Bob L's True and False quiz and my reactions

1. True or False: Over the past 50 years Pennsylvania lost nearly 1/3rd of its seats in the US Congress to faster growing states and is losing clout at the federal level.

True. But, I'm a tad more worried about the federal government growing it overall clout and less concerned with the share of clout that is for any one state. Smaller states have 'clout.' The number of seats in the US Senate does not change even if everyone moves out of the state.

2. True or False: Pennsylvania has an aging population because the state keeps losing our young people to other states; our retirees also leave, often because they can no longer afford Pennsylvania's school, county and municipal property taxes.
Part of the aging population problem is that senior citizens don't make many babies. And, another part of the problem is that we don't have lots of incoming imigrants. The lack of immigration into our neighborhoods might be a problem for some and a blessing for others.

We do have a problem with the retirees in that we don't make it easy for them to relocate. Many senior citizens are stuck in their present homes that served them well when they had a house full of kids. Seniors should have a much easier time being able to downsize. One of the big sticking points to keep people from moving to either larger or smaller living quarters is the deed transfer tax. Pay that a few times in each decade and lots of personal wealth vanishes.

3. True or False: Abolishing all three property taxes--school, county and municipal-- on primary residences would make Pennsylvania more attractive for young families to establish their homes here, and more attractive for retirees to move here or remain here.

This is STOP's (Bob Lowes) main mission, the elimination of all property taxes.

The attraction for home owners is obvious. But, that means a shift has to occur to income taxes and sales taxes and VAT taxes (on manufactured goods and services). Those other taxes are going to make the attraction ugly.

As a Geo-Libertarian, I rather like to tax real property and land so as to keep government small and accountable with local control.

4. True or False: Increasing our population would result in more new businesses, more customers for existing businesses and more jobs. Also an enlarged worker pool.

Increasing population means strains on schools too. If thousands move out of McKeesport and into Pine Richland, then the local money for local schools would have a balance.

5. True or False: Current homeowners would be more likely to improve their current homes if those improvements would NOT mean higher assessments and higher property taxes. And in investing in upgrading their homes would generate a sizable volume of economic activity.

Current homeowners are penalized greatly when they get building permits and do home fix ups. This is exactly what should NOT happen. The tax policy is messed up, for sure.

Present tax policies reward those for messing up their buildings. Hey, I've got a bad sidewalk, porch is falling down, a new roof is needed and the paint is peeling = lower taxes.

The solution I think makes more sense is to tax only the LAND and not the building. A land value tax means that those who let their property trun to blight pay the same as the neighbor on the same size plot of land in the same neighborhood who fixes up the house into a palace.

6. True or False: More individuals and families, including women and minority citizens, could afford to buy homes if there were no real estate (property taxes) on primary residences and no property tax escrow payments as part of a mortgage.

Well, the big hit is in the deed transfer tax. Annual property taxes are large, no doubt. However, to pony up an extra 5% at the time of closing for the deed transfer tax takes money out of the pocket for those who save up and try to make a downpayment.

Once there was no real estate taxes and no property taxes then there will be a lot of landlords that are able to land-bank properties. If grandma passes and the house sits vacant for 1 to 5 to 15 years -- who cares. No big deal. Don't turn the house to others who would like a good place to live.

Big developers would really make out and become rich in short time once there is no property tax on their holdings.

Apartment rents will go much higher too. Generally there could be a one house per one citizen property tax exemption. But that would not apply to an apartment building full of renters. Rents for young people would increase greatly. Same too for seniors.

7. True or False: The 8 Billion dollars currently held in Pennsylvania NON-interest-bearing, property tax escrow accounts as part of most mortgage obligations, would generate more economic activity and jobs if tax escrow accounts weren't required and instead the money was injected annually into the Pennsylvania economy.

Why not allow the property tax escrow account be interest bearing?

Lots of other tax shelters are hatched up for those with lawyers and accountants and money so as to not part with it to the government. And, the rich get richer. It is hard, if not impossible, to hide land. Taxing land is easy and fair as it can't be hidden. Cheating is harder if the tax is on land as opposed to income, transactions, or services rendered.

8. True or False: All this economic activity including more jobs occurring via the abolishment all property taxes on primary residences would generate additional tax revenue from EXISTING state income, local earned income, sales and use, mercantile, gasoline and other currently collected taxes.

The economic boom is suspect. When a tax shift occurs, it is generally good for some and bad for others.

9. True or False: Deteriorating tax bases in many of our city, suburban and rural communities would begin to be reversed with this increased economic activity described above meaning more services and a better quality of life.

