Stay safe and smile -- and Happy Halloween to all

Stay safe out there with trick-or-treaters.

Smile.

China comes through

China's Foreign Ministry says North Korea has agreed to rejoin six-nation nuclear disarmament talks, wire services report.

Energy drinks wire teens, worry me

I'm worried about these energy drink. This topic needs to be a new wellness issue talked about in schools and with coaches and teams.

Pittsburgh's market has had a long-standing energy drink for some years. It is called, "Ice Tea." Folks around here gulp the boxed iced tea by the half-gallon.

That stuff is strong in terms of its stimulant.

The State | 10/30/2006 | Energy drinks wire teens, worry others Energy drinks wire teens, worry others
By CARLA K. JOHNSON The Associated Press

CHICAGO — More than 500 new energy drinks launched worldwide this year, and coffee fans are probably too old to understand why.

Energy drinks aren’t merely popular with young people. They attract fan mail on their own MySpace pages. They spawn urban legends. They get reviewed by bloggers. And they taste like carbonated cough syrup.

Vying for the dollars of teenagers with promises of weight loss, increased endurance and legal highs, the new products join top-sellers Red Bull, Monster and Rockstar to make up a $3.4 billion-a-year industry that grew by 80 percent last year.

Thirty-one percent of U.S. teenagers say they drink energy drinks, according to Simmons Research. That represents 7.6 million teens, a jump of almost 3 million in three years.

Nutritionists warn that the drinks, laden with caffeine and sugar, can hook kids on an unhealthy jolt-and-crash cycle. The caffeine comes from multiple sources, making it hard to tell how much the drinks contain. Some have B vitamins, which when taken in megadoses can cause rapid heartbeat, and numbness and tingling in the hands and feet.

Fast Break for Fathers and Families at UPMC SportsWorks, Sunday

Bring your kids. Fast Break for Fathers and Families is this weekend at UPMC SportsWorks on the North Side. Doors open for the event at 5 pm. Nancy Crago from Penn State has arranged for the Dairy Association to give away free yogurt-type snacks on site. She also has stickers and water bottles.

Charity Leonette from the Library will have literacy-type items and interesting crafts for the children. Read 365 donated bookmarks and a Great Dads Books list. The Three Rivers Adoption Council has graciously donated Caught Being Good stickers - 8 per child, Because Every Child Needs a Family heart magnet and Great African Americans of the 21st Century activities book. We have white paper bags to place all of the items donated by them, as well. Unfortunately, the Pirate Parrot and Pierogi will not be there, but they are interested in making appearances next year.

More than 150 people attended. A good time was had by all.

Volunteers who are not coaches, part of Penn State or the Library can help to stuff bags after the initial registration is completed.

Salon Interview: Camille Paglia | Salon.com

Salon Interview: Camille Paglia | Salon.com But I was still amazed at all those servile TV reviewers who raved about the recent four-hour PBS documentary about Andy Warhol. What a tedious, pretentious program -- with its funereal music and preening, jargon-spouting talking heads. Shows like that do incalculable damage to the reputation of the fine arts in the U.S. And this was about one of the most populist artists ever! Warhol, who came from working-class Pittsburgh, spoke directly to the mass audience with his Campbell's soup cans and Brillo boxes. And where was the protest about [director Ric] Burns' censoring out of Warhol's pioneering drag queens? It was outrageous, but the cowed reviewers didn't utter a single peep.

Urban planning forum set for Wednesday - Pittsburgh Business Times:

Urban planning forum set for Wednesday - Pittsburgh Business Times:: "Urban planning forum set for Wednesday
Pittsburgh Business Times - 4:08 PM EDT Friday
by Dan Reynolds

An urban planning forum inspired by Pittsburgh's late Mayor Bob O'Connor's idea to 'Redd Up' the city is scheduled to kick off on the North Side on Wednesday.

What's being dubbed the Pittsburgh Green Forum on Vacant Land Revitalization will be held at the Pittsburgh Project offices on Charles Street on the North Side next week.

Architects, environmental engineers and other businesses interested in supporting green growth in Pittsburgh are urged to attend and give their ideas on the topic of creating a plan for green spaces and networks using abandoned land in the city.

The forum hopes to find ways to make better use of the city's approximately 23,000 vacant lots.

The way to make better use of the vacant land is to tax it. Don't tax the buildings that go on the land. Rather, put a heavy burden on the land itself.

The Land Value Tax is the key to this problem.

Bob O'Connor did a lot to change tax policy and make it easy for downtown buildings to go vacant. And, his policy of a unified tax plan rewards those that tear down homes, let property decline. His policy needs to be reversed.

