Swim meet warm-ups

Turkey talk reminds me of these peeps.

Turkey talk is in the air. President Obama is on the radio talking about his 'economic team.'

But, I'm reminded of these peeps in the photo above. We encountered this woman was outside a school selling the chicks -- either in green, yellow, red or white.

As for my peeps, there are 237 folks who are now following me on twitter. My blog gets fewer updates since I've been sending notices to twitter.

August photos are still being found

Erik, Mark, Catherine, Grant in foreground. In the background is the Olympic Softball Stadium in Beijing and the teams from Japan and Australia are shaking hands after the game. Australia picked up the bronze medal and Japan won in extra innings. Japan then played the USA for the gold and silver medals.

Sports Fan Trivia -- what's going on here?

Game time:

Can you tell what's going on here? I took the photo. Tip: click image for a larger view.

Prize to the one in the comments that gets it right.

What are these folks watching?

26 cited for underage drinking at Heinz Field - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

26 cited for underage drinking at Heinz Field - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "State police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement officers cited 26 minors for underage drinking Saturday at Heinz Field throughout the WPIAL football championships."

Bike Pittsburgh - Bike the Strike!

Bike Pittsburgh - Bike the Strike!: "Don’t let the Strike slow you down, BIKE!"

Ron Paul Answers Your Questions, Part Two - Freakonomics Blog - NYTimes.com

Ron Paul Answers Your Questions, Part Two - Freakonomics Blog - NYTimes.com What is the first thing the country should do about its monetary policy?

A: We should immediately audit the Federal Reserve....

Said this before: Japan is upset that Obama won the election.

Four cities bidding for 2016 Olympics get to make their case - More Sports - SI.com: "It's also the first bid presentations since the election of former Illinois senator Barack Obama as U.S. president, a potential major boost to the bid from his hometown of Chicago.

A video message from Obama, taped since his election victory, is expected to be included in Chicago's 20-minute delivery.

'There's heightened interest and excitement in the presentations,' Hickey said. 'People are wondering if the Chicago presentation will include something from President-elect Obama. It's an added dimension.'

But, Tokyo has its own secret weapon. The Prime Minister of Japan is an Olympian. He was a shooter in the 1976 Olympics in Montreal.

So, I guess Madrid, Spain, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, must be the ones that are the most mad -- since Obama won the election.

Obama goes into office in Jan 2009, he should still be in the White House and seeking re-election in time for the London 2012 Olympics. If he serves eight years, he'll be in the White House as the 2016 Summer Olympics are staged in his home town of Chicago.

Outfield of women's softball at Beijing Olympics had the Olympic rings. The team with the yellow and green is Australia. They lost to Japan and then got 3rd place -- in extra innings. Softball is due to get the Olympic ax -- as in baseball. Perhaps with the Chicago bid -- we'd get to see softball played at the home of the White Sox -- or the Cubs.

Delivered this letter to Pittsburgh Public Schools -- today

To:
Pittsburgh Public Schools
Office of the Superintendent
Office of the Athletic Director
Office of the School Board

Dear PPS Board Members and School Administrators,

I care about sports and fitness. And, I want to be involved to the highest degree in these programs and their leadership.

It would be great if the new athletic booster groups could begin to gather as soon as possible. I'd be willing to get this started.

Furthermore, I feel that the new mascot for the combined sports teams with students at U-Prep and Science and Technology should be called, The Zombies. Pittsburgh has a rich tradition and history with the Zombie. That mascot choice alone will account for lots of buzz and schools-wide spirit. Kids will want to go there to be known as a “Zombie Athlete.”

As to the I.B. High – or I.B. World – or whatever it becomes, the mascot should be: The Olympians. It might be okay to be The Globetrotters – but that is used with a certain basketball team in Harlem – and it is for an all-black team. So, that has good and bad hangups. If not the Olympians – and if not the Globetrotters, then perhaps the team mascot could be The Wikipedians. That is a combo of Wiki (quick) as in Wikipedia. And pedestrian. A person who edits Wikipedia.org – is a Wikipedian.

I offer the last suggestion as a toss away option. Some folks just need to say 'no' and object to one option. Then there is good feelings to the others – Zombies and Olympians.

