Job posting: Assistant Counsel Pennsylvania Department of Education in Harrisburg

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Was going to live blog the debate -- but my keyboard would have been shattered

The GOP candidates for President gathered on stage tonight. There was so much said that was so ugly that I couldn't blog as it unfolded.

Go Ron Paul. He has to win as the others were too bad to deal with.

Dave Zirin: After a rough summer, let's rediscover joy of�sports - Wednesday September 5, 2007 11:09AM

SI.com - Writers - Dave Zirin: After a rough summer, let's rediscover joy of sports All of us who love sports should drop to our knees and thank the sporting gods for Appalachian State.

I love the entire article. This part is worth repeating.

We also need to channel our disgust onto far greater sporting crimes. It's a crime that the bridge in Minneapolis fell away two days before the groundbreaking on a $500 million dollar stadium. It's a crime that the good people of the Twin Cities were subsidizing the dreams for Twins owner Carl Pohlad, the richest owner in baseball.

Carbolic Smoke Ball ponders the recent Michigan football game

Carbolic Smoke Ball: "ANN ARBOR -- In what is being called college football's 'upset of the century', 5th ranked University of Michigan lost their opening game 34-32 to the Pennsylvania Culinary Institute 'Fighting Chefs' on Saturday. No one would have guessed that a school of culinary education steeped in the history and methods of the esteemed Le Cordon Bleu program could beat a Big 10 football powerhouse.

'You've got to give them credit,' said Wolverine coach Lloyd Carr. 'They were well prepared. And that souffl�they sent over after the game was out of this world!' In the photo above, U-M players are stunned to learn that soy sauce makes a terrific marinade."

Taking another step in the long climb to the White House

From RonPaul

Ron Paul is on with another debate tonight. Watch it.

The advancement of primary elections in places like Michigan and Florida is going to make this into more of a sprint and less of a marathon.

From RonPaul

The Pittsburgh City Paper is running an article on Dr. Ron Paul next week. I just provided them with and interview and some good quotes. For example:

The purpose of government has been blurred greatly around here. The city folks decide to build a tunnel under the river with federal money and say it can't be changed. Federal Housing people decide to buy up houses in certain neighborhoods to warehouse people and city government can't be leveraged so better decisions and outcomes can be found. Those in power are fine with the creation of confusion, doubt and uncertainty. They want to avoid accountability.

I want clear talk with a common sense purpose based upon the actual intent of government at the various levels from municipal to county to state to federal.

News For The Left: Lobbyist Fred to (finally) announce

Let the flood gates open.

News For The Left: Lobbyist Fred to (finally) announce Michael Shear has the info over at the Washington Post's The Trail. Lobbyist Fred has hurriedly put together a 4pm conference call to announce to folks what we've known all along: He's running for President.

Once you get over the shock of the surprising news, you should be aware that this does not make his gross violations of Federal Election Law disappear. As Cenk Uygur of the Young Turks pointed out last week, 'Just because Lindsey Lohan is driving sober today doesn't make her DUI charge go away.'

We should all continue to hold Lobbyist Fred accountable for his intentional disrespect for the rule of law. This man is not Presidential material.

City-council plan reserves cash for Penguins

Look away from the goofy spending. We own what?!?

This is wrong. This is why I want to be controller. I won't let this slide. I won't let this go without notice. I'll be a watchdog for the people against this sillyness with taxpayer funds.

City-council plan reserves cash for Penguins City and Allegheny County redevelopment authorities are working to ensure that cash will be available to the Penguins for any portion of $15 million in credits the team doesn't use in redeveloping the Mellon Arena site.

Under the agreement reached in March to keep the team in Pittsburgh, the Penguins get $15 million in credits that can be used to buy Mellon Arena property for redevelopment. If they do not use all $15 million after 10 years, they are entitled to cash for whatever amount remains.

West End police station to reopen - victory looks like this

I'm jumping for joy.

West End police station to reopen - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Pittsburgh's old Zone 4 police station in the West End, which closed more than four years ago to save money, will reopen Jan. 1, officials said Tuesday. 'We're thrilled about it,' said Elmer Clark, president of the West End/Elliott Citizen's Council, which pressed city officials to reopen the station on South Main Street. 'People here are just jumping for joy.'

This is what victory feels like.

I was a protester when the city closed the police station in Zone 4.

Meanwhile, Bruce Kraus was a part of the protest to keep Zone 3 open. Zone 3 was never going to close. Meanwhile, it would be good to move the Zone 3 police station out of its tiny space without parking.

In the past I advocated a move of the Zone 3 police station to the now vacant, public owned, huge, South Vo Tech High School.

