Sicko stuff

The movie is about to open in local cinemas. Read more about efforts in the comments.

Historic Stables

City slicker on four legged friend.

PUBLIC NOTICE - PITTSBURGH CITY COUNCIL

Notice is given that Bill No. 2007-1552 has been scheduled for a Public Hearing in Council Chambers (ADA accessible), 5th Fl, City-County Bldg, Pgh, PA 15219, as follows:

Tues., July 17, 2007 at 1:30 P.M. on Bill 2007-1552: providing for designation as a Historic Structure known as Allegheny City Stables, located at 836 West North Ave., 22nd WD, Pgh.

Citizens wanting to testify must contact the City Clerk at 412-255-2138 prior to the hearing date to have their name placed on the speaker’s list. Speakers are limited to 3 minutes.

Say what? So we have an historic horse barn? Is this on the North Side. I bet it is. The folks on the North Side are still up in arms that they were forced to merge with Pittsburg -- and that's how we got the "h." Is that what this is about?

Could someone with clean shoes enlighten us on this petition and the need for historic designation?

Is UPMC trying to buy it?

Is this where we send our studs?

Is this like the Garden Theater, but different?

Online Fundraising: Howard Dean's Night School. Class in session tomorrow night

Four years ago this week something changed American politics forever. Howard Dean introduced "The Bat," and his campaign upended the conventional wisdom about how campaigns are financed.

Four years later, we take it for granted that campaigns will use the Internet for fundraising. But guess what? There's more to it than putting up a webpage and sending out an email. Tomorrow night, DFA's Night School will focus on online fundraising as part of our 2007 Summer Semester on campaign fundraising.

Fundraising: Online and Email
Tuesday, June 26th -- 8:30pm Eastern
RSVP: http://www.dfalink.com/onlinefundraising

We will be joined by experts in online fundraising.

Zack Exley was the Director for Online Organizing and Communications for the Kerry-Edwards campaign in 2004. He has also worked with MoveOn.org and the Dean for America campaign.

Since its founding in 2004, ActBlue has helped raise over $23 million online for Democratic candidates across the country. Karl-Thomas Musselman and Erin Hill will join us on the call.

Tuesday night they will be sharing their knowledge of online fundraising with you and everyone who signs up for Night School.

RSVP today: http://www.dfalink.com/onlinefundraising

Night School is DFA's no-cost online training program. After you sign up, you will receive the information for a nationwide toll free conference call where we'll discuss online fundraising tips and strategies. The presentation includes a slideshow you can view in your internet browser or download and print out beforehand.

All this month Night School is focusing on how to raise money for your campaign, and it won't cost you a thing.

Talk to you Tuesday!

Arshad Hasan
Training Director

P.S. If you haven't already done so, you can get DVD copies of previous Night School sessions (including the newly released 2007 Spring Semester) online at:

https://contribute.democracyforamerica.com/nightschool

Every purchase helps us continue to keep Night School free for everyone. Order your DVD today!

An Open Letter To Mark DeSantis

Dear Mark,

We don’t know each other. But I hear that you’re running for Mayor as a Republican in our city. Good luck, as you are up against remarkable odds.

Pittsburgh is a city that tolerates a lot out of its elected leaders. Our current Mayor, Luke Ravenstahl, is only there because Pittsburgh City Council couldn’t pick a City Council President out of a roster of slightly more qualified candidates. Almost every “veteran” member of City Council thought that the job of President should be his or hers.

How embarrassing would it have been had Council selected spendy Twanda Carlisle as its consensus leader, instead of Ravenstahl? When Bob O’Connor died tragically, the then 26-year-old Ravenstahl (plunked down as North Side's representative by his politically-connected parents) was ushered in as Mayor.

Ravenstahl has led with an under-the-radar, unspectacular style. There have been a few youth-enhancing flubs (admitting to David Letterman that the city fixed Ben Roethlisberger's tickets in that near fatal motorcycle crash of last year and something about crashing a Tiger Woods party), but nothing that would make the city’s underground power hierarchy flip the termination switch.

