City prepares to host architectural historians

I should go to this. I'd love to sit in on the panel. Who can get me an invite? What time of day is this session?

City prepares to host architectural historians The conference begins with a Preservation Colloquium exploring Pittsburgh's 'Fifth and Forbes Debate,' which began in 1996 when Mayor Tom Murphy proposed the demolition of several Downtown blocks in and around Market Square to create a new retail and entertainment district. Panelists will explore the historical evolution of Market Square, the Murphy plan and competing preservation-based plans as well as current and proposed developments.

Peduto Drops Out; Mayor Ravenstahl Has No Challengers - News

Peduto Drops Out; Mayor Ravenstahl Has No Challengers - News Ravenstahl will be the lone Democratic name on the May ballot -- and it seems the path is clear for him to take the general election in November as well.

Hello WTAE!

Don't tell us who ISN'T running, i.e., the Republicans. The Republicans have not been elected in the mayor's office for 70-plus years -- for goodness pete.

Told ya. Peduto wants out of the mayor's race

Folks, I told you. Bill Peduto has a better chance to win the mayor's office in 2009. Bill can't turn negative. Bill can't depart the D party. Bill can't be nasty and divide.

Bill Peduto has to win by addition. He has a long career ahead of him. Bill can't burn out and be worthless as a nag.

I can nag. I'm an outsider.

I'm not happy that Bill pulled out of the race. But, it is a great decision for Bill Peduto and a bitter one for Pittsburgh. It isn't good for Pittsburgh. I'd rather have a real campaign in the spring and another real campaign in the fall. When we think with half our brain, the outcomes are poor. We've been getting poorer for decades.

Bill Peduto would have been better served had he not promised to raise $800,000 for this race. He should have said that he would run on a $80,000 budget.

Bill Peduto would have been better served had he released all of his position papers at the get-go. Bill has been waiting on the tip off for some of the topic discussions. He had materials from the past election that has still been kept under a lid. Bill can't run a sustained discussion by himself. But, he can begin and try.

The only thing we can do is try.

The other big hurdle for Bill Peduto -- the institutions. Bill needed to have a couple of debates even if Luke didn't show. The debate host wouldn't proceed. Bill talked about the local environment. That is part of the cancer. WTAE, KQV, KDKA, QED, -- and many others -- are on the hook. Responsibility rests, in part, with them. We crave debates. And, we need one-person debates if the other is chicken or too busy to show up.

I hope Bill Peduto has a long, productive career. I think he will.

I hope Pittsburgh can become a place where we all can prosper and live without labels that hold us down.

We need to make progress. I hope that the "progressive" folks who would have voted for Bill Peduto will "Come With Me" -- or at least vote for me. Don't vote for me because of who I am. Vote for hope for the sake of our kids.

---

Honz Man (KDKA Radio) has a working theory that Peduto is going to get out of the D primary and into the general election. I called the show, waited on hold for 30-minutes, and tried to debunk some of his thinking.

And, the Caliguri saga is not like what Peduto's fate. But, that's for another thread.

City of Pittsburgh issues the RFP for the closed ice rink. Finally. Victory

Yes. Victory looks like this. Finally, a RFP (Request For Proposal) came out from the city about the closed indoor ice rink on the South Side. It is the city's lone rink, other than Mellon Arena.

I've been pushing for this for years.

City of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - Pghgov.com Neville Ice Arena RFP - Proposals will be accepted until 05/21/07 for the reuse or redevelopment of the Neville Ice Arena

I'm happy. Now to go read the PDF.

Dollars and Sense

Press Release March 20, 2007

Liberty Dollar Group Seeks Permanent Injunction against US Government

Says second most-popular currency is not violating any law

EVANSVILLE , INDIANA - Liberty Dollar filed suit against the U.S. Mint on Tuesday, March 20 in U.S. District Court in Evansville Indiana. The organization - which promotes and distributes the new gold and silver currency - asked the court to declare that the use of the Liberty Dollar is not a 'federal crime,' as claimed by the U.S. Mint. And the organization further asked the court to enter a permanent injunction against the U.S. Mint requiring it to remove any reference that the use of Liberty Dollars is a federal crime from its website.

The Liberty Dollar organization denies that its more than 100,000 proponents are federal outlaws. It identifies them as law-abiding citizens who "legally have made the inflation-proof Liberty Dollar America's second most-popular currency". And the organization demands that the federal government cease and desist from threatening them.

