Open Source Shorts is a screening of short films released under Creative Commons licences.
Creative Commons licenses provide a flexible range of protections and freedoms for authors and artists and build on the "all rights reserved" concept of traditional copyright to offer a voluntary "some rights reserved" approach.
With Creative Commons licences people are free to copy distribute and remix creative works without the threat of being labelled pirates. The screening will be followed by a short discussion on Creative Commons.
Support creativity support the commons.
This event is presented by local artist Kevin Flanagan at the Nuns Island Arts Centre, Galway at 5 pm Saturday 2nd of December, 2006.
I am currently seeking submissions. The criteria are straight forward. The film should be at most 10 minutes in duration, published with a ceative commons copyright licence and freely available to download from the internet.
I'm looking for variety and am open to different styles. Documentary, Narative/Non-Narative, Art films, and Music Videos.
To submit a film simply email kev.flanagan@gmail.com your details and a description of your film and a link where I can view and download it from.
End date for submissions is the November 10th.
http://kevflanagan.wordpress.com
http://kevflanagan.wordpress.com/open-source-shorts/
For more information on CC licences see http://creativecommons.org
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Call for Videos for contest
Friday, October 06, 2006
Language Help with a price tag
If you are interested in additional language instruction for your child(ren), you might want this contact. Instruction is available in French, German, Spanish, Italian, and Chinese.
Institute of International Art and Languages
A German class is starting next week in Highland Park and will be held every Tuesday from 4:00 to 5:30. The German instructor is a native speaker (a German women) with a PH D. in Art history and she will teach German through visual art and craft.
The fee for 9 weeks (1h 30m) is $202.50.
Original source: Christine Frechard-Harbison, Institute of Art and Languages, 1135 Mellon St., Pittsburgh PA 15206, 412 661 0177
Read the sign in an urban park in Chengdu with greenspace and water front treatments for pedestrians.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
South Siders tell LCB 'enough already' to bar scenes
Chuck is a 'running mate' and he gets interviewed in the P-G about a pressing local issue, bars.
The meeting's prime presenter was Bruce Krane. Bruce Kraus was there and couldn't even keep his lips shut after being told to hold all questions and comments to the end, already. Yeah, we all know it is okay to call 9-1-1. Mr. Krane did do a nice job with the meeting.
We have a bar task force now on the South Side. It got decent coverage in the South Pittsburgh Reporter too. I'm sure that this group is making people quake in their boots now.
Presently, the South Side is over-run with bars.
Well, there isn't such a thing as a 'bar' in terms of the LCB (Pennsylvania's Liquor Control Board). There are places to eat and some of these place can serve drinks. Every 'bar' on the South Side, and wherever else, needs to be able to deliver 30 hot meals to qualify as a joint that meets LCB requirements. That's like three packs of hot dogs and a hot plate, -- check.
We all agree that there are too many bars. But, not all of us agree on what to do about it. I'm a freemarket guy and made the observation after the meeting to any who might care to listen that 20 to 40 of these 200-or-more bars on the South Side are going to go out of business as soon as the gambling casino opens. Perhaps the slots parlor is granted to South Side's Station Square, then what!
You won't need a 'bar task force' to thin out the competition in a few months.
So, as I see it: There are short term worries. Then there are long-term worries.
Task force actions need to think about life here, before and after the casino opens.
Many of the bars are on the brink. Some have gone out of business. It is hard to keep the lights on and make a decent income when there are so many places. They are eating each other's hope for any of them to have a sustained business.
Frankly, the ones that are now just getting opened, are here way to late. They'll spend money on the re-hab and ramp-up. They'll not have a decent ROI (Return On Investment). They'll need to do something 'special' to survive in this marketplace. Otherwise they'll die.
Perhaps 20 will not be able to meet payroll. Perhaps some others will have their gas cut as they've slid on their bills. Some might need to churn with new owners as there are always new suckers who think that they want to own a cool venue in a hot area. There will be some corrections and they'll come from the invisible hand of the competitive forces of the marketplace.
Gotta run for now.
South Siders tell LCB 'enough already' to bar scenesA hell raising meeting was held last week on this issue. Jeff Koch didn't attend and he should have been there.
South Side residents and business owners say they are dismayed, but not surprised, that another orange 'public notice of application' for transfer of a liquor license has appeared on East Carson Street.
The notice of the pending application at 1311 East Carson has drawn a spate of protest letters to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.
'Just what we need, another watering hole,' wrote Charles Nogal, who owns a ceramics business across the street. 'I think it is time to say enough already.'
The meeting's prime presenter was Bruce Krane. Bruce Kraus was there and couldn't even keep his lips shut after being told to hold all questions and comments to the end, already. Yeah, we all know it is okay to call 9-1-1. Mr. Krane did do a nice job with the meeting.
We have a bar task force now on the South Side. It got decent coverage in the South Pittsburgh Reporter too. I'm sure that this group is making people quake in their boots now.
Presently, the South Side is over-run with bars.
Well, there isn't such a thing as a 'bar' in terms of the LCB (Pennsylvania's Liquor Control Board). There are places to eat and some of these place can serve drinks. Every 'bar' on the South Side, and wherever else, needs to be able to deliver 30 hot meals to qualify as a joint that meets LCB requirements. That's like three packs of hot dogs and a hot plate, -- check.
We all agree that there are too many bars. But, not all of us agree on what to do about it. I'm a freemarket guy and made the observation after the meeting to any who might care to listen that 20 to 40 of these 200-or-more bars on the South Side are going to go out of business as soon as the gambling casino opens. Perhaps the slots parlor is granted to South Side's Station Square, then what!
You won't need a 'bar task force' to thin out the competition in a few months.
So, as I see it: There are short term worries. Then there are long-term worries.
Task force actions need to think about life here, before and after the casino opens.
Many of the bars are on the brink. Some have gone out of business. It is hard to keep the lights on and make a decent income when there are so many places. They are eating each other's hope for any of them to have a sustained business.
Frankly, the ones that are now just getting opened, are here way to late. They'll spend money on the re-hab and ramp-up. They'll not have a decent ROI (Return On Investment). They'll need to do something 'special' to survive in this marketplace. Otherwise they'll die.
Perhaps 20 will not be able to meet payroll. Perhaps some others will have their gas cut as they've slid on their bills. Some might need to churn with new owners as there are always new suckers who think that they want to own a cool venue in a hot area. There will be some corrections and they'll come from the invisible hand of the competitive forces of the marketplace.
Gotta run for now.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Statement before the the RAD Board
Statement before the On August 28, the Director of The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh came before you and talked about future plans for the Library system, including plans to repair damage done by a lightning strike to the historic Allegheny Regional Branch of Carnegie Library—the nation’s first publicly-funded Carnegie Library, built in the neighborhood where Andrew Carnegie grew-up. She failed, purposely, to tell you of plans to abandon this historic library in favor of building a new library structure three blocks away, while allowing the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette to announce these plans only three days later!
They are playing the RAD board like a fiddle.
Glenn A. Walsh spoke before the RAD Board today, again. Here he was speaking before the Buhl and Old Carnegie Library on the North Side. It is the first of Carnegie's under his library formula.
Was that an election or a rubber stamp?
T. Martin posted something that caught my attention. The PA Supreme Court ordered that the retention vote for Nigro and Newman, one lost and the other won, was not an election. The voter numbers were not to count as a state-wide election.
So, if it wasn't an election, candidate Martin suggested that it was a 'rubber stamp.'
But, in this case, it was a historic stamp as one of the judges got stamped OUT.
Here are some rubber stamp images to ponder.
Rubber stamps for sale.
Close up of rubber stamp.
Chop, chop, chop.
A more lavish, stone aged, timeless rubber stamp. These stone blocks are carved with a person's symbol / logo. They make nice tourist gifts as a reminder of a by-gone past.
So, if it wasn't an election, candidate Martin suggested that it was a 'rubber stamp.'
But, in this case, it was a historic stamp as one of the judges got stamped OUT.
Here are some rubber stamp images to ponder.
Rubber stamps for sale.
Close up of rubber stamp.
Chop, chop, chop. A more lavish, stone aged, timeless rubber stamp. These stone blocks are carved with a person's symbol / logo. They make nice tourist gifts as a reminder of a by-gone past.
Romanelli stuck with $90,000 bill for ballot dispute : The Morning Call Online
This is CRAP. I can't scream it loud enough. This sucks.
Un-democratic democrats are slime and the lowest thing in our political landscape today, in my not so humble opinion.
All democrats, this brings shame on you.
All friends of democracy need to pitch a fit on this too.
I could be, and should be on the ballot on November 7. But, doing so puts me and my family on thin ice. Very thin -- as in $90k underwater thin.
This is a freeze out of the highest order.
Fighting for the right to vote is important. Fighting for the right to have your vote counted is also very important. But, they (un-democratic democrats) hi-jack who you can vote for -- and hi-jack ballot access -- and hi-hack questions that are presented to the voters. And, if you fight, you face a $90,000 bill.
When I went to court in the middle of August, 2006, the first thing I asked about was court costs. We were called to order, and I didn't sit down. "Your honor, I have a few matters that need your attention before we begin...."
Court costs were not part of the threat in the ballot challenge I was presented. But, I needed to know, up front, if my case would ever come to a point where I would be on the hook for paying for court costs. And, if I would ever be on the hook for paying for the opposition attorney fees. I wanted to have those facts understood and up-front before we were to proceed.
I hadn't even activated a bank account for my campaign. I had $0 in the bank in my PAC -- because the PAC wasn't even alive yet.
I was there without an attorney. I was there as a citizen candidate who had the right to be on the ballot because I had done the necessary paperwork and gotten the signatures to go before the voters for them to decide who should be the state senator.
It was estimated by a few good friends of mine that the opposition attorney had already racked up between $5,000 and $10,000 in legal charges. And, I hadn't yet begun to defend my campaign's hope of reaching the voters.
My court date was in mid-August, and today the newspaper are reporting today on yesterday's final outcome of the Romanelli appeal. That's the same timeline I was looking at.
It took another local, political friend, Titus North, and his team, more than a month of legal fighting, day-in-day out to get to a decision on his opportunity to be a candidate before the voters. His decision was known in mid September.
The United States sends men and women around the world to stand in harms way to fight for democracy. For what?
Wayne Fontana put that legal challenge against me -- and in doing so I feel that he greatly discounted the worth and dignity of all American veterans of all time. Wayne Fontana has a committee assignment that deals with Veterans Affairs. He needs to overhaul his sense of duty to them.
Wayne Fontana can stand up and tell veterans that they went to war to fight for this country and our freedoms and rights. Fontana can say, Democracy is important to our nation, except now, when Fontana is in charge of a stash of slush money that gives democratic cronies access to legal henchmen to knock down anyone who might offer peeps of challenges.