Mr. DeSantis, you are up against an incumbent (without actually being elected in a citywide race) with virtually no kinks in his political armor. It’s time you hit the grass roots campaign trail running.

I’ve heard that your official citywide campaign kicks off tomorrow, Tuesday, June 26. I have yet to get a phone call or mailer concerning this announcement. I fear that you’ll be standing in front of a podium with no one behind you, responding to your every positive statement. There should be dozens, nay thousands, of warm bodies at this announcement. If there isn't, you should just stay home.

I don’t know when the fundraisers are set to begin, but I should have already been called and asked for a donation in any amount. Asked if I could host a weenie roast on your behalf.

Tomorrow when you kick off the campaign, I’m not sure what local celebrity you’ll have behind you, but there had better be someone, even if it’s that Pirate and Steeler vendor who jumps into the Mon with all the other Polar Bear club members on January 1st. Have you been on America's Morning Show with Pittsburgh-based Quinn and Rose? Have you lined up the rest of your radio talk show appearances yet?

There better be an exciting website and telephone campaigns. Mailers should be showing up in my mailbox all the time.

I offer an opportunity to chat on TalkShoe; I’ll host. Let’s do it often if you’d like. Closer to Election Day, let’s have a regularly-scheduled once-a-month talk show. If you want, we can do it daily as we near the big day.

What have you done to post on YouTube, MySpace and other exciting sites? Some of these venues don’t cost a dime. Assuredly, you’re going to be spending some cash, or a man of your accomplishments wouldn’t be in the race.

I look forward to an exciting summer with Mark DeSantis, Republican candidate for Mayor, city of Pittsburgh, charging against the unstoppable Chosen One. Joe Weinroth ran a decent campaign last time out, but Bob O’Connor was “tapped” by the unseen powers that be.

Mr. DeSantis, do something to keep the name out there and float new ideas. I’d hate to see another Republican candidate not catch on, especially when there’s the possibility for an exciting campaign.

Luke Ravenstahl, a nice young guy, hasn’t done anything that merits leading our fine city for the next 10-12 years.

Your pal,

T

Interesting Job Opportunity, half-time for "nonpartisan" political person

Tim C sent me this notice.

Half-time Job Opening for Nonpartisan Political Program

$12-16/ hr, depending on skills and experience. May lead to full-time executive director position. The goal of the Proof Through the Night Program is to create an informed and active American electorate. Interested individuals should go to www.proofthroughthenight.org/pm.htm to learn more.

Wired Lawrence Lessig's Supreme Showdown

Wired 10.10: Lawrence Lessig's Supreme Showdown Lawrence Lessig's Supreme Showdown

Lawrence Lessig helped mount the case against Microsoft. He wrote the book on creative rights in the digital age. Now the cyberlaw star is about to tell the Supreme Court to smash apart the copyright machine.

We don't need to have the court smash down copyright. Rather, we just need everyone to put their content into the public domain.

Well, there is a little more to it. But, keep it simple. Keep it public. Share. Play well with others.

Concept Map software goes commercial

Dear CmapTools User,

IHMC is glad to announce that it has signed an agreement with Ceryph Inc. to develop and commercialize Ceryph Insight, a program suite based on the IHMC CmapTools and CmapServer programs, to commercial companies, not-for-profit companies, and individuals using the programs for business purposes.

Ceryph will be able to offer the type of customer support and training that is expected for a commercial product, and for which we have been receiving an increasing number of requests and which IHMC cannot provide.

CmapTools will continue to be free for educational institutions, federal employees working for the US Government, and individuals not using it for business purposes. Not-for-profit companies with documented revenue below $1M are encouraged to inquire about Ceryph's in-kind donation program.

All other CmapTools users should contact Ceryph at www.ceryph.com to obtain copies of Insight software.

Sincerely,

CmapSupport
Institute for Human & Machine Cognition
40 S. Alcaniz St., Pensacola, FL, 32502
http://cmap.ihmc.us/

Airport developer sues Allegheny, others - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Airport developer sues Allegheny, others - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review As a result, Ferrone filed an eight-count suit alleging these violations: civil rights, conspiracy, neglect to prevent conspiracy, defamation, commercial disparagement, conversion, invasion of privacy and civil conspiracy.

