Subscribe to my calendar. And, send in your events.

Another option, get your own Google Calendar. Then you can put your events in your own calendar. But, then let me know about your calendar and I'll embed it within mine. It is easy to put all your events on this calendar, or just copy each event with two or three clicks.

Revelations: City, County and Pens Propose No C, No B, and No A for Historic Hill District

Revelations: City, County and Pens Propose No C, No B, and No A for Historic Hill District Similarly, they pledge their support for a new YMCA in the 2100 block of Centre Avenue, and offer to help win state money toward its development.

Yes, that's right. The YMCA that is not even a member of One Hill, the one organization that is nationwide, already in the middle of a capital campaign and, you guessed it---not what the community asked for. The community asked for a recreation center that would be for the elderly and youth---like the Kingsley Center in East Liberty. Maybe, just maybe, the YMCA could come close to that but it still means that the community cannot control the kinds of programs, services and recreation in the community, not necessarily shaped or defined by an overarching, national organization with its own agenda and priorities.

Reach out to squash the REAL ID in PA -- please

PA Senate bill 1220 (SB 1220, P.N. 1673), opposing the REAL ID, was referred to the Communications and Technology Committee on December 27, 2007 and is now posted on the PA's legislative bill site. It is a much stronger rejection of the federal REAL ID than its counterpart, HB 1351, in the PA House.

Your action is needed to encourage support of this bill!

The full text of the bill can be found here:

Name: The "REAL ID and Biometric and Economic Privacy Act"

Web Link

The bill is thankfully short and shows no tolerance for the 2005 federal Real ID Act. It rejects the Real ID and even rejects other laws and regulations that would put compromise economic privacy. Here is its operative wording for Sections 3, 4 and 5 respectively:

** "Neither the Governor nor the Department of Transportation or any other Commonwealth agency shall participate in the compliance of any provision of the REAL
ID Act of 2005."

** "Neither the Governor nor the Department of Transportation or any other Commonwealth agency shall participate in the compliance with any Federal law, regulation or policy that would compromise the economic privacy or biometric data of any resident of this Commonwealth."

** "Either the Governor or the Attorney General may file an action in a court of competent jurisdiction to challenge the constitutionality or legality of the REAL ID Act of 2005."

This bill needs additional sponsors and support to ensure it is adopted without amendment. Please contact your state senators, particularly if they are committee members, and encourage their support of this bill. Thank them if they are already a sponsor.

Current sponsors of the bill are:

FOLMER, KITCHEN, ROBBINS, REGOLA, FUMO, MELLOW,

ERICKSON, C. WILLIAMS, FERLO, WASHINGTON,

ORIE, BOSCOLA,LAVALLE, HUGHES AND EARLL.

Five of these sponsors are Committee members:

Constance Williams, D-17, Minority Chair; Edwin Erickson, R-26; Bob Regola, R-39; Vincent Fumo, D-1; and Leanna Washington, D-17

Remaining Committee members are:

Robert Wonderling, Chairman, R-24; John Gordner, Vice-Chair, R-27; Lisa Baker, R-20; John Eichelberger, R-30; John Wozniak D-35; and Joseph Scarnati, President Pro Tempore & ex-officio member of all committees, R-25.

You can find your legislator by zip code or county by using the "Find Members By" box in the upper right of the page at this link:

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/index.cfm


The PA Senate will be back in session on January 14, 2008, so let them know what you think.

Additional information on the REAL ID Act of 2005 can be found in Sen. Folmer's press release on the topic:

http://www.senatorfolmer.com/press-2007/1107/111407.htm


Letting your federal representatives know what you think of the REAL ID would also be a good idea.

Thank you for taking the time to help limit government expansion and protect the rights of the citizens!

In Liberty, Michael J. "Mik" Robertson, Chair, Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania

Text of Dan Onorato's speech on Jan 3, 2008, day 1 of second term

Download the original attachment

Pittsburgh Laurels & Lances - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "To Dan Onorato. Speaking of the drink tax, the Allegheny County chief executive didn't mention the new levy -- or the new $2 daily rental-car tax -- during his second inaugural on Wednesday. 'I didn't think it needed to be mentioned because it's mentioned every day of the week,' he said. The real reason more likely is that he knows what an oxymoron it is to promote higher taxes out of one side of his mouth while touting the need to be 'competitive' out of the other side.

