State subsidy revives Downtown convention hotel plans Downtown Pittsburgh can finally move ahead with plans for a headquarters hotel, with 400 to 500 rooms, adjacent to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
That's because the state Legislature this week included a $34 million subsidy for the $103 million project when it approved projects paid for from the slots development fund. The fund, based on 5 percent of taxes paid by slots casinos, also is helping to pay for a replacement for Mellon Arena.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
State subsidy revives Downtown convention hotel plans
This is why we will never get ahead, big-ticket boneheaded spending.
City's surveillance system to get $3.4M upgrade - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
If I'm elected, I'll work hard to point the cameras at public officials who should be guarding our money and liberties -- not at citizens. They want to reduce the privacy of our daily lives. I want to reduce the privacy of our public spending, closed room deal making, and corruption opportunities.
Only after all the public officials and public meetings are fully accessible and open and transparent and streamed and archived and searchable and documented and easily navigated should be bother pointing the cameras at people on the streets.
The bigger crimes are happening on the golf courses and bond-refinance meetings among high-spending public servants, not along the streets of a downtown intersection.
Putting better cameras along our streets in the city is just another reason to give people to avoid the city.
Only after all the public officials and public meetings are fully accessible and open and transparent and streamed and archived and searchable and documented and easily navigated should be bother pointing the cameras at people on the streets.
The bigger crimes are happening on the golf courses and bond-refinance meetings among high-spending public servants, not along the streets of a downtown intersection.
Putting better cameras along our streets in the city is just another reason to give people to avoid the city.
City's surveillance system to get $3.4M upgrade - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Pittsburgh's version of Big Brother has poor vision, but he's about to go 20/20.
A $3.4 million police and emergency services surveillance upgrade could begin in October. It would add 83 cameras capable of streaming live video to -- and being controlled by -- any networked city computer, including those in police cruisers equipped with laptops."
Saturday, July 21, 2007
So quiet on the digital front. Are you all reading your new Harry Potter books?
Don't mention two words as to what you think of the new book. Neither say nor post anyting beyond the page number you've hit -- and NOTHING else.
I notice very little on the net today. Everyone might be hung over from the midnight Harry Potter parties.
Erik and Grant were in a the BB Championships today. They were reading between events. Erik made finals in 3 events. Grant in none. Our boys are not tapered and not rested. It showed. More events and reading come tomorrow.
I notice very little on the net today. Everyone might be hung over from the midnight Harry Potter parties.
Erik and Grant were in a the BB Championships today. They were reading between events. Erik made finals in 3 events. Grant in none. Our boys are not tapered and not rested. It showed. More events and reading come tomorrow.
Midnight magic in the air - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Midnight magic in the air, front page photo : Staffers at Joseph-Beth Booksellers at the SouthSide Works were expecting a large crowd for the book's midnight release. Marketing manager Jeffrey Inscho said the store had pre-sold 400 books.Erik, my son, and his friends had their photo on the front page of the Saturday Tribune Review newspaper.
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| From family - travels |
Friday, July 20, 2007
Travel photos with the anticipation party for the new Harry Potter book
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| From family - travels |
At midnight tonight, the book is available. I'll be in line at Joseph Beths Booksellers at the South Side Works to pick up our copies. Two books: one for us and one for grandma.
Then in the morning, we are up at 6 am for a swim meet, BB Champs. The books might get a little wet.
The meet is a pre-lims and finals meet. The kids won't be shaved, but, I wondered if it would be good to do that for the first time in their lives. Our taper has not really happened, yet. Erik is in J.O.'s (next weekend). Plus, we'll have a meet following that for city championships. And, then we expect to go to the West Virginia state meet to be held this year at Kenyon. So, our fully-rested meet / taper / shave is later in the summer.
Libertarian Party horrified at Pennsylvania spending surge
Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania - For Immediate Release - July 20, 2007Harrisburg - Pennsylvania legislators have approved a budget that will hold the line on taxes but pushes the general budget to $59.1 billion and the general fund to $27.3 billion.
For more information contact: Doug Leard (Media Relations) or
Michael Robertson (Chair) at 1-800-R-RIGHTS / chair@lppa.org
Despite a $650 million surplus, Governor Rendell pushed hard for a wide array of new and increased taxes including an "energy" tax and an increased sales tax. The legislature held firm to the desires of Pennsylvanians and the budget will include no tax increases.
However, the legislature was more accommodating to increased spending. According to the Commonwealth Foundation, spending will increase 4.5% versus an inflation rate of 3.15%. Spending includes an additional $750 million in transportation spending primarily to bail out the already bloated mass transit systems in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. $800 million will go towards funding of a convention center in Philadelphia while over $200 million will be dedicated to help fund a new hockey arena in Pittsburgh.
