Mark DeSantis on the radio with Ron Morris, Thursday atfternoon, 1360 AM

The following comes from an email blast of Ron Morris, the American Entrepreneur. I'll do my best to listen and chime in via TalkShoe. That is a wonderful experience and interface to interesting conversations. Hope JBinc and Travis and the others are there too!

Tomorrow, December 13, 2007, and Friday, December 14, 2007, Ron Morris
will fill in during the afternoon drive shift, from 3 PM to 6 PM, on the flagship station of "The American Entrepreneur" radio program, AM News Talk 1360 (WPTT).

As with many of the other "pinch-hit" appearances Ron has done on AM News Talk 1360, these shows will be a break from the business-oriented discussion that Ron features on "The American Entrepreneur" on Saturday mornings.

On Thursday, Ron will talk with one of Western Pennsylvania's biggest newsmakers in 2007, Mark DeSantis. DeSantis has become familiar to many over the past 12 months thanks to his run for the Mayoral office
in the City of Pittsburgh, a run that culminated in defeat last month at the hands of incumbent Mayor Luke Ravenstahl.

While DeSantis has appeared on the air with Ron prior to the election to discuss his campaign strategy, he'll join Ron on Thursday to discuss (for the first time) his "day job". That being his role as President and Co-Founder of Mobile Fusion, a South Side-based tech firm that specializes in producing ISR technology (that's "intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance") that acts as the "eyes and ears" of military forces that are about to embark on dangerous, often deadly, areas. The technology that Mobile Fusion produces is essential to modern-day warfare, where "the enemy" is more undefined than ever before.

Thursday's interview will provide a unique insight into the role that "Mayor DeSantis" would have walked away from had he won last month's election.

Plus, Thursday's show will feature a look at an ever-changing industry that has made local headlines within the last few days.

With the ongoing breaking news surrounding the sale of Kennywood Amusement Park to Parques Reunidos, a Spanish-based operation, many questions have been asked about what it all means. Joining Ron to help answer some of those questions, and to discuss the amusement park industry as a whole, will be Dennis Spiegel.

Dennis is the President of International Theme Park Services Incorporated. (ITPS). ITPS is a Cincinnati-based theme park management and consulting firm that has worked with over 450 theme parks worldwide in terms of all aspects of the implementation of a theme park, from design to construction, and all points in between.

Having worked with both Kennywood Park as well as Parques Reunidos during his 40-plus year career in the amusement park industry, Dennis is more than qualified to discuss the "big picture" implications of the sale to the region.

On Friday, we'll take a look at the "business" of art, specifically the work of a locally-based artist whose work has been lauded and recognized throughout the world.

Alan Smith is the business manager for the Burton Morris Studios, a Pittsburgh based company featuring the works of Burton Morris, one of the foremost purveyors of the "pop art" movement in the 21st century.
Alan will discuss the role that the studios play in the modern-day artistic community in Western Pennsylvania, the United States, and the world.

Also, we'll take a look at Apple's latest salvo in the "computer wars" between themselves and Microsoft, the Mac OS X "Leopard" operating system.

Joining Ron to discuss the Leopard is Silicon Valley computer industry analyst Nathan Brookwood. Nathan is the founder of Insight 64, a tech consulting firm based specifically on the computer industry. Nathan
will talk about what separates the Leopard from previous Macintosh operating systems, as well as from the Microsoft Vista platform released earlier this year.

In the ever-changing computer industry, an informed consumer is the best consumer and the one least likely to make a buying decision he or she will regret in the long run. If you're looking at getting a Mac for the holidays, or to start the new year, listen to Nathan Brookwood's analysis before pulling the trigger on that deal.

-Plus, both days will feature great "open discussion" with Ron on a variety of topics (not just business). Interested in sounding off on some of the latest goings-on with City and County government?

Wondering what's going to happen at the University of Pittsburgh now that Steve Pederson's back at the helm of the Athletic Department?

