Recyle the cycle in the West End by Citiparks

This is not another photo from China!

The event was on Sunday morning. I unloaded about five bikes there.

If I'm on City Council and I'm chair of the Committee on Recreation and Youth -- we're going to hold the Recycle the Cycle program two times a year. It has been held seven times in the past 14 years.

So, is it safe to say that I'll be four times as good as what they've been doing?

The program relies upon volunteers too. A staffer or two help. But the project run with donations and good working people.
A tiny bike donation being cleaned by a big-time volunteer. That bike model is GREAT for kids. Both Erik and Grant loved it. I loved the handle, like a 'tail' that keeps us flowing around the city's less than smooth sidewalks.

Barnestormin hits upon a FAQ & A

Barnestormin How many lobbyists does it take to pass a gambling law?

Single gender high schools for Peabody and Westinghouse

Go there and click a vote on the poll. But, see if you can or not??? I can't figure out if you can even register a vote with the poll. Weirdness. Perhaps the poll was shut? Perhaps the button is locked to me as poll author? Thanks for giving it a whirl and reporting back.

aplusschools.org :: View topic - Single gender high schools for Peabody and Westinghouse Should Pgh Public Schools consider the options of making single-gender high schools?

Recycle a cycle. I'm going to drop off a bike or two at the event on Sunday at the West End. They are seeking bikes for gifts.

Where is the "Tiger Team?" asked Dave E?

Tiger team...

David Eckart, a CMU Computer Professor and fellow board member of the Allegheny County Libertarian Party, spoke up at the recent public hearing hosted in the Gold Room with Allegheny County Council concerning the purchase of new voting machines.

ICA Board Rejects Murphy's Latest Budget

What's the old expression? Dam the torpedos? Darn them torpedos? Damn the torpedos?

KDKA - Pittsburgh's Source for Breaking News, Weather and Sports: ICA Board Rejects Murphy's Latest Budget The Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority's decision raises the possibility of state sanctions and suggests city council may begin budget deliberations November 30th with a torpedoed spending plan.

How about this new expression for the history books, "Murphy torpedoed Pittsburgh, once again." May this time be the last. Incomming.....

Alternative capition: "All hands on deck! Photo taken at the Mark Rauterkus Cookie Cruise."

Really. Grant and I at People's Park in Chengdu, China.

Ready to view Concept Maps?

Try this on for size. I'm diving into the Platform.For-Pgh.org. Don't go there yet. Just wait a few more weeks. Should be G-R-E-A-T!



Click for larger size to see what's what in the Concept Map.

Transportation: PAT won't strike

Transportation: PAT won't strike See my other blog for details, via Glenn.

Our places do not look like this....

Would you perform in front of this audience?

Up at 5 am. Warm-ups by 7:30, after scribbles on your hand and arm. Home by 2:30. Birthday party bowling by 3.

Grant snagged a trophy for one of his events.

I'm developming a "Why KNOT" program / presentation. Our Ys in Pittsburgh don't generally look like this.

The Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund

The Community Environmental Legal Defense FundParticipate In The Third -- Guiding the Conductors -- A Democracy School Training Institute. The Four Day Institute at Wilson College in Historic Chambersburg, Pennsylvania runs from Thursday, January 12th to Sunday, January 15th, 2006.

Richard Grossman and Thomas Linzey, Directors The Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, Host

This Event is open only to persons creating and teaching Democracy Schools across the United States, who wish to become certified lecturers for the Schools. Due to the intensive nature of the four day Institute, attendance is limited to fifteen lecturers-in-training. For the training, attendees will be divided into three groups of five, with each group being facilitated by individual instructors. Presentations by each lecturer-in-training will be delivered both to the individual groups as well as to the entire class.

If you plan to attend, you must RSVP by Thursday, December 1st...

21st Century Pamphleteer - How could you stay in a party that behaves like that?

21st Century Pamphleteer No Primaries? Follow-up

Two interesting posts from the blog linked to above deal with leaders in the "D" party and the unwillingness of letting voters decide who should be our elected leaders. Calling them Soviets is too nice.

How can you stay a Democrat when you hear messages such as those?

If 10,000 Ds in PA bolted the D party and showed up as Indies and with other third-party tags --- people would notice.

Then we'll push for the Voters Choice Act to allow candidates access the ballot within reason. Then -- who needs a D primary? We can run in the general elections and take the message straight to 'we the people.' It worked as we tossed out Nigro with the Retention Vote. His $85 bottles of wine caught up to him.

Every dog has its day in the sun. The sun is setting on two-party cronies.

Holiday Bike Build-A-Thon!

Republicans are needed for this event! Right Mike?

The Free Ride Recycle-A-Bike Program is in Need of Volunteers to help clean and fix up children's bikes for the holiday season. Some of these bikes will be donated to the South Hills Interfaith Ministries who work with and will then distribute directly to the Prospect Park neighborhood that is currently housing refugees from such places as Sudan, Afghanistan, Burma, Iraq, and Turkey, among other places. Another organization that will receive bikes is the Tree of Hope, a Hill District based non-profit that works with families whose lives have been torn by violence.

Sunday, November 20, 1 PM to 7 PM

Sunday, December 4, 1 PM to 7 PM

Please show up during any of these times and we'll put you to work. Although having mechanic experience helps, it is not necessary. If you don't have mechanic skills, we will still have a job for you. Snacks will be provided. Also, if you have a truck and are willing to help transport the bikes, please contact us at freeride@bike-pgh.org.

http://www.freeridepgh.org

I'm picking on Mike, a frequent blog reader here, because he is into bike riding and has been turned off by some of the very left leaning bikers he's encountered. So, if a few more conservatives would show up -- that might help so the bikes don't all lean too far to the one side, an at. :)

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Chat

To bad the P-G's chat room is so lame.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Chat Join Pittsburgh schools Superintendent Mark Roosevelt in a live online discussion on education issues, including his plan to realign Pittsburgh schools, from 2-3 p.m. on Nov. 22.

7 out of 10 measures passed in PA

The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association reports that these conservation measures were approved by voters on election day, November 2005:

* Pike County -- $10 million open space bond passed 68 percent to 32 percent;

* Bedminster Township, Bucks County -- Increase in earned income tax, generating $10.27 million in conservation funds passed 51 percent to 49 percent;

* Bushkill Township, Bucks County -- Increase in earned income tax, generating nine million dollars in conservation funds passed 66 percent to 34 percent;

* Plumstead Township, Bucks County -- Eight million dollar open space bond passed 77 percent to 23 percent;

* Solebury Township, Bucks County -- $18 million open space, farmland and recreation bond passed 88 percent to 12 percent;

* Upper Makefield Township, Bucks County -- $10 million open space and farmland preservation bond passed 80 percent to 20 percent;

* Honey Brook Township, Chester County -- Increase in earned income tax generating $10 million for open space and farmland passed 51 percent to 49 percent.

Similar measures in three other townships in Chester and Cumberland Counties were defeated. The majority of citizens voted yes when asked to float bonds or raise taxes to pay for the open space protection.

Oppose the "Crescent of Embrace" Proposal for the Flight 93 Memorial Petition

Humm....

Oppose the "Crescent of Embrace" Proposal for the Flight 93 Memorial Petition The US Park Service is currently going forward with a proposed monument for the Flight 93 Memorial that is called the 'Crescent of Embrace' which is a large crescent of red maple trees that closely resembles the Islamic Red Crescent that is the very symbol of the radical Islamics who attempted to hijack the aircraft.

What about this?

Pitsburgh Xplosion of ABA Basketball -- interesting PR outreach to real Heroes.

Hoops for Heroes

Pittsburgh Xplosion, www.pittsburghxplosion.com, offers free tickets to Police Officers, Firefighters, EMS and Military.

The Pittsburgh Xplosion is the city's new American Basketball Association team. It honors local heroes by making free tickets available all season to police officers, firefighters, EMS personnel and active members of the U.S. Armed Forces.

The special offer is good for all of the team's home games at Mellon Arena and Pitt's Peterson Events Center. The free tickets, generally $12.50 each, are distributed on a first come, first served basis at the Box Office on the day of the game.

To receive a free ticket, fans must present ID that confirms their current status in the police, fire service, EMS or military.

The team has former NBA players, Armon Gilliam and Myron Brown, and a blend of talented players with college and professional experience.

The Hoops for Heroes ticket offer is our way of saying thanks to these outstanding men and women.

There is a limit of one free ticket per eligible person for each of the team's 17 remaining home games. Fans eligible for this offer will also have the option of receiving a $12.50 discount off the price of other Xplosion home game tickets, which range from $25 to $55. This offer is good only at the Box Office; it does not apply to tickets purchased in advance or through Ticketmaster.

Schedule snapshot:

Fri, Nov 25 @ Petersen Event Center, 7:00 pm

Wed, Nov 30 @ Mellon Arena, 7:00 pm

Promotion for Nov 30: Salvation Army's Treasures for Children - Bring a new toy to the Mellon Arena gate and receive $5.00 off admission!