Bob Casey Jr, you stink.
Wayne Fontana, you stink.
Un-democratic democrats, you all stink.
Senator Jim Ferlo didn't file a challenge against his opponent. He doesn't stink.
US Congressman, Mike Doyle, you stink.
Tens of thousands of signatures that came from tens of thousands of citizens of Pennsylvanias didn't mean jack. Thousands of people got ignored. The judge sealed that decision and it was pushed along by the democrats. The big blame goes onto the backs of the democrats.
It took six weeks for the fight to occur in the courts. It took another six months of gathering signatures. Meanwhile, we have little else to talk about in terms of what Romanelli has to say on the issues. Skunked.
We all loose.
Perhaps Pennsylvania is 46th out of the 50 states in terms of job creation. But, I have a hunch that PA is 50th out of 50th in terms of its sense of democracy.
This is what is killing our state, our region and our city. People in power don't have respect for the big-minded values of what makes us different and something other than those we fight against.
Bob Casey Jr. does not get my vote.
Yes, it is being reported that the decision to knock Romanelli off the ballot is a big victory for Casey. No way. I see it in another way. Casey's goons knocked Romanelli off the ballot and knocked democracy in the teeth in doing so.
Then they issue a dental bill for $90,000 to be paid by the citizen candidate Romanelli. He works for the rail road. He went through hell just to get an attempt to try to serve his country and this is the thanks he gets -- from Casey and his cronies.
Perhaps it is Casey's wish to put PA back into the dark ages. He just wants to win. Screw that mentality.
Tiny brained leadership stinks. Fontana fits that mold too.
I'm glad I pulled out of the state senate race, before the judge, when I did. I'm glad I don't have a $90,000 bill to pay. Well, perhaps my bill would have been half of that. I'm still glad I don't have a $45,000 bill to pay.
Rick Santorum is no friend of mine. But Casey and Fontana and Doyle have proven to be mortal enemies to democracy. They don't believe that the people should decide, as I do.
Futhermore, I know of a lot of Democrats who are aiding and helping Rick Santorum. Likewise, I know of a lot of Republicans who are aiding and helping Bob Casey. When I ran as a Libertarian, I had a lot of help from Ds, Rs, Is, and Gs. People in the U.S.A. have a RIGHT to Free Association. It is understood and even healthy when there are different camps and different campers moving about from campaign and candidate -- as they so choose. Choice is great!
So, don't expect this crap to stick concerning how Romanelli, a Green, was 'funded' as some secret double agent for the status quo vangards. That is spin that resonantes with me much like what I've seen going down the drain in a toilet.
Romanelli took some campaign money from Rs. So what. Romanelli also took money from Ds, Greens and others. Casey takes money from Rs. Santorum takes money from Ds. So what. I'd love to see more and more folks fund third party folks because they love democracy.
It takes all types to make the world go around. Perhaps this is why Pennsylvania and our region are flat. Pennsylvania is old school. Pennsylvania is without the buzz of diversity, without inclusion. PA is where people get to ride on the laurels of their parents, Bob Casey, Jr.
People vote with their feet. People are leaving Pennsylvania. This is why.
People won't go out to vote for Bob Casey. Bob Casey and his cronies are clueless about democracy. Bob Casey is clueless about how to make peace.
Bob Casey doesn't win friend, influence people nor get votes by signing off on pay raise checks while State Treasurer, not showing up for work, nor kicking democracy in the teeth and sending a bill of $90,000 to those who just got kicked.
Un-democratic democrats are slime and the lowest thing in our political landscape today, in my not so humble opinion.
All democrats, this brings shame on you.
All friends of democracy need to pitch a fit on this too.
Romanelli stuck with $90,000 bill for ballot dispute : The Morning Call Online Romanelli stuck with $90,000 bill for ballot disputeThis is one of the major reasons why I pulled out of my race for PA Senate in the 42nd district.
He is appealing ruling that found him short of required signatures.
By Josh Drobnyk Call Washington Bureau
| The state Democratic Party has hit Carl Romanelli and his attorney with a nearly $90,000 tab a week after the Green Party candidate lost a legal challenge to his bid to get on the U.S. Senate ballot.
The bill, submitted as part of a state judge's ruling that Romanelli is responsible for all costs associated with the challenge, includes more than $48,000 in attorney fees. It adds to what Romanelli described as a deepening campaign debt.
I could be, and should be on the ballot on November 7. But, doing so puts me and my family on thin ice. Very thin -- as in $90k underwater thin.
This is a freeze out of the highest order.
Fighting for the right to vote is important. Fighting for the right to have your vote counted is also very important. But, they (un-democratic democrats) hi-jack who you can vote for -- and hi-jack ballot access -- and hi-hack questions that are presented to the voters. And, if you fight, you face a $90,000 bill.
When I went to court in the middle of August, 2006, the first thing I asked about was court costs. We were called to order, and I didn't sit down. "Your honor, I have a few matters that need your attention before we begin...."
Court costs were not part of the threat in the ballot challenge I was presented. But, I needed to know, up front, if my case would ever come to a point where I would be on the hook for paying for court costs. And, if I would ever be on the hook for paying for the opposition attorney fees. I wanted to have those facts understood and up-front before we were to proceed.
I hadn't even activated a bank account for my campaign. I had $0 in the bank in my PAC -- because the PAC wasn't even alive yet.
I was there without an attorney. I was there as a citizen candidate who had the right to be on the ballot because I had done the necessary paperwork and gotten the signatures to go before the voters for them to decide who should be the state senator.
It was estimated by a few good friends of mine that the opposition attorney had already racked up between $5,000 and $10,000 in legal charges. And, I hadn't yet begun to defend my campaign's hope of reaching the voters.
My court date was in mid-August, and today the newspaper are reporting today on yesterday's final outcome of the Romanelli appeal. That's the same timeline I was looking at.
It took another local, political friend, Titus North, and his team, more than a month of legal fighting, day-in-day out to get to a decision on his opportunity to be a candidate before the voters. His decision was known in mid September.
This isn't unreal -- but a part of the bag of tricks of the un-democratic democrats. They have a standard play book, and this is what you do on 2nd down. Even if it is second down and less than a yard to go.Titus North, Green Party Candidate for US Congress. He spent two weeks in a tent in Harrisburg to stay on the ballot. More than half of the challenges the Ds put before the judge were nothing but fiction.
I took this photo of Titus after Bob O'Connor's funeral mass on September 1. The proceedings in court were still underway that week.
The United States sends men and women around the world to stand in harms way to fight for democracy. For what?
Wayne Fontana put that legal challenge against me -- and in doing so I feel that he greatly discounted the worth and dignity of all American veterans of all time. Wayne Fontana has a committee assignment that deals with Veterans Affairs. He needs to overhaul his sense of duty to them.
Wayne Fontana can stand up and tell veterans that they went to war to fight for this country and our freedoms and rights. Fontana can say, Democracy is important to our nation, except now, when Fontana is in charge of a stash of slush money that gives democratic cronies access to legal henchmen to knock down anyone who might offer peeps of challenges.
Bob Casey Jr, you stink.
Wayne Fontana, you stink.
Un-democratic democrats, you all stink.
Senator Jim Ferlo didn't file a challenge against his opponent. He doesn't stink.
US Congressman, Mike Doyle, you stink.
Tens of thousands of signatures that came from tens of thousands of citizens of Pennsylvanias didn't mean jack. Thousands of people got ignored. The judge sealed that decision and it was pushed along by the democrats. The big blame goes onto the backs of the democrats.
It took six weeks for the fight to occur in the courts. It took another six months of gathering signatures. Meanwhile, we have little else to talk about in terms of what Romanelli has to say on the issues. Skunked.
We all loose.
Perhaps Pennsylvania is 46th out of the 50 states in terms of job creation. But, I have a hunch that PA is 50th out of 50th in terms of its sense of democracy.
This is what is killing our state, our region and our city. People in power don't have respect for the big-minded values of what makes us different and something other than those we fight against.
Bob Casey Jr. does not get my vote.
Yes, it is being reported that the decision to knock Romanelli off the ballot is a big victory for Casey. No way. I see it in another way. Casey's goons knocked Romanelli off the ballot and knocked democracy in the teeth in doing so.
Then they issue a dental bill for $90,000 to be paid by the citizen candidate Romanelli. He works for the rail road. He went through hell just to get an attempt to try to serve his country and this is the thanks he gets -- from Casey and his cronies.
Perhaps it is Casey's wish to put PA back into the dark ages. He just wants to win. Screw that mentality.
Tiny brained leadership stinks. Fontana fits that mold too.
I'm glad I pulled out of the state senate race, before the judge, when I did. I'm glad I don't have a $90,000 bill to pay. Well, perhaps my bill would have been half of that. I'm still glad I don't have a $45,000 bill to pay.
Rick Santorum is no friend of mine. But Casey and Fontana and Doyle have proven to be mortal enemies to democracy. They don't believe that the people should decide, as I do.
Futhermore, I know of a lot of Democrats who are aiding and helping Rick Santorum. Likewise, I know of a lot of Republicans who are aiding and helping Bob Casey. When I ran as a Libertarian, I had a lot of help from Ds, Rs, Is, and Gs. People in the U.S.A. have a RIGHT to Free Association. It is understood and even healthy when there are different camps and different campers moving about from campaign and candidate -- as they so choose. Choice is great!
So, don't expect this crap to stick concerning how Romanelli, a Green, was 'funded' as some secret double agent for the status quo vangards. That is spin that resonantes with me much like what I've seen going down the drain in a toilet.
Romanelli took some campaign money from Rs. So what. Romanelli also took money from Ds, Greens and others. Casey takes money from Rs. Santorum takes money from Ds. So what. I'd love to see more and more folks fund third party folks because they love democracy.
It takes all types to make the world go around. Perhaps this is why Pennsylvania and our region are flat. Pennsylvania is old school. Pennsylvania is without the buzz of diversity, without inclusion. PA is where people get to ride on the laurels of their parents, Bob Casey, Jr.
People vote with their feet. People are leaving Pennsylvania. This is why.
People won't go out to vote for Bob Casey. Bob Casey and his cronies are clueless about democracy. Bob Casey is clueless about how to make peace.
Bob Casey doesn't win friend, influence people nor get votes by signing off on pay raise checks while State Treasurer, not showing up for work, nor kicking democracy in the teeth and sending a bill of $90,000 to those who just got kicked.
Hex... Humm.... Heartbreak.... Hardships... Healing
 |
| From Hex photos released to the public domain. |
This photo collection is released into the public domain and is called, "Hex." Enjoy. Do what you wish with the images.
