Blacksburg, Va Tech, -- on our minds

Bill Gupton, wearing the t-shirt. He wrote the note posted below. From people & vips

The photo above was taken in a dorm at Va Tech in Blacksburg. Our family, for the past six or seven years, has gone to a 'church camp' on the Virginia Tech campus.

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Dear Friends,

On behalf of the Board and the entire SUUSI community, I want to express my profound sorrow, sadness, and sympathy for the terrible tragedy that has unfolded this morning at the campus we all love, Virginia Tech. For many of you, this email will be the first you hear of what has been a shooting spree there, which has left more than a dozen dead, and an entire community in shock. As an extended part of that Virginia Tech community, we, too, feel the pain and loss they are suffering.

I have already reached out to our official contacts at Tech, expressing our solidarity with them in this day of mourning, and beyond. Our SUUSI Board meets this coming weekend, and we will be discussing possible ways in which the SUUSI community, can reach out as well -- perhaps through a collection earmarked to a memorial fund, perhaps something else. We will keep you posted and please, if you have any suggestions, send them along.

May this SUUSI Friends List serve as a community sounding board where we can grieve, console, and support one another, just as our full SUUSI community does (in person, one week a year; in spirit, 51 other weeks a year).

In sorrow and in hope -- Namaste
Rev. Bill Gupton, SUUSI Board President

Cutting Men's Swimming Hurts WOMEN too

The Post Online: "The move was made in order to ensure the school’s compliance with Title IX and to help the school’s mounting athletic debt, but it may have also made it harder for Ohio’s women’s program to succeed.

Racism-plank-Paul - PittsburghPlatform

Racism-plank-Paul - PittsburghPlatform It's disconcerting to see third parties become involved and presume to speak collectively for minority groups. It is precisely this collectivist mindset that is at the heart of racism.

Humm.

The women basketball players on the court don't have a radio show. They don't have the juice, such as that of Don Imus. They are college kids. They can try, but would not be successful in speaking out on their own.

We saw a bunch of people rally around the kids. The players need to battle Univ. of Tenn. They need to play ball, study, and be well-rounded student athletes.

I didn't like Imus picking on the players because they are kids. A pro player in the NBA would have the juice to duke it out with Imus.

Still, I agree that government doesn't need to get involved. But, people do. People did. Advertisers spoke too. That's great. That's part of the success of this saga.

Duquesne School District -- target with Marty Griffin

The voice of Pittsburgh, news-radio KDKA, was giving some coverage to the educational mess that is known now as the Duquesne School District. This isn't Duquesne University -- but a river town down the Mon, Duquesne.

More than a year ago, as the outrage was in a boil about the 'right sizing plans' that closed two dozen schools, I gave comment to the Pgh Public Schools. I spoke about Duquesne's schools.

This is a regional issue. But it is a city issue too.

One lady in the audience, a resident in my city council district, wasn't impressed with my willingness to talk on behalf of the students at Duquesne. She was worried about Knoxville School's closing. I too worry about Knoxville -- it should be turned into a second CAPA Middle School. But, we need to have wider perspectives from time to time. We talked, 1-on-1, later that night. I was glad she shared her opinions with me.

But, I have gone out of my way to raise the bigger issues.

The Pittsburgh Public Schools plan to rightsize was WRONG in that it closed buildings in the eastern/south edge of the city. Hazelwood and building over in that edge of the city, nearest to Duquesne, need to be open, strong, and with available space to accept students from Duquesne.

The Pgh Board of Education, and Mark Roosevelt, did the wrong things. We need to evolve the district to that area because of the on-going tragedy there.

Now, the kids in Hazelwood don't have a school in their own neighborhood. So, they are going farther away. And, the schools that they are headed to, elsewhere in Pgh, are full past capacity. But, there was a good school in Hazelwood.

We should be looking to re-open Burgwin and the closed middle school in Hazelwood.

Pittsburgh is too small to have a pocket of dispair. The schools in Hazelwood pull all schools down.

Passing an election day deadline. The gallop continues ....

Another way to look at The Burgh Report "More on Peduto's Withdrawal" is to ask, "Do you want to play DEFENSE or OFFENSE?"

In football, on third down, when the game (our city's general health) is on the line, with backs to the wall, I want to stay on offense. I'll choose to throw a 'hail mary.'