After the police move out, the EMS crew can move back into the Zone 3 station. EMS is now NOT on the South Side. That's what is needed more.

Moon Mold

Oh no. Green Cheese?

Rec Center Proposal Fires Up USC Residents

Ambitious, wishful speaking, costly, medicine balls.

kdka.com - Rec Center Proposal Fires Up USC Residents A proposal for a recreation center in Upper Saint Clair has some residents fired up. Dozens of citizens crammed a commissioners meeting to speak out on the center, which includes swimming pools and a gym.

Concerned residents say they can't afford a tax increase or the proposed membership fees.

Others at the meeting did speak in favor of it.

Letter to Editor from Rick Hays

Running Mate, Rick Hays reports his thoughts, on Sept. 1. I posted this letter for about 10 minutes and then took it down until was placed in ink in the P-G.

To the Editor:

Pittsburgh is truly at a crossroads in this 21st Century with the upcoming Mayoral Race. We have been doing things way too long in a 19th and 20th Century mindset. In these days of the Internet, mobile phones, 24 hour news and information sources plus a global economy, dire change is needed and NOW!!!! Otherwise our city cannot ever hope to utilize its awesome potential.

The best way to describe this is by using the dictionary. "Democrat" is found in your dictionary between DECEASED and DINOSAUR, while "Republican" is located between RENAISSANCE and RESURRECTION. In other words, the difference is between OLD and NEW.

Therefore, to make sure Pittsburgh becomes NEW again, we must not continue being ruled by the OLD. I urge all my fellow Pittsburghers to make everything NEW again by selecting Mark DeSantis as our next Mayor. On November 6, 2007 we can bring Pittsburgh instantly into the 21st Century. Join me at your polling place and vote for Mark DeSantis. You'll be glad you did!!!!!!!

Rick Hays (Richard M. Hays, Jr. aka 'Rick from Mt. Washington')

http://edgewood.freetoasthost.com/ Edgewood Toastmasters web site
http://www.d13tm.com/ District 13 Toastmasters online
http://www.metro-cities.com/ Metro Cities Communications worldwide radio/podcasting

"Doing ordinary things in an extraordinary way will assure you of an extraordinary future." Zig Ziglar

"The purpose of our lives is to add value to the people of this generation and those that follow." Buckminster Fuller

More from Rick.

Thanks for the above event on your blog. However, one thing as a correction.
I'm NOT A MARK DESANTIS associate. My letter recommending Mr. Desantis as
Pittsburgh Mayor was sent after many of your blog articles, plus those of
John McIntyre(http://www.macyapper.blogspot.com/ ), and P-G/Trib Review
Mayoral Race coverage as well. I wrote it as a concerned PRIVATE CITIZEN in
the City of Pittsburgh.

I'll keep you posted about if that letter gets published. You can also check
daily online at http://www.post-gazette.com/ .

---

Letters to the editor Pittsburgh is truly at a crossroads in this 21st century with the upcoming mayoral race.

Promises, promises: The Pittsburgh college tuition plan needs help

I spoke out against the Pittsburgh Promise the day it was announced. I went to the news event at the PFT. I was in shock. Meanwhile, the press was smitten with young Luke.

Promises, promises: The Pittsburgh college tuition plan needs help Promises, promises. Eight months later, at the start of a new school year, the Pittsburgh Promise remains full of potential and empty of achievement. As Post-Gazette reporter Rich Lord reported last week, nothing much has happened. While an initial estimate puts the cost at $3 million in the first year, the only commitment is $10,000 from the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers.

Duquesne U. basketball player suspended

Duquesne U. basketball player suspended Duquesne University junior power forward Stuard Baldonado, who was one of five basketball players shot last year, was suspended from the school yesterday after his arrest Friday on drug charges.

From ads - political

This is a story with blowback to the 'drug wars.' The black college basketball player was found guilty of being in a taxi. Guilty of having a cell phone. Guilty of being in a city neighborhood. Guilty of being on academic probation. He plays a team sport and another claim to fame, is his ability to catch a bullet.

Two bags of grass were found on the other guy. How much? Were they as big bags, like carrying bags of school books? Or, were they tiny bags?

What became of the other guy, the 'dealer?'

The Duquesne University standard of accountability seems to apply to accompaniment. Share a cab and get the boot.

From Come Live Ove...

Photo shows weeds on the street and what isn't here any more. Photo shows were we want our kids to hangout.

Meeting lessons. Wisdom without charge

When you have a problem with a certain theme, generally, the way to fix the problem is to do something different. Don't do the same thing by choosing to replay that same theme. Don't do what makes the problem worse.

