Back in the U.S., back in the U.S., Back in the U.S. of A.

We're home as of Saturday night, 11:30 pm.

Our ride from our house to the airport, Cheers Ravi, came at 12:45 pm. We left Christchurch on a 3 pm flight to Auckland. Then it was an 11-hour-five-minute flight to L.A. In L.A. we check the time, and it was 12:35 pm -- still ten minutes before our ride from Ravi was to arrive to pick us up at the airport. Weirdness.

Then we went to Chicago and Pittsburgh.

Saturday night the All-Blacks played a test match against Canada. I still have no clue who won or when. We were on the flight to L.A. by the time the haka would have been performed.

New Zealand All Blacks rugby team official website, New Zealand Rugby Football Union Rampant All Blacks forward power and superior attacking skills in the backs ran France ragged in a nine try feast to win by a record 61-10 in the second Iveco Test at Westpac Stadium in Wellington.

So, the All Blacks won, again, big. But, two big time players are now hurt.

We got some departure gifts from Ravi -- and I was hooked up with a flash All Blacks bottle opener / key chain. I looked at it and asked -- does it work in the northern hemisphere.

On the way out of Auckland on Quantus I enjoyed a "Ginger Beer." Quiz question. Does it or does it not include alcohol? What are the big brands for 'Ginger Beer?' -- as a bonus question.

On the flight home, we saw lots of movies. The on-air entertainment, Q, features a TV screen right in the seat back in front of you. A remote and you can listen to CDs, radio, news (feature wasn't working however), movies, encore movies, TV, UK TV, Australian TV, art flicks, flight-progress and even computer games. We all watched 'Wild Hogs' and a bunch of other stuff.

Next -- fighting jet lag and getting the other four bags from American Airlines. We had them all going through customs. But only one of five made it to Pittsburgh. The plane switch in Chicago was quick (50 minutes).

The new house construction looks great. Still a bit of work to do, but huge progress has been made.

I'm an uncle -- one more time.

A new baby has arrived, MEGAN JANE. She was born Thursday, June 7th at 2:30 PM. 7 lbs 13 oz. and 21 inches. She is beautiful. Takes pacifier. Looks like her sister. Both she and her mom, (my yougest sister) are perfect. They will come home in the AM.

Excellent news for travels home. And, a brilliant reason to be headed home, among others.

Hope to see her soon.

Zappala tabs McKeesport for auxiliary county courthouse

The Daily News - Zappala tabs McKeesport for auxiliary county courthouse Parties have been engaged in discussion for years - envisioning a Mon Valley location for satellite courtrooms, row offices, bond clerks and attorneys. Now, the project is becoming more than a vision.

Dates for summer swimming with the Crafton Crocs - 2007

Exclusive WTAE/Pittsburgh Trib Keystone Poll Released - News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh

Look how they write this sillyness to try to sway public opinion. My spin is that the Ron Paul was not even a foil in the questions -- and he can claim the 24 percent. It is a race that is too close to call at this point.

Exclusive WTAE/Pittsburgh Trib Keystone Poll Released - News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh Rudy Giuliani may be the front-runner nationally for the Republican nomination, but in Pennsylvania he's in a dead heat with John McCain. Both are pulling 29 percent of the vote.

Mitt Romney is a distant third at 12 percent. The undecided vote still sits at 24 percent.

Looking at the PDF of the results, the 24% percent should get an extra 6% boost for those who say 'other' -- giving a total of 30%. That means Guiliani and McCain are both down by 1-percent.

If the polling people can't ask a question that has all the answers, they should be fired. This is trash reporting.

Might as well ask, do you favor the teaching of I.D. or Adam & Eve? Stupid question just like the stupid poll.

Onorato: County Will Appeal Assessment Ruling

kdka.com - Onorato: County Will Appeal Assessment Ruling "This administration is not doing a reassessment, let me be as clear as day," Onorato said. "We are not reassessing 550,000 properties in Allegheny County, not when other counties in this Commonwealth are allowed to use a base year."

When does this become 'treason?' When does this become grounds for impeachment?

If this Administration isn't going to follow the constitution -- Dan needs to NOT take another oath of office for public service. Onorato gave his word. Onorato was sworn into office when he agreed to uphold the constitution of the US and of Pennsylvania.

