Rant at Pittsblog comments about the 'creative class' thread

Here are some comments I just inserted over in Pittsblog's blog.

Woops. This thread skipped along. As to the call way at the top...

"To thrive, one needs to stay?"

"Please elaborate."

My performance metric is about getting the region "to thrive." (or to thrive again) I don't want Lycos just to have a consumer brand buzz darling. I want to have a region that thrives -- and that might include the potential of a number of Fortune 500 companies -- and many other start-ups, etc.

To thrive, we can't be a revolving door. The region can't really deliver prosperity if it only does 'tech development' and not marketing, or finance, or whatever.

The region can't hitch a wagon to only healthcare, or only education, or only NIH research.

A jungle has diversity, rich eco density -- like a rain forest, right. We have to take care of all age groups, all income levels, all classes (or have none), and all neighborhoods -- so opportunity can ooze from every imagination and performer.

So, to elaborate on my shorthanded statement above, ... For the region to thrive, the economy (business environment) has to have all the bases covered. We need assets in all the realms within our reach. In sports speak, the team that we field as a region needs to have players for all the roles and all the necessary positions.

By the way, the STEELERS have done okay without the need to ever field a cheerleading squad. Cheerleaders are not necessary for a winning team.

Meanwhile, doctors need nurses, administrators, rehab specialists, facilities and patients -- plus a marketplace that pays its bills on time and doesn't cost an arm nor a leg for malpractice insurance.

The Steelers can't carry six QBs and say screw the defensive linemen positions.

I'm saying, I have an appreciation for the diversity of work that needs to be accomplished -- and -- we all have to be part of the puzzle in all sorts of roles. And, a region that puts everyone into the game in helpful ways -- call that bench strength. That's the ticket for the region to thrive in the long run.

Or, put another way, ONE key player isn't going to make or break a region.

In the huddles of life, we all can't be the one calling the plays.

So, when you are "more creative" you'd be able to be a change agent and slip into other roles -- wear different hats at different times or in different situations. Fine. Slash and #86 were exciting to watch. But, the roots of the problem for our region resides within in our lack of depth in the farm system -- HOME GROWN. We don't have diversity of strengths as an asset. (i.e., I agree the region is really thin in terms of senior, middle management who can lead risk-content-creative ventures N@.

Signal Item - Focus -- Our Water Polo Clinic gets ink in newspaper

Signal Item - Focus Water polo adds diversity to aquatics program
By Becky Hershberger, Staff Writer
Wednesday, August 9, 2006

Swimmers heading to Crafton pool this week can take part in a newly offered water polo clinic.

The program began Monday and runs through Friday, Aug. 11, rain

or shine.

Open to girls, boys and adults alike, program director Mark Rauterkus hopes to attract athletes from the ball sports such as baseball, football and basketball -- goalie sports such as lacrosse, soccer and hockey -- not to mention swimming.

'Water polo adds a lot of diversity to our aquatics program,' he says.

'The kids love it -- they love throwing around the ball.'

Rauterkus, currently an assistant coach with the Crafton Crocodiles, has been coaching at Carlynton Swim Club in the winter.

In prior years he has worked with Green tree's swim team, and formerly coached water polo at Fox Chapel swimming at Plum.

'I'm excited to organize and coach water polo and for the opportunity to extend the swim season for this extra week as a pilot program. Many of the kids have been dedicated and devoted swimmers on the team this summer,' he says.

'Water polo gives another experience to make friends and build conditioning in a fun, vibrant, structured setting.

'Nearly everyone is a rookie in the clinic. Everyone will improve, learn and gain a respect for this Olympic sport.'

The clinic is geared toward novice players and Rauterkus is offering plenty of instruction including drills, skill development, conditioning, game situations and tactics.

The popular Olympic sport has made headlines lately since Slippery Rock University officials cut the school's women's water polo and swim teams -- among other sports -- to save money in January.

A judge later reinstated both last month since officials did not consider compliance with Title IX, a law requiring federally-funded schools to provide equal sports opportunities for men and women.

'A point of interest is that it's being talked about and it's a women's and girls' sport too,' Rauterkus says.

'It's not just a guy thing.'

For more information about the water polo clinic, contact Mark Rauterkus at 412-298-3432 or via e-mail at Mark@Rauterkus.com.

No advance registration is necessary. The cost is $5 for the week, or for one visit.

Registration forms are available at the pool or the day of practices.

Swimmers should be able to swim four-lengths of the swimming pool in less than three minutes, (two with their head up and two with the head under).