You can talk about it with Ron on Thursday and Friday from 3 PM to 6 PM on AM News Talk 1360 (WPTT), as well as via interactive podcast on TalkShoe.

Go Ron Go! Bring your A-Game, as usual.

Kennywood's open

Theory to ponder: Kennywood's pending sale was pushed over the edge because of the new Allegheny Drink Tax.

Blame Dan Onorato.

Blame the Dems on Allegheny County Council, plus the one R who is on his way out.

A top official spoke to the county council about the drink tax a month or so ago. He said that the move of the IC Light concert venue from Station Square to Sandcastle was 'on the rocks' because of the drink tax. He thought it might not 'wash.' He gave a stern warning.

I'll look for the video later.

The present owners may have just had enough. The park charges a RAD tax to its customers. Meanwhile, that RAD money goes to the county and then flows directly to Kennywood's local competitors, and I don't mean Six Flags.

The upside: Perhaps the new owners will have the cash to install that monorail it owns and is in storage and send the line from Kennywood, its parking lot, to Homestead and Sandcastle.

Pittsburgh Community Television - Auction Home Page - cMarket Fundraising Auction

Pittsburgh Community Television - Auction Home Page - cMarket Fundraising Auction Online Auction Open!

Here are some gift ideas. You might find a bargain among the great mix of offerings. Only 24 items.

In other PCTV 21 news, watch their Christmas special -- in three parts! Without cable, see http://www.pctv21.org for streaming video.

Special guest: Etta Cox, Lilly Abreu, Tim Stevens, Artistree, African American Council of the Arts, Susan Wagner, Phatman Dee, Dr. Vernell Lilly-Kunte Repertory Theater, African American Music Institute, Smokin' Jim Frazier and more.

Schedule:

Wed Dec 12 9am part 1; Thur Dec 13 7pm part 2; Fri Dec 14 7pm part 3:

Wed Dec 12 7pm p1; Sat Dec 15 8pm p2; Sat Dec 15 9pm, p3:

Sat Dec 15 7pm p1; Tue Dec 18 7pm p2; Wed Dec 19 9pm p3:

Wed Dec 19 7pm p1; Wed Dec 19 8pm p2; Fri Dec 21 9am p3; Thur Dec 20 9am p3.

IOC moves to keep match-fixing, illegal betting out of Olympics - Wednesday December 12, 2007 12:24PM

SI.com - More Sports - IOC moves to keep match-fixing, illegal betting out of Olympics - Wednesday December 12, 2007 12:24PM The IOC is taking steps to ensure that illegal betting and match-fixing are kept out of next year's Olympic Games.

President Jacques Rogge said Wednesday the International Olympic Committee might bring in a company that monitors gambling before the 2008 Beijing Games.

This is something to note. The IOC has already entered, headlong, into the "WAR ON DRUGS" with its fight against legal and illegal doping.

Now comes the battle against gambling and the ill effects of gambling's spill over onto the playing fields and medal stands.

People gamble everywhere. Mainland China has Playboy Casinos -- and I don't mean 'slots parlors' either.

The national sport in Thailand is boxing. Run by the military / police. These Thai Boxing venues are interesting places for betting. Nobody goes to a window like at a horse race track. Tons of transactions occur on the fly, right in the seats.

Some cultures bet on 'fighting fish' for pete's sake.

Now that the Olympics head to China, a host of new headaches, billions of them, concerning betting are sure to unfold. That's one battle I'm glad I don't have to get a grip upon.

"Bona fide betting companies can give us information and early warnings on abnormal betting partners," Rogge said. "They have their statistics, they have their computers and they can immediately say, 'This is not normal. Why is there so much betting?' Then they can inform us. And then we can act."

Rogge said the IOC would also try to bring together world sport's biggest federations for a betting seminar next year.

The meeting would be similar to the 1999 conference on performance-enhancing drugs that led to the creation of the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Gambling "is something that, like doping, has to be attacked and has to be addressed in a concerted manner within the Olympic movement," Rogge said.

