Hot news from Bangkok's swim meet - World Univeristy Games has Pittsburgh connection wearing gold

AMS Home Page: "World University Games, August 12-18, Bangkok, Thailand ..."

Check out the news.

The photos are from our trip to Thailand. Does this guy look like a 400 IMer?

From thai mix

Christine Smith, Libertarian Candidate for President, 2008

Christine Smith, Libertarian Candidate for President, 2008 Christine Smith, Libertarian Candidate for President, 2008

A women in the race, besides Hillary.

I am happy to share my campaign is progressing very well!

I take this opportunity to invite everyone of you to my campaign website:

http://www.LibertarianForPresident.com

Ravenstahl makes his own case for being clueless

Esquire.

From texture - misc.

Luke on Luke --- "Look at me. No hands. No clue either!"

Ravenstahl makes cameo in new Esquire - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review The magazine ran a quote from each mayor with his photo. Ravenstahl told the magazine the 'best perk' of being mayor: 'I don't have the political relationships yet, so I think that's an advantage. But because things move so quickly, I haven't had the chance to sit down and digest it. To this day, quite honestly, it hasn't hit me -- the opportunity I have.'

Digest it. Barf!

Chew your food. Take your time. Don't eat on the run.

Luke, you need to speak about the duty you have, not the opportunity. Luke, you need to talk of the service you hope to fill, not the perks that float your way. Luke, you need to dodge the hits you inflict on yourself because of the running around in circles. Get a grip. Be hit. Hit back. Stand your ground. Be aware.

Talk of the responsibility, the stewardship, the management efforts.

Luke, it is NOT so important that you tell "Pittsburgh's story" to mayors from around the nation. Those folks are NOT going to move here. What is important in telling that story -- except for you as the teller.

I'm not here to be a slave of history -- or even H I S -- S T O R Y. Pittsburgh's story is something that is unfolding. Let's make history. Let's craft a better story.

Libertarian Party opposes proposed smoking ban on private businesses

Harrisburg latest intrusion tabled till fall

Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania

Harrisburg - Although legislators have tabled a state-wide smoking ban until fall, the issue is far from dead. Governor Rendell has expressed his disappointment in the delay and indicated that "I believe a statewide ban would be good, and I'd be willing to sign it."

Today, the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania (LPPa) announced their opposition to this ban and re-affirmed their advocacy of the principles of individual responsibility and individual liberty. The Party holds that it is outside the role of government to prohibit legal behavior on private property.

Per Doug Leard, LPPa Media Relations Chair, "We, the citizens of Pennsylvania, do not want or need to be treated as children. We are responsible adults. We can decide whether to attend a restaurant or other privately owned enterprise which allows or does not allow smoking."

Libertarian candidate, Jim Babb, added, "If the governor has his way, his next step could be a ban on unhealthy foods, carrying scissors or mandating hats when it's cold. Free people don't need governmental parents. To assume that Pennsylvanians are too childish to make their own health choices is arrogant and insulting. To assume the politicians can make adult choices is downright foolish and dangerous."

The Senate and House versions would ban smoking in places such as arenas, private stores, private restaurants, and convention halls. The Senate and House bills differ in their list of special-interest exceptions and the ability of local governments to establish more restrictive bans.

Mark Crowley, a Libertarian Party activist from Allegheny County, asked, "What's next? Will Harrisburg bureaucrats target happy-hour promotions because lower-cost foods and drinks lead to bad health decisions? Appetizers and smoking should be personal choices, not government mandates. Let customers choose by voting with their feet and taking the demand for wait staff with them."

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.

Assure Schenley's future

What is up with this?

Assure Schenley's future 'I'd like to go to Schenley, but I don't know if it is going to stay open. You know, the ceiling fell down.'

Funny how things seem to happen, like the sky falling, or floor flooding, when the powers that be want to churn.

Three Rivers Stadium had a flood. Remember that?

Mellon Arena's lights went out. Remember that?

Schenley High School's ceiling fell -- in time for summer school.

Upkeep. Maintain. Modernize.

Well, Pitt Stadium was modernized. It had great facilities for the players, coaches, trainers and athletes. But, that didn't help much. Pitt Stadium still went away.