Template:Unencylopedia license - PittsburghPlatform: "Licensed under absolutely nothing. Have a field day. Abuse this for your own sick pleasures."For most, it is hard to connect with the Amish. That relationship isn't "easy" to make.
Pennsylvania's legacy of being a place where religious freedom is respected is something that we should never forget.
Pop City - Giving Voice to Big Ideas
I was there. And, I've been the top point earner in the follow-up web site too. Big whup. 
Pop City - Giving Voice to Big Ideas On a bright summery Saturday in September, hundreds of young Pittsburghers flocked downtown, clutching coffee and cartoon-like postcards, to fill classrooms at the Creative and Performing Arts High School (CAPA).
Sprout Fund boss, formerly with Jim Roddey and helper in the New Idea Factory, spreads some hype at the event. Click the image to see a snip of video.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Don't start school before LABOR DAY
We did not start school until AFTER Labor Day. We held out, because we were elsewhere, with a job, on travels, and not willing to come back for two days of school.
We love school. We don't love it before Labor Day in our family.
The "No Child Left Behind" slogan has a different meaning with us. We won't leave our children behind. We take em with us when we go.
Photo shows my child, Grant, leaving us behind. Grant was in an open-water swim race on the first day of school this year, Thursday before Labor Day. We were in Canada, where we should have been. (Click image for a larger view.)
We love school. We don't love it before Labor Day in our family.
The "No Child Left Behind" slogan has a different meaning with us. We won't leave our children behind. We take em with us when we go.
INSIDE THE CAPITOL
Early start costs state
Starting school before Labor Day costs the state's economy $387 million, according to a report released last week by the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee. That was music to the ears of Rep. Robert Godshall, R-Montgomery, who has legislation pending to prohibit districts from starting school before the September holiday.
'The study confirms what has been my contention all along, that starting the school year before Labor Day harms the state's economy, especially the tourism industry, and has a negative effect on jobs,' he said.
Photo shows my child, Grant, leaving us behind. Grant was in an open-water swim race on the first day of school this year, Thursday before Labor Day. We were in Canada, where we should have been. (Click image for a larger view.)
Pa. Supreme Court rejects Green's bid to relax ballot rule
This was more than a Green bid to call an election an election. I was on my knees in prayer that the election in the fall would be called an election too.
It would not take a constitutional convention to fix this mess.
AP Wire | 10/03/2006 | Pa. Supreme Court rejects Green's bid to relax ballot rule: "HARRISBURG, Pa. - The state Supreme Court dealt another blow Tuesday to a Green Party candidate's U.S. Senate campaign by refusing to reduce the number of signatures that minor-party candidates need to run for statewide office.I hate one line decisions from judges.
In a one-sentence order, the court upheld a state judge's decision in August that required Carl Romanelli to gather an unusually high 67,070 signatures to qualify for the Nov. 7 ballot alongside Republican Sen. Rick Santorum and Democratic state Treasurer Bob Casey.
Romanelli had argued that the formula for calculating the number of signatures should be based on last year's judicial retention elections in which state judges run unopposed and voters cast up-or-down votes on whether they should serve additional 10-year terms.
It would not take a constitutional convention to fix this mess.
Mini Linux PC breaks $100 barrier
Need a new computer?
Mini Linux PC breaks $100 barrier a tiny, 200MHz x86-compatible mini PC for $99, in single quantities.
Online Fundraising Auction for DePaul School of Hearing and Speech
Make Your Bid to Support DePAUL SCHOOL FOR HEARING & SPEECH!!
Now is your chance to not only get all the great items you want, but to do it knowing you are helping support DePaul's mission to bring auditory/oral education to children with hearing and speech impairments.
A gala is slated for the days ahead. The fundraiser items for sale in an auction are now online.
Now is your chance to not only get all the great items you want, but to do it knowing you are helping support DePaul's mission to bring auditory/oral education to children with hearing and speech impairments.
A gala is slated for the days ahead. The fundraiser items for sale in an auction are now online.
cMarket - Online Fundraising Auction Services for Nonprofits: "'The Bus' Jerome Bettis Autographed Football
Authentic Pittsburgh Steelers limited edition foot... Priceless Bid Now --> $100.00
Mayor pushes to fill position - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Mayor pushes to fill position - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Ravenstahl yesterday also appointed Chief of Staff Yarone Zober to fill former Chief of Staff B.J. Leber's unexpired term on the Urban Redevelopment Authority. It hasn't been decided if Zober will chair the five-member board.
Gaming groups to meet - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Junket. Closed meetings. These guys are old school politicians in training. Its is shame. They don't speak for me.
Gaming groups to meet - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review After visiting casinos in Colorado and Missouri, members of the Pittsburgh Gaming Task Force are holding closed-door meetings today with two of the three groups seeking a slots license in the city.
Using private foundation money, the task force members last week visited casinos operated by all three of the groups and met with community leaders. The meetings today will focus on design proposals by Isle of Capri Casinos and Majestic Star Casino.
Cleveland-based Forest City Enterprises, which would open Harrah's Station Square Casino, did not host the nine-member delegation and does not plan to participate in today's meetings.
Monday, October 02, 2006
League of Pissed Off Voters holds event
They used my slogan suggestion -- "Voting makes your teeth whiter."
Here are the details of an event:
Here are the details of an event:
Confused about who to vote for this November 7?
Come get the skinny on all the cats who are fighting to represent you!
What: Pgh. League of Young Voters Fall 2006 Candidate Forum
Where: The Union Project, 801 N. Negley Avenue, Highland Park
When: Tuesday, October 3, 2006 6:30 PM
Who: Candidates for U.S. Senate, House, PA Governor, PA Senate and House.
Light refreshments will be served!
Confirmed campaigns include:
Rendell for Governor (D)
Swann for Governor (R)
Doyle for Congress (D)
North for Congress (G)
Altmire for Congress (D)
Kluko for Congress (D)
Jane Orie for PA Senate (R)
Wayne Fontana for PA Senate (D) -- screw him (blogmaster's note)
Lisa Bennington for PA House (D)
Chelsa Wagner for PA House (D)
Shawn Flaherty for PA House (D)
Mark Harris for PA House (R)
(All of the opponents of these candidates have been contacted and many will most likely send a surrogate.)
What: Candidates or their representatives will speak for 3 minutes about the following issues: Urban public transit, diversity, employment/entrepreneurial opportunity, cultural amenities and smart growth. The audience (aka YOU) will have three minutes to ask each individual questions. Then the candidate will give a 1 minute closing statement in response.
Make an informed decision this November 7!
Get the 4-1-1 on the candidates who represent the 4-1-2 (and 7-2-4)!
The Tartan Online : Media advances include using blogs for news
This Running Mates blog might not save the world, but it might be able to help kill Maglev's arrival in Pittsburgh. Here we are before we board the Maglev in China.
CMU's newspaper gives some insights into a blog-focused lecture on Pitt's campus last week. I missed the talk to do some home repairs.
The Tartan Online : Media advances include using blogs for news However, blogging does have its beneficial points. On Wednesday, Ethan Zuckerman came to speak at the University of Pittsburgh as part of the university’s global studies program and International Week. Zuckerman is currently conducting research at the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University, studying information technology in developing countries. At the International Week event, Zuckerman spoke about blogging; he believes that weblogs can be used to close gaps in mainstream media coverage throughout the world.
Zuckerman founded Geekcorps in 1999. The program sends information technicians from more technologically adept countries to developing areas, including Africa, Eastern Europe, South Asia, and Central America, to teach basic software programming and other technology-focused skills. The idea is to enable residents of those areas to subsist off their own knowledge. For example, small businesses can be built on basic computing knowledge. The Geekcorps program has been so successful that it was recently announced as one of the Tech Museum Award winners.
Zuckerman, too, encourages his workers to keep blogs. He believes that they are useful forms of communication between the workers and the average citizen. Hopefully, the messages sent and the experiences described will have a lasting effect on the audience.
Some blogs do not carry a message so heavy in world change. Rather, some inadvertenly have a huge impact. For instance, the popular movie Snakes on a Plane was defined partially by blogging. The site www.snakesonablog.com helped influence different portions of the movie; it became a bulletin board for ideas for the movie. In fact, the site includes a link to “Snakes on a Forum,” from which people can post and collect ideas and thoughts. Now that the movie has been released to the public, Snakes on a Blog mostly carries humorous photographs, fan art, and random posts. The power of this site is incredible — it both promoted and shaped the movie.
While people like Zuckerman may advocate blogs as a tool to change the world, the typical teenager has other reasons for the addicting habit. First-year chemistry major Derek McQuade is one such teenager. Though he does not blog too frequently, he does encourage its use. McQuade said, “I don’t know why I do it. I just do.” Unlike of many bloggers, McQuade does not disclose personal information. He usually just allows a description of his day to suffice. “It’s really just for me. I mean if people read it, that’s great, but it really is just for me.”
Netflix Prize, get $1M
You know that two local Blockbuster stores have closed recently. 
We saw Star Wars in China. And I'm certain that this isn't the way to get the $1M prize.
I'm still waiting for a review of The Guardian. Anyone?
Netflix Prize: Home The Netflix Prize seeks to substantially improve the accuracy of predictions about how much someone is going to love a movie based on their movie preferences. Improve it enough and you win one (or more) Prizes. Winning the Netflix Prize improves our ability to connect people to the movies they love.
We saw Star Wars in China. And I'm certain that this isn't the way to get the $1M prize. I'm still waiting for a review of The Guardian. Anyone?
Johnson Institute for Responsible Leadership hosting an event on Oct 25
Interesting event that you might be interested in attending.
Upcoming Events
What does the injunction, "Serve the public interest," really mean for public managers, and why is it important?
Dr. Carol Lewis, professor of political science at the University of Connecticut, will discuss different perspectives of public interest and offer a multi-faceted formulation of the public manager�s duty�a process that involves the current concerns of democracy and mutuality and the future concerns of sustainability and legacy.
In her systematic anaylsis of what defines the public interest, Dr. Lewis will highlight a case study of the reaction to the looting of Iraq�s National Museum of Antiquities in 2003 to illustrate the worldwide recognition of the legacy obligation to future generations.
Johnson Institute for Responsible Leadership In Pursuit of the Public Interest - Wednesday, October 25, 2006 4:30 - 6:00 p.m. Pittsburgh Athletic Association, Bigelow Room
Upcoming Events
What does the injunction, "Serve the public interest," really mean for public managers, and why is it important?
Dr. Carol Lewis, professor of political science at the University of Connecticut, will discuss different perspectives of public interest and offer a multi-faceted formulation of the public manager�s duty�a process that involves the current concerns of democracy and mutuality and the future concerns of sustainability and legacy.
