Rodriguez To Stay At West Virginia

Is this news grounds for lighting up some furnature?

Rodriguez To Stay At West Virginia - Sports West Virginia football coach Rich Rodriguez held a press conference Friday to confirm that he has turned down an offer to coach at Alabama and will remain with the Mountaineers.

There was speculation that Rodriguez would accept Alabama's reported six-year contract offer, but that ultimately proved inaccurate.

'I fully respect his decision and wish him the best,' said Alabama athletic director Mal Moore in a statement. 'I want to remind everyone of what I said at the outset of this process: my only objective is to get the best person available to lead the Alabama football program.'

Roll, Tide, Roll -- except over them thar hills of West Virginia.

I really think Pitt should play its spring game at Cupples Stadium on the South Side. That will be the team's next game. If that news was made public on the morning of the Gator Bowl, we could have a huddle around 10th Street and set fire to a couch or two to psych up for the Blue-Gold game.

You never know, a real 'Festivus Party' might ensue too. Festivus, the holiday for the rest of us.

Iraq Study Group: United States Institute of Peace

Iraq Study Group: United States Institute of Peace: IRAQ STUDY GROUP REPORT

PDF Download the report 962 KB

In our efforts to make this report available to all, the report may be downloaded, reproduced, and translated free of charge. The United States Institute of Peace would appreciate being informed of translations so that we may direct our international readers to the respective versions.

This is how you make a report available. It is without any restrictions nor copy protection.

Walkways above traffic make great sense. We need much more of this in Pittsburgh, especially in Oakland.

100 days and a Bob O'Connor birthday passes

Today is the birthday of the late mayor, Bob O'Connor. We miss you Bob.

Luke's been the mayor for 100 days.

Tom Murphy was mayor a year ago, finishing his 12 year term at the boss in city hall and of the D party in the city. About this time last year there was a photo of all the 'shovels' in Tom's office being cleared out as he was packing to leave.

That's plays right into the song, "Lay the Shovel Down."

In the last 100 days, we've had a chance, be it fleeting, to nuke the notion of the building of the tunnel under the Allegheny River. Now we look to the bypass being closed for a year so it will be harder to drive from the South (airport) to the Convention Center.

MacYapper was defending Tom Murphy last night on his show. Many of the ills we face in this city are going to be holding us back for years to come -- thanks to Tom Murphy. We've got to pin some blame on him and have it leave town so we can get to the solutions. But, we need to understand the past and history -- else we are sure to repeat the same mistakes.

I think it is a mistake for the mayor's office and its administration to do a lot of slow-dances with the neighborhood development coroporations. Murphy did a lot of swapping of spit with them. City council still does.

Last week Jim Motznik gave away (like it is his to give) $2,500 to a re-start of the Overbrook neighborhood group.

We need development groups. But, we need to get these relationships into a tighter focus. Bob O'Connor gave those interactions some focus in jump starting the redd up campaign. He had people putting on the work gloves and getting away from the blueprints and building of new upscale condos -- condos that take eight to ten years on average to be finished and another few to finally sell. (I'm a bit overboard. Some have sold quickly. All have taken long to materialize.)

Running Mate, Tom L. is doing the news on Saturday with AM 1360

Way to go Tom. How long have you had that gig? No wonder you've been quiet in the blogging world.

Great for you and 1360. What are the details?

Image Quiz: Can you tell what's going on here?

Hint: This has nothing to do with a traffic jam on the PA Turnpike, after it is sold and the new owners go bankrupt.

Hints: All slides are from the same, larger canvas. This is very old.

Pothole.

Co-ed.

I took these photos as we were visiting a museum.

If you can tell what's happening, leave a note in the comments area.

Snowfall 'hit at the worst possible time' - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Traffic sucked last night. Locals know this. Everyone was stuck in it.

Let's fix it. No more Steeler games on Thursday nights. None. The mayor can tell the NFL that our stadium is not for lease on a Thursday night.

Snowfall 'hit at the worst possible time' - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Traffic snarls were heavy leading in and out of Pittsburgh as workers headed home and Pittsburgh Steelers fans headed to Heinz Field on the North Shore, many arriving after the start of yesterday's game with the Cleveland Browns.

At one point, bumper-to-bumper traffic along the Parkway West stretched from the Fort Pitt Tunnels to Robinson Town Centre.

It took more than an hour for some people to get out of a parking garage in Oakland. Not even on the street. Then it wasn't any better.

One guy called into the radio show and said he had been on the Bloomfield bridge for more than an hour.

It took us far more than an hour to get to swim practice too.

I think the Steelers should play its games on Sundays at 1 pm. We should do this for economic reasons.

Calendar: Vacant Land Management in Pgh - hot news with buy-back of tax leins.

Forum: Green Strategies for Vacant Land Management in Pittsburgh is Wed Dec 13 noon to 1:15.

Pittsburgh to pay MBIA $6.5 million for tax liens Pittsburgh to pay MBIA $6.5 million for tax liens By CHRISTINE RICHARD, BLOOMBERG NEWS

Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said the city will buy back tax liens from bond insurer MBIA Inc. that were used as collateral for debt securities and have been blamed for holding up redevelopment of the city's most blighted areas.

