OpenOffice.org urges Dell's CEO to respond to customer demand and bundle OpenOffice.org's free software alternative to Microsoft Office with

In an open letter released today, the OpenOffice.org community invites Michael Dell to work with them to pre-install OpenOffice.org 2 office software on Dell computers. Dell's own IdeaStorm website has recorded an overwhelming customer demand for this feature, currently showing more than 70,000 requests for OpenOffice.org 2.

The OpenOffice.org community is the home of the leading free software competitor to Microsoft's Office suite. The letter claims that OpenOffice.org 2 software and Dell hardware make a perfect match, sharing identical values of delivering high quality at unbeatable value. A joint development by Dell and OpenOffice.org raises the prospect of an "OpenOffice.org supplied by Dell" product, with finance from Dell helping to built security for the open-source community.

Text of the letter:

Michael S.Dell, Chairman and CEO
Dell Computer Corporation
One Dell Way
Round Rock, Texas 78682

Dear Michael

Dell Computer Corporation has become one of Fortune's “America’s Most Admired Companies” by providing great value, high quality computers and peripherals, but most of all, by listening to your customers. Your recent “IdeaStorm” initiative is the latest example of this. Here at OpenOffice.org, we were delighted to see that the second most requested feature by Dell customers was to have our office software pre-installed on Dell systems. This request attracted more than 25,000 votes in two
days.

We believe that OpenOffice.org 2 software perfectly matches Dell’s values. OpenOffice.org 2 is high quality office software, the result of over twenty years’ continuous software engineering. It runs under all common operating systems. It offers everything users expect from office software, plus some bonus features that may pleasantly surprise them. It’s easy for customers to use, with a familiar look and feel, and can read and write a wide range of file formats, including Microsoft’s. On top of all this, being licenced under open-source terms, it represents outstanding value for money for you and your customers.

Let’s have a conversation about how we could build an “OpenOffice.org supplied by Dell” product to give your customers what they are asking for. We’d also be happy to accept any financial contribution that Dell might offer to help ensure that OpenOffice.org continues to evolve in the future.

Sincerely

John McCreesh, Marketing Project Lead, OpenOffice.org

House bill would further restrict voter choice

Libertarian Party announces opposition to PA House Bill 48

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Libertarian Party today announced its strong opposition to House Bill 48 which defines criteria for disqualifying votes in an election.

The bill contains a clause preventing a write-in campaign by an independent state-wide candidate who, after submitting the minimum number of signatures to be placed on the General Election ballot, is then removed from the ballot due to procedural technicalities.

This is exactly what happened in the last election. Carl Romanelli submitted 95,000 signatures to be placed on the General Election ballot for Senate. Democrats challenged and convinced the courts that thousands of signatures were invalid, leaving Romanelli 8,931 short of the 67,070 required.

Pennsylvania’s petition signature requirements are extremely strict. Signatures are rejected for technicalities such as forgetting to enter the date or entering information in the wrong box. In addition, the courts have arbitrarily redefined “qualified electors” as registered voters from its less stringent statutory definition of Pennsylvania citizens over 18.

Under House Bill 48, Mr. Romanelli would be unable to then mount a write-in campaign, as any vote cast for him would not be counted.

Doug Leard, LPPa Media Relations Chair, remarked “Factions in the state bureaucracy and the state legislature are committed to restricting political choice on the ballot. With last year’s crushing 67,070 signature requirement, Pennsylvania is the second worst state in the nation for ballot access. When Mr. Romanelli submitted 95,000 signatures, the courts scrutinized the signatures then threw him off the ballot, as well as ordering him to pay over $80,000 in court costs and Democratic Party legal bills. Now, to add injury to insult, the House has introduced legislation to prevent Pennsylvanians who support such a candidate from having their vote even counted.”

Michael Robertson, LPPa Chair added, "Limiting the choices of voters and not counting votes is directly contrary to what government should be doing. Every voter should have their say and every vote cast should be recorded and reported. We urge Pennsylvanians to contact their representative in the General Assembly to oppose House Bill 48.”

I went into the Allegheny County Elections Department after the 2006 general election ended. Sadly, our designated poll watcher was not allowed to be there in the tabulation time, but that is another story. I counted the write-in votes from those in Allegheny County for the office of US Senator in the Casey vs. Santorum race.

Guess what.

My guy, a Libertarian, didn't get his votes reported to Harrisburg. His votes were not put together in a total. I conducted a write in for him. It didn't matter.

Hundreds of voters in Allegheny County made write in votes. Most of them didn't count.

