Mini Linux PC breaks $100 barrier a tiny, 200MHz x86-compatible mini PC for $99, in single quantities.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Mini Linux PC breaks $100 barrier
Need a new computer?
Online Fundraising Auction for DePaul School of Hearing and Speech
Make Your Bid to Support DePAUL SCHOOL FOR HEARING & SPEECH!!
Now is your chance to not only get all the great items you want, but to do it knowing you are helping support DePaul's mission to bring auditory/oral education to children with hearing and speech impairments.
A gala is slated for the days ahead. The fundraiser items for sale in an auction are now online.
Now is your chance to not only get all the great items you want, but to do it knowing you are helping support DePaul's mission to bring auditory/oral education to children with hearing and speech impairments.
A gala is slated for the days ahead. The fundraiser items for sale in an auction are now online.
cMarket - Online Fundraising Auction Services for Nonprofits: "'The Bus' Jerome Bettis Autographed Football
Authentic Pittsburgh Steelers limited edition foot... Priceless Bid Now --> $100.00
Mayor pushes to fill position - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Mayor pushes to fill position - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Ravenstahl yesterday also appointed Chief of Staff Yarone Zober to fill former Chief of Staff B.J. Leber's unexpired term on the Urban Redevelopment Authority. It hasn't been decided if Zober will chair the five-member board.
Gaming groups to meet - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Junket. Closed meetings. These guys are old school politicians in training. Its is shame. They don't speak for me.
Gaming groups to meet - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review After visiting casinos in Colorado and Missouri, members of the Pittsburgh Gaming Task Force are holding closed-door meetings today with two of the three groups seeking a slots license in the city.
Using private foundation money, the task force members last week visited casinos operated by all three of the groups and met with community leaders. The meetings today will focus on design proposals by Isle of Capri Casinos and Majestic Star Casino.
Cleveland-based Forest City Enterprises, which would open Harrah's Station Square Casino, did not host the nine-member delegation and does not plan to participate in today's meetings.
Monday, October 02, 2006
League of Pissed Off Voters holds event
They used my slogan suggestion -- "Voting makes your teeth whiter."
Here are the details of an event:
Here are the details of an event:
Confused about who to vote for this November 7?
Come get the skinny on all the cats who are fighting to represent you!
What: Pgh. League of Young Voters Fall 2006 Candidate Forum
Where: The Union Project, 801 N. Negley Avenue, Highland Park
When: Tuesday, October 3, 2006 6:30 PM
Who: Candidates for U.S. Senate, House, PA Governor, PA Senate and House.
Light refreshments will be served!
Confirmed campaigns include:
Rendell for Governor (D)
Swann for Governor (R)
Doyle for Congress (D)
North for Congress (G)
Altmire for Congress (D)
Kluko for Congress (D)
Jane Orie for PA Senate (R)
Wayne Fontana for PA Senate (D) -- screw him (blogmaster's note)
Lisa Bennington for PA House (D)
Chelsa Wagner for PA House (D)
Shawn Flaherty for PA House (D)
Mark Harris for PA House (R)
(All of the opponents of these candidates have been contacted and many will most likely send a surrogate.)
What: Candidates or their representatives will speak for 3 minutes about the following issues: Urban public transit, diversity, employment/entrepreneurial opportunity, cultural amenities and smart growth. The audience (aka YOU) will have three minutes to ask each individual questions. Then the candidate will give a 1 minute closing statement in response.
Make an informed decision this November 7!
Get the 4-1-1 on the candidates who represent the 4-1-2 (and 7-2-4)!
The Tartan Online : Media advances include using blogs for news
This Running Mates blog might not save the world, but it might be able to help kill Maglev's arrival in Pittsburgh. Here we are before we board the Maglev in China.
CMU's newspaper gives some insights into a blog-focused lecture on Pitt's campus last week. I missed the talk to do some home repairs.
The Tartan Online : Media advances include using blogs for news However, blogging does have its beneficial points. On Wednesday, Ethan Zuckerman came to speak at the University of Pittsburgh as part of the university’s global studies program and International Week. Zuckerman is currently conducting research at the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University, studying information technology in developing countries. At the International Week event, Zuckerman spoke about blogging; he believes that weblogs can be used to close gaps in mainstream media coverage throughout the world.
Zuckerman founded Geekcorps in 1999. The program sends information technicians from more technologically adept countries to developing areas, including Africa, Eastern Europe, South Asia, and Central America, to teach basic software programming and other technology-focused skills. The idea is to enable residents of those areas to subsist off their own knowledge. For example, small businesses can be built on basic computing knowledge. The Geekcorps program has been so successful that it was recently announced as one of the Tech Museum Award winners.
Zuckerman, too, encourages his workers to keep blogs. He believes that they are useful forms of communication between the workers and the average citizen. Hopefully, the messages sent and the experiences described will have a lasting effect on the audience.
