City snubs retail suitors

Great lead.

Trib's Erik Heyl: Nature abhors a vacuum, but city officials are embracing one ...

Meanwhile, my goals are to embrace the "free markets." I'm a "free market" candidate.

To be really honest, we don't need to embrace the free markets, as that will take years if not a generation to occur. However, we need to turn to the free market approach and apply it everywhere. Its embrace of Pittsburgh will come soon enough, after we've changed the mindset and made bold moves in those directions.

This embrace is much like being married. One can't be a little married. It would be great to at least flirt with the Free Market Ways from time to time. Meanwhile, Murphy is married to doing nothing.

Murphy says developers put off by ban on slots Downtown

Murphy oversteps again and injects burdens on property ownership to soil deals for downtown "Samuel Jemal, president of J.J. Operating Corp., said, 'We had a different philosophical approach on the future use of the building and did not wish to dispute it with the city.'"

The anchor of Tom Murphy and his administration is getting heavier.

Mayor Vetoes Early-Bird Discount To Taxpayers

WPXI.com - News - Mayor Vetoes Early-Bird Discount To Taxpayers Mayor Tom Murphy has vetoed a plan to offer an early-bird discount to taxpayers next year.

Hurry up and wait. Do nothing. Let's chase our tails. We are only running out of money next month. Here we go again, doing too little, too late.

If the early bird gets the worm, then that explains the Tom Murphy veto. The mayor is in vulture mode. The city is still crashing into a deeper decay.

Trib quote for Ricciardi:"'If we implement my plan, we will be on the road to picking ourselves up by the bootstraps.' "

Hardly. This early bird is but a worm of a plan. This isn't even a caterpillar.

The early-bird tax discount for an extra 1% discount is worthy. However, it is more like a cup of warm tea on a cold winter day while at the hospice. To sooth is sweet. But to say this plan and overrive of the veto puts us on the road to recovery is foolishness.

Simply put, the plan keep us on the road of malingering. The city is floundering and bumbling. We all know that the Mayor's agenda can't be advanced. Now is another test to see if the agenda of City Council President can be advanced. And if it does squeek by, this isn't a cause for celebration. It is a worm of a plan.

Coming Post-Election Chaos

FindLaw's Writ - Dean The Coming Post-Election Chaos:A Storm Warning of Things to Come If the Vote Is as Close as Expected By JOHN W. DEAN

This next presidential election, on November 2, may be followed by post-election chaos unlike any we've ever known....

Not Howard Dean.

Amy Carol Webb, our dear friend and singer from Florida, also predicts that the election won't end on November 3.

The Storm Warning concept is fitting. In 2000 I called for international observers to our elections. Roll eyes. Shrug. This was posted before we came to understand "hanging chads."

Another friend said it could be Thanksgiving or Christmas Eve before we know the real outcome of the election. Provisional ballots are bad. Furthermore, voter fraud might be such that the court system could set back for months trying to bring trials against those who vote while dead or vote more than once.

The RUNNEL -- chunnel -- Pgh big dig -- and cranks

I've been speaking for months and months about the sillyness of the under river tunnels for a light-rail extension to the stadiums on the North Side. The idea needs to be taken off the tracks and stopped. Some editorial folks at the Trib, especially Bill S., agrees. Link.

... railed on about how pitifully few people the 1.2 mile boondoggle would carry. How badly its construction would tear up both banks of the river. How the idea would never even be considered if it weren't for that "free" 80 percent federal contribution.

And how, except for a few cranks and free-market ideologues at the Trib, everyone was so gung-ho to build it - including Specter and his allegedly conservative comrade, Rick Santorum.

Great news, except the part about the "few cranks." I could resemble that remark. And, what good does it do?

The cranks, the "naysayers," -- we citizens -- are the ones who know best.

Why would he do this?

To me, the Trib and this friend of the "free market" is p*ssing in his own breakfast cereal.

Comments about the treatment are welcomed here. Comments about the meat of the transportation elements should flow into the transportation blog.

Talented Women

Mark Rauterkus, (Union Maiden) Anne Feeney, and Amy Carol Webb at our South Side home.

On the radio for an hour.