Rep. Ron Paul To Run For President - Politics

Rep. Ron Paul To Run For President - Politics: "U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, a strict constitutionalist and fierce anti-war critic, will formally declare his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination Monday when he appears as a guest on a C-SPAN call-in program.

Paul, R-Texas, created a presidential exploratory committee in January, allowing him to begin collecting money on behalf of his bid. Kent Snyder, the chairman of that committee, said Saturday that Paul would make his candidacy official on Monday.

This will be Paul's second try for the White House. He was the Libertarian nominee for president in 1988.

...Paul, for example, was the only Republican congressman to vote against Department of Defense appropriations for fiscal year 2007, which he opposed because of the war in Iraq -- a war he says is "not necessary for our actual security."

He once described President Bush as "not a constitutional president" and voted against a resolution declaring that the United States would win the war on terror.

He acknowledges that the national Republican Party has largely shunned him despite his nine terms in office under its banner. He gets little money from the GOP's large traditional donors, but benefits from individual conservative and Libertarian donors outside Texas.

Paul bills himself as "The Taxpayers' Best Friend," and is routinely ranked either first or second in the House of Representatives by the National Taxpayers Union, a national group advocating low taxes and limited government.

Pittsburgh Comet gives insights. Pi Day is just around the corner!

From texture - misc.

The Pittsburgh Comet When you get into a pie-fight with Mark Rauterkus, be ready for a faceful of cherry-lemon meringue and custard.

I'm not that interested in a food fight. However, I'm not going to be idle when others try to re-write history.

Likewise, is Peduto the first to do YouTube? Well, I'm the first at JumpCut.com and Blip.tv. Furthermore, being first isn't what this is about. Sure, I want to make history and not be a slave of it. But, this is a long-haul endeavor. In a swim race, the winner isn't called by seeing how hits the water first. Often in the real world it is the pioneer who gets the arrow in the back.

The pie quote from The Pittsburgh Comet comes at a great time, just two days before "Pi Day" -- one of my favorite holidays. When I'm elected, I'll decalre "Pi Day" a big harry deal. (Harry, as in Harry Readshaw.)

From hex

Feel free to take an image of a round "pi object" from my Picassa album and post it on your blog or site to celebrate pi day.

On March 14, 2006, (last year's pi day), was the special election for Pgh City Council district 3. That was the first race I was in which I didn't get last place.

Letter to the editor in the PG from Mark C, with insights

Plum's Mark C, a Libertarian, posted to our Libertarian list:

I had a LTE in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette today (3/11/2007) about how a spending cap on the Iraq war might not be enough to stop it. The LTE link and text is below.

What's different about this LTE (letter to the editor) was that I got two calls
from the PG about it. The first was simply to confirm my intent to be printed. The editor who called said she agreed with everything I said and even complimented me on a particular sentence.

The second call was a few days later from another editor who wanted verification of a statement I made about routing calls to Canada to avoid US law. She had no problem with the example of outsourcing torture to avoid US law.

I told her that I remember reading it in what I think was WorldNetDaily years ago. She asked if she could soften the statement for printing since there was no proof. Since it was late Friday and they were soon going to print for the early Sunday edition, it was either soften or don't print. We agreed on wording, but I said I'd try to find the reference for her anyway and she gave me here email.

Instead of the WND reference I found another that made the case and revealed that it was even worse than I thought. (The US, England, Canada, Australia and New Zealand have routinely used each other to get around their own laws to monitor their own citizens based on an agreement made in the late 1940s.) I emailed the link to her, stayed polite and told her that fact-checking must not be dead because she really made me work for this letter.

I hope that I'm establishing credibility with the editorial staff at the Post-Gazette. Maybe the small-government viewpoint will gain credibility with them too. I did like the title they gave it.

By the way, has anyone else ever been challenged on a LTE like this?

Mark C.

---

Link to the letter published in the P-G

Downsize it all Post-Gazette, 3/11/2007

It's naive to think that a targeted spending limit ("The Half-Trillion-Dollar Solution" by Bruce Ackerman and David Wu, March 4 Forum) is the solution to the Iraq war. Limits are easily circumvented and soon forgotten.

Years ago, during the Clinton administration, I read that government pressures telecommunications providers to route calls and e-mails through Canada to avoid U.S. wiretapping laws.

The Bush administration outsourced interrogation to Egypt to avoid torture bans.

Congress usually doesn't even read the legislation it passes. A catchy-titled "Iraq Cap Act" might also include the fine print preparing for an Iran invasion.

