A MEMO FROM CITY COUNCILWOMAN DARLENE HARRIS

Ms. Adventures on the MonFROM DARLENE'S DESK (via Ms. Monongahela's blog)

January 9, 2007

Dear Constituents,

It has come to my attention that some of you are not pleased with my 'after hours' smoking in a building where smoking is prohibited.

I just got a wave of excitement about the 2008 campaign for US President.

Incorporation papers were filed in Texas for a Ron Paul 2008 presidential exploratory committee.

Ron Paul's roots are from Pittsburgh.

He's a "little L" libertarian and the best person we, the people, have in Washington, DC.

Teachers union gives $10,000 to new city scholarship fund

Teachers union gives $10,000 to new city scholarship fundTeachers union gives $10,000 to new city scholarship fund

Do the math. This is sure to be a broken promise.

Octopus card described in Wikipedia. This is EXACTLY what PAT and Pittsburgh should deploy before service cuts come

"8" and me.

If I was the Allegheny County Executive, I'd insist that PAT deploy the Octopus Card as soon as possible and before any service cuts. The data comes after the cards are deployed. Then fares can be adjusted in an easy fashion.

Octopus card - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Octopus card
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Octopus card is a rechargeable contactless stored value smart card used to transfer electronic payments in online or offline systems in Hong Kong. Originally launched in September 1997 to collect fares for the city's mass transit system, the Octopus card system has grown into a widely-used payment system not only for virtually all public transport in Hong Kong, but also for making payment at convenience stores, supermarkets, fast-food restaurants, on-street parking meters, car parks and many other point-of-sale applications such as service stations and vending machines. In addition, the system is used for access control to offices, schools and apartments. Some charities even accept Octopus cards to receive donations. Making a payment involves placing the card in close proximity to an Octopus card reader and a tone from the reader will confirm the merchant has received funds. Cards can be recharged with cash at add-value machines in subway and rail stations, over-the-counter in stores such as 7-Eleven, Wellcome and Circle K, or directly through credit cards and bank accounts.



Octopus has become one of the world's most successful electronic cash systems, with approximate 14 million Octopus cards in circulation (twice Hong Kong's population), ten million transactions per day, 420 service vendors, and 50,000 processors.

These cards are slick. But the technology goes beyond the card as cards are able to be put into other products. I like this feature of additional Octopus products. You may even see people waving their cellphone, watch or even a keychain over the Octopus reader. Can't forget or miss-place your card if it is on your watch.

Slippery Rock in baseball's lineup

Slippery Rock in baseball's lineup Slippery Rock in baseball's lineup
Town welcomes a minor league in need

Thursday, January 11, 2007
By Milan Simonich, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Small towns often court baseball's minor leagues, dipping into tax money to build stadiums for wealthy team owners.

For one season at least, Slippery Rock has bucked the trend.

The university town, with just 5,400 permanent residents, will play host this summer to an independent professional team from the Frontier League. Slippery Rock will not shell out so much as a nickel for the team or its ballpark.

PA ball yard.

Would you rather build on 50 acres or 500?

These guys are thinking again as to where in the world should the Penguins put a new venue for hockey? By the airport and highways? Or, use a shoe horn and level so as to squeeze it into the lower Hill District?

Apple Unlikely To Go To Court In iPhone Trademark Dispute, Experts Say - Hardware News by InformationWeek

Apple Unlikely To Go To Court In iPhone Trademark Dispute, Experts Say - Hardware News by InformationWeek 'I was surprised and disappointed when Apple decided to go ahead and announce their new product with our trademarked name without reaching an agreement,' Mark Chandler, Cisco general counsel, said in a company blog. 'It was essentially the equivalent of 'we're too busy.''

Perhaps Apple do a switch away from iPhone and Steve Jobs will pick another name -- list that of his new wife who hails from Pittsburgh, the iJustine.

Did you see her on MSNBC yesterday?

I think she is on a S.F. shopping spree these days.

You do the math and other tidbits from the PFT with boss of city school's counterpart

Luke Ravenstahl, Mark Roosevelt, a few students and a ton of media folks came together at 11:30 on the South Side at the offices of the Pgh Federation of Teachers to celebrate a $10,000 check for Pittsburgh's Promise from a 4,000 member organization.