Otherwise, take a knee and punt. Or worse, don't punt -- just go home and quit.

Should you believe ("belive") Peduto punted. Then, Peduto is now on defense. Even when on defense, snap the chin strap on and blitz! Rush! Try to grab the ball. Don't huddle. Don't go to the sidelines. Don't go home.

The first play from a defensive Peduto, (in my not so humble opinion), to be called should be campaign finance reform. There is no time to wait.

Boston Marathon -- Weather -- Qualification Idea from my blog

If I was in charge of the Boston Marathon, I'd make a special rule in 2007. The wind and weather in Boston is bad. But, this is sports. The race must go on, of course.

So, here is the rule suggestion:

All runners in today's Boston Marathon who finish the race within two hours of his or her entry time get a special entry into the Boston Marathon in years 2008, 2009 or 2010.

Boston Marathon finishers in 2007 would qualify for a future Boston Marathon, for up to three years, by completion of the race within the seed time plus 120 minutes.

I'm not firm on the need of a 2-hour time range. It might be better to have a 3-hour time range to get the bonus qualifier entry. I'm not able to witness the conditions. And, it might need to be adjusted by age as well. Those in the race with sub 2:30 times might need a 2 hour window. Those in the race with a sub 3-hour time might need a 100-minute window. Those with entry times over 3 hours might need 200-minutes. Whatever.

The main motivation is to encourage the completion of the race. So, I'd really want to give a wide window. And, the idea isn't to complete the race and kill anyone. The weather is going to be brutal. Time is less of a factor.

Onorato thanked the king

Letter to the editor in Beaver Times from Oren M. Spiegler, Upper Saint Clair:

Beaver County Times Allegheny Times - Moving toward '1984' The latest indication that George Orwell's '1984' has come to fruition occurred at the recent Downtown rally for the Pittsburgh Penguins at which Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato thanked 'King' Mario Lemieux for working to keep the team in Pittsburgh.

What a guy, that Mario. He was 'gracious' enough to be willing to take the $450 million in public money that was showered upon him to support his violence-based sport, the 'regional asset' that trumps arts and culture.

We are not able to get the General Assembly to come together for a plan to provide long-promised property tax reform/relief after decades of exhaustive study and debate, but let a professional sports team's presence in this state become endangered, and state, county and local governments will mobilize to ask the team owner how high they (and we, those who pay the freight) need to jump.

I join Onorato in saying, 'Thank you and bless you, King Mario, for gracing southwestern Pennsylvania with your presence for at least another 30 years and for taking our money.' What would we do without you?

With his presence, let's see. What would we do. Live with more freedom. Live with more propserity. Live with more people. Live with better neighborhoods. Live with minor league hockey.

Patriots Day -- Rest Fast, Run Swift, Recover Fully

To Running Mates everywhere, now checkout out for a long night of pasta and slumber in advance of the 2007 Boston Marathon -- rest fast, run swiftly and may you recover fully.

The Boston Marathon happens tomorrow. I've got a few friends in the race. Hope everyone does well.

Pittsburgh should have a marathon in the future. I've got strong ideas on how that can occur in a prudent way. Let's make it happen in 2009.

Toastmaters Invite

From Rick H:

Speaking of feedback, I also invite you and your blog folks to http://edgewood.freetoasthost.com/ or any upcoming Edgewood Toastmasters. Heck, I'd like to have a FORMER WHISKEY REBELLION TOASTMASTERS reunion at the Edgewood Club. It meets not too far from where WHISKEY REBELLION did. Log on, check out the web page and let me know your thoughts too. Talk to and email you soon.

From Mark Rauterkus

Tax Day letter to editor from Mark C

Mark C wrote:

I had a "tax day" LTE in the Trib today (4/13/2007). I emailed it early Thursday morning and they printed it on Friday. It was based on some information in the 2006 1040 Instruction Forms. It's bizarre what you find in these stupid forms and what it actually means if you just think about it.