So, let's say an organization has a problem with stability. Things in an organizational life do go up and down from time to time. In the example, let's just say that matters are 'out of control.' Going moment to moment with a community institution is hard work. Healthy organizations have storms, fine. Storms are a part of nature. We cope. We deal. They blow past.

However, good leadership of an organization isn't going to call for a re-do and cause a repeat of the storm and insure that troubled conditions linger.

So, with the example, don't fix the problem of 'stability' by offering workers a super short term contract. Go long.

A problem with stability needs to be countered by offering contracts to key people that extend for 2, 3, 4 or 5 years, not months.

Lesson two of tonights, gratis words of advice.

In life, most moves are either that of playing offense or playing defense. The acts are to either move the ball forward. Or, to play defense and protect what one already has.

When hard times have come and assets are at very low levels -- don't play defense. Get on offense. When you are down and out, use the nimble, hungry and flexible nature that comes with the crisis and act. There is a time to plant and scatter seeds.

The Steelers have the option of 'punting.' Generally, life does not give that option. So, when you have the ball and it is 3rd down and 12 yards to go, but you have 98 yeards until a touchdown, go for it. Run a play with the offense. Don't bring out the defense. Punting can't work.

PennDot: Nearly one-third of local bridges structurally deficient - NewsFlash - PennLive.com

PennDot: Nearly one-third of local bridges structurally deficient - NewsFlash - PennLive.com

So, let's NOT dig a tunnel under the river. Rather, let's repair what we already have.

From Convention Ce...

Chicago is 2016 Olympic bid city for United States

SI.com - Olympics - It's official: Chicago is 2016 Olympic bid city from US

From planning-urban

We love Chicago. I fell in love in Chicago, and, we are still married.

True Chicago Family Trivia: Once while in Chicago, my wife went to vote, and she was handed two ballots. As a bonus, she wasn't even dead.

From family - travels

Metroblogging Pittsburgh: Bob O'Connor's Vision

Metroblogging Pittsburgh: Bob O'Connor's Vision Bob O'Connor's Vision

My comment there and here:

Bob already had supported the building of the mega projects -- the stadiums, the convention center, the Mon Valley Toll Way, the tunnel under the river, the downtown NORDSTROM department store, with its $50-million seed money, Lord & Taylor, Lazarus, etc.

Bob also got a finger in the eye on day one of his final campaign when he floated another HUGE spending spree on the return to streetcars. That went over like a lead balloon.

Bob then turned to the little things -- because that was the only dream he could sell. "Would you like an order of fries with that fixed pothole?"

When he talked about the big deal developments -- like the streetcar thingie, it exploded in his face. Other bid deal developments had blown up in his past as well.

Pgh City Council district 9, campaign kick off for David Adams.

Press Release: September 4, 2007

Independent Candidate David Adams will formally announce his candidacy for the 9^th district City Council seat on Friday September 7, 2007 at the Frick Park Entrance on Homewood Avenue, and Reynolds in the North Point Breeze community. The time of the event will be 12:30 P.M.

Adams will highlight the points of difference between what Ricky Burgess has presented as his plan, and the strategies Adams has envisioned, and is currently developing for the district, which Adams says will “change the way the 9^th district does business as a community!”

The event will also include special guests, who are running for various positions in the November 6^th election.

This event is open to the district residents, television, press and radio.

Adams sends a special invitation to candidate Ricky Burgess, in order to clarify any stated errors concerning his plan.

David's press release is above. I consider him a 'running mate.'

I will be attending the press conference to lend him my support and encouragement. I too am a candidate for the voters in the 9th city council district as I'm on the ballot for a city-wide race, controller. So, I want the voters in the district to elect David Adams for city council and to cast another vote in another race on the same day for me for the office of Pittsburgh Controller.

Czech capital Prague officially enters bid for 2016 Summer Olympics - Tuesday September 4, 2007 10:54AM

SI.com - More Sports - Czech capital Prague officially enters bid for 2016 Summer Olympics - Tuesday September 4, 2007 10:54AM PRAGUE, Czech Republic (AP) -- Prague officially entered the race Tuesday to host the 2016 Summer Olympics, joining a strong field that includes candidates from the United States, Japan and Brazil.

I love Prague. Been there. It would be a GREAT place for the summer games.

But, the city isn't really named "PRAGUE."

Call it what they call it: Praha.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prague

Infrastructure Matters

Pittsburgh Tuesday takes - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Coming back to bite: Pittsburgh's failure to maintain its aging infrastructure keeps coming back to bite it. The latest example came Thursday when a major feeder line ruptured under Dithridge Street in Oakland. Tens of thousands of gallons of water flooded a widespread area causing hundreds of thousands of dollars of damage. A city that can't maintain its infrastructure is a city in decline.