Nice guy finishes first | UGA | ajc.com

Steeler Nation, down south juking -- with them junk yard dawgs.

Nice guy finishes first | UGA | ajc.com: "Nice guy finishes first
By Chip Towers, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Really enjoyed watching the Super Bowl this past Sunday. I went in not sure who I was rooting for but it quickly became apparent that I wanted Pittsburgh to win. Why? Mainly because of Hines Ward.
I had the pleasure of covering Ward when he came to Georgia in 1994. I�d like to say I was the first who tabbed greatness for him but that wouldn�t be the truth. His high school coach at Forest Park, Mike Parris, told me while Ward was still being recruited that I�d see him flourish in the NFL some day. Now I�ve known Parris since we both attended Redan High School in the late 1970s but, impressive stats aside, I couldn�t see the type of world-class athleticism in Ward that my friend described, not in this slightly undersized but extremely versatile teenager. But I would get a first-hand look over the next four years as Ward played tailback, quarterback and wide receiver for the Dogs. Parris had said Ward could play virtually any position and, to this day, believes he would have been one of the best safeties in the game. I don�t doubt it now.
But what truly separated Ward was the type of person he was/is."

ThePittsburghChannel.com - News - Team 4: 'All-Out Assault' Planned On Media, Lawmaker Says

A sales tax on advertising. Give me a break.

ThePittsburghChannel.com - News - Team 4: 'All-Out Assault' Planned On Media, Lawmaker Says Team 4: 'All-Out Assault' Planned On Media, Lawmaker Says

SI.com - 2006 Winter Olympics - Scott Niedermayer to miss Games for Canada - Wednesday February 8, 2006 7:21PM

Closer -- but still no Penguin is headed to the Olympics.

SI.com - 2006 Winter Olympics - Scott Niedermayer to miss Games for Canada - Wednesday February 8, 2006 7:21PM Florida Panthers defenseman Jay Bouwmeester was added to the Canadian roster to take Niedermayer's place.

A special election will be held April 11 to replace Habay.

Humm.... What's up with this? Insights welcomed.

Nonprofits are leading the charge....

Charge -- as in credit card charges?

OnQ Presents: Our Region's Next Renaissance
Tune in Thurs., Feb. 9 starting at 7:30 p.m. on WQED tv13

The Pittsburgh region's next renaissance is underway, and local nonprofits are leading the charge. In this installment, "OnQ" correspondent Tonia Caruso begins the coverage with a trip to Waynesburg, Greene County, where residents take an active role in non-profit revitalization projects.

Stay tuned after "OnQ" for another half-hour devoted to civic engagement. It's a live Town Hall meeting hosted by Chris Moore, who will take questions from viewers and a studio audience. Chris will be joined by Gregg Behr (The Forbes Funds), Aradhna Dhanda (Leadership Pittsburgh) and Gregory Crowley (Coro Center for Civic Leadership) to talk about how Pittsburgh's nonprofits are leading our region's next renaissance. We'll look at success stories and critical issues that need to be addressed. And we'll also talk about how nonprofits are working together to make a difference. If you can't join us in the studio, pick up the phone and call in with a question or comment. This program is the fourth of five town hall meetings to be held each month through March 2006.

The nonprofits have a place in Pittsburgh. However, that place needs to be contained. I've called for a complete moratorium on all nonprofit land expansion within the city limits. If the nonprofits want to expand, they should do it upward, not outward.

412-email blast: Winter Games Medal Count Contest generates first participants!

Hi Everyone!

See the 412-public-campaign archives to see the message that was sent to my blast list.

[412] Olympic contests: Predict the USA Medal Haul and Predict the Top 5 Nations at Winter Games in total medals

The entries are starting to flow. Two in the first 40 minutes. Here is one comment:

no prob..i dont even know how i got on this mailing list, but i
couldnt help it..i play fantasy sports every year (everything except
olympics), but i just LOVE this kinda stuff..

steelers..woohooo!

Connected rings.

Calling All Citizens.... Events for Elect.Rauterkus.com this week include:

Community Candidate for Pgh's City Council, Mark Rauterkus, hosts two events to discuss policies of our neighborhood and Pittsburgh this week:

You're invited. Bring your questions. Free and open to to the public.