He said the goal of the seminar would be to come up with a common approach to fighting the threat of gambling and cheating, which has recently plagued sports such as soccer, tennis, cricket and horse racing.

The international governing bodies for cricket, soccer and tennis have signed an agreement with online betting operator Betfair to share information on suspicious matches.

Tennis authorities are investigating fourth-ranked men's player Nikolay Davydenko of Russia for a match that had irregular betting patterns.

UEFA said earlier this month that it had called in police to investigate match-fixing allegations involving 15 matches played in eastern Europe. UEFA officials now believe the number of affected matches may be greater.

Rogge spoke after the IOC executive board was briefed by former London police chief Paul Condon, who has been conducting investigations into gambling and corruption in cricket.

Condon said he did not believe the Olympics was particularly at risk.

"The bad guys can go to other events during the year when it's easier to get cheating carried out by sportsmen," he told reporters. "Elite sports men and women at the pinnacle of their careers, at the Olympics, are probably less likely to cheat for betting purposes than they would ... through drugs. But certainly on cheating for betting purposes, the Olympics is not a high-risk area."

Condon said the IOC has taken "robust steps" to head off the threat of gambling tarnishing the games.

Let's get Pittsburgh to put in a bid to host the global betting seminar for the I.O.C. We could hold it at the Convention Center -- and it would be a lot like the All-Star Game's fan fest.

A Smokey Robinson concert could be for the kick-off -- err, opening ceremony and parade of nations.

The brothers DeFazio could be the ones pegged to light the torch. The wrestler / politician and ex-chief of police (sheriff) -- they would be a certain hit with that audience. We don't even need Ali nor a West Virginia gymnast (Mary Lou Renton).

Hosting such an event could help to re-establish international flights to the Pittsburgh International Airport.

During the event, the participants could go to a mixer hosted by Westinghouse so that they can go home with plenty of new sales literature so they can build nuclear reactors in third world countries, with the proceeds from gambling, of course.

The closing ceremonies could be held at either Kennywood or Sandcastle -- given the new ownership is based in Spain!

How can gambling plague a sport like horse racing? Is that insane? The authorities in China are sure to worry about "the plague" in China coming from horses, not the plague of gambling on them. The feed, the bird flu, the disease opportunities, the mixing with farm animals, etc., etc., etc.

This is why Beijing, with its mega worries about feeding their millions of people, is not going to have any of the horse-specific events of the Olympic Games there. Those events are going to be held in Hong Kong.

Get out! Fix My Video works magic for clips under 15 megs

During the consumer beta, Fixmymovie.com allows for free enhancement of
video clips smaller than CIF resolution (352x288 pixels) and less than 15
megabytes (almost any video from a mobile phone or digital camera fits
these requirements). Further details may be found at
http://www.fixmymovie.com.

With this utility, video taken with a low-resolution cell phone can be merged into a newscast. Poor quality video can be blended into industry standard formats.

In a nutshell, the step from consumer to producer has gotten smaller. The step from consumer to broadcaster has shrunk. The jittery, dark, low-res video footage just got turned into Steven Spielberg quality, sorta.

USC School Board seeks a new member

The Upper St. Clair School District is currently accepting applications for school board director to fill a vacancy on the school board.

Information on how to submit an application is located on the school district website's announcement at this link: School Director Vacancy

According to Policy #2003, "Filling A Vacancy On the School Board," the vacancy must be publicized. Also, the policy states that interested applicants will be interviewed by "a committee of the whole board."

View the entire policy on page seven of this link: School Board Policy

The deadline for application is Tuesday, December 18th, 2007.

The Ron Paul Phenomenon . NOW | PBS

The Ron Paul Phenomenon . NOW | PBS: The Ron Paul Phenomenon Airs this Friday, December 14 at 8:30 pm on PBS

I'm open for a mini-gathering of up to 10 people to watch this show together. Some house rules:
RSVP necessary. Email to Mark -@- Rauterkus -dot- com. Or, call my cell: 412 298 3432.