Now in all fairness to the late O'Connor. Bob had to do it to get over the hurt caused by the botched Sabre Systems re-assessments. But, the fix should have been for one year and the fix should have been such so as to allow for time to get the land value records for each property into a corrected condition. That long-term solution wasn't forthcoming from O'Connor.

Pa. Senate corrects lobbying, slots bills

Corruption proof, so says Ed Rendell. Yeah, right.

Pa. Senate corrects lobbying, slots bills Mr. Rendell praised this change, saying it 'sends a strong message to would-be criminals and will help make Pennsylvania's gaming industry corruption-proof. We will not tolerate any nefarious players in our gaming industry.'

The one gambling reform measure that I wanted, and have called for, is a sunset of the casino licenses. These bone-headed state lawmakers sold gambling licenses (or are in the process of selling them) that do not expire. The casino licenses they sold, for a one-time fee, go forever.

PA's Casino licenses go forever, like a palace of royalty that lives as it is god's will.

Only royalty and a corrupt official would ever belive, yet alone say in a newspaper, that any institution was 'corruption proof.'

Free Food and Pat Toomey - BLOGGER is BROKEN! I can't update this site, sadly.

Pat Toomey ran against PA's Senior US Senator in a hard primary battle two years ago. He had been in the US Congress and had put a term limit on himself and kept to his promise and didn't run for that next term. Since getting out of Congress, he has been with the an the Club For Growth.

Yummy.

Pat spoke at an event I attended about a month ago hosted by the Allegheny Institute, a local issues think tank. Pat gave a nice presentation on various matters.

I asked him specific questions about the lack of support for candidates in viable positions in elections who are not from the D nor R party. His answer was less than desired, to say the least. The Club For Growth has given money and attention that then draws donors for D candidates as well as mostly R candidates. But, great free market candidates who are not D nor R need not apply, sadly.

But, that's not stopping anyone from getting a free meal with the Rs picking up the tab in the following events.

I won't be attending.

There were a few questions about Pat's ambition. He might be a great governor candidate in four more years. Or, he might run for another office. Perhaps A.Specter won't run for another term next time? Perhaps Pat might make a grab to run for the PA Treasurer's job should Bob Casey, Jr. get elected?

Please Join Keynote Speaker Former Congressman Pat Toomey (R-PA) for a Republican National Committee Conservative Outreach Complimentary Event in Pennsylvania on November 1st or 2nd.

Respect for Life. Traditional Values.

Pat Toomey will speak. He is a pro-life and pro-family champion. He will address why he is also a Republican. He will be discussing why conservatives should strongly support Pennsylvania Republican candidates this November 7th.

SUBURBAN PITTSBURGH, Wednesday, November 1, 2006, 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM, Four Points Sheraton, 910 Sheraton Drive, Mars, PA 16046 Complimentary Dinner Will Be Served.

BUCKS COUNTY/ALLENTOWN AREA, Thursday, November 2, 2006, 7:30 AM to 8:45 AM, Revivals Restaurant, 4 South Ridge Road, Perkasie, PA 18944-0322, Complimentary Breakfast Will Be Served.

SCRANTON/WILKES-BARRE AREA, Thursday, November 2, 2006, 12:00 PM to 1:15 PM, Wilkes-Barre Republican Victory Center, 41 South Main Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701, Complimentary Lunch Will Be Served.

SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA, Thursday, November 2, 2006, 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM, Blue Bell Republican Victory Center, 1257 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422, Complimentary Dinner Will Be Served.

Please RSVP for this event by emailing Martin Gillespie at mgillespie@rnchq.org or by phone at (202) 863-8605.

Please be certain to specify which event you will be attending - and feel free to bring friends and family!

If you do attend, please don't start a food fight on my behalf.

Hungry? Watch the Video

Ms. Adventures on the Mon: BIG BEN UNABLE TO PERFORM "BERNADETTE'S WEIRD ARM THING," FORCED TO SIT OUT SUNDAY'S GAME AGAINST RAIDERS

Ms. Adventures on the Mon: BIG BEN UNABLE TO PERFORM "BERNADETTE'S WEIRD ARM THING," FORCED TO SIT OUT SUNDAY'S GAME AGAINST RAIDERS The highly calibrated test, which among other things, checks for range-of-motion ability and hand/eye coordination, was instituted as standard medical practice in 1986, and is considered to be the neuroscientific breakthrough equivalent of the Rorschach Test, which is used to evaluate a person's psychological condition.

I've been waiting for the opportunity to publish these masks from Opera in China.

Looks like he had his bell rung.

M. Hodge, perhaps?

Another reason why I coach swimming.