Wow. This is sorta big news.

I send out blast emails. Do they get to all the parties I am sending them to? I hope so.

Airport developer sues Allegheny, others - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Stop! In the name of emails.

Airport developer sues Allegheny, others - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review While being sued by two banks that claim he defaulted on loans for improvements at his airport, Rock Ferrone is suing Allegheny County; its executive, Dan Onorato; a few other county officials; and several people in the private sector.

Ferrone's two lawsuits allege the defendants violated his civil rights. He is suing for compensatory damages and an injunction 'ordering the government defendants to cease their unconstitutional conduct.'

Ferrone claims in one suit that Onorato blocked e-mails Ferrone sent to various county officials, including county council members.

To PIIN and friends of PIIN: about Pgh Police and stops to brown skin folks seeking 'papers'

This is a call to action in solidarity with our immigrant sisters and brothers who have been the victims of some of the most reprehensible, immoral, and illegal actions by local law enforcement.

Just in this month alone:

Two times in the last month, workers at a house in the Pointe Breeze section of Pittsburgh were approached on private property by City of Pittsburgh Police officers and asked for “identification and papers” and were further asked about their immigration status.

A woman was stopped in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh where she was walking and a City of Pittsburgh patrol car drove up next to her and asked her for identification and she was asked about her immigration status. No suspected crime whatsoever.

Three men were working at a house in Braddock which because of bad electrical wiring caught fire. These 3 victims of this fire were never asked by the County Police if they needed water, medical attention, or any other kind of help, but were only asked for their ID’s, papers, and questioned about their immigration status. No crime suspected, they were victims of a fire. And all three were detained by police for over 8 hours and 1 remains in jail on an immigration hold.

This week, in the North Side of Pittsburgh, a car with 3 children, 2 mothers, and a man was stopped by the City of Pittsburgh Police with no traffic violation, 6 other patrol cars converged and all occupants were demanded to show their documents. The women and children were crying and all felt terrorized and intimidated.

One common thread in all these is: all were Latinos; all had brown skin; all were residents of our region; all were never suspected of a crime; all were victims of intimidation and fear; all of them are our sisters and brothers.

Sadly, these are only a few of many incidences we could relate. Yesterday it was racial profiling for African Americans (and even today), today it is racial profiling for people with brown skin, tomorrow you may be asked for your papers while working in your yard or walking the street. IN THE NAME OF OUR US CONSTITUTION AND IN THE NAME OF GOD, THIS ILLEGAL AND IMMORAL BEHAVIOR MUST STOP, NOW!

Last October, at the PIIN Public Action, City of Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl committed to meet with PIIN leaders before the end of January 2007 to formulate an immigrant friendly policy for the city. After being shown a similar policy adopted by Philadelphia he said, “It’s a shame you need to have a policy to say these things.”

Since that time, PIIN has met with Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato and Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala who have been supportive of our efforts for a new policy. We have even met with the Chief of Police as well as the mayor’s policy manager and assistant solicitor. The goal was to create a policy for Allegheny County as well as the City of Pittsburgh so immigrants would not have to live in fear.

It was agreed that a meeting with all three officials (Onorato, Zappala, and Ravenstahl) would accomplish a comprehensive immigrant friendly policy for our region. We have been trying in earnest for this meeting since March and while Onorato and Zappala have been ready to meet, Ravenstahl has never given a date to them or us.

It is tragically ironic to us that the mayor had time to run to Oakmont uninvited to cajole Tiger Woods for a picture and cannot meet with us when families are being separated, people’s basic rights are being ignored, and some on his police force are instilling fear in an immigrant community that wants to help our city and region, just like most of our parents and grandparents did.

THE ACTION: Nonviolently, we will all meet on Monday, June 25th, at 9:30 AM on the 5th floor of the City-County Building (located at 414 Grant Street) to demand a reasonable date from the mayor to meet with us regarding the creation of an immigrant friendly policy for our city and county. Go directly to the 5th floor of the City-County Building.