After the formal presentation, in the lobby of the building, Mayor Luke stood his ground and took 15 minutes of questions from a hoard of journalist about yesterday's decision by the judge regarding the ongoing court case that pits the city against one of its top female commanders on the police force.

I learned nothing. Furthermore, I didn't hear what I wanted to hear in the post-game nor in the main event.

Luke should say, "Yesterday's decision by the judge is behind us. The Commander is back on the job today. We've settled the matter. Everyone is back to work. We are all trying to make this city a wonderful and safe city to live, work, and raise our children. The Commander is going to be compensated from the past mistakes. I'm sorry that this has been such a distraction."

As a taxpayer, I don't like seeing a police commander in a court battle with my mayor. This is a lose-lose deal. Money is going down the drain to attorneys and not headed to education or recreation or street repairs or police detectives.

Luke should make this go away right away. Say, "Sorry." Fix the problems. Be prudent. Insist upon a high threashold before court.

Luke seemed to want to hold his ground. He even said he'd welcome the deposition. He feels he is above it all. He feels that the problem was put on his desk and he walked into this as part of the transition.

This is a rookie mistake from a pinch-runner without a warm-up. Not a show-stopping big-hairy deal, if it ends now.

Unusual Buildings

Unusual Buildings - AOL Money & FinanceBuildings That Rock!

YouTube rivals look for answers | CNET News.com

This is a major breakthrough. Major. The article is important. But look at the visual map on the left side of the screen.

YouTube rivals look for answers | CNET News.com For months, analysts have predicted a shakeout in the much-hyped video-sharing sector, a business made famous by YouTube.

It increasingly looks like they were right.

Revver, a Los Angeles video-sharing company noted for being among the first to share advertising revenue with videographers, announced last month that two of the company's three co-founders and an undisclosed number of 'support staff' were no longer with the company. Among those who left were Rob Maigret, Revver's chief technology officer, and David Tenzer, the head of media partnerships.

That is a poorly designed concept map. That's the wave of the future. That's what I was working on about 8 years ago.

AntiRust hits at logic of sports venue building

AntiRust Remember a few years ago when the Pirates were demanding a new stadium? One of the reasons supporters cited in that case was that the Pirates sucked. And that the sucking was a direct result of a crappy stadium. And that the new stadium would result in less sucking. (It didn't.) Now we seem to have a complete reversal. The public has to pay for the Penguin's arena because the team doesn't suck.

Good posting.

Baseball Hall of Fame Opens to Fellow Polar Bear Swimmer

Carbolic Smoke Ball VENDOR T.C. CONGDON ELECTED TO BASEBALL HALL OF FAME

I think T.C. was swimming on New Year's Day on the Wharf.

Can someone confirm?

His autograph is more valuable now, since he is known as a polar bear swimmer.

American Swimming Association to host first-ever Open Water Swimming National Collegiate Championship.

Love this news. Love Keith Bell too!

January 10, 2007 -- Austin, Texas

The American Swimming Association will host the first-ever Open Water Swimming National Collegiate Championship in Austin, Texas in Lake Travis on Saturday, November 3, 2007. The ASA Open Water Swimming National Collegiate Championships will include a 5k in the main basin of Lake Travis. In addition to individual men's and women's titles; Men's, Women's and Combined Open Water Team Championships will be contested. Event information and entry forms available at www.AmericanSwimmingAssociation.com.

The American Swimming Association offers a growing number of exciting and fun competitive swimming events for youth, masters, high school, and collegiate swimmers, including the ASA University League National Championships for collegiate club swimming teams. In April 2007 ASA U. Nationals will be held at the University of Virginia Aquatics and Fitness Center in Charlottesville, VA.

For more information contact:

Dr. Keith Bell, President, American Swimming Association, LLC, 512-327-2260
info -at- AmericanSwimmingAssociation.com - http://www.AmericanSwimmingAssociation.com

Celebration movie. Click to view.