No swearing!

We've got cats!

Optional drinking after on the South Side.

Street parking, on your own.

I'll serve hot tea, in advance of the Boston Tea Party.

Watch the video preview. It is great. Only a few minutes. Talks about the $4-plus-million day, Philly rally, and the guy who drove there is from Pittsburgh!

If you can host a party at your place, post it.

Bill Robinson's Call for "CBAs" (Community Benefits Agreements) have little on Al Sharpton

Sharpton urges police reforms and the activist threatens to lobby against Chicago's Olympic bid.

Construction site: From Pens Village

Sharpton may fight Chicago's Oly bid The Rev. Al Sharpton on Monday issued a series of recommendations for reforming the police department as he reiterated his threat to lobby against the city's Olympic bid if the mayor doesn't respond soon.

The headlines in the two daily papers show a bit of a contrast:

* Casinos' delay toll placed at $430M. (Trib)

* Casino owner won't heed 'ridiculous' design request (P-G)

This is begging at its best. I don't want to be a part of a community that feels it needs to 'beg.' As begging occurs, everyone becomes poorer.

Perhaps the CBAs are a way to step out of the rut where begging rules. But sadly, those with power have little need to interact with those without the power.

Citizens Benefit Agreement steps out into traffic and merges along the cross walks of community life. Joke: Why did the chicken Penguin cross the road?

Let's see, the delay of the Casino headline -- well -- to begin: It is NOT a casino. Don Barden has the right to open a 'slots parlor.' We didn't approve any casinos. Both the P-G and the Trib are calling this a 'casino.' They are wrong.

Slots parlor, slots parlor, slots parlor! Period!

When the operators of the slots parlor want to turn it into a casino, then they'll need to come back to the public approval process. Then we can extract another few billion from them. Another bid would be welcomed. And, this time, they'll bid on a casino that sunsets in the future. The slots parlor license goes forever, sadly, for now.

If the media gets it wrong, time and time again, then we'll have little leverage to get drunk again on the income of selling this exclusive opportunity with state-protection against competitors. We need to upgrade the slots parlor to a casino with a hefty price tag.

Suggestion: This is worthy of a few letters to the editor.

Finally, let's talk about the mega parking garage and the ridiculous request about its design. I'd like to 'pile on.'

Let's ask Don Barden (not beg, but ask) to put a football field on the top of his massive parking garage. The top floor can be a turf field to be used as the home field for the Perry High School team. And, we'll let the Pittsburgh Steelers hold their practices there too.

We need a multi-purpose football field, with ample sideline spaces for teams, bands, portable bleachers. Then we'll be able to hold state playoff soccer games, pee-wee football games, high school events and such there.

The next floor down can be community rooms, locker facilities and support spaces.

We'd want the field to be lighted for nightime use. In the winter, we'd want to be able to construct a bubble, such as with the one that protects at Duquesne University, but cover the entire field, please.

Really, I'd rather have a 50-meter swim pool, indoor-outdoor. Or, a speed skating oval. Or, even a velodrome would be nice. Provide a venue that is for international sport, not gridion. But, let's not be greedy in this begging exercise. And, it is going to be next to a slots parlor. So, football is a more natural fit for the roof.

iCommons.org - Warhol is turning in his grave

iCommons.org - Warhol is turning in his grave Warhol is turning in his grave

Speaker #28, to PPS Board, out of 30

Mark Rauterkus, Libertarian Party, speaking about high school reform. 

Sofa Sleeper to good - or not so good - home. Before Backyard Brawl special - or great for huntin' cabin.

This has to go! It hits the sidewalk for bulk pick-up by mid week. It is now on the first floor by the front door ready to roll. Help find a new home.

Pitt plays at WVU this weekend. So, we gotta give-a-way this sofa sleeper. It is still indoors! It is perfect for a tailgate if you got the brawn to move it. It is ideal for a hunting cabin. Works! Folds out into a bed. All the cushions are there. It is about 20 years old.

