Podcasters, bloggers: Check out BootCamp Pgh, April 21 from 9 am to 4 pm

BootCamp PGH is a free one-day, immersive "entry level" version of PodCamp. It is designed to educate students, small businesses and corporate communications professionals on the power and possibilities of new media.

Why Should YOU Attend BootCamp?

As we all know, the new media landscape can be daunting to those who've just discovered its potential.

Our intent is that, by the end of the day, a BootCamp attendee will be able to:

- understand the basic concepts behind blogging, audio / video podcasting, social networking, and / or new media as a whole
- understand the basics of the three main "tracks" of new media: Art / Content, Technology / Process, Business / Marketing
- begin creating the first examples of their own blogs or podcasts using publicly available programs and web applications
- cultivate a growing network of other new media professionals

WHEN: Saturday, April 21, from 9 AM to 4 PM
WHERE: The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, 420 Boulevard of the Allies, 15219
WHO: New media experts, aspiring new media creators, communications and PR personnel, and you!

Like PodCamp, BOOTCAMP IS FREE TO ATTEND!

To register, please visit http://bootcamppgh.pbwiki.com/BootCampAttendees and follow the instructions.

Would you be interested in helping out with planning the event? Visit http://bootcamppgh.pbwiki.com/BootCampPlanners and add your name there as well!

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Local News - Early Returns

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Local News - Early Returns Who's paying the freight in the South Side?

A few weeks ago, Early Returns noted that Mr. Koch's campaign finance report didn't meet legal requirements, because it didn't list individual contributors. He still hasn't filed an amended report. But it turns out his challenger, Mr. Kraus, hasn't yet filed any reports showing where his funding is coming from. Yesterday Mr. Kraus said he hasn't submitted the annual finance report required of active candidates by Jan. 31 because he closed out one campaign committee last year and opened up a new one early this year. Sounds like he gets off the hook on a technicality.

Not really. He didn't file a year end because he made a mistake and didn't close the other one down to ZERO. Closed doesn't happen unless the amount is zero.

Sure, Kraus is less wrong than Koch. But it might be nice if we had an honest, open and addition capable member in council.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Local News - Early Returns

Can someone clarify this for me?

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Local News - Early Returns Confronted with the anonymous letter, Mr. Pokora disavowed it, urging anyone who receives it to throw it away. 'We don't do political stuff in this office,' he said. (He did, though, officially launch his campaign in his office.) 'I don't think [the anonymous letter] was found here, so no, it doesn't concern me.'

City League Championship: Powerful Schenley big favorite vs. Oliver

Wish this game was on TV.

City League Championship: Powerful Schenley big favorite vs. Oliver Oliver coach Carey White has been asking his players if they've seen the movie 'Hoosiers.' He has been asking them if they know about Villanova's stunning upset of Georgetown in the 1985 NCAA championship.

White is trying to get his players to believe, every once in a while, the big underdog can have his day -- and big upsets can happen.

Speaking of movies -- we'll be going to see a pre-release showing of the movie, PRIDE, tonight at the AMC/Lowes Waterfront in West Homestead at 7:30 pm tonight. Otherwise, I'd be going to the basketball games.

If you attend the hoops game, let me know what you think.

The Civic Arena should be used more and more for high school sports games after the Pens move out and build themselves a new arena out by the airport.

Proposals to develop park spark charges of conflict by solicitor

Tim Murphy saves the day. Err, no the minute. Big time flag solution. Menawhile the park and pool efforts still filled with empty promises.

Proposals to develop park spark charges of conflict by solicitor When U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy walked into the Dormont council session Monday, all the squabbling stopped.

There had been requests for the firing of solicitor Tom Ayoob from audience members at the council agenda session. Some angry people, convinced that Dormont council had secret meetings with two men who submitted proposals for commercial development of Dormont Park, were upset to learn that one of the developers, Gary Cozza, had been Mr. Ayoob's client.

But everything quieted down when Mr. Murphy came to give council a new American flag that had flown over the U.S. Capitol. He said he had noticed the municipal building needed a new one.

Mr. Murphy said he was pleased he was such a calming influence. But, after he left, the controversy started all over again.

kdka.com - Possible Fraud At Sports and Exhibition Authority

An employee was fired in early January, 2007.

kdka.com - Possible Fraud At Sports and Exhibition Authority

Was this information made public then, or just now?

