Lawmaker calls for state campaign contribution limits

Good start.

Lawmaker calls for state campaign contribution limits: "a business that got a state contract of $50,000 or more would have to submit an itemized list of all political contributions made by its officers, directors, associates, partners and limited partners. The report would have to list the size of the contract the business got and the service it provided.

How many others are on as co-sponsors?

The business that gets a state contract also needs to submit employees on that itemized list.

Pittsburgh Independent Examiner, new blog and voice

Mike is a 'running mate' of sorts. I often link to his stuff. But, not always.

Pittsburgh Independent Examiner Mike FerencePittsburgh Independent Examiner"

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update:
http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-12613-Pittsburgh-Independent-Examiner~y2009m6d3-War-tactics-should-be-applied-to-Irish-Catholic-abusers-and-those-who-covered-up-crimes

Here’s the link to my first article with the examiner, an Internet-based newspaper. I’ll be covering politics/religion in the Pittsburgh region. In the future I’ll be reporting on individuals who have been sexually, physically and emotionally abused, much like in the recently released study on Irish Catholic institutions in Ireland.

Home from camping with 32 5th graders

Hello Mother, Hello Father, so goes the humor-filled song about summer camp. Well, we're home from West Virginia. A great time at the EKC with Phillips teachers and kids.

G20 Wiki is just open. HELP! We get by with a little help from our friends!

G20 Wiki: "The wiki is about the 2009 G-20 Summit slated for Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA in September 2009. Anyone can edit this wiki. 1 articles since"

Hey Pittsburgh, we need to yap about the G-20 Summit -- in more meaningful ways. We need to run our conversations onto wiki pages.

Thanks.

If you need help, just go to a 'discussion page' and type.

DeJuan Blair Has Slimmer Look, Same Big Dreams | Bleacher Report

DeJuan Blair Has Slimmer Look, Same Big Dreams | Bleacher Report: "Ten weeks have passed since DeJuan Blair played his final game in a Pitt uniform, and to see him at the NBA Draft Combine on Thursday afternoon, one message hit home more than any other.
The big guy may have left Pittsburgh, but Pittsburgh isn’t about to leave him.
Blair is the same well-grounded guy even if he does figure to be a whole lot richer a month from now. He still flashes the same smile that’s as wide as the free throw lane, one that he practically owned last season.

The Art of News: Flashback. RIP Richard J. Walters

Facebook | Videos Posted by The Art of News: The Art of News - episode 3, part 2: "Videos Posted by The Art of News

Next G-20 Summit To Be Held In Pittsburgh - News Story - WPXI Pittsburgh

Might as well NOT fix the broken front window until after this event.

Next G-20 Summit To Be Held In Pittsburgh - News Story - WPXI Pittsburgh: "Next G-20 Summit To Be Held In Pittsburgh

New Swim Pool. Not just a sprinkler

Nice new pool, with 4-lanes of lap swimming.

The Black Hills Pioneer | BHPioneer.com | News for Spearfish, South Dakota > Archives > News > Northern Hills > Water park slides into Spearfish: "“We want everyone to be able to come here and relax. But we also want everyone to be safe,” Brett Rauterkus a Spearfish Recreation and Aquatics specialist said. “I really want to commend our lifeguard staff. They have been putting in a lot of extra time and work to make sure we have all our bases covered to ensure a safe summer. I really appreciate all the hard work they have done.”

Kickoff Season! Not football, exactly

Please join us next Wednesday evening, June 3rd, at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts in Shadyside (on the corner of Fifth & Shady), as Kevin officially kicks off his Independent campaign for Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh.

Doors open at 5:30pm, and a short program -- including a brief bio film, and an announcement speech in which Kevin will tell his own Pittsburgh story and introduce the main themes of his campaign -- begins at 6:45.

We'll have free food, drinks, and entertainment throughout the evening, and Kevin will be available after the program to talk, to answer your questions, and to discuss how we can all work together to help Pittsburgh reach its full potential.

Check out the Facebook Event page here:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=85206126908

Please RSVP via email at kickoff@acklinforpittsburgh.com, or by phone at http://www.facebook.com/l/;412.481.3150.

We'll look forward to seeing you there.

The Acklin for Pittsburgh Campaign Team

To reply to this message, follow the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/n/?inbox/readmessage.php&t=1004919021878&mid=87c9dcG28e36034G1abdcfaG0

PA Democratic State Committee meeting, June 5th and 6th, to be held at the Westin Hotel in Pittsburgh.

Friday evening Governor Rendell and Chairman Rooney will headline a celebration of the life and times of Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll.

Where does our senior senator fit in?

American Water Polo

American Water Polo™: "Welcome to American Water Polo!"

Nice guys.

Swim Star: Cullen Jones promotes water safety

The Associated Press: Jones promotes water safety: "The group of elementary-age children got a treat Wednesday as the Olympic gold medalist gave them a swim lesson to launch a six-city event called 'Make a Splash with Cullen Jones.'
The initiative, which is sponsored by the USA Swimming Foundation and ConocoPhillips, is aimed at reducing drownings among minority youth by promoting the availability of low or no-cost swimming lessons.
Jones is the perfect spokesman for the program after becoming the first African American to break a world record in swimming in an Olympic contested event in 2006. His success continued last summer in Beijing when he won a gold medal with the U.S. 400-meter freestyle relay team.