Water polo camp and newspaper coverage - Crafton

Cool Job posting for anyone looking

National Fatherhood Initiative Job Description

Position: Healthcare Program Specialist (HPS)

Status: Exempt

Hours: 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM; with occasional evenings and weekends

Travel: Variable; might average 20 – 30% of time

Location: Pittsburgh, PA (Telecommute)

General Description: Under the supervision of the Director of Healthcare Programming, the Healthcare Program Specialist (HPS) will be responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the Pittsburgh Daddy Pack™ Project. This responsibility will include assisting the Director in providing training programs and technical assistance services to agencies, funders and community leaders to make the project a success. The HPS may, from time to time, be involved in NFI’s work on a national level (see Secondary Responsibilities below).

Primary Responsibilities (Pittsburgh and Surrounding Area):

* Implement and manage the Pittsburgh Daddy Pack™ (DP) Project following the guidelines set forth in the final proposal.
* Manage the Pittsburgh DP Project budget.
* Work closely with Director of Evaluation to provide necessary evaluation data generated by the Pittsburgh DP Project.
* Deliver bi-weekly reports to the Director on the progress of the project against the project plan for the Pittsburgh DP Project.
* Conduct Doctor Dad™ training institutes associated with the Pittsburgh DP Project*. Work with the Director and other NFI staff and new contacts to develop a calendar of training dates.
* Write call reports (i.e., summaries) of key meetings and phone calls, conferences and other events associated with the Pittsburgh DP Project and submit them to the Director, NFI senior management and other staff whose work is affected by the outcome of those events.
* Track the provision of technical assistance associated with the Pittsburgh DP Project and deliver a monthly report to the Director.

Secondary Responsibilities (National Level):

* Promote and sell NFI’s healthcare products and services.
* Deliver a bi-weekly Product Promotion report to the Director that includes contact information (e.g., name of potential customer, phone number, etc.) and the results of contacts made against this responsibility.
* Assist the Director in developing and executing an annual tactical plan for healthcare programming that is consistent with NFI’s overall strategic plan.

* When necessary, assist appropriate NFI staff who coordinates the marketing and logistics (e.g., securing training locations and registering participants) of Doctor Dad™ training institutes.
* Assist the director in identifying and developing tactical alliances related to healthcare programming. The primary purpose of these alliances is to increase the distribution of healthcare products and services. This responsibility requires the ability to effectively deliver NFI’s standard presentation on NFI and the Healthcare Programming standard presentation.
* Participate in exhibiting and presenting opportunities as they arise.
* Prepare training institute and technical assistance contracts and quotes for review by the Director.
* Assist NFI development staff in grant proposal preparation for funding sources for healthcare programming. When necessary, provide development staff with content for proposals.
* Assist in acquiring evaluation data on the products and services within healthcare programming.
* Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements:

* Passionate about fatherhood and related issues
* Excellent training and facilitation skills
* Excellent verbal and written communication skills
* Comfort with and ability to sell products and services
* 2 to 3 years experience managing large-scale service-delivery projects
* Proficient use of computer software applications, especially Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint
* Outstanding customer relations and organizational skills
* Bachelors Degree

Preferred Qualifications (not required):

* Degreed medical professional (e.g., RN, LPN, NP, PA, MD and DO)
* Sales background, especially in the healthcare field
* In-depth knowledge of the fatherhood movement and field
* Grant writing experience
* Experience in public speaking
* Bilingual (English and Spanish)

*Training institutes are NFI’s “train the facilitator” events. NFI does not conduct workshops for fathers.

US Senator and Author to visit South Side Bookstore

Senator BYRON DORGAN signs book: Take This Job and Ship It

Wednesday, August 9 at 7:00 pm

How Corporate Greed and Brain-Dead Politics Are Selling Out America
One of the most vocal Democrats in the Senate passionately argues that free trade is not free, and that outsourcing, offshoring, and greedy mega-corporations are destroying America's economy.
Joseph-Beth

CollegeSwimming.com's Phil Whitten takes a bold approach -- proactive too!

CollegeSwimming.com According to Whitten more than 60 college swim teams have been eliminated since 1991, 'ostensibly for budgetary or Title IX reasons.' He is calling for college coaches at all levels to apply to serve on the four task forces and an additional three dozen committees to be announced in the near future. The committees are:

1. SOS - Save Our Sport, booklet revision committee;
2. Crisis Team;
3. Opportunity Team;
4. Prospecting Team

AMS Bulletin Board

AMS Bulletin Board8/5/06


Water Polo Clinic

Play and learn water polo with a week long clinic at Crafton Swim Pool in Crafton Park on Steuben Street.
August 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, 2006, (Monday to Friday) from 9:30 am to 11:30 am.