8 pm on Wednesday, Feb 8 at South Side Athletic Club 2026 East Carson Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203 412.488.1120

6:30 pm on Thursday, Feb 9 at Three Rivers Fitness & Sports Medicine Center
3216 Fifth Avenue, Oakland, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 412.621 8380

When you attend, you'll be able to get, for free, a copy of the Elect.Rautekrus.com campaign CD featuring messages from Mark Rauterkus coupled with recorded songs, perfect for our city these days:

Lay The Shovel Down,
Think Again,
Don't Put Me In a Box,
A Nation of Burgers and Fries
Story: Diamonds (about baseball),
Poem: Suffering Democracy.


For further info, Mark@Rauterkus.com, 412 298 3432

Election day: March 14, 2006.
Framework for Mark Rauterkus: Freedom, Future, Fitness and Flow

Olympic Contests Launched

Let's have some fun with the start of the Olympics. I'm helping to promote a little contest. You too can promote it was well. It is simple.

USA, USA, USA --- and Hockey fame! This is a photo of the recent movie, Miracle on Ice, taken in China outside a cinema there.

Make a guess (or prediction) of the NUMBER of Gold, Silver and Bronze medals that are going to be won by the USA at the Winter Olympics in 2006.

Gold = ____
Silver = ____
Bronze = ____

Make a guess (or prediction) by ranking the top five nations in terms of total medals won at the Olympics in 2006:

Country with the most total medals = ___________
Country getting 2nd most in total medal count = ___________
Country getting 3rd most in total medal count = ___________
Country getting 4th most in total medal count = ___________
Country getting 5th most in total medal count = ___________

Submit your answers with name, age, address, and email to Mark@Rauterkus.com, or post them on the blog, http://Rauterkus.blogspot.com, or put them on paper and submit them to Three Rivers Fitness and Sports Medicine Clinic in Oakland, 3216 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. (Call 412.621 8380 for directions.)

Note, all answers are due on or before Feb 13, 2006. Entries on the 14th or later are not eligible for a prizes.

Cost nothing to enter. Prizes for the winners are pending, but will include a number of good things -- we promise. I'm sure winners can will get a new Liberty XL t-shirt, an artistic Pittsburgh button and a free CD of great music that includes the tune, "Lay the Shovel Down," and "Think Again."

Entries can be posted on the blog, here. Or, via email to Mark@Rauterkus.com, or handed over to the front desk workers at Three Rivers Fitness and Sports Medicine Center in Oakland. No official entry form is necessary. Please, one entry per person, per contest.

The aim of the contest is to make the Olympics more enjoyable for the kids of all ages. This might give more motivation to watch, research and read about in the events in newspapers and on the web. The contest can be an exercise among families and friends in terms of global and sporting literacy.

Additional prize donations are being accepted. If you'd like to print up your own entry forms, go for it. Then you'd be able to hand them out to your classroom or school children.

Are you ready for some football -- errr --- Olympics!

The Winter Olympics are about to begin. I'm not sure this town is ready -- as most are hung-over from the black-and-gold victory. But, the world awaits.

We are gathering this week to talk about sports and recreation at two health clubs. Come on out.

Do iPod earbuds cause problems? - My wife got ink today in the P-G.

My wife got some ink in today's P-G.

Do iPod earbuds cause problems?: "Dr. Catherine Palmer, director of audiology at the Eye and Ear Institute at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, said the personal responsibility defense breaks down, however, when talking about children.

'People often don't know when they're doing damage to their ears because your ears don't just start bleeding. It's an insidious kind of slow process,' she said.

'We don't limit the sales of any of these devices by age in this country, so we kind of expect kids to be responsible.'

Dr. Palmer and others still said common sense is the best policy, especially for parents. If they can hear music from a child's earphones more than a yard away, it is too loud. Children should also be warned about turning up their iPods -- and other music devices -- to overcome ambient noise in buses or other commonly loud places.

To be absolutely safe, UPMC will make a mold of a patient's ears and make headphones that cancel out most outside noise, allowing music to be played more quietly. They cost between $70 and $120. The hospital will also check decibel outputs of music devices."

