waterbasketbal.nl

I'm getting excited about our pending trip to The Netherlands. There, I want to check out "Water Basketball." The Dutch have been playing water basketball since the 1970s and have a national championship.

waterbasketbal.nl

Peek at things to come

Just opened.

http://CLOH.Wikia.com

also known as

http://AforAthlete.wikia.com

Meeting BEHIND CLOSED Doors

Onorato to host meeting of minds on mergers - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "from at least 10 communities will meet with Onorato Downtown behind closed doors"

Behind closed doors. That sucks. Bad, bad, bad.

Pittsburgh installs first energy-efficient LED street lights - NewsFlash - PennLive.com

Pittsburgh installs first energy-efficient LED street lights - NewsFlash - PennLive.com: "Pittsburgh is installing the first energy-efficient LED street lights in southwestern Pennsylvania.

The TV interview on last night's news made us giggle.

The new street lights are 'clean.' They can be simply put into the trash without ramifications and nasty issues later. Meanwhile, the old and existing street lights have a lot of mercury in them and are quite toxic.

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

So, the city has plenty of traffic lights that are NOT able
to be thrown away and recycled.

It might make sense to keep the lights right where they are so that they are not going into a dump and contaminate.

Sometimes, upgrades are expensive.

Penn State in NCAA Championship Game -- volleyball

The Nits have done it (last night) -- and beat Ohio State and will play in the championship game tomorrow.

Cheese & Volleyball: Promote Volleyball in Wisconsin by Watching TV Tomorrow Night: "At Cheese & Volleyball, our dream is simple: We want our all-time favorite sport to become ever more popular in our all-time favorite state. That's why we're ordering you (OK, politely asking you) to plant yourself in front of ESPN2 or ESPNU tomorrow night at 8 p.m. to watch the first NCAA D1 men's semifinal between Penn State and Ohio State (featuring Shorewood's own Daniel Mathews). And while we're at it, we strongly suggest that you encourage the following folks to watch as well:"

Missing: Single-Payer in Pennsylvania

CJR: Missing: Single-Payer in Pennsylvania: "Missing: Single-Payer in Pennsylvania"

Wellness theme continues.

Complaining Bridgeville Neighbor Arrested For Harassment - Pittsburgh News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh

This is so wrong.

Team 4: Complaining Bridgeville Neighbor Arrested For Harassment - Pittsburgh News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh Complaining Bridgeville Neighbor Arrested For Harassment

Team 4:

BRIDGEVILLE, Pa. -- Marshall Pappert admits that he has been a pain to government officials from Bridgeville to Harrisburg.

But Pappert says that if those officials had to live where he lives, they'd be complaining, too.

While he expected to get a fight, or to be told off, or even ignored, Pappert says he never expected to get arrested.

I think this guy should be Pittsburgher of the Year!

The story about the 'noise' applies to the one that follows about hearing.

Constant exposure to racket of daily life takes its toll on hearing

Article in the P-G about wellness -- that quotes Catherine V. Palmer, Ph.D. (my wife).

Constant exposure to racket of daily life takes its toll on hearing: "Constant exposure to racket of daily life takes its toll on hearing

One of Catherine's classic quotes is in the article:

"It is an invisible problem," Dr. Palmer said. "If loud music made your ears bleed, something would be done about it. But the damage can take 10 years before you notice."

Gushing blood flowing out the side of a head would do plenty to promote hearing protection. But, it doesn't work that way.

This is another classic and one where lots of work has unfolded in changing behaviors.

One day in the future, a high school or college marching band will show up for a Pittsburgh Labor Day Parade and NOT have hearing protection for its members and be sent home. Being sent home, without marching in the parade, with instruments still in their cases will come with healthy hair cells working as they should within those sensory organs.

Could you see a high school football team take the field for the kickoff and opt to NOT wear their helmets? They would not be permitted to play the game.

Nice article.

State Senate approves ban on political robo-calls

This stinks.

State Senate approves ban on political robo-calls: "The fall campaign season could be a lot quieter for Pennsylvanians, who during the weeks leading up to the recent primary became accustomed to automated phone calls from presidential and other campaigns.

The state Senate today approved a bill preventing candidates and campaign committees from placing automated calls to residents who join a do-not-call list.