The Liberty Dollar group maintains it is protecting the right of every American to use or barter any "money" they may voluntarily agree to utilize. They point out that anybody can lawfully barter a dozen eggs for five pounds of sugar without fear of government interference, as an example. The group even quotes Andrew Williams, a spokesman for the Federal Reserve in Washington, D.C., as saying, "There is no law that says goods and services must be paid for with Federal Reserve notes. Parties entering into a transaction can establish any medium of exchange that is agreed upon."

Bernard von NotHaus, the monetary architect of the Liberty Dollar, labels the U.S. government/U.S. Mint's allegation that the use of the Liberty Dollar is criminal as completely misguided. "The Liberty Dollar organization has never claimed that its new gold and silver currency was a 'coin' or 'legal tender.' For more than eight years, the Liberty Dollar has prospered from the fact that people could use any 'private voluntary currency' they chose. The Liberty Dollar organization has simply benefited from the differences between the debt-based U.S. dollar and a value-based currency." Von NotHaus concludes, "There is absolutely no violation of U.S. law."

Von NotHaus points out that the government forced the lawsuit upon itself. "We had to sue the U.S. Mint, because this unfair and illegal warning was killing the Liberty Dollar and the ideals it represents. We're a relatively small group that can't afford to be smeared by the umpteen billion US dollars of the federal government. It has seriously impacted our business"

Von NotHaus finds hope in the fates of other companies who withstood attacks from the federal government and won. "Just like FedEx, I expect the Liberty Dollar to win this suit, re-establish sound money, and have the U.S. government as its biggest customer."

BERNARD VON NOTHAUS - 888.LIB.DOLLAR / 888.421.6181

ESPN.com - SWIMMING - Chinese dominate diving podium at swim worlds

ESPN.com - SWIMMING - Chinese dominate diving podium at swim worlds With China on the boards, everyone else was diving for bronze.

Party on Friday with Dave Copeland to celebrate the release of his book

Invitations, eCards, Party Ideas, Party Themes from Evite: "Blood & Volume Pittsburgh Book Release Party
Mark Rauterkus you're invited! Print Invitation Details

David Copeland
Location: moxieDaDa @ the firehouse
1416 Arch Street, Pittsburgh, PA View Map
When: Friday, March 23, 7 pm

These events are open to the public. The evite is being used solely to guesstimate attendance. Feel free to invite your friends.

Please join Barricade Books in celebrating the release of Dave Copeland's Blood & Volume: Inside New York's Israeli Mafia with the first of two events scheduled for Pittsburgh on the weekend of March 23.

Went to the movie, Pride. Saw pre-screening. Opens on Friday. South Side Works coupon for Sunday

If you want to get a coupon for the movie for Sunday, any showing of the movie, Pride, for $5, at South Side Works Cinema, print it here.



Print as many coupons as you have in your party.

About 50 Running Mates went to the movie last night, March 20. Another 50 or so went to the movie in West Homestead on March 1. So, the buzz has been established. The movie opens to the public on Friday.

Mayor Ravenstahl Q-and-A On The New York Trip

The Busman's Holiday: Mayor Ravenstahl Q-and-A On The New York Trip Nothing that I did cost the city taxpayers a dime.

To bad the Pens deal didn't cost the taxpayers a dime. The deal cost the taxpayers, even those in the city, as we are taxpayers for the state as well, much, much more.

The cost of the trip come in matters that are off the financial charts. The cost are going to be against Luke Ravenstahl. Luke will pay. Luke will be poorer. He didn't spend money, he zapped himself in terms of political capital and goodwill.

Once you are on the low-road, it is very hard, if not impossible, to take the high road again.

Luke said, "... The trip was appropriate." Okay. But, the answer to the trip when asked was not appropriate.

Luke said, "I wish I would have just volunteered the information. But understand. You know. I have a job to do. You folks (journalists) have a job to do. I have to protect, sometimes, private conversations which took place. Had this been city business, it's something that I would have volunteered when the question was asked. It wasn't asked that way. So, in hindsight, certainly I do wish I had the opportunity to just tell the story right then and there, but it didn't work out that way.

Oh my... It didn't work out that way because Luke didn't do it that way.

But the job he has to do has little if anything to do with the protection of private conversations. That is a miss-placed priority.

