Santonio

Does this guy know how to catch the headlines or what? I hope he doesn't mind being in the limelight when there is a football game too.

Here is a blog mention and 'toast' to 'smartness and wide eyes.' Be like an owl to better see trouble before it happens -- and even at night -- all in black and gold.

The image is a papercut.

Gather dot com home page hits two HOME RUNS on first blush

Welcome | GatherPeople share perspectives on everything from politics to parenting.

Would you look at that --- Parenting and POLITICS, both, right on the top of the home page. Was that a "fathers day fluke" or "for real?"

Big 33 Classic: Pa.-Ohio matchup needs a new contract

Wow #1: Big 33 Classic: This may be last Pa.-Ohio matchup History lesson: There has never been a Super Bowl without a former Big 33 player.

Wow #2: Way to go Pine Richland High School Baseball Team!

Wow #3: PIAA Class AA champions: Riverside Panthers win title, 7-4 The win pushed Riverside into an elite class. The Panthers are only the fourth team in PIAA history to win back-to-back titles, and only the second from the WPIAL to do the double take.

Open Thread: Happy Fathers Day -- and lessons from Dads

One life lesson from my Dad was, "Would-a, should-a, and could-a don't mean shit. It is the "do-a-s" that count."

Tell us something that you'd like to share about your dad or parenting in the comments section, or email Mark at Rauterkus.com and I'll repost.

Join Us at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium for Fathers' Day

My family and I will be greeting dads and others at the zoo on Sunday, Fathers' Day. Dads get in for free when they are with a child.

Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium: "Sunday, June 18, 2006
Verizon Yellow Pages Fathers Day
Celebrate Fathers Day at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. Dads receive free admission all day when accompanied by a child.

In addition to free admission dads can check out cars from the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix and win a Golden Dad reward kit as the National Fatherhood Initiative spots 'Golden Dads' in action.

Editorial: All-star effort / The Pirates should speak up about sweatshops

From Saturday, June 17, 2006, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Would you mind if that Pittsburgh Pirates shirt you bought last week was sewn by a 14-year-old girl in Bangladesh during her 12th hour of labor in a factory that pays her in pocket change and certainly no overtime?

Polls have shown that most Americans do mind. And certainly Pittsburghers, with their long tradition of improving labor conditions through collective bargaining, are even more likely to balk at their hometown team's shirts being manufactured in sweatshops.
Major League Baseball, not the Pirates, signs the contracts with the companies that sell the stuff bearing team logos and arranges for its manufacture. The Pittsburgh Anti-Sweatshop Community Alliance has asked the Pirates to ask Major League Baseball to take the same measures that hundreds of universities across the country have to ensure that merchandise sporting their names isn't made by people trapped in grotesque working conditions.

The Pirates have responded by asking Major League Baseball to take a look at the issue of sweatshops -- not to resolve it, just mull it. Major League Baseball has assured the alliance that the players' uniforms and caps are made in the United States and that it requires companies contracting for manufacture of fan merchandise, almost always overseas, to "comply with all applicable labor laws."

Is it fine, then, if the local labor laws in Bangladesh allow 14-year-olds to work 12 hours for pennies without overtime?

Nearly 160 universities, including Duquesne, Penn State and Carnegie Mellon, deal with this by including a code of conduct for labor conditions in their contracts with these companies and by joining an organization that investigates workers' complaints.
It's not perfect. The group checks only a few of the thousands of factories around the world. Still, it's some policing.

The alliance plans to conduct a sweatshop information "carnival" on July 11, the day of the All-Star Game in Pittsburgh. The Pirates should head it off by asking Major League Baseball to make a real attempt at enforcement. It's not too much to ask.

CMU walks off tee of city golf course

We don't golf. But, that does NOT mean I do not care about this deal and this asset. I don't play hockey either -- but I also care about the closed, indoor ice rink -- another closed asset of the city's. We all need to care a bit about the assets of the city -- as these are owned by the PEOPLE -- and they can make our shared spaces vibrant, and in turn, a safer city.

CMU walks off tee of city golf course - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Carnegie Mellon University is quitting as the caretaker of Pittsburgh's only golf course.

The university has operated Schenley Park Golf Course since May 1993, but will allow its contract with the city to expire by May 2007 -- possibly sooner.

That means Mayor Bob O'Connor must find a new course manager or risk saddling the city with operating costs it would be hard-pressed to afford."

What is needed, above all else -- when this type of discussion begins -- is a PITTSBURGH PARK DISTRICT. We need park people, coaches, and users of all these assets to look at the landscape on more global ways.

Illinois has a different wrinkle in its style and method of government that is lacking in Pennsylvania. We can fix that.

The Whacky Business of Pittsburgh Politics

By Mike Ference, a.k.a. The Mon Dawn

I think Pittsburgh City Council should hold off trying to appoint an ethics committee. I’m afraid that too many elected officials in the commonwealth of PA can not accurately select such a person. One must only glance at recent headlines of former PA Gaming Commission officers, employees and thugs who have severely stained the agency’s reputation for many years to come with their alleged criminal behavior.

Similar headlines have also tarnished (albeit an already tarnished image of law enforcement and politics) Mon Valley Municipal Government’s ability to select Police Chiefs in at least two municipalities where they have been investigated and determined to be criminals (how many more Mon Valley police chiefs are under investigation or need to be investigated still remains to be determined).

Let’s not leave out the County Sheriff’s office that recently said farewell to two long-time, top-level police officers so they could learn the skill of crafting license plates. Not to mention Sheriff DeFazio’s refusal to answer questions in front of a federal grand jury, claiming the fifth amendment as a legitimate reason to do so. Last time I tried that fifth amendment stuff to protect an associate in the 12th grade I got whacked with a paddle. Perhaps, Sheriff DeFazio fears the same recourse.

So you see, maybe, just maybe Pittsburgh Council should adopt and wait and see attitude before launching into a search for an ethics committee. Sad to say, politicians just don’t seem to have a large enough network when it comes to finding decent human beings to help with the day-to-day business of keeping crime out of our government.

Ethics panel -- not shakey start -- way worse!

Ethics panel off to a shaky start - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review According to the City Code, board members may not hold a public office, be part of a political committee or work for the city or state.

But that didn't stop Councilman Daniel Deasy from nominating Sheraden District Judge Randy C. Martini, or Councilman Jim Motznik from tapping Carrick District Judge Richard G. King. Both Martini and King are public office holders and state employees.


Councilman Jeffrey Koch nominated a member of his own office staff, former District Judge Eileen Conroy.

'How can you have someone who works for you sit in judgement of you? It's ridiculous,' said Joe Weinroth, vice chairman of the Pittsburgh Republican Committee. 'You're supposed to get unconnected, unaffiliated people that won't be under political pressure.'

Duhhh.....

Conservatism vs. Libertarianism

by Jacob G. Hornberger

Jacob Hornberger is founder and president of The Future of Freedom Foundation.

The Conservative:

I'm a conservative. I believe in individual liberty, free markets, private property, and limited government, except for:

1. Social Security;

2. Medicare;

3. Medicaid;

4. Welfare;

5. Drug laws;

6. Public schooling;

7. Federal grants;

8. Economic regulations;

9. Minimum-wage laws and price controls;

10. Federal Reserve System;

11. Paper money;

12. Income taxation and the IRS;

13. Trade restrictions;

14. Immigration controls;

15. The postal monopoly;

16. Foreign aid;

17. Foreign wars of aggression;

18. Foreign occupations;

19. An overseas military empire;

20. A standing army and a military-industrial complex;

21. Infringements on civil liberties;

22. Military detentions and denial of due process and jury trials for citizens and non-citizens accused of crimes;

23. Torture and sex abuse of prisoners;

24. Secret kidnappings and "renditions" to brutal foreign regimes for purposes of torture;

25. Secret torture centers around the world;

26. Secret courts and secret judicial proceedings;

27. Warrantless wiretapping of citizens and non-citizens;

28. Violations of the Constitution and Bill of Rights for purposes of "national security"; and

29. Out-of-control federal spending to pay for all this.

The Libertarian:

I'm a libertarian. I believe in individual liberty, free markets, private property, and limited government. Period. No exceptions.

Riverlife Competition dot org

The winning California design team should have made a trip to Pittsburgh in the winter. The sort of curved ramp swinging way out from the bridge will be unwalkable in windy and cold weather and will also as positioned as a block the view to the Point for much of the drive over the bridge.

The rendering makes it look exciting but the reality in the cold dark of winter is much different. For women walking the bridge they would be feel unsafe and trapped by having them so far away from the the flow of traffic.

I'm confused about the walkway being on both sides of the bridge, upstream on the city side and downstream. Getting double the walkway woul drequire a considerably greater budget.

It would be much better to make one bridge span and then make another bridge span elsewhere. How about a bridge span under the Liberty Bridge? Or, perhaps we need better bikeways from Stuben Street through the West End Circle so one can get on a bike path at the foot of the West End Bridge. How can one get down from Mt. Washington or around on Rt. 51 from Brookline and zip onto that bikeway on the bridge. So, lets not cross the river twice where one functional bridge passing is necessary and the second is just silly.

Bike Tour -- No War

Dirt Rag {Web Rag: News} Darryl Purpose and Kevin Deame, the men behind the 2006 Coalesce Bike Tour for Peace, left Los Angeles on April 23rd and plan to pedal into Washington, DC on June 23rd to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Great Peace March for Global Nuclear Disarmament.