Pop City - Councilman Bill Peduto launches revolutionary PAC web site

This makes me chuckle on a number of levels. But first, the POP news:

Pop City - Councilman Bill Peduto launches revolutionary PAC web site Reformpittsburghnow.com will officially launch this Saturday. Among the unique features will be videos of people and places in Pittsburgh--what’s working and what’s not; a call to action that includes a library on issues and a single-click contact your legislator; a social network for feedback; a monthly Talk to Peduto forum, and a personal blog by Peduto. “The whole idea,' he says,'is to strip away the divisive mean-spiritedness which I was embroiled in and create a new environment that is more harmonious, that will bring about a gathering of like-minded individuals to effect change in Pittsburgh.”

Good to see Peduto found the internet to be his number one source of information. Personally, TV departed as my number one source of news and information after NBC pulled the plug on the Red, White, and Blue cable stations established for 24-hour coverage of the summer Olympics in 1992.

So Peduto, a divisive, mean-spirited politician who has been embroiled in hard-hitting Grant Street politics his entire career is going to turn a new leaf and become the leader of a harmonious enclave of like-mindedness.

Hippies were individuals who wanted to effect change too.

Furthermore, I contend that Grant Street is filled with like-mindedness. Every elected city official is of a like-mind and with a "D" next to his or her name.

The "whole idea" is to strip away all-for-one attitudes. Pittsburgh has been marching with lock-step like-mindedness for decades. They march to the same tune and have created a massive rut as well.

Peduto's leadership hatches a “whole idea." He says the aim is 'to strip away the divisive mean-spiritedness which I was embroiled in and create a new environment that is more harmonious, that will bring about a gathering of like-minded individuals to effect change in Pittsburgh."

Jeepers. Let's put the recovering CRACK DEALER on stage as a model citizen at our kid's school to say, "Don't grow up like me." What is Peduto to stand up and say? "I was bad. Now I'm good. Play nice. Do what I say, not as I've done."

There is plenty of twisted thinking in these statements.

First off, Peduto's 'mean-spiritedness' is autobiographical. He said it himself. Those are his words.

I don't think Peduto was that mean spirited. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. I don't think he has been that gracious and open either. His camp isn't known for singing "We are the world" and other peace and love songs.

Second, I don't shy away from a good battle. I find diversity as a sign of health. I like to see folks split on issues of merit. There is nothing wrong with 5-4 votes, except when they are cast about cat licenses and other meaningless measures.

Bill Peduto must intend on using the Podcamp event as a back drop for the new site launch.

Pittsburgh airport expands enclave for private jets

Luke might be able to hang out at this hangar to collect his autographs.

Pittsburgh airport expands enclave for private jets There aren't many places in Western Pennsylvania that can boast about playing host to Tiger Woods, Ben Roethlisberger, Sidney Crosby, Al Gore and a host of other athletes, politicians and celebrities. Atlantic Aviation Service's Business Aviation Center at Pittsburgh International Airport is one of them. And the company is looking to add to its growing customer base. Atlantic Aviation Services, joined by local politicians and Allegheny County Airport Authority officials, opened a new 30,000-square-foot jet hangar and 7,250-square-foot charter terminal and office center at the airport yesterday.

I would be keen to expand these types of private services at the Allegheny County Airport, not the Greater Pittsburgh airport.

Of course FedEx and Bayer are going to be more interested in the western area runway. But the teams headed to and from Oakland and Mellon Arena could use the Allegheny County Airport.

Otherwise, I'm worried about the long-term health of the County Airport. How much does that cost a year to operate?

Furthermore, what about that airport under construction in the near north, up by Deer Lakes and Fox Chapel? What has become of that pork spending?

I'd love to see an audit of all our airports.

If the private jets that fly into the airport are a key to the region's economic development efforts, we are in sad, sad shape. Let's subsidize the corporations that need a place to house their jets. Let's give them easy access to their private planes.

Dan Onorato says "you NEED these types of facilities." Rather, he means, he needs to get these types of facilities so he can take care of his campaign donors.

The key to remaining competitive isn't found in high flying CEOs who are paid hundreds more than the average worker in the company. That's bunk.