Engage Pittsburgh seems to thaw after a winter freeze

Great news. The Sprout Fund is starting to peek above the frozen tundra. Spring will Sprout!

Engage PittsburghThe Sprout Fund will issue RFPs on March 1, 2007.

Harken: Update On The Mayor's Race Debates

The Busman's Holiday: Update On The Mayor's Race Debates 'Councilman Bill Peduto told me 'Bob and I understood the importance of getting the message out to the people and doing it, not through sound bites, but through standing and debating the issues. And I'm hoping that Luke will join me in having a series of eight televised debates, just like Bob O'Connor and I did.''

Humm...

Main Page - PittsburghPlatform Bob O'Connor's quote about campaigns comes alive within the wiki, Platform.For-Pgh.org.
'Pittsburghers deserve to know where the candidates stand on the issues,' said Bob O'Connor on his campaign web site in November, 2005.
Bob was right.

Right on.
Good for Bill Peduto in trying to kick it into high gear.

KQV, WQED, Urban League, Jewish Foundation, KDKA TV, WPXI, and the Pgh Business Times -- as well as scores of others, need to get on board too.

Tonight's meeting at the Market House begins at 7:30 pm

From Market House

Bev of the South Side Slopes Assn wrote an email that reminded us:

Meeting tonight regarding South Side Bar Task Force:

Wednesday, February 28th
City of Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl
7:30 p.m. Market House, 1 Bedford Square

Please join Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, Councilman Jeff Koch and the South Side Community Council for a Town Hall Meeting to address community concerns about the bars on East Carson Street.

Prior to the meeting, all speakers must sign up by contacting Josette Fitzgibbons at 412-255-0760 or via email at josette.fitzgibbons@city.pittsburgh.pa.us.

Other invited officials: Pat Ford, Deputy Director of Economic and Community Development; Ron Graziano, Chief of Bureau of Building Inspection; Nathan Harper, Chief of Police; Larry Ross, Commander Zone 3 Police; George Specter, Acting City Solicitor; Jeremy Smith, Zoning Administrator; and Kim Graziani, Director of Neighborhood Initiatives.

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South Side Neighborhood Plan Survey due today:

Every 15203 resident was mailed a survey from the Brashear Association a couple of weeks ago, which includes a survey. I am not sure if you noticed the return deadline of today. It came with a return envelope that you did not have to pay postage. If you forgot to fill it out, please do so and return it today! This is important for the Neighborhood Plan update.

Karma of Metroblogging Pittsburgh hints at hostilities

Metroblogging Pittsburgh: Rauterkus thinks he is important in this city

Humm....

How about: "Rauterkus thinks. What is important in this city?" Better yet, substitute "county" or "region" instead of 'city.'

I think wellness is important. I think dissent is important. I think a sustained discussions on topics and issues are important. Talking about ideas is far more important than personality.

My reply to the Metroblog wasn't able to be posted, for whatever reasons. The reply there was to be:

Thanks for the mentions.

Let's list all the things that Dan Onorato has done for wellness and health in this county.

1. Hired 3 more food inspectors (announced yesterday, employed later).

2.

3.

Go nuts. You tell me, if you can. I'm open to suggestions.

FWIW, I think I know my role, my value and my "importance" in our times and places. Your advice, "please stop," has been taken under consideration. I'll stop after I have witness to approaches, solutions, interactions and candidates that I can be proud of. I'd like to tell my children and their peers that Pittsburgh is a great place to build quality lives for themselves.

Live Blogging of tonight's TV show: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

This is an open thread. Click to post a comment.

We'll also be meeting on TalkShoe.com. You can download the software, get your PIN (personal identification number), call a 724-phone number, and then your telephone allows us to hold real-time conversation while the show airs.

WQED Schedule for the movie:

Independent Lens: Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore?
Tuesday, February 27, 10:30 pm

* Talkcast Name: Heavy Or Not
* Host: Mark Rauterkus - Mark at Rauterkus.com
* Next episode: Live blogging of Can Mr. Smith Goes to Washington Anymore? on Tue, February 27, 2007 10:00 PM EST. The show airs on WQED at 10:30 pm. We'll host a conversation while it airs, and share thoughts after the show finishes.
* Phone number: (724) 444-7444
* Talkcast ID: 3181
* PIN: The phone number or 10-digit PIN you signed up with


WQED Link: WQED Pittsburgh: TV Independent Lens

County to add three food inspectors

County to add three food inspectors - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review The Allegheny County Health Department will add three food inspectors, increasing its inspection work force by almost 25 percent, county Chief Executive Dan Onorato said this morning.