Some blogs do not carry a message so heavy in world change. Rather, some inadvertenly have a huge impact. For instance, the popular movie Snakes on a Plane was defined partially by blogging. The site www.snakesonablog.com helped influence different portions of the movie; it became a bulletin board for ideas for the movie. In fact, the site includes a link to “Snakes on a Forum,” from which people can post and collect ideas and thoughts. Now that the movie has been released to the public, Snakes on a Blog mostly carries humorous photographs, fan art, and random posts. The power of this site is incredible — it both promoted and shaped the movie.
While people like Zuckerman may advocate blogs as a tool to change the world, the typical teenager has other reasons for the addicting habit. First-year chemistry major Derek McQuade is one such teenager. Though he does not blog too frequently, he does encourage its use. McQuade said, “I don’t know why I do it. I just do.” Unlike of many bloggers, McQuade does not disclose personal information. He usually just allows a description of his day to suffice. “It’s really just for me. I mean if people read it, that’s great, but it really is just for me.”
Netflix Prize, get $1M
You know that two local Blockbuster stores have closed recently. 
We saw Star Wars in China. And I'm certain that this isn't the way to get the $1M prize.
I'm still waiting for a review of The Guardian. Anyone?
Netflix Prize: Home The Netflix Prize seeks to substantially improve the accuracy of predictions about how much someone is going to love a movie based on their movie preferences. Improve it enough and you win one (or more) Prizes. Winning the Netflix Prize improves our ability to connect people to the movies they love.
We saw Star Wars in China. And I'm certain that this isn't the way to get the $1M prize. I'm still waiting for a review of The Guardian. Anyone?
Johnson Institute for Responsible Leadership hosting an event on Oct 25
Interesting event that you might be interested in attending.
Upcoming Events
What does the injunction, "Serve the public interest," really mean for public managers, and why is it important?
Dr. Carol Lewis, professor of political science at the University of Connecticut, will discuss different perspectives of public interest and offer a multi-faceted formulation of the public manager�s duty�a process that involves the current concerns of democracy and mutuality and the future concerns of sustainability and legacy.
In her systematic anaylsis of what defines the public interest, Dr. Lewis will highlight a case study of the reaction to the looting of Iraq�s National Museum of Antiquities in 2003 to illustrate the worldwide recognition of the legacy obligation to future generations.
Johnson Institute for Responsible Leadership In Pursuit of the Public Interest - Wednesday, October 25, 2006 4:30 - 6:00 p.m. Pittsburgh Athletic Association, Bigelow Room
Upcoming Events
What does the injunction, "Serve the public interest," really mean for public managers, and why is it important?
Dr. Carol Lewis, professor of political science at the University of Connecticut, will discuss different perspectives of public interest and offer a multi-faceted formulation of the public manager�s duty�a process that involves the current concerns of democracy and mutuality and the future concerns of sustainability and legacy.
In her systematic anaylsis of what defines the public interest, Dr. Lewis will highlight a case study of the reaction to the looting of Iraq�s National Museum of Antiquities in 2003 to illustrate the worldwide recognition of the legacy obligation to future generations.
Pittsburgh city hall lacks old hands, has fresh faces
Zoning. As is the case when there are private developers at odds with citizens, the matter generally goes past zoning and wiggles onto the agenda of city council.
There was a big blow up in recent weeks from a situation in Park Place. Park Place is a neighborhood in the city's east side. I stand with the citizens in Park Place. We don't need to tear down homes in the city -- good houses that have residents and still work as designed -- to put up a Walgreens with its highway styled, drive-by formed operation.
Dozens of citizens stormed into city council chambers on a few different instances in the past months. This past week, a two week extension was granted and a deal seems to have been struck. Twanda Carlisle on city council was patting herself on the back for getting a two-week delay. Go figure.
The devil is in the details. We'll wait and see.
But this saga is nothing new. The zoning board is worthless when it comes to hard decisions. Worthless. The fights always spill over to city council's domain anyway.
I think that the zoning board is a waste, a sink, another un-elected group of cronies that often has its logic rooted in nothing but cracks in the pavement. Zoning, its enforcement and most matters of the red tape that it binds is good for corruption and special case treatments.
The overhaul shouldn't stop at the zoning board. The slogan, 'When you fail to plan you plan to fail' fits too. I have no faith in the city's planning department. None.
In the times of Tom Murphy, the planning department was often used as a tool to help advance his agenda. And they didn't even try to give value to citizens and taxpayers.
How else can you explain a city planning department that fires its lone traffic engineer. Planning, zoning and the URA have been tools for re-elections.
Pittsburgh city hall lacks old hands, has fresh faces The lack of tenure has manifested itself in small ways, such as open struggles over zoning issues and bitterness over council machinations. It remains to be seen whether it will affect the city's just-started budget process and how it will play out next year in a potentially wild election season.Zoning has always been a sore spot in the city with the way it does its business.