In her systematic anaylsis of what defines the public interest, Dr. Lewis will highlight a case study of the reaction to the looting of Iraq�s National Museum of Antiquities in 2003 to illustrate the worldwide recognition of the legacy obligation to future generations.
Pittsburgh city hall lacks old hands, has fresh faces
Zoning. As is the case when there are private developers at odds with citizens, the matter generally goes past zoning and wiggles onto the agenda of city council.
There was a big blow up in recent weeks from a situation in Park Place. Park Place is a neighborhood in the city's east side. I stand with the citizens in Park Place. We don't need to tear down homes in the city -- good houses that have residents and still work as designed -- to put up a Walgreens with its highway styled, drive-by formed operation.
Dozens of citizens stormed into city council chambers on a few different instances in the past months. This past week, a two week extension was granted and a deal seems to have been struck. Twanda Carlisle on city council was patting herself on the back for getting a two-week delay. Go figure.
The devil is in the details. We'll wait and see.
But this saga is nothing new. The zoning board is worthless when it comes to hard decisions. Worthless. The fights always spill over to city council's domain anyway.
I think that the zoning board is a waste, a sink, another un-elected group of cronies that often has its logic rooted in nothing but cracks in the pavement. Zoning, its enforcement and most matters of the red tape that it binds is good for corruption and special case treatments.
The overhaul shouldn't stop at the zoning board. The slogan, 'When you fail to plan you plan to fail' fits too. I have no faith in the city's planning department. None.
In the times of Tom Murphy, the planning department was often used as a tool to help advance his agenda. And they didn't even try to give value to citizens and taxpayers.
How else can you explain a city planning department that fires its lone traffic engineer. Planning, zoning and the URA have been tools for re-elections.
Pittsburgh city hall lacks old hands, has fresh faces The lack of tenure has manifested itself in small ways, such as open struggles over zoning issues and bitterness over council machinations. It remains to be seen whether it will affect the city's just-started budget process and how it will play out next year in a potentially wild election season.Zoning has always been a sore spot in the city with the way it does its business.
There was a big blow up in recent weeks from a situation in Park Place. Park Place is a neighborhood in the city's east side. I stand with the citizens in Park Place. We don't need to tear down homes in the city -- good houses that have residents and still work as designed -- to put up a Walgreens with its highway styled, drive-by formed operation.
Dozens of citizens stormed into city council chambers on a few different instances in the past months. This past week, a two week extension was granted and a deal seems to have been struck. Twanda Carlisle on city council was patting herself on the back for getting a two-week delay. Go figure.
The devil is in the details. We'll wait and see.
But this saga is nothing new. The zoning board is worthless when it comes to hard decisions. Worthless. The fights always spill over to city council's domain anyway.
I think that the zoning board is a waste, a sink, another un-elected group of cronies that often has its logic rooted in nothing but cracks in the pavement. Zoning, its enforcement and most matters of the red tape that it binds is good for corruption and special case treatments.
The overhaul shouldn't stop at the zoning board. The slogan, 'When you fail to plan you plan to fail' fits too. I have no faith in the city's planning department. None.
In the times of Tom Murphy, the planning department was often used as a tool to help advance his agenda. And they didn't even try to give value to citizens and taxpayers.
How else can you explain a city planning department that fires its lone traffic engineer. Planning, zoning and the URA have been tools for re-elections.
part 2 - Dan Deasy's quote and roles
Say what?
I like Dan. I think that the rest of the quote is okay. Yes, the city has changed. Yes, the young folks have not been political all that long. Dan isn't a lawyer. Dan is sincere. Dan is a hard worker. Dan is straight. Dan has a family. Dan wants a healthy Pittsburgh.
But tell me, Dan, or anyone else, what Dan has put forward as to new ideas.
Can you read his web site and find out?
Can you read his op-ed in the newspapers?
Can I remember his remarks while he was speaking to a group of concerned citizens?
And, to 'redd up' isn't a 'new idea' for goodness sakes.
Diverse opinions do become personal quickly. And my opinion of Dan isn't 'personal' -- it is factual in one regard -- new ideas.
Furthermore, I'm not even sure there is any saving grace to 'new ideas.' Don't hitch your wagon to that shooting star. If Dan had said we stand for good government, then he'd be hitting a home run. Stand for honesty. Stand for an approach that cares about the people. Stand for and speak about the fact that you have an 'open mind.' Slave upon the duty of being there and doing the necessary research before the votes are set at the table.
Dan is a good supporting role character in a time of crisis when there are others at the helm of the city after we've just changed captains. Dan is the guy who could best advance the redd-up agenda of Bob O'Connor. That is why he won the election, even before O'Connor got that job. Dan was not a 'Tom Murphy' clone nor 'supporter.' Dan was a clean up candidate, and the west end neighborhoods needed that.
Pittsburgh city hall lacks old hands, has fresh faces 'The city of Pittsburgh has changed,' said council Finance Chairman Dan Deasy, who took office in June 2005. 'We haven't been ingrained in the political system for years. We bring new ideas.'Can anyone tell me one new idea that Dan Deasy has put on the table of City Council?
I like Dan. I think that the rest of the quote is okay. Yes, the city has changed. Yes, the young folks have not been political all that long. Dan isn't a lawyer. Dan is sincere. Dan is a hard worker. Dan is straight. Dan has a family. Dan wants a healthy Pittsburgh.
But tell me, Dan, or anyone else, what Dan has put forward as to new ideas.
Can you read his web site and find out?
Can you read his op-ed in the newspapers?
Can I remember his remarks while he was speaking to a group of concerned citizens?
And, to 'redd up' isn't a 'new idea' for goodness sakes.
Diverse opinions do become personal quickly. And my opinion of Dan isn't 'personal' -- it is factual in one regard -- new ideas.
Furthermore, I'm not even sure there is any saving grace to 'new ideas.' Don't hitch your wagon to that shooting star. If Dan had said we stand for good government, then he'd be hitting a home run. Stand for honesty. Stand for an approach that cares about the people. Stand for and speak about the fact that you have an 'open mind.' Slave upon the duty of being there and doing the necessary research before the votes are set at the table.
Dan is a good supporting role character in a time of crisis when there are others at the helm of the city after we've just changed captains. Dan is the guy who could best advance the redd-up agenda of Bob O'Connor. That is why he won the election, even before O'Connor got that job. Dan was not a 'Tom Murphy' clone nor 'supporter.' Dan was a clean up candidate, and the west end neighborhoods needed that.
part 3 - Jeff Koch's role and excuses
Then there is Jeff.
I've got a lot to say about bars and the neighborhood. But Jeff is going to strike out. The outcomes are never going to materialize. Worthless efforts. The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
As to the shuttered Neville Ice Arena -- that is a no brainer. I could have had it opened by now. I could open that in about 2 weeks. I get calls every other month from people from around the county that want to open the Neville Ice Arena. My last call was from an ex-Pittsburgh guy who was with a firm in the state of Washington. Another call was from a local Pittsburgh guy who was very 'secret' (a turn off to me) who was putting together a team of investors. (Doubt he was successful.)
A request for proposals (RFP) for the Neville Ice Rink was promised to me and the community on mulitiple instances. It never came. It must have been done three or four times over. Then the local do-nothing types had a park plan that was not worth the paper it was written on. They wanted to get their hooks into the building and facility. They fumbled too.
The Neville Ice Rink is a 'sports facility.' To move that project you'll need someone who understands 'Recreational Leadership' to get involved. Our Citipaks programs and leaders there have been all about closing fewer facilities. They have been trying to make chicken soup with nothing but chicken shit. For them to shift gears and put any effort into a closed facility, when they have dozens of others that are also closed and are going nowhere, and when another dozen are on the brink of being closed is impossible.
The South Side Market House should have 200 kids playing indoor soccer this fall. That isn't happening. Jeff Koch didn't help. This is the first year that that program has been axed. Fumble.
I've offered to help. No luck.
The Markethouse could be opened and should be opened. Same too with the ice rink. But no. We'll slide backwards some more.
Jeff needs to do some projects that work. Jeff has nothing to point to as a success in the community yet. Jeff is up for re-election in May 2007 in the primary and November 2007 for the general election. His honeymoon is over.
Jeff is going to need to shift into excuse mode soon. He'll have to make excuses as to why he didn't get anything done. I wish that there was more for him to lean upon and point to.
Can't skate in the city -- yet city kids skate. That's B.Mc. on the right from a performance in a suburban rink in 2006.
Market House Soccer -- red team. My son is bottom left. I'm top right.
My son is on bottom right and I'm at top left in this photo of a Market House Soccer team.
Another city pool -- empty. This is a summer-time photo.
Just to be clear about myself: I coached and was on the parent booster group of the South Side Market House Children's Athletic Assn for a number of years. As my kids got older, we went to our sport -- swimming -- we left Market House activities. Now I'm coaching my son's team in swimming, in the burbs, no less. When I left the Market House, things were running smoothly. The activities ran last year, without my involvement. But, that happened without much help from the City. Volunteers ran the program at the Market House and were spent because of it. Day to day programming with volunteers isn't ideal.
We have serious recreational issues and problems in this area.
I'm a swimming coach for five days a week, if not seven days. I've coached this year in Canada (for 2-weeks), with the Carlynton Swim Club (year round), ran a water polo clinic, began a swim team at Phillips Elementary, and coached the summer season with the Crafton Swim Team. I've coached swimming since 1976.
I coached swimming in the city in 1999-2000. That fall the city yanked the pool permit from the team at the Oliver Bath House, sadly. That season I worked with Coach Hosea and we saved TRA (Three Rivers Aquatics). Parent boosters wanted to kill TRA, so I came onto the scene. The old TRA team is now in our winter swim league for 2006-07 season and it operates as the Kingsley Stingrays.
We'll begin our swim practices with the Phillips Elementary Swim Team again shortly. They practice for one swim meet and gather only on Sunday nights.
Pittsburgh city hall lacks old hands, has fresh faces 'It's taken time to get acclimated to how slow the process is,' said Councilman Jeff Koch. He has spent much of his six months in office crafting legislation to give neighborhoods control over bars moving in and pushing the bureaucracy to remove graffiti and to seek an operator for the shuttered Neville Ice Arena.Jeff is crafting legislation to give neighborhoods control over bars. Right. I'm sure he is. Might as well take a big ice ball and push it to the top of Mt. Washington all summer long.
I've got a lot to say about bars and the neighborhood. But Jeff is going to strike out. The outcomes are never going to materialize. Worthless efforts. The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
As to the shuttered Neville Ice Arena -- that is a no brainer. I could have had it opened by now. I could open that in about 2 weeks. I get calls every other month from people from around the county that want to open the Neville Ice Arena. My last call was from an ex-Pittsburgh guy who was with a firm in the state of Washington. Another call was from a local Pittsburgh guy who was very 'secret' (a turn off to me) who was putting together a team of investors. (Doubt he was successful.)