10. True or False: Collecting 100% of the base year assessed valuation taxes (the year the law is passed) plus annual cost of living escalators, and continuing to receive property taxes from a growing commercial and industrial sector, would generate more net revenue than the current costly-to-collect-and-enforce, corrupt property tax system--from which taxing bodies collect only from 70 to 90% of what is billed.

11. True or False: Fewer properties would be abandoned.

12. True or False: Since 3/4ths to 4/5ths of all properties in the state would no longer be assessed or reassessed, the savings to counties (and ultimately the taxpayers) would run into the tens of millions of dollars each year. The size and cost of government would be cut, and homeowners would no longer be required to fight to protect their homes from inaccurate property assessments and excessive property taxes.

Summary: Pennsylvania's economy and that of many of her counties, school districts and municipalities needs a major boost. A proven, fiscally-viable plan that cuts the size of government, boosts the economy, revives our municipalities and counties, generates more net tax revenue, creates thousands of private sector jobs, and makes our state much more attractive for individuals and families to want to live in without any added bureaucracy...deserves discussion and hearings.

Why are our legislators afraid of this plan? Why won't they even allow it to be discussed in committee...or presented at hearings? Ask them to be specific with the responses. Their silence so far has been deafening. --Bob Logue, STOP Primary residence protection plan. Learn more at http://www.undercoverclub.net hit on the STOP page. www.grandoldusa.com My e-mail is ucblogue@verizon.net My mailing address is Bob Logue, Box 306, Fairbank, PA 15435-0306

Prototype $200 Tablet Runs Android, Chromium OS, Linux - PCWorld

Prototype $200 Tablet Runs Android, Chromium OS, Linux - PCWorld $200 tablet PCs have been something of a pipe dream. There was the Crunchpad, which was supposed to be $200, but that didn’t last very long, coming out as the $400 Joo Joo. If what Freescale showed off at Mobile World Congress becomes reality, though, the dream may finally come true.

Perhaps I should go back into the workforce and be a programmer and market applications for sports and fitness applications that run on phones and tablets.

Post-Gazette Varsity Notebook: Schenley Makes a splash.

In today's P-G.

Varisty Notebook: Mt. Lebanon's 2 teams magnets for crowds at Palumbo: Schenley makes a splash
When Schenley won the City League boys' swimming championship Saturday, it marked the first time since 1998 that Allderdice did not win the title. Twelve years ago, Brashear won the title. Allderdice was second this year.
For a school that will be around for only one more year, Schenley is enjoying plenty of success. In the fall, Schenley won City League football, girls' soccer and boys' soccer championships.
Schenley was led by freshman Erik Rauterkus, who won the 200- and 500-yard freestyle events, and also was on two winning relay teams.
Another freshman was a standout in the girls' City League meet. Allderdice's Leah Furman won the 200 and 500 freestyle events and was a member of two championship relay teams.

Both Erik and Leah are swimmers with the JCC Sailfish and both played water polo last year. And, both are going to the PIAA Meet (High School States) next week.
The girls relays from Dice also established new city records.

Note: Check out Preserve Pgh Summit

April 10.

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

After School Programs - Next Steps and Upcoming Regional Meetings

My one word reaction is FINALLY.

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

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From: "Superintendent Office" <superintendentoffice@pghboe.net>

Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:14:02 -0500

To: undisclosed-recipients:;<Invalid address>

Subject: PPS and After School Programs - Next Steps and Upcoming Regional Meetings

Dear After School Provider:

 

Since I arrived in Pittsburgh over four years ago, I have continued to be struck by Pittsburgh’s community-wide commitment to after school.  I was pleased, but I was not surprised, that over 90 people in the after school community attended the meeting, “Working Together: How Pittsburgh Public Schools & After School Programs Can Support Children on The Pathway to the Promise”™ last fall at the administration building. It is clear to me that Pittsburgh’s community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, intermediary organizations and foundations already understand what national research has confirmed – at-risk, urban children must be engaged in high-quality activities during out-of-school hours, including after school and summer, in order to advance student achievement for all students.

 

But Pittsburgh Public Schools and the after school community have a lot of work to do maximize and measure the benefits of after school. With the goal of becoming the first urban district to educate the vast majority of its students for post-secondary education and the gift of The Pittsburgh Promise®, it is time to come together to build an effective city-wide after school network that is carefully designed to meet the complex needs of students. Our vision is for all students to have the opportunity to engage in high-quality after school programs that support their academics, expand their interests and are exciting and fun. We believe that after school programs have an important role in helping students become “Promise-Ready” (a phrase that is becoming embedded in the Pittsburgh Public Schools to ensure that students have planned and prepared for post-secondary education). 