There was a big blow up in recent weeks from a situation in Park Place. Park Place is a neighborhood in the city's east side. I stand with the citizens in Park Place. We don't need to tear down homes in the city -- good houses that have residents and still work as designed -- to put up a Walgreens with its highway styled, drive-by formed operation.
Dozens of citizens stormed into city council chambers on a few different instances in the past months. This past week, a two week extension was granted and a deal seems to have been struck. Twanda Carlisle on city council was patting herself on the back for getting a two-week delay. Go figure.
The devil is in the details. We'll wait and see.
But this saga is nothing new. The zoning board is worthless when it comes to hard decisions. Worthless. The fights always spill over to city council's domain anyway.
I think that the zoning board is a waste, a sink, another un-elected group of cronies that often has its logic rooted in nothing but cracks in the pavement. Zoning, its enforcement and most matters of the red tape that it binds is good for corruption and special case treatments.
The overhaul shouldn't stop at the zoning board. The slogan, 'When you fail to plan you plan to fail' fits too. I have no faith in the city's planning department. None.
In the times of Tom Murphy, the planning department was often used as a tool to help advance his agenda. And they didn't even try to give value to citizens and taxpayers.
How else can you explain a city planning department that fires its lone traffic engineer. Planning, zoning and the URA have been tools for re-elections.
part 2 - Dan Deasy's quote and roles
Say what?
I like Dan. I think that the rest of the quote is okay. Yes, the city has changed. Yes, the young folks have not been political all that long. Dan isn't a lawyer. Dan is sincere. Dan is a hard worker. Dan is straight. Dan has a family. Dan wants a healthy Pittsburgh.
But tell me, Dan, or anyone else, what Dan has put forward as to new ideas.
Can you read his web site and find out?
Can you read his op-ed in the newspapers?
Can I remember his remarks while he was speaking to a group of concerned citizens?
And, to 'redd up' isn't a 'new idea' for goodness sakes.
Diverse opinions do become personal quickly. And my opinion of Dan isn't 'personal' -- it is factual in one regard -- new ideas.
Furthermore, I'm not even sure there is any saving grace to 'new ideas.' Don't hitch your wagon to that shooting star. If Dan had said we stand for good government, then he'd be hitting a home run. Stand for honesty. Stand for an approach that cares about the people. Stand for and speak about the fact that you have an 'open mind.' Slave upon the duty of being there and doing the necessary research before the votes are set at the table.
Dan is a good supporting role character in a time of crisis when there are others at the helm of the city after we've just changed captains. Dan is the guy who could best advance the redd-up agenda of Bob O'Connor. That is why he won the election, even before O'Connor got that job. Dan was not a 'Tom Murphy' clone nor 'supporter.' Dan was a clean up candidate, and the west end neighborhoods needed that.
Pittsburgh city hall lacks old hands, has fresh faces 'The city of Pittsburgh has changed,' said council Finance Chairman Dan Deasy, who took office in June 2005. 'We haven't been ingrained in the political system for years. We bring new ideas.'Can anyone tell me one new idea that Dan Deasy has put on the table of City Council?
I like Dan. I think that the rest of the quote is okay. Yes, the city has changed. Yes, the young folks have not been political all that long. Dan isn't a lawyer. Dan is sincere. Dan is a hard worker. Dan is straight. Dan has a family. Dan wants a healthy Pittsburgh.
But tell me, Dan, or anyone else, what Dan has put forward as to new ideas.
Can you read his web site and find out?
Can you read his op-ed in the newspapers?
Can I remember his remarks while he was speaking to a group of concerned citizens?
And, to 'redd up' isn't a 'new idea' for goodness sakes.
Diverse opinions do become personal quickly. And my opinion of Dan isn't 'personal' -- it is factual in one regard -- new ideas.
Furthermore, I'm not even sure there is any saving grace to 'new ideas.' Don't hitch your wagon to that shooting star. If Dan had said we stand for good government, then he'd be hitting a home run. Stand for honesty. Stand for an approach that cares about the people. Stand for and speak about the fact that you have an 'open mind.' Slave upon the duty of being there and doing the necessary research before the votes are set at the table.
Dan is a good supporting role character in a time of crisis when there are others at the helm of the city after we've just changed captains. Dan is the guy who could best advance the redd-up agenda of Bob O'Connor. That is why he won the election, even before O'Connor got that job. Dan was not a 'Tom Murphy' clone nor 'supporter.' Dan was a clean up candidate, and the west end neighborhoods needed that.
part 3 - Jeff Koch's role and excuses
Then there is Jeff.
I've got a lot to say about bars and the neighborhood. But Jeff is going to strike out. The outcomes are never going to materialize. Worthless efforts. The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
As to the shuttered Neville Ice Arena -- that is a no brainer. I could have had it opened by now. I could open that in about 2 weeks. I get calls every other month from people from around the county that want to open the Neville Ice Arena. My last call was from an ex-Pittsburgh guy who was with a firm in the state of Washington. Another call was from a local Pittsburgh guy who was very 'secret' (a turn off to me) who was putting together a team of investors. (Doubt he was successful.)