Pittsburgh will pay $6.5 million for the liens on about 11,000 derelict properties, according to an e-mailed press release yesterday from the mayor's office. Armonk-based MBIA controls about three quarters of all real estate with tax liens in Pittsburgh, and nothing could be done to improve the properties until the bills were paid or MBIA wrote them off.

12-year-old life saver in the surf saves two and gets national honors

ASCAOnline - Your Coaching Resource MORRO BAY, Calif. – Twelve-year-old Trent Popovich, a USA Swimming Junior Olympian, will be recognized today with the United States Lifesaving Association’s Heroic Act Award for his successful rescue of two young girls from the California surf on February 12, 2006. Popovich was surfing near the Cayucos Pier when he heard the cries of the girls, ages eight and 10, who were caught in the riptide. An accomplished competitive swimmer, he rescued both girls by lifting them on to his surfboard and swimming them to the shore.

The full article is in the comments. This part about the parents makes me smile. The photos of the surfers are mine, not the real lifesaver hero.

In local lifesaving news, we've got some who have made some serious saves in our neighborhoods too. They should get awards and honors.

Jim, Grant, Mark and Erik from the photo album "Beach in Maine." Click to see more photos.

Call out from Compos Mkt Research for parents of folks in middle school

A Pgh firm is currently conducting a research project on Public Education and is looking for qualified participants.

Parent/Legal Guardian of middle or high school aged children

Must live in a city neighborhood where children could attend a Pittsburgh Public School

Students can be currently attending a Pittsburgh Public School or any other type of schooling

If you could potentially qualify and are interested in coming into our downtown Pittsburgh offices for participation, please give us a call. If you know anyone else who may potentially qualify and is interested in participating, please pass the info along and ask them to give us a call.

412-471-8484 ext. 506
Calls will be returned in the evening between 5:00 and 8:45 pm.

In your message, please state your full name, mention the topic of the project, and leave a telephone number where you can be reached in the evening and/or a cell phone number.

I just volunteered. I'm not sure if it pays or not. Some of their focus groups give a token bit of cash.

Erik's first middle school swim meet, with photos & videos too.

Erik swam his first swim meet yesterday, at Greenway Middle School, now home to PCA.

This photo album shows a few photos and videos. Plus, we took the technique shots to aid in his science project. It is a test about push-off disances in different body positions.

Frick-swim

Wanta date? I'll show you mine if you show me yours.

I think I'll put the agenda calendar on my sidebar soon. Just testing. What do you think?

Sell the PA Turnpike... Look to the future of transportation and a better idea

So, they are taking bids for the sale of the PA Turnpike. Get your bid in by the end of the year. It took about ten years to get gambling expansion in the state. But the PA Turnpike can sell in six weeks. What's up with the rush?

How about if we take our best bid, and then hold a state-wide referendum.

This is how we'll get around Pennsylvania after selling the PA Turnpike and its owners go out of business years later due to infrastructure decay.

In China, when you purchase property, you can only buy it for 99 years. That's all. You purchase a house, you've got the deed for 99 years. You sell the house in 10 years, you can sell the deed for 89 years.

If PA sells the PA Turnpike, I think we should NOT sell it FOREVER. Sunset the sale. Sell the PA Turnpike for 99 years. Or, sell it for 30 years.

Don't sell the PA Turnpike forever. Then in 99 years, we'll be able to sell it again. In 99 years, our great grandkids will be able to reap another windfall from this deal.

It was stupid to sell the gambling casino licenses for $50-million without an EXPIRATION DATE. The licenses should be for 30 years on gambling. Then in 25 years, we can 'think again.' Really, it is our kids that will be able to think again. Let them decide what to do with their world.

Report warns 'free' Wi-Fi could spell trouble

I didn't jump on the Wi-Fi bandwagon in the summer of 2006. The Wi-Fi was to be hooked up the All-Star Game, but came late.

In some schools in the UK, they are unplugging Wi-Fi because of health concerns for the teachers and students. Now comes this report that hits more to some of my concerns months ago.

Report warns 'free' Wi-Fi could spell trouble: "Report warns 'free' Wi-Fi could spell trouble

Wednesday, December 06, 2006
By Corilyn Shropshire, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Cities thinking about launching a wireless Internet network should know that Wi-Fi rarely comes without strings attached.

A study released yesterday by free-market think tank the Reason Foundation cautioned that municipalities should make sure the projects are both technologically and financially viable before jumping into the Wi-Fi fray.

Whether the Wi-Fi network is free or financed with taxpayer dollars, 'If officials get into the broadband [Internet] business, they are entering a field where the technology they bought today is obsolete tomorrow,' said Adrian Moore, a vice president of research at the Los Angeles-based foundation and one of the report's authors."

But on another front, it was good to hear that the University of Pittsburgh is rolling out Wi-Fi in Oakland and at each of its branch campus settings.