This is no mini separation of power.

Onorato could have done something. He failed, repeatedly. He needs to do something else. Going back to the courts is not good enough for me an my neighbors.

The mini separation must stand for the North to South and East to West distance for the container of creativity that Onorato has been able to exhibit in solving this problem. Onorato's capacity to fix this bread and butter issue has been next to nil. Mini fits.

In the meantime, many people are wondering how the decision will affect them. Depending on the State Supreme Court's decision, it could affect counties across the state.

Exactly. People are getting jacked around again. Are we going to get two, three or four property tax bills? Are we going to get them one week after they were due? Are we going to get extra mailings from county council with homestead exemption campaign literature too? Yanked here. Yanked there. Where is the sanity? It isn't in 2002 -- when Onorato was County Controller.

When 2009 comes, the year the reassessment was ordered, will 2002 amounts still be valid? Will 2002 values still be valid in 2012? In 2016? In 2020?

Another big problem is the fact that spending throughout the years has not been flat, as is the case in other counties. Allegheny County spends -- for tunnels under the river, for stadiums, for arenas, for demolition of other buildings, for river-front parks.

Furthermore, Allegheny County has not done anything about the expansion of the nonprofits. Nothing has been done about re-tooling the RAD Tax. Nothing has been done about regular funding for mass transit. Nothing has been done about mergers beyond 9-1-1, including the dual dog-license sales departments, except adding cats.

We've got some of the greatest health care opportunities and hospitals in the world for the rich who can afford it. But Allegheny County has done nothing new about getting sensible delivery of health care and wellness services to public workers, those who have retired, our seniors nor our citizens -- yet alone the infants. Except -- (drum roll please) -- four new hires (two are replacement workers) are due to be on the job working for the Health Department as inspectors at restaurant by the end of 2007. Big time cause for celebration for Allegheny County.

City, Heinz Field Battle Over Admin Fee For Police

kdka.com - City, Heinz Field Battle Over Admin Fee For Police"We don't feel that venues should be forced to pay this fee. We already pay a 5 percent amusement tax and that should be enough to cover any administrative services," Heinz Field Manager James Sacco said.

Here is a solution for the Steelers. Buy the stadium. Then we can talk about the 5% amusement tax.

Or, how about the Steelers benefits from the RAD tax are removed.

Whey in the world do people who buy a car, a computer, and a washing machine in Allegheny County have to pay increased sales tax -- 1% extra -- so it can go to the Steelers?

Seems as if the Steelers are NOT concerned with the wefare of their customers if they don't want to hire the police just to avcid the administrative fees.

Seems that the Steelers are not concerned with police corruption either.

The Steelers and the NFL, as well as the other sports teams and leagues, often hire their own goon squads to patrol for black-market sales of logo merchandise. Perhaps those security details should be hired throught the area around the stadium to police for ticket scalpers, illegal parking, trash makers and drunk drivers too.

The Pittsburgh Steelers organization runs the risk of now becoming the worlds biggest cry baby.

PG West: Langley out, but makes point in PIAA baseball playoffs

PG West: Langley out, but makes point in PIAA baseball playoffs Leo's squad made it to states. We missed not seeing the squad play this year.

Final practice with Andy and Martin. Good-byes in full force.

From NZ Wharenui pool

Coach Martin and Coach Andy are going to help lead a mini-swim camp for the regional swim program (Canterbury) on Friday and Saturday. So, we had our last workout with them tonight. Our series of saying good-bye to our new New Zealand friends is in full force.

The boys have one more swim practice, Friday night. I'll also coach on Saturday morning. It seems that the boys are going to play 9-holes of golf on Saturday morning with Hamish.

Saturday is going to be our travel day. A.M. swim practice (or golf). Then onto the plane at 3 pm in Christchurch. Land and leave Auckland at 5:30 pm. Then we fly to L.A. and land on Saturday around noon. I'll post the exact times later. The there is a flight to Chicago and another to Pittsburgh. We'll be home on Saturday night about 11:30 pm. All local times, of course.

