House Concert slated for WED, Sept 17. You're invited. RSVPs now open

We've hosted a few different house concerts in the past few years. All have been a success, but this next one is going to be slightly different. It will be held in our third floor space, newly refurbished in our historic South Side home. a

We love to support the arts and make great music. The house concert is a particular form of musical experience.

Few in Pittsburgh are familiar with the concept of hosting or attending "house concerts." They are being done in some locations (Point Breeze included) locally and in different parts of the US (Florida, Wisconsin).

Some concert performers make a living doing these types of shows and even prefer these gigs in homes as they are more intimate than club settings where the music is often less important than the drinking.

The great advantage of the house concert from the performer's standpoint is that it cuts out the venue as middle man, with its associated overhead costs. House concert proceeds go straight to the performer. The "suggested artist donation" for the Joe Jencks concert on the 17th is $10.

Fewer people are needed for a draw for a performer to a particular location because the singer earns more per audience member. Sound guys, door men, bartenders and club expenses are bypassed.

These concerts are intimate in a way that venue concerts rarely are. Performers get a chance to socialize with audiences and vice-versa. There's something very old-fashioned and respectful about sharing music, original music, here. It's a modern version of nineteenth-century parlor concerts.

Phelps donates $1 million bonus - TODAY: People - MSNBC.com

Phelps donates $1 million bonus - TODAY: People - MSNBC.com Appearing on TODAY, Phelps announced that the Michael Phelps Foundation will distribute his prize money to various charitable programs to promote water safety and encourage youth swimming.

Thank you, Michael.

Start Of Class For Shaler High School Delayed - News Story - WPXI Pittsburgh

Start Of Class For Shaler High School Delayed - News Story - WPXI Pittsburgh Students in grades 11-12 will report on Wednesday, September 10 and not on Friday, September 5 for orientation.

Students in grades 9-10 will report on Thursday, September 11 and not on Monday, September 8 for their orientation.

The first full day for everyone at the high school is Friday, September 12.

In a letter sent home to parent Superintendent Donald Lee wrote, 'the main reason for this change isn't construction as much it is giving our custodial staff extra time to clean and our teachers extra time to unpack their stored supplies.'

Shaler's new football coach, Coach Gordon, formerly of Penn Hills, has called for an extended pre-season football camp. So, the school district has delayed the start of school to give its football team a leg up.

Shaler won its first game. Meanwhile, Penn Hills lost its first game.

Way to go Coach Gordon. The school board in Penn Hills made a huge blunder.

Give me a "U" -- You are ...

Councilman collecting letters to save UPMC South Side

District 3 Councilman Bruce A. Kraus is continuing to collect letters of support to keep UPMC South Side from closing and being merged into the Uptown campus of UPMC Mercy.
The councilman is collecting the letters which he intends to deliver to UPMC officials at a meeting in the coming weeks. Mr. Kraus said he was pleased with the support and the number of letters he has already received from residents and businesses in the UPMC South Side service area.
Letters of support for having the hospital remain in South Side should be mailed to: Councilman Bruce A. Kraus, 414 Grant St., Room 510, Pittsburgh, Pa 15219, as soon as possible.
UPMC announced plans to close UPMC South Side and transfer in-patient and out-patient services it provides over a period of three to five years. In addition, the Emergency Room will be converted to an urgent care center operating on a reduced schedule
For more information, contact Councilman Kraus office at 412-255-2130.

You are "sick" might be a pun that other bloggers might stoop to deliver to sum up a campaign to save a local hospital. "Heartbroken" might be another.

I'll stick to a classic -- "full of folly."

To tell UPMC that it can't close its South Side Hospital, and put it in a letter, is but a waste of ink and a way to waste valued time.

The real question is what will become of UPMC's facility.

The next real question is what should become of that facility. Can vision be injected into the discussion so that the future can more easily be crafted to make better opportunities?

It is time to think again and not be so full of folly.

Furthermore, this news is bitter. I want to see the hospital stay on the South Side. However, I saw the arrival of the closing.

UPMC made a big play to get and keep alive Mercy Hospital on the bluff. So, we've got hospitals in Oakland and on The Bluff. We've got close access to hospitals -- more so than McDonalds and Eat'n Park. Go figure.

The time to work hard to save and fortify UPMC South Side was in 1999 when I was raising concerns in political circles. That was when the plans of UPMC's South Side football practice facility were put upon the local landscape. That medical / sporting facility was built on valuable river-front land sold to the nonprofit at greatly reduced costs by the public authority, the URA.