Fri, Dec 2 @ Mellon Arena, 7:00 pm

Wed, Dec 7 @ Petersen, 7:00 pm

Mon, Dec 12 @ Mellon Arena at 7:00 pm

Thur, Dec 15 @ Mellon Arena at 7:00 pm

Tue, Dec 20 @ Mellon Arena, 7:00 pm

Mon, Dec 26 @ Petersen, 7:00 pm

Mark Roosevelt with Urban League radio show

The Development and External Relations Department at the Urban League produces a live, call in radio show hosted by the Urban League of Pittsburghs President and CEO, Esther Bush. The show is called Urban Reality and airs every other Saturday from 7:00-8:00 a.m. on WAMO, AM 860. The show's guests discussing issues of importance to the African American community.

Superintendent Mark Roosevelt will be the featured guest on Saturday November 19, 2005.

Call with questions and hear what other parents are saying.

Getting into the ear of the leader of the free world -- while in China

President Bush is in China.

Fear not, I'll spare you from photos of our three recent trips to China and instead share this scoop.

This image is a recent photo of the leader of the free world while in China. President Bush is inserting a hearing plug into his ear used for translation purposes. The hearing device was made by a company in Chicago -- while we were there last week visiting.

He uses an Etymotic earphone. President Bush got turned onto Etymotic's products for use with his iPod. At the lab they sent along three sets and moved the volume control to a lower on the chord for easier adjustments without being as noticed. He'll need ot listen to the transaltors with foreign leaders.

Communication is critical! Often communication elements become very technical. And, for communication efforts to play to the widest audiences, it has be of the highest quality.

BlogShares - Rauterkus

The value of my shares are climbing -- like the cost of home heating oil. Who woulda thunk... :)
BlogShares - Rauterkus:
13:16 08 Nov 2005 B$8.97
21:10 06 Nov 2005 B$6.84
08:06 05 Nov 2005 B$5.47
00:51 04 Nov 2005 B$4.31
06:19 03 Nov 2005 B$3.35
17:13 19 Aug 2005 B$3.35
11:44 07 Feb 2005 B$2.69

Associate sites

The eVote blog.

The eVote.CLOH.org site.

Deliberate.com.

The eVote Blog, one of my other blogs. It covers more technical voting elements.

eVote Blog Memo to Allegheny County Council and Board of Election at Public Comment Hearing: Allegheny County Voting Machine Selection Process (HAVA)

hannahinisrael.com

hannahinisrael.com keeping in touch from across the ocean

THE PAY-JACKERS REPENT: But it's not enough - PittsburghLIVE.com

THE PAY-JACKERS REPENT: But it's not enough - PittsburghLIVE.com

As expected, the Pennsylvania Senate followed the lead of the state House and Wednesday repealed its self-dealt and wholly unconstitutional summer pay raises. But the wound is not healed.

Folks like Majority Leader Chip Brightbill slobbered all over themselves yesterday trying to pick up the Oscar for Best Speech of Contrition in a Lead Pay-Jacking Role. 'We are here to correct a mistake,' the Lebanon County Republican said. 'As one of the people who exercised poor judgment, I would like to apologize.'
We hope there are some real and good Republicans out there who are ready to plug that 'poor judgment' line into campaign commercials and send the Chip Brightbills, Bob Jubelirers, Sam Smiths, John Perzels, Bill DeWeeses, Mike Veons and the rest of their ilk packing in the 2006 elections.

Republicans and Democrats, those who voted for the no-debate, middle-of-the-night pay-jacking -- and those who didn't but who then accepted the ill-gotten gains -- violated the public trust. No apology and no repeal can 'fix' things. All must go.
All must be driven from the positions of authority they abused.

The rejection of Supreme Court Justice Russell Nigro and the pay-raise repeal are just the first of many, many battle victories in what will be a yearlong revolution to reclaim a Pennsylvania government that is of, by and for the people.

The fight is right. The fight is on. And the people will prevail.

Speaking with others about the voting machines

PUBLIC HEARING ALLEGHENY COUNTY COUNCIL
Thursday, November 17, 2005 5:00 PM, Gold Room

To afford interested parties an opportunity to express their views on the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) and its effect on Allegheny County’s voting machine modernization.

1. Shea McKinney, Private Citizen

2. Joan W. Stein, President & CEO – Accessibility Development Associates, Inc.

3. Dr. Robert Harper, Professor, Computer Science Department – Carnegie Mellon University

4. Tim Stevens, Chairman – Black Political Empowerment Project

5. Paul O’Hanlon, Esq., Disabilities Law Project

6. Audrey N. Glickman, Private Citizen

7. Suzanne Broughton, President, League of Women Voters of Greater Pittsburgh

8. Colleen Willison, Private Citizen

9. Richard King, Private Citizen

10. Dr. David Jefferson, Chair, California Secretary of State’s Voting Systems Technical Assessment and Advisory Board

11. Danny Sleator, Professor, Computer Science Department – Carnegie Mellon University

12. Mark Brentley, Sr., Member, Pittsburgh School Board; Host, Voter Education Program

13. Marybeth Kuznik Executive Director, Vote PA

14. Deborah Gouge, Private Citizen

15. Eugene Barton, President, PA Council of the Blind

16. Mark Rauterkus, Libertarian Party

17. Kathleen Paul, Private Citizen

18. Eugene Mariani, Private Citizen

19. Adrian Perrig, Private Citizen

20. Sam Gibson, Private Citizen

21. Gary S. Schermer, Private Citizen

22. Angela Yocham Private Citizen

23. Antoine Pearson, Private Citizen

24. Dan Taylor, Private Citizen

Break a leg folks.

Questioning our pay-jackers - PittsburghLIVE.com - Letter to editor

Questioning our pay-jackers - PittsburghLIVE.com Questioning our pay-jackers

For those who are temporarily outraged at our state legislators for increasing their salaries, here are some facts for your consideration that should, if you give it some thought, cause you to question some basic assumptions about state government:

The New Hampshire Legislature is the only one in the U.S. larger than Pennsylvania's, with 400 representatives and 24 senators. However, the representatives and senators receive only $200 per year plus mileage reimbursement. There are no career politicians in New Hampshire.

The Georgia Legislature, the oldest in the United States, convenes on the second Monday in January and runs for 40 businesses days, adjourning in mid- to late March. These are not full-time jobs.

Please think about it. Then register and vote Libertarian. It's a matter of who owns your body and who spends your money.
Nick Kyriazi, Deutchtown

PoliticsPA -- PAY Grab goes poof! A second state-wide win in as many weeks!

The repeal of the pay raise has come. Now, we've got to be certain that is is all paid back. And, then we need to get that clean sweep in high gear.

PoliticsPA Pay Raise Repealed Gov. Ed Rendell has signed the pay-raise repeal, ending a the legislature's four-month ordeal at the hands of outraged Pennsylvania voters. Earlier this afternoon, the state Senate voted 50-0, agreeing with the House to roll back the massively unpopular raises enacted in July for for lawmakers, judges and top state officials.

Subjected to intense public pressure to repeal the raises, which were enacted in the wee hours of July 7 without public hearings, the House and Senate had wrestled for more than a week over how to take back raises granted to state judges, who received them right away. The state Constitution bars cutting the salary of judges without cutting the pay “of all salaried officers of the commonwealth,” a provision designed to protect judicial independence.
Brightbill apology
Senate quotes
Representative Metcalfe spin
Scranton spin
Logan Spin

LIBERTARIAN-LEANING JUSTICE

The original attribution: Ilya Somin, assistant professor at the George Mason School
of Law.

"Most debate about Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito has focused on his propensity to vote to overrule Roe v. Wade and the similarity between him and conservative Justice Antonin Scalia. But despite the superficial parallels between the two conservative, Italian-American Catholic jurists, it is important to recognize that Alito has a substantial libertarian dimension to his jurisprudence as well as a conservative one. In several key fields of law, he is more likely than Scalia and other conservatives to be skeptical of assertions of government power. More important, there is much in his record that should appeal to libertarians...

"While judges should not simply vote for whatever outcomes because they prefer them on policy grounds, a libertarian orientation helps sensitize jurists to the fact that the Constitution is meant to constrain government, not just empower electoral majorities, as some conservatives claim. Here Alito's libertarian streak and his differences with Scalia may have an impact.

"...Obviously, Alito is far from being an across-the-board libertarian. But there is much for libertarians to like in his record, more than in the case of Scalia. Liberals understandably have less reason to support Alito than libertarians do. But they should think seriously about whether they would rather have a conservative with a significant libertarian streak like Alito or a pro-government conservative who will be just as likely to overturn Roe, but less likely to vote to restrict government power over religious freedom, free speech, or immigration."

Reactions welcomed, of course.

Panel sets stage for debate over lieutenant governor's selection

It isn't right to be "un-democratic" and to be so "anti-women." Lt. Gov Catherine Baker Knoll, a local, is getting public praise from her boss, Ed Rendell, but is often viewed in a different light when it comes to the unspoken comments. What about honesty? And, if the story of praise is sincere, then there is nothing else to say.

I agree with the last line in the article. I too trust the people more than I trust the politicians.

PennLive.com: NewsFlash - Panel sets stage for debate over lieutenant governor's selection Panel sets stage for debate over lieutenant governor's selection

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) A Senate panel Tuesday endorsed a bill that would allow gubernatorial candidates to pick their running mates rather than being paired with the choice of Republican and Democratic voters in the primary election.