A request for proposals (RFP) for the Neville Ice Rink was promised to me and the community on mulitiple instances. It never came. It must have been done three or four times over. Then the local do-nothing types had a park plan that was not worth the paper it was written on. They wanted to get their hooks into the building and facility. They fumbled too.
The Neville Ice Rink is a 'sports facility.' To move that project you'll need someone who understands 'Recreational Leadership' to get involved. Our Citipaks programs and leaders there have been all about closing fewer facilities. They have been trying to make chicken soup with nothing but chicken shit. For them to shift gears and put any effort into a closed facility, when they have dozens of others that are also closed and are going nowhere, and when another dozen are on the brink of being closed is impossible.
The South Side Market House should have 200 kids playing indoor soccer this fall. That isn't happening. Jeff Koch didn't help. This is the first year that that program has been axed. Fumble.
I've offered to help. No luck.
The Markethouse could be opened and should be opened. Same too with the ice rink. But no. We'll slide backwards some more.
Jeff needs to do some projects that work. Jeff has nothing to point to as a success in the community yet. Jeff is up for re-election in May 2007 in the primary and November 2007 for the general election. His honeymoon is over.
Jeff is going to need to shift into excuse mode soon. He'll have to make excuses as to why he didn't get anything done. I wish that there was more for him to lean upon and point to.
Can't skate in the city -- yet city kids skate. That's B.Mc. on the right from a performance in a suburban rink in 2006.
Market House Soccer -- red team. My son is bottom left. I'm top right.
My son is on bottom right and I'm at top left in this photo of a Market House Soccer team.
Another city pool -- empty. This is a summer-time photo.
Just to be clear about myself: I coached and was on the parent booster group of the South Side Market House Children's Athletic Assn for a number of years. As my kids got older, we went to our sport -- swimming -- we left Market House activities. Now I'm coaching my son's team in swimming, in the burbs, no less. When I left the Market House, things were running smoothly. The activities ran last year, without my involvement. But, that happened without much help from the City. Volunteers ran the program at the Market House and were spent because of it. Day to day programming with volunteers isn't ideal.
We have serious recreational issues and problems in this area.
I'm a swimming coach for five days a week, if not seven days. I've coached this year in Canada (for 2-weeks), with the Carlynton Swim Club (year round), ran a water polo clinic, began a swim team at Phillips Elementary, and coached the summer season with the Crafton Swim Team. I've coached swimming since 1976.
I coached swimming in the city in 1999-2000. That fall the city yanked the pool permit from the team at the Oliver Bath House, sadly. That season I worked with Coach Hosea and we saved TRA (Three Rivers Aquatics). Parent boosters wanted to kill TRA, so I came onto the scene. The old TRA team is now in our winter swim league for 2006-07 season and it operates as the Kingsley Stingrays.
We'll begin our swim practices with the Phillips Elementary Swim Team again shortly. They practice for one swim meet and gather only on Sunday nights.
Pittsburgh city hall lacks old hands, has fresh faces 'It's taken time to get acclimated to how slow the process is,' said Councilman Jeff Koch. He has spent much of his six months in office crafting legislation to give neighborhoods control over bars moving in and pushing the bureaucracy to remove graffiti and to seek an operator for the shuttered Neville Ice Arena.Jeff is crafting legislation to give neighborhoods control over bars. Right. I'm sure he is. Might as well take a big ice ball and push it to the top of Mt. Washington all summer long.
I've got a lot to say about bars and the neighborhood. But Jeff is going to strike out. The outcomes are never going to materialize. Worthless efforts. The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
As to the shuttered Neville Ice Arena -- that is a no brainer. I could have had it opened by now. I could open that in about 2 weeks. I get calls every other month from people from around the county that want to open the Neville Ice Arena. My last call was from an ex-Pittsburgh guy who was with a firm in the state of Washington. Another call was from a local Pittsburgh guy who was very 'secret' (a turn off to me) who was putting together a team of investors. (Doubt he was successful.)
A request for proposals (RFP) for the Neville Ice Rink was promised to me and the community on mulitiple instances. It never came. It must have been done three or four times over. Then the local do-nothing types had a park plan that was not worth the paper it was written on. They wanted to get their hooks into the building and facility. They fumbled too.
The Neville Ice Rink is a 'sports facility.' To move that project you'll need someone who understands 'Recreational Leadership' to get involved. Our Citipaks programs and leaders there have been all about closing fewer facilities. They have been trying to make chicken soup with nothing but chicken shit. For them to shift gears and put any effort into a closed facility, when they have dozens of others that are also closed and are going nowhere, and when another dozen are on the brink of being closed is impossible.
The South Side Market House should have 200 kids playing indoor soccer this fall. That isn't happening. Jeff Koch didn't help. This is the first year that that program has been axed. Fumble.
I've offered to help. No luck.