Furthermore, the deal with the Penguins was city business. And, when that city business was being talked about, Luke was silent. Dan Onorato was silent. The chose to avoid the media with city business. They felt that was the best way to proceed. They (Luke and Dan) don't volunteer info on questions of city business when asked.

Ravenstahl later admits jetting to New York - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Ravenstahl admits jetting to New York - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Ravenstahl admits jetting to New York

Jeepers creepers. "Not sharing. So there."

I have a theme song that is titled, "Come With Me."

Meanwhile Luke's theme song is titled, "Going, not telling. Went, denied. Caught, woops."

ESPN.com: Page 2 : 'Pride' delivers important message

ESPN.com: Page 2 : 'Pride' delivers important message

AntiRust puts the Pens and its owner in perspective

AntiRust Given wealth of a reported $2.6 billion, Ron Burkle could have built five $300 million arenas in Pittsburgh.

And still had a billion dollars left over.

Oh, and an extra hundred million dollars for tips.

Thank god we are giving him $15 million a year for the next 30 years.

Congrats, Pens fans.

Thanks, Ron.

I'm not driven by envy. But I agree with the last word of the post, "Balls." Let's say 'Balls Squared!" -- or -- We got pucked.

Pandora, Internet Radio meets Senator Specter

Pandora is an amazing service. Wow. Now this red tape headache.

Hi, it's Tim from Pandora,

I'm writing today to ask for your help. We've had a disastrous turn of events recently for internet radio: Following an intensive lobbying effort on the part of the RIAA, an arbitration committee in Washington DC has just dramatically increased the fees internet radio sites must pay to the record labels - tripling fees and adding enormous retroactive payments! Left unchanged by Congress, this will kill all internet radio sites, including Pandora.

Tomorrow afternoon there is an important U.S. Senate hearing on the future of internet radio. Senator Alren Specter from your state is part of the hearing. I hope you'll take a minute today to call his office to voice your objection to this ruling.

Senator Alren Specter's phone number: (202)224-4254

If you decide to call, please be sure to tell them your name and home town, and mention Senator Alren Specter's name. We encourage you to tell them how much you enjoy listening to internet radio and that, left unchanged, the fees passed by the Copyright Royalty Board will kill internet radio. Please ask them to act to reverse this decision.

Remarkably, this rate applies only to internet radio, exempting both broadcast radio and satellite radio. It is a pure and simple reflection of the difference in lobbying power of each industry. It is not only unfair and without legal rationale, but will completely wipe out internet radio.

I hope you'll take just a few minutes to call - it will make a difference. As a young industry, we do not have the lobbying power of the RIAA. You, our listeners are by far our biggest and most influential ally.

As always, and now more than ever, thank you for your support.

-Tim Westergren (Pandora founder)

Check out the Pandora Podcasts too.

DFA Night School Anyone Can Run

Night School is free

Have you ever thought about running for office? Are you looking for someone to run in your area? Launching your own campaign can seem daunting, yet getting people like you elected is vital to building the progressive movement. Tomorrow night DFA Night School will help prepare you to make the leap and run for elected office.

Anyone Can Run
Tuesday March 20th - 8:30pm Eastern Time
http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=18356

Join DFA-List state Representatives Elesha Gayman (IA-84), Ty Harrell (NC-41) and Maria Chappelle-Nadal (MO-72) as well as Select Board member Irene Wrenner (Essex, VT) as they share their experiences as first time candidates. Learn how to tell your story, get to know your district, and build the coalitions you'll need to win.

Over the last two weeks, 1,507 people have joined together on nationwide conference calls to discuss how we can sustain our progressive presence after our victories last November. The conference call and web presentation are free which makes participating from home easy.

RSVP today: http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=18356

The truth is anyone can run for office. You can run. I can run. And with DFA Night School and the support of DFA members across the country -- you can win!

Arshad Hasan
DFA Training Director

Police arrest 21 during melee; gunfire heard in crowd at High School Game in NYC

ESPN.com - Police arrest 21 during melee; gunfire heard in crowdAssociated Press

NEW YORK -- Teenagers brawled in the stands at a high school basketball game at Madison Square Garden on Sunday night before police cracked down on the melee, which spilled into the streets.

Gunfire was heard as the crowd went from the arena to Times Square, police said. No injuries were reported. Twenty-one people, mostly teenagers, were arrested, police said. Some were charged with disorderly conduct or resisting arrest and one was arrested on a riot charge.

Sad.

There is a scene in the movie, "Pride" where there is a fight.