The bill, forwarded 6-5 by the State Government Committee, could if approved change the political landscape in next year's gubernatorial election and focus new attention on gaffes by Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll.

Teacher contract -- a four year deal gets signed

I turned to the Fox Chapel web site today after hearing yesterday's budget presentation from Pittsburgh's outgoing mayor. He mentioned Fox Chapel at the microphone. The mayor is talking about Fox Chapel to make the point that the next breed of leaders for the city need to think in a regional way. We can't think Fox Chapel as a competitor -- but we have to think of the entire region.

I coached the boys and girls varsity swim teams at Fox Chapel a couple of years ago in a "transitional season." The old coach has split to a new job out-of-state. He was a young guy (sound familiar) and his wife was able to land a job there too. But, all the coaches on the staff left at the same time. The varsity team needed a coach and I stepped up.

I have a lot to say about those concepts of regionalism raised by the mayor and how we should NOT compete with Fox Chapel-- but for now, check out the news there. The Fox Chapel Teachers got a new deal signed. See the notes of the blog or their home page for some of the details. http://www.fcasd.edu.

I'm sure that the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers are looking long and hard at the plans and vision of the new superintendent of schools, PPS's Mark Roosevelt. The teachers are going to see their ranks shrink. Some 250 jobs are going to be cut. Plus, there is sure to be a lot of shifting of jobs among schools as so many schools are getting a make-over or else closing.

One cornerstone of the new plan for next year is a longer school day for the "accelerated learning academy" settings. Those kids need to be put into overdrive to catch-up.

The Fox Chapel plan calls for more working days in the school year, but the work day is kept to eight hours.

Presently, I can only wonder what's going to happen with the union and the reaction of the plans for the district. Should be interesting.

Legislator's lonely....

In Beaver Falls, not everyone is angered by their legislator's lonely vote for a pay raise

'He's one of the main reasons that I'm no longer a Democrat,' said Rep. Mike Diven, R-Brookline, who served four years as a House Democrat and then switched to the Republican Party this year.

'He's what's wrong with Harrisburg. The mentality he carries -- he's disconnected from people. It's his way or the highway on issues.'

Okay Republican Diven, then what's to say you won't switch back to being a D, if and when the state house leader, the Beaver Falls D, Veon, departs Harrisburg???

Will you campaign for a Dem challenger to Veon in the Dem's primary in Beaver Falls? Will you offer ideas and money to that challenger?

Would you campaign for a Republican challenger to Veon should Veon win the D's primary?

Mike left the D's party. Mike became a Republican because he was pushed out or pushed away by the Dems. You can go from point A to point B by driving in reverse or driving in forward. Sure, you're allowed to peek in the rear-view mirror. Perhaps that's all that is being offered in this quote. I wonder, as do others, if Mike join the Republicans because he valued the Republican approach. And, now that Mike is in the GOP Camp, is he still a (self-described) "back bencher?"

What's the upside to being in the 'majority party' now?

Opponents speak against Pittsburgh-area racetrack proposals

AP Wire | 11/15/2005 | Opponents speak against Pittsburgh-area racetrack proposals
'This site is so patently inappropriate for a variety of reasons that to approve this racetrack would be to destroy South Versailles Township,' said Joel Aaronson, an attorney hired by residents who don't want to see the Oak Park racetrack built near their homes.

Amen.

To be clear, I don't want to destroy South Versailles Township. Nor Baldwin, and other areas just over the edge of the city. We do need to think like a region, more and more. The race track is at the edge of the city and would hurt those over the border more than most of the people in the city.

But, the sky isn't falling either. Destroy?

The plan is bad. Very bad. It should not occur for many reasons. But, let's keep our wits and not go overboard and say that the sky is going to fall.
If the good people of South Versailles want to meet with me and my camera -- we'll be able to do that. I'd love to hear and see how bad it would become.

Hay's hilltop (artist friend).

Yesterday's meeting was on my agenda, but I didn't attend as I picked up the boys at school and went to swim practice. I've been on the record as a vocal opponent to the Hays race track in the past.

Let's get in shape!

Gene Ricciardi -- stepping down as City Council President

My council-person, Gene Ricciardi, is about to step down as the President of Pittsburgh's City Council. His time there is about to end by the end of the year (2005). So, he can step down and help with the transition to a new council leader.

But, Gene can NOT step down until there are enough votes (five are needed) among the councilmembers (9 are on council) for the next President. Right now, the five necessary votes for president have not been found for any one individual. So, Gene stays on in the position.

Gene get's a vote in the new leader if he steps down now. If he waits until the end of his term -- the new council president is picked without his influence.

Council president gets to make a few assignments among the members of council for chairs of various duties, i.e., public works, budget, Citiparks.

Being Council President isn't a big deal, generally. It is a feather in one's cap however. That is why there has been some talk about Sala Udin getting the nod to be council president. Sala is being retired from city council due to his loss at the polls in the May 2005 primary. Council could give Sala the title as a resume builder for his entry into the private sector.

I wrote to Sala last night asking him if he would like to get my help in setting up a blog for himself. I think that might help him more, showing he's stayed within the modern era of communications.

Sala would NOT be the first black man to be Pittsburgh's City Council President. That historical feat has been accomplished years ago.

But why stop Sala at the level of Council President?

Sala Udin could be named City Council President as a first step. Then, Mayor Murphy resigns as the second step. Then comes the third step: Sala Udin moved to the mayor's office and Pittsburgh would have the city's first black mayor. The big deal about being city council president is the the migration of roles to mayor should there be an emerengy opening.

What would that do to their pensions?

Bob O'Connor could still go around town calling himself the next mayor.

City officials and VIPs have been playing musical chairs around here for some time now. I should turn this into a contest, play-by-play of the musical chairs among people and spaces.

We've got Valerie McDonald (in the next post) who moved from office to office, just as Lt. Gov, KBN, has done. But there are plenty of others.

Mario went from hockey player to team owner and would-be casino operator.

Neighborhood groups have become builders and developers with their housing projects. Developers then become politicians building department stores (Lazarus).

Land owners (speculators) have become toll road builders for the Mon Valley and big-time political donors.

Casino operators have become political donors and hockey arena builders.

Librarians make expresso. Expresso makers maintain wireless network hubs. Library Board Members move books from historic structures to leases above laundry mats.

You get the point. And there are a lot of better one's yet to be made.

I'm a musical chair kinda guy as well. I've been a journalist, coach, publisher, small businessman, coach, computer guy, dad, community activist, party-jumper, candidate, coach, blogger.

PA VERIFIED VOTING -- looks like optical scanning is best short term solution.

PA VERIFIED VOTING HOME PAGE What are Voter-Verified Paper Ballots (V-VPBs)?

Voter-verified paper ballots safeguard the integrity of elections. V-VPBs prevent inaccuracies and covert computer fraud while providing the secure basis for audits and recounts. Voters inspect and verify that the ballot accurately reflects their intention to vote, this is called 'verification'. Voters then place the paper ballots in the ballot box for counting. Audits of V-VPBs provide the best measure of accuracy for electronic voting in elections. In America, voting always occurs in privacy to prevent the historical problems of coercion and bribery in elections. Because we vote in the privacy of the voting booth, only the voter can verify that the official ballot is accurate. Because inaccuracies due to error or fraud in computer voting are covert, voter-verification of a permanent publicly observable official record (the paper ballot) is the essence of the intended safeguard of V-VPBs.

Long term, the real solution is an OPEN SOURCE Software Solution.

A primer for a grass-roots campaign -- they end if you run for judge

A primer for a grass-roots campaign Kathryn Hens-Greco is not a candidate for the Pennsylvania Legislature, but she seems like many people I've encountered who are considering a run. A week ago, she received roughly 129,500 votes for the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, more than enough to become a judge.

Ms. Hens-Greco hadn't been hand-picked by her party. She won a nomination through the Democratic primary without getting the party committee endorsement.

KHG ran in 2001 too. That was overlooked in the story, perhaps. They didn't start two years ago. They started six years ago, I imagine.
Next, comes this line from Sam: Running for office is hard work, but Sam Hens-Greco says, "The great thing about political campaigns is that they end."

The campaign season for state-reps never ends, really. State Reps are elected to 2 year terms. The judge is generally 8 years. Some are for 10 and others get life appointments. So, Sam is right about the end in the campaign cycle for the bench positions. But, the end is never near in other races.

Penny-ante disagreement may hold up budget

Let's pick fights on the penny-ante parts of the budget. This isn't what Pittsburgh really needs. Then call names.

Penny-ante disagreement may hold up budget Tom Murphy deferred to the authority on other disputed budgetary issues. The authority wants 'to be the small dictators of this kingdom,' he said."

This is a weird set of names to call as well. He mixes a "kingdom" mention with a "dictator" mention. I wonder who is going to own up to the facts that, we the people, want a democracy.
The "overlords" (my frequently used term) are hardly "dictators." But, in a one-party town, the mayor used to act as if he was a "dictator." And, that's what got him in trouble. So the state sent in the overlords to curb the dictator. Who has the uppper hand --- well --- I'm sure the advantage isn't with the people.

New Voting Machines: Just say "Open Source Software"

A bunch of "tire kicking" is expected in the next few days as we "kiss our levers goodbye." The old voting machines that still work well are going to go away, sadly. New machines are expected and these raise a lot of doubts and questions.