The Markethouse could be opened and should be opened. Same too with the ice rink. But no. We'll slide backwards some more.
Jeff needs to do some projects that work. Jeff has nothing to point to as a success in the community yet. Jeff is up for re-election in May 2007 in the primary and November 2007 for the general election. His honeymoon is over.
Jeff is going to need to shift into excuse mode soon. He'll have to make excuses as to why he didn't get anything done. I wish that there was more for him to lean upon and point to.
Can't skate in the city -- yet city kids skate. That's B.Mc. on the right from a performance in a suburban rink in 2006.
Market House Soccer -- red team. My son is bottom left. I'm top right.
My son is on bottom right and I'm at top left in this photo of a Market House Soccer team.
Another city pool -- empty. This is a summer-time photo. Just to be clear about myself: I coached and was on the parent booster group of the South Side Market House Children's Athletic Assn for a number of years. As my kids got older, we went to our sport -- swimming -- we left Market House activities. Now I'm coaching my son's team in swimming, in the burbs, no less. When I left the Market House, things were running smoothly. The activities ran last year, without my involvement. But, that happened without much help from the City. Volunteers ran the program at the Market House and were spent because of it. Day to day programming with volunteers isn't ideal.
We have serious recreational issues and problems in this area.
I'm a swimming coach for five days a week, if not seven days. I've coached this year in Canada (for 2-weeks), with the Carlynton Swim Club (year round), ran a water polo clinic, began a swim team at Phillips Elementary, and coached the summer season with the Crafton Swim Team. I've coached swimming since 1976.
I coached swimming in the city in 1999-2000. That fall the city yanked the pool permit from the team at the Oliver Bath House, sadly. That season I worked with Coach Hosea and we saved TRA (Three Rivers Aquatics). Parent boosters wanted to kill TRA, so I came onto the scene. The old TRA team is now in our winter swim league for 2006-07 season and it operates as the Kingsley Stingrays.
We'll begin our swim practices with the Phillips Elementary Swim Team again shortly. They practice for one swim meet and gather only on Sunday nights.
dave4council.com - Dave Schuilenburg For Pittsburgh City Council District 1
Original post from September 28, 2006: Now with an UPDATE at end.
Tip #1 for a candidate for Pittsburgh City Council, special election, November 7.
Dave, put your home address on the web site. A P.O. Box just doesn't cut it. People want to know where you live. I'm glad you saved the Post Office, but this campaign is quick. Put the address there. You could have an "after the campaign long-term address footnote, if you so desire." But, you purchased a house for goodness sakes. Be proud of that and list it.
Best of luck to you. Hope to meet you soon.
Dave Schuilenburg, you've got my attention. I'm listening.
Dave sent me an email.
Tip #1 for a candidate for Pittsburgh City Council, special election, November 7.
Dave, put your home address on the web site. A P.O. Box just doesn't cut it. People want to know where you live. I'm glad you saved the Post Office, but this campaign is quick. Put the address there. You could have an "after the campaign long-term address footnote, if you so desire." But, you purchased a house for goodness sakes. Be proud of that and list it.
dave4council.com - Dave Schuilenburg For Pittsburgh City Council District 1 PO Box#15170Otherwise, nice site. I love what you are talking about. The overall themes are right on. We do need action. We do need folks to serve without being driven by 'self interest.' We do need reform. We do need families with young children to move into and stay in and thrive within our neighborhoods.
Best of luck to you. Hope to meet you soon.
Dave Schuilenburg, you've got my attention. I'm listening.
Dave sent me an email.
Makes sense to me.
Mark;
Thank you for your kind comments & constructive criticism. The reason it was ultimately decided to go with a post office box is 2 fold. First, I have been having mail theft issues as of late, and you can imagine how that could make or break the campaign. Second, with all the community & non-profit work I do, many times, all the mail does not fit in the box.
Again, thanks for the nice comments, and I too look forward to finally meeting you too.
Respects,
Dave
Pa. voters asked to OK borrowing to help Gulf War vets
PennLive.com: NewsFlash - Pa. voters asked to OK borrowing to help Gulf War vets HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Nearly 33,000 Pennsylvania veterans who participated in the Persian Gulf War may qualify for state combat 'bonuses' of as much as $525 each if voters approve a $20 million bond issue that is on the Nov. 7 statewide ballot.
The payments, authorized by a law that lawmakers overwhelmingly approved and Gov. Ed Rendell signed with little fanfare in April, would be similar to previously authorized bonuses for veterans who served in or during wars dating back to the Spanish-American War in the late-1800s.
'Pennsylvania has had a history of providing a war/conflict bonus to resident veterans,' said Rep. Jerry L. Nailor, R-Cumberland, a sponsor of the bill.
Ravenstahl set to meet governor, legislators
Luke is on the road, and that is good news.
At the back of the article comes these insights that need attention.