Obama, Paul Win MySpace Primary

Obama, Paul Win MySpace Primary Obama took in 46 percent of the Democratic vote, trailed by Sen. Hillary Clinton's 31 percent. Meanwhile, Paul's surprising win came with 37 percent of the MySpace Republican vote, with former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee taking the second and third place slots at 18 and 16 percent, respectively.

The MySpace Presidential Primary started just after 3:00 a.m. EST on New Year's Day, and concluded just before midnight on Jan. 2.

I didn't even vote in this race.

Ed Rollins, Huckabee campaign manager -- made me sick

The interview on CNN with Mr. Rollins was a hoot.

He is talking Revolution. New way. Anti-establishment. Earned media. Not Bush's thrid term. Send money. OMG.

Why? Voters for CHANGE.

Huckabee may tank in NH.

Ron Paul got em right where he wants em.

Reason Magazine - Scenes from the Ron Paul Revolution

Reason Magazine - Scenes from the Ron Paul Revolution The Paulistas delight in their independence and fervor. At a press conference after the Ames talk, a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reporter asks the candidate about all the Paul signs he sees around Pittsburgh. “You guys must have a big operation there,” he says.

“If we do,” Paul says with a small smile, “we don’t know about it.”

Did you notice the HATCHED pie showing up at CNN

Iowa is talking numbers.

But, at CNN there is no slice of pie for my guy -- Ron Paul. But, there is the hatched, MacPaint-like, slice. And, it isn't tiny.

His Turn -- to everything there is a season - turn, turn turn

MY TURN With instant gratification.

Is that a sentence?

Poof!

A 'real blog' is rEally nonsensical.

The thing that bothers me the most within his rant was the fact that Mike W got a (free?) lunch date (I hope he didn't have to pay) with Pittsburgh-Post-Gazette-hosted bloggers. Did he have a good sandwich? I give Mackenzie Carpenter and John Allison credit for making one obvious mistake, and not two, by inviting me as well.

I posted similar thoughts in a tread below moments before this was discovered.

Free Audiobook called: The Market for Liberty

Free Keene � Free Audiobook a free audiobook, “The Market for Liberty”. This brilliant book explains why government is an unnecessary evil and how the Free Market is superior in every possible way. You may download it in two ways.

Secrecy News covers changes to FOIA and the OPEN Gov act siged by GWB

Secrecy News On December 31 President Bush signed into law the 'Openness Promotes Effectiveness in our National (OPEN) Government Act of 2007,' which amends the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

The new FOIA law is a very mediocre law that will do little...

Favorite?

FOX sucks

*URGENT* National protest aganist Fox News Jan 3rd

Ron Paul Grassroots Campaign News Release
For Immediate Release
Contact Andrew Panken for more information
410/360-1700

On the evening of, January 3, 2007, Ron Paul supporters will be protesting the exclusion of our candidate from the Fox News candidate forum debate. We will be protesting at local Fox TV Stations across the country and at the Fox Forum Debate location in New Hampshire.

According to numerous recent professional pollsters, such as American Research Group, Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg Poll, Rasmussen Reports, USA Today/Gallup Poll and Boston Globe/University of New Hampsire Survey Center, Ron Paul clearly polls higher than some other candidates, who are invited to the Fox debate forum. These polling results may easily be checked at http://www.usaelectionpol... . The exclusion of Ron Paul is not based on polling results or funds raised, which may in fact surpass all other GOP candidates. Final fundraising totals for Ron Paul have reached 20 million dollars for the fourth quarter.

The Fox Broadcast network has systematically excluded Ron Paul from their coverage. Numerous post debate polls conducted by Fox, have shown Ron Paul to be favored by most conservatives, over the pro-war candidates. The Fox network is showing their obvious bias against a candidate that disagrees with their commentators pro-war stance. We are protesting, to inform Americans, that Fox is unfair and unbalanced. Let all GOP primary voters decide, not the Fox network. The Fox network is attempting to manipulate this process, by excluding a now top tier candidate, Dr Ron Paul.