The one message everyone needs to raise and repeat. We want an OPEN SOURCE Software Solution.

PA S.B. 881 to combat eminent domain abuse -- Sending Support!

The Institute for Justice, a nonprofit group that has been fighting the good fight to curb eminent domain abuse, put out a call about legislation headed to the PA Senate.

I have a longer statement against eminent domain that I provided to a state-hearing held in Pittsburgh on this bill a few months ago. I hate eminent domain and think it needs to be stopped at all instances in Western Pennsylvania in the years to come. Their call is reposted below, with slight edits.

Friends,

The Pennsylvania state senate will vote soon, probably Mon., Nov. 21, on an eminent domain reform bill that could be a model for the nation. It's a good bill - an identical one already has passed the House - and needs all the support it can get. Now is the time to contact your state senator to express your support. Below is information on the bill. Of particular note, there currently are efforts afoot to exempt Philadelphia from the provisions in this bill, so contacting senators in that region is particularly important.

Background:

Senate Bill 881 is in the Senate Committee on Appropriations.

Opponents (such as Rep. Dan Frankle, D.) continue to try to defeat or weaken the bill.

This bill will not pass without your support. This legislation is the best chance Pennsylvanians have for real and significant eminent domain reform. If you want to protect your home or small business from eminent domain abuse, you must CALL OR EMAIL YOUR SENATORS TODAY and urge them to pass S.B. 881 without amendments that weaken its protections by creating loopholes that allow the abuse of eminent domain for private development to go unchecked.

An identical bill passed the PA House, H.B. 2054.

Members of the Pennsylvania Senate with email addresses

Phone numbers and contact information of those in the PA Senate.

Statement of the Institute for Justice in Support of Legislation To Protect Pennsylvania Home and Small Business Owners

The Institute for Justice is the nation’s leading advocate for home and business owners who are affected by the abuse of eminent domain for private development, and it represented Susette Kelo in the now infamous Supreme Court case Kelo v. City of New London. The Institute supports S.B. 881 and H.B. 2054 as written and opposes any amendments that will eliminate or weaken any of the protections they provide to home and small business owners.

In Kelo, the U.S. Supreme Court held that the Constitution allows governments to take homes and businesses for potentially more profitable, higher-tax uses. In the aftermath of that decision, the defenders of eminent domain abuse in Pennsylvania have already begun desperate attempts to keep the power to take homes and businesses and turn them over to private developers. The beneficiaries of the virtually unrestricted use of eminent domain-local governments, developers, and planners-are frantically lobbying to prevent any attempt to diminish their power and have taken aim at SB 881 and HB 2054, two balanced bills that strike at the heart of eminent domain abuse.

The Bills Are a Thoughtful Response

Pennsylvania legislators have been holding hearings across the state regarding the abuse of eminent domain over the past several months. They’ve heard from people on both sides of the issue and the legislative responses are the result of these well-attended meetings. There’s a genuine consensus among many lawmakers -- that’s why so many have sponsored the bills.

The Bills Are Balanced and Appropriate

The bills are not radical -- they make certain that home and small business owners in this state know that they can keep what they’ve worked so hard to own.

Eminent domain will still be allowed for traditional public uses like roads, schools and post offices. Utilities and other public services will still be built. Urban communities remain able to clean up areas full of abandoned and dangerous properties, but under these bills blight designations are reserved for only those situations where there are real threats to public health and safety.

Economic Blight Amendments Must Be Defeated

Any attempt to include a concept of “economic blight” in the bills must be defeated. This will ultimately lead, as it does already, to the transfer of homes and businesses to developers who promise increased tax revenue and jobs. Communities would no longer be razed because some consultant considers them “economically undesirable.”

Economic blight cannot be a justification for eminent domain because that means no one’s home or business is safe -- any home can make more money as a luxury condominium and any small business can make more money as a big-box store. Under the bills, governments will no longer be able to take properties from private individuals and hand them over to wealthy, well-connected developers.

Pennsylvania Has a Horrible History of Eminent Domain Abuse

Between 1998 and 2002, the Institute for Justice found more than 10,000 abuses of eminent domain around the country and many of these were in Pennsylvania. Some continue, and new ones seem to be added every day:

Ardmore - City officials are trying to strip the historic downtown district of its unique character, in order to replace it with cookie-cutter mixed-use development. A charming, Main Line suburb along the old Pennsylvania Railroad, Ardmore’s quaint downtown business district is home to many locally owned small businesses passed through generation for over a century. A half-block of successful small businesses is slated to be demolished and replaced with mall stores, upscale apartments, and a large garage.

Pittsburgh - There are several horrible situations worth noting, but two stand out: H.J. Heinz used the Pittsburgh Urban Redevelopment Authority to bully the Kumer family and Pittsburgh Wool Company from its location, though three years later Heinz sold the property to a Cleveland developer for upscale apartments. Mayor Tom Murphy sought to take 64 buildings and 125 businesses for a movie theater and Nordstrom for his failed Fifth and Forbes project. In the end, all the project created was considerable disinvestment.

Coatesville - Dick and Nancy Saha waged a six-year battle to keep their family farm from becoming a golf course. Spending the bulk of their retirement savings on legal fees, the couple were finally successful when the city council agreed to drop the eminent domain taking in exchange for the right to purchase five acres of property that the Sahas had offered the city for free at the beginning of the dispute.

Washington - "The Crossroads" development calls for a new office building, hotel, retail, and residential space where popular local businesses like World West Galleries and Fine Art Printers, Shorty’s Lunch, and Jerry’s Shoe Repair currently exist and thrive.

Eminent Domain Is Not Necessary for Economic Development

City officials often claim that without the power of eminent domain, they will be unable to do worthwhile projects and their cities will fall into decline. They are wrong. There are many ways to encourage economic growth without taking someone else’s property. These include, for example, economic development districts, tax incentives, bonding, tax increment financing, Main Street programs, infrastructure improvements, relaxed or expedited permitting, and small grants and loans for façade improvements.

Development happens every day, all across the country, without the use of eminent domain. Defenders of eminent domain for private development present a false choice between protecting people’s rights and economic development. In fact, we can have both.

Eminent Domain Is Not a “Last Resort”

In most cases, the threat of eminent domain plays an important role from the very beginning of negotiations. Cities know that most home and business owners will be unable to afford to fight; this fact gives cities a strong incentive to threaten property owners with condemnation at the very start.

Procedural Changes Will Not Stop Eminent Domain Abuse

More process and public input and better planning are not the answer. These measures will do absolutely nothing to protect the rights of home and business owners. Despite overwhelming public opposition by citizens and Ardmore’s invited consultant, the Urban Land Institute, the Board of Commissioners still voted to destroy a third-generation office supply company, a popular Chinese restaurant and the local American Legion and VFW posts. Local legislators typically know the outcome they want and then follow the procedures necessary to get it. Indeed, all of the examples of abuse occurring here in Pennsylvania and across the country proceeded according to the current procedures, evidence alone that changes are necessary.

Better planning is also no solution and will do nothing to protect home and business owners from losing their property to private developers. Planners call for even more of the kind of planning that, if implemented, necessitates forcing some people out of their homes and businesses to make way for other, supposedly better-planned uses occupied by more economically desirable people. While all of this additional planning will no doubt bring lots of money to planners, it will not prevent the use of eminent domain for private commercial development and in practice will probably encourage more abuse.

In crafting these bills, everyone’s concerns have been considered and compromises have been made. The result of this thoughtful approach is that these bills stand as models for the rest of the country. We urge passage of these bills and oppose any attempt to weaken them. We also hope Governor Rendell will sign these necessary reforms into law. Pennsylvania deserves it.

So, contact your and other senators.

Great moment: with humor: Wife of state rep takes exception to the clean sweep philosophy

A wonderful presentation unfolded on the South Side tonight as Russ Diamond, founder and leader of Operation Clean Sweep, http://www.PACleanSweep.com, talked for more than 90 minutes to the South Side Forum. A group of nearly 30 people, from all parts of the county, got the "sermon" and were treated to a wonderful community moment.

A short series of questions came from Mrs. Readshaw, wife of current PA State Rep, Harry Readshaw, D. Readshaw is a popular guy in these part. I know I would not run against him. But, I do understand the logic and philosophy behind the 'clean sweep' efforts for reform in Pennsylvania.

Sadly, Mrs. Readshaw doesn't.

A very pleasant exchange was in clear view for all to see. I've got it on tape, I think. So, I'll save you all from the details. Plus, it's too late to rehash.

Safe to say -- it was worth a good chuckle and a timeless moment, worth the price of admission.

Erik, top center, needs to get into "rest position." You too Phillip.

Grant awarded for Schenley Plaza work

Jeepers. Is it any wonder why have the housing for the poor that we do? In our area, we get a green space grant. Don't get me wrong. I love park. However, this project is but bad joke.

Grant awarded for Schenley Plaza work The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development is providing a $248,000 grant for the development of Schenley Plaza in Oakland.

A parking lot off Forbes Avenue is being transformed into a three-acre lawn serving as an entrance for Schenley Park. The project will be completed in the spring.

The federal government gave the grant to the Allegheny County Redevelopment Authority, county Chief Executive Dan Onorato announced last week.

The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy is spearheading the $10.15 million project."