We've got our own tests in swimming. The basic one is what I call "opposites." It is a range of motion flexibility exercise. One arm swings around forward while the other swings around backwards. Then part tow of the ballistic excercise is called "opposite opposities."

Furthermore, I train the swimmers that I coach to be able to swim reverse. Even for great swimmers, this skill is difficult. Swimmers start in the lane with the hands in the gutter and the feet into the direction they'll swim. Then they swim feet first. And, we move the arms in all the styles of swimming an I.M. (fly, back, breast, free). Think of those old Super 8 movies playing in reverse.

Chief of operations loses his office - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Chief of operations loses his office - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 'There's no reason for the car,' said James Broussard, chairman of the Central Pennsylvania-based Citizens Against Higher Taxes. 'The car is available because it's part of the job, but he's not on the job.'

Does this story have wheels or not?

Luke said on the radio today, Thursday, at 11 am or so, that Dennis does NOT have use of his car any longer.

So, we've got conflicting stories. ???

Dennis might be a good one for hire by Jeff Koch. Jeff is going to need to have some muscle to win his re-election to Council in the spring.

Who needs a bowling league to make friends when there's the Web? - USATODAY.com

Fess up. Who is the singer in Pittsburgh?

Who needs a bowling league to make friends when there's the Web? - USATODAY.com At SpliceMusic.com, they call this 'rich media networking.' Splice offers online music recording and mixing. A singer in Pittsburgh, a guitarist in Saskatoon and a drummer in Swaziland could work together on Splice to record a song. To facilitate that, Splice built in ways for like-minded people to find each other and build relationships around creating music.

'We see that as a sticky and addictive form of interaction,' says Splice's Thomas Hutcheson.

Stickey, no less.

PodCamp UnConferences / PodCampPittsburghSessions

I'm going to present at PodCamp Pittsburgh, on Sunday afternoon. Try to attend.

PodCamp UnConferences / PodCampPittsburghSessions 1:45 Mark Rauterkus: Thinking again with community interactions, plus vision and political jazz. Mark has been there with public domain art, open-source ideals, tech tools, house concerts and hybrid CD campaign handouts.

911-plank - PittsburghPlatform - concerning the NEW 3-1-1 phone do-hickey from Pgh, PA

Hop over

The 3-1-1 phone system is now working. This is a success. And, I'll take the credit for hatching the idea in public.

911-plank - PittsburghPlatform 911-plank
(Revision as of 20:26, 1 Mar 2006)

* The city should start a 311 system, like 911, but for less urgent calls.

Back in March, 2006, this page was on the Platform.For-Pgh.org.

Leap

At the Post-Gazette editorial board meeting with all the candidates in the city council race in 2006's special election, I raised the 3-1-1 system as something that I'd be sure to start. And, the P-G editors wrote about it, giving credit that I've raised plenty of good ideas.

Another feature that should also be considered, if anyone is listening, is Reverse 9-1-1. In the time of an emergency, we should have the technology tools to make phone calls out to various citizens and give warnings and updates.

Don't crash

The benefits of a Reverse 9-1-1 system are clear when you think about the events that unfolded on Friday in New Brighton. A freight train went off the tracks and a fireball was created. Some of the train's cars went into the river. Residents were evacuated.

With a Reverse 9-1-1 system, the authorities would have been able to call everyone within a mile of the accident telling them of the dangers, how to exit the area and where to turn for more insights.

Trip

Another big concern with the 3-1-1 system and today's announcement from Grant Street is the second point in the platform, also published formally in the Platform.For-Pgh.org months and months ago. I would NOT and we SHOULD NOT use the services as a way to self-promote. The 3-1-1 line should not be known as the Ravenstahl Response Line. That's wrong Luke.

I hated how the "Mayor's Complaint Center" was branded by Tom Murphy. I hated how it operated. I hated how it was closed as well.

Flop

Those that are on Grant Street should not be sending out postcards and putting up billboards for self-promotion on these technical matters of city life.

Otherwise, we'll need to counter with their names on things that are also failures and not around here any longer.

Should we name the soon to close Wabash Tunnel the Alan Hertzberg Tunnel?

Skip

Should we name the City's Charter Amendments after Jim Ferlo, in that we can't tell when to hold an election after the passing of Bob O'Connor due to its conflicting text?

Float

Should we name the city's lone, closed indoor ice rink after Gene Ricciardi, a long-time councilmember and past head of the Committee that directed Citiparks.

Navigate

Should we name the absent Halloween Parade after Tom Murphy. The South Side used to have a wonderful parade down East Carson Street with nearly ten marching bands. The dancers and musicians were often dressed up in costume too. Then the kids of the region were able to march and compete for prizes and even cash. But, the Haloween Parade on the South Side is just a memory now -- thanks to Tom Murphy. So, let's name it after HIM -- a Ghost Parade in 2006.