I did NOT get one single phone call in the primary campaign. Not one. We have five cell phones and two land lines. Not one. The member of the PA Senate said he thought every resident in the state had multiple robo calls.

To avoid the call, be a Libertarian. Then I'll be the only one to call you. Those Ds and Rs don't like to call me (us) -- it seems.

I think that it is much more intrusive to knock on doors than call on a phone line.

This law hinders free speech.

The ban is only against 'recorded messages' and not those made by 'live people.' That is to prevent those without big budgets to reach lots of people.

Hats off to Jim Ferlo. He voted the way I would have wanted. Senator Ferlo is on the mark with this statement.

"Free speech should trump personal annoyance and inconvenience, except in the limited case of personal cell phones which cost the owner minutes and money," Mr. Ferlo told the Post-Gazette in an e-mail message after yesterday's vote.

I also agree that it is better for our carbon footprint to NOT cut down trees, print brochures, and pay to have them delivered by snail mail. The printed propaganda is expensive and an ecological nightmare. The phone calls only use recycled electrons.

Trip for Translator; Spanish to English to travel to Guatemala for two weeks

idealist.org - translator Spanish to English to travel to Guatemala for two weeks Global Coalition for Peace, a 501(c)3 non-profit, is seeking a person to serve as translator and traveling companion for the director of the Women's Self-Reliance Program on her upcoming 2-week trip to El Remate, Guatemala, leaving May 25th and returning June 7th. Plane fare, food, and lodging will be provided ...

Job posting for techie: Coordinator, Online Giving

idealist.org - Coordinator, Online Giving: "Coordinator, Online Giving

Kids in Cities - Learning Network

CEOS for Cities - Newsroom - News & Events: "08.24.07
Kids in Cities Learning Network

CEOs for Cities will convene urban leaders from New York, Akron, Chicago and Portland for its first-ever Learning Network on Kids in Cities, Sept. 25 at 10 a.m. before the kick off of our national meeting.

Learning Networks bring three to four member cities together to collaborate on a particular project over an 18-month engagement. Topics of the Learning Networks are driven by members’ interests and needs and participation in the Networks is driven by a delegation’s own decisions about its priorities. Learning Networks focus on a single pressing theme and are aimed explicitly at producing action on the ground.

The Kids in Cities Learning Network will help urban leaders understand, support and scale the behaviors of pioneering urban families. Researchers from the IIT Institute of Design studied parent concerns of safety, space and schools, developing concepts to counter them through density, public space and using the city as a classroom.

Participants will apply concepts from our research in new initiatives in their cities with the aim of achieving real local gains and refining ideas and strategies that can then be shared among our national network.

To learn more about the Kids in Cities project, go to www.ceosforcities.org/kidsincities.

You may download the report on Kids in Cities by clicking here."

I've been talking about this for years. Good to see it begin to get a little attention elsewhere.

The Tax Foundation - Pennsylvania's State and Local Tax Burden, 1970-2007

The Tax Foundation - Pennsylvania's State and Local Tax Burden, 1970-2007: "Pennsylvania's State and Local Tax Burden, 1970-2007

What do you make of this?

Penn State Swim Coach: Bill Dorrenkott Hired at Ohio State

CollegeSwimming.com::Dorrenkott Hiring Official Dorrenkott Hiring Official

Great move by Ohio State. Great loss for us in Pennsylvania.

PSU needs to get a new indoor 50-meter swim pool.

In Ohio, the recent news was that the NCAA Division III program, Denison, is getting a new swim pool too.

Ohio has dozens of indoor 50-meter swim pools. Pennsylvania is lacking, greatly.

In other OSU vs. PSU matters, the Men's Volleball squads face off with each other in the final four this weekend.

Myron's dead. Now public parade of his son begins.

Meet Myron Cope's Son Danny
Myron Cope's son Danny was the inspiration for the Steelers Terrible Towel. Danny is autistic and attends the Allegheny Valley School. Channel 11's Peggy Finnegan talks to Cope's daughter and introduces 40-year-old Danny to the public for the first time.

http://www.wpxi.com/tu/5xsRtRgth.html

Some serious parenting issues swirl around this local media story.