The purpose of the trip is to promote peace and an end to the war in Iraq. The ride is not a fundraiser for any organization, but rather an educational tour and 'a good way to get back in shape' according to the riders, although there will be several events to raise money for local peace and justice organizations. Coincidentally, the tour is visiting Dirt Rag's home town of Pittsburgh, PA on June 19th.

Rider Darryl Purpose is a musician and he is using the bike ride to promote his new live CD, Live at Coalesce. Darryl will be performing a free concert in Pittsburgh at a gig that runs from 6:00-9:00 p.m. on June 19th at the Union Project Great Hall, corner of Stanton and North Negley in the Highland Park section of town. The gig also includes additional musical acts and speakers. There will also be an opportunity to ride with Darryl earlier in the day. Click here for more info on Darryl's Pittsburgh visit.

The crew of the Coalesce Bike Tour for Peace are posting the gory details of life on the road on their official blog.

Tentative OK given to Lincoln-Lemington strip mall plan

Tentative OK given to Lincoln-Lemington strip mall plan - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Members Jeff Koch and Tonya Payne were not present for the vote.

Is this a trend or just my worst fears?

Jeff -- where are you on this vote? Do you side with the community groups? Or do you side with the developers?

Jeff was absent in the first moments of the revealing of the office expense accounts. But, then again, Jeff has hardly been there to spend any money in the office. But since, he has put up his sending in an on-line fashion so all can see -- so I was told.

Think again --- there they go again, using my 'slogan.'

Think again!

Pop City - Selling Pittsburgh: "Think it’s hard to recruit the best and brightest talent to Pittsburgh? Think again.

(giggle)

Have you heard the song, "Think again?" on my campaign CD -- by Amy Carol Webb?

Strip mall showdown

Strip mall showdown - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review A Squirrel Hill developer is trying to exclude a Lincoln-Larimer nonprofit it once partnered with from plans to build a new a strip mall anchored by a Family Dollar discount store.

Alex Enterprises and the Lincoln-Larimer Community Development Corp. have worked since 2002 to plan a 2.8-acre strip mall at the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Deary Street, but a resolution proposed Tuesday by Councilwoman Twanda Carlisle would give Alex Development full control of the site.

So, is this an example of more cronie-ism, more backlashes for those that have gotten out of line, more sweetheart dealings?

It smells bad. It seems like another insider's deal.

The city shouldn't be working to cut deals that should be working in the marketplace. But, of course, the city has put in roadblocks in the marketplace.

Irreverent blogger to leave Microsoft

Could you picture anyone in Pittsburgh, with power, enjoying a 'naysayer?' Critics are outcasts here, sadly.

Irreverent blogger to leave Microsoft Robert Scoble, 41 said Sunday he's going to miss the company, which seemed to love him the more he criticized it.

For Nonprofit Organizations: How to Handle Online Criticism

For Nonprofit Organizations: How to Handle Online Criticism You must address the criticisms directly and promptly. If you cannot respond immediately, then at least immediately acknowledge that the complaint has been read by the organization and a response is coming promptly . A week or more is not prompt in online community conversations.

Great points.

Prisuta: Arena gamble - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

If everyone thinks that a new arena is needed for the region -- then whoever is doing the counting can't.

Prisuta: Arena gamble - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review The news last week that the state will lend the city-county Sports & Exhibition Authority $25 million to $30 million to begin securing land for an arena represented another significant and positive step toward the realization of a project everyone from Gov. Ed Rendell on down agrees is needed for the region.

Then the notion of a "Plan B to Plan B" confirms my hunch about the lack of counting skills from the writer, Mike. Give us a break. Plan B for Plan B is called Plan C. That is the third letter of the alphebet.

To hear that Rendell, Onorata and O'Connor are betting on anything is great irony as they are the ones who are bringing us legalized casinos. There are no bets, however, with HOCKEY -- unless you do it on the internet and that can't be stopped.

The grass isn't always greener -- even with a new arena when the upside is with such a downside.

To take the $290 M from Isle of Capri is one thing. But, then I want them, or some other private company to OWN and OPERATE the new arena. I don't wan them to build it and give it over to the public. KEEP IT. Furthermore, I want the OLD ARENA to say put. Don't tear down the existing building for the new one as 1 + 1 = 2 and that is a net gain. Meanwhile +1 - 1 = ZERO.

Disney on Ice, Carrick's HIGH SCHOOL Graduation and a high school basketball tournament, or even college hockey game, does NOT need sky boxes. They can be played in the existing venue.

QB with a trademark

Jim McMahon - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia He is also known for his trademark sunglasses. He wears them for medical reasons; in a childhood accident, a fork was stuck in one eye. While his vision was saved, the accident left that eye overly sensitive to light.

Rauterkus set to make run at state Senate seat in 42nd | YourSouthHills.com

Rauterkus set to make run at state Senate seat in 42nd | YourSouthHills.com Rauterkus set to make run at state Senate seat in 42nd

Michael Cristiano, Staff Writer, Thursday, June 8, 2006

South Side resident Mark Rauterkus looks to unseat incumbent State Sen. Wayne Fontana from his 42nd District perch in November.

Rauterkus, 47, a South Side resident and Penn Hills native, believes issues such as property tax, hefty tax incremental financing for large businesses and city and suburban recreational areas have been neglected by elected officials.

"The assessment system is a debacle," said Rauterkus, a swim coach with Carlynton School District. "If you fix up your home, they come out and punish you -- your taxes go up."

He favors a tax on land, based on square footage, instead of on homes, similar to the system Maryland has in place where assessment numbers would change over a three-year period.

TIFs are another sore spot with Rauterkus from the tax breaks for Lazarus to proposals to fund a new brewery in Latrobe.

"The government doesn't need to come in and spend millions of our tax dollars to open a new brewery," said Rauterkus.

The graduate of Ohio University and former candidate for mayor and city council also believes parks and recreational areas in the city have been neglected for too long. He criticized state legislator's attempts to fund repairs to Dormont Pool as short-sighted.

"We need to be looking globally at our resources not just worrying about one ... if we're going to put that much money into one place it should be used year-round," said Rauterkus, a married man with two sons.

Rauterkus, vice chairman of the Allegheny County Libertarian Party, who will run as an Independent cited disappointment with Fontana's policy.

He believes Fontana to be a vote for the status quo.

"He's been in there for more than a year and he hasn't done anything," said Rauterkus.

Fontana won a special election for the 42nd District in May 2005, beating out both Michael Diven (R-22) and Rauterkus, after Jack Wagner vacated the seat to become state auditor general.

Rauterkus, who holds a bachelor's degree in journalism, said he would work to bring accountability and transparency to state government if elected.

He needs 500 signatures to get on the November ballot.

"I think a vote for me is a protest vote. The guys in Harrisburg have abused the taxpayers."

The 42nd District encompasses parts of the City of Pittsburgh, Baldwin, Kennedy, Neville, Robinson, Scott and Stowe townships and Bellevue, Brentwood, Carnegie, Castle Shannon, Coraopolis, Crafton, Dormont, Green Tree, Heidelberg, Ingram, McKees Rocks, Pennsbury, Village, Rosslyn Farms and Thornburg boroughs.

The first interview and bit of press about the race for PA Senate, 2006, is out. Nice job Michael.

He won't be eating solids for months

Sigh.

For NBA owners, a contrast in style

Nice article about two people -- except the Mt. Lebo blue collar mention. How pedestrian and "blue devilish."

MiamiHerald.com | 06/11/2006 | For NBA owners, a contrast in style Mark Cuban, at 47 a decade younger than Arison, grew up in a blue-collar neighborhood of Pittsburgh. His ancestry is Russian. ``The name was shortened to Cuban [from Chopininski, a Texas newspaper reported] when my grandparents got to Ellis Island.''

Wuerl bids farewell - Fred gets some ink!

Fred gave the press some interesting quotes in today's newspaper, after the final mass of our departing Bishop.

Wuerl bids farewell - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Later, after the applause subsided and scores of people made their way across the street to a reception for Wuerl, Frederick Winkler remained seated in a pew 'just to soak it in.'

Winkler embodies the spirit that Wuerl cultivated during his time here -- he's of Lutheran faith, attends a Presbyterian church and considers himself a follower of the soon-to-be-departed bishop.

'As he puts it, we're all one in the body of Christ,' said Winkler, a South Hills architect who regularly tunes in to Wuerl's Sunday morning television show to learn more about the Catholic faith. 'He's done a lot to bring together all denominations.

'He has a very uplifting spirit. He's an inspiring kind of person.'

That inspiration was obvious, as people began filing into St. Paul an hour and a half before the noon service.

Pending bill -- drop the state-wide signature requirement to more realistic levels

INSIDE THE CAPITOL: "Rep. Paul Clymer, R-Bucks, plans on introducing legislation that would lower the number of signatures required for third-party candidates to get on the November ballot. In a memo to lawmakers last week, Clymer said the law requires third-party candidates seeking a statewide office to obtain at least enough signatures to equal 2 percent of the most votes cast for any candidate in a statewide election. That sets the bar at 67,069 signatures. The number is based on 2 percent of the more than 3.3 million votes cast for state Treasurer Robert Casey Jr. in the 2004 election. Clymer proposed capping the signature requirement at 2 percent of the largest vote cast for any statewide candidate in the last election, or 45,000 signatures, whichever is less. He based the number 45,000 on the average statewide requirement for minor parties over the past 10 election cycles. Robert Small, founder of the Ballot Access Coalition, said the bar is still too high. 'While we appreciated Mr. Clymer working on it, the political reality is basically what we have right now are Cinderella candidates,' Small said. 'On Aug. 1, these candidates might be turning into pumpkins.'"