Michael Robertson, Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania (LPPa) Chair, observed that, "While the budget does not contain a direct tax increase, because of shuffled appropriations there are hidden tax increases associated with the additional spending. As with the transportation funding bill, which reduces the already low share of liquid fuels funds to municipalities, local governments will have to rely on other sources of revenue to maintain current capabilities such as road maintenance. This will likely result in increased local property taxes to cover the increased state expenditures in other areas."
Robertson continued, "Robbing Peter to pay Paul is no way to run a government. Unless the legislature can reduce spending, the climate for free enterprise in Pennsylvania will continue to deteriorate, and our liberty will continue to be eroded."
Doug Leard, LPPa Media Chair, observed that, "Even after the overwhelming rejection of the May ballot referendum to have a revenue-neutral tax shift, they propose more spending. Taxpayers want smaller state government. The legislature and the governor continue to ignore that fact."
"Total squander for 2007-2008 will likely top $60,000,000,000 in taxpayer's earnings that would otherwise be used for productive purposes. Considering the all the ethical problems in the legislature, they shouldn't be trusted with a dime of other people's money." said Libertarian Candidate James Babb. "Last year's surplus should be returned at once to the people that earned it."
The Libertarian Party is the third largest political party in both Pennsylvania and the United States. Nationwide there are over 200,000 registered Libertarians with organizations in all 50 states. Libertarians serve in hundreds of elected offices throughout the nation. Please visit www.LP.org or www.LPPA.org for more information.
Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania, 3915 Union Deposit Road #223, Harrisburg, PA 17109 www.lppa.org, 1-800-R-RIGHTS, info@lppa.org
Make free wi-fi truly free
Make free wi-fi truly freePittsburgh has two-hours of free wi-fi. Giggle.
BBC NEWS | Technology | Intel and $100 laptop join forces
SI.com - More Sports - Cal swim coach gets $3.5M in�gender bias case - Friday July 20, 2007 11:04AM
SI.com - More Sports - Cal swim coach gets $3.5M in�gender bias case - Friday July 20, 2007 11:04AM An Olympic gold medal swimmer who became a coach and administrator will receive more than $3.5 million in the settlement of a gender discrimination lawsuit against the University of California, Berkeley.
Karen Moe Humphreys worked at Berkeley from 1978 until being laid off in 2004. She sued, saying she lost her job in retaliation for complaining about the treatment of women by the university's athletic department.
pnc = pick pocket corporation
Pittsburgh Laurels & Lances - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review PNC Financial Services Group says it had a net profit of $423 million for the second quarter of 2007. PNC has net profits of $882 million for the first half of 2007. It had a profit of $2.6 billion for all of 2006. Oh, and PNC also says its multibillion-dollar acquisitions spree continues -- it's buying Sterling Financial Corp. for $565 million. So, any day now we expect Pickpocket National Corp. to reimburse the public for the $48 million in public subsides for its new Downtown skyscraper, right?
Null Space: to borrow a phrase.....
Null Space: to borrow a phrase.....: "to borrow a phrase....."
My reply:
The candidates come and go. However, the city, county, and region is not as it was in the past.
Lots of people have moved out. That is more of a factor than who is on the ballot.
Some too have moved into the city as well.
Lots of debt has been built. That is not measured with these flash backs.
The city is on the brink. This can't be given a discount.
Lynn Swann was running for PA -- where the worst was a pay raise. And, Swann didn't even speak out against the pay raise much.
Roddey has done lots to prevent a R from running in the city as Roddey could not do it.
Roddey did a lot to piss off the city residents -- in both of his races and throughout his public career.
City residents don't give a woop about do-whop at QED. We were pissed at the loss of WQEX 16 and the debt that they created there -- despite having Mr. Rodgers to pimp. Then there is PAT -- and that leadership speaks for itself. Roddey supported the work of Sabre Systems too.
DeSantis has none of that first hand damage and baggage that Roddey has created for himself and our region.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
The Club For Growth hates Edwards plan for schools
The Club For Growth - http://www.clubforgrowth.org Club for Growth Gives Edwards’ School Plan Grade of FNo shock that the Club for Growth hates the plan from a Dem.
Edwards wants urban magnet schools. Those are NOT charter schools. And, Edwards wants to give money to suburban districts that take city kids in their classrooms.
The Club for Growth wants to fund private school options.
These folks are talking past each other, sadly.
Pittsburgh Hoagie gets nod for Propel Pittsburgh update
Pittsburgh Hoagie: All meat no filler: Propel Pittsburgh update
My reactions:
Get on the URA Board, then I'll be impressed.