As many people as possible are needed for this action. If the mayor refuses, then a number of PIIN members and friends of PIIN intend to make a public act of civil disobedience, or rather Divine Obedience. Those wishing at that point to retreat to the steps of the City-County Building or other point of safety are most welcome.

If you are planning to attend this action, please call or email anyone from the list below:

Alfonso Barquera, 412-715-1750, alfonsobarquera@yahoo.com

Sr. Janice Vanderneck, 412-578-0402, janvandernec@comcast.net

Scott Fabean, 412-398-4000, sfabean@tenrep.com

Put this into the report card rankings, P-G Or, perhaps because this is an agenda item that is beyond what Luke wants, it can be ignored. The P-G graded Luke on what he wanted to be graded upon.

PA CleanSweep Opinion: Who Is Really In Charge?

When most Pennsylvanians think of government, a certain image comes to mind. They imagine policemen protecting us from violent criminals, clerks diligently processing paperwork to administer justice in the courthouse or green-vested highway workers heading out to fill potholes in the spring.

Others think of the continuous struggle of ideologies under the dome in Harrisburg. They imagine their conservative or liberal heroes going into battle on the floor of the House and Senate to win the privilege of steering the Commonwealth on new paths of righteousness.

While these elements of government in action do exist, a closer examination reveals that government is actually an industry, providing profit and investment opportunities to anyone willing to adopt the proper business model. The payoff can be massive. After all, what better way to guarantee a return on investment than by putting the force of law on your side?

There are plenty of experts to help you on your way to success by stepping on the backs of average taxpayers and short-circuiting the lawmaking process. For a price, of course. Two stunning examples of such modern-day privateers have come to light in the past week.

You may remember one Michael S. Long. The former chief of staff to Senate President Pro Tempore Robert Jubelirer and brother-in-law of former Senate Majority Leader David "Chip" Brightbill wrapped up his career on the inside by pocketing $41,000 in taxpayer-funded bonuses in his last two years and collecting a $95,000 severance package on his way out the door.

While Jubelirer and Brightbill were ultimately tossed from office for their big spending ways, Long was a master engineer behind the scenes crafting their "conservative Republican" game plan. Also a prominent member of the Lebanon County Republican Committee, Long was perfectly situated to take on the "liberal Democrats" at every turn.

And you may also recall one Ray Zaborney. As 2006 Republican gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann's campaign manager, Zaborney was eager to bash Ed Rendell on any issue whenever a microphone or camera was nearby. In his effort to get a Republican in the governor's office, Zaborney even contacted this writer in an attempt to lend anti-pay raise and reform credence to Swann's campaign after an independent gubernatorial bid was sideswiped by Pennsylvania's ridiculous petitioning requirements.

But the "conservative Republican" ideologies of Long and Zaborney seem to have taken a back seat to personal profit of late.

Long is now lobbying Harrisburg for the environmental and renewable energy causes, working under the guise of a lobbyist for PennFuture, an organization closely tied to Rendell's vision for greening up Pennsylvania. This plan could arguably give Rendell front-runner status for the position of US Department of Energy Secretary in a future Democratic administration in Washington.

Zaborney, who has long been politically linked to Long but is not listed on the state's lobbyist disclosure website, was witnessed this week arriving at a Senator's office in the Capitol "to advocate for a sensible environmental plan for the Commonwealth." When asked to clarify exactly what he was pushing, Zaborney replied, "the Governor's plan."

Widely reported in headlines recently was PennFuture's CEO John Hanger touting a poll claiming that Pennsylvanians support renewable energy. (The same poll likely would have revealed they also support puppies, Mom and apple pie.) A bit less reported was Hanger's odd tirade earlier in the year defending Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen McGinty and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Michael DiBerardinis - both Rendell appointees - on the issue of ethics questions surrounding public dollars and their spouses.

