Official site of the Pittsburgh Steelers - NEWS

Official site of the Pittsburgh Steelers - NEWS What is the key to defeating the Jaguars?
Red zone efficiency
Control the line of scrimmage
Contain Taylor and Jones-Drew
Protect Roethlisberger

The key to beating the Jags this Sunday at Heinz Field is not listed on the quiz/survey now running on the Steelers home page. The key to winning the game is, "Score more points."

There are two very important keys to life: First is, "Show up." Second is, "Score more points."

We are not sure that Big Ben is going to 'show up' as he didn't practice the past two days due to a shoulder injury.

Hope he takes it easy and keeps "the clear" and "the cream" in the trainers locker. Would hate to see these footballers acting like they play baseball. (giggle)

We love Charlie Batch too.

Create Debate | Gather.com - wonderful framework

Create Debate | Gather About Create Debate: Join the open dialogue with the 2008 U.S. presidential candidates! There are no time limits, no mediators. YOU ask the questions. They give answers about the future of America. And we all can explore this unique format for presidential debate.

http://America.Gather.com/k/jz6FVIsITxUhEHcJBC4FBggGCgs=/

Create Your Own "best of" Category! - "Best of" categories and winners created by our readers - Main Feature - Main Feature Extra - Pittsburgh City Pa

Create Your Own "best of" Category! - "Best of" categories and winners created by our readers - Main Feature - Main Feature Extra - Pittsburgh City Paper - Pittsburgh Category: Best political party Winner: Libertarians

The American Entrepreneur - Reasons why Onorato should move to the private sector

The American Entrepreneur - Newsletter Articles SIX REASONS WHY DAN ONORATO SHOULD NOT BE GOVERNOR OF PENNSYLVANIA

The headline grabs. The article continues.

Are you ready for some football? Grant and I are going to Sunday's game. His birthday gift.

My second son, Grant, has always wanted to go to a professional football game. He gets his wish on Sunday -- as his 10th birthday gift. He turned 10 on Dec 4. That's when we told him about the tickets.

Mom purchased the tickets from a friend / season ticket holder (or some connection) via work. Nice.

Word is that the seats are up high -- and under the roof if should rain.

I'm not too sure what we can bring into the game. Camera, binoculars, seat pillow, stadium blanket, pockets stuffed with a few snacks sandwiches (peanut butter and jelly). Is that okay?

I know that umbrellas are NOT allowed.

Tips, suggestions and other insights are welcomed.

Any tailgates out there that could float an invite our way? Post-game tailgates?

We might take the Gateway Clipper from Station Square -- as we can walk to Station Square. I had thought about hitting the brunch at the Hard Rock Cafe before the game. But, we've got a church gig / pageant.

And when is the game? Is it a 1 pm kickoff?

I remember going to a game with my dad at 3RS when I was little. The Steelers got their buts kicked -- as was generally the case. But that day, they were playing the Green Bay Packers. We left early and went to the Hilton Hotel lobby to get some player autographs of the visiting team. Bart Starr was one of my favorites. He went an entire season and only tossed 4 interceptions, I think. We saw Ray Ray Nitzke Nitzke. In street clothes, he could blend into the crowd.

After the game we walked up the stairs and over the Ft. Pitt Bridge. There was a swell of people heading out of the stadium and to those steps -- and for a few minutes, my feet didn't touch the ground. I was amused. Not scared. But felt very small -- among the fans.

The Pittsburgh Comet on the RIPPING of Civic Arena snd the new White Elephant

The Pittsburgh Comet Carl Redwood, Chair of the One Hill Coalition, underlined Frazier's point in commenting that there were no drawings of the view from the Hill District. 'Only walls and fences.'

The Hill gets the DUMPSTERS.

Don Carter has been a front man for the big guys for many years.

Null Space post says it (City Paper) was "Rigged"

Null Space: Best Political Activist
CP: Bill Peduto
Me: Doesnt Rauterkus get an honorable mention for setting some record for running in more local elections than anyone in history.

I made my comment on his blog.
The other consideration -- the Libertarians got a mention for best political party.
But, what gets my goat is that the best political activist section had N/A in third place.
I also gave comment at Bram's blog, PghComet.

Tea Party 07 - Ron Paul for President Mass Donation Day

Tea Party 07 - Ron Paul for President Mass Donation Day Please join us this December 16th 2007 for the largest one-day political donation event in history. Our goal is to bring together 100,000 people to donate $100 each, creating a one day donation total of $10,000,000.

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.