 

Let’s be clear – this is not an easy task.  There are many questions, basic and complex, that need to be answered by Pittsburgh Public Schools and the after school community. How many children are enrolled in programs? What programs are effective and why? How can services be targeted to meet the individual needs of students? How can in-school and out-of-school gains be leveraged and measured?  How can the Pittsburgh Promise and the importance of college be communicated deeply to children and parents?  How can the after school community unite on common issues, goals and outcomes?  It is important that we answer these questions together and establish customized standards and metrics for after school partnerships that share accountability and that are based on need, quality and results. 

 

In order to start to answer these questions, PPS is creating a centralized process for community-based and faith-based after school programs to partner with Pittsburgh Public Schools starting in School Year 2010-2011.  Programs that operate in PPS buildings will be required to apply and programs that operate at their own sites are encouraged to apply.  We want and need your input on the design.

 

Holly O’Donnell, After School Manager, is hosting four regional meetings and we encourage you or a member of your staff to attend one of them. 

 

The information for the meetings is below:

 

Wednesday, March 17^th, 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.–       East Minster Presbyterian Church

 250 N. Highland Avenue, 15206

 

Tuesday, March 23^rd, 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. –         The Northshore Community Alliance

                                                                                     1439 N. Franklin Street, 15233

 

Wednesday, March 24^th, 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. –   The Hill House (main facility)

                                                                                    1835 Centre Avenue, 15219

 

Friday, March 26^th, 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. –           Brashear Association

             2005 Sarah Street, 15203

 

* Please R.S.V.P to Holly at hodonnell1@pghboe.net or 412-622-3926 * 

 

We appreciate the unique role of after school programs in the lives of PPS children and we ask you to join with our District to Dream Big and Work Hard and to do whatever it takes to achieve our mission of preparing all children for academic excellence and strength of character, so that they have the opportunity to succeed in all aspects of life. 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Mark Roosevelt

Superintendent

 

TravelMole Web Innovation Awards - Asia/Pacific 2010

Sponsorship opportunities now available!

TravelMole's 2010 Web Innovation Awards - Asia/Pacific 2010 for the travel and tourism industry in Asia Pacific are back - and they're bigger than ever.

Competition this year is tough as the industry's best vie for these prestigious awards, last held in 2008.

Winners of the awards will be announced at The EyeforTravel Distribution Summit Asia 2010- Asia's largest annual online travel event - at The Marina Mandarin Singapore on April 28-29.

Limited sponsorship opportunities are available for each of the awards listed below.

This is your chance to get behind the online travel industry and be recognised by your peers. TravelMole Asia Pacific will also recognise all sponsors on our online travel newswires and email broadcast promotions related to nomination, shortlist and winners' awards.
In addition, all sponsors will be recognised at the EyeforTravel Distribution Summit on April 28-29.
The full list of award categories available for sponsorship is:

Best Use of Social Media
Travel Start-up of the year
Most Creative Marketing Campaign
Best Ancillary Revenue Strategy
Most exciting new technology in travel
Travel Innovator of the year
Most Effective use of Mobile Media
Most Innovative Use of Video
WEB 2.0 Mash up
Best Website Design

The Award winners will be showcased to an expected audience of more than 1,000 travel technology leaders, who are attending the EyeforTravel Travel Distribution Asia conference.
A wide range of sponsorship opportunities are available and for those that are interested in maximising exposure to the TravelMole readership around the globe, email sales_asia (at) TravelMole.com; complete our inquiry form; or contact our area sales manager.

Charles Kao, Group Chairman and Publisher, TravelMole Media Group

Fw: Public Input Hearing to Consider Permitting Table Games at The MeadowsRacetrack and Casino Scheduled For March 30th

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

---

From: "Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board" <pgcb@state.pa.us>

Date: 9 Mar 2010 17:18:25 -0500

To: <mark@rauterkus.com>

Subject: Public Input Hearing to Consider Permitting Table Games at The Meadows Racetrack and Casino Scheduled For March 30th

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA March 9, 2010 Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board P.O. Box 69060 Harrisburg, PA 17106-9060 CONTACT     Doug Harbach or Richard McGarvey (717) 346-8321   Public Input Hearing to Consider Permitting Table Games at The Meadows Racetrack and Casino Scheduled For March 30th HARRISBURG: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today announced that it would hold a public hearing on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 to gather evidence, including public comment, on the petition submitted by Washington Trotting Association, Inc., operator of The Meadows Race Track and Casino in Washington County, requesting authorization to conduct table games. The hearing will begin at 10:00 am in the Courthouse Square Office Building, Public Meeting Room 104, 100 W. Beau Street in Washington, Pennsylvania. (continue reading) www.pgcb.state.pa.us

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'Invisible cover' being used at Norwich swimming pool - EveningNews24

Perhaps a pool like this could be built on the South Side?