Part of the Harrisburg bail out was a mandatory reduction in taxes that the city could charge. The city raised its parking tax to 50%, the highest in the country. The backlash in Harrisburg was such that the parking tax must drop in future years. Those forced cuts mean the city has millions in new holes to its budget.
Suburban legislatures, such as Orie, Turzi, Petrone, and city members of both chambers such as Diven, Frankle, Readshaw and others fumbled in great ways. Most, if not all, need to carry a great deal of blame. They should start all their conversations with a big sorry statement as to what they did and failed to do for the city. They were worthless. And, in the long-term, they were downright harmful.
Bill Peduto recently talked about the five year budget plan and said that the year by year outlook is bad in future years. He used a college word, something like, the budgets in years two, three and four are exponentially more difficult to balance.
The 'exponential' qualification is a over lavish statement and just false. But, it is harder in those out years to balance the city's figures due to what the state legislature did -- with Rendell's okay.
Lynn Swann and all the candidates who are running against sitting candidates should blast them for their hand in giving a hole-filled bailout to the city.
The bailout for the city was a feel good deed on the part of those in Harrisburg, because we had a jackass as a Mayor, Tom Murphy. Meanwhile, the bailout comes on like a kick in the teeth to city residents year after year -- as it keeps on giving, but only worse.
Then the news article from the P-G quotes 'political consensus' without any attribution. Think again Rich Lord. These folks in Harrisburg are not going to do anything for the city at this moment -- so I agree with the consensus part -- but for many other reasons. They are hardly fighting for re-election. That is not reality. Most of the people who work in Harrisburg from the Pittsburgh area have a free ride in their re-election bids. I wish that there was much more fighting for re-elections.
The Harrisburg government officials are not going to do anything for the city because they are ignorant of the facts. They don't know how the parking tax has been a boost to the city's budget. They don't understand how the gambling money has been a false savior and incomes were put into the budget from gambling by Tom Murphy two years ago. Such a joke from Fast Eddie Rendell and the dual overlords. They are clueless because the real facts of the matter are so poorly covered.
Furthermore, the folks who work in Harrisburg in official roles are not going to do anything for the city at this time because the folks who are on city council and who are in the mayor's administration don't have the vision, nor the drive, nor the crafted statements to take to Harrisburg.
The news article says Luke is going to Harrisburg to build bridges. Well, he should have been doing that as soon as he was elected, if not as soon as he began to campaign, if not as soon as he thought of himself as a potential advocate and citizen.
For years, people on city council have been told to 'butt out' with dealings in Harrisburg. They have. So now we have to send our Mayor to Harrisburg to build bridges.
Luke should be going to Harrisburg now to blow up tunnels, if you ask me. I'm speaking about those expensive light-rail tunnels that are going to go to the North Side stadiums -- a PAT project.
Luke, I could give you a long list of ideas to share with those in Harrisburg. They need to be given an education on matters that impact the city in grave ways.
Tell them the re-do of Point State Park is boneheaded and what we really need is a new governmental structure to allow for the creation of a park district so volunteerism soars around this region.
Tell them about the parking tax and how much was projected and delivered to the city's general fund, year in and year out. Then talk about how folks in the suburban reaches of the county can ride the bus to town and avoid traffic, lessen traffic, and skip out on the parking tax. Besides, PAT subsidizes them already while fare in the city, zone 1, are to climb to $2.50.
There has been a tax shift away from the ones who benefit from sprawl and to the ones who reside in the city's core. Mention the county's tax assessment mess.
Tell them about the city's school situation and how our special needs kids get excellent treatment and educations. Therefore the families in suburban neighborhoods with children with challenges often move districts, into the city, to get a better education. And, the state does little to support those educational needs. Futhermore, the formulas and caps have been working against the city school district for more than a decade.
Luke, you can begin to recruit for a new police chief too. Tell people you need top candidates for the new opening. Plus, as the new police officers are headed to the force, as part of a hyped-filled promise by some campaign somewhere, -- you'll be wanting to hire crossing guards for city streets. Crossing guards are effective and affordable. And, you'll empower them like never before and make them new darlings of enformcement and communications -- plus safety.
Finally, Luke, tell the governor and others seeking re-election that you won't film any campaign commercials for candidates while seated behind your desk on Grant Street at Tom Murphy did four years ago. And, if that was to happen again, you'd file charges yourself.
At the back of the article comes these insights that need attention.
Ravenstahl set to meet governor, legislators The Legislature approved a tax boost for the city in late 2004, but city leaders have said it isn't enough to cover rising costs expected a few years from now.The Legislature provided a "bail out package" for the city. The bail out was a joke. Everyone in Harrisburg needs to take ownership and blame for the bailout.
The consensus in political circles is that no new help for the city will be coming this year, since most state officials are fighting for re-election.
Part of the Harrisburg bail out was a mandatory reduction in taxes that the city could charge. The city raised its parking tax to 50%, the highest in the country. The backlash in Harrisburg was such that the parking tax must drop in future years. Those forced cuts mean the city has millions in new holes to its budget.