A request for proposals (RFP) for the Neville Ice Rink was promised to me and the community on mulitiple instances. It never came. It must have been done three or four times over. Then the local do-nothing types had a park plan that was not worth the paper it was written on. They wanted to get their hooks into the building and facility. They fumbled too.
The Neville Ice Rink is a 'sports facility.' To move that project you'll need someone who understands 'Recreational Leadership' to get involved. Our Citipaks programs and leaders there have been all about closing fewer facilities. They have been trying to make chicken soup with nothing but chicken shit. For them to shift gears and put any effort into a closed facility, when they have dozens of others that are also closed and are going nowhere, and when another dozen are on the brink of being closed is impossible.
The South Side Market House should have 200 kids playing indoor soccer this fall. That isn't happening. Jeff Koch didn't help. This is the first year that that program has been axed. Fumble.
I've offered to help. No luck.
The Markethouse could be opened and should be opened. Same too with the ice rink. But no. We'll slide backwards some more.
Jeff needs to do some projects that work. Jeff has nothing to point to as a success in the community yet. Jeff is up for re-election in May 2007 in the primary and November 2007 for the general election. His honeymoon is over.
Jeff is going to need to shift into excuse mode soon. He'll have to make excuses as to why he didn't get anything done. I wish that there was more for him to lean upon and point to.
Can't skate in the city -- yet city kids skate. That's B.Mc. on the right from a performance in a suburban rink in 2006.
Market House Soccer -- red team. My son is bottom left. I'm top right.
My son is on bottom right and I'm at top left in this photo of a Market House Soccer team.
Another city pool -- empty. This is a summer-time photo. Just to be clear about myself: I coached and was on the parent booster group of the South Side Market House Children's Athletic Assn for a number of years. As my kids got older, we went to our sport -- swimming -- we left Market House activities. Now I'm coaching my son's team in swimming, in the burbs, no less. When I left the Market House, things were running smoothly. The activities ran last year, without my involvement. But, that happened without much help from the City. Volunteers ran the program at the Market House and were spent because of it. Day to day programming with volunteers isn't ideal.
We have serious recreational issues and problems in this area.
I'm a swimming coach for five days a week, if not seven days. I've coached this year in Canada (for 2-weeks), with the Carlynton Swim Club (year round), ran a water polo clinic, began a swim team at Phillips Elementary, and coached the summer season with the Crafton Swim Team. I've coached swimming since 1976.
I coached swimming in the city in 1999-2000. That fall the city yanked the pool permit from the team at the Oliver Bath House, sadly. That season I worked with Coach Hosea and we saved TRA (Three Rivers Aquatics). Parent boosters wanted to kill TRA, so I came onto the scene. The old TRA team is now in our winter swim league for 2006-07 season and it operates as the Kingsley Stingrays.
We'll begin our swim practices with the Phillips Elementary Swim Team again shortly. They practice for one swim meet and gather only on Sunday nights.
dave4council.com - Dave Schuilenburg For Pittsburgh City Council District 1
Original post from September 28, 2006: Now with an UPDATE at end.
Tip #1 for a candidate for Pittsburgh City Council, special election, November 7.
Dave, put your home address on the web site. A P.O. Box just doesn't cut it. People want to know where you live. I'm glad you saved the Post Office, but this campaign is quick. Put the address there. You could have an "after the campaign long-term address footnote, if you so desire." But, you purchased a house for goodness sakes. Be proud of that and list it.
Best of luck to you. Hope to meet you soon.
Dave Schuilenburg, you've got my attention. I'm listening.
Dave sent me an email.
Tip #1 for a candidate for Pittsburgh City Council, special election, November 7.
Dave, put your home address on the web site. A P.O. Box just doesn't cut it. People want to know where you live. I'm glad you saved the Post Office, but this campaign is quick. Put the address there. You could have an "after the campaign long-term address footnote, if you so desire." But, you purchased a house for goodness sakes. Be proud of that and list it.
dave4council.com - Dave Schuilenburg For Pittsburgh City Council District 1 PO Box#15170Otherwise, nice site. I love what you are talking about. The overall themes are right on. We do need action. We do need folks to serve without being driven by 'self interest.' We do need reform. We do need families with young children to move into and stay in and thrive within our neighborhoods.
Best of luck to you. Hope to meet you soon.
Dave Schuilenburg, you've got my attention. I'm listening.
Dave sent me an email.
Makes sense to me.
Mark;
Thank you for your kind comments & constructive criticism. The reason it was ultimately decided to go with a post office box is 2 fold. First, I have been having mail theft issues as of late, and you can imagine how that could make or break the campaign. Second, with all the community & non-profit work I do, many times, all the mail does not fit in the box.
Again, thanks for the nice comments, and I too look forward to finally meeting you too.
Respects,
Dave
Pa. voters asked to OK borrowing to help Gulf War vets
PennLive.com: NewsFlash - Pa. voters asked to OK borrowing to help Gulf War vets HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Nearly 33,000 Pennsylvania veterans who participated in the Persian Gulf War may qualify for state combat 'bonuses' of as much as $525 each if voters approve a $20 million bond issue that is on the Nov. 7 statewide ballot.
The payments, authorized by a law that lawmakers overwhelmingly approved and Gov. Ed Rendell signed with little fanfare in April, would be similar to previously authorized bonuses for veterans who served in or during wars dating back to the Spanish-American War in the late-1800s.
'Pennsylvania has had a history of providing a war/conflict bonus to resident veterans,' said Rep. Jerry L. Nailor, R-Cumberland, a sponsor of the bill.
Ravenstahl set to meet governor, legislators
Luke is on the road, and that is good news.
At the back of the article comes these insights that need attention.
Part of the Harrisburg bail out was a mandatory reduction in taxes that the city could charge. The city raised its parking tax to 50%, the highest in the country. The backlash in Harrisburg was such that the parking tax must drop in future years. Those forced cuts mean the city has millions in new holes to its budget.
Suburban legislatures, such as Orie, Turzi, Petrone, and city members of both chambers such as Diven, Frankle, Readshaw and others fumbled in great ways. Most, if not all, need to carry a great deal of blame. They should start all their conversations with a big sorry statement as to what they did and failed to do for the city. They were worthless. And, in the long-term, they were downright harmful.
Bill Peduto recently talked about the five year budget plan and said that the year by year outlook is bad in future years. He used a college word, something like, the budgets in years two, three and four are exponentially more difficult to balance.
The 'exponential' qualification is a over lavish statement and just false. But, it is harder in those out years to balance the city's figures due to what the state legislature did -- with Rendell's okay.
Lynn Swann and all the candidates who are running against sitting candidates should blast them for their hand in giving a hole-filled bailout to the city.
The bailout for the city was a feel good deed on the part of those in Harrisburg, because we had a jackass as a Mayor, Tom Murphy. Meanwhile, the bailout comes on like a kick in the teeth to city residents year after year -- as it keeps on giving, but only worse.
Then the news article from the P-G quotes 'political consensus' without any attribution. Think again Rich Lord. These folks in Harrisburg are not going to do anything for the city at this moment -- so I agree with the consensus part -- but for many other reasons. They are hardly fighting for re-election. That is not reality. Most of the people who work in Harrisburg from the Pittsburgh area have a free ride in their re-election bids. I wish that there was much more fighting for re-elections.
The Harrisburg government officials are not going to do anything for the city because they are ignorant of the facts. They don't know how the parking tax has been a boost to the city's budget. They don't understand how the gambling money has been a false savior and incomes were put into the budget from gambling by Tom Murphy two years ago. Such a joke from Fast Eddie Rendell and the dual overlords. They are clueless because the real facts of the matter are so poorly covered.
Furthermore, the folks who work in Harrisburg in official roles are not going to do anything for the city at this time because the folks who are on city council and who are in the mayor's administration don't have the vision, nor the drive, nor the crafted statements to take to Harrisburg.
The news article says Luke is going to Harrisburg to build bridges. Well, he should have been doing that as soon as he was elected, if not as soon as he began to campaign, if not as soon as he thought of himself as a potential advocate and citizen.
For years, people on city council have been told to 'butt out' with dealings in Harrisburg. They have. So now we have to send our Mayor to Harrisburg to build bridges.
Luke should be going to Harrisburg now to blow up tunnels, if you ask me. I'm speaking about those expensive light-rail tunnels that are going to go to the North Side stadiums -- a PAT project.
Luke, I could give you a long list of ideas to share with those in Harrisburg. They need to be given an education on matters that impact the city in grave ways.
Tell them the re-do of Point State Park is boneheaded and what we really need is a new governmental structure to allow for the creation of a park district so volunteerism soars around this region.
Tell them about the parking tax and how much was projected and delivered to the city's general fund, year in and year out. Then talk about how folks in the suburban reaches of the county can ride the bus to town and avoid traffic, lessen traffic, and skip out on the parking tax. Besides, PAT subsidizes them already while fare in the city, zone 1, are to climb to $2.50.
There has been a tax shift away from the ones who benefit from sprawl and to the ones who reside in the city's core. Mention the county's tax assessment mess.
Tell them about the city's school situation and how our special needs kids get excellent treatment and educations. Therefore the families in suburban neighborhoods with children with challenges often move districts, into the city, to get a better education. And, the state does little to support those educational needs. Futhermore, the formulas and caps have been working against the city school district for more than a decade.
Luke, you can begin to recruit for a new police chief too. Tell people you need top candidates for the new opening. Plus, as the new police officers are headed to the force, as part of a hyped-filled promise by some campaign somewhere, -- you'll be wanting to hire crossing guards for city streets. Crossing guards are effective and affordable. And, you'll empower them like never before and make them new darlings of enformcement and communications -- plus safety.
Finally, Luke, tell the governor and others seeking re-election that you won't film any campaign commercials for candidates while seated behind your desk on Grant Street at Tom Murphy did four years ago. And, if that was to happen again, you'd file charges yourself.
At the back of the article comes these insights that need attention.
Ravenstahl set to meet governor, legislators The Legislature approved a tax boost for the city in late 2004, but city leaders have said it isn't enough to cover rising costs expected a few years from now.The Legislature provided a "bail out package" for the city. The bail out was a joke. Everyone in Harrisburg needs to take ownership and blame for the bailout.
The consensus in political circles is that no new help for the city will be coming this year, since most state officials are fighting for re-election.
Part of the Harrisburg bail out was a mandatory reduction in taxes that the city could charge. The city raised its parking tax to 50%, the highest in the country. The backlash in Harrisburg was such that the parking tax must drop in future years. Those forced cuts mean the city has millions in new holes to its budget.