Cost is $5. Register at the door your first practice, rest of the week is without charge.
Condition while you learn skills, drills, strategy and tactics of this great Olympic sport -- and make new friends.

Coach Mark Rauterkus, Mark@Rauterkus.com, 412-298-3432

PACleanSweep Sheds Corporate Bureaucracy

Lebanon County Judge Samuel Kline granted a motion to dissolve the non-profit corporation known as PACleanSweep, Inc. Five members of the corporation’s Board of Directors filed the motion after months of deadlocks within the organization regarding how to follow up the group’s success over the last year.

“This is not the end of the movement,” said Russ Diamond, PACleanSweep founder, “rather this is simply an adjustment in the way the group operates. The corporate structure that we set up last year, while well-intentioned, significantly hampered the effort to compete in the fast-paced political realm.”

Diamond, one of the petitioners, intends to continue maintaining the PACleanSweep.com website, which was established before any corporate structure was put in place.

Bucks County attorney Lawrence Otter was appointed Receiver by the court to wind up the now-defunct corporation’s affairs and liquidate its assets.

PACleanSweep raised nearly 100 candidates to run in the 2006 primary election in its effort to change the face of Pennsylvania’s General Assembly. Thirtyfive of those candidates won their primary race with seven of those victories coming at the expense of incumbents.

The group was also instrumental in the first-ever non-retention of a state Supreme Court Justice when Russell Nigro lost his seat last November.

“We did well over the last year, and that’s something to be proud of. But true reform is not a once-and-done thing. We’ve only gotten lip service and reform-lite so far as a result of the public outrage over the pay raise. The people of Pennsylvania need to maintain their focus on everything that’s wrong in Harrisburg and continue to keep the pressure on elected officials;” concluded Diamond.

PACleanSweep is a non-partisan effort dedicated to defeating incumbent elected officials in Pennsylvania and replacing them with true public servants. For more information, visit http://www.PACleanSweep.com.

Pittsburgh's Future

Pittsburgh's Future We need simpler government, not necessarily smaller government. The complexity and inefficiency caused by having so many different governmental entities, each with its own rules and procedures, can deter growth in other sectors, particularly manufacturing.

Why? Why everywhere too.

The suggestions take big leaps. So, we don't need smaller government. Big government is okay. But it needs to be simple. Simple as in duhh simple. As in stupid simple? As in basic simple?

Why is the manufacturing sector so hitched to simple government? Energy? Labor law? Recycling? Product liability? Banking? Talented workforce? Tarrifs?

The double talk and spin seems obvious at that sight and with those articles.

Pittsburgh's Future & manufacturing

Pittsburgh's Future We need to have a competitive business climate in order to retain and grow the high-wage manufacturing jobs that contribute so much to regional income. High-tech manufacturing is particularly important, because its jobs pay high wages and are less likely to be outsourced to other regions.

Why in the world are high-tech manufacturing jobs less likely to be outsourced to other regions? That makes little sense to me.

BUCK$ FOR BLOG: SOFTBANK PUTS $5M IN HUFF POST By TIM ARANGO - New York Post Online Edition: Business

Content is king, so the saying goes. Here in Pittsburgh, our old-style of operations said that coal is king. Coal, as in other carbon-based products.

BUCK$ FOR BLOG: SOFTBANK PUTS $5M IN HUFF POST By TIM ARANGO - New York Post Online Edition: Business August 7, 2006 -- A group led by venture capital firm Softbank is investing $5 million in the Huffington Post, an online news site and political blog owned by the pundit Arianna Huffington, The Post has learned.

In addition to Softbank, venture capitalist Alan Patricof is also investing in the site, as well as some of the initial investors. Huffington and former Time Warner executive Ken Lerer founded the site.

The investment comes amid a surge in interest in content on the Internet among big media firms. Venture capital firms, meanwhile, have typically focused on technology companies but now are increasingly looking at investing in Internet content.

water polo clinic in Crafton

Water Polo Clinic begins this morning

All are invited. See the other blog post for the details.

Today, Grant also has a softball playoff game at Ormsby Park.

Transcript of Mr. Martin's talk in Harrisburg on August 1 -- deadline for 3rd party candidates to file for general election ballot

It is an honor to be here, but I wish it were under different circumstances.