Suburban legislatures, such as Orie, Turzi, Petrone, and city members of both chambers such as Diven, Frankle, Readshaw and others fumbled in great ways. Most, if not all, need to carry a great deal of blame. They should start all their conversations with a big sorry statement as to what they did and failed to do for the city. They were worthless. And, in the long-term, they were downright harmful.
Bill Peduto recently talked about the five year budget plan and said that the year by year outlook is bad in future years. He used a college word, something like, the budgets in years two, three and four are exponentially more difficult to balance.
The 'exponential' qualification is a over lavish statement and just false. But, it is harder in those out years to balance the city's figures due to what the state legislature did -- with Rendell's okay.
Lynn Swann and all the candidates who are running against sitting candidates should blast them for their hand in giving a hole-filled bailout to the city.
The bailout for the city was a feel good deed on the part of those in Harrisburg, because we had a jackass as a Mayor, Tom Murphy. Meanwhile, the bailout comes on like a kick in the teeth to city residents year after year -- as it keeps on giving, but only worse.
Then the news article from the P-G quotes 'political consensus' without any attribution. Think again Rich Lord. These folks in Harrisburg are not going to do anything for the city at this moment -- so I agree with the consensus part -- but for many other reasons. They are hardly fighting for re-election. That is not reality. Most of the people who work in Harrisburg from the Pittsburgh area have a free ride in their re-election bids. I wish that there was much more fighting for re-elections.
The Harrisburg government officials are not going to do anything for the city because they are ignorant of the facts. They don't know how the parking tax has been a boost to the city's budget. They don't understand how the gambling money has been a false savior and incomes were put into the budget from gambling by Tom Murphy two years ago. Such a joke from Fast Eddie Rendell and the dual overlords. They are clueless because the real facts of the matter are so poorly covered.
Furthermore, the folks who work in Harrisburg in official roles are not going to do anything for the city at this time because the folks who are on city council and who are in the mayor's administration don't have the vision, nor the drive, nor the crafted statements to take to Harrisburg.
The news article says Luke is going to Harrisburg to build bridges. Well, he should have been doing that as soon as he was elected, if not as soon as he began to campaign, if not as soon as he thought of himself as a potential advocate and citizen.
For years, people on city council have been told to 'butt out' with dealings in Harrisburg. They have. So now we have to send our Mayor to Harrisburg to build bridges.
Luke should be going to Harrisburg now to blow up tunnels, if you ask me. I'm speaking about those expensive light-rail tunnels that are going to go to the North Side stadiums -- a PAT project.
Luke, I could give you a long list of ideas to share with those in Harrisburg. They need to be given an education on matters that impact the city in grave ways.
Tell them the re-do of Point State Park is boneheaded and what we really need is a new governmental structure to allow for the creation of a park district so volunteerism soars around this region.
Tell them about the parking tax and how much was projected and delivered to the city's general fund, year in and year out. Then talk about how folks in the suburban reaches of the county can ride the bus to town and avoid traffic, lessen traffic, and skip out on the parking tax. Besides, PAT subsidizes them already while fare in the city, zone 1, are to climb to $2.50.
There has been a tax shift away from the ones who benefit from sprawl and to the ones who reside in the city's core. Mention the county's tax assessment mess.
Tell them about the city's school situation and how our special needs kids get excellent treatment and educations. Therefore the families in suburban neighborhoods with children with challenges often move districts, into the city, to get a better education. And, the state does little to support those educational needs. Futhermore, the formulas and caps have been working against the city school district for more than a decade.
Luke, you can begin to recruit for a new police chief too. Tell people you need top candidates for the new opening. Plus, as the new police officers are headed to the force, as part of a hyped-filled promise by some campaign somewhere, -- you'll be wanting to hire crossing guards for city streets. Crossing guards are effective and affordable. And, you'll empower them like never before and make them new darlings of enformcement and communications -- plus safety.
Finally, Luke, tell the governor and others seeking re-election that you won't film any campaign commercials for candidates while seated behind your desk on Grant Street at Tom Murphy did four years ago. And, if that was to happen again, you'd file charges yourself.
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Pa. lawmakers disagree on call for state constitutional convention
To those without an ability to think outside the box -- there is only one pathway. Get creative -- as there are many ways to get meaningful reform.
Mostly, however, I'd want to replace first and then reform. I'm very scared of reform with the same folks that are in there now.
If measure of reform get lost in the shuffle -- then perhaps the shuffle needs a new groove. The beat goes on for some -- while others just can't dance.
Those who are in the way need to be replaced.
Those who are in office now can't and won't want to make fundamental reforms, by and large.
And, my goodness, we don't need "ONE RALLYING CRY." No way.
We need harmony. We need balance. We need many voices. We need many rounds and multiple verses. The one-cry unity bunk is NOT okay for something as grand as a constitutional convention.
The Bill of Rights wasn't put into one declaration nor amendment.