Amy Carol Webb and the gentleman from Oklahoma, Chris Moore, while in KDKA radio studios.

KDKA Radio, 5 to 6 pm on Sunday

Amy Carol Webb and I are slated for the Chris Moore radio show for 5 pm this Sunday. Please tune in. I won't do any singing.

Rather, a broken record might be more fitting

Trib whispers "... see Mayor Tom Murphy come dressed as the Invisible Man. Given the mayor's increasing reclusiveness, he won't even need to buy a costume."

Yard Sign: "This is campaign trickery," said Hoeffel

Another reason to avoid yard signs comes from the brotherly love folks to the east:

Birds of a feather? Well, they only have left wings - PittsburghLIVE.com

Those "Kerry & Specter for Working Families" signs that began popping up in eastern Pennsylvania last week were not disingenuous attempts by the senator to link himself with Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, the Democrat presidential nominee.

Actually, it was a disingenuous attempt by Republican political consultant Roger Stone to link Specter to Kerry.

Suburban Republicans do their best to kill city

Suburban Republicans do their best to kill city

My letter to Brian

Hi Brian,

I saw the news of the 18-page letter in the Trib on 10-20-04 --- and that same day I went to the election office and changed out of the GOP party.

Amy Carol Webb, a singer/songwriter and friend from Florida, and I are to be
on KDKA Radio's Chris Moore show, 1020 AM, from 5 to 6 pm today - Sunday.

I'll share some news for you and the listeners then.

For fun, here is one of here songs:
"Be careful punching ballots if you can't find the hole."

http://65.254.51.42/~player/history/audio/AmyCarolWebb/CantFindTheHole.mp2

Give a listen.

She has a new verse about electronic voting machines, paper trail and voting
UNPLUGED.

Very clever.

But I'm also prepared to cover some ground about local politics too.

As for the money points --- you're too old school and too media centered in hopes of selling soap. Why spend $1-million to get a risk in the chance to get a $90K job as captain of a sinking ship? We don't really want a mayor's race with those costs as the debt is an anchor and the candidate is beholden to others then.

This week's event pointers

Films

Western Westmoreland Republican Club invites you to a showing of a film by by Dick Morris, Fahrenhype 9/11, a rebuttal to Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 at 7 pm on Thursday, October 28 at Lincoln Hills Country Club. Join us for an evening of truth, unity and a tribute to the American Soldier past, present and future! The Public is Welcome! Admission is Free. http://www.farenhype911.com.

Michael Moore was headed to Penn State University as well.

HAUNTED HALLOWEEN BIKE RIDE

Friday, October 29, starting at Washington's Landing at 6 pm to 9 pm, Cost: $20 Bike Pittsburgh & Venture Outdoors Members, $25 others. Sign up: (412) 255-0564.

This easy-paced ride and fundraiser will take us all over Pittsburgh to various haunted buildings. We'll be making plenty of stops to tell stories and give local haunted history. A fully supported ride with treats and drinks provided along the way, participants are encouraged to ride in costume, but please make sure that you wear something that will not get caught in your wheels or chain, and that does not impair your normal field of vision. Helmets are required, but you can decorate them! Benefits Bike Pittsburgh.

Trying to keep the streets from getting too "scary" when it's not Halloween. Come out and enjoy a pleasant evening of stories and legend while helping to support an important local cause. Please bring a bike light if you have it; loaners available with advance notice.

More
If you have an event, send it me, Mark -at- Rauterkus -dot- com. I'll give it a mention in this blog.

World Series

Boston (think Tea Party) vs. St. Louis (hometown of the famous Anheuser-Busch Brewery).

Boston (J.F. Kerry's home) Red Sox win. Triumph bring tragic death to student shot by police while in a mob. Now the Boston Mayor sabre rattles about a prohibition. The overly rash reaction by the Mayor to a tragic death following the game gives an opportunity to make a point to the blog world.

"If you shut down the bars, the problem will get worse," said Alan Eisner, executive director of the Massachusetts Hospitality Association. "At least in a licensed premise you have supervision."

Another decent quote from a blog in Pittsburgh, "Unless the cop was drunk, alcohol had nothing to do with her death."