Visualize it now – the Olympians and their annual 'Toga Homecoming.' The school could use the wreath as a special award for activities. The name, “Olympians” could be a mascot name – but the five Olympic Rings and the name “Olympics” should be avoided for trademark concerns. Plus, the Olympians would be a good replacement for to the existing mascot, the Spartans.

Call me when we can meet and get started in more 'formal' dealing as to getting our community better engaged with our schools via the avenue of its sports teams.


Thanks for your consideration,

Suit forces eHarmony to offer gay dating service - Yahoo! News

Sorta weird to be forced to open a new web site.

Suit forces eHarmony to offer gay dating service - Yahoo! News: "Online dating service eHarmony has agreed to create a new website for gays and lesbians as part of a settlement with a gay man in New Jersey, the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General said on Wednesday.

Isn't eHarmony all about the match of answers to specific questions? That is where the 'magic' comes with the suggestions for date partners. Will the same metrics apply? Is that able to be built off the same body of knowledge. I think that a pun is hidden in there somewhere.

New Poll Question -- on the left margin. What should Russ do? Next challenge could be...

A political friend from the center of Pennsylvania, Russ Diamond, founder of PA Clean Sweep, is the target of the new poll put on this blog.

He is wondering as to what comes next for himself and his network of friends, associates and comrades in reform.

I think that the call to end property tax is strong -- but -- it isn't my cup of tea. As to a policy, I think we should get to a land-value tax. That would requre an end to property tax as we know it. But, it would be a shift back to just taxing the land. The property tax also hits upon the value of the buildings. We should push for a return to the land value tax in Allegheny County. The land value tax works well in urban areas. However, it isn't, perhaps, the best solution for rural areas. So, I feel that it isn't going to work well as a state-wide issue.

Furthermore, I think it is good to have local taxes so locals can do self government.

The other polling option is the call for a Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention. That is very exciting. I think we should have a Constitutional Convention and I want to be a part of that process.

Some are sure to say that if a Constitutional Convention would unfold, there would be a swarm of 'special interest lobbyist' attempt to take over the convention. That would be true. However, we've got to prohibit that from happening.

I'm in favor of a Constituional Convention. I'm willing to take that risk. And, I feel that the existing Constitution is pretty darn good. However, it is abused today. So, one of the items that needs to be put into the next document is a punishment to those who would challenge what is constitutional by making illegal laws.

Lend your opinion to the poll with a click or two. Thank!

Logic Emotion: My Blogging "Secrets" Revealed

Tips.

Logic Emotion: My Blogging "Secrets" Revealed: "The thing about people who write blogs (notice I didn't say bloggers) is that we don't have a ton of secrets to our 'craft'. If you choose to follow what we do, you'll pretty much figure it out for yourself. That said, Steph Grenier has put together a book called Blog Blazers where 40 indivuduals including the likes of Seth Godin, Steve Rubel and Rohit Bhargava share their tips. I'm in it too. Here's what I said:

USOC reorganizes staff to focus on starting TV network - More Sports - SI.com

USOC reorganizes staff to focus on starting TV network - More Sports - SI.com: "The U.S. Olympic Committee reorganized part of its management team, a move that will allow chief operating officer Norm Bellingham more time to focus on starting an Olympic television network sometime in the next few months.

When the USOC hires a new chief marketing officer to replace Rick Burton, who resigned earlier this month, that person will report to CEO Jim Scherr instead of Bellingham. Bellingham is in charge of developing the TV network. Last month, he said the long-planned network could be up and running in 100 days."

It all depends upon what "is" is. The numbers are only numbers.

EDUCATION: MIDDLE SCHOOL DISCIPLINARY PROBLEMS SPIKE (News)
By: Chris Young - November 20, 2008
A drastic one-year increase in disciplinary problems in Pittsburgh's middle schools has some education experts wondering whether public school officials should be teaching the district's code of conduct along with...
http://www.pittsburghcitypaper.ws//gyrobase/Content?oid=55661

Where do you begin with this quagmire?

Once upon a time, there was talk that next year was to be the year for "discipline." That was to be the year-long focus. Then that year came and passed and not much changed -- except a lot of new schools were hatched and other priorities trumped the notion of "discipline" being the top worry.