Mark

PS -- LP member Tom Gillooly here in Pittsburgh suggested a military comparison at the end and that seemed much better than what I had originally.

www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/opinion/letters/send/s_502433.html

Taxing stuff Friday, April 13, 2007

Consider two obscure claims in the 1040 instructions for filing the 2006 federal income tax:

** Almost 200 million taxpayers file a return ("Message from the Commissioner," Page 2).

** The 2006 estimated average total time burden to file for an individual is 24.2 hours ("Estimated Average Taxpayer Burden for Individuals by Activity," Page 81).

How many people working 2,000 hours per year would it take to file these 2006 tax returns? (Assume, for laughs, that each corporate and organizational filer in that 200 million needs only 24.2 hours, too.) About 2.42 million people.

Consider also that the number of 2006 active-duty U.S. military personnel was 1.38 million.

Unbelievably, it takes about 1 million more people just to file 2006 federal taxes than to serve as America's 2006 active duty defenders.

Conscription and insanity are alive and well, thanks to Congress and its IRS.

Mark Crowley, Plum

Flux was fun

Braddock, wow.

I got a private tour and was able to get a peek at the old swimming pool within the Carnegie Library of Braddock. The pool seemed to be 23 yards long?? And, best of all, it was 4-feet deep in the shallow end. The pool at the Carnegie Library of Homestead is only 2.5 feet deep in the shallow end.

Chatter with, to and about Bill Peduto

Hi Bill,

Remember the open letter I sent you about campaign finance reform's yet unfinished work?

Other issues.

It would be good to talk to you.

What about the closed Neville Ice Rink? Care to help?

There are dozens of issues we should have a conversation about.

Please call.

I will mark - please give me time to first meet with my supporters - I owe it... (... snip ... blog cut... )

Bill did write back to me, again. That's good. My reply:

You're decompressing. But, I'm gearing up. However, on April 28, my family and I head to New Zealand until June 9. Then I'm into summer swimming season at Crafton.

Plus, none of your supporters are running for County Executive & Mayor.

And, my slate of candidates is now up to 12! I think (... snip ... blog cut... ). He is a great candidate, and we'll see how Twanda does -- if she emerges.

This week: On Tuesday, 7 pm at Phillips School on the South Side, Sarah Street, I'm hosting a meeting among any interested community members to talk about the city's RFP about Neville Ice Rink. Can you send some supporters over there? Any hockey friends?

Furthermore, another meeting is slated for TalkShoe.com on Thursday night at 9 pm on the same topic. Sign up with TalkShoe.com to get a PIN.

Second Open Web / Phone Conference: 9 pm on Thursday, April 19 at http://www.TalkShoe.com.

To join the live phone call conference, call: (724) 444-7444 - Talkcast ID: 3177

Surf to http://www.TalkShoe.com and "sign up" for a TalkShoe "PIN" (personal identification number) before the session. It is easy and free. Then you can join the conversation with only a telephone call.

Questions, insights and tips about getting onto the agenda, please call or email Mark Rauterkus, Mark@Rauterkus.com, 412 298 3432 = cell.

Finally, my $.02 tip for tonight. I think you should gear to a switch to Indie on Jan 1, 2009. But, you've got to have a pit bull in the race in the D primary in 2009.

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I've been put off before. I'm patient. But, I really don't like it when those on Grant Street don't return phone calls. And, I'm sorta relentless.

There has been a bit of chatter at some of the other blogs about Peduto, again, about the final decision for the 2007 general election. All in all, there is now a wedge problem. In a nutshell, some need to get wedgies.

My neighbor's pet name for one of my kids is 'Wedge.' He calls the other 'Spike.' Simple tools. Effective. Efficient. Other simple tools: ballots, votes, word-of-mouth.

Official: No Slots Money For Schools In 2007-08

No slots for tots, yet. We are still holding our breath. We are turning blue.

kdka.com - Official: No Slots Money For Schools In 2007-08 Slot-machine gambling in Pennsylvania will not provide enough revenue to allow school districts to cut property taxes for the 2007-08 school year, Gov. Ed Rendell's top budget official said Friday.

The state budget secretary, Mike Masch, made the legally required certification in a letter to Education Secretary Gerald Zahorchak, disappointing some state gambling regulators who had hoped that the reductions would be possible in the coming school year.

Masch also used the opportunity to press the case for an increase in the state sales tax, as Rendell proposed in February as a way to offset further cuts in rapidly rising school taxes.