'Trust us.' Yeah, right -- and fill out this test or else

Privacy takes another hit on the chin.

'Trust us.' Yeah, right - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Anyone with a history book knows it doesn't matter what governments promise. All governments, even American ones, have broken their word, ignored their laws or violated their constitutions at the drop of a hat -- or a bomb. Mining the data collected in ACS surveys will be inevitable -- and far more dangerous than collecting a few billion phone numbers.

City, developer eye single appraiser for Fifth and Forbes project

So much for the concept of two heads are better than one. Same too for bio-diversity. We're not getting stuck with big-plans from single sources that block the marketplace. This is what failed us in the past and what Tom Murphy was known for. Now we've got it again.

City, developer eye single appraiser for Fifth and Forbes project The value of 19 city-owned properties Downtown, to be sold to a Washington County developer as part of its plans for the Fifth and Forbes corridor, could be decided with the help of a single appraiser.

The city's Urban Redevelopment Authority and Millcraft Industries Inc. are considering the use of a mutually-agreed-upon appraiser to help set the fair market value of the parcels the URA has paid $13.8 million for over the last seven years.

The appraisal process likely will be part of a pending agreement between the URA and Millcraft to give the developer exclusive rights to the properties for at least a year, with options to extend those rights beyond that point.

This is a pet payoff.

All the king's horses and all the king's men won't fix Pittsburgh again -- just like they failed at Humpty Dumpty.

Technology Sharpens the Incumbents' Edge

Technology Sharpens the Incumbents' Edge Technology Sharpens the Incumbents' Edge

By Jim VandeHei and Charles Babington
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, June 7, 2006; Page A01

In Ohio's 1st Congressional District, Republican incumbent Steve Chabot is running up against his toughest reelection challenge in years. But his Democratic opponent is running up against Chabot's computer.

SI.com - More Sports - China, U.S. Olympic Committees sign sports pact - Friday June 9, 2006 9:05PM

SI.com - More Sports - China, U.S. Olympic Committees sign sports pact - Friday June 9, 2006 9:05PM IRVINE, Calif. (AP) -- China and the United States on Friday signed a groundbreaking document that will increase athlete and coaching exchanges and anti-doping cooperation between the nations in the run-up to the 2008 Beijing Games.

Photos later... I'm bushed.

Serious sleep is still needed. I am recovering from the three day 5th grade camping trip.

Rant about third party politics from another state

This was posted to an email discussion list where I lurk and listen.

I do not buy the argument that the only way to have real political influence is to belong to one of the two biggest parties. First, if I have to compromise my beliefs against Evangelical Christian extremism (to support the Republican party) or excessive government spending (to support the Democratic party), then I'd rather drop out of all involvement in politics (as many, many Americans are doing). Second, the argument that the best strategy is to join one of these parties and try to change it from within strikes me as baloney - you are far more likely to just get pandering comments from the powers-that-be within the party, while meanwhile you're effectively supporting the gay-bashing or trial lawyer protection that you actually oppose. Finally, there is plenty of evidence that third parties can make a difference - the Republican party in 1860 was a third party, the Farm Labor party that dominated Minnesota politics in the 1930's and 40's was a third party, the Reform Party changed the national dialogue about deficit spending in the 1980's and 90's was a third party, and the Independence Party that elected Jesse Ventura is a third party.

When I ran for State Representative, I did so as an Independence Party candidate because the IP is the only party with the values that I can support - fiscal responsibility and social tolerance. For people who believe that government should spend within its means and that the government doesn't belong in our bedrooms, the IP is the only party. It makes far more sense for those of us who hold these values to work for the success of the IP then to compromise our values simply to pretend we're "winning" by being part of a party that elects more candidates, but doesn't support values that we believe in.

-- David Allen, Bloomington, MN

Video -- putting the "NO" in casinos. Russ Diamond in Philly at anit-gambling rally

Watch this --> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZlzQNaa_HM

Neighborhoods groups and political leaders from all over Philadelphia and elsewhere in PA gathered on June 1, 2006, to oppose casinos proposed for Philadelphia and to further demand the repeal of the casino licensing law. See and hear the remarks of Russ Diamond, independent candidate for governor.

Russ is going to be in Allegheny County on July 4th -- attend our annual open house. He'll be attending an event in Westmorland County on July 3.

Fester's Place puts some numbers to the ROI (return on investment) for the Pens new arena

Fester's Place: "So is this a good investment? Given that the debt service on a $290 million dollar arena (assume no cost overruns) works out to be between to be about 21-25 million dollars per year (dependent on interest rate and term lengths, assumes no roll-over of debt), the ROI can be calculated --- 2.1% to 5.7% for the entire project. If the Penguins are the only new revenue and profit stream generators, then this is a horrendous investment. To economically justify a new arena from a social CBA perspective, (disregard who actually pays for it) the argument needs to be made that the new arena will generate two to three times the profit levels that the sales price of the Penguins would imply.

Yes, this is a HORRENDOUS investment -- even if the Pens were to make it.

Plan to develope senior center opposed

Plan to develope senior center opposed Plan to develope senior center opposed

Of course this is a 'shell game.' Of course this is people trying to get rich off of 'government money.' Of course this is a case where local politicians try to 'bring home the bacon' and have goodies to spread around to win votes.

Furthermore, of course Wayne Fontana is worried about NOTHING GETTING DONE. He wants to do something as he has done NOTHING and has nothing to show for anything other than his pension and perks.

Doing something is better -- in his mind -- as opposed to doing what should be done.

I want to do things that are going to help the community and I want them done well.

Be prudent. Be real. Be honest. None of my worries rise to the top of their lists of priorities.

And, of course, the seniors vote. So, the seniors get a new rec center. But, this is not a rec center for the future. The Senior Centers of today are GOING TO BE WASTED SHELLS (pun inteneded) in a few more years.

People of my generation are not going to sit around and play BINGO like the seniors of today. And, not many of them are really crying the blues for another senior center so they can be warehoused to sit around for free ice cream, soup and another bingo game.

Modern centers are not 'senior centers' as Pittsburgh knows them.

WPIAL sanctions girls' lacrosse, but not boys', and no one is complaining

WPIAL sanctions girls' lacrosse, but not boys', and no one is complaining Two of the WPSLA boys' teams are from Erie, three from West Virginia and one from the City League (Allderdice). Those six schools are not part of the WPIAL.
Some WPSLA officials also like their 'own people' running the league.

More power to you. Way to go boys Lacrosse teams, coaches, leaders and school administrators.

I've called for the elimination of the Pgh City League and the joining of the WPIAL. But, this situation with a sport that is able to self govern is even better than joining the WPIAL for the city schools.

AFL-CIO says China's trade policies hurt U.S. jobs

AFL-CIO says China's trade policies hurt U.S. jobs The AFL-CIO, which sees Chinese trade practices as a threat to American jobs, on Thursday filed a petition in Washington, D.C., asking President Bush to impose trade sanctions against China.

There are plenty of things that hurt US jobs. But, free trade is the way to go for prosperity.

I think that the child labor mention is grossly overblown. In China, each family is only allowed to have ONE child, a son or a daughter. The nation is filled with single child families. Each kid has a lot of attention from mom, dad and often four grandparents. Sure, the kids are working, but they are working at music, art, dance, sports, studies, and ENGLISH lessons.

That's what we found.

Perhaps the undercut of US prices has something to do with the gross rules and regulations that we put on our businesses.

There is plenty to do in this world. Building walls between nations and people in terms of hurting the markets and free trade among the lawful is not the focus I'd want to advance.

Missteps dog Swann campaign - Nation/Politics - The Washington Times, America's Newspaper

Missteps dog Swann campaign -Nation/Politics - The Washington Times, America's Newspaper Political fumbles by the White House, the Pennsylvania GOP and gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann are turning the NFL Hall of Famer's campaign into a bad joke, Republicans in the state say.

Do political parties matter anymore?

The Mercury - Do political parties matter anymore? I've been trying to think of a movie that best describes what happened in last month�s Pennsylvania primary, where 17 incumbents, mostly Republicans, were ousted by voters. I've come up with a film that sums up the present state of party politics: 'Titanic.'

So true here in Pittsburgh where Ben Woods is up for chair of the Allegheny County Dems.

They are all just re-arranging the deck chairs. I'm a lifeguard. I know we need some to man the lifeboats. But I'm also very proactive and would love to have a few join as we storm the bridge and navigate around the troubled waters that they put us in. We've got to stop their clueless ways.

The biggest thing to not do is have them skipper the reform that is brewing. We need to replace, re-direct, and then reform. They can't reform. They broke things and they must be replaced.

MAKE: Blog: Stitch N' Pitch - Baseball meets Needlecrafts

This is one way for Major League Baseball to counter the No Sweatshops Noise that is sure to hit the fan at the All-Star Game in Pittsburgh next month.

MAKE: Blog: Stitch N' Pitch - Baseball meets Needlecrafts The National Needle Arts Association (TNNA) is proud to announce a new program - Stitch N' Pitch! Building on the success at the Seattle Mariners last year, the Stitch N' Pitch event has been structured into a formal program. Partnering with individual baseball clubs, TNNA is helping to bring two American traditions together -- Baseball and the NeedleArts. We'll be at the SF Giants game on July 20th ( see MAKE post here ). Other teams up on the craft action are the Minnesota Twins, Seattle Mariners, Colorado Rockies, Texas Rangers, LA Dodgers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Arizona Diamondbacks, Cleveland Indians, and the Atlanta Braves. Check out the site for the full schedule and for more information. Link.