The fundamental problem is that our government is too big. It has too much power, too many resources, too many agendas and too many places to hide too many secrets.

Even if we manage to stop the bleeding in Iraq, that will only redirect blood to other domestic and foreign policy wounds, all too numerous in our bipartisan welfare and warfare state.

That's why the real solution must include capping all of government back to its libertarian origins, as the U.S Constitution intends. If not, our country will suffer a debilitating shock as the burden from these wounds threatens our financial and personal lives.

MARK CROWLEY, Plum

City Council District 9 candidates forum in Homestead - first blush

Most of the candidates in the crowded city council district 9 race came to a forum today at the Homestead branch of the Carnegie Library of Pgh. The incumbent was absent and she had said she'd attend. Randall Taylor came an hour late.

I got an hour of video tape and will upload some of it to YouTube in the hours and days to come. Audio from start to finish was also obtained, but I'm not sure of its quality yet.

T.C. should not get a single vote. Well, she'll get the votes from her family members. She wants to snub the residents and voters by not showing up to the candidate debates. So, she should be snubbed at the polls.

All in all, a lot of nice candidates are in the race.

Most of them say things that cause fear in terms of their desires for bigger government. One said that no shovel would turn any dirt in the district unless he had been involved and was on-board with the project before it got started.

Just putting up the raw video would tell a great story in some instances. However, some of the comments need to be discounted within the clips as an over-reach of the roles of city council, however.

Great event! Good people. Some wonderful answers mixed with a few well intended but un-sound approaches.

The only other technical note, now, goes to the fact that the endorsed Democrat, a 22 year old women who has graduated from Howard University did not get the entire packet of her papers filed in the right place at the right time. However, at this point there has been no challenge filed. Time will tell.

Pittsburgh's Great Young Hope, Steel City Mayor Luke Ravenstahl Is Only 27 Years Old - CBS News

Pittsburgh's Great Young Hope, Steel City Mayor Luke Ravenstahl Is Only 27 Years Old - CBS News (CBS) Smokestacks still rise above the three rivers in Pittsburgh, once home to America's steel industry. But today, so do new stadiums, museums and high-tech businesses. It's more than a face-lift — Pittsburghers are trying to draw new money and new energy to town.

Erin R., Pittsburgh's First Lady, gave the quote that my wife repeated to me. I went to church and she stayed home and watched the show -- under my orders.

It is crazy to think that the mayor is in charge of "all that" when looking out while driving through the city.

The mayor isn't in charge of the market place, the economy, the private concerns and the people.

Weirdness in the reporting. Two years ago, the state did NOT pull Pittsburgh back from the brink of bankruptcy. I contend that the state's bailout was inferior.

The Pens didn't threaten to leave the city the other day. It has been a threat for nearly a decade. That has been a lingering threat, just as we've had a lingering bailout.

Mistick talks about 'smart money' giving the mayors job to one guy over the other. That's the problem. Why is "smart money" going to rule? Rather, I'd love to see smart voters make the decisions. Money and ideas are not one in the same. Nor is money and capacity to govern one in the same.

Moreover, when the money goes to one, that might be more of a burden when it comes to doing what's best for the people, day-in and day-out.

SmallGovTimes.com :: Ron Paul to officially announce presidential candidacy Monday

SmallGovTimes.com :: Ron Paul to officially announce presidential candidacy Monday Ron Paul to officially announce presidential candidacy Monday

Great news.

Immolation - Wikipedia: Whispers Footnote

Immolation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Self-immolation is suicide by immolation, notably as an extreme form of protest.

The Republicans will NOT find anyone to run for mayor. They can't find that person now. The deadline for them has come and gone.

From Jokester Dan: China not trying to shanghai the Pens - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review JUDGE JOE? Former Republican Pittsburgh mayoral candidate Joe Weinroth is running for office again, but this time he won't be a punching bag for the Democrat mayoral nominee.

Wonder if we should keep a list of insults from the Trib and others.

This punching bag might punch back. Furthermore, it is my hope that the D's mayoral nominee does step into the ring. But, I wonder if the courage to do so will permit it.

Google Group, Western PA Sports

Self promotion on this group is welcome.

Western Pennsylvania Sports

Visit this group

Keith Olbermann | We Fight for Liberty by Having More Liberty, Not Less

Sink Newt Now!

Newt is toast. He is running for president now. Give us a break.

Keith Olbermann | We Fight for Liberty by Having More Liberty, Not Less Gingrich Wants to Restrict Freedom of Speech?