I've got a lot of new resources on swimming, thanks in part to Arjun Haszard. I didn't realize all the history, but the swim club, Wharenui, had been the best in New Zealand for many years. Then in recent times, 1990s, a couple teams from Auckland have come on strong. Even when Arjun was swimming (he was a national champion in the 800 and 1500) Wharenui finished nationals in second place in the team standings.

At one Commonwealth Games competition, New Zealand got the gold, silver and bronze medals in the women's 400 I.M. All three swimmers were from Wharenui. That's an amazing feat. Amazing.

The swim resources and insights I'm now with are really exciting. Furthermore, we made a visit today to a kayak shop and are working up some plans for importing some gear as well.

From Paddle-kayak

From Grant

After our final violin class -- we played. We visited Laser Strike. We played a double game of laser tag. Grant and Erik love it. It was 37 minutes or so.

On our way to the swim pool, Grant's bike handle-bars became loose. He couldn't ride his bike. A bolt must have come undone and slipped. The bike isn't able to be used. Grant had to run the rest of the way to the pool. More running was after practice too. We have to get the bikes back to the rental outfit soon anyway.

From Grant

Eventful -- July 4th at our house

Everyone is invited to our 4th of July party -- 108 South 12th Street. It is a low key event. No food, except what people bring. We just supply the lemonaid.

Our house has been under some construction while we were away. Join us and check out the new deck and top room.

Last year, candidate for PA Governor, Russ Diamond, attended.

I'm inviting Ron Paul this year.

Allegheny's base-year property tax system unconstitutional - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Allegheny's base-year property tax system unconstitutional - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Now it's everyone's problem.

The property tax mess that Onorato has made worse has always been everyone's problem. Now it is Onorato's problem too. Onorato ignored the constitution. Onorato ignored his promises to fix the problem from four years ago when he hammered upon Jim Roddey. Onorato is a big part of the problem in this unfolding saga.

Once again these uncreative politicians are fine to go to court for solutions. Rather than judges leading the region, we should have real leaders. Court decisions are NEVER the BEST solution.

Onorato thinks that the judge does not have the authority to rule upon the consitution? Onorato doesn't have the authority to igore the consitution.

Onorato wants to be a base-year county. In other words, Onorato wants to live in the past. In other words, Onorato is content to let the rich get richer and the poor pay more. In other words, Onorato is unfair. In other words, Onorato doesn't want to do his job. In other words, Onorato is interested in buying time, to coast, rather than do the heavy lifting that faces this region.

The assessment system is broken. It needs to be fixed. I want to see it fixed. This venture is a major priority of mine.

Pittsburgh can't live in the past and expect to thrive.

Pittsburgh is dropping its population because people see how unfair it is around here -- and then they depart, voting with their feet.

As a "Geo-Libertarian" -- I look forward to the time when we get these issues out into a community-wide discussion and shift again to a Land Value Tax.

Sprawl, Dan, Sprawl. Dan is going to beg and then sprawl himself on this issue. It is going to hurt him.

It is never a waste of dollars to be fair. It is never a waste to uphold the constitution. It is never a waste to think again about justice when justice isn't happening. This issue will be a sure way to waste political capital -- Onorato's capital.

Funny too how there is another plea to run to the state for a fix, if it can't come from the judges. The state legislature needs to do this and do that. Wrong. I want to be self reliant. I want to fix our own problems. Folks from the other part of the state can't fix our problems. And, the local state reps, such as Tom Petrone and Wayne Fontana, are not capable of fixing these problems either.

Onorato will do all he can to shift the blame to others in this issue as well.

The property tax is the most hated tax when the other taxes are lower. People hate to pay all taxes. When the other taxes increase -- or were to increase -- such as income tax or sales tax -- then the property tax is NOT the most hated tax.

Furthermore, the property tax is the most hated as it is not fair. It is a joke. People hate bad jokes that hit hard upon their family budgets.

Finally, there is one solution that I've talked about a great deal in the past. I'll again raise this concept -- "ASSESSMENT BUFFERING." That's the key to making this reassessment process work.

Bower Round-a-bout

 

Today Erik, Grant and I took a rather long bike ride, in part, along "Bower Road" here in Christchurch. Dick Bower coached the boys last summer at Camp Chikopi in Canada.