Any construct of a conventional convention in Pennsylvania needs to examine Philly and what it means to be a city of the first class, a city of the second class and all the other cities in the commonwealth.
It might be best to have the greater Philly region remove itself from Pennsylvania. They can form their own, 51st state.
Then if they do a good job in setting up their own constutional convention -- we'll be watching.
A prohibition on lame-duck sessions can be done by house and senate leadership. And, others in the bodies. You don't need a new constituion to handle that.
A prohibition on extra compensation for legislators is already in the constitution. Too bad you, Jim Ferlo, didn't stand up and say a word about this while it was moving into becoming an illegal bill. Senator Ferlo voted "no" -- but didn't make a point of order nor issue a single statement, as person with a voice -- and a vote. Nobody said anything -- not even 'boo.'
The reconsideration of compensation for state judges does NOT require a constituional convention either. And, the talk about judges is more of a moment to moment political issue, not a way to govern ourselves.
Pa. lawmakers disagree on call for state constitutional convention That's the only way to achieve meaningful reform, said Mr. Ferlo, D-Highland Park.Perhaps a constitutional convention is the best way to achieve meaningful reform. However, it isn't the only way.
Mostly, however, I'd want to replace first and then reform. I'm very scared of reform with the same folks that are in there now.
If measure of reform get lost in the shuffle -- then perhaps the shuffle needs a new groove. The beat goes on for some -- while others just can't dance.
Those who are in the way need to be replaced.
Those who are in office now can't and won't want to make fundamental reforms, by and large.
And, my goodness, we don't need "ONE RALLYING CRY." No way.
We need harmony. We need balance. We need many voices. We need many rounds and multiple verses. The one-cry unity bunk is NOT okay for something as grand as a constitutional convention.
The Bill of Rights wasn't put into one declaration nor amendment.
Any construct of a conventional convention in Pennsylvania needs to examine Philly and what it means to be a city of the first class, a city of the second class and all the other cities in the commonwealth.
It might be best to have the greater Philly region remove itself from Pennsylvania. They can form their own, 51st state.
Then if they do a good job in setting up their own constutional convention -- we'll be watching.
A prohibition on lame-duck sessions can be done by house and senate leadership. And, others in the bodies. You don't need a new constituion to handle that.
A prohibition on extra compensation for legislators is already in the constitution. Too bad you, Jim Ferlo, didn't stand up and say a word about this while it was moving into becoming an illegal bill. Senator Ferlo voted "no" -- but didn't make a point of order nor issue a single statement, as person with a voice -- and a vote. Nobody said anything -- not even 'boo.'
The reconsideration of compensation for state judges does NOT require a constituional convention either. And, the talk about judges is more of a moment to moment political issue, not a way to govern ourselves.
Pennsylvania Gubernatorial Websites Show Importance of Internet Campaigning
Pennsylvania Gubernatorial Websites Show Importance of Internet Campaigning Now, no candidate can even think of getting elected without a webpage. The question no longer is who has a website, but whose is the best. This year's Pennsylvania Gubernatorial race between Democratic incumbent Ed Rendell and Republican former Pittsburgh Steeler football player Lynn Swann is a case in point. The better website just might determine who wins the election.Only a bloke in Illinois would think that the web sites of Swann and Rendell are going to make the difference in the election.
Furthermore, City Councilman, Jeff Koch, D, won an election on March 14, 2006 -- without a web site. He beat a field with eight other candidates.
Saturday, September 30, 2006
'Katie's Revenge' tattoo by force
When and how do you make something like this right? Never?
The photo came out into the open, and that is good.
Meanwhile, two prison guards suspected of supplying the picture (photo) were fired. That's bad. Suspend pending an investigation. Transfer to another facility, pending an investigation.
When does evidence become open to review by others -- by orders of law?
I worry and wonder about whistleblowers. I wonder if those who we suspect are worthy of job termination.
Or, there is also a bit of doubt that isn't too far from the realm of being. Are we certain that the brutalized act was only among inmates?
CNN.com - Officials:�Inmate got 'Katie's Revenge' tattoo by force - Sep 29, 2006 Two prison guards suspected of supplying the picture were fired for making unauthorized copies of an evidence photo, said Rich Larsen, a spokesman for the Wabash Valley state prison in Carlisle, about 70 miles north of Evansville.In my opinion, and it is a humble opinion, as one needs to walk softly through a ton of issues and crap, things get better with light, not darkness. Shine a light on it.
The photo came out into the open, and that is good.
Meanwhile, two prison guards suspected of supplying the picture (photo) were fired. That's bad. Suspend pending an investigation. Transfer to another facility, pending an investigation.
When does evidence become open to review by others -- by orders of law?
I worry and wonder about whistleblowers. I wonder if those who we suspect are worthy of job termination.
Or, there is also a bit of doubt that isn't too far from the realm of being. Are we certain that the brutalized act was only among inmates?
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