The government business model is pretty straightforward. Place your investment dollars into campaign contributions and/or lobbying fees, make a few public statements revealing whose team you're really on, and soon enough you too can enjoy the profits of social policy backed by the force of law.

Such programs are not only lucrative for recipients of the resultant taxpayer funded state grants, but also for the lawyers who deal with bond issues, the lobbyists who help push them through and of course, supportive incumbent legislators who may receive special consideration from program backers during the next election cycle.

The ability of citizens to influence their government is a good thing. The notions of protecting the environment and making Pennsylvania energy independent are good ideas that markets just might support someday. But if these issues truly warrant the power of governmental force, wouldn't they already be at the top of every legislator's priority list rather than needing a constant barrage of monetary influence to get there?

Rendell, in a recent bizarre twist on morality, claimed that Jesus himself would support some of his bold initiatives that use force to generate the resources required to fund them. One could more easily imagine Jesus, upon glimpsing the pillage and plunder of the common man by the speculators and lobbyists controlling Harrisburg, angrily tossing these moneychangers from our temple.

What Long and Zaborney are doing is not illegal. In fact, it's sanitized by laws currently in place. But let's not be confused about their ideologies. Their former cover under the umbrella of "conservative Republicanism" appears only to be due to its ability to put money in their own pockets.

This is the ideology of self interest, not public interest. For true believers in the causes of conservatism, liberalism, republicanism, democracy and even environmentalism, Long and Zaborney serve as sad case studies in gaming the machinations of government for personal benefit. How many other proponents of the ideology of self interest are currently lurking about in Harrisburg, eager to prey on the common taxpayer in search of personal treasure?

Pennsylvanians would do well to think about this government-as-industry model the next time they find themselves waiting for a crime to be solved, a legal case to be heard or a pothole to be filled.

Russ Diamond is the founder of PACleanSweep and an avid believer that government should do what's best for all citizens, not just the privileged few.

About PACleanSweep

PACleanSweep is a non-partisan effort dedicated to reforming state government in Pennsylvania. For more information, please visit www.PACleanSweep.com.

[412] Summer invites from Mark at Rauterkus dot com

Email blast, 412-public-campaign, message archive: [412] Summer invites from Mark at Rauterkus dot com

Hi All,

We are home and thankful for a wonderful trip to New Zealand. Lots of our photos are on the web. Come over on the evening of July 4 to check out the scrapbooks.

My blog, Mark Rauterkus and Running Mates, was recently named the 7th most influential political blog in Pennsylvania.

There is plenty to do. Hope our paths cross soon. Consider yourself invited to:

1. Our 4th of July house party. (more)
   


2. Water polo clinic and shoot out, July 1, 2, and 3 in the evenings. (link below)
   


3. A new Biathlon = 5 K run and 1 K swim on July 4 (with Crafton Celebrates) (link below)
   


4. Water polo clinics starting July 30 to August 17 (drop in any time for three weeks) (link below)
   


5. Help with getting signatures so we can field candidates for the November 2007 general election.
   


6. Introduction to Dr. Ron Paul, a native of Pittsburgh, and a member of US Congress who is all about peace and common sense -- and his run for the White House in 2008.

It is too soon to talk at great lengths about presidential politics because we still have some work to do for 2007's general election. However, I'm loving what presidential candidate, Dr. Ron Paul, former Libertarian, is saying. How he is delivers his message and the grass-roots energy is nearly as impressive as what he stands for. Take some time to understand his positions as Ron Paul bring a needed and most welcome change to the national political scene. Google "Ron Paul" or check out his videos at http://www.YouTube.com.

My efforts to stand for office in 2007 and get onto the ballot for multiple offices as a 'stand-in' are in full swing. But, ... we need more signatures. Some have been very encouraged at the opportunities and messages I'd bring to the campaign trails. However, hundreds of signatures on notarized forms are needed to help make this occur. http://elect.Rauterkus.com/papers/

I'll be meeting with Mark DeSantis tomorrow to talk with him about his views, campaign and community engagements in issues in the weeks to come. It takes two, or more, to tango. I'm at a cross-road. We'll have plenty to talk about, in person, by our 4th of July gathering. Arrive at 6 pm in the park to play badminton, Sarah and 12th Street. Or arrive at the house by 7 pm. More at my blog.