Glide

Then the Market House Youth Soccer League can be named after Jeff Koch, D, City Councilmember. There was a league there last year but it is GONE now. More than 90 kids used to play in three different levels three night s a week -- until Jeff came into office. See some photos -- as you can't find it in the real world now.

Clear

Those that want to slap their name onto things for self-promotion with public money need to watch out. The folly of that move can backfire.

Jump

Luke, you'd be wise to NOT call the 3-1-1 system the Ravenstahl Response Line.

Remember, I thought of 3-1-1 for Pittsburgh, published the idea, blabbed about it, was quoted in the newspaper about it too -- before Luke took the 3-1-1 concept over from Bob O'Connor. Bob O'Connor took a page from my playbook, again, and I'm happy he did.

I'm going to be happy to use the 3-1-1 line and services as necessary in the months to come. I'm not going to be happy to see self promotion on any city property from any politician.

In Australia, they use two words that are of interest to this conversation. One is "nick." The other "flog." To nick someone's idea or work is to take it, use it, re-deploy it and keep a low-key approach to the lifting. But to "flog" is to steal the idea and be overboard with boasting and of a grand attitude of the idea.

I don't want to see Luke "flog" just as I hated to see Tom Murphy put his name on garbage cans on sidewalks and grafitti trucks.

Furthermore, there are hundreds of additional ideas, great ideas, that can flow from my domain. Use them all you want. Put them into the system so we can fix the city. The ideas are not 'mine' really -- as I often harvest them from elsewhere anyway.

Nick freely and repeatedly.

Buck

Footnote: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_slang

Easy.
Hold up and horse around, not over. Not easily.

West End Event proceeds without the co-star

Missing from debate, Tom Petrone, D, payjacker.

Last night was the only time when Bill Ogden, challenger, was set to square off at a community forum with long-time State Representative, Tom Petrone. Petrone didn't attend.

Sure, Petrone has an excuse. He was in Harrisburg and a few last minute things are getting some attention, such as gambling reform and lobby disclosure efforts. Neither of these are Petrone's domain however.

All in all, from what I gather, the event was a success for Bill Ogden.

Public Calendar with Google

Feel free to click and subscribe to the calendar and catch the events I post there.

Baseball in the Ashes - Detroit insights

Baseball in the Ashes Baseball in the Ashes by Dave Zirin

The Detroit Tigers are in the World Series and a historical look comes from a great sports journalist, Dave Zirin. He talks about race and hitory. Plus, about a time past when the Tigers played in the fall classic.

Visiting with Australia's Olympic Motivational Coach

Coaches: (L-to-R) Rauterkus, Bower, & Laurie Lawrence of Australia.

Check out the video below and witness a bit of the pep talk and poem he delivered to the guys at camp this summer.



Watch the Video

Links:

http://www.laurielawrence.com.au/


ISHOF - Laurie Lawrence (AUS) - 1996 Honor Coach From being around the Townsville Pool his father ran, and sparked into swimming by the legendary Hall of Famer Jon Henricks, Laurie Lawrence has become a swimming legend and a maker of champions, capable of lifting the spirits of those around him to soaring heights. He is many other things too - extrovert, patriot, poet, humorist, singer and now the most sought after motivational speaker in Australia. His swimmers have set over seventeen world records, and he has coached Aussie Teams to three Commonwealth Games and three Olympic teams. He possesses the qualities with which he works to instill in every competitor: be proud, persist, work hard, stand tall, don't quit, don't bend, don't break, don't fall.


http://www.laurielawrenceswimschool.com.au/

Tricks or Treats?

Are you getting ready? Got your costume? Got your treats?

Candidate Forum for PA House Race: Ogden challenges Petrone, a 16 term D pay-jacker

The square off is slated for 7 pm on Monday, October 23, 2006 at Thaddeus Stevens School, of the Pgh Public Schools in the Elliott / Westend area of the city.

The forum has three parts: Intro, Bio and Vision, plus questions from audience. Plus, candidates ask each other questions.

Bill Ogden says he is NOT the type to debate "Party Lines" at this forum nor anywhere. He has the belief that the people should vote for the Person and Not the Party. He asks that people attend with an objective and open mind, and without party mantras.

Blog's pop quiz

Trick or Treat Quiz:

Where am I?

Hint, floor 1 is at the top in the elevator and at the top of the building.

Put your answer in the comments. Winner gets 12 Trick or Treat Goodies that we'll be passing out at our place on the 31st.