Call me: 412 298 3432.

Goes to the first person who has a truck to haul it away. It is on the South Side Flats. Would fit into a pick-up truck.

Matches are not included.

The point of CHOICE is not being delivered in these plans

Pittsburgh just got more Promising Superintendent Mark Roosevelt said the Promise alone won't stabilize enrollment. Parents and students need more choices. The district plans a new International Baccalaureate school for grades six to 12, a science and technology school and a university-affiliated school.

This gets to the heart of the matter in what I've proposed to the school board in some of my rants. Listen Brian.

When the I.B. program closes at Schenley High School, if it does, and it shouldn't, it will end a choice. There is no new choice by putting all of the I.B. Students into the new I.B. High that is now in the east -- at Reisenstein.

To increase the choices offered, offer TWO schools with I.B.

A new I.B. High coupled with the existing Schenley where I.B. is also present inserts choice.

Furthermore, the reduction of FRICK as a I.B. prep -- or ISA (International Studies Academy) magnet will diminish 'choice.'

The same held true when talking about the stadiums. Our city's landscape was diminished with the removal of 3RS (Three Rivers Stadium) and Pitt Stadium (where high school playoffs were once played) and the arrival of PNC Park and Heinz Field. The math was +2 -2 = NO NET GAIN.

If they had built Heinz Field and kept Pitt Stadium, then there would have been a net gain. The Peterson Event Center could have been built in Hazelwood, near to Panther Hollow.

With these schools, there is extra stength in the choice, options for families and flexibility of staff. For example, our elementary level music teacher is only in Phillips School for one day a week. The other days are spent at other schools. Same too could be the case for a teacher of Chinees or Japanees or Italian.

Likewise with the middle school program for the creative and performing arts. Rodgers Middle School is in the east part of town and it presently operates for grades 6, 7 and 8. Then some of those kids go to CAPA, downtown, for grades 9 to 12. Rodgers works! Same too with Frick.

Keep what works. Replicate it. Allow more options there!

If they want to make the Downtown CAPA a school for 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12th grades -- fine. But expand the high performing school and retain the existing high performing school in the process.

Forcing all kids to downtown for grades 6 to 12 is NOT giving a choice.

Likewise, there a kids that attend FRICK in middle school years and then attend a different high school -- such as Alderdice.

Keep Frick as a high school and put the new Science and Technology High School program in at Westinghouse.

Even with Phillips Elem, our school has two programs. One classroom in each grade is called a 'neighborhood school.' Meanwhile, the other classroom in each grade is called a 'language magnet.' Parents, students and those who are considering a move into the area can make the decisions that best suit the needs of their students.

With real school choice -- and the Pittsburgh Promise details worked out, Pittsburgh can better itself. We must insure that is so. But, we must not fool ourselves into thinking that there are choices when new programs arrive only to gut the good that was already present.

A+ Schools evaluates the Pgh Public School district -- yeah right.

Mayor looks back on banner week The announcement of UPMC's pledge 'will be seen in the future as being a very important day in the city of Pittsburgh,' said Michael Lamb, the county prothonotary, city controller-elect, and a founding co-chair of A Schools, which evaluates the district. 'We will begin to attract people who wouldn't have considered Pittsburgh in the past.'

Did Michael Lamb end his conflict of interest yet? He is to be the independent controller -- not a board member with A+ Schools as well as the elected controller.

Memo to SEA about the loss of Outback at PNC Park

CBS to Open a Concept Restaurant in Boston

CBS is expanding its brand into restaurants, opening its first eatery, called CBS Scene, next fall in Boston. The 15,000-square-foot restaurant will feature table-side televisions running CBS programming, as well as a store selling DVDs of network shows, T-shirts and other merchandise.

http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2007/12/09/kraft_cbs_focus_on_a_concept_restaurant

Perhaps they'd be interested in the location at PNC Park once filled by the Outback?

Amazon.com: Kindle: Amazon's New Wireless Reading Device: Kindle Store

Don't put one of these on this year's Christmas list.

