Alex Peak - Thought Piece

Alex Peak - Thought Piece - �Paul: 1, Giuliani: 0� - � 2007 by Alexander S. Peak Paul: 1, Giuliani: 0
Alexander S. Peak

Fla. governor signs law requiring P.E. in elementary schools - CNN.com

Fla. governor signs law requiring P.E. in elementary schools - CNN.com Fla. governor signs law requiring P.E. in elementary schools

The bill will require at least 2.5 hours of physical education each week (30-minutes a day) for k-5. Middle and high schools are encouraged to provide up to 3.75 hours of gym class weekly.

"We're trying to create a culture of activity in our elementary schools," said state Republican Rep. Will Weatherford, the bill's sponsor.

FL leaders hope to have gym class required through 12th grade by 2012, along with money from the state to help schools purchase necessary exercise equipment.

All the on-going efforts on health care issues goes to nothingness when school nutrition and physical education, in particular at the elementary level, get ignored. America can't shove unhealthy children into our schools and expect to get ahead of the process. Unhealthy children grow into unhealthy adolescents and unhealthy adults. That overwhelms society and all health care efforts.

In New Zealand, we've been impressed with the overall health of the kids and adults. They play sports. I understood this for decades and was most excited to see this devotion in practice for myself.

However, New Zealand doesn't have P.E. teachers in most elementary schools. Same for art and music. The homeroom teacher runs these classes. Furthermore there are a lot of schools that do take-out for physical education. They'll subscribe the school to an outside agency / swim school for on-going services / contract. Then the kids get instruction from certified, qualified teachers in swimming at the swim school in the community -- not in the school.

In Western PA, we've got plenty of swim pools in our schools. Here in New Zealand, the pools are not in the schools. But, there are still lots (if not more) of school kids in swim classes -- outside the school buildings.

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Rendell launching an effort to battle chronic diseases Gov. Ed Rendell plans to move forward today on his statewide health proposal by creating a commission aimed at improving care for patients with diabetes and other chronic diseases.

This is nothing new or original. And, it is typical -- too little and too late.

Wellness is a great thing. So, I dare not laugh too much at the lame ideas Gov. Rendell attempts next. But he is clueless as to fitness. And, I feel strongly that fitness is a major concern of ours for the present and the future.

The missing link isn't government handouts and extended services from government to make everyone work out. No way.

We need to begin this trek to fitness with an attitude adjustment. We need fit and responsible approaches with our lifestyles. Our philosophy, mentality, thinking, priorities and our grip on the challenges of today's society need honest reflections. We need to be nimble, healthy and see the big picture. That means, in part, blind spots are not tolerated.

Fitsburgh!

Giving tired, closed-minded, and in-flexible fits.

Ron Paul on YouTube

Lifeguard Jobs in the Pittsburgh area. Come and post them here

Got a job. Know of a pool that needs to hire more guards. Get on the sub lists?

Here is one:

If you know of anybody who is licensed as a lifeguard and wants a cushy part
time summer job. $9.00 per hour at Park Lane apartments in Highland Park.
Starts Memorial Day weekend till Labor Day. Contact 412-682-7000

Educating Rudy

Party time: Democrats and Republicans have their say

How much egg of the face will the P-G wear if the Pittsburgh bobble-headed Pierogie, championed by the Pgh City Paper, wins the GOP endorsement? Do you think that the P-G will print that news, should it come to pass?

But, are there any readers of the Pgh City Paper who are GOP voters?

Party time: Democrats and Republicans have their say When Tuesday's Republican write-in votes are counted, the city will know whether technology consultant Mark DeSantis will become Mayor Ravenstahl's GOP opponent -- a prospect we eagerly await, if only to give city residents a choice and a robust debate over the issues confronting Pittsburgh.

Quiz:

 

What's this?

Today was a success. I'm just starting to edit photos and video.

Taint of politics colors city's Redd Up work

Taint of politics colors city's Redd Up work The politicization of public works is likely to emerge as a top issue in coming months, as Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's administration attempts to computerize city management, Councilman William Peduto pushes for reform legislation, and new council members take office.