Suburban legislatures, such as Orie, Turzi, Petrone, and city members of both chambers such as Diven, Frankle, Readshaw and others fumbled in great ways. Most, if not all, need to carry a great deal of blame. They should start all their conversations with a big sorry statement as to what they did and failed to do for the city. They were worthless. And, in the long-term, they were downright harmful.
Bill Peduto recently talked about the five year budget plan and said that the year by year outlook is bad in future years. He used a college word, something like, the budgets in years two, three and four are exponentially more difficult to balance.
The 'exponential' qualification is a over lavish statement and just false. But, it is harder in those out years to balance the city's figures due to what the state legislature did -- with Rendell's okay.
Lynn Swann and all the candidates who are running against sitting candidates should blast them for their hand in giving a hole-filled bailout to the city.
The bailout for the city was a feel good deed on the part of those in Harrisburg, because we had a jackass as a Mayor, Tom Murphy. Meanwhile, the bailout comes on like a kick in the teeth to city residents year after year -- as it keeps on giving, but only worse.
Then the news article from the P-G quotes 'political consensus' without any attribution. Think again Rich Lord. These folks in Harrisburg are not going to do anything for the city at this moment -- so I agree with the consensus part -- but for many other reasons. They are hardly fighting for re-election. That is not reality. Most of the people who work in Harrisburg from the Pittsburgh area have a free ride in their re-election bids. I wish that there was much more fighting for re-elections.
The Harrisburg government officials are not going to do anything for the city because they are ignorant of the facts. They don't know how the parking tax has been a boost to the city's budget. They don't understand how the gambling money has been a false savior and incomes were put into the budget from gambling by Tom Murphy two years ago. Such a joke from Fast Eddie Rendell and the dual overlords. They are clueless because the real facts of the matter are so poorly covered.
Furthermore, the folks who work in Harrisburg in official roles are not going to do anything for the city at this time because the folks who are on city council and who are in the mayor's administration don't have the vision, nor the drive, nor the crafted statements to take to Harrisburg.
The news article says Luke is going to Harrisburg to build bridges. Well, he should have been doing that as soon as he was elected, if not as soon as he began to campaign, if not as soon as he thought of himself as a potential advocate and citizen.
For years, people on city council have been told to 'butt out' with dealings in Harrisburg. They have. So now we have to send our Mayor to Harrisburg to build bridges.
Luke should be going to Harrisburg now to blow up tunnels, if you ask me. I'm speaking about those expensive light-rail tunnels that are going to go to the North Side stadiums -- a PAT project.
Luke, I could give you a long list of ideas to share with those in Harrisburg. They need to be given an education on matters that impact the city in grave ways.
Tell them the re-do of Point State Park is boneheaded and what we really need is a new governmental structure to allow for the creation of a park district so volunteerism soars around this region.
Tell them about the parking tax and how much was projected and delivered to the city's general fund, year in and year out. Then talk about how folks in the suburban reaches of the county can ride the bus to town and avoid traffic, lessen traffic, and skip out on the parking tax. Besides, PAT subsidizes them already while fare in the city, zone 1, are to climb to $2.50.
There has been a tax shift away from the ones who benefit from sprawl and to the ones who reside in the city's core. Mention the county's tax assessment mess.
Tell them about the city's school situation and how our special needs kids get excellent treatment and educations. Therefore the families in suburban neighborhoods with children with challenges often move districts, into the city, to get a better education. And, the state does little to support those educational needs. Futhermore, the formulas and caps have been working against the city school district for more than a decade.
Luke, you can begin to recruit for a new police chief too. Tell people you need top candidates for the new opening. Plus, as the new police officers are headed to the force, as part of a hyped-filled promise by some campaign somewhere, -- you'll be wanting to hire crossing guards for city streets. Crossing guards are effective and affordable. And, you'll empower them like never before and make them new darlings of enformcement and communications -- plus safety.
Finally, Luke, tell the governor and others seeking re-election that you won't film any campaign commercials for candidates while seated behind your desk on Grant Street at Tom Murphy did four years ago. And, if that was to happen again, you'd file charges yourself.
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Pa. lawmakers disagree on call for state constitutional convention
To those without an ability to think outside the box -- there is only one pathway. Get creative -- as there are many ways to get meaningful reform.
Mostly, however, I'd want to replace first and then reform. I'm very scared of reform with the same folks that are in there now.
If measure of reform get lost in the shuffle -- then perhaps the shuffle needs a new groove. The beat goes on for some -- while others just can't dance.
Those who are in the way need to be replaced.
Those who are in office now can't and won't want to make fundamental reforms, by and large.
And, my goodness, we don't need "ONE RALLYING CRY." No way.
We need harmony. We need balance. We need many voices. We need many rounds and multiple verses. The one-cry unity bunk is NOT okay for something as grand as a constitutional convention.
The Bill of Rights wasn't put into one declaration nor amendment.
Any construct of a conventional convention in Pennsylvania needs to examine Philly and what it means to be a city of the first class, a city of the second class and all the other cities in the commonwealth.
It might be best to have the greater Philly region remove itself from Pennsylvania. They can form their own, 51st state.
Then if they do a good job in setting up their own constutional convention -- we'll be watching.
A prohibition on lame-duck sessions can be done by house and senate leadership. And, others in the bodies. You don't need a new constituion to handle that.
A prohibition on extra compensation for legislators is already in the constitution. Too bad you, Jim Ferlo, didn't stand up and say a word about this while it was moving into becoming an illegal bill. Senator Ferlo voted "no" -- but didn't make a point of order nor issue a single statement, as person with a voice -- and a vote. Nobody said anything -- not even 'boo.'
The reconsideration of compensation for state judges does NOT require a constituional convention either. And, the talk about judges is more of a moment to moment political issue, not a way to govern ourselves.
Pa. lawmakers disagree on call for state constitutional convention That's the only way to achieve meaningful reform, said Mr. Ferlo, D-Highland Park.Perhaps a constitutional convention is the best way to achieve meaningful reform. However, it isn't the only way.
Mostly, however, I'd want to replace first and then reform. I'm very scared of reform with the same folks that are in there now.
If measure of reform get lost in the shuffle -- then perhaps the shuffle needs a new groove. The beat goes on for some -- while others just can't dance.
Those who are in the way need to be replaced.
Those who are in office now can't and won't want to make fundamental reforms, by and large.
And, my goodness, we don't need "ONE RALLYING CRY." No way.
We need harmony. We need balance. We need many voices. We need many rounds and multiple verses. The one-cry unity bunk is NOT okay for something as grand as a constitutional convention.
The Bill of Rights wasn't put into one declaration nor amendment.
Any construct of a conventional convention in Pennsylvania needs to examine Philly and what it means to be a city of the first class, a city of the second class and all the other cities in the commonwealth.
It might be best to have the greater Philly region remove itself from Pennsylvania. They can form their own, 51st state.
Then if they do a good job in setting up their own constutional convention -- we'll be watching.
A prohibition on lame-duck sessions can be done by house and senate leadership. And, others in the bodies. You don't need a new constituion to handle that.
A prohibition on extra compensation for legislators is already in the constitution. Too bad you, Jim Ferlo, didn't stand up and say a word about this while it was moving into becoming an illegal bill. Senator Ferlo voted "no" -- but didn't make a point of order nor issue a single statement, as person with a voice -- and a vote. Nobody said anything -- not even 'boo.'
The reconsideration of compensation for state judges does NOT require a constituional convention either. And, the talk about judges is more of a moment to moment political issue, not a way to govern ourselves.
Pennsylvania Gubernatorial Websites Show Importance of Internet Campaigning
Pennsylvania Gubernatorial Websites Show Importance of Internet Campaigning Now, no candidate can even think of getting elected without a webpage. The question no longer is who has a website, but whose is the best. This year's Pennsylvania Gubernatorial race between Democratic incumbent Ed Rendell and Republican former Pittsburgh Steeler football player Lynn Swann is a case in point. The better website just might determine who wins the election.Only a bloke in Illinois would think that the web sites of Swann and Rendell are going to make the difference in the election.
Furthermore, City Councilman, Jeff Koch, D, won an election on March 14, 2006 -- without a web site. He beat a field with eight other candidates.
Saturday, September 30, 2006
'Katie's Revenge' tattoo by force
When and how do you make something like this right? Never?
The photo came out into the open, and that is good.
Meanwhile, two prison guards suspected of supplying the picture (photo) were fired. That's bad. Suspend pending an investigation. Transfer to another facility, pending an investigation.
When does evidence become open to review by others -- by orders of law?
I worry and wonder about whistleblowers. I wonder if those who we suspect are worthy of job termination.
Or, there is also a bit of doubt that isn't too far from the realm of being. Are we certain that the brutalized act was only among inmates?
CNN.com - Officials:�Inmate got 'Katie's Revenge' tattoo by force - Sep 29, 2006 Two prison guards suspected of supplying the picture were fired for making unauthorized copies of an evidence photo, said Rich Larsen, a spokesman for the Wabash Valley state prison in Carlisle, about 70 miles north of Evansville.In my opinion, and it is a humble opinion, as one needs to walk softly through a ton of issues and crap, things get better with light, not darkness. Shine a light on it.
The photo came out into the open, and that is good.
Meanwhile, two prison guards suspected of supplying the picture (photo) were fired. That's bad. Suspend pending an investigation. Transfer to another facility, pending an investigation.
When does evidence become open to review by others -- by orders of law?
I worry and wonder about whistleblowers. I wonder if those who we suspect are worthy of job termination.
Or, there is also a bit of doubt that isn't too far from the realm of being. Are we certain that the brutalized act was only among inmates?
Friday, September 29, 2006
Friday night -- football and that
Book signing by South Side resident, Dane Topich, is slated for 7:30 pm on Oct. 5 at Joseph-Beth Booksellers (2705 E. Carson Street).Tonight the bridge was packed with folks watching Brashier and Perry battle at South Stadium.
Lifelong South Sider and local author Dane Topich will be signing copies of his book - Ultimate Pittsburgh Trivia.
In the spirit of local trivia, what Pittsburgh clock is twice the size of London's Big Ben?
Country Western fans got to hear a free concert in the massive surface parking lot at South Side Works, behind the REI. We were going to try to go. Oh, well. How did it turn out, if you went.
Carlynton had its homecoming game tonight. Lots of high school football action was everywhere -- and the traffic always comes to a grind on these nights.
South Side Sabers play a homecoming game on Saturday at South Vo Tech's stadium
Sabers gather to listen to coach.