Presidential candidate, Libertarian, Michael Badnarik could put out a call to create web ads for sports blogs. With a press release, some eye candy and computer code, sober baseball fans and political junkies who crave a free world and an end to the war on druges would be able to inject messages in alternative avenues to drive home some points and buzz for the final innings of the campaign.

Yard sign: Politics is compliated. Democracy is messy. Voting is simple.

Bush vs. Kerry: Candidates more alike than different on tech issues

PG: Bush vs. Kerry: Candidates more alike than different on tech issues

I am going to offer strong distinctions next to my opponents on tech issues in 2005. Sadly, some on Grant Street today have been there long enough that I'm not sure that they can even spell email. And for me to point to spelling as a strong suit is fiberglasting. Many on Grant Street need to move to the private sector for a while so the city can retool.

On copyright policy:

Most of my content is put into the public domain. I was one of a few who helped to push Netscape to the Eureka Squared! concept for putting its web browser code (remember the browser wars) into a tar ball into the public domain and to release under a more liberal Mozilla public license. Later, Mozilla changed its license policy. I also pushed for the DSL (Design Science License) years before there was any Stanford based Creative Commons. Now the CC is moving too far back into the corporate sphere with too many options and restrictions.

While the trade group will not comment on either candidate's platform, at least one high-powered member has expressed annoyance with the candidates' silence on tech issues.

Intel Chief Executive Officer Craig Barrett told a crowd of tech workers earlier this week that the country is losing its global competitive edge and that Bush and Kerry, in their debates, virtually ignored the country's declining tech infrastructure.

Pittsburgh has lost its tech advantage. We should have 80 wired senior centers, rec centers and community outlets with cable modems. These factors are part of the city's cable franchise agreement that are now being squandered by Tom Murphy's administration.

We should have the parental dashboard functional for all the Pittsburgh Public Schools. Then parents can check on real-time matters at schools -- like if the kids are in class or not.

Wiki kick-off this week

A fantastic evening with Amy Carol Webb and political presentations

The 2004 Voter Education and Concert Showcase with Amy Carol Webb was held on Thursday, October 21, 2004, at Sunnyhill.
Order of events in PDF. Archives to be posted at S6.CLOH.Org.

The Sunnyhill blog links to two of Amy's songs.
If You Can't Find the Hole
Be careful punching ballots
If you can't find the hole
Or you could see your civil rights
Jerked out of your control
You could find your chad left dangling
In some partisan unknown
So be careful punching ballots
If you can't find the hole

The early concert features Amy Carol Webb from Florida, and a new verse to the song that included touch-screen voting machines and the desire for a paper trail. The other two songs were, Oh Abraham and my favorite, Think Again.

When does the curse vanish?

Red Sox ... how sweet it is. The Sox are, after all, one of the big-league teams that employ Pittsburgh Pirates. Wish we could send Boston a new toll-taker for the Mass Pike, i.e., Tom Murphy.

We lost our soccer game tonight by the score of 11-1. So, in a small way, ever so small, I share the same feelings of the Yankees. Isn't it great how sports can unite?

But music has the power to unite as well, perhaps more so than sports. We are really excited about the visit from Amy Carol Webb. She is so good. Hope to see many of you there. Don't miss it.

State court tosses fire union's referendum

AP Wire | 10/20/2004 | State court tosses fire union's referendum Commonwealth Court Judge Joseph McCloskey rejected the referendum on Wednesday - less than two weeks before the Nov. 2 election - saying that the petitions that 24,000 city residents signed were unclear.

This judgement is another golden invitation to 24,000 citizens to pack up and leave town. The judge and the mayor are telling the world that they know better than the rest. The voice of the citizens has become meaningless in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh nears meaningless status too.

Earn $100 on Nov 2

Details on the recruting of poll watchers follows. Pick up some cash, insure democracy.

Dan Schwartzbauer:
Randy Vulakovich:
Jason Davidek:

The Republican State Committee is recruiting individuals to assist at the Polls on Election Day.

Requirements:

Be a registered voter in Allegheny County

Work at a designated polling location from 7 am to 8 pm

Watch to make sure votes are cast by legal, registered voters only

Attend one of the 1-hour training sessions

You will receive: $100, meals, an invitation to the Victory Party that evening in Downtown Pittsburgh, satisfaction that you made a difference for your country this election day.