PA Amber Alert -- OFF -- solved in IN

-- Indiana State Police say they have captured the 18-year-old man wanted in Pennsylvania double homicide; 14-year-old girl with him is unharmed. (as of 12:30 pm on Monday) -- orginal posting below was 6:20 pm Sunday, Nov. 13.

I'll nuke this from the logs in a day or two.

The Pennsylvania State Police has issued an Amber Child Abduction Alert For the Warwick Township Police Department , Lancaster County.

The Warwick Township Police Department is searching for Kara Beth Borden, white female age 14, 5'1", 100lbs., brown hair with blonde highlights. She was last seen wearing a black sweat shirt with "Pillar" across the front , blue jeans and black sneakers. She was last seen at 8:00 Am on Sunday, 11/13/05 at 15 Royal Drive, Warwick Township, Lancaster County. She was reported abducted at gun point, after the murder of her parents, by David G. Ludwig, white male, age 18, brown hair and eyes.

Last seen operating a red Volkswagen Jetta bearing Pennsylvania registration EHH0994. Anyone with information about this abduction should immediately contact the police by calling 911.

This has been an Amber Child Abduction Alert for the Warwick Township Police Department, Lancaster County.

Affected Counties: Lancaster, Lebanon, Dauphin, Perry, Juniata, York, Cumberland, Adams, Huntington, Mifflin, Snyder, Northumberland, Franklin, Berks, Chester.

eWell Being Awards 2005

The Pittsburgh version of this award could be given at the annual Youth Technology Summit -- a vision of mine.

eWell Being Awards 2005 SustainIT's eWell-Being Awards are the UK's only national Awards that identify and promote social, economic and environmental benefits of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).

Valerie is ready to play in the major leagues

Look who is ready for the big-leagues. Valerie, daughter of a big-time Democratic-party leader, former school board member (PPS is being reinvented), former city council member (with $0 as a capital budget and two oversight boards), and present Allegheny County row-office holder (with the Recorder of Deed's office slated for closure due to Row Office Reform vote).

But, Valerie will be up against Catherine Baker Knoll.

I do like the notion of calling to the ghosts of the past -- as in 1933 -- when the Grays were hot.

See her campaign lift-off speech in the comment section.

She really didn't have a decent reply on the election night coverage on PCNC TV. She was on with Bill Green, James Roddey and a TV host. They all jumped her about her defense that the Pittsburgh financial crisis can't be pinned upon the Democratic party.

This is the same party that had a lock on Grant Street since 1933. "Oh, but they are not the only ones to blame."

Schools Linux project wins award for community building

Folks, we're getting blown away. America is going to slip further behind in terms of teaching and dealing with technology.

This story, an award winner, talks about two areas of South Africa where they installed 150 computer labs with a blend of open source and volunteers.

TECTONIC: Schools Linux project wins award for community building The tuXlabs project was founded by the Shuttleworth Foundation and installs Linux-based PC laboratories into schools in the Western and Eastern Cape and the Limpopo province. The project, which uses volunteers to assist in installing the computers, has installed 150 laboratories in the past two years.

Volunteers that participate in the project are taught how to install, configure and maintain the Linux computer centres. Once they are skilled in the process they in turn teach other volunteers. Learners and teachers at the various schools are also involved in the installation of the computers.

tuXlabs project manager Hilton Theunissen says that what makes this award special, however, is that it is not a technology award. 'We have always said the benefit of open source software is not so much the technology but the opportunities it creates. This award is focused on building capacity, skills and communities. Open source software makes these more accessible.'

This is huge. Furthermore, we are doing nothing. Zippo.

A couple of years ago I tried to establish mini computer labs in a few of the recreation centers in the city. I was part of the Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network. We had a committee devoted to making a significant change with the youth. We wanted to put in six computer labs. We wanted to have a good core of volunteers for on-going support. The initial hardware was already obtained. Comcast has a contract with the city and the high-speed internet should be in 88 facilities already.

We had a flat-out failure due to the city's unwillingness to embrace technology.

This has to change. This will change as soon as I'm elected to city council.

Challenge to PghBloggers.org --- say, how many black men have blogs out of the 300 in the network?

I don't know the answer to this question -- but would like to know. How many blogs are run by black-males within the 300-plus at PghBloggers.org? I've never counted.

Sorry, I missed the last blog-fest as we were in Chicago.

Among the "running mates" there are a few black men engaged in the campaign. But, they don't post to the blog here with any frequency.

So, first question: How many are in the network now? Any? And, does it make sense to do a bit of outreach and get five new bloggers signed up and at the next Blogfest in January?

Black males rare on nation's campuses: "To some degree, said Dr. Larry Davis, dean of the School of Social Work and director of the Center of Race and Social Problems at the University of Pittsburgh, black women fall under the umbrella of the women's movement, but black males have no allies.

'For many of them, there is no such thing as brotherhood. White men aren't saying 'Come on in, brother.' '

Once higher education is no longer an option, their job choices narrow significantly, which can lead to crime, unemployment and imprisonment, said Dr. Davis."

Analysis: Roosevelt aiming to reinvent Pittsburgh's schools

P-G on Pgh Public Schools Nine of the district's 10 high schools posted low achievement test scores last year, and some have posted low scores repeatedly. Two, Peabody and Westinghouse, received a rating of 1 on Rand's performance index.

Mr. Roosevelt said he would appoint a working group to study the high schools and called high school reform 'a serious piece of business ahead of us in Pittsburgh.'

Peabody and Westinghouse should both become single-gender schools. Have the boys go to one location and the girls go to another location.

Oakland Catholic (only for girls) and Central Catholic (boys) are single gender high schools that do very well. Peabody and Westinghouse could be public school rivals to the single-gender, Catholic schools. The single gender, public-school setting gives families in the city another interesting option.

If you don't care for the single-gender setting for your high-schooler, go to one of the other schools in the district, including Schenley that will be much closer, as it moves to R's building.

As for support of the plan -- hell yes. Our school system need an overhaul. To 'reinvent' as the headline says, rubs me the wrong way. But, to overhaul is fine and wanted. Retool and reform, please.

I'd love to be a part of that high school task force. And the second effort (after single-gender schools) to consider is the merger of the sports programs into the W.P.I.A.L.. The city-league kids need to compete with the suburban players.

Missoulian: Ambitious young pols blog it out on the Net

You betch ya. Spoofing is one of the worst crimes on the net.

Missoulian: Ambitious young pols blog it out on the Net “But what started out as something funny was taken too far when they fabricated a response from me. What I don't want them doing is impersonating me to Denny's constituency. That's not funny. That's identity theft.”

New Biz Cards are here.
The next version of the CDs are getting into the pipeline. If you have any Christmas tunes that could be included on our CD, please call.

Peppermint Patty

I'm a Peppermint Patty, so says the quiz, FWIW.
Discover which Peanuts Character fits your answers. Brought to you by Quizilla
Proof? After a game of water polo.

Illness next challenge for Guy Costa -- Get well soon

Guy, for goodness sake, "Get well soon!"

Illness next challenge for Guy Costa - PittsburghLIVE.com Costa has earned a reputation as a fair, hard-working manager who often rolls up his sleeves and works alongside employees repairing roads and working on other infrastructure projects.

That reputation is accurate.

Florida Trailer Trash -- after Wilma

Our Dear Aunt Debbie of Florida, God-Mother of our artist son, sent along these photos from her neck of the woods. Wilma was bad. Very bad.

The pile at the end of our street keeps getting bigger. Your can see a home marked for demolition still stands (sort of) in the middle of it. Two good friends of mine, Terri and Lorraine, live right across from this eye sore. Must be depressing. Both of their places can be repaired at least!

This is true blight. This is "need" personified. Click image for larger views.

Pay raise opponents take aim at lawmakers -- Russ Diamond due to visit South Side on Monday at 7 pm meeting

Hope to see some running mates on the South Side at 7 pm on Monday. we are running -- but not running away from the voters. I'm running to the voters. I am running with the voters. The meeting is being held at the Brashier Assn. community room on Sarah Street, around 21st, just one block off of East Carson Street. It is behind the South Side Steaks (SSS) and next to Phillips Elem. School.

The Herald Standard - Archives - 11/10/2005 - Pay raise opponents take aim at lawmakers 'Lawmakers should run, they should run fast and not look back,' said Russ Diamond, chairman of the citizen activist group PACleanSweep. 'They should realize that things have changed in Pennsylvania.'

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra launches blog

Article from Philly about the new, Pgh blog -- PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra launched a blog to share insights from musicians and others and engage the public in the orchestra's activities.

New Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Blog

New ice-making system for Oly hockey arena -- we've got a failed ice rink too, on the South Side

Ice troubles have hit the city's lone indoor ice rink in recent times too. It's been closed. I think we need people in leadership roles who care to run what we have with energy. We've been squandering our assets, sadly.

SI.com - 2006 Winter Olympics - New ice-making system for Oly hockey arena - Saturday November 12, 2005 4:42PM The ice-making equipment at the secondary hockey arena for the Turin Games will be replaced after failing at an Olympic test event.

Another bad joke with eminent domain. Kick out a tire dealer and put in a different tire dealer.