My wife and sweetheart (Feb 14 is almost here), is Catherine V. Palmer, Ph.D., Director of Audiology at UPMC's Eye and Ear Institute -- and -- she has a joint appointement with the Univ. of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehab Sciences.

Taking care of your health is a good thing.

Using common sense is a good thing too.

And, going out of our way to take care of the kids, with special hand holding is also a good thing as well.

So, rock on, with fidelity, and within normal limits.

I want to chat on Gmail -- and give this a whirl. Interested?

The Gmail email service has a new CHAT feature that is rolling out to different users in the weeks to come. I'm a big fan of chats. So, anyone want to give this a whirl? Let me know.

My Gmail handle is Mark.Rauterkus -at- Gmail dot com.

Scranton is out of race for PA Governor. Lynn Swann is too much -- with the Super Bowl en 'at.

Scranton's campaign for change goes poof and he is wise to call it quits. He challenged the status quo by standing with the people for clean government and honest reform. We do believe Pennsylvania deserves a government that does its business openly, and in the clear light of day. Public service is the highest calling and it is the first duty of elected leaders to conduct the people’s business with integrity.

Scranton's campaign for governor has been about renewing Pennsylvania and calling on the leaders to return to our historic platform of limited government and personal responsibility. Without these changes, Republicans risk losing the confidence of the people and Pennsylvania’s stalled return to greatness may never occur.

Pennsylvania’s Republican establishment was opposed to Scranton's call for an open primary.

Scranton was sure to wish his best to both Lynn Swann and Jim Panyard. He is going to extend full, unequivocal support to the nominee that emerges in May.

---

Lynn Swann on Bill Scranton Exiting the Race

Bill Scranton made a difficult decision today. I applaud him for his leadership, both in the past as Lt. Governor and today as someone with an interest in seeing the Republican Party unified as we move towards our ultimate goal - defeating Ed Rendell. I look forward to working with Bill and his supporters.

Bill's competition for this nomination has contributed a great deal to the debate about making the Commonwealth a better place for all Pennsylvanians. We all agree on one thing, Pennsylvania must do better.

Our current governor thinks Pennsylvania is as good as it can be. I know we can do better, and I look forward to a spirited campaign revolving around the issues important to Pennsylvania families.

Champion Steelers parade through clogged Downtown

Champion Steelers parade through clogged Downtown Several people reported feet or ankles were run over.

My heart does NOT bleed for these big footed, foolish fans. I don't think that the cars ran up and onto the sidewalks.

Heck, when #36, went past, where I was standing to watch, I could not even see what type of car he was ridding upon. It could have been a skateboard for all I could see. The women next to me didn't see The Bus at all -- until he was a block down the street. There, that's his brown coat. She did get a peek at the S.B. trophy when he raised it into the air however.

Why didn't The Bus ride upon a PAT Bus? Or, why not even a school bus?

I spoke today at City Council Chambers -- and gave the police a letter grade of "A" for their efforts after the game on Sunday night. (See the post yet to come.) At the parade today, they grade isn't as high.

Seemed like the players and parade participants needed a good blocking back. Where is Rockey, #20, when you need him. They did squeeze through the crowd -- but #7 had more room to spare in his Super Bowl Touch Down than was provided today along the route.

Allegheny County Council member Eileen Watt resigning

This is how a campion of the people operates. Three cheers for Ms. Watt. You should have been in the parade today.

Allegheny County Council member Eileen Watt resigning: Allegheny County Council member Eileen Watt announced this afternoon that she would step down at the end of council's meeting this evening.

Ms. Watt, who has been mentioned as a possible candidate for the seat in the state House now held by Frank Dermody, D-Oakmont, said she was resigning from council 'due to a restriction on candidates for other office who would also serve on County Council.'

The others -- you only have time against you. Do the right thing and GET OUT NOW.

I am a member of the Libertarian party -- but -- there is more.

Sure, I'm a member of the Libertarian Party. However, I'm the vice-chair of the Allegheny County Libertarian Party. That's an elected postion. Last year, 2005, I was an elected board member. This year, I'm the second highest official in the party. This isn't just for District 3, nor for the city, but for Allegheny County.