Propel Pgh is a joke.
I would NUKE that organization. It has no function in city government. It is a way to make government bigger. I want to make government smaller. It is a way to put more layers of b-mumbo-jumbo between our city's leaders and the voters.
It is an accountability cope out too. He can say he'll do nothing but wait for the report from the 'commission' or 'booster group.'
We already have plenty of groups of professional young people in this town. Interact with them in the private sector. Don't duplicate them with taxpayer money.
It is plans like these that cost the city money -- and do little or nothing. And, this is why the Ds made the city bankrupt. It is a perk for you. It is a headache for the future.
My reactions:
Get on the URA Board, then I'll be impressed.
Propel Pgh is a joke.
I would NUKE that organization. It has no function in city government. It is a way to make government bigger. I want to make government smaller. It is a way to put more layers of b-mumbo-jumbo between our city's leaders and the voters.
It is an accountability cope out too. He can say he'll do nothing but wait for the report from the 'commission' or 'booster group.'
We already have plenty of groups of professional young people in this town. Interact with them in the private sector. Don't duplicate them with taxpayer money.
It is plans like these that cost the city money -- and do little or nothing. And, this is why the Ds made the city bankrupt. It is a perk for you. It is a headache for the future.
Feds try to shut Brazilian airport after deadly crash - CNN.com
I've been sitting on this blog posting for a while. It isn't good news. In the USA, and in Pittsburgh, we are generally clueless about what is going on in the rest of the world. More research and pointers are needed.
The news hits close to home for me and our family. Our next trip abroad is slated for Brazil. Ordering the tickets have been on our 'to do list' in recent days.
A couple of days ago, a big commercial airline crash happened in Brazil -- on the same route that we're expected to take this fall, in October.
Just a week prior to the fatal crash, the city council made a motion to prevent the large planes from using the airport. That measure was VETOED.
The pilots have been making a fuss about these conditions for some time.
The news hits close to home for me and our family. Our next trip abroad is slated for Brazil. Ordering the tickets have been on our 'to do list' in recent days.
A couple of days ago, a big commercial airline crash happened in Brazil -- on the same route that we're expected to take this fall, in October.
Feds try to shut Brazilian airport after deadly crash - CNN.com Feds try to shut Brazilian airport after deadly crashStay tuned.
Just a week prior to the fatal crash, the city council made a motion to prevent the large planes from using the airport. That measure was VETOED.
The pilots have been making a fuss about these conditions for some time.
TalkShoe - Talkcast - The American Entrepreneur show today with Mark Rauterkus call
I was an invited caller to Ron's show today as he was a guest host for Uncle Dougie, 3 to 6 pm, 1360 AM. My segment / call was at the very end of the show.
TalkShoe - Talkcast - The American Entrepreneur 07/19/07 03:00 PM EDT 2:56:55 in lengthHere is a pointer to the podcast. Listen if you wish.
TAE SPECIAL EDITION - Ron Morris fills in for Doug Hoerth
The American Entrepreneur - Newsletter Articles
Wonderful parenting article from JB Inc.
The American Entrepreneur - Newsletter Articles Before our daughter entered our lives, I couldn’t herd a rabbit to a head of lettuce; because I lacked the patience and foresight needed to manage others.
The Darn News: Ravenstahl Detail: Code Bullshit
Don't you love a good string of insults with a glaring typo.
The Darn News: Ravenstahl Detail: Code Bullshit Your a ribbon-cutting patsy with no gravitas, and little more to your name than the promotion of a few wife-bruising cops and a morally repugnant round of golf. Drop the detail.Luke might want to drop the detail. But, do insert type, "You're a ..." (not, Your a ...)
Boy, 12, went missing, now found; Last Seen At School - News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh
Boy was hooked up at the McKeesport Police Station on Thursday morning with his God Parents.
Upsetting news: Help find this kid.
Upsetting news: Help find this kid.
Boy, 12, Missing; Last Seen At School - News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh: "Pittsburgh police are asking for help to find a boy who has been missing since Wednesday.
Eddie Yancey, 12, was last seen at Frick International Studies Academy on Thackeray Street in Oakland, police said.
Yancey's mother, Marcia, said the boy got in trouble because he brought a PlayStation to summer school.
She said she told the principal to send her son home, and the principal gave the child money for a bus ride, but nobody knows what happened after that.
Yancey is described as black, 5 feet 10 inches tall, 130 pounds, with black hair, brown eyes and a light complexion
Anyone who has seen the child is asked to call the missing person unit of Pittsburgh police at 412-323-7800, or contact your local police department.
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