Amazon.com: Kindle: Amazon's New Wireless Reading Device: Kindle Store: "Availability: Temporarily out of stock. Order now and we'll deliver when available. We'll e-mail you with an estimated delivery date as soon as we have more information. Your credit card will not be charged until we ship the item. Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available. Kindle Availability Due to heavy customer demand, Kindle is sold out. Because orders are prioritized on a first-come, first-served basis, please ORDER NOW to reserve your place in line. Your Kindle will not arrive by December 24th. Note that Kindles cannot currently be sold or shipped to customers living outside of the U.S."

Speaker # 28 -- you have 90 minutes to place a call

Back to the school board meeting tonight for more public comment. Join us. I just called and I'm #28. More than 100 have also spoken in past meetings. They are wearing everyone out.

Public hearing at the board tonight at 7 pm, Monday!

Sign-up at 412-622-3600 through noon for tonight's hearing and written testimony is accepted until 5 pm at boardoffice@pghboe.net.

There are two NEW board members, so at least there will be new faces. You can check out some previous testimonies at the Save Schenley website.

City Paper article.

Go -- call or write!

Thanks Jen for the update!

History Buffs -- and folks of community, literacy and redevelopment: Get to this hearing!

David Tessitor at City Council in Dec 4, 2007 about Carnegie Library of Pgh and North Side.

View Video

They want to close one of the very first library buildings built by Carnegie -- in the historic North Side. A grand park is with an abandoned building. The city is trying to fight abandonded buildings! This is the wrong way to go.

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh system should NOT close the wonderful, historic, beautiful building. The city can force its hand and make it stay open. Here, the city is trying to attack our history by being a sales agent for a goofy property for a replacement building.

Hearing set for opponents of new North Side library The Dec. 18 hearing begins at 5 p.m. at the New Hazlett Theater. Folks, the typical nonprofit weenies won't break ranks on this. PUMP, Pop City, RAD Tax takers and others are sure to sit on their hands and not raise a voice in opposition.

Hearing set for opponents of new North Side library
Sunday, December 09, 2007
By Diana Nelson Jones, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A group of petitioners against the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's plans to build a new branch on the North Side has been given a public hearing before City Council Dec. 18 at the New Hazlett Theater in Allegheny Center.

Dave Tessitor, a resident of Allegheny West, said 40 people signed the petition in favor of reusing the old Allegheny Regional branch, which has been unused since it was struck by lightning two springs ago. Since then, library officials have closed in on a ground-breaking, with architectural renderings for a new construction on Federal Street on the site of an old gas station.

At several presentations earlier this year by Loysen + Kreuthmeier architects, North Side residents turned out to offer feedback on designs for what would be a one-story library. After the architects made adjustments, the majority of attendees favored the plan.

But Mr. Tessitor said there have always been residents who believe the Allegheny Regional branch, an 1880s-era landmark built as a library in what is now Allegheny Center, should remain the neighborhood's library.

"What's the biggest thing we have going for us?" Mr. Tessitor asked, answering, "History." He said he believes an old library, refurbished to be cost-efficient, could be a bigger lure to development up the Federal corridor than a new one built in an area of "underachieving real estate."

The new Carnegie Library has been cited as a potential leader in revitalizing what is now a blighted Federal Street.

Carnegie officials have said they cannot sustain the operating costs of the old building and that it is not suitable to new programming needs.

A pending agreement between the city's Urban Redevelopment Authority, which owns the parcel at Federal and Parkhurst streets, and the Carnegie Library is on hold until after the hearing.

The Dec. 18 hearing begins at 5 p.m.

Diana Nelson Jones can be reached at djones@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1626.
First published on December 9, 2007 at 12:00 am

Older video from the archives:

David Tessitor speaking to City Council about Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's failures on September 12, 2006.