PDF handouts for other events I'm organizing are attached.

We're hosting a Biathlon: 5 K run + 1 K swim on July 4 in the morning. I'm leading water polo for 3 nights with Crafton Celebrates, July 1, 2, and 3 from 7:30 to 9. August features three water polo clinics, M-F, 9:30 to 11:30 am. Everyone is welcome.

Links to one-page PDFs of various events listed above:

• Biathlon Handout with July 4 5K run and 1K swim, (PDF)
• Evening Water Polo Clinic July 1, 2, 3 with Crafton Celebrates
• Morning Water Polo Clinic(s) for 3 weeks starting July 30, ending August 17

Stay safe.

New study from Pilots for 9/11 Truth: No Boeing 757 hit the Pentagon - Yahoo! News

New study from Pilots for 9/11 Truth: No Boeing 757 hit the Pentagon - Yahoo! News 'The Pentagon has become a kind of litmus test for rationality in the study of 9/11,' Fetzer said. 'Those who persist in maintaining that a Boeing 757 hit the building are either unfamiliar with the evidence or cognitively impaired. Unless,' he added, 'they want to mislead the American people. The evidence is beyond clear and compelling. It places this issue 'beyond a reasonable doubt'. No Boeing 757 hit the Pentagon.'

So there.

Meeting of the Marks, plus, Bits & Bytes in Biz: DeSantis and Mobile Fusion's fulltime boss, now

Mark the occasion. I was able to visit with Mark DeSantis today. Two Marks. Two with strong political opinions. We agree and understand that our city, the City of Pittsburgh, is on the brink.

I took a few notes. But, a real interview with all sorts of fact-finding can unfold elsewhere. Mine, now, is a hype posting. We gathered. We talked. Little else is going to come of this update posting. We didn't do any 'Vulcan Mind Melt' nor even 'Have a Good Sandwich Tuna Melt.' Our schedules merged with face-time for an hour. Discussions began.

I ran for Mayor in the primary in 2001 in the GOP party. I gave him some of my insights. Meanwhile, I listened to what he had to bring.

We agree that the present mayor is out of time. The sky is falling. The city is half of what it used to be. He predicted that the city would be legally bankrupt in two or three years unless something is done. And, he doesn't see anything being done from Luke Ravenstahl's administration.

I said that we (naysayers and I) had been talking about the financial distress of the city since 1999. When Dr. Carmine and I were running (2001), we predicted the financial collaps of the city. Ours was a near term warning as well. But, it didn't resonate. We got oversight, thanks to Tom Murphy and the city's one-party rule, as we predicted, two short years later.

The city is going to go bankrupt. It already, nearly, has. Nothing is better. Ho hum. That prediction and situation is grave -- but it isn't going to win an election.

The city doesn't have any more tricks. Phantom budgets and phantom revenues are, we hope, a thing of the past.

We agree that things are bad. But, I'm not sure that the message of "Oh My Gosh -- Life Sucks for City Government" is going to convert to changes on Grant Street in the Mayor's office. It counts. Some votes will flip with the understanding that 'enough is enough.'

DeSantis is confident that he offers a range of experiences and maturity that isn't within our young mayor. Luke being Luke coupled with the condition of the city presents a formula for getting more voters. The mayor's office, in a time of pressing crisis, is not the place for on the job training.

I agree with DeSantis: Luke Ravenstahl will make serious mistakes every month. These blunders, big and small, will be visible and drag down his popularity. This city can't afford mistakes. City voters will tune into the trends from this administration's tenure.

Furthermore, doing nothing is perhaps the most serious mistake Luke Ravenstahl could make.

Thank goodness for the forward thinking City Council and its cat legislation, said DeSantis. (That's his joke. It was funny. Guess you had to be there. Having a sense of humor and history helps.)