End Of News Release

Note to Local Meetups:

All local Meetup groups should setup protests at your local Fox Station on the evening of 1/3. Then, fax this news release with local contact information to all media in your area, including your local Fox station.

Fox Affiliate Stations:

http://www.fox.com/links/...

Fox Owned and Operated Stations:

http://en.wikipedia.org/w...

On a side note – please use the phrase “Not broadcasting in the public interest” in chants, on signs, etc. That's FCC speak for “your broadcasting license is in jeopardy”. Follow through and file a complaint with the FCC against the stations if Dr. Paul is excluded from the forum on the 6th.

Mayor agrees to development around new arena - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Mayor agrees to development around new arena - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Ravenstahl agrees to development around new arena

Would love to see the details of the entire deal. Anyone got a URL?

South Side Neighborhood Plan is on the web in a PDF

Welcome to the South Side - Pittsburgh: "Neighborhood Plan Update

Draft Now Available

South Side Planning Forum has made available for review a draft version of the South Side Neighborhood Plan Update. Click here to access a pdf version: 2007 NP Update Draft Final

China to track food safety at Olympic Games

SI.com - More Sports - China to track food safety at Games China to track food safety at Games

So will we.

Missed Boxing Day? Let us help. I've got a bunch of boxes 4 U

Moving?

Do you need some boxes?

We've got a bunch of boxes that I'd love to get to a new home. Some are gently used. Some are nearly new. Many are from Budget Truck Rental.

Our need for boxes is much less. We've been moving about within our house. Next up -- move these boxes to you. Partial orders welcomed.

Giggle at the PG: Invisible Men feature on the home page

Check out the P-G home page today. There is a link about 'Invisible men.' If you click on it, it goes to a page with an invisible article.

The link is on the right, down past half way. Look near the Steelers 75 link.

Screen shot art:

Home page:

Points to this invisible page:

Should Ron Paul lose weght?

The following comes from an advocate group, Downsize DC. It concerns the looming moronic decisions of FOX to hold a debate among Republican candidates for US President and exclude the one candidate who RAISED the MOST MONEY from the MOST PEOPLE who has been in Congress for ten terms and has run for PRESIDENT in the past!

Subject: Should Ron Paul Lose Weight?

Tonight's the night. The Iowa Caucuses happen this evening. We're about to get a real-world market test of the popularity of the downsizing message. Meanwhile . . .

We are seeing the power of the Downsize DC strategic approach: pressure works! The Ron Paul Army is proving the concept.

As of this hour Fox News is still planning to exclude Ron Paul from their pre-primary New Hampshire candidate forum. They don't like the small government message. They're afraid of it, and they don't want it to be heard. But their justification for it has had to change, because of . . .

THE PRESSURE

First Fox News claimed it was a decision of the New Hampshire Republican Party, but the NH GOP asserted otherwise, and called for Ron Paul to be included. The Republican Party felt . . .

THE PRESSURE

And so, Fox News now claims that the forum will be held on a bus, and there isn't enough room to hold all the candidates.

Should Ron Paul lose weight so there will be room for him? They could save even more space if they exchanged small Paul for fat Fred (sorry Senator Thompson, I couldn't resist the alliteration). It's a silly excuse, and for daring to be so lame Fox News needs to continue to feel . . .

THE PRESSURE

Hit Fox News with more messages. Here are some talking points you can use to turn up THE PRESSURE . . .

* Fred Thompson is expected to drop out of the race tomorrow. Now there's room for Ron!

* Zogby reports that Ron Paul is now in double digits in Iowa. He's at 10%, and tied with the media's favorite candidate, John McCain. Poll numbers will no longer work as an excuse to exclude the small government message.

* NewsCorp, the parent company of Fox News, is taking a major financial hit because of the exclusion. Ron Paul supporters are dumping the stock, causing the price to plummet, and the Ron Paul Army is putting pressure on Fox News advertisers to drop their ads on the network. You can see what people are saying about the NewsCorp stock here.