Wow. Teaching kids to swim! Way to go.

In Pittsburgh I've been punching up a rushed budget for a weed and seed grant to do some aquatics at Greenway Middle School, also known as Pittsburgh Classical Academy and the Pittsburgh Gifted Center.

I think I'll call it "Weed and Seed and Water."

There isn't a Rec Center in the western end of town. There isn't a lot of capacity in that section of town either in terms of nonprofit organizations. Historically, that part of town has not had those institutional players and they've not been needed. So, it does present some interesting challenges.

If you want to see the budget, send me an email.

Just heard from the principal at the school that the charges to use the indoor swim pool are $41.50 per hour in the times we had hoped for due to the cost of the janitors. We wanted to have sessions on some weekdays from 4 pm to 9 pm and also on Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm.

Well, there are other work arounds. Perhaps we'll swim when the janitors are on the clock.

Weed and Seed money runs until the end of September, so fall dates are possible as well. And, volunteers too.

Isn't this cool with images from the sky?

From Mark Rauterkus & Running Mates ponder current events

You can see this chess board from the sky in Google.

I had not realized that Picasa for Mac had been released. It is still in beta. But, Picasa is much better than iPhoto, IMHO. But, now my Mac is broken.

Excessive Cola Consumption Can Lead To Super-sized Muscle Problems, Warn Doctors

Cut that pop.

Excessive Cola Consumption Can Lead To Super-sized Muscle Problems, Warn Doctors The authors argue that in an era when portion sizes are becoming bigger and bigger, the excessive consumption of cola products has real public health implications.

My drug had been the boxed iced tea. I drank a lot of that and did serious damage to myself. Now I can't take any of it or I get sick. Not good.

From Mark Rauterkus & Running Mates ponder current events

Peduto proposes panel to oversee city's stimulus spending - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Peduto proposes panel to oversee city's stimulus spending - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Peduto proposes panel to oversee city's stimulus spending

Bill wants another group to do his job perhaps.

Bill wants bigger government perhaps.

Newsflash: Bill Peduto, you are on city council. YOU are the one that should be in the role to oversee the city's stimulus spending. That is YOUR job.

Get it done yourself.

There is a nine-member panel of Pittsburgh citizens already -- called -- CITY COUNCIL. And, city council controls the purse strings.

I don't want another group to give thumbs up or thumbs down to decision makers. The decisions should be open and occur on council.

More sets of eyes are more distractions. That is a way to deflect accountability. I want the decision makers to be voted upon. We already vote for city council members. That's all we need.

I don't want OVERLORDS. I want self determination.

If the URA wants to spend millions on stimulus money on a amphitheater -- then city council members need to say "No way." And, city council members need to tell the URA that their lame proposals, while easy to do with developers, are NOT going to pass. Send them back to the drawing board with a city council vote.

A new, thinking, fitness place of beauty on the river

This Friday evening, June 12, 2009, Lorraine's gift to the region opens. It is the Homestead Labyrinth and gives respect to the regional's industrial past.

Fitness and Schools

Frick Middle School, in Pgh Public Schools, is part of the HEALTHY Research grant and mentioned in the article in the P-G today. My kid goes to Frick. And, he has been in the program for the past 3 years.

If anyone, even Marty Griffin, wants to hold a real discussion about this topic, call me, 412 298 3432, my cell.

Middle schools targeted in obesity fight: "Middle schools targeted in obesity fight
Grants available to help kids maintain daily physical activity"

From Beijing - sports play

Schenley Musical Awards

Way to go.

Congratulations to Ms. McKrell, cast, crew, pit, parents, and all personnel who participated in this year's musical on winning the Kelly award for Best Musical in Budget I, best ensemble, and best all-student orchestra. The show was amazing!

The boys volleyball team at Schenley didn't pull an upset over Penn Hills.

Curfews Suck

Public Hearing: Pittsburgh City Council: Friday, May 29, 2009 - 10:00 A.M.
Public Hearing - Bill No. 2009-1133 - Resolution providing for a professional services agreement or agreements with The Three Rivers Youth Shelter for the purpose of ongoing professional services related to the Youth Curfew Center and providing for the cost thereof. Cost not to exceed $500,000.00.

Pittsburgh shrinks some more with this.

Volleyball, Baseball -- High School Sports dates

Schenley Boys Volleyball plays Penn Hills at Allderdice at 6 pm on Tuesday. This is round 1 of the PIAA playoffs. Schenley won the city league title.

For the record, I played volleyball at Penn Hills my senior year and we won WPIALs and got 2nd in states. Dan Brown was the coach and is still at the helm of the team. The PH squad got 2nd at WPIALs to NA recently. PH could still win states, but, Schenley comes first!

Baseball at PNC Park on Wednesday has Allderdice playing Brashear at 4 pm. This is a great time to go to the North Side stadium and see a winning team, or two.

Go kids go!