He'll use history in his statement on Tuesday while launching his campaign at the central train station, The Pennsylvanian. Trains are important to me. He likes the rotunda. He'll announce that his race is 'on' then and there. I'll be at swim practice so I can't attend. I'm working with future voters, I guess.

My reflection of history puts today's Pittsburgh in the same situation as the people of Poland in the mid to late 1930s. Hitler was to the west. Stalin was to the east. There was no place to hide. Poland had no place to go. Change was bad. Mark DeSantis needs to convince the people of Pittsburgh that he is neither Hitler nor Stalin and moving his way will be a change for the better.

Mature managers with a sense of political duty in our beings are called to act. We both feel that we've got to do something. As a coach, I understand that the mind leads and the body follows. Well, there are many things to think about. Junctions ahead. Decisions are looming. Time will tell.

Bits&Bytes: Big-name investors betting on BubbleMesh GOP mayoral candidate Mark DeSantis confirmed he's taken over South Side-based startup Mobile Fusion in the absence of former CEO Ric Castro, who left the firm recently to 'pursue other business interests.'
Prior to becoming Mobile Fusion's president, Mr. DeSantis was an adviser to the young firm, which is developing a prototype for a softball-like device equipped with a camera and sensors that when tossed into potentially dangerous situations acts as the eyes and ears of "first-responders" and soldiers.

"We decided that it was time for a reorganization," Mr. DeSantis said of the shake-up at the year-old firm.

Mobile Fusion experienced a growth spurt earlier this year, securing an undisclosed amount from private "angel" investors in addition to roughly $300,000 from startup generator Innovation Works.

Mr. Desantis' quest to unseat Mayor Luke Ravenstahl won't distract him from manning the six-person firm, he said. "Mobile Fusion is my full-time job. My spare time is running for office."

This gadget that DeSantis and others are working on is a probe. It provides detatched eyes and vision in unsafe places.

I say that the mind-leads and the body follows. Humm. It would be nice to have a softball like device to toss forward to sense what the future holds. That's an extension of the body. The mind still has to think and understand when and where to chuck sensory devices.

On the campaign trails in the weeks and months to come, DeSantis might wish for the functionality of Mobile Fusion. He'll be walking into some awkward situations. But mostly, he'll be in a sea of nothingness. Community groups are not going to have debates. And, should Luke get put on the ropes in public, so to speak, I expect Dan Onorato to quickly rally to Luke's defense.

DeSantis sees a great divide between Onorato and Ravenstahl. Ravenstahl is baggage that Onorato doesn't want, he feels. Mergers are a wedge issue too. Ravenstahl is against mergers and Onorato is for them. So DeSantis sees the two going their own ways. I don't agree.

I see Onorato and Ravenstahl in morph mode. And, a third character in that mix is Rendell. I expect DeSantis is going to see a lot of tangled relationships as he tries to battle Ravenstahl. Ravenstahl won't go toe-to-toe, one-on-one because others will swoop in just as the bell sounds. And, the stage won't be set with the voters in their seats.

Oh, the webs we weave.

Grant gets a day of "Lump Camp"

We've made "Lump Camp" a regular part of our summers. That's when you sit around like a lump. Generally it is an all-day thing. But, we've been moving more and more to half-day lump camps.

Grant gets a full day of lump camp tomorrow, Saturday. Erik is in a two day meet. But Grant is only in events on Sunday. So, Grant has Saturday 'off.'

The summer schedule for Mondays to Fridays includes a swim practice from 7 to 9 am at Carlynton High School (indoor, 25 yards). Then there is a short drive and another swim practice, outdoors, 25 yards, at Crafton Swim Pool, from 9:30 to 11:30.

On some days the boys take a run and then swim in the second practice. Or, they'll do some sculling, reverse swimming, and other skills/drills with a script in the diving well for a good part of the second practice. But, Mike has been doing a lot of work on turns in that outdoor practice. I've been trying to teach lots of fly and breast in the first couple weeks. Almost all of the younger swimmers have mastered breast.