To be certain, discipline is a hard thing to witness and see. It isn't as obvious as test scores nor new windows that won't open because they've been screwed shut. Discipline is hard to witness from the outside, most of all. Those that are in the schools can see it. But those who are 'educational advocates' or on nonprofit boards have to be lucky to hear what's what.

Be safe. Push where you can. Pull when it makes sense. Get others out of their comfort zones and into positive acts of growth and learning.

Convention Center park ready to move ahead

Convention Center park ready to move ahead: "Officials are hoping to get started next summer on an $8.5 million riverfront park at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
The project, overseen by the city-Allegheny County Sports & Exhibition Authority, would feature a 25-foot platform that would extend over the Allegheny River and provide docking for the Gateway Clipper fleet, water taxis, and other boats. The park also would be the last piece needed to provide a continuous trail link from the Strip District to Point State Park."

Put in a shower and changing room there too, so I can swim in the Allegheny River. A bike rack and kayak racks -- with a hose and smooth access to the roof of cars would be swell too. But the swimmers access part is a must.

Convention Center park ready to move ahead

Convention Center park ready to move ahead: "Officials are hoping to get started next summer on an $8.5 million riverfront park at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
The project, overseen by the city-Allegheny County Sports & Exhibition Authority, would feature a 25-foot platform that would extend over the Allegheny River and provide docking for the Gateway Clipper fleet, water taxis, and other boats. The park also would be the last piece needed to provide a continuous trail link from the Strip District to Point State Park."

Put in a show and ladder so I can swim in the Allegheny River and then take a shower. A changing room would be swell too.

In the hoop: Cities that score and others that don't.

The NCAA has selected five cities to host the Men's Division I Basketball Final Four from 2012 to 2016 -- and Beijing was not tops on its list for any of the years.

New Orleans for 2012
Atlanta for 2013
North Texas for 2014 in Cowboys Stadium in Arlington
Indianapolis for 2015 (7th time to host the NCAA Men's Finals)
Houston for 2016

Finalist cities that were not picked are Detroit, Minneapolis, Glendale, Ariz., San Antonio and St. Louis.

Pittsburgh and Philly didn't even show up on the radar as they're both city's are putting a focus on getting events for NASCAR, golf, handgun deaths and BassMasters fishing.

This won't be the Zombie Christmas -- but next year might be

Perhaps the new high school in Pittsburgh could use The Zombie as its mascot.

Who wants to help me get that campaign started.

Pgh Public Schools is to open a new Science and Technology High School in the fall of 2009. It will be located in the existing Frick Middle School, in Oakland. That school will team up with the new University Prep High School, just opened the fall of 2008.

Presently, the U-Prep kids play with the Schenley Spartans -- a school that has been split up last year. We all know that story.

But, for now, the Schenley legacy is still alive. But it is getting phased out.

In the year(s) to come, new teams and mascots and high school names are going to be crafted. The I.B. High / I.B. World is going to need a new name and mascot. Plus, the Univ. Prep and Science and Tech Schools are going to field joint sports teams.

Well .... here is the plan.

Let's make the mascot for the U-Prep / Science and Tech high school the Zombie.

The Zombie would play to Pittsburgh's roots. And, required reading for all athletes and boosters could be WWZ.

Agree?

Should we start a petition?

What about the colors? Should they be orange and purple? Orange was a color of South Vo Tech -- now defunct. Orange is the color of Halloween, of course.

Photo credit: Byron Dazey

Another one bites the dust -- PittGirl

So, PittGirl is done?

What's up with that?

She -- or he -- is the latest in a long string of folks who have pulled the plug and gone empty.

There was some chatter on FM 102.5 this morning, but I didn't catch it all.

The archives from PittGirl's blog have been nuked.

Winter Sports get underway

Mid November -- the start of the winter season for high school athletes. Coaches are getting ready to make cuts. Players are gearing up for their first competitions.

(click for larger view.)

Love the Adidas advertisement / illustration. This poster was part of the ad campaign used in China for the Olympics. Notice the player is walking with the help of thousands of people in support. She is wearing the red and yellow of China. The people are in black-and-white. Such a sea of humanity doing everything from holding the basketball hoop to giving lift to the player's feet over their heads.

This is a sports twist to the theme of, "It takes a village."