We should not use eminent domain as it just drives up the prices of doing business for the city. It costs too much. And, the end game is not an advantage. FOXNews.com - Politics - Oakland Seizes Land, Swaps Retailer The city also used its power of eminent domain to obtain the parcel for a commercial retailer, Sears, which wants to put in its tire store.

To a reporter...

I'm going to make a lot of news -- now, later, and in the race. We need to shape a positive conversation that is sustained -- and for the good of the greater community.

Call any time on any issue.

I think Bob O'Connor's win presents, and even demands, great opporutnities for injecting additional insights -- to 'think again.'

P-G says, I am emerging

Candidates seek Ricciardi's council seat Candidates for Pittsburgh City Councilman Gene Ricciardi's seat have begun emerging.

Mark Rauterkus, also of the Flats, said he'll run. He is a stay-at-home dad, author and activist who ran for mayor as a Republican in 2001, and for state Senate as a Libertarian in May.

In special elections, party committee members choose nominees. Often some candidates run as independents. The winner will serve out Mr. Ricciardi's term, which runs through 2007.

The district includes Allentown, Arlington, Arlington Heights, Beltzhoover, Carrick, Knoxville, South Oakland, the South Side Flats and Slopes, St. Clair Village and part of Mount Washington.

I'm also a swim coach.

New Chairman of the Libertarian Party of Allegheny County -- expected shortly

Tim has resigned. Dave is in. More news shortly.

The Allegheny County Libertarian Party is a solid group of concerned citizens. Monthly meetings are held. Minutes are kept. Elections occur each year as scheduled. Funds for operations are managed. Messages get delivered. Interactions and relationships with state-wide and national associates are maintained. And, policy is impacted.

Mark Twain's story on Diplomacy

This may be taken down from the site in a few days so as to not clog the archives.

Last spring I went out to Chicago to see the Fair, and although I did not see it my trip was not wholly lost – there were compensations. In New York I was introduced to a major in the regular army who said he was going to the Fair, and we agreed to go together. I had to go to Boston first, but that did not interfere; he said he would go along, and put in the time. He was a handsome man, and built like a gladiator. But his ways were gentle, and his speech was soft and persuasive. He was
companionable, but exceedingly reposeful. Yes, and wholly destitute of the sense of humor. He was full of interest in everything that went on around him, but his serenity was indestructible; nothing disturbed him, nothing excited him.

But before the day was done I found that deep down in him somewhere he had a passion, quiet as he was – a passion for reforming petty public abuses. He stood for citizenship – it was his hobby. His idea was that every citizen of the republic ought to consider himself an unofficial policeman, and keep unsalaried watch and ward over the laws and their execution. He thought that the only effective way of preserving and protecting public rights was for each citizen to do his share in preventing or punishing such infringements of them as came under his personal notice.

It was a good scheme, but I thought it would keep a body in trouble all the time; it seemed to that one would be always trying to get offending little officials discharged, and perhaps getting laughed at for all reward. But he said no, I had the wrong idea; that there was no occasion to get anybody discharged; that in fact you mustn’t get anybody discharged; that that would itself be a failure; no, one must reform the man – reform him and make him useful where he was.

“Must one report the offender and then beg his superior not to discharge him, but reprimand him and keep him?”

“No, that is not the idea; you don’t report him at all, for then you risk his bread and butter. You can act as if you are going to report him – when nothing else will answer. But that’s an extreme case. That is a sort of force, and force is bad. Diplomacy is the effective thing. Now if a man has tact – if a man will exercise diplomacy -”

For two minutes we had been standing at a telegraph wicket, and during all this time the Major had been trying to get the attention of one of the young operators, but they were all busy skylarking. The Major spoke now, and asked one of them to take his telegram. He got for reply:

“I reckon you can wait a minute, can’t you?” and the skylarking went on.

The Major said yes, he was not in a hurry. Then he wrote another telegram.

“President Western Union Tel. Co.:

“Come and dine with me this evening. I can tell you how business is conducted in one of your branches.”

Presently the young fellow who had spoken so pertly a little before reached out and took the telegram, and when he read it he lost color and began to apologize and explain. He said he would lose his place if this deadly telegram was sent, and he might never get another. If he could be let off this time he would give no cause for complaint again. This compromise was accepted.

As we walked away, the Major said:

“Now, you see, that was diplomacy – and you see how it worked. It wouldn’t do any good to bluster, the way people are always doing – that boy can always give you as good as you send, and you’ll come out defeated and ashamed of yourself pretty nearly always. But you see he stands no
chance against diplomacy. Gentle words and diplomacy – those are the tools to work with.”

“Yes, I see; but everybody wouldn’t have had your opportunity. It isn’t everybody that is on those familiar terms with the president of the Western Union.”

“Oh, you misunderstand. I don’t know the president – I only use him diplomatically. It is for his good and for the public good. There’s no harm in it.”

I said, with hesitation and diffidence:

“But is it ever right or noble to tell a lie?”

He took no note of the delicate self-righteousness of the question, but answered, with undisturbed gravity and simplicity:

“Yes, sometimes. Lies told to injure a person, and lies told to profit yourself are not justifiable, but lies told to help another person, and lies told in the public interest – oh, well, that is quite another matter. Anybody knows that. But never mind about the methods: you see the result. That youth is going to be useful now, and well-behaved. He had a good face. He was worth saving. Why, he was worth saving on his mother’s account if not his own. Of course, he has a mother – sisters, too. Damn these people who are always forgetting that! Do you know, I’ve never fought a duel in my life – never one – and yet have been challenged, like other people. I could always see the other man’s unoffending women folks or his little children standing between him and me. They hadn’t done anything – I couldn’t break their hearts, you know.”

He corrected a good many little abuses in the course of the day, and always without friction – always with a fine and dainty “diplomacy” which left no sting behind; and he got such happiness and such contentment out of these performances that I was obliged to envy him his trade – perhaps would have adopted it if I could have managed the necessary deflections from fact as confidently with my mouth as I believe I could with a pen, behind the shelter of print, after a little practice.

Away late that night we were coming uptown in a horse-car when three boisterous roughs got aboard, and began to fling hilarious obscenities and profanities right and left among the timid passengers, some of whom were women and children. Nobody resisted or retorted; the conductor tried soothing words and moral suasion, but the roughs only called him names and laughed at him. Very soon I saw that the Major realized that this was a matter which was in his line; evidently he was turning over his stock of diplomacy in his mind and getting ready, I felt that he made in this place would bring down a land-slide of ridicule upon him and maybe something worse; but before I could whisper to him and check him, he had begun, and it was too late. He said, in a level and dispassionate tone:

“Conductor, you must put these swine out. I will help you.”

I was not looking for that. In a flash the three roughs plunged at him. But none of them arrived. He delivered three such blows as one could not expect to encounter outside the prize-ring, and neither of the men had life enough left in him to get up from where he fell. The Major dragged them out and threw off the car, and we got under way again.

I was astonished; astonished to see a lamb act so; astonished at the strength displayed, and the clean and comprehensive result; astonished at the brisk and business-like style of the whole thing. The situation had a humorous side to it, considering how much I had been hearing about mild persuasion and gentle diplomacy all day from this pile-driver, and I would have liked to call his attention to that feature and do some sarcasms about it; but when I looked at him I saw that it would be of no use – his placid and contented face had no ray of humor in it; he would not have understood. When we left the car, I said:

“That was a good stroke of diplomacy – three good strokes of diplomacy, in fact.”

“That? That wasn’t diplomacy. You are quite in the wrong.
Diplomacy is a wholly different thing. Once cannot apply it to that sort, they would not understand it. No, that was not diplomacy; it was force.”

“Now that you mention it, I – yes, I think perhaps you are right.”

“Right? Of course I am right. It was just force.”

“I think, myself, it had an outside aspect of it. Do you often have to reform people in that way?”

“Far from it. It hardly ever happens. Not oftener than once in half a year, at the outside.”

“Those men will get well?”

“Get well? Why, certainly they will. They are not in any danger.
I know how to hit and where to hit. You noticed that I did not hit them under the jaw. That would have killed them.”

I believed that. I remarked – rather wittily, as I thought – that he had been a lamb all day, but now had all of a sudden developed into a ram – battering-ram; but with dulcet frankness and simplicity he said no, a battering-ram was quite different thing and not in use now. This was maddening, and I came near bursting out and saying he had no more appreciation of wit than a jackass – in fact, I had it on my tongue, but did not say it, knowing there was no hurry and I could say it just as well some other time over the telephone.

We started to Boston the next afternoon. The smoking-compartment in the parlor-car was full, and we went into the regular smoker. Across the aisle in the front seat sat a meek, farmer-looking old man with a sickly pallor in his face, and he was holding the door open with his foot to get the air. Presently a big brakeman came rushing through, and when he got to the door he stopped, gave the farmer an ugly scowl, then wrenched the door to with such energy as to almost snatch the old man’s boot off. Then on he plunged about his business. Several passengers laughed, and the old gentleman looked pathetically shamed and grieved.

After a little the conductor passed along, and the Major stopped him and asked him a question in his habitually courteous way:

“Conductor, where does one report the misconduct of a brakeman? Does one report to you?”

“You can report him at New Haven if you want to. What has he been doing?”

The Major told the story. The conductor seemed amused. He said, with just a touch of sarcasm in his bland tones:

“As I understand you, the brakeman didn’t say anything.”