Here we go, again, bending over backwards to service those who come into town for the US Open and the All-Star Game. Rather, I'd love to have services for those that live here. I'd rather devote attention to our kids that grow up here. I'd rather make sure our parks are open, clean, safe, -- and with coaches and equipment.

What we need -- NEED -- are flights abroad. We need to get to Europe. How about flights to London, Germany, Central/South America, and more locations in Canada.

LewRockwell.com Blog: The Revolution

Check out the image on this site.

LewRockwell.com Blog: The Revolution The strength of the Ron Paul campaign is the incredible number of self-starting volunteers who organize and work for him entirely on their own. And they show competence as well as heart.

Could these be the weed and seed computers being carried away on a bike

From china - bike ...

Team 4: Missing Electronics Bought With Weed And Seed Money - News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh The Weed and Seed program is supposed to crack down on crime while lifting up communities. Lately, there have been questions about the way some money was spent, and about missing computers and other merchandise, according to Team 4 investigative reporter Jim Parsons. The purchases of electronic equipment like computers and digital cameras were made with Weed and Seed funds while Tom Murphy was mayor of Pittsburgh. Now, the federal government is asking the city to locate that equipment.

Weed and Seed is NOT providing Fruit.

Neighborhood crime prevention, career center. Pittsburgh, PA

Neighborhood crime prevention, career center. Pittsburgh, PA A City-wide Crime Prevention Program developed for Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Stake of Westinghouse Electric sold to Kazakhstan company

For this we need to make local tax breaks so our schools here get less income for operations.

Stake of Westinghouse Electric sold to Kazakhstan company The day before Gov. Ed Rendell travels to Cranberry to celebrate the start of Westinghouse Electric's new corporate campus in Cranberry, Japanese conglomerate Toshiba Corp. agreed to sell a 10 percent stake in Westinghouse to Kazakhstan's state-run energy company.

Toshiba agreed to the $540 million sale to Almaty-based Kazatomprom so it could gain access to Kazakhstan's abundant supply of uranium, a resource used by nuclear power plants. Kazakhstan hopes to become the world's largest uranium miner by the end of the decade; it currently ranks third.

Blogger cures Global warming N@

Cool. Pun intended.

Bloggers should rule the world. It is going to be a much kweler place once we do.

GroundReport | Global warming "vanishes" from US temperature record after NASA corrects data Global warming 'vanishes' from US temperature record after NASA corrects data

NASA should say 'sorry.'

Better link:

Link

GroundReport | After floods: urged to work on prevention

GroundReport | After floods, UN urges countries to work on prevention After floods, UN urges countries to work on prevention

Humm...

I've been talking about prevention and infrastructure for a long time. We need to do and measure what is prudent.

It is sad that Pittsburgh needs to look to the playbook of Bangladesh to figure out what should be done and where our priorities need to be placed.

Another one bites the dust

Tommy Thompson, R, from Wisconsin is out of the US Presidential race.

Romney: Win Not Hollow -- GOPUSA Historically, the straw poll has helped winnow the field of presidential candidates and former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson, who ran sixth, dropped out of the race Sunday.

I got to meet Mr. Thompson. He spoke to a group of people at a Washington D.C. hotel located next to the White House. He gave a nice presentation.

He had been out of the cabinet for a week or two. He told the story about his first day back in the 'real world.' He got up in the morning and headed to work. Walked to the car and sat in the backseat. After a moment he realized he was alone. No driver.

Next he talked for two minutes about how hard it is to both find you way around town, be it DC or elsewhere, without a driver. And, how hard it is to find a parking space after you get to where you want to go.

Welcome to the real world Tommy boy!

We did talk about Tommy's brother, an elected official in a small town. He was 'mayor' and he is a Libertarian.

I'm not sure where he is now. And, I wonder what he had to say about Tommy's race for President contrasted to Ron Paul. Now that might be a good tidbit for the history books.

The T.T. for President website had this statement about the Iowa Straw Poll:

Tommy Thompson For President - Statement by Governor Thompson on Ames Straw Poll Participation To skip the straw poll is to show fear...fear that a campaign's lack of support will finally be revealed and fear the entire country will see that the king has no clothes.

