Cat says -- just dodged a bullet. No license headaches today.

From people & vips

Jeff Koch saves the day!

Fred Thompson Shakes Up Campaign Staff -- GOPUSA

Fred Thompson Shakes Up Campaign Staff -- GOPUSA Details of Thompson's fundraising remain unclear, however. As an undeclared candidate, Thompson can raise money to ''test the waters'' without having to file public financial reports until he actually enters the race.

The joke goes, rather than holding the next debate on YouTube.com, it should be held among the candidates on eBay. That way the politicians can more easily be purchased. (Not my joke.)

Words define mayoral actions

Words define mayoral actions - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "(verb) -- To argue or vigorously discuss matters of pressing importance. (Example: 'Dan, you want to go to The Carlton or the Paradiso for lunch today?')"

Follow up question at a debate: "What's for lunch?"

Probing question: "Are there free refills?"

2nd phase of condo project begins on S. Side Slopes

2nd phase of condo project begins on S. Side Slopes The developer, Coldwell Banker New Homes Division, will make tours of the model unit available after the 10:30 a.m. ceremony.

Won't you be my neighbor!

With overlords in town, this is all the mayor is good for -- wearing a sandwich board and hucksterism.

When is the third, fourth and fifth ribbon cutting?

Lane 9 News Archive: Braxton Bilbrey Swims Around Alcatraz

Lane 9 News Archive: Braxton Bilbrey Swims Around Alcatraz A year ago, 8-year-old Braxton Bilbrey became the youngest individual to swim from Alcatraz to San Francisco. Monday morning, Bilbrey swam around Alcatraz Island, covering the route in just under two hours. Bilbrey handled the route in one hour, 58 minutes, according to a report in the Arizona Republic.

Bilbrey negotiated 61-degree water and handled a distance of 3.5 miles, more than twice what he covered last year going from the former prison to San Francisco. Bilbrey was accompanied by his coach, Joe Zemaitis, and two other adult swimmers. They were followed by a support boat.

http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/9/9/e/9/event_1779401.jpeg

Crafton, then Scott,, Mt. Lebo, South Fayette and Green Tree

The South Hills Summer Swimming Conference Championship swim meet was tonight at Carlynton High School.

Team scores:

Crafton Crocodiles Swim Team = 1,012.5
Scott Township Swim Team = 773
Mt. Lebanon Piranhas = 725.5
South Fayette Summer Swim Team = 487.5
Green Tree Swim Team = 417.5

For the tenth year in a row, the same coach, Mike Schneiderlochner's team won. Way to go Mike!

This is my second year as an assistant coach with the Crocodiles. Mike has been with Crafton for three years. Prior, we both were at Green Tree. I've only been involved in the league for seven years, not ten.

Erik won three events, setting a new team record in the 50-breast (short-course yards) with a 38.10. He won the 50 fly and 100 IM too. (IM = 15.4 + 22.6 (36.8) + 21.4 + 17.1 (38.6) = 1:15.58)

Grant was in three very close races. He didn't win any but was right within a touch or stroke in all of his races: 25 free, 25 fly and 25 fly.

There were some great races throughout the night in many age groups. Well done swimmers, coaches and teams!

The All-Star meet is on Thursday night at South Fayette.

Ron Paul Update

July 23, 2007

What a great trip to South Carolina! On Saturday, I talked to the Spartanburg County GOP. About 350 people attended from all over the South, and the local party made $5000 out of it. Originally, this had seemed to be unfriendly territory, but everyone couldn’t have been nicer or more welcoming. And we all learned something.

Then I spoke to a rally in Greenville. The local papers were less biased than most, but they still estimated the crowd at 500. We had set the room with 1100 chairs, and almost all of them were taken. In addition, people stood in ranks at the back and sides. In other words, there were more than 1000 people there.

This crowd -- also from all over the South, and thanks to all those who drove hours to be there -- was typically diverse. Lots of young people, but also lots of families with children. And seniors too. I talked about foreign and domestic policy, and noted that those concerned about pollution must support private property. Government property is never well cared for. Just look at the environmental problems left over from the USSR!