Las Vegas SUN: Liberal view grows online

Las Vegas SUN: Liberal view grows online: "Liberal view grows online
Activists gather at Riviera to hear Democrats

By J. Patrick Coolican, Las Vegas Sun

After news broke last week that Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid had accepted free ringside boxing tickets from the Nevada State Athletic Commission, a Web site immediately attacked the reporting.

Reid had voted against the interests of the commission, said the new Web site, TPMmuckraker.com. State law prevented the Nevada Democrat from paying for the tickets.

The Web site continued the rebuttal, making new arguments each time the Associated Press sent out a new story. Eventually, AP issued a defensive response.

Not long ago, a story of that nature about Reid would have gone largely unchallenged. Democrats would have watched, perhaps deflated, as one of its leading lights was pilloried for taking freebies.

Instead, this time, online Democrats were invigorated. For a variety of reasons - political, cultural, technological - liberal Web sites are in ascendance since President Bush's re-election. The most fervent evangelists among them believe they are changing politics."

Get ringside with this interesting article on the use of the net and politics.

This is what a real blog fest looks like. And, toss in a summit opportunity too.

PG West: Langley coach content with future

You had better bring your "A" game to go toe to toe -- as respect is earned.

PG West: Despite loss in PIAA baseball opener, Langley content with future Leo Rauterkus took it as a sign of respect.

Though his Langley baseball team was ultimately overmatched by three-time defending WPIAL champion Pine-Richland, 10-0, in the first round of the PIAA Class AAA tournament Monday, the Mustangs' head coach noticed the Rams started standout pitcher John Karr against his team.

'I saw that kid pitch in the WPIAL championship and thought we might see their No. 2 pitcher,' Rauterkus said. 'I don't know if it was respect for [senior pitcher] Matt Barnes, whom [some Pine-Richland players] played with at the Keystone Games or what.

'Matt pitched real well, but we just couldn't touch that kid [Karr].'

The fact that Karr pitched a no-hitter will do little to spoil the Mustangs' City League championship season.

Rauterkus said Langley, which trails only Peabody for most City League titles, has an enrollment (about 300 to 350 male students in ninth through 12th grades) that would place it in Class AA if it were not in the City League.

'It's tough every time we play in states,' Rauterkus said. 'We have 13 or 14 players on the team and we are facing programs that have a full varsity, plus JV and freshman teams. They have feeder programs, and we're just trying to keep this program going. It's tough. [Pine-Richland] was so strong all the way through their nine.'

Way to go Mustangs.

Perhaps Pine Richland will take it all.

And, perhaps we'll be able to NUKE the city league once and for all -- soon.

Russ Diamond, candidate for PA Governor, to enjoy 4th of July in Pittsburgh with Mark Rauterkus, family and running mates

Our 4th of July open house, a family tradition for nearly 20 years, is going to feature a special guest in 2006 -- Russ Diamond, candidate for PA Governor.

We'll be hosting a 4 pm press conference with Allegheny County boosters so the Independent candidate, Russ Diamond, can chart future campaign efforts and messages.

Througout the morning, day, and evening on July 4th, we'll be on the move from the South Side to various locations within the city and county -- and the 42nd Senate District. We'll visit various cookouts, parades and swim pools meeting voters, passing out blank nomination papers to volunteers and gathering signatures to get onto the ballot.

The night of the 4th of July, we'll be hosting a drop off gathering so volunteers can easily return their signed petitions.

If you'd like to assist, please let me know. Perhaps we can visit with you and your neighbors that day. If you'd like to attend our event, let me know. If you can get 10 to 100 signatures on nomination papers in advance of the 4th of July -- please let us know. Others are being invited to attend the 4 pm press event and then fan out around the county and to The Point to gather signatures to allow access to the November 7, 2006 general election for Russ Diamond for Governor and Mark Rauterkus for PA Senate.

Mark at Rauterkus dot com

412 298 3432 = cell

Or leave a message in this blog's comments.

TRENDS & TECHNOLOGIES that affect the way government does IT

TRENDS & TECHNOLOGIES that affect the way government does IT Still riding a high from the launch of FirstGov.gov’s new search engine, the company behind the search technology, officers of Vivisimo Inc. of Pittsburgh stopped by GCN to talk about the latest version of its Velocity platform. It turns out the General Services Administration (and the browsing public) got a sneak peak at several Velocity 5.0 features through FirstGov.gov.

Welcome to Adventures of Greg

Interesting reads.

Welcome to Adventures of Greg: "It is my goal to direct attention to these pressing issues by combining difficult physical challenges with innovative, cutting-edge 'greener' technology.

Currently, I have THREE physical endurance adventures in the works.

Post 3589 on 6-6-6

Some benchmarks: This blog has had 3,589 postings.

My wiki, Platform.For-Pgh.org, has 767 pages and its first page has been accessed 98,696 times.

A friend told me that my blog often show with high rankings on his web feed from the new My Pittsburgh site being tested with the Pittsburgh Live site (Tribune Review). One early reviewer.

On Friday night, we hosted our FIRST ever "sold out" House Concert. It was the 2nd such event in our new setting, just opened on Christmas morning, 2005. Nearly 50 people attended in one seating.

Pittsburgh Republicans Looking For Ethics Board Candidates

Since the O'Connor administration in January, the Republican Committee of Pittsburgh has been among the leaders in asking for the new Mayor to re-establish the long-dormant Ethics Board.

Then, councilwoman Twanda Carlisle was caught funneling large amounts of city money to friends for projects that are at the very least somewhat dubious. Paramount was a "councilmatic" health and religious study of her district. The study was vastly bloated with statistics and work provided by other reports. In fact, beside a two-cents worth of opinion, the study was nearly stolen from non-diploma-mill doctors. Investigators say these allocations were legal. There isn't an Ethics Board to review whether or not it "should" have been done.

There have been other allocations from other council members as well. Now, city councilman Bill Peduto, the closest thing fiscal conservatives have to "one of their own" on Pittsburgh council, has introduced legislation aimed at restarting the board.

The Ethics board should be made up of folks who are not political cronies or members of any political committee.

That being said, the Republican Committee of Pittsburgh is looking for qualified candidates to provide to Pittsburgh city council. People who are stalwarts of their community but are not Republican, Democrat, Libertarian or any third-party's committee members.

They should be city residents who lead in their community and/or business ventures.

Visit www.pghgop.org for more information or provide your candidate. You may also post here and I'll check it out.

Tom Leturgey
Secretary
Republican Committee of Pittsburgh

Pine-Richland routs Langley

Pine-Richland routs Langley - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 'Every time we go to states, it seems like we are always overmatched,' said Langley coach Leo Rauterkus, whose team ends the season at 17-6. 'It's every year.'

Another telling quote from the city-league coach about the Pine Richland pitcher: "Karr just overmatched us," Rauterkus said. "That's all. We don't see a kid like that all year."

This is why the city league needs to be abolished and turned into a tournament or senior post-season all star classic opportunity. Meanwhile the teams in the city league need to be in the WPIAL on a day-in-and-day-out basis.

Way to go P-R. Win states this year.

The Ridge factor

The Ridge factor - Tribune-Review Tom Ridge plus Lynn Swann does not directly equal more votes.

Egypt cracks down on political bloggers

This is why I get just yawn at the Pittsburgh Blog Fests. I think we need to be agitators and instigators in terms of freedoms, not social beer swilling do littles.

Egypt cracks down on political bloggers At least six bloggers are among about 300 protesters jailed during the past month's suppression of demonstrations. The bloggers, supporters say, were singled out by police, who pointed them out before agents rushed in to hustle them away. In the view of some human rights observers, the Egyptian government has begun to note political activity online and is taking steps to rein it in.

City may lose money in selling Downtown buildings

Told you so.

City may lose money in selling Downtown buildings Since 1999, the city's Urban Redevelopment Authority has spent nearly $14 million buying properties Downtown in hopes of enticing a developer to remake the Fifth and Forbes corridor.

All the while, critics said the city was paying too much.

Now that the URA is working to finalize an agreement with Washington County developer Millcraft Industries and partner Ira Morgan to redevelop the 19 city-owned buildings, it appears the critics may have been right.

"May have been right" is the understatement of the decade.

Back in 2000 we KNEW the city was going to loose it financially. Then came the overlords.

In 2002 we KNEW the city was going to fumble the ball on its REC Centers and Swim Pools -- and put them to the test for the installing free mini-computer labs in eight sites -- and the city proved us right again.

We knew we were right on city wide wi-fi -- which won't come nor happen by the All-Star Game.

We knew we were right with Lazarus dealings.

We knew we were right about the continual population loss. People are still voting with their feet.

We knew we were right about the Pay Raise.

We nay-sayers are able to think again.

The deal that is most advantageous to the city is to REPLACE -- then REFORM. We're not getting anything that is splendid from the big-picture when looking at what's still in the pipeline from these folks.

House Concert -- success and follow-ups later

We had nearly 50 people at tonight's house concert that featured the fantastic music of Joe Jencks ... and a guest performer or two. Photos and details later....

Next, we've got a weekend swim meet in Hampton. AM with Grant. PM with Erik. And, other club swimmers too, of course.