I love the idea that Pitt is doing Wi-Fi. That's who should be doing it -- because Pitt isn't really a governmental entity.

Note that the plans for a city-wide network, one that I'd fully support, have not been announced. I'd love to eat my words and see a Wi-Fi everywhere in the city, if not the county. But, I won't hold my breath.

The original report: Reason.org/wifibroadband/.

graffiti.maverick - on my exploratory committee...

FWIW.

graffiti.maverick - on my exploratory committee... I've always pretty much acknowledged that given my wacky politics and my refusal to join either party I couldn't win, but now I'm thinking if a 26 year old, with no real experience, can be mayor. Why not me. So I told Mike I'd form an exploratory committee to look into the idea. (no one just announces they're running for office. You always need to form a committee to investigate the possibility).

Welcome to the exploratory committee!

Josh had some pull with the media because he was still in high school.

LeRoy might have some great pull now, because he's in heaven.

This guy has a blog, at least.

It wouldn't be too hard to get onto the ballot, even as a Republican. But, you'll need to work about an hour for each of five signatures. So, you need 200 -- then you might expect to slave for 40 hours. And, the work needs to happen in a three week period.

To run for mayor as a candidate outside the D and R party, increase the workload by 20 times, at least.

As for electability, you are not only pretty, but modest as well. That combination is potent, as Bob O'Connor proved in 2005. In 2001 the public wasn't looking for pretty. In fact, our internal polls show that in 2001 pretty was a handicap. But, the trends may have shifted. Catch that wave, if you can.

Eastside Neighborhood Employment Center - PittsburghPlatform

Eastside Neighborhood Employment Center - PittsburghPlatform
# Nonprofit in Pittsburgh
# Hiring an executive director in December, 2006

Click the link for the details.

I've got a pending story to tell about job pointers I've been floating. But, this isn't the week to spill the details, so -- stay tuned.

But, don't delay on getting your application in the job with the Employment Center.

MacYapper: GET YOUR HEADS OUT OF YOUR BUTTS EDITION

MacYapper: GET YOUR HEADS OUT OF YOUR BUTTS EDITION If you people don't wake up and realize that I might have a point here, and at least weigh what other candidates have to say carefully, we're going to start another period of endless mediocrity in the 'Burgh.

And one thing we don't need in the 'Burgh is another period of endless mediocrity, run by old school pols.

Jeepers. MacYapper says "Think Again!" I'm olay with that, fur shore.

Perils for Pedestrians Episode 105: Dublin, Velo-City 2005

I've been a big advocate for a massive expansion of bike use in the City of Pittsburgh. While I like Bike-Pgh (the organization), I have felt that they have been too nice. While I like the approach to the rivers and more parks, I feel that the County Riverfront Park proposal of Dave Fawcett on County Council (and Jim Burn, D, too, I guess) is lame as it inserts bikes as a tourist thing when we really need bikes merged into transport to where people travel, and it isn't often to the river's edge. Bikes can flourish in certain parts of Pittsburgh. Got it? Well, this Google Video (like YouTube) on a past Velo-City conference in Dublin hits the sweet-spot in the campaign-presentation I've been craving. Check it out. Get your head around it. It would work for downtown, South Side, North Side, Oakland. And, the benefits will be local housing, residents. This isn't just to promote cycling. We can overhaul a few of our streets and have a huge upside for all, even those in cars. Perils for Pedestrians is a monthly series promoting awareness of issues affecting the safety of people who walk and bicycle. Perils For Pedestrians appears on public access cable stations in many cities across the United States and on DISH Network 9411 - The Universityhouse Channel.

BTW, I'll turn off the auto-play on this posting in a few hours. Comments about that are welcomed.

IamPgh -- does a bit on.... Mark Rauterkus

Just posted:

IamPgh � Mark Rauterkus Mark Rauterkus
NEIGHBORHOOD: South Side (Flats)
WORK: Swim Coach, Journalist, Political Activist
AGE GROUP: 40-50

I’ll ask up front that you, my dear readers, who may feel inclined to turn the comment section of this post into a vehicle for political argument to please refrain.

Read it there. Comment here, there and anywhere.

Allegheny County Democratic Committee

Allegheny County Democratic Committee: "Tuesday, December 05, 2006
More on the mayoral race"

We'll see if my comments at the Allegheny Dem blog stay on the site, or not.

Here is what I posted there.

In the blog posting above, you seem to hint that it's safe to say that all candidates will work with other public officials.

Why forget so quickly.

Mayor Tom Murphy, the biggest Dem in town for a dozen years, was NOT one to work with others. He was the best the Dems had to offer -- and he ruled the D party in town for years.

Tom Murphy didn't work well with others and the saddest thing of all was that the Ds with an ounce of juice really, hardly ever stood up to his folly.

There is little hope nor insurance that the Ds will offer a suite of candidates that work well with others. No guarantee at all.

Yeah, and Doyle is unbeatable -- so why did he take his Green challenger to courts in Harrisburg for an extended ploy to eliminate a challenger. That's unforgivable -- not unbeatable. They've already beaten up our shared democracy.