Assignments will be handed out at the mandatory training session you attend.

Training Session Locations and Dates

Only attend one session.

Thursday, October 21, Holiday Inn, Oakland, University Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 from
4 to 5 pm.

Thursday, October 21, Moon Township, for location information email mwalters@pagop.org from 7 to 8 pm.

Monday, October 25, The Great Hall, Ross Township, 1001 Perry Highway, Pittsburgh, PA 15237
7 to 8 pm.

Anyone interested, please email NAME, PHONE NUMBER and E-MAIL ADDRESS to
voterintegrity@hotmail.com. Okay to pass this message on to others. Use the link that looks like an envelope to send to friends.

(FYI, I'm not involved with this effort. I'm just passing along the info. You are free to decide.)

That could leave a mark

Ball goes over the wall in Yankee stadium, hits a fan standing in the front row right in the tummy. The fan is wearing a black pull-over hoodie. Not a flinch. Umps, at first, think the ball hit the top of the wall and the batter only got a double. That guy or gal is going to be on the AM shows. The score went to 4-0 for the Sox after a huddle with the men in blue.

Kwel. Teamwork. Doing the right thing.

At least the fans in NY know how to keep their hands in the pockets. Such poise and discipline. That's a great example of how culture becomes progressive.

Chicago's lesson was understood. Going under cover and fearing for your life for days is a poor artifact of going to a playoff baseball game.

Let's get to game seven.....

Well, it's time to re-blog at 11:42 pm as the riot geared police empty onto the field and line its edges. One more inning. My little Sox fan has been sawing logs since the 6th inning.

New book: Good to be King

Author: Michael Badnarik The book has just been released on Oct. 19, 2004.

One of my standard slogans and stories is, "All the king's men and all the king's horses can't put this city together again." So, I like the title, Good to be King. For Pittsburgh, a slant would be, "Good to have Authorities."

CNN.com - Cities find Wi-Fi future

CNN.com - Cities find Wi-Fi future - Oct 18, 2004: "Jumping on the Wi-Fi bandwagon?"

I've been jumping on the tech bandwagon, and that includes wi-fi, for some time. This is a major campaign plank. I'm not sure many on Grant Street today even know how to spell email.

Present mission, saving the city's cable television services.

Check out the WORD file is on this page, down a screen or so.
http://www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/gs/html/contract_bids.html It details a RFP (Request For Proposals) for a firm / operator to handle the duties of putting the two city council meetings onto cable.

Yesterday at the PIIN public action, County councilwoman, Brenda F., told me that she was not going to vote for the county to spend money to put their meetings onto a cablecast.

Heavy Or Not

More political events this week

Voter Education

No charge entry, great music, Mt. Lebo Church, pan-partisan, 7 pm, Oct 21. See article elsewhere in this blog.

Debate

Candidate debate for US Congress hosted at CCAC - Boyce Campus, with East Suburban UU Church, Debate. Sadly, this event falls on the same date and time as our event at Sunnyhill. Otherwise, I would have done my best to attend. Their event is a real debate, and it seems to be the only one that features the two candidates.

Rally

-- John Kerry and some special musical guest will be at CMU on Wednesday. You have to have tickets but they were being passed out at the PIIN meeting.

IMNSHO (In my not so humble opinion), the special musical guest, Bon Jovi, won't be as good as the music you'll be able to take in on Thursday night with Amy Carol Webb.

-- General Wesley Clark, (did you know he is a swimmer, besides a frequent CNN guest), is coming to town on Thursday too. I think he's slated for the VFW post 5008, East Pittsburgh, 401 Drapper St, 412-829-1377. at 1:15 pm. Please try to be there by 12:30 pm so we can get settled. Contact: uz2bface - at - comcast - dot - net

Fundraisers

A Attorney General, Allegheny County native, Tom Corbitt, is holding a special event for $100 on Thursday, Oct 21 from 5 to 7 pm. Happy Hour with A.G. candidate

The Republican Committees hosts a council for a Fall Candidates Sunday Brunch at the Wildwood Country Club (McCandless) from 10 am to 12:30 pm on Sunday, October 24. Meet many of your local elected officials and candidates. All Republican federal and state candidates have been invited and many are expected. The brunch is $25. To join, contact Cindy Kirk at 724-935-0596, cptkirkb - at - stargate -dot - net.