Gather.com First Chapters Writing Competition Group Home Page | Gather

Pointer for my friends that can write. Give it a whirl.

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Arena Re-Imagined - News Feature - City Paper

Rob gets nominated for Pittsburgher of the Year.

Pittsburgh - Mellon Arena Re-Imagined - News - News Feature - Pittsburgh City Paper Rob Pfaffmann and other preservationists have resumed a four-year-old campaign to keep Mellon right where it is -- and put the structure to new uses.

We talked (Rob, Violet and I) for a moment at the holiday party hosted by Bike Pittsburgh and the Riverlife Task Force in December.

Participants proposed a "super kid center" with year-round ice and roller rinks, an "ethnic marketplace" and even a "biosphere" modeled after Montreal's re-used Olympic velodrome, which now serves as an environmental education showcase. Participants also envisioned new housing nearby, a crescent-shaped park around the arena, and an overlook on top. Drawings show a large slice of the city dramatically visible through the retracted arena roof.

Today, preservationists still believe the arena could have a new life, and that demolition shouldn't be the only option.

The only tweek to this -- is keep the velodrom! Perhaps we can get the parts from Montreal and stuff that into the arena, then it would be meaningful to say 'go down around the arena, @N.'

Sure. Save the Arena. Make this part of town way more attractive for local business location. Build something that home owners of downtown and Hill District -- as well as Polish Hill, South Side, Bluff and Strip District residents / new investors would want to be close to.

This next point is very important. Sala Udin, take note to what follows.

Many Hill District residents regard the structure as an obstacle to more beneficial development -- and a jarring reminder of redevelopment promises yet to be fulfilled.

First, get over it! This isn't the '60s, still. Seriously, keeping the existing arena is less jarring than a new one. And, a re-deployed civic arena is going to be better blended into the existing landscape once the rest of Mario's properties are purchased by Barden. The surface parking lots of today get hidden and blended. And, when we keep the arena, new buildings get built the hill, throughout the streets of the whole neighborhood. Otherwise, a churn of the same parcel occurs.

You know, the grass field at Heinz Field needs to stay green all season long. What if the Sports and Exibition Authority had the big idea of moving Heinz Field from its present location to a spot two blocks away, sorta where Three Rivers Stadium stood. This way the land around Heinz Field gets the long awaited development that has been promised. And, the grass might be more hardy there, on the sacred spaces once occupied by Exhibition Park.

What good does it do us to build a new arena right next the old one, implode the old one with money still owed on it, and have a net gain of one food court that sells $3 pretzels. Heck, the dipping cheese won't even be a good once they outlaw the trans-fats.

A more beneficial development can sprout out of the shell of the existing Civic Arena. We need to noodle as to what can occur there. The activities and the flow of people to and around the Hill District and Downtown could be better, way, way better than what is attracted by NHL Hockey.

The hoped for gracious near-town living won't come to the lower Hill Distict until and unless a great recreational venue is in the same neighborhood. No city rec center will seal the deal for anyone, sad to say.

The preservationists' first priority, he says, is to win broad support for saving the arena. "Getting people to believe that it is worthy of saving," he adds, "is going to save the building."

Rob and Pittsburgh -- you have broad support from me.

I pledge to save the Civic Arena with more spit and vigor than Jim Ferlo's efforts to save Oakland's Siria Mosque.

Rec Center viewed from two different locations: From the water.

From the land.

I'd love to see Mario's new venue built on the Ohio River -- downstream from Downtown. Our best highway that never needs to be re-paved is the river. And, when it is near I79, the Parkway West 376, and the river -- we'll be able to expand and attract young people as residents!

The Rec Center in the photos is much smaller than the new arena. But notice the hight and density of the near-by buildings. It would be silly to circle the new arena with townhouses. Rather, put in high-rise buildings. Make this a real Olympic Village -- our Pennsylvania Penguins Village.

The Burgh Report says investigation becomes either / or

The Burgh Report Ravenstahl's decision is either a severe lack of judgment or a cognizant willingness to sweep Regan's wrongdoing under the rug.

My hunch goes to the sweeping option.

Did you see this guy biking to Grant Street recently?