From china - foods

Allegheny County Health Department draws focus - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

This blog does more to insure wellness than the County Executive does. And, the power of the Health Department is on his side. Looks like the department has the same sickness as Bob Casey's who hopes for the best by not showing up for work. The work ethic is in the pits. The hope of the workers is even lower due to their crushing challenges. And, Dan Onorato doesn't really care.

I would look forward to being the County Executive to have the opportunity to make radical advancements of common-sense knowledge among citizens, business and the public with the Health Department's assistance.

Read this blog and you'll learn to wash mellons. Recent posts also pointed to the wonders about the Taco Bell in NYC, etc., etc.

It is great that the leadership and management of the health department is now going to be a campaign issue. Wonderful topic. Let the discussions begin with him and continue with the Running Mates.

Allegheny County Health Department draws focus - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review County Councilman Matt Drozd said he was '90 percent sure' that Onorato plans to hire more health inspectors. The county has 13 full-time inspectors.

'My question is, why didn't he do anything about it as soon as he got into office? He was the controller who did the audit. It's just common sense,' Drozd said.

[412] Two film opportunities from a swim coach in six races, TalkShoe on Tuesday Movie on Thursday

This message was just sent to those on my email contact list.

[412] Two film opportunities from a swim coach in six races, TalkShoe on Tuesday Movie on Thursday [412] Two film opportunities from a swim coach in six races, TalkShoe on Tuesday Movie on Thursday

From Art from friends

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Independent Lens . CAN MR. SMITH GET TO WASHINGTON ANYMORE? . Jeff Smith | PBS After filming ended for CAN MR. SMITH GET TO WASHINGTON ANYMORE?, Smith taught government at Dartmouth College. He returned to St. Louis and decided to run again for Senate, this time for Missouri’s fourth district, which lies in St. Louis City. Smith’s campaign utilized many of the grassroots mobilization tactics he employed during his first run for Senate. In 2006, he won the Senate seat with a sweeping victory, and was inaugurated on January 3, 2007.

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WQED Schedule for the movie:

Independent Lens: Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore?
Tuesday, February 27, 10:30 pm

Additional viewing: Thursday, March 1, 3:30 am

WQED Link: WQED Pittsburgh: TV Independent Lens

Pittsburgh's pleading for nonprofit money called 'unique'

Interesting how unique is good for some but bad for others. Think unicorns. Think again.

Pittsburgh's pleading for nonprofit money called 'unique' Pittsburgh's pleading for nonprofit money called 'unique'

I posted what I'd do over at 2PJ's blog.

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2 Political Junkies: Rich Lord on a Budget Problem The way to deal with the nonprofit problem is to call it what it is -- a nonprofit opportunity.

The nonprofits are wonderful.

The nonprofits are a success. Pittsburgh is a success. We all win.

Now that the obvious is out of the way -- (tip FYI, they can't tax nonprofits) -- we need to get the nonprofits to agree to curtail all future expansion into a bigger footprint.

I would strike a deal with the nonprofit weenie group to insist that a detailed inventory of space be conducted. I want to know how many inches of land these nonprofit folks control / own.

Then I'd insist upon yearly progress -- and a plan -- to shrink that space.

Nonprofit consolidation needs to occur. We don't need them sitting on idle land.

And when one nonprofit wants to grow its footprint, growth should occur only if another nonprofit makes an equal or greater contraction. Or else, growth of nonprofits could always occur upward. Hint: Build taller buildings.

Nonprofits should be leveraged so as to improve upon Pittsburgh's density.

Last week's example of the Cathedral of Learning by acting controller Tony P was insane. Those were foolish remarks by Tony P.

Finally, the nonprofit universities should do property inspections on behalf of their students / customers. Not the city.

Faith and Fortitude vs. HOG WASH

Various attempts of spreading hogwash thought have been on the upswing in a few instances around the blogosphere.

Here is a peek at what I mean from a prior posting in a thread at the Admiral's site. Hogwash looks like this, "As many believe, the winner of this election will be in office a minimum of 10 years."

Smitty from the flats, some unknown person, posted that gem. Give Pittsburgh a break from the know-it-all future telling.