Health care press event slate for Harrisburg on Monday

Heads up. The bill these folks are pushing for is NOT like what the Governor wants to do.

TIME TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT AGAIN FOR THE FAMILY & BUSINESS HEALTH CARE SECURITY ACT OF 2007 PRESS CONFERENCE ANNOUNCING INTRODUCTION OF SENATE BILL 300 AND ITS HOUSE COUNTERPART (BILL NUMBER SOON TO BE ASSIGNED)

PRIME SPONSORS: SEN JIM FERLO AND REP BARBARA McILVAINE SMITH

ALL 15 HOUSE AND SENATE CO-SPONSORS, REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, ALSO INVITED

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

MONDAY - MARCH 12, 2007

11 AM to NOON

MEDIA CENTER – EAST WING (250 seating capacity)

CAPITOL BUILDING

HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA

Universal Health Care Access

Single Payer Efficiency and Cost Savings

Comprehensive, Not "Basic," Coverage

No-Fault Malpractice Reform and Compensation Program

End Racial, Economic and Geographic Disparity of Care

Tax Rebates to Volunteer Emergency Responders

Health Care Education as a Priority

Rational Cost Containment and Error Reduction

Disaster Preparedness

Mr. Swartz, To Face Luke's Boss In Democratic Primary

kdka.com - Onorato To Face Swartz In Democratic Primary 'He's a community activist,' said Onorato. 'I'm sure he's a good guy. If he wants to enter the race, I'm looking forward to the exchange of ideas.'

Mr. Onorato said in this segment from KDKA TV that he'd debate any candidate that gets into the race.

Governor Rendell, Penguins, Mayor Ravenstahl, County Executive Onorato Statement on Negotiations to Keep NHL Team in Pittsburgh

They did issue a 'longer' statement.

Governor Rendell, Penguins, Mayor Ravenstahl, County Executive Onorato Statement on Negotiations to Keep NHL Team in Pittsburgh Governor Rendell, Penguins, Mayor Ravenstahl, County Executive Onorato Statement on Negotiations to Keep NHL Team in Pittsburgh

HARRISBURG, Pa., March 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following
statement was released Wednesday evening following negotiations between
Governor Edward G. Rendell, Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, Allegheny
County Chief Executive Dan Onorato and the Pittsburgh Penguins to keep the
NHL franchise in Pittsburgh:
'We had a very constructive meeting where significant progress was
made. The parties have agreed to meet again next Wednesday. They also
agreed that no further comment will be made.'
The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public
education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing
economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out
more about Governor Rendell's initiatives and to sign up for his weekly
newsletter, visit his Web site at: http://www.governor.state.pa.us.
Chuck Ardo
717-783-1116

Road Trip to Harrisburg to work for the democratic process

Join Celeste on a trip to Harrisburg. I'm not going, but would, if I could. I hope to go to Harrisburg the next day.

Come to the Election Reform Forum in Harrisburg this Tuesday March 13! It will be a great day because fair and accurately counted electionsare something on which everyone can agree. Let's tell the legislature!

If you are planning to come, sign up with this link.

*** There are FREE BUSSES (one from Pittsburgh and one from Philly) that include a FREE LUNCH! If anyone in other areas can CARPOOL (Centre County? NEPA? NWPA? South-Central PA?) please come and bring people!

Here is bus info:

Pittsburgh leaves promptly at 6 am from the Hill House located at 1835 Centre Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15219 and will arrive at the Capitol Complex in Harrisburg by 10 am. Bus will leave Harrisburg at 4 pm and arrive in Pittsburgh at 8 pm. To reserve a seat please contact Celeste Taylor at 412-670-0937.

Philadelphia bus will leave at 8am from the Cheltenham Mall Parking lot located at Cheltenham and Washington Ave.., Philadelphia, PA 19138 and will arrive at the Capitol Complex at 10am. Bus will leave Harrisburg at 4pm and arrive in Philadelphia at 6pm. Those requesting a seat onthe busshould contact Mrs. Dukes at 215-224-5522 or the bus captain Deacon Willie Daugherty 215-549-2225. Cars can park in the front of the mall and be directed to where the bus is.

Busses are first come, first served. Again, please REGISTER at the above link even if you contact one of the numbers above for a bus seat or are carpooling/driving yourself.

More than 40 years after the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed, minority voters are still facing calculated and determined voter intimidation and suppression tactics. And even though the need for a voter-verified paper record has been well-documented over the past several elections, not all voters in Pennsylvania have access to dependable voting systems. Additionally, language minority voters and those with disabilities continually face barriers to the ballot box.