From china - bike

ATTENTION BUS AND TROLLEY RIDERS:

The sky is falling.

OUR PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM IS ABOUT TO DIE!

*State politicians have done NOTHING in 6 years to properly fund public transit in PA!

*Local elected leaders are refusing to go to Harrisburg to ask for dedicated funding that would PREVENT these service cuts and fare hikes!

*The predicted 25% service cuts are INEVITABLE regardless of whether or not we get dedicated funding before June 2007!

SO JOIN OTHER BUS AND TROLLEY RIDERS FOR A MARCH AND RALLY TO DEMAND NO SERVICE CUTS AND NO FARE HIKES!

Monday, January 22, 2007 - 8:30am to 10:00am


PLACE: Mellon Square (Sixth Ave. and William Penn Place, Downtown)

**We will be gathering at 8:30 am at Mellon Square. The rally will begin at 8:45 am. The march will begin at 9:15 am; we will be ending at the Pittsburgh Hilton, where the 1st Port Authority public hearing will be held at 10 am.

SAVE OUR TRANSIT!

No more service cuts! No more fare hikes!

For more information call 412-361-3022 OR email zeidersamanda@gmail.com

I don't like these chants. Stop the tunnel would be high on my list of expressions. Perhaps I'll go to the rally and have a sign that says "I'm NOT Digging It!"

Another good message: Bike to rule in Wabash & on Busways!

Judge overturns demotion of Pa. police commander

NEPA News - Judge overturns demotion of Pa. police commander 'The law is clear. The loss of First Amendment freedoms even for the smallest amount of time constitutes irreparable harm,' Ambrose said.

Freedom wins. Not only are McNeilly and her attorneys overjoyed, but all liberty minded people can take a deep breath and smile.

Good to hear that the city will abide by the decision. Bad that they just don't stop now. I'd not want to take this any further if I was the mayor, or even if I'm a candidate. I really don't want to see the case proceed if I'm a taxpayer -- and I am that.

If it was the Murphy Administation, they would have gone all the way to they could with appeals. To be better -- end the case now.

Luke should chalk this up to a 'rookie mistake' and be done with it as soon as possible.

Still to come: Who is going to be named the public service director? Anyone? Is this an important job? (Hell yes.) Who gets the nod? (???) Does a national search begin? What are they waiting for?

Teachers join 'Pittsburgh Promise' - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Way to go.

Teachers join 'Pittsburgh Promise' - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and John Tarka, president of the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers, will hold a news conference at 11:30 p.m. Thursday at the union’s South Side headquarters to announce the teachers’ participation. Although Tarka would not disclose the amount before tomorrow’s meeting, Ravenstahl called it “symbolic progress.”

“We recognize The Pittsburgh Promise is a promise to continue to improve the school district, and the teachers support this kind of effort to provide help to students,” Tarka said.

How much do you think that they'll put into the kitty?

How much of a campaign donation do you think that they'll make too? The PFT gives money to candidates. The PFT gave money to Jeff Koch. Jeff is a Democrat.

I hope that the Pittsburgh Promise isn't a key to anything other than a few headlines from now and then. A broken promise is nothing to hang one's hat nor hopes upon.

New Blog: Early Returns from the P-Gers

Rich Lord called this a blog. Ha, ha, ha. This is a web site. A blog generally allows for comments. This is very 1999ish. Well, perhaps it is 2002ish.

I email Rich Lord saying that Les Ludwig started talking about "alternative funding" back in 2003. I felt that the news of Luke's deal with the California firm should have quoted Ludwig. Heck, he ran for Mayor on that as a central platform plank. Furthermore, the words, "Do More With Les" were spoken by young Mayor Luke Ravenstahl at his first budget address in recent months.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Local News - Early Returns Welcome to Early Returns, the Post-Gazette's online guide to Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania politics. Politics Editor James O'Toole can be reached at jotoole@post-gazette.com, and former Harrisburg correspondent Bill Toland can be reached at btoland@post-gazette.com. The Early Returns staff also now includes city hall reporter Rich Lord, who can be reached at rlord@post-gazette.com.