Media meeting

TV 4 Town Hall Meeting

Tax plan for city in a haze as Nov. 30 deadline looms

Pittsburgh is dead in the water as long as Mayor Tom Murphy is at the helm. Not only are people not willing to help, but people are not willing to meet, nor are people not clear as to what to do. With Murphy on the scene, Pittsburgh's lack of trust, phony budgets, and numbness just creeps into more facets of life.

Murphy is going to need to quit for the good of the city.

House Democratic Leader H. William DeWeese of Waynesburg is going to need to ask Murphy to resign.

State Senator Shean Logan, D, is going to need to ask Murphy to resign.

Tax plan for city in a haze as Nov. 30 deadline looms: "'At this point I'd say it's only 50-50 at best'' that the Legislature will aid Pittsburgh before the session ends, said Sen. Sean Logan, D-Monroeville."

PIIN = Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network

PIIN is an interesting organization. I was greatly involved at PIIN's first public action as we put a demand forward from the Youth & Recreation task force.

Trib: .... Wheatley was not booed. That treatment was reserved for Mayor Tom Murphy after Nancy Fitzgerald, a PIIN executive committee member, told the crowd Murphy had not agreed to meet with the group and did not send a representative to the event. ....

Trib: Coalition wins pledges from officials

PG coverage Notice the smirk on Tim V's face as he watches the PAT Exec. Director.

In many ways I've got mixed feelings about the group and the meeting on Oct 17, 2004.

I feel very good about the efforts we put forth in PIIN's frst public action. The demand we made was a failure -- due of course -- as you might guess, to Mayor Murphy's fumbles. We wanted to put a bunch of computers into some of the rec centers in the city. But, the city didn't want that to occur. Mayor Murphy would move to close the rec centers some months later. We knew it was coming.

A big salute to Jack M and the others from Sunnyhill and the UU Churches in the area who helped with yesterday's PIIN meeting. The UUs are now, seemingly, not only the driving force to PIIN, (we've always been that), but a bigger bulk. I still think a Pgh UU Network, PUUN, would and could be a far more effective force for change in the region. Oh well.

Raising a racket over city spending

PittsburghLIVE.comHorgan might have been concerned that if word got out, this tennis fiasco might prompt even city residents who don't play the sport to raise a racket.

The tennis courts and bubble were paid for with an American Express card. And, there is a decent return on the investment. And, the bubble went up nearly 5 months late and snow and slush was on the bubble as there was snow and slush on the ground at the time. So, the new bubble needed to be washed, before its opening. And, this last summer, they didn't even take it down. To much work. In the summer it is way to hot to play in there. So, air-conditioning is hoped for in the future.

This all makes some sense -- but no sense for Citiparks. We should have a park district and we could spin Citiparks out of the City of Pittsburgh. Then managment and oversight of park things can occur with democracy and real leadership that does not have to worry about the ghosts of the city creeping into every move.

Tennis, without a tennis pro, happens here too. I don't just want the courts. I want coaching of the kids. I want an overall program. That is where the real benefits resdide. Parks are not just a bricks, mortar and bubble experience. I think that they should be much more.

Another article at a later date: More topspin on tennis facility - PittsburghLIVE.com

Spotlight on Jack Wagner

Observer-Reporter: "If elected auditor general, Democrat Jack Wagner says an analysis of the state's economic stimulus programs will be among his first projects.

Jack is a State Senator who should be able to champion a analysis of the state's economic stimulus programs. He didn't. He should have. He is waiting until he gets his next job. He is all "indie" but what does he have to say now about these spending plans.

Let me sum it up:Jack has said little or nothing.

Gov Ed Rendell is spending a lot of money. Jack's been doing too little and too late. Leaders do their best from the positions they hold. Leaders can aspire to other positions, but that is no excuse for a lack of action now.