Both Senator McCain and Mayor Giuliani skipped out of the Iowa Straw Poll.

Bye!

How Extremists Are Getting US-Bought Guns

How Extremists Are Getting US-Bought Guns At least three U.S. government agencies are now investigating the massive 'disappearance' and diversion of weapons Washington intended for Iraqi government forces that instead have spread to militants and organized gangs across the region. The potential size of the traffic is stunning. A report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office last month showed that since 2004, some 190,000 AK-47 assault rifles and pistols, bought with U.S. money for Iraqi security forces, have gone missing.

There is a good reason why they hate the United States. This is bad. Corruption with contractors is ugly.

Romney "Out Pauls" Paul

Dr. Ron Paul, the Republican candidate for President, has been heralded as the King of the Internet by his supporters for his purported omnipresence on the World Wide Web.

On WashingtonPost.com recently, this blurb by Jose Antonio Vargas in regards to the "back on" YouTube debates with Republicans:

"Romney, the lone GOP holdout, has posted more videos on his YouTube channel (283 as of Sunday afternoon) than any other presidential candidate, Republican or Democrat. But he has resisted the debate, in which videotaped questions are submitted through YouTube. In an interview with Manchester Union Leader, Romney said, 'I think the presidency ought to be held at a higher level than having to answer questions from a snowman.'"

I think the YouTube debate for Republicans could be fun; however, I too believe that it would simply be a venue for "cheap shots" for a historically non-Republican audience.

Then again, Mitt Romney has more of an Internet presence than any other candidate. I reserve the right to be wrong.

Citizens Police Academy to Open Again

This is great news. The Citizens' Police Academy is to re-open. When it closed, I spoke with others, saying that the decision to close was poor judgement. This venture, operated by the city, could be money maker. We asked that the program be expanded to serve the region, not just the city. It could be turned into a new revenue stream for the city.

Plus, the benefits of the program are huge for the overall community.

Briefs: Motorcycle hits tree in Mt. Oliver, victim found nearby - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Citizen's Police Academy applications accepted The Pittsburgh Police Department is accepting applications for the Citizen's Police Academy, set to begin Sept. 4. The program will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays at police headquarters, 1203 Western Ave., North Side, police Lt. Jennifer Beidle said. Participants learn about law-enforcement functions, some criminal law, search and seizure, patrol tactics, firearms, crime scene processing and other topics. The class is free and limited to 30 people. Applications must be received by Aug. 24. For an application or more information, call Beidle at 412-323-7889.

Trib Brief: Fourth Candidate Enters Race for Mayor

Briefs: Motorcycle hits tree in Mt. Oliver, victim found nearby - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Oakland Fourth candidate enters race for mayor An Oakland man filed paperwork to run for Pittsburgh mayor as a Libertarian, which makes four candidates for the city's top office. Tony Oliva, 27, filed Thursday to be a replacement candidate for Libertarian Mark Rauterkus, who withdrew from the mayor's race Wednesday. Rauterkus is running as a Libertarian for City Council in District 3 and for city controller. Democratic Mayor Luke Ravenstahl also faces Republican Mark DeSantis and Socialist Workers Party candidate Ryan Scott in the Nov. 6 election.

Libertarian mayoral candidate drops out, gives place to another

Libertarian mayoral candidate drops out, gives place to another Libertarian mayoral candidate drops out, gives place to another

The Associated Press

PITTSBURGH -- The Libertarian Party candidate for mayor said he will withdraw from the race and pass his slot on the ballot to another candidate. Mark Rauterkus said he will, however, continue to run for city controller and council, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported on its Web site Wednesday. Public safety worker Tony Oliva, 27, said he will take the ballot position for mayor Rauterkus had secured.

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Same news in Philly:

Libertarian mayoral candidate drops out, gives place to another | AP | 08/08/2007 Libertarian mayoral candidate drops out, gives place to another

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The Trib got this blurb into the paper as we pushed the paperwork around town and the election department:

Oakland Libertarian files for mayoral run - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Oakland Libertarian files for mayoral run

Great being with the Buckeye Swim Club in a long-course meet at Kenyon

Wonderful team. A merger should have happened. Oh well.