Get into some big time little league football if you don't have a date for the Pitt game against Toledo. Check out the South Side Sabers as their teams play on Saturday, September 30. The games occur throughout the day. Our pal, #49, has a game that start sat at 1:30. The action this week is at South Side's Cupples Stadium, next to South Vo Tech, 9th Street and East Carson.
This is the Sabers homecoming and the only game they play in the stadium. His team is 4-1.
CollegeSwimming.com talks of Annie Nemith
CollegeSwimming.com: Providence CollegeAnnie has been a coach and swimmer in our league and team. You go girl! Have a great senior year.
With no scholarship money and little representation at the Big East championship, Providence swimmers simply compete for the love of the sport. In fact Providence only sent one athlete in Annie Nemeth to the conference championships. The senior to be competed in three events at the meet, including the 200 IM, 100 and 200 breaststroke. Nemeth placed 34th IM with a time of 2:12.07, 33rd in the 100 breast with a time of 1:08.56, and 22nd in the 200 breast with a time of 2:25.42. Not too bad considering she was the lone representative. Nemeth returns this year and looks to be back, but this time to compete for a spot in the finals.
The Pennsylvania Progressive: Ballot Reform
The Pennsylvania Progressive: Ballot Reform Ballot Reform
The Centre Daily Times agrees with us about the undemocratic law barring third party candidates from the ballot. This editorial calls it crazy:
In other words, a third-party candidate who collected more than 58,000 valid signatures still cannot get his name on the ballot to run for statewide office this year in Pennsylvania. That's insane.
While a loyal Democrat I'm also a democrat. I believe in democracy, with all its faults. I believe a candidate who gets 20,000 petition signatures as Russ Diamond did should be on the ballot. A man like Carl Romanelli who has 58,000 valid signatures being thrown off the balot is insane, as the editorial board at the State College paper says.
America: Freedom to Fascism -- and The Guardian
Two new movies are out and are worthy of mentions:
Another movie just out today is a Coast Guard movie called, The Guardian. The previews of that are very interesting. Given our love of water this is a 'must see' for my sons and I. We are drawn to the macho swimming scenes.
I've read on the net that many of the swimmers used in the movie as extras were recruited from Division I college teams -- Auburn, Alabama, etc.
I don't know if we'll have the time to get to The Guardian this weekend, but I'd love to hear about it from others. My #2 son is only 8 years old and the movie is PG13. Plus, my wife isn't interested in nightmares nor a fear of the water.
America: Freedom to FascismAMERICA: FREEDOM TO FASCISM ... is the film that F/9-11 aspired to but failed to be.I never saw the F/9-11 flick. But the Freedom to Fascism one is such a strong Libertarian one that I'll go out of my way to see it -- or even help to insure that it plays somewhere locally. Perhaps we can get that at the South Side Works cinemas.
Another movie just out today is a Coast Guard movie called, The Guardian. The previews of that are very interesting. Given our love of water this is a 'must see' for my sons and I. We are drawn to the macho swimming scenes.
I've read on the net that many of the swimmers used in the movie as extras were recruited from Division I college teams -- Auburn, Alabama, etc.
I don't know if we'll have the time to get to The Guardian this weekend, but I'd love to hear about it from others. My #2 son is only 8 years old and the movie is PG13. Plus, my wife isn't interested in nightmares nor a fear of the water.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Saints and the Superdome - Monday Night Football -- armchair america scores big time on replay
A must read, if you ask me.
Saints and the Superdome Saints and the Superdome
Dave Zirin
ALL CANDIDATES FOR MINNESOTA GOVERNOR AGREE TO NATION'S ONLY STATEWIDE ONLINE DEBATE
MINNESOTA GUBERNATORIAL E-DEBATE TO RUN OCTOBER 9TH - 19TH
GRAND RAPIDS, MN (September 28, 2006) The era of YouTube(TM) and MySpace(TM) meets Minnesota's strong civic tradition of innovation, thanks to a new online debate with the gubernatorial candidates co-sponsored by Blandin Foundation and E-Democracy.Org.
The Minnesota Gubernatorial E-Debate will take place online from Monday, October 9th through Thursday, October 19th. Minnesotans can participate directly in the gubernatorial campaigns by using the Internet - including video, audio, pictures, and plain texts - to submit questions and share their views with candidates and fellow citizens.
The E-Debate is designed to promote and facilitate substantive, interactive, in-depth public discussions of candidate positions and proposals.
All of Minnesota's official gubernatorial candidates appearing on the November ballot formally have confirmed their participation in the debate, including:
* Governor Tim Pawlenty, Republican Party
* Attorney General Mike Hatch, DFL Party
* Peter Hutchinson, Independence Party
* Ken Pentel, Green Party
* Leslie Davis, American Party
* Walt Brown, Quit Raising Taxes Party
The E-Debate, along with E-Democracy's comprehensive non-partisan, comprehensive collection of election links is located online at:
http://www.e-democracy.org/mnelections
Minnesotans are encouraged to email questions to the candidates via e-mail immediately, or by October 10th for the second round of questions, via: e-debates@e-democracy.org.
The candidates have agreed to address four major themes and 10 short answer questions over the two week debate period. Unique to the other debates, a portion of the e-debate will focus on broadband/Internet-related questions.
Along with text responses, candidates have the option to provide their Opening Statement in video via the YouTube.com video sharing service. Candidates also may record their rebuttals into audio podcasts, and also provide links to content related to their answers.
Voters may participate by submitting text questions and by using the new "Voter Voices" section of E-Democracy's web site to share their own video, audio, pictures, blog posts, links, and discussion forum messages across popular online services (for example, Flickr.com for photos, YouTube.com for video, blog posts via the Google blog search, etc. Minnesotans are invited to view an integrated, dynamic presentation of all of this material on a single web page at:
http://www.e-democracy.org/voices
E-Democracy's Board Chair and debate host, Steven Clift, will summarize debate results and responses at a statewide conference, "Next Generation Broadband: Policies, Practices, and People Practices," to be held in Alexandria, Minnesota, October 18-19th. For more information, or to register for the conference, visit http://www.blandinfoundation.org, or contact Denise Pfeifer, Minnesota Rural Partners; at dpfeifer@minnesotaruralpartners.org , 507-828-5559.
The E-Debate is made possible through the generous support of the Blandin Foundation and its Broadband Initiative.
The Blandin Broadband Initiative is designed to raise awareness about the value of broadband, catalyze broadband use and to encourage public and private investment in rural broadband capacity. It is led by an 18-person strategy board representing private and public sector partners and stakeholders.
Blandin Foundation, Minnesota's largest rural-based private foundation is located in Grand Rapids, MN. Its mission is to strengthen rural Minnesota communities, especially the Grand Rapids area, through grants, leadership development programs and public policy initiatives.
E-Democracy.Org is a non-profit, non-partisan, volunteer-based project whose mission is to expand participation and build stronger democracies and communities through the power of information and communication technologies and strategies.
For more information contact:
Steven Clift
E-Debate Host and Board Chair, E-Democracy.Org
clift@publicus.net
612-203-5181
Becky LaPlant
Blandin Foundation
bllaplant@blandinfoundation.org
218-327-8764
*** Democracies Online Newswire - http://DoWire.Org ***
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
MTV Think News - Contentious Clinton Interview Lights Up Web — But Few Are Talking About Issues
Hide and seek videos at You Tube and with Fox News. Somethings are just too hot for you. Don't touch.
MTV Think News - Contentious Clinton Interview Lights Up Web — But Few Are Talking About Issues The interview was riveting television. But if you were searching YouTube for it after Monday afternoon, good luck. Clips of the contentious back-and-forth were removed from YouTube at Fox News' insistence — and even Fox News' own Web site wasn't providing an unedited version of it online as late as Tuesday morning (September 26), although the full interview was back on the Fox News site by Tuesday afternoon.The interview was worthy watching.
So what gives? Why bury an interview that everyone — including nearly every Fox News show that followed — is talking about?
That's what Zach Gates, 21, would like to know. The University of Pittsburgh student and webmaster of the Hanlon's Razor political blog said he got an e-mail on Monday from YouTube informing him that his two-part post of the Clinton/ Wallace interview had been taken down because the site had been informed by Fox News that it was a copyright infringement. Gates, who posted videos from CNN and MSNBC onto YouTube as well as other Fox News shows, speculated that Fox News planned to sell the interview, or buried it because of the 'smackdown' Clinton gave Wallace.
Gates said this is the first time he's seen such a concentrated effort to get a video taken off YouTube. 'If you do a search on YouTube right now you'll find thousands of clips from Fox News that go back months with tens of thousands of views,' he said on Tuesday morning. 'My concern is that by taking down the full interview, you can only see sound bites and talking heads talking about it, without context. So they're deciding without reporting.'
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Councilman Pushing For More Pittsburgh Recreational Areas
ThePittsburghChannel.com - News - Councilman Pushing For More Pittsburgh Recreational Areas Pittsburgh has 26,000 acres of parks and recreation areas, but city councilman Jim Motznik wants more.Jim, our problems are not space nor hardware problems. Rather, we have software and programming problems. That is where the focus should be put.
Motznik introduced two resolutions in council to add 500 new acres of greenway space to Frick Park, along with other city parks and public areas.
Among the neighborhoods that would have bigger greenways are Oakland, Southside, Hazelwood and Mount Washington.
Motznik said Pittsburghers need more areas for relaxation and family activities.
But, I expect I'm speaking Greek to Jim.
The Forbes Fund special event for nonprofits
An event is cooking for CMU -- and details are in the comments. Oct. 26 at CMU in the afternoon. A seminar and awards event. They do a nice job.
I won't attend as I'm with the kids and coaching.
I won't attend as I'm with the kids and coaching.
Titus North for Congress -- He sticks to ballot after a long battle from good-for-nothing un-democratic democrats
Undemocratic democrats aim to kills this nation's democratic legacy and are shameful. We're sending our sons, daughters, husbands, wives and neighbors into harm's way around the world to spread democracy. However, there are too many here at home that just don't get it. They are power hungry and not worthy of serving the public interest.
Titus North, former candidate for Mayor, jumped through hoops all summer to get onto the ballot. Then came the attorneys with more challenges throughout August and September.
Congressman Doyle, I've got a problem with your values. Sure, Doyle backed off. Right. The call down happened weeks to late. The back-down happened after the signature challenge was proven to be bogus and fail. Mr. North was to prevail so Doyle called off the dogs. Jackass, donkey, friend of royalty, enemy of democracy -- all fit to say the least.
Titus North, former candidate for Mayor, jumped through hoops all summer to get onto the ballot. Then came the attorneys with more challenges throughout August and September.