The Steelers needed a practice facility and UPMC played the game to get them one, pulling the wool over the eyes of local politicians without the vision to make better suggestions. The land deal was facilitated by a public agency.

The better solution, back then, one that I advoctated for, was to put the football practice and sports medicine facility directly next to the UPMC South Side Hospital. Dr. Freddie Fu does surgery. That is his area of specilization. A close hospital association would have many benefits -- including the long-term sustainability of the hospital complex within the neighborhood.

Furthermore, the public land right behind and next to the UPMC Hospital is closed. They have had a pad-lock on the parking lot and closed indoor ice rink for years.

A dark hole is right in the middle of the South Side. And, next, the hole is going to spread to the UPMC Hospital facility. Whereas this should be a thriving sports medicine complex with recreational and local hospital services.

Ex-Schenley students try Reizenstein on for size

Ex-Schenley students try Reizenstein on for size: "The squat, 33-year-old Reizenstein building in Shadyside may lack the architectural majesty of the historic, triangular Schenley building in Oakland.
But Reizenstein has new furniture, two student lounges and ample space for playing sports outside.

The district just planted trees in the big field to the east side of the building -- knocking out a band practice field, if not more.

United Airlines/News - FlyerWiki

United Airlines/News - FlyerWiki: "United Airlines Teams Up with Apple
As part of United's plans to upgrade its international first and business class travel experience for customers, United and Apple have teamed up to add iPod connectivity to United's inflight entertainment service. This connectivity will enable customers to plug-in and charge their iPod, watch movies and TV shows on their iPod using United’s big-screen monitors, as well as listen to their entire music library on United’s noise-cancellation headsets.
“There is significant value in offering a superior inflight entertainment experience to our first and business class customers during their international flights,” said Graham Atkinson, executive vice president and chief customer officer. “We are identifying what matters most to our premium customers and then delivering the right products and services – like the iPod connectivity – to meet those needs.”
United announced earlier this year that it will upgrade its first and business class products and services beginning next year and reconfigure the entire international wide-body fleet throughout the next two to three years. Current plans include overhauling ground and onboard products and services to enhance the entire premium travel experience – from when customers check-in to when they arrive at their destination.

The Pitt News - Ron Paul loves you, Pittsburgh

The Pitt News - Ron Paul loves you, Pittsburgh From the polls, it looks like many people aren’t going to vote me president of these United States of America. I guess many people don’t support freedom, and they’re free to believe what they want. I’ve got one more trick up my sleeve, though, fellows.

BTW, the Pitt Libertarians are starting up the new year too.

County solicitor rules against drink tax opponents

County solicitor rules against drink tax opponents: "Allegheny County Solicitor Mike Wojcik has determined that the petition by the group Friends Against Counterproductive Taxation, which seeks to cut the county's controversial drink tax from 10 percent to 0.5 percent by referendum, is legally insufficient.

Jackass.
We do NOT need anyone to protect us from our own democracy.

Ballot access is important.

Democracy is simple. Politics is messy. From time time the process gets messy and simple.

2008 November General Election Candidates

The election in Texas, for President of the United States, has been determined. The Libertarian is the only one who filed in time. No D and no R, so says the Texas Secretary of State on this web page.

2008 November General Election Candidates 2008 November General Election Candidates

Copyright and China

CCTV International China to host 2008 international copyright forum in October
Source: Xinhua | 08-27-2008 17:06
BEIJING, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Beijing is for the third year running to host the International Copyright Forum in October, the National Copyright Administration said here on Wednesday.
Sponsored by the administration and the World Intellectual Property Organization, the two-day forum, slated for October 27, will feature forums on 'copyright creates wealth' covering issues in software and media development fields.

Would love to soak up this session. There is much to be said about 'open source software' and 'public domain' for art and beyond. However, much of that is also with a copyright.

To stick around for the Paralympic Games will make for many interesting contrasts too. Just as a copyright session would.

Pittsburgh 5th poorest big city, census shows

Pittsburgh 5th poorest big city, census shows: "Pittsburgh residents are making slightly more money than last year, but they still live in one of the poorest large cities in the United States, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
City residents have the fifth-lowest median household income among residents of larger cities around the country, at $32,363, according to a report the bureau released yesterday. Pittsburgh was seventh-lowest in the 2006 figures, at $31,779. Unlike some other poor cities, however, Pittsburgh contains affluent neighborhoods such as Shadyside, Squirrel Hill and Point Breeze, potentially skewing the results to make the city look wealthier than it truly is.