What department within the city isn't politicized?

Heck, the Big League department was driven by politics.

I can think of a few departments that are very, very good. And, I'm thinking of a few that are not -- to my knowledge -- driven by politics. So, part of my statement is an honest one. I don't want to paint with a huge paint brush -- or wallpaper with one arm in an out-of-date style. But, there is a ton of politics in and out of most departments within our fair city.

Road paving, check and got MSM coverage.

Public Work's Redd Up, check -- and now with MSM coverage.

Firefighters. City Police Commanders. Controller's office. They bang on political fronts three different ways. The URA, oh my gosh, of course. The Parking Authority -- and its newest hire, of course. Legal Dept -- and its George Spector, still acting solicitor, yep.

We'll have a whale of a tale to tell you tonight

We're about to depart to catch a cab to a train to a bus to a boat to see some whales that live along the north coast of the south island of New Zealand.

We're not even going to bring our swim suits.

Stay tuned. Video at 11, our time. That's about 15 hours from now.

Catherine is still raving about yesterday's swim meet. She had lots of fun visiting with the other parents in the stands.

I understand it was 40-degrees there. It is 33 degrees in CT. Go Sox. Here it has been 24 degrees.

The conversion, so goes conventional wisdom, is 2x the C temp plus 30.

Losing casino bidder renews option on arena site

Who is going to hold on longer, Len B. or IOC?

Losing casino bidder renews option on arena siteA losing casino bidder has renewed its option to purchase the Beth Hamedrash Hagodol-Beth Jacob synagogue in the Hill District, complicating an authority's plans to buy the property as part of arena construction.

Isle of Capri Casinos Inc. recently extended the option for a year, as insurance in the event the state Supreme Court overturns the December award of the city's lone casino license to PITG Gaming LLC.

Quiz: New Zealand wildlife includes

True or False. And, for bonus points, name it, if it exists.

Lives to 300 years of age. Can get into a relaxed state so as to lower its heart rate to one beat per minute and one breath per hour.

Could it be true?

If so, what is it?

Uptown landowner accused of opening illegal lots - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Uptown landowner accused of opening illegal lots - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 'What you're basically doing is gutting the neighborhood,' said Michael D. Eversmeyer, a Highland Park architect and former chairman of the city's Historic Review Commission. 'It's a purely individual economic decision made by a property owner with no concern for the community around him. You'll (eventually) get this scorched earth situation around Mercy Hospital and Duquesne University.'

This guy has the right to do whatever he wants with the property he owns. Well, he should have those rights. But, we've put a bunch of zoning and red tape matters onto property owners.

Not fair -- crys one parking lot owner.

Well, the city has rewarded these types of behaviors with its regressive property tax policies.

The land-value tax would help to fix this poor use of urban properties.

Furthermore, this goes into the relm of proving that people just don't want to live right next door to a hockey venue -- if it is located in The Hill District.

There is a lot to talk about on this type of story.

Pittsburgh Laurels & Lances - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Pittsburgh Laurels & Lances - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Lance: To the Democratic and Republican parties. Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl was alone on the ballot and Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato had only token opposition. As for Republicans, there were no ballot candidates for these offices; none to try to get some new ideas on the table. Now, if things were going swimmingly, maybe that would make some sense. But Pittsburgh is in state receivership and the Port Authority of Allegheny County is a mess. This was pathetic.

Love the way the Trib editors drop the "swim" description. They'll spalsh about, lampoon both the old parties, but not give a mention to specific instances on the positive side. Dive in! Drop the "L" word. And, I don't mean "lycra."

State selling its 50-year-old Downtown office building

State selling its 50-year-old Downtown office building For sale: 16-story office building in great Downtown location. Needs some TLC.

The State Office Building, overlooking Point State Park, is going on the market, the state Department of General Services confirmed yesterday.

This was a Michael Diven idea. Diven wanted to turn all of the government building in the downtown area into loft / condo / apartments. Then he would have re-built the Fifth and Forbes area as a RIDC-like office park for all the government workers.

Diven's idea was an eye opener -- but it would have killed the city. I didn't want any part of it.