“No, he didn’t say anything.”

“But he scowled, you say.”

“Yes.”

“And snatched the door loose in a rough way.”

“Yes, that is the whole of it.”

The conductor smiled pleasantly, and said:

“Well, if you want to report him, all right, but I don’t quite make out what it’s going to amount to. You’ll say – as I understand you – that the brakeman insulted this old gentleman. They’ll ask you what he said.
You’ll say he didn’t say anything at all. I reckon they’ll say, how are you going to make out an insult when you acknowledge yourself that he didn’t say a word.”

There was a murmur of applause at the conductor’s compact reasoning, and it gave him pleasure – you could see it in his face. But the Major was not disturbed. He said:

“There – now you have touched upon a crying defect in the complaint-system. The railway officials – as the public think and as you also seem to think – are not aware that there are any kind of insults except spoken ones. So nobody goes to headquarters and report insults of manners, insults of gestures, look, and so forth; and yet these are sometimes harder to bear than any words. They are bitter hard to bear because there is nothing tangible to take hold of; and the insulter can always say, if called before the railway officials, that he never dreamed of intending any offense. It seems to me that the officials ought to specially and urgently request the public to report unworded affronts and incivilities.”

The conductor laughed, and said:

“Well, that would be trimming it pretty fine, sure!”

“But not too fine, I think. I will report this matter at New Haven, and I have an idea that I’ll be thanked for it.”

The conductor’s face lost something of its complacency; in fact, it settled to a quite sober cast as the owner of it moved away. I said:

“You are not really going to bother with that trifle, are you?”

“It isn’t a trifle. Such things ought always to be reported. It is a public duty, and no citizen has a right to shirk it. But I shan’t have to report this case.”

“Why?”

“It won’t be necessary. Diplomacy will do the business. You’ll see.”

Presently the conductor came a on his rounds again, and when he reached the Major he leaned over and said:

“That’s all right. You needn’t report him. He’s responsible to me, and if he does it again I’ll give him a talking to.”

The Major’s response was cordial:

“Now that is what I like! You mustn’t think that I was moved by any vengeful spirit, for that wasn’t the case. It was duty – just a sense of duty, that was all. My brother-in-law is one of the directors of the road, and when he learns that you are going to reason with your brakeman that very next time he brutally insults an unoffending old man it will please him, you may be sure of that.”

The conductor did not look as joyous as one might have thought he would, but on the contrary looked sickly and uncomfortable. He stood around a little; then said:

“I think something ought to be done to him now. I’ll discharge him.”

“Discharge him? What good would that do? Don’t you think it would be better wisdom to teach him better ways and keep him?”

“Well, there’s something in that. What would you suggest?”

“He insulted the old gentleman in presence of all those people. How would it do to have him come and apologize in their presence?”

“I’ll have him here right off. And I want to say this: If people would do as you’ve done, and report such things to me instead of keeping mum and going off and blackguarding the road, you’d see a different state of things pretty soon. I’m obliged to you.”

The brakeman came and apologized. After he was gone the Major said:

“Now, you see how simple and easy that was. The ordinary citizen would have accomplished nothing – the brother-in-law of a director can accomplish anything he wants to.”

“But are you really the brother-in-law of a director?”

“Always. Always when the public interests require it. I have a brother-in-law on all the boards – everywhere. It saves me a world of trouble.”

“It is a good relationship.”

“Yes. I have over three hundred of them.”

“Is the relationship never doubted by a conductor?”

“I have never met with a case. It is the honest truth – I never have.”

“Why didn’t you let him go ahead and discharge the brakeman, in spite of your favorite policy? You know he deserved it.”

The Major answered with something which really has a sort of distant resemblance to impatience:

“If you would stop and think a moment you wouldn’t ask such a question as that. Is a brakeman a dog, that nothing but dog’s methods will do for him? He is a man, and has a man’s fight for life. And he always has a sister, or a mother, or wife and children to support.
Always – there are no exceptions. When you take his living away from him you take theirs away too – and what have they done to you? Nothing. And where is another just like him? It’s unwisdom. Don’t you see that the rational thing to do is to reform the brakeman and keep him? Of course it is.”

Then he quoted with admiration the conduct of a certain division superintendent of the Consolidated road, in a case where a switchman of two years’ experience was negligent once and threw a train off the track and killed several people. Citizens came in a passion to urge the man’s dismissal, but the superintendent said:

“No, you are wrong. He has learned his lesson, he will throw no more trains off the track. He is twice as valuable as he was before. I shall keep him.”

We had only one more adventure on the trip. Between Hartford and
Springfield the train-boy came shouting in with an armful of literature
and dropped a sample into a slumbering gentleman’s lap, and the man woke
up with a start. He was very angry, and he and a couple of friends
discussed the outrage with much heat. They sent for the parlor-car
conductor and described the matter, and were determined to have the boy
expelled from his situation. The three complainants were wealthy Holyoke
merchants, and it was evident that the conductor stood in some awe of
them. He tried to pacify them, and explained that the boy was not under
his authority, but under that of one of the news companies; but he
accomplished nothing.

Then the Major volunteered some testimony for the defense. He said:

“I saw it all. You gentlemen have not meant to exaggerate the
circumstances, but still that is what you have done. The boy has done
nothing more than all train-boys do. If you want to get his ways softened
down and his manners reformed, I am with you and ready to help, but it
isn’t fair to get him discharged without giving him a chance.”

But they were angry, and would hear no compromise. They were well
acquainted with the president of the Boston & Albany, they said, and would
put everything aside next day and go up to Boston and fix that boy.

The Major said he would be on hand too, and would do what he could
to save the boy. One of the gentleman looked him over, and said:

“Apparently it is going to be a matter of who can wield the most
influence with the president. Do you know Mr. Bliss personally?”

The Major said, with composure:

“Yes; he is my uncle.”

The effect was satisfactory. There was an awkward silence for a
minute or more; then the hedging and the half-confessions of overhaste and
exaggerated resentment began, and it was resolved to drop the matter and
leave the boy’s bread and butter unmolested.

It turned out as I had expected: the president of the road was not
the Major’s uncle at all – except by adoption, and for this day and train
only.

We got into no episodes on the return journey. Probably it was
because we took a night train and slept all the way.

We left New York Saturday night by the Pennsylvania road. After
breakfast the next morning we went into the parlor-car, but found it a
dull place and dreary. There were but few people in it and nothing going
on. Then we went into the little smoking-compartment of the same car and
found three gentlemen in there. Two of them were grumbling over one of
the rules of the road – a rule which forbade card-playing on the trains on
Sunday. They had started an innocent game of high-low-jacket and been
stopped. The Major was interested. He said to the third gentleman:

“Did you object to the game?”

“Not at all. I am a Yale professor and a religious man, but my
prejudices are not extensive.”

Then the Major said to the others:

“You are at perfect liberty to resume your game, gentleman; no one
here objects.”

One of them declined the risk, but the other one said he would like
to begin again if the Major would join him. So they spread an overcoat
over their knees and the game proceeded. Pretty soon the parlor-car
conductor arrived, and said, brusquely:

“There, there, gentlemen, that won’t do. Put up the cards – it’s
not allowed.”

The Major was shuffling. He continued to shuffle, and said:

“By whose order is it forbidden?”

“It’s my order. I forbid it.”

The dealing began. The Major asked:

“Did you invent the idea?”

“What idea?”

“The idea of forbidding card-playing on Sunday.”

“No – of course not.”

“Who did?”

“The company.”

“Then it isn’t your order, after all, but the company’s. Is that
it?”

“Yes. But you don’t stop playing; I have to require you to stop
playing immediately.”

“Nothing is gained by hurry, and often much is lost. Who authorized
the company to issue such an order?”

“My dear sir, that is a matter of no consequence to me, and -”

“But you forget that you are not the only person concerned. It may
be a matter of consequence to me. It is indeed a matter of very great
importance to me. I cannot violate a legal requirement of my country
without dishonoring myself; I cannot allow any man or corporation to
hamper my liberties with illegal rules – a thing which railway companies
are always trying to do – without dishonoring my citizenship. So I come
back to the question: By whose authority has the company issued this
order?”

“I don’t know. That’s their affair.”

“Mine, too. I doubt if the company has any right to issue such a
rule. This road runs through several States. Do you know what State we
are in now, and what its laws are in matters of this kind?”

“Its laws do not concern me, but the company’s orders do. It is my
duty to stop this game, gentleman, and it must be stopped.”

“Possibly; but still there is no hurry. In hotels they post certain
rules in the rooms, but they always quote passages from the State law as
authority of these requirements. I see nothing posted here of this sort.
Please produce your authority and let us arrive at a decision, for you see
yourself that you are marring the game.”

“I have nothing of the kind, but I have my orders, and that is
sufficient. They must be obeyed.”

“Let us not jump to conclusions. It will be better all around to
examine into the matter without heat or haste, and see just where we stand
before either of us makes a mistake – for the curtailing of the liberties
of a citizen of the United States is a much more serious matter than you
and the railroads seem to think, and it cannot be done in my person until
the curtailer proves his right to do so. Now -”

“My dear sir, will you put down those cards?”