Send your message now. Keep up THE PRESSURE. Send your message here.

And thank you for being a part of the growing Downsize DC Army.

Perry Willis
Communications Director
DownsizeDC.org, Inc.

By the way, Dr. Ron Paul is fit. Meanwhile, Mike H, once was a blip. Meanwhile, Paul supporters have launched a blimp. If you want to talk wellness for the nation -- included Dr. Paul in the debates.

Lamb eager to take over as city's new controller

Culture shock.

Lamb eager to take over as city's new controller: "'Our first issue is changing the culture of that office,' Mr. Lamb said Monday. 'We will change even the day-to-day things, such as what the hours are going to be and what the dress code is.'

Great news. Matching uniforms. Just what Pittsburgh needs. The dress code in the controller's office is sure to make a huge difference.

With the new dress code, we (citizens) might be able to tell who are the paid employees and who are the consultants. Consultants are ones we pay too, but they have checks from some other person. And, those checks are paid back to campaign accounts.

The PG says: Police continue to investigate at least nine stolen city checks. The probe has been slowed by the difficulty of getting banks to turn over records. No arrest has been made.

So, the banks are not helpful. Imagine that.

I've called for 'transparent accounts' such as 'open trust funds' for all banking of public money. If those measured had been implemented, there would be NO PROBLEM with the bank slowing the records. The records should be OPEN SOURCED RECORDS for anyone to witness.

And, if my solution had been in place, the act of 'stealing checks' would be able to have been seen by anyone as it happened. There would be little need to call in the police -- as the investigation could be done online by everyone.

Open records and transparent trust accounts would work wonders. This is our money. We should be able to tell what's what at any given moment.

And, most of all, we need TRANSPARENT PAC ACCOUNTS for campaign accounts.

Of course Lamb wants to get present employees prosecuted -- as he only has a staff of three new hires. To the victor go the spoils -- in the D-mindset.

I'm glad to know that there are "controls" in the "controller's" office -- so says Tony Pokora. What has become of the bid to be named city treasurer, by the way?

Lamb has high standards. Do an audit once every four years. Shiver my timbers.

Lamb is very insightful with his expression that "city council has its issues." No Shit Sherlock! But he does NOT say, or the article does not report, that there will be an audit of city council. Perhaps we'll have to wait three and a half years for the audit. Got to get the uniforms first.

Might as well just size them all up for 'jump suits' -- if you know what I mean.

Lamb wants to increase the role of the controller at the Schools. Well, Mr. Lamb, have you resigned from the position as a board member of A+ Schools yet? A+ Schools is a nonprofit that aims to monitor Pgh Public Schools. A controller should NOT be on the board with that booster group and be an independent official.

Lamb's school thrust is to look at contracting. That has little to nothing to do with teaching our children. How many families are pulling their kids out of the schools because the competitive bidding done by the school district is just no up to par with expectations? I know that when I take my kid to school that there is a great demand on the playground for oversight in the change orders among contracts. We don't even talk about the minority contracting these days -- as it just gets too emotional for too many to even go there. Lamb to the rescue.

Then comes the grand daddy of them all -- the big naval gaze. Lamb wants to audit the auditors. And, he can't do it himself. So, he goes and beggs the overlords for the power and the money to go out and hire outside auditors to do the job that he was elected to do himself. Don't hire an accounting firm with our money to worry about what has gone 'down da river' and 'over the dam' already. Fix what needs to be fixed for the future.

Lamb should go into the new job and manage that office -- with what he's got.

PeopleSoft! Yes. Of course PeopleSoft is antiquated. All closed source code software is antiquated. Lamb should move urgently to all open source software solutions. Lamb could even hire an computer programmer with open source experiences to help manage the migration.

Lamb can get grants, write grants, go to Sourceforge, go to CMU, go to Pitt, go to Ice Land. Go to where the open code is being used now. And, it is free. It is gratis too!

Of course the state is paying two firms to review the city's needs. Firms have employees that make kick-backs and campaign donations. I would rather hire a few open-source programmers to coordinate the migration to open-source ways.

---

Update: Tony won't be hired by Luke as Treasurer.
Trib article.