Furthermore, I've been shouting that we should keep the Civic Arena for activities, such as scholatic sporting events. Perhaps the comment should be twisted to mean that that the high schoolers should play in a venue where there are less fears of messing up the leather seats of the new Pens arena.

Interesting comments in the thread on the site at ESPN too.

smart USA - short videos that are almost as cute as the car

Cool videos.

smart USA - short videos that are almost as cute as the car Starring smart

Bradish Street's Big Dig begins

From planning-urban

Last week we had a fire in this neighborhood. This week, cars are being towed and the big dig of Bradish Street is about to being.

We live in a mixed residential neighborhood. Some are residents, some are small businesses. The catering place in mid block is getting a new water line, it seems.

You're out of luck had you parked your car on the street and didn't notice the signs that went up yesterday afternoon.

Passing out newsletters on sidewalks, even around PNC Park and Convention Center, is FREE SPEECH and must be protected

The "no sweatshop efforts" matched with the city's fumbles, yet alone that of goons at PNC PARK and the Convention Center, are getting set for yet another show down. A federal court case is moving to trial, thanks to the ACLU.

Free speech matters.

Folks should be able to pass out information on the sidewalks around the stadiums and convention center.

From markets

This is a mini-book store on the sidewalk in the streets of China. Should the authorities come by, pop the lid on the container and wait for them to pass.

I'd love to have a translation of the books in this stack, to anyone who can read Chineese. Thanks. Just leave them in the comments part of this blog posting.

BootCamp PGH - I'm into this. You should be too. Save the date already.

Hope to see you there.

BootCamp PGH - Home Welcome to BootCamp PGH!
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.

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!

HOW MUCH: Free!

Campaign Laws head to Supreme Court and Libertarians engage

An attorney in Washington state posted materials that form the bulk of the posting below. Attribution in the comments.

The US Supreme Court accepted review of two cases of major significance to the Libertarian Party. One case is from New York and the other is from Washington State. Pundits are discussing these cases together because they appear as "bookends" to the fundamental issue of the relationship between the political parties and the states.

In the New York case the parties were virtual gatekeepers to who could appear on the general election ballot. In the Washington case the parties were excluded from the process, except to the extent their endorsements might mean something.

At stake are rights of political parties, of candidates and of voters. How does the concept of partisanship impact those respective rights?

Political parties want the right to decide not only who participates in their nomination processes, but also which candidates are entitled to claim affiliation with the party. Candidates want easy access to the ballot and the right to claim affiliation with any political party they choose. Voters want meaningful choices on the ballot that are not controlled by party bosses.

Wrapped up in these various claims are core constitutional principles of free speech, free association, due process and equal protection.

But what if the associational rights of political parties are at odds with the ballot access rights of candidates? New York State Board of Elections, v. Lopez-Torres, #06-766 is, in essence, a ballot access case in which Lopez-Torres convinced both the lower courts that the Republican Party had too much control over who could appear on the ballot. Link to the Second Circuit opinion in PDF.

Or, what if the associational rights of political parties are at odds with the free speech rights a candidate to declare his/her "preference" for a political party even if the party does not support the candidate? Washington v Washington State Republican Party, #06-713 involves Washington's attempt to replace Washington's "blanket primary" with a "top-two primary" that allowed any candidate to list a party "preference" on the ballot of what was otherwise a non-partisan primary. Link to the Ninth Circuit decision on that case.

And what if the associational rights of the political parties operate to limit the choices to the voters only to those "annointed" by the parties? At what point does a state have a "sufficiently weighty" interest in limiting the exclusionary rights of the political parties to ensure that the voters have a wide range of meaningful choices on the ballot? How does the state satisfy that interest without running the risk of overcrowding the ballot?

On a related matter, it is clear that a state can require political parties to settle their internal differences prior to the general election, by nominating conventions, caucuses or primaries. But can a state force any particular candidate selection format on the parties? Even more fundamentally, isn't ANY pre-election winnowing process for candidates an unauthorized "qualification" for federal office, upon the same rationale term-limit legislation was ruled to be unconstitutional 10 years ago?

So far, these issues are being discussed by the Ds and Rs, and within the academic election law community. Now it is starting to perk with the libertarian press and blogosphere.

It is certainly necessary to debate Iraq or health care from a libertarian perspective. But what does that mean if the the very identity and purpose of all political parties, including that of the Libertarian Party, is at risk?