“All in good time, perhaps. It depends. You say this order must be
obeyed. Must. It is a strong word. You see yourself how strong it is.
A wise company would not arm you with so drastic an order as this, of
course, without appointing a penalty for its infringement. Otherwise it
runs the risk of being a dead letter and a thing to laugh at. What is the
appointed penalty for an infringement of this law?”

“Penalty? I never heard of any.”

“Unquestionably you must be mistaken. Your company orders you to
come here and rudely break up an innocent amusement, and furnishes you no
way to enforce the order? Don’t you see that that is nonsense. What do
you do when people refuse to obey this order? Do you take the cards away
from them?”

“No.”

“Do you put the offender off at the next station?”

“Well, no – of course we couldn’t if he had a ticket.”

“Do you have him up before a court?”

The conductor was silent and apparently troubled. The Major started
a new deal, and said:

“You see that you are helpless, and that the company has placed you
in a foolish position. You are furnished with an arrogant order, and you
deliver it in a blustering way, and when you come to look into the matter
you find you haven’t any way of enforcing obedience.”

The conductor said, with chill dignity:

“Gentlemen, you have heard the order, and my duty is ended. As to
obeying it or not, you will do as you think fit.” And he turned to leave.

“But wait. The matter is not yet finished. I think you are
mistaken about your duty being ended; but if it really is, I myself have a
duty to perform yet.”

“How do you mean?”

“Are you going to report my disobedience at headquarters in
Pittsburgh?”

“No. What good would that do?”

“You must report me, or I will report you.”

“Report me for what?”

“For disobeying the company’s orders in not stopping this game. As
a citizen it is my duty to help the railway companies keep their servants
to their work.”

“Are you in earnest?”

“Yes, I am in earnest. I have nothing against you as a man, but I
have this against you as an officer – that you have not carried out that
order, and if you do not report me I must report you. And I will.”

The conductor looked puzzled, and was thoughtful for a moment; then
he burst out with:

“I seem to be getting myself into a scrape! It’s all a muddle; I
can’t make head or tail of it; it’s never happened before; they always
knocked under and never said a word, and so I never saw how ridiculous
that stupid order with no penalty is. I don’t want to report anybody, and
I don’t want to be reported – why, it might do me no end of harm! Now do
go on with the game – play the whole day if you want – and don’t let’s
have any more trouble about it!”

“No – I only sat down here to establish this gentleman’s rights – he
can have his place now. But before you go won’t you tell me what you
think the company made this rule for? Can you imagine an excuse for it?
I mean a rational one – an excuse that is not on its face silly, and the
invention of an idiot?”

“Why surely, I can. The reason it was made is plain enough. It is
to save the feelings of the other passengers – the religious ones among
them, I mean. They would not like it, to have the Sabbath desecrated by
card-playing on the train.”

“I just thought as much. They are willing to desecrate it
themselves by traveling on Sunday, but they are not willing that other
people -”

“By gracious, you hit it! I never thought of that before. The fact
is, it is a silly rule when you come to look into it.”

At this point the train-conductor arrived, and was going to shut
down the game in a very high-handed fashion, but the parlor-car conductor
stopped him and took him aside to explain. Nothing more was heard of the
matter.

I was ill in bed eleven days in Chicago and got no glimpse of the
Fair, for I was obliged to return east as soon as I was able to travel.
The Major secured and paid for a state-room in a sleeper the day before we
left, so that I could have plenty of room and be comfortable; but when we
arrived at the station a mistake had been made and our car had not been
put on. The conductor had reserved a section for us – it was the best he
could do, he said. But the Major said we were not in a hurry, and would
wait for the car to be put on. The conductor responded, with pleasant
irony:

“It may be that you are not in a hurry, just as you say, but we are:
Come, get aboard, gentlemen, get aboard – don’t keep us waiting.”

But the Major would not get aboard himself nor allow me to do it.
He wanted his car, and said he must have it. This made the hurried and
perspiring conductor impatient, and he said:

“It’s the best we can do – we can’t do impossibilities. You will
take the section or go without. A mistake has been made and can’t be
rectified at this late hour. It’s a thing that happens now and then, and
there is nothing for it but to put up with it and make the best of it.
Other people do.”

“Ah, that is just it, you see. If they had stuck to their rights
and enforced them you wouldn’t be trying to trample mine underfoot in this
bland way now. I haven’t any disposition to give you unnecessary trouble,
but it is my duty to protect the next man from this kind of imposition.
So I must have my car. Otherwise I will wait in Chicago and sue the
company for violating its contract.”

“Sue the company? - for a thing like that!”

“Certainly.”

“Do you really mean it?”

“Indeed, I do.”

The conductor looked the Major over wonderingly, and then said:

“It beats me – it’s bran-new – I’ve never struck the mate to it
before. But I swear I think you’d do it. Look here, I’ll send for the
station-master.”

When the station-master came he was a good deal annoyed – at the
Major, not at the person who had made the mistake. He was rather brusque,
and took the same position which the conductor had taken in the beginning;
but he failed to move the soft-spoken artilleryman, who still insisted
that he must have his car. However, it was plain that there was only one
strong side in this case, and that that side was the Major’s. The
station-master banished his annoyed manner, and became pleasant and even
half-apologetic. This made a good opening for a compromise, and the Major
made a concession. He said he would give up the engaged state-room, but
he must have a state-room. After a deal of ransacking, one was found
whose owner was persuadable; he exchanged it for our section, and we got
away at last. The conductor called on us in the evening, and was kind and
courteous and obliging, and we had a long talk and got to be good friends.
He said he wished the public would make trouble oftener – it would have a
good effect. He said that the railroads could not be expected to do their
whole duty by the traveler unless the traveler would take some interest in
the matter himself.

I hoped that we were done reforming for the trip now, but it was not
so. In the hotel-car, in the morning, the Major called for broiled
chicken. The waiter said:

“It’s not in the bill of fare, sir; we do not serve anything but
what is in the bill.”

“That gentleman yonder is eating a broiled chicken.”

“Yes, but that is difference. He is one of the superintendents of
the road.”

“Then all the more must I have broiled chicken. I do not like these
discriminations. Please hurry – bring me a broiled chicken.”

The waiter brought the steward, who explained in a low and polite
voice that the thing was impossible – it was against the rule, and the
rule was rigid.

“Very well, then, you must either apply it impartially or break it
impartially. You must take that gentleman’s chicken away from him or
bring me one.”

The steward was puzzled, and did not quite know what to do. He
began an incoherent argument, but the conductor came along just then, and
asked what the difficulty was. The steward explained that here was a
gentleman who was insisting on having a chicken when it was dead against
the rule and not in the bill. The conductor said:

“Stick by your rules – you haven’t any option. Wait a minute – is
this the gentleman?” Then he laughed and said: “ Never mind your rules -
it’s my advice, and sound; give him anything he wants – don’t get him
started on his rights. Give him whatever he asks for; and if you haven’t
got it, stop the train and get it.”

The Major ate the chicken, but said he did it from a sense of duty
and to establish a principle, for he did not like chicken.

I missed the Fair it is true, but I picked up some diplomatic tricks
which I and the reader may find handy and useful as we go along.

Half Price Tickets -- if you want to risk the seat's availability

From Jerry Starr....

Please check out the Post-Gazette op-ed page today for an editorial by Jules Lobel and me on the Guantanamo detainee controversy. Today’s City Paper and tomorrow’s Post-Gazette also will contain previews of this weekend’s play, Guantanamo: Honor Bound to Defend Freedom.

I want you to be the first to know that, in an effort to make the play available to as many as possible, we have decided to offer half price tickets (just $25) thirty minutes before each performance. Seating is open and a buffet reception with opportunity for discussion follows every performance.

Showtimes are Friday and Saturday at 8:00pm and Sunday matinee at 2:00pm at the Open Stage Theatre, 2835 Smallman Street in the Strip District (412-257-4056).

Again, just come 30 minutes early to purchase half-price tickets. Proceeds go to the theatre and to the Center for Constitutional Rights, the legal advocate for the rights of the Guantanamo detainees.

For those are curious, I have attached a copy of the program, which can be downloaded with Adobe Reader 6.0.

Jerry Starr, Producer, Guantanamo: Honor Bound to Defend Freedom.

Chicago --- it is nice to be back.

Chicago, here we come!

My wife and I are in Chicago. We are celebrating our anniversary. We flew from Pittsburgh tp O'Hare with first class seats. That was a suprise for me and my kids kept the secret. They wanted to come instead of us because of that upgrade (frequent flyer miles).

Catherine is a visiting scholar at Northwestern University. She meets with faculty today. Tonight we'll all socialize. On Friday she presents to students most of the day.

I'm blogging from the computer area of the massive, beautiful Chicago Public Library. I had a morning business meeting with Mitch at Triumph Books. More on that later.

Last night's meeting with friends has uncovered another interesting blog story to -- and you'll have to wait on that too. Just no time now. Our friends, Mead and Gail, have this company and they were on the phone to The White House while we were there. They are getting set for the China trip, and I'll keep you in suspense....

Another victory for science and public schools -- Dover

All eight members up for re-election to the Pennsylvania-base school board that had been sued for introducing the teaching of intelligent design as an alternative to evolution in biology class were swept out of office yesterday by a slate of challengers who campaigned against the intelligent design policy.