Thanks for the interest and attending. We had a great event and energy.

Joe Jencks at our house concert

Joe Jencks and some Pittsburgh friends at our recent House Concert.

From Joe Jencks ho...

From Joe Jencks ho...

Welcome young Rain, son of an artist

Marc D, a young man who worked for me when in high school, years ago, doing some illustrations for some books, then went to S.U., moved to LA to work in the entertainment biz, got married, and now has a son, "Rain." Welcome to the world!

I guess that makes sense -- Art Festival, Rain. Artist kid's name, Rain.

His dad always wanted me to name one of my sons, "Rowdy Rauterkus." Rowdy is a great name, as in Rowdy Gains, a world class swimmer. There is a good prayer in there somewhere.

In other art news, hat tip to the Art-School Bound A.J., who got an award as the best artists in his high school. A.J. went with us to Hong Kong in the fall. He is headed to the art school in Savanah, Georgia.

Steelers field trip to White House -- and School kids could be indoors -- without a rain out 'field day'

Let's think again.

The Steelers are going on a 'field trip' to the 'White House' -- and are pumped by the 'educational value.' They want to explore some unseen rooms, as I heard in one interview. How cool -- learning about our nation's seat of power.

Meanwhile, today, the kids at our local public school, Phillips Elementary, had a 'field day' scheduled for Cupples Stadium on the South Side. We had dozens of parent volunteers in yellow shirts -- all with state police clearances on file in the school office. We had seven stations for the older kids (grades 3, 4 and 5) and another seven stations for the younger ones (K, 1 and 2).

My wife and I were set to manage the Javelin and Jump Rope station. The javelin is really just one of those foam noodles that are swim pool toys. They'll get a five yard run up and toss -- but it is more like a paper airplane flight and not brute strength. Jump rope -- also another skill spot counting max number of jumps in 30-seconds.

But all is down the drain today for the kids. The rain means we can't go.

This school field day is the third MAJOR rain out this year as the girls elementary school track meet and the back-up rain date were BOTH wash outs.

Wouldn't it be nice if the indoor UPMC Sports Medicine Facility where the Steelers practice could have been made available to the school -- just in case of rain as we've got today?

I'm not an angry one who holds a chip on my shoulder.... but .... I'm not the one to make that call to the facility managers.

For the sake of the new school administrators who have just moved to town -- understand that the facility should never have been built where it is located. That development was for an extension of the South Side, such as housing, flex office space, retail -- and new jobs. It wasn't geared to be an island of hanger sized buildings that have no community access.

UPMC has a hospital on the South Side, and has had it for years. To build onto the hospital would have been a wise move as doctors, like Dr. Fu, do surgery there at the hospital -- but not at the football training facility. And, behind the UPMC South Side Hospital is a closed indoor ice rink, a football field, an upper field, parking lots, and quite a bit of space that could have been devoted to sports.

I wanted the Steelers to move into an expanded UPMC Hospital -- not help to create a private drive on the edge of the riverfront with dwarf (non-regulation sized) fields.

Or, I wanted the Steelers to share a facility with So Vo Tech and Pgh Public Schools at South Side Stadium -- also known as Cupples Stadium. They could have built up that facility, put a roof over it, put in a parking garage and offices there -- with a nice view of the city right off of the Liberty Bridge / McArtle Road.

Then we'd be able to hold the events of the season indoors. And, the Steelers could have build a grass field on the top of the parking garage in the area too -- where we really need parking.

Meanwhile the Panthers could have held onto Pitt Stadium -- using it for practices. And the new basketball arena, The Pete, could and should have been built down Panther Hollow near the Parkway East and Hazelwood -- where the development is really needed. That would have been a cornerstone for Pitt's Riverside Campus.

Told ya so.

And today, as I chat with fellow parents of public school kids I say -- too bad the kids have a rain out when we should be in the UPMC / Steeler facility. None of them know what it is like in that indoor facility, with a small track. They've never seen it nor set foot inside. I have - for an opening day reception and a couple high-end seminars with the sports researchers / doctors.

The community leaders of today are clueless as to what was promised to the community a few years ago. We were told that we'd have access to that facility at least twice a month -- for 24 major events a year.

Lies.

I know of a few instances when we could have had our dance card punched -- and ducked a rain out for the kids' sake. Today is one such day. Two weeks ago presented another couple instances.

If anyone wants the details -- call me. I'll explain and fill in the blanks. Or, email at the bottom of this blog entry.

I hope the Steelers learn all about Jefferson, Lincoln, FDR, and others today. I hope they get a feel for the sense of space that has been protected and functional for a long time -- and isn't going out of style anytime soon, thank goodness. I hope they get motivated to learn more about history and politics because of their visit to 1600 Pennsylvania avenue. Perhaps in the future, another one of them will try to run for public office -- like old #88 is doing now in a quest for PA Governor.

Getting the Steelers into the realm of the real world political scene would be good for a lot of reasons. Perhaps some will make TV spots of endorsements and others will find it wise to drop a $1,000 donations -- or $10,000 ones -- to a few candidates for public office -- even a gym owner trying to unseat a long-standing state rep from the one-party ruling class.

Field trips -- isn't life funny at times.

Russ Diamond, Indie for PA Governor: Supports the REPEAL of Act 71 -- the slots bill.

web repost

I'd like to talk a little bit about why I support repealing Act 71 - the slots bill.

First off, let me state that I'm pretty neutral on gambling itself. I've never had much of a penchant for gambling, although I will spend a couple dollars on a lottery ticket once in a while, if the jackpot gets really big.

Other than that, I don't play cards, I don't go to the racetrack, and I don't make trips to Atlantic City or Las Vegas to gamble. The fact is, the odds are always stacked against you, and I'm pretty tight with my earnings.

But if someone else chooses to take that risk, it doesn't much bother me, as long as they're not wasting their child's college fund or otherwise overdoing it and adversely effecting others.

So why do I care about repealing Act 71? It's pretty simple - Act 71 was passed by the legislature in the very same unconstitutional manner as last year's pay raise.

The slots bill spent months in the House and Senate and then - at the last moment - it was shoved off to committee where ALL the original text was stripped out the one-page bill and completely replaced with an 140+ page "amendment" that completely changed the bill's meaning.

Its passage violated the original purpose rule, the single subject rule, and the three-day rule - all of which are clearly outlined in the Constitution. It was challenged in the PA Supreme Court, but Ralph Cappy's crew said it was OK by them.

And that's the crux of our problem in Pennsylvania - the three branches of government are all too willing to trample the Constitution - and collude with each other to do so. They do it for various reasons - to trade favors with other lawmakers, to get a bit more money for themselves, to enact programs "for the children," or - as Ed Rendell put it - to "kiss a little butt."

But I think the people of this Commonwealth are fed up with this brand of behavior from elected officials and are willing to stand up and insist that the Constitution be followed - and that's what I intend to do as Governor.

But even putting its blatant unconstitutionality aside, there are plenty of other reasons to "back up the truck" on the slots issue - because every step of the way, they've done it all wrong.

First, I would have liked to have been asked if we wanted slots in Pennsylvania. Put it on a referendum: Should we make slot machines legal in Pennsylvania? It's a simple question. And don't give us any carrot on a stick like property tax relief to try to entice us. We all know that carrot's gone now - and all we have left is the stick. Just ask the question - do we want slots or not?

And while we're at it, let's ask if Pennsylvanians want to pay for public education with gambling money. As I've talked with citizens across the Commonwealth during the last year or so, I've gotten the distinct impression that Pennsylvanians are a little queasy about this.

But let's assume the people voted to open the door for slots and use the proceeds to educate our children. How would you implement slots parlors in Pennsylvania?

If you're trying to raise money for education, would you come up with a system where the state retains most of the earnings, much like the lottery system? Or would you let the lion's share of proceeds go to others, like the way they're doing it now?

And if you're really trying to raise revenue, wouldn't you auction off the licenses to the highest bidder - instead of fixing a set price for all of them? Imagine what kind of educational endowment fund we might have had if each of these 14 licenses were sold at their market price, which some experts have said could be as high as $500-600 million! But no, Pennsylvania is letting them go at the bargain basement rate of $50 million each.

And being aware of the negative social side effects that expanded gambling will certainly bring, wouldn't you try to at least concentrate those problems in the smallest possible geographic area? Or would you plant those problems squarely in 14 different communities across Pennsylvania, placing a significant future burden
on each?

Finally, how would you go about hiring the people to work on implementing slots? Would you allow cronyism? Would you perform rigid background checks? Would you check all their credentials? I think you'd do all these things with the greatest of care.

But not Pennsylvania. We've already seen five Gaming Board employees who've had run-ins with the law, with one incident involving the tragic death of a young woman who somehow fell from a high rise building in Harrisburg. And have you heard about the backgrounds of some of the people who've applied for slots licenses?

This whole business is pretty ugly already - and not one slots license has been issued and not one slot machine is even on line yet. Is this what we want for Pennsylvania's future?

These are the reasons I support a full repeal of Act 71. Let's stop right here and go back to the beginning, before things get worse.

Ed won't do it, because expanded gaming is his 'magic bullet' for property tax relief. But I've got some news for Ed - the property taxes of Pennsylvanians have already increased by more than he ever hoped slots money would bring us.

Lynn won't do it either, although he claims to be opposed to gambling. He's content with "inheriting" slots. I suppose that's understandable from him, considering that he accepted a $100,000 campaign contribution from someone whose family is applying for a slots license. It's kind of like the pay raise issue - he's trying to be on both sides of the fence.