Reactions welcomed.
The city is poor now. But, after the retirement and pension funds from all the governement workers run dry, we'll be much worse than now.

Urban Redevelopment boss Pat Ford resigns

Urban Redevelopment boss Pat Ford resigns Urban Redevelopment Authority Executive Director Pat Ford issued a strongly worded resignation letter today, alleging a 'culture of deception and corruption' and saying he will no longer 'support the actions of what I believe to be a failed administration' nor seek to 'return to a position where I will again be forced to serve as a scapegoat for the inappropriate affairs and activities of others.'

There is an expression in China that fits: "Bye bye."

To be fair to the Chineese, they would not give months and months of salary without any work. Nor would they let him off without a division between head and body.

The boss of the FDA of China faced capital punishment this past year. Furthermore, a front page story talked about how the secret lovers of the corrupt officials would not get off either.

No doubt, the administration is not anything to be proud of. But, it fits just what came before it. Ford rose through the ranks in that pool. Somethings float.

BBC SPORT | Olympics | China targets more golds in 2012

BBC SPORT | Olympics | China targets more golds in 2012 China will target sports including cycling, athletics and swimming to increase its gold medal haul at the 2012 Games, China's sports chief says. China will target sports including cycling, athletics and swimming to increase its gold medal haul at the 2012 Games, China's sports chief says.

Rot woo, says Scooby.

Pittsburgh Police Chief Wants To 'Invest In Kids' To Prevent Violence - News Story - WPXI Pittsburgh

Golly.

Pittsburgh Police Chief Wants To 'Invest In Kids' To Prevent Violence - News Story - WPXI Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Police Chief Wants To 'Invest In Kids' To Prevent Violence

Except, it seems, that the way the police invest in the kids is to craft cameras around town to watch them. Then to make road blocks and build curfew centers to contain them.

Mayor Tom Murphy was the worst -- as he did not allow our groups to invest in kids and put computer labs into the city's rec centers. Many rec centers, to this day, have empty computer rooms. They have had the furnature and the little signs on the doors -- but not the computers.

Perhaps this news is a change of heart. Let's hope so.

Not only will the increase in graduation rates drop the number of murders, but I've got some more insights.

Holding AM Swim Practice, say at 5:30 or 5:45 AM -- even slackers are in by 6 -- does a great deal to insure that the students are in bed and sleeping by 10 pm, if not 9:15. Go figure.

Student athletes get better grades than students who are not in interscolastic athletics.

Student athletes have better graduation rates -- and have better chances of getting into college, being recruited into college, getting college scholarships, staying in college once they arrive, getting tudors while in college, getting coaching, mentoring and postitive peer pressure, and staying fit.

Sadly Mark Roosevelt is just as bad as Tom Murphy in terms of killing sports and community participation in wellness activities in the city. Murphy killed the city's marathon and The Great Race. Plus he closed the rec centers and swim pools (all 30+) of them. Meanwhile, Mark Roosevelt took swimming out of the public physical education programs in all the schools, is building new schools that will not have sports programs by design, and allows the city league to be laggards equal to the opportunities girls were presented with in the 1940s.

Wanjiru becomes 1st Kenyan to win men's marathon - 2008 Olympics - SI.com

Wanjiru becomes 1st Kenyan to win men's marathon - 2008 Olympics - SI.com: "Wanjiru negotiated the 26.2-mile course through the Beijing streets in bright morning sunshine in an Olympic record of 2 hours, 6 minutes, 32 seconds.

So much for the bad air theory.

The Pittsburgh Comet: Monday: They'll Sell You the Whole Newspaper, But You'll Only Need the Edge

Humm...

The Pittsburgh Comet: Monday: They'll Sell You the Whole Newspaper, But You'll Only Need the Edge Swimming in political data for years already, having grown acclimatized to it, having followed several election cycles and even having developed some healthy coats of cynicism, there is now a new political animal on the scene -- the 18 year-old veteran organizer. There are creatures in high school, incapable of voting themselves, who nonetheless possess the motivation and the sophistication to evangelize 100, 200, 500 or more voting-age individuals to the polls. Often as not, they do it face-to-face, no Internet required.

I'm with you Bram -- but not buying your story in whole.