View Video

New Swimming t-shirt

From Grant

Grant, my second child, now 10, is in a swim meet on Tuesday, tomorrow. I'm the volunteer coach. The Phillips Elem School team goes to the city-wide swim meet at Alderdice at 1 pm. So, we got new t-shirts.

Speaking of shirts, I pulled one out from my stash. It was a shirt I designed years ago when I coached in Illinois with the New Trier Swim Club.

Its inspiration comes from sailing shirts. When in a sailing race, there are few chances to have directions put onto paper and held in one's hands. The hands are busy with the lines and sails and such. So, the instructions for the course are often put onto the shirt, printed upside down so it is easily read by the one wearing the shirt.

From swim-drills

We did this for meet behaviors. It is called, Phase One. Phase Two has yet to arrive.

Communicate about participation months in advance.

Arrive early and be ready to swim at the start of warm-ups.

Act, stay and be dressed as a team.

Know your times.
(past, best, goal, dream, standard, actual)

Only positive talk.

Cheer weird.

Talk to the coach before and after every race.

Just drink water.

Update your improvements.

Sign-up for more meets.

This conversation about the t-shirt came from our talk about Grant's coach this year at the JCC. He is a great young coach and he has a tatoo on his arm that says, "To do:
1)
2)
3)
4)"

His body art is functional. The tatoo, on the inside of his lower arm, is a blank template of a to-do list. Then he uses a ball-point pen and writes down the things that he has to do. He gets points in my book for being clever.

Tomorrow, we get to wear new t-shirts for the swim meet! Grant is in the 10-and-under backstroke. More about the meet in a day or so.

Tonight (Monday), at 7 pm, Erik, plays violin at the Frick Middle School, Pittsburgh Frick 6-8, at the holiday concert. Perhaps he can use the concert as an excuse for added protection at school today -- given how his team won the football game yesterday. Erik loves the Patriots. And, most of those close to him have come to understand this about him.

Yesterday's concert at PPG Wintergarden with the PMA (Pittsburgh Music Academy) was great. Stay tuned for photos.

Drink tax causing hangover

Drink tax causing hangover Besieged by criticism of the new 10 percent tax on alcoholic drinks, Allegheny County Council members have seen the relationship between Democrats and Republicans take a decidedly acrimonious turn.

Representatives of both parties have vowed to try to set aside political differences to undo the damage done by the tax debate and the accusations it generated.

Remember, no Libertarian voted for the drink tax.

I'd expect that the members of council would have a set-up to pass the drink tax and then try to blow smoke as to why some were against it. It gave some cover. Then one was in the deal to vote for it and leave council. Now they will try to patch things up and do the lockstep boosterism as a legislative body, sign of solidarity, whatever.

Why in the world was the alternative without ever a chance of passing? That is the big lie here. When options are never with a chance -- we all face continual defeat.

DeFazio was sharply critical of the 'manner in which it was presented.' That's kill the messenger statement. Statements about the message are absent. DeFazio needs to know he has a vote. His votes speak volumes. His votes hold the truth. Those that vote for the new taxes are for the new taxes. That's honesty. DeFazio voted for both new taxes.

If DeFazio or others didn't want to see the tax, he could have and should have voted "NO." And, if he had any other idea, it should have been presented. But he is only good for sharp, critical jabs that try to twist the real truth.

It is one matter to fight against the cutting of services to residents. It is another to fight against the cutting of residents. The county is shrinking!

iJustine’s BIGGEST Talkcast ever | TalkShoe Blog

iJustine’s BIGGEST Talkcast ever | TalkShoe Blog: "Welcome to the BIGGEST Talkcast ever page (even bigger than Leo’s!), staring Justine (iJustine) Ezarik. She’s already been doing Talkcasts on Sundays at 8:45 pm with hundreds of participants. Justine will be having some very special guests…stay tuned"

I wonder about the special guest. Could it be Bill Peduto? I'm thinking the guest could be Todd Rundgren. Todd did a show this weekend. He is generally all about new technology. iJustine might have gone to the show and hooked up with him there and offered an invite to the talkcast.