What about money for the budget for the City of Pgh? Wasn't there money expected in 2007? Didn't the OVERLORDS insist that money be put into the mix? Will some of the windfall come just for the sale of the license, even though the slots parlor isn't earning a nickle yet.

Other sites are making money. Other sites have paid for their license too. I'm not even sure if Barden's $50-million was given to the state yet since there are legal challenges.

Creating Passionate Users: How to host a product/feature design party

Creating Passionate Users: How to host a product/feature design party

Process.

Rivers Club - Saturday, April 21

Ron Morris is doing his radio show next Saturday morning at the Rivers Club. It is by invite only. Call 412-249-8662 to leave a message or speak with Angela Sceziorka.

From Logos

From chatter on TalkShoe.com today while Ron's show was in progress.

Maori Relics. Are there any in the Carnegie in Pittsburgh?

My family and I are starting the long process of packing for our pending trip to New Zealand. So, you start with the big stuff.

Are there any artifacts, relics or historical tribal trinkets that are on loan (or stolen) from the Maori people of New Zealand in Pittsburgh that should be returned?

I'm willing to take them with us, but I'll need to know soon, before we too far along in our packing.

Candidate: Patrick Dowd at forum last night

His opponent didn't show. Even Twanda showed up that night.

Dowd didn't stay.

Told ya: Peduto won't run as independent - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Told ya.

Peduto won't run as independent - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Pittsburgh City Councilman Bill Peduto announced today that he won't run in the November general election against Mayor Luke Ravenstahl.

Next, the editors and reporters of the Trib are going to run a LONG LIST of other people who won't and can't run for mayor in 2007.

I'm very thankful to Bill for talking about the November 2007 election. General elections do occur in Pittsburgh. They are a part of the process.

CollegeSwimming.com::Slippery Rock Settles Title IX Suit -

The trend here is to NOT make 2nd class citizens. Meanwhile, don't end up with 3rd class citizens either.

The other trend is to do the option that is one step better than the worst possible option. I hate those types of decisions. I really hate them when it comes to education. Education needs to be about being right on. Education should be about excellence.

CollegeSwimming.com::Slippery Rock Settles Title IX Suit - In Pennsylvania, Slippery Rock University, agreed to set aside $300,000 to enhance women's sports and be monitored for three years to ensure compliance with Title IX. The suit followed a July ruling by the U.S. District Judge Donetta Ambrose that the school must reinstate women's water polo and swimming.

The Women's Law Project's Susan Frietsche explained, 'The school has agreed not to treat their women athletes as second-class citizens and they deserve credit for this settlement as well.

'A banner day for college swimming!' proclaimed CSCAA Executive Director Phillip Whitten, who also added, “Presumably Ms Fietsche was not comparing them to the male swimmers who, if the women swimmers were second-class citizens, surely must be reckoned as third-class citizens.'

Mayors are bird-brains!

edmontonsun.com - Hockey - Mayors are bird-brains! OTTAWA -- Ottawa Mayor Larry O'Brien took his friendly NHL playoff rivalry with the mayor of Pittsburgh to a new level yesterday when he declared the nation's capital a penguin-free zone. As part of the shenanigans, O'Brien had arranged for a person in a penguin costume to interrupt the meeting and accost him.

After a brief struggle, two police officers arrested and handcuffed the over sized bird.

Word soon reached the office of Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl. After receiving photos of the penguin's arrest, Ravenstahl's office forwarded the pictures to a zoologist at the Pittsburgh Zoo - one of the most respected zoos in the U.S.

'In the zoologist's professional opinion, this was not a penguin,' said Dick Skrinjar, Ravenstahl's director of communications. 'It's a kiwi. So your mayor has made a mistake.'

I'm not going to pick on the Kiwi in this blog. That would be bad form as we're headed to New Zealand in two weeks.

But, let's review. Here is a Penguin. He lives on the North Side.

From Logos

Here is a Penguin mascot taken from a fan's blog. They crap on the neighborhoods called The Hill District.

Here is a photo of a building that the Penguins had covered and then abandoned. It has since gone bust. This is in the South Side.



Here are some kwel Kiwi designs. There they play a team game, rugby, and have a world famous squad called the All Blacks.

Finally, talking about handcuffs at sports venues is a subject that our mayor might blush about.