On July 4, 2004, the slots bill got off to an unconstitutional start. It's been all downhill from there. But we can fix this. We can repeal Act 71. All it takes is a little effort.

We did it with the pay raise. In fact, Pennsylvanians have accomplished a lot of things in the last year that no one dreamed were possible.

As Governor, I will fight to stop slots and repeal Act 71. No other candidate is even willing to consider it.

The choice is clear.

House Concert -- Friday -- Sold OUT at 7 pm

Well, there is good news and bad news. Good news -- our out-of-town singer/songwritter friend, Joe Jencks is going to be playing a gig on the South Side in our new venue in the home/office to a nice sized audience.

We're full for the 7 pm set.

Our venue. One of our friends is in town from Florida. Two are from the media (one radio and one print). Another is running for state rep (and that's not me). We'll gather our ply-wood floor with air-conditioning, lemonaid, cookies and some serious singing, with words like, "Rise As One" and "protest."

If you were on the 'wait and see' list, bad news... You'll need to show up between 8 and 8:15. I expect we'll have a bit of room for you for the 8:30 set. Otherwise, take off for Point State Park and that show.

Snips from Chris Chandler: The Muse and Whirled Retort

T.H.E. .M.U.S.E. .A.N.D. .W.H.I.R.L.E.D. .R.E.T.O.R.T.
June 1, 2006

Woodstock, NY -- By the time we got to Woodstock we were…. Hey, there is only 2 of us in this car – but who's counting. Clearly not the main stream media. Clearly not Neil Young. Ya know, Neil – it is not that there are no protest singers – it is there are no outlets for us to be heard. Not a minor point here. But, you know, I have been on about that for a long time. I am just glad that Bush’s numbers are now so low – even the country music fans are turning against him – Congratulations Dixie Chicks! What’s next? I am waiting to see one of those NASCAR drivers with a big peace sign on the hood of his car. It would really be cool if the car ran on Bio-Diesel. Willie Nelson’s Race Car.

Magellan proved Copernicus right by circumnavigating the globe.

Someday someone is going to prove Einstein was right. But to do it we’ll have to learn a lot about ….infinity.

Ya see, Einstein maintained that the universe is round. He said every straight line in the universe eventually intersects itself. Think about that! The implications are staggering… It would logically follow that Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell will eventually admit that they have always been secretly attracted to each other. Perhaps move to Canada… admit that they’ve always been… Episcopalians.

Perhaps this is a good place in the news letter to mention that next Tuesday will be 6-6-6. (Really) perhaps this is why our president – who seems to be convinced the rapture will be any day now so it really doesn’t matter how badly he screws things up - does not seem concerned that our brave fighting men have become vigilante serial killers in Khaki. It is because they are not.

In Haditha he says, “Oh just a few bad apples.” OK I would like to believe that. Ya see your buddy get killed and ya wanna go kick some ass. Hell, I am a pacifist and I can feel that pain. They should still be prosecuted. However, I don’t believe those soldiers are the problem. It is not a few bad apples. Ya see, 8 MONTHS AGO! That means there WAS a cover up. Was it a few bad apples that covered it up?

Was it a few bad apples that paid the victims families off? (FACT) was it a few bad apples that approved the funding of the pay off? Was it a few more bad apples that ignored the pay off when balancing the books? Was it a few more bad apples that ignored the books when they came into your office? That’s a whole lotta apples. Remember Apple Pie is one of our National Symbols.

Or, George, could it be the other way around – that, in fact there are only a few bad apples. They are you and your cabinet. When the rapture comes (perhaps on 06-06-06) I hope it is you and your cabinet filled with bad apples that go. So we can have our Apple Pie back.

You too, "Heard the rooster crow, at the brink of kingdom come. But you rolled over and mashed the snooze button, and we slept through Armageddon. ...

Chris' rant goes on and on.

If he starts to put a smile on your face, subscribe to his monthly newsletter. And watch for him in a town near you, soon.

Slots task force won't endorse

Slots task force won't endorse - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review The Pittsburgh Gaming Task Force is expected to release its recommendations for a casino in the city without endorsing any of the three applicants, but pointing out pros and cons of each proposal.

Weenie's hardly ever endorse or take a stand. Non-democratic people can't vote either. It takes a backbone to vote and hold elections. Then things get "harry" -- as life should be. You can't control once you have real democratic discussions and freedoms to call for votes. So, you take the easy way and don't vote.

Furthermore, this group is "self appointed" by the old guard -- and they are marginal at best. They have no charter. They have no open meetings, minutes, published agendas, and formality that would hold up should there be a vote. The spit they swap as weenies is the only thing that binds them.

If everyone has an opinion -- then this body is nothing.

When you vote -- you don't need to 'agree.' I agree that Bob O'Connor is my mayor. But, I didn't vote for him. I accept the facts -- I move on. Life goes on.

The slots discussion has become 'politicized' -- duhh. Politics is a part of life. Get over it. Or, put your weenie buns in some other neighborhood.

Then you want to call a press event and still not have the final report. Talking out of both sides of your mouth can then happen easier. Another classic weenie move.

For help with its analysis, the task force turned to former U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul H. O'Neill, who lives in Pittsburgh. He attended the group's closed-door meeting last week with the backers of the Harrah's casino.

My quote: "Paul O'Neill is an extremely good thinker in the weenie world."

I would NEVER go into a closed door session with those weenies. I'd be glad to help them with their public problem -- in public -- in the open.

Courage crumbles, again. Weenies wiggle, as expected.

Vision of Youth Technology Summit would include activities such as this

Once I'm elected to the PA Senate, we'll be holding a YOUTH Tech Summit at the Convention Center, every year. Activities such as this will be part of the line-up.

The OpenOffice.org Newsletter: Germanophone project launches CampOpenOffice.org The Germanophone project announced its CampOpenOffice.org launch. CampOpenOffice.org is a weekend taking place from Saturday, August 12th, to Sunday, August 13th, in Diez in Germany, especially dedicated to youths and students from 16 to 27 years.

PIAA baseball playoffs -- next week -- after concerts

Are you ready for some baseball -- to states? If these kids go deep into the tournament, they knock up against graduation.

PG West: Langley focuses on state baseball tournament: "Elliott, a combination of Langley and Bishop Canevin players, finished in first place in league play last summer ahead of notable suburban programs North Allegheny, Robinson and Moon.

'The times we've lost in the state playoffs, it just seems like our kids weren't hitting that day,' Langley coach Leo Rauterkus said. 'We'd pitch and field the ball pretty well, but we'd fall behind by four or five runs and that just seemed to be the game.'"

But first, we've got concerts today and tomorrow. Today is the instrumental concert at the Elem School (Phillips). Friday is the HOUSE CONCERT, here, with Joe Jencks. And, on Saturday, I think it is a radio date with Larry Berger and Saturday Light Brigade.

Then, next week, more baseball.

Developer expects state to offer help with Fifth-Forbes

NO SUBSIDIZED housing downtown for rich folks. None.

Developer expects state to offer help with Fifth-Forbes: "Developer expects state to offer help with Fifth-Forbes
The View from Vegas

Wednesday, May 24, 2006
By Teresa F. Lindeman, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

LAS VEGAS -- The Millcraft Industries team plans to meet with Gov. Ed Rendell in a few weeks to seek state aid to help in the redevelopment of Downtown's Fifth and Forbes avenues area. And they are expecting a warm welcome."

Keep your head above or at the surface of the water

Guards needed Lifeguards needed for county parks

The Allegheny County Parks Department needs lifeguards for the swimming season.

Lifeguards must be at least 16 and must have completed the necessary classes -- including first aid and adult, infant and child cardiopulmonary resuscitation -- prior to employment. Lifeguards are especially needed at Settler's Cabin Park, but will be hired to work at Boyce, North and South parks as well. Junior, first-year and senior lifeguards will be hired at $6.25 per hour, $7.25 per hour and $7.50 per hour, respectively.

For more information or to obtain lifeguard application packets, call the Central Park Office at 412-350-2478. Forms also may be obtained online at www.county.allegheny.pa.us/parks.

Opening day for the 2006 swimming season is Saturday, weather and conditions permitting."

Councilmen propose more reform efforts - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Councilmen propose more reform efforts - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Peduto wants to ban council members from giving some of their annual $85,000 in discretionary spending to neighborhood groups. A second amendment would require all elected city officials to produce office expense reports every Dec. 31, which would become public within a month.

Why not do TRANSPARENT Accounts -- like the banks do TRUSTS now. Then everyone at any time could see into the accounts.

Next, why not worry more about the PAC and Campaign Finance Reform. That is a big worry too and Peduto has fumbled the ball on that for nearly 2 years now. Let's get serious Bill.

Next why only one report a year? Then it is public record in 30 days. Close the account 30-days before the year ends. You should not be spending money in December.

ThePittsburghChannel.com - News - Councilman Introduces Ethics Board Resolution

ThePittsburghChannel.com - News - Councilman Introduces Ethics Board Resolution Councilman Bill Peduto introduced a resolution, setting out how the city Ethics Hearing Board will be set up.

What the heck. I was one who asked for this to come about -- as did the city's republicans. However, there is no need for a new resolution. The Ethics Board is part of the city's charter. Just appoint the people to the board and insist that the others follow the city's charter -- the city's constitution.

What's up with that???

Who said that they can't be part of a board nor part of a political organization? Is that a reading from the bathroom walls?