Correct me if I'm wrong. But, Myron was keen on keeping his son out of the public eye. So, would his wishes be honored with this display?

Did Peggy Finnegan press for the story? Did the sister? Did Danny? How did it get 'pitched?' Was a need need generated from Allegheny Valley School and its development people?

Is this 'news worthy?'

What is the long-term angle of this story?

Frankly, I think it is sad to put Danny in the spotlight. I feel that it would be against the wishes of his father. The media is making another mistake. Go figure.

Furthermore, I feel that the 'Terrible Towel" has a life of its own. That 'legacy' can be managed and it should be championed in a number of different ways so as to keep the revenue stream viable. However, the excitement and mystique of the Terrible Towelis tightly associated with sports and on-field momentum. That is where the efforts should be targeted.

I'd suggest a Terrible Towel baptism or vo-do spirit de-jinxing for the Steelers' draft choices -- with guys that are paid millions for a signing bonus. Put them into the limelight. Or, recycle Terrible Towels and install bits of these good-luck charms into motorcycle helmets of drivers on the region's roads.

Marty Griffin -- Pin headed Turncoat who says do as I say -- not as I do.

I sent Marty G an instant access message while he is ranting on KDKA Radio. I posted to him:

Of course people let go of their faith -- all the time.

Marty said, "Never let go of your faith at any time."

Get out!!!!

Taliban holds onto faith at all costs too.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taliban

To BAIL (Marty's words) on 'crazy' is 'common sense.'

Marty says, "Bad, bad." I say, "It is human to grow, change, move, improve, and better themselves."

To 'think again' even in matters of faith, is okay. Otherwise, you'd be a 'pin head.'

---

Marty bailed on Obama too. A couple of weeks ago Marty was pulling hard to get Hillary Clinton out of the race saying she didn't have the credit to be on the ballot.

Marty is a turn-coat. I just wonder if Marty is doing the dance against Obama because his listeners and the voters of PA went more with Hillary?

Five-month study on Pittsburgh housing market to be a guide - Examiner.com

Five-month study on Pittsburgh housing market to be a guide - Examiner.com PITTSBURGH (Map, News) - A five-month study on Pittsburgh's housing market will serve as a guide to investors and city planners as they look for the best places to develop in a shaky economy.

East Liberty Development Inc. project manager Kendall Pelling says until now politics drove what areas of the city were developed.

Now, investors and developers can rely on the interactive map that will be posted online by the Philadelphia-based nonprofit, The Reinvestment Fund.

Oh my gosh.

How about if the city's investors do anything they wish while the city's agencies, city authorities, elected leaders of the city and all other public bureaucrats do NOTHING. Leave it alone and allow the free market forces do whatever.

The public acts need to be with a tight focus on public needs: Police, fire, roads, water, sewer lines, bridges.

Hacker Teen -- Comic Book

Competitive Bid raises its head -- again -- but winks, blinks and nods prevail

Pittsburgh's water authority ups debt - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: After meeting with PNC and authority representatives, council members questioned why the financial work was not competitively bid.

'I don't think that it's been the policy to bid these out,' said State Rep. Don Walko, the authority chairman. 'I think you just try to find the best team.'

Walko said PNC and JP Morgan assembled the authority's separate $25 million bond refinancing in 2007 and that using the firms again would save money.

City Council had them right where they wanted them. City Council folded.

Well, there is always next time. But next time in this instance is in 2042, give or take a decade.

City council blew it. None even asked a question on the day of the final vote. It was a slam dunk to get more debt.

The 'consent decree' to fix the storm water run off calls for certain measures to be made. Little has happened. Why?

Stewardships. Management. Accountability. Solvency.

The PWSA came about when Tom Murphy hatched an idea for a one-time fix of cash. All the Dems when along with it then. All the Dems sustain it now. Meanwhile, the water main breaks around town are everywhere.

Will this be the last musical at Schenley?

Will this be the last musical at Schenley?: "The future of Pittsburgh Schenley High School is up in the air, so this week may (or may not) be the last chance to see the famed Schenley musical on the Schenley stage in Oakland."

Yes. This is the last chance to get to see a real Schenley Musical.

But the P-G ariticle fails to say a peep as to the greatness of this year's show talent. There wasn't a sour note the entire night. The show is a "MUST SEE."