'Invisible cover' being used at Norwich swimming pool - EveningNews24: "A liquid based cover is always present in the water and when there is no movement in the pool, the molecules race to the top, making an invisible barrier which holds the heat in."

Rand Paul Money Bomb due on March 23, writes Ron Paul

Dear Supporter,
My son Rand is taking on the Establishment in an epic fight to represent Kentucky in the United States Senate.
And, he is winning!
The DC insiders have tried to stack the deck for his career politician opponent. They have held inside-the-beltway, thousand dollar a plate fundraisers and lined up support from Senators who voted for the TARP Funds and Bank Bailouts. They have viciously attacked him and lied about his positions. They have even organized dirty push polling calls against Rand, a tactic that is underhanded at best, and in many cases, illegal.
But with your help, Rand has fought back. On August 20, you helped Rand raise $440,000 online in one day. This tremendous show of support shot Rand up in the polls and showed he was a force to be reckoned with. On December 16, the grassroots once again came together to raise $250,000 for Rand on the anniversary of the Boston Tea Party. You propelled Rand into the lead!
The most recent poll shows Rand up 15 points. He is running a tremendous campaign and has a plan that will win his primary, which is just 70 short days away. But, he needs your help now more than ever!
On Tuesday, March 23, the anniversary of Founding Father Patrick Henry's famous speech, "Give me Liberty, or Give me Death," the grassroots will throw another Money Bomb. Your generous support on March 23 is crucial. A strong showing of $500,000 will fully fund Rand's campaign plan and allow him to do all of the radio, television, mail and voter contact it will take to ensure victory down the stretch.
Your support will be the knock-out shot against the career politicians who are running our country into the ground. We have a chance to elect the strongest Constitutional Conservative and defender of Liberty the United States Senate has seen in a generation. But we need to stand together on March 23.
I hope you will join us on Tuesday, March 23 as we push Rand to victory. Please visit www.RandPaul2010.com for more information or to make your contribution.
In Liberty,

Ron Paul

Beaver County Times: The DeJuan Blair Project

Beaver County Times: The DeJuan Blair Project “I haven’t coached him a lick. I don’t know what moves he has. I don’t know how he gets it done. I just throw him out there and he plays his (butt) off.”

BMX kills trees! OMG.

Last night I attened a meeting with the South Side Slopes Association and heard a series of lies such as, "BMX kills trees." The meeting was concerning the South Side Park -- a dead space of sorts. It is home to the city's other condemded indoor ice rink.

I learned a little and shook my head a lot.

Bottom line, Bruce Kraus went way out on a limb and said he'd promise to tear down the now hazzard building that once was an ice rink on the South Side. That's progressive leadership. Weee! But, the G-20 protestors might get there first and fix it so the city demo crew has to rush, rush, rush.

With tin snips and a hammer and some duck tape, the scraps from the medal building could be put to a green re-use so as to be the shell of a bob sled and luge course that cuts through the 65 acres vertical drop site.

Weekly Art Camps for summer

Summer Art Camps open house Sat, Mar 13.

Art Camps at PCA have inspired, challenged, and nurtured young artists for over 30 years. This summer, we are happy to provide your family with the opportunity to journey around the world together with art as your guide, stretching your imaginations, shifting your perspectives, and broadening your horizons.

Click to view the Facebook event and RSVP.

ART CAMPS OPEN HOUSE is Saturday March 13, from 10:00am to 1:00pm. Family-friendly, free art activities, tours, and meet the Saturday Light Brigade radio show, broadcasting live from the PCA School. Get a discount for registering with us that day.

Sign up for just the weeks you want. Our online registration system has just been completely revamped and improved, or call today.
Pittsburgh Center for the Arts School

1047 Shady Ave, Pittsburgh 15232 / 412-361-0455

Man whose kiss caused airport security scare pleads guilty - CNN.com

So, is this one for enforcement by the FASHION POLICE?

Man whose kiss caused airport security scare pleads guilty - CNN.com: "a charge that is a 'petty disorderly persons offense ... it's below a crime, it's not even considered a crime in New Jersey,' his lawyer"

Humm. There are below crime sins. It is interesting to watch how you gotta behave and how and when government comes into the picture. I'm all for good behavior and being polite. Don't spit, pick your nose nor fart out loud. All have public health ramifications. Don't put up outdoor Christmas lights in certain planned neighborhoods, nor fail to shovel your sidewalk in others. Parking a car on the corner or near a fire plug gets you a ticket or tow too. Watch out for the petty disorderly persons offense list, especially if it includes a public display of affection and most notable if behind airport security before TSA badges.