I also talked about sound money and the Federal Reserve, about the inflation it is inflicting on us, and about the recessions it causes, and the unjust redistribution of wealth it brings about. A young man who drove up from Auburn, Alabama, said he’d never thought he’d see the day when a call to abolish the central bank would receive a long standing ovation in American politics.

But if there is one thing we know, people are hungry for the truth. And that is especially true of this moment. I found the same concerns at a picnic of local political activists I attended. I even got questions about Austrian economics!

Last Tuesday in Georgia, Dr. Paul Broun defeated state senator John Whitehead in a special election to Congress. John had all the establishment and money on his side. But Paul discussed obedience to the Constitution, limited government, the failure of the national Republican leadership, and a less aggressive foreign policy. And he won. Columnist Robert Novak said this “terrified” all the establishment types in the Republican Party. I had talked to Paul during his campaign, and was thrilled to congratulate him on his victory. There is a new wind blowing.

Our bottom-up campaign -- not top-down in the usual official fashion -- has gotten far bigger and more successful, at a faster rate, than even I dreamed. And the sky is the limit. Don't we owe it to our great forbears, and to our children and grandchildren and great grandchildren down through the generations, not to lose our country? We can win the fight for the ideals of the founders. We can have freedom, peace, and prosperity. We can be blessed by our fellow citizens, and by all those who come after us.

Come, join me in this great endeavor with your most generous contribution. https://www.ronpaul2008.com/donate/

Sincerely,

Ron

Dr. Paul is going to be in Pittsburgh at 7 pm on August 3 at the North Points Sheraton. Be there if you can.

Residents look to preserve the view from Mt. Washington - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Residents look to preserve the view from Mt. Washington - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review The session, at the Mt. Washington Senior Center, will allow residents to discuss options for the project and its $3 million estimated cost.

Should the city spend $3-million for sidewalks and fences on the hillside leading to Mt. Washington?

Well, more than $3-million has already been spent by the cost over-runs on the tunnel under the river for the light rail extension to the North Shore.

Pitt seeks trust from community

Pitt seeks trust from community - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review'One of the biggest problems we had was that rumors guided what kind of reactions we got to our projects in the community,' said Wilds, who came to Pitt in 1985 as its director of human resources and serves as associate vice chancellor of community and governmental relations. 'People thought we wanted to purchase Oakland when that was not the case.'

Pitt never wanted to purchase Oakland. Rather, Pitt just wanted to own Oakland.

If you think that local groups are virtually unanimous in praise -- then you can be certain that the local newspapers are still not able to report on all sides of the story.

Channel swim sunk by storms

Ouch.

Channel swim sunk by storms Horrific weather and crashing 5-foot waves combined yesterday to thwart Brent McAuliffe's attempt to become the first Pennsylvanian to swim the English Channel.

Mr. McAuliffe, of Canonsburg, attempted to swim the 21 miles from Dover, England, to Calais, France, to raise funds and awareness for childhood friend Marissa Boyan, of Bethel Park, who has been battling a brain tumor.

It ain't about the geese.

Onorato lied.

The Canadians were gathered in the hush of dawn and killed -- after Onorato said that a slaughter would NOT happen.

Trust from Onorato's camp has migrated.

Still one of the most influential political blogs in Pennyslvania

This week's rankings are posted. This blog is still in the top 20!

Blue ribbon! update from our swimming summer

Erik swam in finals in tonight's BB Championships in 2 events. He won, 1st place, in the 50 breast, time 42.80. He also made a new J.O. cut in that event. Now Erik has two events in the JO meet, 50 free and 50 breast.

Erik also got 6th in the 50 fly.

Grant swam in finals in the 100 back. He improved his time from prelims by .5.

Our summer league championship swim meet is Tuesday night at the indoor Carlynton High School pool. Each boy will be in three events. Throughout the summer meets, they both have had a few tight races, but have only got blue ribbons.

State subsidy revives Downtown convention hotel plans

This is why we will never get ahead, big-ticket boneheaded spending.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

From family - travels

Travel photos with the anticipation party for the new Harry Potter book

From family - travels

We enjoyed the party hosted by the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh in Oakland in advance of the new book's release. Erik and Grant dressed up.

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, 2007

For more information contact: Doug Leard (Media Relations) or
Michael Robertson (Chair) at 1-800-R-RIGHTS / chair@lppa.org

Harrisburg - 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.

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