I think you should tap into a member of the Green Party, the Libertarian Party and the Republican Party. There are three seats. Then you might as well put on a School Crossing Guard and a School Teacher for slots four and five. Get a teacher that has a class in grade K -- as that poem, Everything You Ever Wanted to Know Came from When You Were in Kindergarten is prime for this body.

If you break it -- fix it. Put things away after you use them. Global stuff.

Philly to hold rally against casino

For Immediate Release: May 30, 2006

Who: Russ Diamond, Independent Candidate for Governor

Event: Anti-Casino Rally

Location: State Building, 1400 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19130

Date/Time: June 1, 2006, 11:00 AM

Description: Russ Diamond will be in Philadelphia to gather signatures for ballot access and attend the CasiNO! rally sponsored by Neighbors Allied for the Best Riverfront, the Multi-Community Alliance and other anti-slots groups at noon. Russ will also be meeting with the editorial board of the Philadelphia Tribune in the afternoon and may make a stop at Independence Hall, if time permits.

Should there be a rally to block the casinos in Pittsburgh? Would anyone come? Perhaps Rev Simms has set the bar much higher with rally event organization -- needing street money for each to attend, transportation, t-shirts, and food.

[412] House Concert on JUNE 2nd at South Side hosted by Mark Rauterkus with Joe Jencks

[412] House Concert on JUNE 2nd at South Side hosted by Mark Rauterkus with Joe Jencks

More details on this page, blast email archive.

Ballot Access Fundraiser with Russ Diamond, June 16

The Pennsylvania Ballot Access Coalition will be holding a fundraising
buffet dinner on Friday, June 16th, at the Shady Maple Farm Market and Smorgasbord (www.shady-maple.com), on PA 23 eight miles south of the Morgantown exit of the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Chester County. The guest speaker will be PA CleanSweep founder Russ Diamond.

Doors open at 7 PM, and dinner will be served at 7:30. Admission is $25 per person at the door. All proceeds will be used to help reform Pennsylvania's onerous ballot access laws for independents and third party candidates.

RSVP's are requested so that a large enough room can be reserved. Questions and RSVP's can be directed to Ken Krawchuk via Ken@KenK.org or 215-881-9696. For more information about the Pennsylvania Ballot Access Coalition, visit www.PaBallotAccess.org.

Father drowns trying to save son

Father drowns trying to save son A man drowned and a woman was in critical condition at Allegheny General Hospital after they plunged into the Allegheny River to rescue a boy who slipped into the water while wading at the edge.

Greek fans riot as PAOK faces financial collapse - Monday May 29, 2006 6:40PM

After the Steelers won the AFC Championship game, Mayor Bob O'Connor said, "Police made no arrests" following some serious street party hardy types went a bit 'out of bounds.' It is one thing to brag, and another to lie. Well, here is one that is a 'topper.'
Stadium and sculpture.

They use tear gas on fans -- and 'no arrests were made.'

SI.com - Soccer - Greek fans riot as PAOK faces financial collapse - Monday May 29, 2006 6:40PM Greece (AP) -- Police fired tear gas at soccer fans rioting early Tuesday over the possible exclusion of PAOK Thessaloniki from the Greek league and UEFA Cup next season because of financial problems.

One policeman was slightly injured in the city center clashes. No arrests were made.

When do you think Pirate fans take to the streets to riot about the team's performance?

In other leagues, the Pirates would be shifted to a minor-league and not stay in the majors.

If we shifted teams up and down in leagues -- perhaps we'd not be in a position where teams would threaten to leave a town -- purchased elsewhere.

The Penguins would slide down to another league. Then if K.C. wanted a team in the NHL -- they'd build one from scratch and not steal one from another NHL town.

What do they say about the loss of the Expos in Montreal these days? Are they playing minor league ball there?

China to make Olympics a smoke-free zone

Smoke behind the ear, but many puff and bike while on their cell phones.

This is huge news. Huge.

SI.com - Olympics - China to make Olympics a smoke-free zone - Monday May 29, 2006 3:44PM China vowed on Monday to organise a 'non-smoking' Olympic Games, but health officials admitted that changing the habits of 350 million smokers would be difficult.

China would enforce a ban on smoking in public places, a Health Ministry official told a news conference on Monday, with those places that offer services to children a top concern.

'Smoking will be banned at all Olympic-designated hospitals by the end of 2007,' Xinhua news agency quoted Zhang Bin as saying.

Entry gate to Chengdu Sports University.

Podcasting Legal Guide - CcWiki

Podcasting Legal Guide - CcWiki Legal Issues In Creating Your Own Podcast. Overview Of The Legal Issues You Need To Consider.

PbgHouseConcerts@yahoogroups.com -- its JUNE 2 for our event

Joe Jencks, JUNE 2, 2006, 7 pm and 8:30pm
The wrong date got listed to an email blast. Ouch.

Join Mark Rauterkus and family (Catherine Palmer, Erik & Grant) in hosting friends, family, neighbors, bloggers, strangers and fellow
music lovers from school, church, labor and sports – and perhaps politics too, at their home and office:

108 South 12th Street, South Side, Pittsburgh.

RSVP is necessary as space is limited to 35 seats.

Call 412 298 3432 or email Mark@Rauterkus.Com

Kids who can sit and enjoy the concert are welcomed (first set).

Joe Jencks, singer/songwriter, plays guitar and is equally talented as the other excellent performers hosted in the past. Joe's original music and ballads are for the everyday, modern workers with many union songs, tunes of history, struggle, rails, fast-food workers, Rosie the Riveter (Revised), John Henry and even the Deportee.

Joe happens to be on tour with his latest CD, Rise As One. Artist donations accepted. CDs for sale.

The next release of the Mark@Rauterkus.Com CD might include the Joe Jencks tune(s): "We Won" and/or "We Do the Work." Help us decide.

WINNER 2005: Plowshares, Songwriting Contest; South Florida Folk Festival Songwriting Contest
Winner 2004: Winfield Music Festival Songwriting Contest
Winner 2004 and 2003 Tumbleweed, Folk Festival Songwriting Contest

Other upcoming concerts:

JUNE 2, Joe Jencks at Rauterkus House Mark@Rauterkus.Com

June 9 Chris Chandler and David Roe at Jim and Llousie altes -at- potomacnet -dot- com
Sept. 7 (Thurs) Sara Grey at Curt & Annie amtrimble -at- earthlink -dot- net
Oct 21 Mike Agranoff at Cindy & Rick cah -at- lonewolf -dot- com

Old notes. New twists: "Mark, You're being too global."

One of the first political efforts in my personal history in Pittsburgh had to do with the plans for UPMC Sports Center moving into the South Side Works. I didn't like many of those plans and how it all unfolded.

I raised my voice and called a public hearing in city council chambers.

Carrie Harris, SSLDC, Forum Member, Steering Committee for the site, said about the NCAA rule restrictions for member insitutions (Pitt) that prohibits professional and college athletes from sharing the same facility at the same time, "That is their problem."

Hugh Brannon said at the LTV Site Steering Committee meeting, "Mark, you're being too global."

A sugar daddy grant came from UPMC to locals to get them to buy-into the their plans. At the first go-around, UPMC promised to build a new ballfield for the community on space that didn't exist. I asked, how could UPMC build a the community a new ballfield when their playing fields were but dwarf fields.

Then the UPMC exec raised the offer to $30,000 for any fitness and sports location. Then on Feb 23 of that year, the amount jumped to $75,000. That money, it seems to me, was to sway the opinions of the concerned citizens.

The offers of "community access opportunities" at the planned UPMC compound are slim and tiny -- so I said then and still stand by today.

I listened, laughed, and can say I told you so. The SS Planning Forum took the notion and wrapped it in red tape to become a funding agent. The group didn't even have a bank account until then.

That's water over the dam -- until last week when the Pgh Public Schools hosted its second, rained out, elementary grade track meet at South Side's Stadium. The first event came to a close with a driving rain storm and hundreds of kids and teachers wet to the bone. The next event, a week later, got waved off after the kids went to school and the clouds were spitting. The kids didn't spit -- but some tears flowed from the disapointed girls.

On Friday, June 2 (before the house concert that night), we've got another date with the S.S. Stadium for the first ever "Phillips Field Day." All the kids in all the grades are going to play, compete and be outdoors.

At this point, we could start watching the weather channel -- or -- put in a call to the facility managers at the UPMC Sports Medicine Center so we'd be able to direct our efforts there, indoors, to a turf field, should the rain fall as it did those past two Thursdays -- washing out the PPS girls track meet.

Community access was promised -- and hardly delivered.

Grants for pools make a splash - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Open the pool...

Grants for pools make a splash - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review The city will pour thousands more gallons of water into Pittsburgh pools this year -- but no extra money.

Few people, the world over, would be more excited about the re-opening of neighborhood swim pool than me. I'm happy -- if not thrilled -- to see five new pools with water this summer.

But, ... Don't tell us that the pools will open without any extra money. It might not be city budget money -- but that money is still the money from you and me -- taxpayer money. It costs. It costs someone, somewhere -- and that's us.

But2 ... a swim pool is something but a swim pool with a lessons, a team and workouts can turn the concrete hole in the ground into a great learning labratory that the entire community can respect. Sadly, these pools are without programming.