Coach Bower would love New Zealand, for many reasons. Bower Road is very near to QE II swim pool. And, it is very close to the beach.

We rode to "Bottle Lake" and did some real mountain biking on trails, up and down some hills, through pine forrest, along the side of sand dunes, past animals (sheep, cows, horses, geese), over lumber roads, and around wetlands. We got there and home after a solid 70 minutes of pushing along with our bikes on roads and side-road trails.

The ride was wonderful. Grant only fell about three times. For a long time in the woods he was the leader. We were too busy to take photos, except of this one for Coach.

Steelers, Majestic Star's Barden must talk, Onorato says - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Steelers, Majestic Star's Barden must talk, Onorato says - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

The Steelers are renters. The Steelers don't have a stake in the North Side. The Steelers should talk to the Sports and Exhibition Authority. Then, if the Steelers should purchase Heinz Field -- then we'll talk.

Sell Heinz Field to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Then the Steelers will be 'stake holders' and we'll then begin to worry about them making good impressions with neighbors.

Don Barden is going to build his own place with his own money. Don Barden will own the slots parlor. Don Barden is making an investment in the city.

If I'm Allegheny County Chief Executive, I'm putting the Steelers into talks about their ownership of Heinz Field. How much is still owed? How can we get the public money back? How can we be sure that the Steelers stay in town -- and own their own stadium.

If the Steelers own Heinz Field, then the Steelers can't easily move the franchise. The team would be invested in the area.

Duquesne high school will close

Sigh.

Duquesne high school will close Residents decry state board decision; no plan announced on where students will attend in fall

More than a year ago I talked with public comment and elsewhere about how the city schools, PPS, needed to do much, much more with and about Duquesne.

This is a big deal. Plans needed to be made. Efforts to understand the situations needed to occur. I was pushing the school board and others in the community to go in these directions.

Our region is too small to have a failure of such magnatude. When Duquesne falls flat, and that has been the situation for a long time now, we all fall. Those kids are our neighbors. Their struggles are not just for the streets of Duquesne -- but they wander everywhere else in the region.

When Pgh Public Schools had the "right sizing plan" it failed to address the needs of those in Duquesne. The schools in Hazelwood were closed. That pushed more students away from that border. The nearby schools are full. There isn't any capacity to merge without serious upheavals.

The "right size" for the past quickly becomes the "wrong size" for the present.

Think again. Think without blind spots. Think it through.

Those people are getting stabbed in the back. They have outrage, and it is deserved.

To solve the problem, shut down the high school over a three year period. Don't allow for any freshmen next year. But, if the students who are there want to continue -- let them do so.

School closings should only occur as part of a phase in process over years. Same too with school openings.

Steel Valley, West Mifflin, Woodland Hills and others throughout that area need to watch out. They can't be dumped upon. A phase in would help in many ways.

Here is another suggestion: We should have a few boarding options in our public high schools.

In Christchurch, a city about the same size as Pittsburgh, there are about 30 high schools. Plus, there are a few public high schools with dorms. There are resident halls at a few boys schools and a few girls schools. Some are private and some are public.

Swim Log

SC Meters with development group (Erik was in this group).

Pull 800 meters with stroke count less than or equal to 15 on every 4th length.

4 x (4 x 100)
# 1-4 = pull @ 2:10 with 3 breaths or less on last 25m
# 5-8 = swim @ 2:15 with first 25m with 10 strokes or less (long push-offs)
# 9-12 = swim @ 2:30 with 5 flip turns, perfect. (No breathing in red zones on first and last flip turn.)
# 13-16 = fast @ 2:05 -- perfect

Kick with fins:
6 x 25 underwater
6 x 25 on side with 4 breaths or less at surface
6 x 25 on back underwater for first half of each length
6 x 25 with fins on hands kicking legs and arms in head first fashion
6 x 25 with fins on hands using a pull bouy and going feet first

easy 100

Arkansas: I love ma, I love pa. I love good ol Arkansas

Ravenstahl gets 'face' time as possible rising star in national politics Then there are the Internet blogs.

Hi Mrs. Ravenstahl!