We are gathered here to witness the end of an era -It is time to eulogize the Citizen Statesman, for the Citizen statesman is dead. Murdered by career politicians determined to stay in power, murdered by career politicians determined to rule, not govern.

Why do I feel the need deliver such a eulogy? Is it just because ballot access is not happening for me, Tom Martin, Libertarian Candidate for US Senate nominated by a recognized political party? Or is it a much larger problem for all citizens because the system has been re-arranged so that the career politicians have our elections rigged so they only face each other in their ongoing dance of power.

The state constitutions promises "Elections shall be free and equal." We must ask, "When?"

Statutory law has been arranged so that state wide candidates challenging the incumbent parties need more than 67,070 signatures where the incumbents need only two thousand. Only Politicians and lawyers think that 67 = 2. Offices are such as US Congress typically represents 5% of the states population yet challengers are not much better off, they still need at least twice as many signatures as the incumbent candidates running for state wide office.

I stand here with members of other parties, Constitution, Green, Socialist and Independents who also suffering the same political fate and I know of many other who did not even try because the barriers have been risen so high, Its not just me, we the people are being denied ballot access in the land of the free. The Citizen Statesman is being exterminated from the political arena.

So who are these Citizen Statesman?

The citizen Statesman is the concept that the common man has a direct and fundamental impact on how the state governs on a daily basis. The citizen Statesman is a cross section from all walks of life - people who come to Harrisburg or Washington bringing their life experience, knowledge, and wisdom to spend a few years in service to the country, the state, the constitution and their fellow man then to return to their daily lives.

The Career politicians are different creatures. They have many faces such as Dictators, Kings, Princes, and Aristocracies. All with a variety of excuses to rule. Career politicians have a life-time job servicing the public. Today, we the people face yet another angle of the power game. And, it really should not be any surprise. Thomas Jefferson warned us, "I hope we shall... Crush in its birth the aristocracy of our moneyed corporations, which dare already to challenge our government to a trial of strength and bid defiance to the laws of the country."

The entrenched political parties are such corporations. Tools for career politicians, they are legal fictions that have been violating the public trust for their own advancement.

The career politicians are always quick to play political theater. They pay lip service to the rights and freedoms of the citizens - just as long as when the citizens exercise of their rights won’t get in the careerist way.

The career politicians are quick to point out how generous they have been with the tax payer’s money - just as long as they don’t have to mention the fact that money was extorted and borrowed from other hard working citizens. The career politicians are quick to point out how they helped some one who was a victim of one of their numerous bad laws. It is easy to be liberal with some one else’s rights and money.

As rationalizations for miss deeds, today’s career politicians can easily claim massive public support from them selves and their reign, and it is no surprise because annually they are the gate keepers of thousands of billions of our tax payer dollars confiscated and borrowed from we the people.

But apparently that is not enough for their power lust. They have scrubbed opposition candidates like Ralph Nader from the ballot.

At the highest levels these career politicians have no qualms about squashing the the right of the American people to an informed vote. During the last presidential election, the same day two American soldier’s died for Iraq's democracy, the career politicians President Bush and Senator Kerry had Libertarian Presidential candidate, Michael Badnarik, and Green presidential candidate, David Cobb, arrested rather then debated just to deny the citizens an informed vote.

Why is their democracy so important - and ours is not?

The career politicians are so imbedded in government they have made government a tool for advancing their own self interest. They have done many things to protect them selves from the people - but controlling who runs against them in the elections is the most devious and egregious wrong for it requires violating the public trust about clean elections.

Where are the career politicians when it comes to protecting the fundamental rights of the American citizen? After all, protecting the elections of 'We the People,' not their life time grip on power is their explicit and sacred duty that they accepted when they swore an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution.

Who is trying to protect our republic?

I am, Tom Martin nominated Libertarian candidate for US Senate. I am very honored to stand with other citizen statesmen who are also fighting for our republic.

They are other people who have placed their life, reputation and honor on the line:

Russ Diamond, Independent for Governor,

Hagan Smith, nominate, Constitutional Party, candidate for Governor,

Marakay Rogers, Green Party, candidate for Governor,

Jeff Brindel, Socialist, state representative candidate, 26th district,

Jim Babb, Libertarian, state representative candidate, 157th district.

We are but a few of what America needs many of, a dying breed, the Citizen States Men, the kind of people that our country was founded by and for.

Is our state free enough that the citizens will be allowed to vote for us?