City Brief: Council Flirts With Central Planning, Pressures Aramark On Concession Jobs : Publius Awakened

Golly. This is what was expected and he is delivering.

City Brief: Council Flirts With Central Planning, Pressures Aramark On Concession Jobs : Publius Awakened: "City Council intervened today with a letter – written by Bruce Kraus and reprinted at City Paper’s Slag Heap – that reads like a Leftist’s guide to overreaching a local government’s authority and meddling in business decisions to score political points."

City Swim Championships - some races via my video camera

Boys 200 Free. Schenley goes 1-2 with Erik and Than.



Girls 200 Free Relay.



Boys 200 Free Relay, where Dice wins by .01.



Girls Backstroke: A part of Sophie's race.

College insider: Funk just misses out on berth in NCAAs

College insider: Funk just misses out on berth in NCAAs Lauren Funk was obviously disappointed about not qualifying for the NCAA Division I swimming championships.
But the Kenton Ridge High School graduate and Ohio University freshman was even more unhappy about the extra days she spent training this week.
“I could’ve slept in and gone to bed when I wanted to,” Funk said.
Funk was a member of the Bobcats’ 200-yard freestyle relay team, which swam an NCAA “B” cut and school-record time of 1 minute, 30.5 seconds during a time trial at the Mid-American Conference championships at Miami University on Saturday, Feb. 27.
When the selections were announced Thursday, March 4, the Bobcats missed out on qualifying by just .01 seconds.
The relay team set the conference, meet and pool marks with a time of 1:30.47.

Pennsylvania To Offer Back Tax Amnesty - News Story - WPXI Pittsburgh

Splendid.

Pennsylvania To Offer Back Tax Amnesty - News Story - WPXI Pittsburgh Pennsylvania To Offer Back Tax Amnesty
Program Expected To Generate Millions For State Coffers
Posted: 5:35 am EST March 8,2010
Updated: 8:00 am EST March 8,2010
HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Pennsylvania plans to launch a tax amnesty program on April 26.
During the 54-day amnesty period, all penalties and half the interest will be waived for businesses and individuals that pay off delinquent taxes accrued through June 2009.
The program is expected to generate a spike in tax collections and an additional $190 million to help offset spending in the fiscal year that began July 1.
Pennsylvania's latest amnesty program was developed during a political stalemate that held up passage of the state budget for four months.
A similar program last year in New Jersey raked in a record $725 million in six weeks.

Next, it would be great if all non-violent offenders could be released from jail and put into some type of house arrest.

PPS, District VIII, City Championships Swim Meet Results from Saturday

Yesterday at the meet, I got a copy of the meet results put onto my flash drive. It came to me with only places 1 to 6. So, I inserted the other splits from the rest of the Schenley swimmers. Plus I touched up a few clerical mistakes as well.

Meet Results from the 2010 Championships in PDF.

https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0ByN94c3Pp4BpMDVkNzIwYjUtMTE0Yy00OWE1LTkyMmYtYjE2ZGRmOTc4M2Y0&hl=en

Exciting swims!

Podium of the 100 fly. Nicole Grabowski, Senior, Schenley, got 3rd. Later, in the 100 back, Nicole got the silver medal and teammate, Alex Davis, got third.

 Team Champions, Schenley Spartans, go to the podium to get the first place trophy.
The scoreboard has the results of the final event, the boys 400 free relay. It shows Schenley with 3:41.72 and Allderdice at 3:42.79. However, the final results have a DQ for Dice. As the meet unfolded, the DQ nor the final relay would impact the team standings. The meet was locked up by the final event.

James won the 100 fly. Second (left) was Nate Landis of Allderdice and third (right) was Max O of Schenley. Max dropped from a 1:10.04 to 1:05.48. Max had only done a 1:10 once, and had been 1:15 most of the season. James had a personal record too. It was the first time he broke 1-minute in the fly. His time was 59.43. James hopes to attend the US Naval Academy. He already has two appointments. James also got 2 gold medals in relays (Medley and 400 Free) and a silver in the 200 IM.

Coach Borza and Coach Pitch look on in the bottom right of the photo. They were responsible for passing out the medals at the podium. Both are the coaches of the powerhouse Frick Middle School Team now called Pittsburgh Obama.

Pay $3,000 for a D party endorsement for an open seat

The cost for a Dem Party Endorsement for D-Party candidates for state rep was $2,000 -- except for the open seat left vacant by Don Walko (now a judge).

The cost for a Libertarian Party endorsement for the same race, $0. The experience, priceless.