I have asked for Jack Wagner's help on matters about Pittsburgh, as he is my state senator. But he is always too busy running for an office other than the one he is holding now. He ran for 'Lt. Gov.' He runs now for Auditor General. But he can't come to grips with being a State Senator so as to help the citizens now. Run. But run and chew gum at the same time. Do both.

I want it all. I want Jack to run for another office. And, I want Jack to do the heavy lifting for the office he is in now too.

Being a watchdog as in the role of being auditor general is hard work. Jack is going to have good perspectives as he's been around the state. But, his watching and barking and actions are in a slumber. His yard sign placement skills are sharp, no doubt. But so what.

Tell me, what does Jack Wagner say about Pittsburgh's conditions? What does he say about a merger of Citiparks and County Parks & Rec into a new Park District? Would Jack support the liquidation of the Park Authority -- or -- was he here when it was created?

Say mate, and "Momma Spell" -- get well soon

It's not fun once your wheels go. Note and fan mail in comments.

Tony Norman tells all his true colors

PG writer, Nader may be right, but the time is wrong ... would I be a Democratic stooge?

Not only does Tony paint himself as a stooge but also a liar. Ouch.

Another lesson: two wrongs still don't make a right.

Politics is complicated. Democracy is messy. However, voting is simple, and same too should be the process of getting onto the ballot.

email blast for 412-Public-Remarks

The 412-Public-Remarks 2004 Archive by date

My email contact list is at 8,270. I don't want to "pester" but do want to stay in touch. And, mostly, my announces are invites. The link above shows illustrates the other types of blasts I've sent in the past.

[412] Concert and Pan-Political Gathering -- Thurs, Oct 21, 7 pm in Mt. Lebo at our church

Hi Friends,

The greatest singer, songwriter, performer I have ever heard -- no joke --
is slated to play at our Voter Education event at 7 pm on Thursday, Oct. 21,
2004 at the UU Church of the South Hills, http://Sunnyhill.org.

You're invited. Please attend.

Our casual, friendly venue makes a splendid setting. You'll enjoy and
remember this night for years to come. Amy Carol Webb is a dear friend from
Florida. She's recorded seven or more CDs in recent years. I've begged her
to come to Pittsburgh and this is the night.

Her song about the hanging chads from the Florida vote for the last
presidential election is a hoot and a half. "Be careful punching ballots if
you can't find the hold..."

More at http://Rauterkus.blogspot.com

Voter registration has ended. Now it is time to gather and celebrate in a
diverse setting. Amy will make us all laugh as she can spread joy like few
others.

I can't say enough about her and the concert she'll provide. Get a baby
sitter. Do whatever it takes to be there. Save this time and be there for
yourself. She is a star.

Thursday, October 21, 2004 -- 7 pm sharp.
UU Church of the South Hills, 1240 Washington Road, Mt. Lebanon
http://Sunnyhill.Org

The price is right as well. Because it's a 'pan-political voter education
effort' there is NO GATE CHARGE. It's free to those who can behave as you
should at an inspiring concert.

My favorite of her original songs: "Think Again." You gotta hear it. It
makes so much sense, especially for the City of Pittsburgh.

As always, thanks for the consideration. And, of course, thanks for voting
and all that you do for our shared community.




Ta.

Mark Rauterkus xCoach at Rauterkus.com
http://Rauterkus.com http://Rauterkus.blogspot.com
412-298-3432 = cell

Free Linux Basics Tutorial October 16, 2004

[wplug-announce] Geeks, pizza, PCs, CMU setting

Hurry up and wait

PG Council rejects plans for commuter taxMembers choose to wait for support from Legislature

In some parts of city life and goverment we need to rush to do nothing. We should tell the world that this city isn't going to do any more bone-headed deals that give millions of dollars away to downtown department stores. The city has been hyper-active in terms of putting poison into the well of the marketplace. Heavy handed interventions in the market need to end -- quickly.

Case in point: We rushed to give the land control of the North Shore to the Steelers and Pirates. But, their time expired. And, we rushed to be Johnny on the Spot and give away another $4-million from the state to build an auditorium for the Rooneys.

But on the other hand, there are many places where we need to be hyper-active and work to help heal this city. We need to gather people about swim pools and rec centers. We need to explore options with public safety and citizens in honest, frank, open discussions.