What we are doing today is asking not for any special favor, but we are demanding that the Constitution actually be followed. It is my hope that I am wrong that the citizen statesman is not dead. That here in Pennsylvania, in America, that "Elections Shall be free and equal," and we won’t have to ask, "When?"

Great Balls On Fire -- the B sample comes in same as before

The confirmed test sets off what could now be months of appeals and arguments by Landis, who claims the positive finding was due to naturally high testosterone levels. He has repeatedly declared his innocence and vowed to fight the allegations -- and did so again Saturday.

"I have never taken any banned substance, including testosterone," Landis said in a statement. "I was the strongest man at the Tour de France, and that is why I am the champion.

"I will fight these charges with the same determination and intensity that I bring to my training and racing. It is now my goal to clear my name and restore what I worked so hard to achieve."

Phonak rider, PA guy, to have "B-Day" at 5 am Saturday

PARIS (AP) -- It's B-Day for Floyd Landis.

The Tour de France winner will find out at 5 a.m. EDT Saturday whether his backup "B" sample tested positive for doping -- a result that could cost the American cyclist the title and lead to a two-year ban.

I'm blogging this late, might as well stay up to get the results in real time. But, that won't be good for my haul the next day as we need to cover more than 500 miles for 2 days for our return home.

Visit with bikers

Monday, August 7, 2006, at 6:30 pm at the Friends Meeting House, 4836 Ellsworth Ave, Pittsburgh PA 15213.


Nearly 20 people are riding their bikes across the country with Bike Aid, a project of Global Exchange, a national human rights, environmental and economic justice organization (http://www.globalexchange.org/getInvolved/bikeaid/). They have been meeting with communities across the country to talk about peace and counter-recruitment as well as empowerment of marginalized communities. The riders have also participated in service projects along the way and will be volunteering at Healcrest Urban Farm in Garfield when they arrive Monday afternoon.


Brian Stagno, a local activist and member of PUSH, Bike Pittsburgh and the Thomas Merton Center is one of the riders. Please come and give them a warm welcome to Pittsburgh.

www.globalexchange.org/getInvolved/bikeaid/

New PA Industry -- Ballot Challenges

Qualifying for the ballot in Pennsylvania has essentially become a crap shoot. Armed with the right legal team, selective precedent and the prevailing whims of the courts, any candidate could be successfully disqualified from participating.

See the press release from Russ Diamond on PoliticsPA.com.

Swann on Diamond

The following statement was released by Republican gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann:

"Just yesterday, Russ Diamond's campaign announced it had fallen short of the equisite number of signatures required to appear on the ballot this November as a candidate for Governor. Mr. Diamond should be commended for lighting a spark behind a grassroots movement for meaningful reform in Harrisburg and throughout state overnment. From Day One of my candidacy for Governor, I have made change and reform the centerpiece of our campaign. To those voters who supported Mr. Diamond's ampaign, I say this: as the next Governor of Pennsylvania, I will work tirelessly to make government more responsive and more accountable to the people it serves. I will continue to ask for your support as the only candidate for reform in Pennsylvania. This November, I ask that you stand with me."

CMU and Government Contract work

Head scratching from Information Week with a Pittsburgh connection. http://www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2006/08/a_sweltering_su.html

Qualifications? The Homeland Security Department may routinely flunk government security audits, but it didn't feel the need to insist on any stinking technical qualifications for the man who has been serving as the acting director of its National Cyber Security Division for the past 21 months. A widely picked up AP story headlined "Deal For Cybersecurity Chief Questioned" leaves you wondering how the government can be paying $577,000 over a two-year period to an attorney who has no formal technical background in computer security. By comparison, according to AP, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff earns just $175,000 a year.

As it turns out, this is attorney Donald Purdy Jr.'s second national security posting. He was previously a White House cybersecurity adviser, which is interesting considering he's not a security expert. He's actually an employee of Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, which worked out a two-year loan deal to the government, technically in exchange for agreeing to pick up his annual salary. But the school has gotten an even bigger payoff--literally. So far this year, the National Cyber Security Division has paid out $19 million--or according to AP, a fifth of its budget--in contract work to the school.

Purdy the lawyer says he doesn't involve himself in discussions about business dealings between the department he's running and the school that technically employs him. Some members of Congress are objecting on multiple levels. Meanwhile, Chertoff last year created a position of DHS assistant secretary over cybersecurity, but has yet to fill the post. Perhaps he's holding out for another attorney.