Our forum will address voting machine and voter verifiability issues, barriers to voting, deceptive practices and other related concerns, and will be followed by an afternoon of legislative visits with those who have the power to guarantee access and accountability!

Date and Time:
March 13, 2007
Forum: 10:30 - 12:30
Legislative visits: 1:00 - 3:30

Location:
Harrisburg, PA 17120 - Capitol Complex: Keystone Building (400 North
St), Hearing Room 1
(Group transportation will be available from Philadelphia and Pittsburgh on a space-available basis)

Speakers:

Rafael Collazo - People For the American Way Foundation and Democracia USA
Rev. Robert Shine - People For the American Way Foundation and African
American Ministers Leadership Council
Barry Kauffman - Common Cause PA
Lora Lavin - League of Women Voters of PA
Tim Stevens - B-PEP, Black Political Empowerment Project
Marybeth Kuznik - VotePA
Paul O'Hanlon - Disabilities Rights Network of PA

The forum will also feature a montage from Video the Vote!

Invited Guests:
U.S. Representative Mike Doyle
Secretary of State Pedro Cortes
Senator James Ferlo
Senator John Pippy
Representative Dan Frankel
Representative Tony Payton, Jr.

Sponsoring organizations:

People For the American Way/Foundation
League of Women Voters of PA
VotePA
B-PEP, Black Political Empowerment Project
Disability Rights Network of PA
Common Cause/PA
Allegheny County ACORN
Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
Democracy Rising PA
Pennsylvania Center for Civic Participation
Pennsylvania Council of Churches
League of Young Voters
The Committee of Seventy
National Council of Jewish Women - PA

If you have any questions, or would like to find out how you can become a co-sponsor or donate to this event, please contact Celeste Taylor at 412-670-0937 or ctaylor@pfaw.org.

Free Me, another motherload hit

Welcome… at Free Me: "…to the home of the Free Me DVD on the web. My hope here is to provide lots of links and extra information that there just wasn’t room for on the disc.

Parenting advice: The BABY's NAME

Marty, when we were expecting, we named the kid before it was born. Our unborn baby had a name as he/she had a personality, health, place in our lives -- even before being born.

Our first was called "Dirt."

Our second was called "Pip Squeek."

My parents, as well as my mother in law, were very worried that we would name our kid "Dirt." This was just what I wanted. Let them worry about something, other than what really mattered. Then, later, when the real name was picked -- it would be way better than 'Dirt' -- and they'd be thrilled.

I want the fusses to be contained in boxes that I control.

Furthermore, we had the opinion that we'd be able to see the baby -- and hold him/her (we didn't want to know the gender) -- and make sure that the name fit the new face.

Your first caller to the show was right on with the reservations. Keeping the name a 'secret' makes some sense. Or, do what we've done, -- release a really bad name as a spoof name.

Live blogging: I should be on KDKA Radio, within the hour

KDKA - Homepage Listen Live
Listen On-line Now
Click here to listen to KDKA right now!

Call in:

412-333-KDKA.

That is 412-333-5352.

Link to some background insights posted to this blog recently.

Fact refresher:
Blast from the past. Mechanical voting machines.

Third party candidates for Allegheny County's county-wide offices require 2,345 signatures.

Third party candidates for City of Pittsburgh offices that are 'city wide' (such as Mayor and Controller) requires 804 signatures.

To run for City Council, district 3, (my district) in the election slated for November, requires 100 signatures.

To run for Allegheny County Council in district 13, (my district), requires 270 signatures.

Needed: Libertarian candidates, or even every-day citizens who are willing to run a 'paper campaign' are still needed as Judges, District Attorney, Allegheny County Treasurer (row office), Sheriff, plus candidates for various city council, county council and municipal offices. Individuals are needed right now, even place holder names.

Who wants to help with a voter registration drive at all future Pens games?

Sign at last nights Pens game, hung at the Civic Arena, as politicians visited with Pens ownership in Philly.

Let's do a voter registration drive.

I'm serious.

Pittsburgh plans brainstorming session to boost pension fund - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Pittsburgh plans brainstorming session to boost pension fund - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl plans to call together mayors and elected leaders from across the state to discuss how to increase funding of municipal pensions"

All the king's horses and all the king's men, could not put Humpty together again.

Missing from this statement -- the people.

The fix is in.

The one's the make the mess are least capable of cleaning it up.

When, and if, the people are pulled into the discussion -- like I will do -- as in an open-source software model -- THEN we'll get real solutions that really work.