48 hour film event in Pittsburgh in August

Hello, my name is Rick Frisco and I am the local producer for the 48 Hour Film Project coming to Pittsburgh for the first time this year.

I am contacting you or your company to spark interest for Pittsburgh’s first annual 48 Hour Film Project.

Here is a little about how the festivities will be produced:

Write - Produce - Shoot - Edit ... All in 48 hours. That's the mantra behind this unique project.

The 48 Hour Film Project will be kicking off at The Star City Theatre in Bridgeville, PA, on August 3rd at 5:00 P.M. At 7:00 P.M., more than 40 Teams of filmmakers will be rushing off with their blind picks of; Genres, Characters, Props and Line of Dialogue to Write, Produce and Edit their films which are to be returned within 48 Hours.

We are expecting more than 40 teams of filmmakers to produce a 3-5 minute video for their entry. Our expectance is to have 3 screenings of 14 films at each screening, starting on the Tuesday, August 7th 2007 at The Star City Theatre and ending on Thursday August 9th.

Our Awards Ceremony will be held once again at the Star City Theatre on Saturday August 11th at 4:00 P.M. We are expecting to show 14 different films with the winning titles such as “Best use of Prop”, “Best use of Character”, "Audience Choice Winner” and also crowning “The best short film in Pittsburgh 2007” which will move on for a chance to face other cities in their quest for the Grand Prize. That team of filmmakers will have the chance to win the Showdown and win an HD camera and $10,000 from Visa.

More than 66 cities across the nation have promoted this project with spectacular results and sell out crowds at their screenings. Please take the time to review the projects website and see all the other happenings with this international phenomenon http://www.48hourfilm.com/Pittsburgh

We would like to extend the invitation not only to attend the screening of the films but to spend the weekend on set with any of the local film teams. Please let me know if you would like more information or to speak to me, or any of the local filmmakers competing in the weekend.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely yours,

Rick Frisco, “Local Producer”, 48 Hour Film Project
Email: rfrisco -at- remnsproductions -dot- com

Rick Frisco, RemNS Productions, 85 Williams Street, Brownsville, PA 15417
Email: rfrisco -at- remnsproductions -dot- com
Web: remnsproductions.com
Sign up for Pittsburgh's 48 Hour Film Festival August 2007!
http://www.48hourfilm.com/pittsburgh

I nuked the guy's cell phone number. But it was sent to me in his invite.

Saturday, June 30 -- parade in Crafton

I'm going to be in the Crafton Parade on Saturday, June 30 to represent the Crafton Crocodiles swim team.

We will meet at First United Presbyterian Church on Bradford Ave. @ 3:30 p.m. Parade Starts @ 4:00 p.m.

Ron Paul -- swim dad

Ron Paul's son was a nationally-ranked butterflier as an age group swimmer when he was in high school in Texas.

Hat tip to fellow swim coach, George Block, from Texas for that insight.

Water Polo Opportunities: July 1, 2, 3 -- and for 3 weeks in August in the mornings

I'm organizing two different water polo experiences. Anyone who can swim 4 lengths of the pool is welcome. Boys, girls, and adults. Rookies to the sport are encouraged to give it a go as well.

Our Crafton water polo team is still undefeated. That's right, we've never lost. (giggle)

We always have a good time and a great workout.

Info at these URLs (PDFs):

Three-weeks of clinics in August (from July 30 to August 17) from 9:30 to 11:30 am. Just $5 per week. More details.

With Crafton Celebrates, we'll do an intro clinic and a 'shoot-out' in the evenings of July 1, 2, and 3. Come to the park's swim pool and then go eat a hot dog or funnel cake without any guilt. Cost, again, is just $5 for one, two or three nights. I'll give away some fun gifts to those in the shootout. More details in PDF.

Feel free to pass the word about these events. You could take these one page posters, print them and display them at your local swim pool, library, school, or church. Feel free to give them out to neighbors too.

Biathlon: 5 K run + 1 K swim, July 4, 2007

Details, in PDF, about the Biathlon with Crafton Celebrates on the morning of July 4.

This is a brand new event. It is not expected to be large.