The Pittsburgh Comet: Monday: They'll Sell You the Whole Newspaper, But You'll Only Need the Edge

The Pittsburgh Comet: Monday: They'll Sell You the Whole Newspaper, But You'll Only Need the Edge: "Just for fun, can we start comparing who has the most LEED silver, gold and platinum certified buildings? (P-G, Mark Roth)"

For fun? Well, Pittsburgh would be sorta like India -- getting one gold every 100 years. China is blowing the doors off of Pittsburgh in terms of buildings that are energy wise.

Michael Phelps Returns Home

Michael Phelps Returns To His Tank At Sea World | The Onion - America's Finest News Source Michael Phelps Returns To His ...

Cute.

But, we spent much more for places for our fish to swim in -- Pgh Zoo and Aquarium -- then for our children.

A taxi- cab breakthrough - Kelli Anderson - SI.com

A taxi- cab breakthrough - Kelli Anderson - SI.com: "I took a lot of taxis in Beijing; we all did.

Think again. You all did. We didn't.

We took one taxi and that was because the USA soccer game ended with a very late gold medal award presentation that forced us off of the subway because it was closing. At 1 am, we didn't want to ride our bikes the OTHER way home. So, we left them locked at the Workers Stadium and were going to take the subway. But, it is four lines away from our apartment. When you hear in the first subway platform that this is the last train -- we were smart to bolt for the street exit.

Then we burned too much energy at the day, getting to the game, and waiting for the handout of the gold medals to bike home from 1 to 2:30 am with a 10-year old, 13-year old and me. Hell, we've seen street lights go off, yet alone the closing of the subway.

Our taxi ride that night was one of the rare times we aimed to get into a cab. We were one with the bike lanes and able to navigate these games and this city just fine without the car. We took a bus or four. We took the subway a bunch too.

Mind you, we watched the taxi situations -- as our goals included them. We didn't want to get hit by anything on the roads -- most of all -- the taxi.

Our fun as the games come to a close

The 17 days of the Olympics have ended. We watched the closing ceremony last night on China TV. Not once did we see a soul from the USA throughout the entire show. What's up with that?

Early in the day we went out of our apartment and down a small stretch of road -- about from 107 Pheasant to Joan Drive, -- and saw the men's marathon go past. There were a bunch in the pack when we saw the opening hour of the race -- and then when they went past us there were three in the lead by 2-minutes or so. The guy from Kenya won in the end. They got their medals in The Bird's Nest (stadium) and it seemed as if the guy that got 2nd, Morocco runner, was having a hard time lifting his leg to get onto the podium. Glass eyes too. They must have wanted a nap.

In the final day of competitions -- we were lucky to get into the final water polo session. We saw a preliminary game -- Spain and Croatia. Then the bronze game where Serbia beat Montenegro. Both were on the same squad a year ago. Then we saw USA vs. Hungary. Great first half. Then Hungary, winning its 3rd gold in a row, got more goals than the USA team. The fans and cheers from Hungary was wild to witness.

The skys have been blue -- but the smog is going to return, we expect. From our apartment we could see in the distance the fireworks in T-square. We biked there last week -- took about 1 hour or more. The flood lights from the Olympic Green are able to be seen from a hallway window. Our apartment is on the 13th (top) floor of a new building in a neighborhood in Beijing's Silicon Valley. A massive computer mart is 15 minutes away on bikes.

We took lots of photos and video. But, I've not uploaded them. Just waiting. NBC was cracking down on pirated videos. I don't need that hassle.

We all have bikes and are doing well on them. We expect to take a train to The Great Wall on Tuesday. Our flight to Chicago is Saturday.

We will pick up a few more treats -- but -- we spent a good deal on the final water polo tickets. Tickets were hard to get and scalpers were out of hand. But, we paid good / fair prices.

We have some new crafts... Got CD of music used in the games. "beijing welcomes you" is a song we've enjoyed.

Got to meet a number of Olympians. Many of their parents and siblings. Lots of fun people from many nations. The Hungarians were known for storming the doors to the water polo venue -- getting 7 or so tickets but seeing 50 or so get past the gate(s). They got wise to them by finals. Don't mess with China -- unless you are from Hungary.

Erik and I have been going to a 5-star hotel where we joined their health club for a month. We lift and swim. Catherine and Grant to a local university and park where there our outdoor badminton courts. We got more rackets (4) and a net. We're going there again tonight at 5 to play with local boy and his mom, our friends now.