First of all, the winner of the May 2007 D's primary (mayor's race Bill Peduto vs. Luke Ravenstahl) gets to be in the general election in November. PERIOD. And, the winner of the 2007 general race in November gets to take the oath of office in January 2008. Period TWO.

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Hurdle for members of the old parties (Ds and Rs). Get the endorsement and party backing. But, the endorsement isn't a go or no-go hurdle. Candidates can continue without the party endorsement.

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Hurdle for members of the D and R parties: The primary election in May. Only the winner of the primary can advance to the general election.

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Hurdle: Getting elected to the office means winnng the November general election. In the general election, the old-party candidates get to meet with Libertarians, Greens, Indies and others, if they show up.

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Smitty, as proof, could you show us the archives on the web that prove to us all how YOU predicted the death of Bob O'Connor???? After we see that, then I'll feel an ounce of confidence in your statement is anything but hogwash and a 10-year done deal mind sink.

Then anonymous asked of Matt Preston and Bill Peduto, "What are you waiting for?"

Duhh..... They are waiting for 2009. Chill. Be cool. Going hyper and off the handle could be the death of Peduoto's long-term career and long-term campaign(s).

No doubt, Peduto (and us all) have to work on statements, messages, leadership and relationships. But life takes many turns.

One needs faith.

One of the last things in life that Bill Peduto needs is me coming to his defense on how he should operate his campaign, in his attempt to be my mayor. But this advice isn't so much for Bill, but for his supporters. Be strong, honest, direct and leave the wine at the vineyards.

Meanwhile, at the PG's early returns thingie (sorta like a blog), they posted a new factor for the race. A NEW hinge. A new tipping point. A new pressure point. Hark, the internet has been discovered: Web masters.

More on hogwash and my reaction to it can be found in the Oocomment utility on the left side of this blog. Clicking there takes browsers to many of my postings on many of the other threads I've posted to.

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Get the signatures to enter the race and be on the ballot. No dead people should sign. The Ds and Rs have to have members of their party sign the nomination petitions. Meanwhile, those who run as Libertarians, for example, can have any eligible voter that resides in the district sign the nomination papers.

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Once the nomination petitions or nomination papers are put into the election department, then comes a period of about one week when challenges can be made. People get tossed off the ballot all the time for many different reasons. The practice is standard among un-democratic democrats seeking to retain power and who are fearful of letting the people decide with the instrument of the vote.

Taco Bell had passed a health department inspection the day before

The Three Rivers Post & Standard ... the impetus for this post was an article we came across regarding the local news having exposed a rat-infested KFC Taco Bell in New York City that passed an inspection from the NYC Department of Health one day earlier. Of course, after the news item made it onto TV, the health department rushed to close the store and tell everyone they’d get to the bottom of the problem. That’s very typical of government: give the impression that you’re taking care of the problem. Fail miserably. Rush in to very publicly solve the problem and blame the company for the problem.

Swimming: UMASS Men beat D.U., in A-10 Meet

Way to go John. He is a Pittsburgh guy who had swum for a lot of years at Carlynton Swim Club.

CollegeSwimming.com::UMASS Men, Richmond Women Top A-10 La Salle freshman John Nemeth claimed silver with 2:07.29

My, The Dukes turned in some good times. They have improved greatly. Well done.

CollegeSwimming.com::Eastern Soars to MAC Championship

When I was a swim coach in the MAC -- there were ten teams in the league. Next year the league won't even be able to have its own conference championship swim meet. How sad.

There were teams at Toledo, Western Michigan, Central Michigan, Kent State, Bowling Green State University, Northern Illinois. Marshall was NOT in the league when I was there, but we swam them in a meet and MU would be in and out of the MAC since then.

CollegeSwimming.com::Eastern Soars to MAC Championship 2007 MAC Swimming and Diving Championship
1. EMU 1008.5
2. Miami 801.5
3. Ohio 584.5
4. Buffalo 378
5. Ball State 349.5

The opportunities for guys to swim is much worse now than it was in the past. We're going backwards. That sucks.

Wrong turn on red lights?

Wrong turn on red lights? - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Before Peduto or any mayor of Pittsburgh starts installing the Band-Aids of red-light cameras, maybe they ought to propose a modern, coordinated traffic signal system for a city that desperately needs one -- and hire a traffic engineer to make it work.