I got to meet Mrs. R, Luke's mom, at a D-party endorsement event at the IBEW Hall on the South Side. I was outside, of course, just to mingle with the folks on the sidewalk. While I was there, she came up to me and we had a nice chat. She like my blog, so I was told.

I told her that I try my best to be real, grounded and not vile -- nor driven by envy. Those were NOT my words, but my intended feelings and desires.

I too have good friends in Arkansas. Politically, that city is home to General Wesley Clark, a regular swimmer. The best buddie I have had the pleasure to know from Little Rock was Paul Blair, a great swim coach and gentleman who founded the Little Rock Dolphins. Sadly, Paul died not too long ago. He grew up in our region and was no stranger to Pittsburgh.

When I coached in the Southwest Conference, when there still was a SWC, the Univ. of Arkansas swimmers were in a relay in the next lane from our team -- and they set a world record. That was cool. It was a short-course meters mark in a sprint freestyle relay. They were flying. It was a pleasure for our swimmers to just get washed down the pool in their wake.

He urged the students in the crowd to "overcome those people who will try to rattle you. ... Somewhere back in Pittsburgh, a columnist is writing his or her perspective on how I could be doing better, a talk show host is flooding the airwaves with half-truths, at my expense. ... Do I care? No."

Then there are the Internet blogs.

"Many of them are interesting in the way they portray what I'm doing," he said. "Very negative. And my mom, she reads those all the time. ... It bothers her more than it bothers me."

I'd love to have this interview on a podcast. Too many ... for my tastes. I'd like to not read between the lines as much.

The negative talk reminds me a bit of the approach Tom Murphy took. Murphy always used the word, "NAYSAYERS." To him, "naysayers" were worthless. I was a huge Tom Murphy naysayer.

Murphy killed our city because he didn't listen to the naysayers. Time will tell what Luke does. To me, Luke looks to be in the same rut that Tom Murphy resided within in the last 8 years (or more) of his career.

In a rich life, there is both a ying and a yang.

For an eagle to 'soar' -- it needs both the right wing, left wing plus plenty of tail feathers.

To listen to the naysayers is mandatory, in my opinion. To do what naysayers suggest isn't.

I understand that everyone can't be pleased all the time. Fine. But I don't understand how some can feel so cocksure as to think that they know it all and can shut down their receptive senses from certain quarters.

Pittsburgh is too small to have an administration that caters to only certain populations and sub-groups. We need to get on the right track and then have everyone's input -- to fire on all cylinders.

Two more examples:

In athletics, I love to go up against an arch rival. Competition is welcomed and desired. Athletes want to be pushed and stretched by serious challengers.

In academics and with research, it is a practice by some brilliant people to send their latest works to their harshest critics. Enemy evaluations are solicited before the papers get published in peer review journals.

Time will tell how Luke behaves.

Quiz: What happens when an English Chap in Christchurch "punts?"

From NZ Punting

Hint: Erik and Grant are very good at it. They could earn some income doing it in the summer months, once they get older.

GOP Bill Aimed At Ending Teacher Strikes

I haven't been happy with our Republican friends in Harrisburg, as they haven't done what was "right" for the most part. This on the other hand is a "no brainer." Special Interest Groups should not be allowed to derail our children's educations.

By Tracie Mauriello, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

HARRISBURG -- A group of House Republicans is striking out against teacher strikes.
Led by Rep. Todd Rock, R-Franklin, the lawmakers this morning introduced legislation that would ban teacher strikes, mandate a negotiation schedule when talks stall and require public disclosure of negotiating positions throughout the process.
"The legislative solution we are introducing today has nothing to do with punishing or taking away any legal rights from teachers in Pennsylvania's 501 school districts," Mr. Rock said. It "has everything to do with ... restoring to every Pennsylvania child the legal right to a strike-free, uninterrupted public education."

Do I expect that the Democrat-led state legislature will do what is right? Absolutely not. There isn't a hefty tax-increase included (unless you talk about funding these Special Interest Groups).

Thirsty?

 

Four-fifths of the world is covered with water. Thirsty for more?

New Zealand has the best water in the world. Pittsburgh has a great deal of water as well.

Milford Sound photos -- yet to come

 

Many photos are yet to be uploaded. Milford Sound was great trip with lots of impressive sights. Here is a teaser.