We need to make sure we have a budget that makes sense, rather than being phony and filled with massive taxes that have no intentions of being enacted. This administration rushes to fake and push deceptions.

An honest discussion about the commuter tax should happen now. I'm glad that some are not okay in waiting around. The city's funds are going to go below zero in a few short weeks. Waiting isn't prudent.

Everyone should go and get version 1.1.3

Open Office has 4th Birthday, Oct 13, 2004

OpenOffice.org is the most important open-source project in the world. These words, spoken by founder of GNOME and Novell Ximian CTO, Miguel de Icaza, on the occasion of the first anniversary of OpenOffice.org, are more true now than ever before. Today, four years after Sun Microsystems released the source code of its popular StarOffice to the open-source community, OpenOffice.org is widely seen as the future of open-source development and the key to its future.

As an international and multilingual project, OpenOffice.org gives everyone the freedom to participate in, learn about, and contribute to the project. And as a product, OpenOffice.org runs natively on Windows, Linux or Solaris, as well as every other major platform, and is available in over 44 supported languages. Usable by all, it is the invaluable tool in the modern office.

Tens of millions use the application daily; millions visit the project website monthly; thousands contribute to the project. There have been at least 31 million downloads since the project began. That volume does not count the millions registered by Red Hat, SuSE, or Mandrake Linux, which include OpenOffice.org in their distributions.

In the last year, city governments, such as that of Munich, Germany, to name but one of many, and federal administration offices, such as the French Ministère de l'Economie, des Finances et de l'Industrie (MINEFI), chose OpenOffice.org for its technology, flexibility, and future, not
because it is free (gratis). Is the ministry happy with their decision? Representatives gave a keynote at the recent OOoCon, where they advocated OpenOffice.org and looked to a future with open-source software.

And what is that future? An application that bridges not just the closed- and open-source world but that also bridges the digital divide from Amsterdam to Zanzibar. An application that uses an internationally standardized file format and an open production process to give users perpetual right over their property.

The file format, an XML based implementation, is the open standard recently approved by the Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards (OASIS). By using the format, vendor lock in is impossible. People will choose OpenOffice.org or its commercial
derivations, such as StarOffice, on the basis of value, not because they have no choice.

That value is extensive, and it is set to grow. This spring, OpenOffice.org 2.0 will leap over every other office suite. For those users clamoring for an Access equivalent, it will have it. It will be more interoperable. And for those developers wanting more modularity and more responsiveness, 2.0 has that, too.

This coming year will be remarkable, and our door is open.

OpenOffice.org is both a open-source project and product. It is free. As one of the leading open-source projects, OpenOffice.org combines the worldwide efforts of developers and endusers to produce a complete office productivity suite that runs on all major platforms and in over 30 supported languages while being compatible with Microsoft Office. OpenOffice.org is sponsored by Sun Microsystems, Inc., and hosted by CollabNet.

Dismal Democrats

PG Letter to editor Wake up, Cleveland and, for that matter, Pittsburgh too. This political philosophy has seen its day. If you don't take this opportunity to change, by supporting a Republican administration, then you are destined to more poverty while the rest of the country prospers.

The gentleman from Moon, Benjamin Bonham, is on the mark that we can't have one-party domination.

To maintain fire safety in the city, vote YES on this referendum

Letters to the editor, 10/13/04

Letter in the comments....

Editorial: City tale / Romance novels, photo frames and other frivolities

PG Editorial A man with a broom swept up the mess and presented Mr. Ricciardi with the bill. 'Don't give it to me,' the councilman said. 'Send it to the taxpayer.

Hilton El Conquistador

Tucson AZ One of the top resorts in Tucson, Arizona, the Hilton Tucson El Conquistador Golf & Tennis Resort is set at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountain range in Northwest Tucson, AZ.

I'm staying home this weekend.

Boycott Sinclair Broadcast Group

Boycott Sinclair Broadcast GroupThe Sinclair Broadcast Group (Nasdaq: SBGI) will interrupt its normal schedule days before the election to air an anti-Kerry propaganda film. Truly the only way to make ourselves heard is by hitting SBG where it hurts -- in the pocketbook. The means to accomplish this is through staged letter writing to both SBG and their advertisers.