So, "Mark Rauterkus, Libertarian," works fine.

Or, if space permits, "Mark Rauterkus, vice-chair of the Libertarian Party of Allegheny County" is accurate. More concise, "Mark Rauterkus, vice-chair of Allegheny County Libertarians."

There is a Republican in the race for city council, on paper. He has yet to appear at any candidate function. He was a no-show again last night when the community gathered in Arlington. These events are on my calendar -- and -- I've offered to share my calendar with him. I don't like it when there is a candidate night and everyone isn't invited. But, I can't do much more than offer to be staight-forward and honest with the dates to him and to others.

Five years ago, I wasn't happy with the way the city was being led. We were on the wrong track. I had had enough. So, I joined the opposition and tried my best to oust the top guy in town -- mayor Tom Murphy, D. I ran around town, networking with citizens and building solutions where I could.

So, I think it is important to put up an opposition. It is important to fight the give-a-ways. It is important to preserve and sustain our rights -- week in and week out.

I want to be certain that we include others and go away from our one-party town legacy. But, for this to occur, other viable alternatives are necessary.

A Republican that is going to skip candidate functions -- all of them so far -- and not work to make Pittsburgh better, in the slightest, isn't to be counted upon as a helper in our general struggle for survival. I have no problem with people sitting on the sidelines, being busy with their life's work, giving family time, whatever. Fine. But a candidate that is a continual no-show has to be questioned.

Ink 1 in So Pgh Reporter

Mr. Rauterkus said he is 'well-equipped' to handle the issues facing the district which includes protecting the freedoms of all citizens in the community. He cited the parking permit program as an example.

He believes this is just a 'backdoor way to a tax increase' and believes agencies such as the URA inhibit the city from growing properly. He opposes any sort of parking-permit program. Most of the other candidates believe permit-parking is a necessity for some urban residents who lose their parking spaces for eight to 10 hours at a time due to suburban commuters who park their cars on the South Side Flats en route to their jobs downtown or in Oakland. Most candidates believe permit-parking is okay if there is a clear consensus within the neighborhood.

Mr. Rauterkus is also upset about a system that allows those who do not pay their taxes to get away with it while "punishing" hard-working citizens who maintain their homes and pay their taxes. He said the tax burden is falling more and more on the shoulders of the law-abiders. He believes if something is not done about correcting this imbalance of leniency for the law-breakers (while putting more of a burden on lawful citizens), the good residents are going to continue to flee the city for the suburbs."

Here is another quote within the article.

Mr. Rauterkus said he is not in favor of privatizing city services such as garbage collection and public works. However, he favors privatizing "a new arena, the convention center and downtown department stores like Lazarus" which should not be given public funding and tax breaks for aiding the private businesses.

BTW, my last name was spelled wrong throughout the article.

Ink in the South Pgh Reporter - 2 articles

Mark Rauterkus, of the South Side, is a Libertarian. "I'm angry and agitated at the way the city is led," he said. He is particularly angry about deals, such as the tax increment financing proposals being studied by the school board. "These big ticket items are killing us," he said.

Parade today and no school at North Allegheny HS

The south side does not disappoint | pittsburgh bloggers

The south side does not disappoint | pittsburgh bloggers: "And it seriously reminded me of heaven. Because you saw all these social groups unified in the strangest of ways. Punks were hugging yuppies. Jocks were high-fivin� goths. Everyone was unified under the black and gold."

Almost heaven, West Virginia -- sang John Denver. Woops, wrong decade.

Nice post. Good times on the street too.

I'd not be too liberal with your boasting about taking cash for a lift to Crafton -- as the city might charge you a EMS Tax. That $56 would take a bit out of your enjoyment and it comes right off the top, before you get paid.

Those EMS taxes are hitting hard with January pay checks now.

What campaign headquarters has its own concert hall?

Take a peek at our venue for hosting concerts.

http://S6.CLOH.Org/art/concert-hall.avi

This is a small movie without any music, yet. And, it is still uploading so it might not work for the next few minutes.