House Concert 7 pm (sharp) on Friday, June 2

with a second set at 8:30 pm

Join Mark Rauterkus and family (Catherine Palmer, Erik & Grant) in hosting friends, family, neighbors, bloggers, strangers and fellow music lovers from school, church, labor and sports – and perhaps politics too, at their home and office:

108 South 12th Street, South Side, Pittsburgh.

RSVP is necessary as space is limited to 35 seats.

Call 412 298 3432 or email Mark @ Rauterkus . Com

Kids who can sit and enjoy the concert are welcomed (first set).

Joe Jencks, singer/songwriter, plays guitar and is equally talented as the other excellent performers hosted in the past. Joe's original music and ballads are for the everyday, modern workers with many union songs, tunes of history, struggle, rails, fast-food workers, Rosie the Riveter (Revised), John Henry and even the Deportee.

Joe happens to be on tour with his latest CD, Rise As One.
Artist donations accepted. CDs for sale.

The next release of the Mark@Rauterkus.Com CD might include the Joe Jencks tune(s): "We Won" and/or "We Do the Work." Help us decide.

WINNER 2005: Plowshares, Songwriting Contest; South Florida Folk Festival Songwriting Contest

Winner 2004: Winfield Music Festival Songwriting Contest

Winner 2004 and 2003 Tumbleweed, Folk Festival Songwriting Contest

Pittsblog - Rich people and Nerds, make a good start

Pittsblog I think you only need two kinds of people to create a technology hub: rich people and nerds. They're the limiting reagents in the reaction that produces startups, because they're the only ones present when startups get started. Everyone else will move.

BUNK. There is my knee jerk reaction to a sliver of a longer presentation. I'll get to reading the rest, in a day or so. My off-the cuff rant....

Rich people and nerds would make a good combination for "high teas" -- or "chess matches on park benches" or a fine "lawn bowling" league at the country club. No doubt.

But that combination (Nerds + Rich) is nowhere without another key, ambitions. Rich who don't want to "risk" their "capital" and be on the "offense" only delivers people in nice shoes with fancy hats and garden parties.

Rich with comfort and adverse to risk are part of the problem in Pittsburgh's landscape. All the nerds in the world won't move the idle rich from under their white tents pitched to marvel at the gardens. Getting folks to opt out of their next 'lawn bowling' appointment for other ambitions isn't going to happen.

IMNSHO, there are two types of actions in the world. Moves to protect capital and other moves to grow capital. Its either offense or defense. There are a lot of rich who play defense.

And, isn't that what HEINZ Foundations and folks like Elsie Hillman have done? They put $$$ into "Save Our Summer" a couple of years ago -- so the city wouldn't burn to the ground on some hot summer afternoons when the police and people clashed, if God forbid, the public pools were closed. Few are with ambitions to make big changes or long-term advances. There is a lot of 'feel good' investments in Pittsburgh. Many of these are 'defensive.'

Furthermore, I think that you also need products, solutions and marketplace enhancements in the original statement. Rich folks with nerds are clueless unless they've got something to sell.

This is another area where we fall when a contrast is made with Silicon Valley. They've got iPods, software, routers, and chips to sell. The devices that they need to push out to the marketplace are critical to feeding the economy.

Meanwhile, Pittsburgh is into this 'service economy' cycle. We take care of sick people. We fix broken bones. We raise our kids. We educate bright students from all around. We hire and stage cultural events.

The heat and passion in the mills where steel was made meant that there was a job to do, goods to deliver, products to push out the door. We were in the marketplace with mission critical tasks to perform, and as the furnaces went to room temperature, so too did our necessary hook to the marketplaces.

A bunch of nerds and rick folks (even with the fire in the bellie) can do all the head scratching they want -- calling for RFPs or grant proposals -- but that isn't going to get it done.

Again, we see a platform with two legs -- and its two or three legs short of being viable.

Finally, for MM, or the original author, where is the orginal report? Thanks for sharing an excerpt, but I'd be happy to toss more remarks if the whole package can be revealed. I don't know, it might be out there and I just didn't trip over it, yet.

My hunch: Pittsburgh is light on rich and ambitious people. We got some 'Jim Roddey folks' who love to "do go" -- but most don't really engage.

A lot of rich people is less of a need for a project's success as folks with real products and real drive can and do boostrap, growing from seeds. The rich can provide the oil to slide things along faster and to larger scales.

Without the rich, you've got to be way more patient. The American mindset trap is of a "We want it NOW" attitude. Pluggers don't need the rich and can make do without the available cash on-hand at the early cycles. Sadly, the work ethic to spend a few years or decades to sharpen ideas and projects is not often absent in Pittsburgh.

Smaller investments need to be leveraged again and again, while keeping some of the powder dry to live another day. It might take 20 cycles, not 3, to hit it big. Expect lots of heavy lifting.

Pittsburgh and the City Paper article on the Pittsburgh Promise and the city youth.

Where do we begin? Well, this as fine a place as any.

Perhaps we need a membership site to focus on Pittsburgh parenting with a slant to the schools. 

Diamond gives a reaction to recent remarks from Swann on issues

Republican gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann discussed a wide range of subjects during a 90-minute interview Friday with The Associated Press. Russ Diamond, Independent for Governor, gives his answers too.

---

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

Swann favors the death penalty and considers it a deterrent to crime.

I oppose the death penalty, as we cannot assign any power to government we do not possess as individuals. The Constitutional flow of power - from the Creator to individuals to government - establishes this.

GAY MARRIAGE

Swann supports a proposed constitutional amendment defining marriage as being between a man and a woman.

I support traditional marriage but I believe churches are the best institutions to oversee it. Government needs to impose less upon our lives, not more. This issue is not about "marriage," per se, but about insurance, survivorship, and other rights of private contract.

GUN CONTROL

A gun owner himself, Swann said gun violence is best curbed by enforcing current laws and changing the mindset of those who would use guns to settle disputes. Mindsets are changed by providing better economic opportunities, he said.

I believe Article 1, section 21 of the PA Constitution is quite clear: the right to bear arms "shall not be questioned." And yes, we can reduce pressures that lead to gun violence by promoting economic prosperity. But the way to do that is for goverment to get out of the way, so businesses will invest in our communities.

GAMBLING

Although Swann doesn't support slot-machine gambling in Pennsylvania, he said it would be "a waste of my time and energy" to try to repeal something already passed by the Legislature.

A waste of your time and energy? Remember the pay raise? Passed in the same unconstitutional manner as Act 71 of 2004 (slots)? Regardless of whether we support gambling or not, this bill was wrong at the beginning and has been wrong every step of the way since then. If you oppose it, fight to repeal it! I will.

ABORTION

He would sign a bill outlawing abortions except under limited circumstances if the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. He agrees with current restrictions in Pennsylvania law.

I am opposed to abortion but the majority of Pennsylvanians are not prepeared to completely outlaw it. I'm running for Governor, not king. If Rowe v. Wade is overturned, the legislature would need to act to change the law. Meanwhile, what we need to work on preventing is unwanted pregnancies.

TAXES

Over the next four to seven years, Swann would reduce the corporate net income tax from 9.99 percent to 5.99 percent; roll back the personal income tax from 3.07 percent to 2.8 percent; and phase out the inheritance tax. He wants to replace the state's property-tax system with a new one that would base assessments on the selling
price of real estate.

I'm left wondering what areas of the budget he'll be cutting to do that. I will work to abolish property taxes, once and for all. We must also curb government growth - which only diminishes the standard of living for individual Pennsylvanians - so we CAN lower taxes. Let's start with the oversized novelty checks and America's most
expensive legislature.

MINIMUM WAGE

Swann is neutral on the question of whether Pennsylvania should increase its minimum wage above the federal level. He said he wants more information on the effects of such a move before taking a position. The state House of Representatives last month approved a $2-an-hour increase, to $7.15 an hour, by July 1, 2007; the Senate is
considering the measure.

I believe raising the minimum wage at the state level enables the federal government's perchant for creating inflation through deficit spending. It would also cause a ripple effect throughout the economy. We don't need more inflation, we need to build a new Pennsylvania where labor is naturally well-paid because it is in high demand.

SMOKING

While noting that "smoking is not against the law," Swann said he would support a ban on smoking in the workplace. That does not extend to restaurants and bars, where Swann said the decision should be made by the owners.

We agree on this one, but let's make one thing perfectly clear: This is a property issue. Prohibiting smoking in public buildings is reasonable, contributes to the public good and limits the public's liability. But restaraunts and bars are private property - and the owners of that property have the right to decide.

What would your bumper sticker say?

If you think you can do better than “Pennsylvania is for Roadtrippers” or “Honk if you like Roadtrips” for a bumper sticker slogan for the Keystone State, then the PA Tourism Office wants to hear from you. Pennsylvania is conducting a slogan contest for bumper stickers that will be distributed through PennDOT welcome centers beginning July 4, 2006.

Sketch it, write it, and submit it before midnight July 1, 2006 or vote for one of 16 suggested slogans: http://www.visitpa.com/visitpa/bumperstickerForm.pa

View current voting results at http://www.visitpa.com/visitpa/bumperstickerStandings.pa then submit your vote or electronically enter your suggestion at the bottom of that page.

Your slogan could be in welcome centers throughout the Keystone State.

Pennsylvania welcome centers offer more than clean restrooms, assorted vending machines, friendly picnic spots and pet areas. You’ll find a wealth of information about Pennsylvania's cultural, historical, private and scenic attractions as well as the latest road and weather conditions. Getting a room is no problem either. An accommodation service provides reservations to more than 1,000 Pennsylvania hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, and campgrounds - all free of charge!