Generally, it is always a good thing to sell off governmental buildings and assets. But, is there a greater plan?

I'd hate to see a move take place that unfolds much like the move of the PAT offices.

Jack Wagner -- please look into what's what with these buildings and assets.

Swim meets, swim practice, naps and a whale watching tour slated for tomorrow

We've been swimming. Last night we had swim practice and then there was a warrior meet. I took the kids home on the bike and then went back to the pool to be a part of the meet -- held on Friday night.

Saturday AM, I led the practice session. The national group did 20 x 200s. It was a 'world class set' and we took it into a world-class practice as well. Many of the kids here are real aerobic animals.

Saturday afternoon there was a "Canterbury Junior Meet." Grant and Erik participated. Both did very well.

I'll post the practices and the order of events for these meets soon. The concepts are mostly what we are used to. But, there are a few nice twists.

For instance, with today's junior meet, the people show up and have their entry form (1/2 page) filled out. They are collected at the door by meet officials. Then the meet's heat sheet is made while warm-ups occur (45 minutes). Then the meet happens.

No advance sign up. None. Show up. Fill out the form. Pay $1.50 per event. Swim the meet. Finish ribbons were given right at the lane by the timers with a time on it.

Time standards exist and if you are too fast -- you can't enter that event. It is a developmental meet.

Started with arrival at 3:45. Warm ups from 3:45 to 4:30. Meet ended by 6:30 pm.

No relays. About 10 teams were there.

The boys and girls and all the age groups swim in one event. There was one guy who was 42 in the meet.

On Sunday, we'll get up early and catch a cab to the train station. It is just too far to walk. We could bike -- by Catherine doesn't have a bike. Then we'll take a train north, along the coast. I missed the last train ride as they went to the Southern Alps two weeks ago. We'll go see whales. After the train ride we're booked on a boat to see the whales. I understand that a colony of whales live there year-round. There, we only watch and take photos, no swimming.

Upper St. Clair attorney McCullough will accept GOP nomination - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Upper St. Clair attorney McCullough will accept GOP nomination - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Charles P. McCullough, the Upper St. Clair attorney at the center of a criminal investigation over management of an elderly widow's trust fund, said today he will accept the Republican Party nomination for its Allegheny County Council at-large seat.

McCullough, 52, won Tuesday what analysts called a surprise victory over political newcomer Kevin Acklin, 30, of Squirrel Hill.

McCullough said last month he was dropping out of the race. But his name appeared on ballots because he missed a deadline to withdraw. Yesterday he won 57 percent of the vote, election results showed. Acklin, who received roughly 43 percent, conceded to McCullough about 10:30 p.m.

'Obviously, it was by the hand of God...

Oh my gosh. Err, ... Oh My God.

Another write-in joke seems to be hatching in the pages of the Trib.

County Council does NOT need to have a D and a R in those seats. A Libertarian can fill that seat.

Drunk Bureaucrat: Election DysFUNction

The Angry Drunk Bureaucrat: Election DysFUNction Jeff Koch introduced a resolution in council temporarily renaming the City to 'VoteforKoch-burgh,' which was probably a violation of some campaign rule somewhere, ...

Specialized swim meet format unlike what I ever saw before

For the record. I've been invited to coffee by Mark D

I can't go to coffee at Starbucks on East Carson -- until June 10 or 11. But, it will be a priority of mine until then.

I've been trying to meet with this other Mark for months. So, hey. Stay tuned.

Carbolic Smoke Ball: CHUCK McCULLOUGH, ATTORNEY CHARGED WITH MISHANDLING TRUST, WINS NOMINATION FOR COUNTY COUNCIL -- EVEN THOUGH HE TRIED TO WITHDRAW

Carbolic Smoke Ball: CHUCK McCULLOUGH, ATTORNEY CHARGED WITH MISHANDLING TRUST, WINS NOMINATION FOR COUNTY COUNCIL -- EVEN THOUGH HE TRIED TO WITHDRAW FROM RACE: "'I am humbled and honored by the voters' confidence -- not to mention their stupidity,' said the Upper St. Clair attorney."