the November 7, 2006 general election ballot.

I'm running for PA Senate. Both of us are INDEPENDENTS, All registered voters in PA can sign the nomination papers. Your signature can help by presenting voters with a real choice on the ballot later this year. Assistance in the final weeks of our shared petition drive can be explained.

Russ and I are both reformers. I'm confident that Russ will shine brightly and dominate pending discussions on policies for Pennsylvania's future when contrasted with what is being offered by Ed 'Slots' Rendell and Lynn Swann.

Schedule for Independence Day:
8 am - July 4 -- arrival to the Brentwood Parade
Mid-Morning to the Rosslyn Farms Parade and Community Time
Mixer at Brentwood's historic Inn
Gathering signatures around town, including at Point State Park for the Regatta.

4 to 5 pm - Press / Media event with talks by Russ Diamond, Mark Rauterkus and others, including a progress briefing on the campaigns to any Allegheny County citizens, volunteers, and supporters at 108 South 12th Street, South Side. Pittsburgh, 15203 Call Mark Rauterkus, 412 298 3432 or email Mark at Rauterkus.com

5 to 6:30 pm - Russ Diamond fundraiser, $17.76 per person at Paparazzi Ristorante, 2100 East Carson Street, South Side, 15203 American cookout and softdrinks. RSVP necessary. Call Mark Rauterkus, 412 298 3432 or email Mark at Rauterkus.com

6 pm start - Mark Rauterkus & Family 16th annual Independence Day Open House. Meet and mingle with special guest, Russ Diamond, Independent for Governor. Early activites at the local park for badminton, crafts for kids, lemonaid, treats up to fireworks (visible from the deck). FYI, Sparklers and beyond are NOT welcome here.

Pre and Post 4th encounters with Russ include:

July 5, Dutch Breakfast with Russ Diamond at Tom's Diner at 1715 East Carson Street, Pittsburgh's South Side from 7:30 to 9 am.

July 3, an event is on tap for July 3 in Westmorland County. Ask for details if interested.

Notification of your expected attendance is desired.

Thanks for the consideration. Feel free to forward this message and pass the word. Stay safe!

Books as battle ground - by Bob Hoover

Scripps Howard News Service They've been arriving regularly since early spring, first in a trickle, now in a steady stream and by the end of August, a flood.

Inspired by the ongoing U.S. occupation of Iraq, the Bush administration's war on terror and domestic policies, the performance of the news media and the vicious partisan nature of today's politics, mainstream publishers are releasing an unusual amount of books on current affairs.

'Ten years ago, political books didn't sell very well,' said Patricia Schroeder, president of the American Association of Publishers. 'Now, in the last three or four years, the sales are off the charts. Look at the last election with the Al Frankens, Michael Moores, Bill O'Reillys. The publishers know this and they're responding.'

Schroeder, a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives _ and a Democrat _ also brought up best-selling books by one-time Bush administration officials like former Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill and Environmental Protection Agency Director Christine Todd Whitman.

'I call it their 'exit strategy.' These people are loyal until they leave the corral and then they can write a controversial book,' she laughed.

Park Place -- you all rock!

The voices of Park Place sounded off loud and clear against an effort to re-zone some housing. Well done citizens. Your messages were fantastic.

The city staffers got it wrong and that is not a suprise to me.

The speakers in the hearing were perpared and the plans now before city council should go DOWN with a big thud.