Sick and tierd of "redding up" for all-star company, n at.

Ready or not, here they come. Now Bob O'Connor needs a wake up call to catch his "get well soon card."

Perhaps he can turn a double-play faster than 6 to 4 to 3 with #9 on second.

So, what is that, Gene Alley to Maz to Donn Clendenon?

Flick N Float at Crafton Park's Swim Pool

Flick N Float
proceeds benefit the Crafton Swim Team

This year's movie: Sky High

Gates open at 8 pm on Monday, July 10 at Crafton's outdoor swim pool.
Movie begins at dusk. Snacks and refreshments available for purchase.

Cost: $3 per head.

Movie plays on the screen so you can watch while on a float in the water. Lifeguards reserve the right to admit or deny the various floats. Note: only “one man floats” are permitted. Keep mega floats at home as they are not permitted to enter the pool.

Feel free to pass the word and tell a friend and neighbor about this fundraiser and our presently undefeated, defending champion swim team.

Rejection, Dave Copeland's latest project

Rejection If you are not big enough to lose, you are not big enough to win.

I understand a bit about rejection too. I ran for office, three times. This most recent time was the first I didn't come in last place.

Some footnotes of our life

Yes, the wi-fi plan for Pittsburgh still sucks. They can try to put lipstick on a pig, but you still end up with nothing to brag about. If you want to blog about it -- do so, please.

That relay meet that was on the weekend -- and I wasn't at all excited to attend -- is over. We won by one point. Wow. I'm still not that happy about the meet's format, in general. There are better thing to do for the meet and I'll try to write up something for other members in the league for next year. And, I'd love to have that done in a few weeks, in advance of the championships.

Last night, we (Crafton) beat Mt. Lebo. I love beating Mt. Lebo. The meet was at our pool and was well run -- and we beat them by more than 200 points. Lebo did do a good job in a number of their races -- but mostly, it was our night.

Grant, my 8 year old, needed to swim up an age group as 10 and under. He still got first place in the 25 breast. Way to go.

Erik was in a very tight IM and cooked the competition in the breast and the pushoff to freestyle. Very Phelps-ish. But, he didn't have the killer finish that was needed to pull out a charge and win by a stroke. It was a touch, and I'm not sure who won, to be honest. Results and ribbons to come in a few days.

We purchased three lifejackets. We'll need them shortly.

The kids also got some new swim suits and I got a new pair of open water swim goggles. Toys are good.

I'm getting a nice pay day for all this coaching I'm doing. It does take a toll on getting to go elsewhere, like to City Council meetings.

Okay -- the 4th of July and the visit from Russ Diamind was a big success. We walked in the parade in Brentwood with the STOP folks. Lots of people came out -- even in the rain. Enjoyed some time elsewhere with others as well.

The press conference photos and message from me will come online shortly.

Our house party was a lot of fun as well. We got the four badminton courts put up on the park, as usual. Had lots of folks bring in the munchies. Nice mix of folks from neighbohood to church to university to political friends to our special guest, Russ Diamond.

Russ had some interesting discussions with a few other friends as well. One with Dan Sullivan on the 3rd and another with Wilburn Hayden about healthcare issues on the 4th. Those were important conversations and much more may come of those ideas. We were planting valued seeds.

We went to the fireworks on the 3rd in Cranegie -- and got 50 or more signatures and had lots of fun conversation with voters at the park.

After the fireworks -- it was lights out for Grant. A swimmer needs a lot of sleep.

Jessie -- and friend.

Cookies and rug rats go together at our house.

Ice balls by Patricia.

C.D. was going wild at the crafts table making a red-white-and-blue wind sock.

4th of July House Party photos

Catherine, Leo, Audrey, and Russ Diamond. That's my wife and parents with Independent Candidate for Governor of Pennsylvania -- on the 4th of July, 2006.

Ballot access show down in Philly soon

e appeal of the ballot access lawsuit will be heard at 1 PM on Monday,
July 10, at the federal courthouse at 601 Market St. in Philadelphia. There will be a rally immediately before the hearing in front of the courthouse starting at 12:15 PM and concluding about 12:45.

According to Richard Winger, a big audience at the hearing would really help. He cites a 1984 case in US District Court over the Wyoming ballot access law, where the state's attorney said, "Your honor, the Libertarian Party has no organization in this state". But the courtroom was filled with Libertarians. The judge said, indicating the audience with a gesture, "Looks to me like they have an organization in this state." The Libertarians won the case.

For more info about the lawsuit, visit www.paballotaccess.org. The case number is 06-2241, and I'll forward a courtroom number once I have it.

- Ken Krawchuck

Rendell's late budget -- again

An animal of a different color:

Rendell's call broke state budget gridlock The budget, which had been approved about four hours earlier by the state House, was then approved (in the senate) 28-21, with Democrats providing most of the votes. In Western Pennsylvania, senators and representatives voted mostly along party lines with all Democrats voting for the budget and all Republicans voting against it except Rep. Michael Diven, R-Brookline.

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.