Congressman Doyle, I've got a problem with your values. Sure, Doyle backed off. Right. The call down happened weeks to late. The back-down happened after the signature challenge was proven to be bogus and fail. Mr. North was to prevail so Doyle called off the dogs. Jackass, donkey, friend of royalty, enemy of democracy -- all fit to say the least.
Status of the challenges to the petitions of Titus North, Green, for US CongressThe Titus North site is, VoteNorth.org.
August 20, 2006 - 2:00 am
As many of you know, the petitions submitted by Green Party senatorial candidate Carl Romanelli have been challenged by the Democrats. What you may not know is that my petitions were also challenged. I want to make it clear from the start that ALL my petitions were circulated by local Green Party volunteers and not a single one of my signatures was collected by the petitioning firm contracted by Mr. Romanelli. Moreover, the tedious and time-consuming review of my petitions has made it plainly obvious to everyone involved that no fraud was involved in the collection of my signatures and the required number of registered voters in the district signed my petitions. Mike Doyle has been decent enough to pledge that he will not try to disqualify any signatures from registered voters in the district based on technicalities, so my place on the ballot seems assured. Still, the process of inspecting the challenged signatures line by line may take weeks. What this clearly demonstrates is that signature requirements for ballot access are unreasonably high. Thanks to everyone who has helped with the effort of insuring that voters will get a choice this November.
It's final -- Titus North to be on the ballot
September 21, 2006 - 6:27 pm
On September 13 Congressmen Mike Doyle called Titus to tell him that he has instructed Bob Casey's lawyers to withdraw that challenge that had been filed against Titus' nomination petitions. This came following more than four weeks of line-by-line verification of the signatures on the petitions by Titus and his tireless volunteers. The signature review proved that Titus had enough valid signatures to appear on the ballot and that the majority of the signatures challenged by the Democrats were perfectly valid, without even technical errors.
Share you knowledge about the Nov. 7 special election for City Council
We Wiki WildlyTell us what you know and put it on the wiki.
http://69.36.175.17/wiki/index.php/Pgh_City_Council_district_1
Sums up life in PennsHELLvania! Joke...
Have you heard the one about the Senator who dies and then gets to see St. Peter. The Senator is given a choice between heaven and hell...Click the comments to read the joke.
Pop-Up Playback of video of Jennifer. Endorsement for Mark
Meet Jennifer Madge, a supporter of candidate, Mark Rauterkus.
This is one of the new files recently uploaded at Rauterkus.blip.tv.
Spanish Teacher -- not at International Middle School -- come on
This just in.... and edited slightly.
Frick's Middle School (in Pgh Public Schools) hosted its PSCC (Parent School Community Council thingie) extra meeting this morning to discuss the Frick action plan for 2006. Before the meeting began, Mr. Walters (principal) announced that the long term sub in Spanish had been pulled and was being sent to Allderdice High School.
The only justification that I can see to pull a language teacher from Frick to send to another (non-international studies) school is if the teacher is being offered a full time contract as opposed to a long-term sub position. I have called and left messages at both the parent hotline and the World Languages Office (Dr. Thekla Fall) to get some clarification on the situation.
When we met with Mr. Roosevelt (Pgh Public School's Superintendent) and Dr. Spampinato (Academic boss of Pgh Public Schools) in August 2006, we discussed the importance of the administration making a commitment to the international studies schools, especially in the areas of language instruction. Languages are an integral part of the Frick education and it is difficult, if not impossible, to maintain the program if qualified language teachers are being taken away. As of this morning, human relations did not have a qualified replacement.
We need to make our position very clear to the people making personnel decisions. We MUST have QUALIFIED language teachers in the international studies program.
I think we have quite a few action people on this email list who probably have better ideas than I on the action that would be most effective at this point. This is one more opportunity for the International Studies cluster to show its strength and commitment to our program. I will pass along any additional information that I receive.SCHOOL INFORMATION NIGHT AT THE JCC IS THIS EVENING FROM 7-9 PM. Each year in the fall, the Jewish Community Center holds an information evening with representatives from the public and private schools in the area. Hopefully, the elementary magnets will be represented.Outside a school building in China.
Allegheny Institute hosts an event on Thursday at PAA
You should try to attend.
We've all got to fight against Western PA's Tunnel Vision. These guys at the A.I. do it better than most, if not the best.
Allegheny InstituteConference on Improving The Western Pennsylvania Economy on Thursday September 28th. Panel discussions will address the problems of the state’s pro-union laws, tax problems faced by Pennsylvania’s business, and how business leaders can help advance important initiatives. Speakers will include Pat Toomey from the Club for Growth, national public sector union expert David Denholm, and Jim Roddey, the first elected Chief Executive of Allegheny County. The conference will be held at the Pittsburgh Athletic Association in Oakland from 8:30AM to 12:30PM. For more information please contact us at 412.440.0079.
We've all got to fight against Western PA's Tunnel Vision. These guys at the A.I. do it better than most, if not the best.
Jon Delano hosts a discussion tonight at 9 pm on TalkShoe
Talk Shoe.... or in this photo, it is bike shoe.I'm enjoying the tech application, Talk Shoe. Tonight Jon Delano hosts his 4th program and conversation there at 9 pm. I'll try to tune in if I can.
Grassroots PA -- new design and greatly improved
I've not been to Grassroots PA . com since mid-August when I pulled myself out of the race for PA Senate, until today.Giant Drum at a drum tower in China. A bell tower is nearby in the other direction in the courtyard. Looking at a fancy drum is nothing like hearing it.
They did a good overhaul there. Now posts from readers to the blog are permitted, again.
I would like to be put on the blog roll, Chris. Call it Rauterkus, or Mark Rauterkus, or Mark Rauterkus and Running Mates: http://Rauterkus.blogspot.com.
And Chris, I'm a little pissed, still, at the lack of any props from you in mid August when I pushed to you some news exclusive on my pending trip to Harrisburg. The papertrail and evidence that goes through my state senator's office concerning my ballot access opportunity should have been put to light in your domain then. Perhaps you were doing the blog overhaul then and had to bench yourself.
GrassrootsPA Judge: Romanelli To Be Thrown Off Ballot. Romanelli Attoney: No Ruling Yet. AND: PA Supreme To Rule On Signature Threshold. ALSO: Santo
GrassrootsPA � Judge: Romanelli To Be Thrown Off Ballot. Romanelli Attoney: No Ruling Yet. AND: PA Supreme To Rule On Signature Threshold. ALSO: Santorum/Romanelli Debate Russ DiamondFOLKS, the Ds said he is off the ballot -- and he isn't really off the ballot. The Ds lied, again. Undemocratic Ds suck.
Posted Monday, September 25, 2006 at 3:01 pm
If this sticks, there will never be another statewide candidate who is not an R or a D. The Dems have sunk to appalling depths to disenfranchise voters and the clueless and corrupt judiciary is backing them up.
Incumbent Party fixin's (letter to editor by Mark Crowley)
Two party blockheads as shade looms larger.As a Libertarian Party member, I think the election reform article on the Presidential Funding Act of 2006 ("Incentives can fix campaign financing" by BillSource.
Bradley and Marty Meehan, Opinion and Commentary, Sept. 24) needs another headline.
Try "The fix is in again."
The Presidential Funding Act of 2006 is the latest protection "fix" for the bipartisan Incumbent Party (i.e., Democrats and Republicans). Prior fixes include:
BiCRA (Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act) protects incumbents by limiting free speech before elections. It restricts challenger parties with regulations to which the Incumbent Party is more immune.
Pennsylvania's 2006 ballot-access signature requirements paralyze statewide challenger parties. Compare 67,000 signatures required for third-party challengers to only 2,000 for Incumbent Party candidates.
The Help America Vote Act mal-aligned the election process so even balloted candidates might not be properly counted. What chance do challenger type-ins
(write-ins) have?
Given the direction of the country and that the Incumbent Party has controlled the White House and the Congress for generations, I can see why they need to "fix" it again.
Bloomfield Garfield Crop has a job for Youth Employment Coordinator
See the posting in the comments area if interested.
Monday, September 25, 2006
Lane 9 News Archive: Chinese Diving Coach Threatens to Pull Divers From Country
Where are the divers?Lane 9 News Archive: Chinese Diving Coach Threatens to Pull Divers From Country Chinese Diving Coach Threatens to Pull Divers From Country -- September 20, 2006
BEIJING, China, September 20. ACCORDING to Reuters reports, Yu Fen, China’s former Olympic diving coach, has threatened to pull her divers from the country due to local policies.
Operating out of Tsinghua University, Yu’s divers are not allowed to compete within the organizational structure of the Chinese national team. Since they do not train in diving exclusively throughout the day due to their studies at the university, Yu’s divers are considered non-specialists. The Chinese sports ministry excluded non-specialists from taking part in major events and Olympic trials.
Due to this policy, Yu has lost some of her students to the sports ministry training program.
In response, Yu is contemplating taking her students to train out of the country.
SOS -- for Rutgers Swimming. Jersey Legislatures get calls
CollegeSwimming.com: Bob Steele, retired men's coach at California State Bakersfield and head of the College Swimming Coaches Assocation of America's Save Our Sport (SOS) committee, has been coordinating efforts to preserve the Rutger's men's swimming program.
Steele is working to contact all of New Jersey’s swimmers (past and present), swim parents, coaches and fans of swimming and eliciting their efforts to contact New Jersey state Legislators. This all-out effort, designed to take the high road, by showing why saving the program is good, not just for the swimmers, but also for the university and the state. Steele is also requesting that Non-Jerseyites, 'help by sending letters to university president and people of influence.
Making the process easier is the organization's website, saverutgersswimming. There volunteers can see how they can help, get links to their New Jersey representatives, and send a letter in your own words.
The site also offers valuable talking points to help supporters as they craft their communications. Supporting Rutgers will help stem the tide of cutting swimming in American universities and colleges and thus provide opportunities for men AND women swimmers to:
* compete in a sport they love
* continue developing as a person and student-athlete
* perhaps receive an athletic scholarship
* contribute to the Rutgers university/community
* become a loyal, giving Rutgers alumnus
Libertarian Party Candidates Honor the Right of Self-Defense
Calls for Annual Tax-Free Week for Firearms-Related Purchases
Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania, For Immediate Release, September 25, 2006
Harrisburg, PA – Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania (LPPA) candidates in this November’s election today issued a resolution
· supporting the right of self-defense as acknowledged by the Pennsylvania Constitution;
· condemning any who propose to infringe upon this right and thereby violate the Constitution;
· recommending that the state legislature adopt an annual “tax-free week” for firearms-related purchases in honor of our vital right to self-defense.
The candidates’ proposal contrasts with the planned introduction (scheduled for 9/26/2006) of a jumble of misguided gun control bills staged by a vocal minority of state legislators who seem to be unfamiliar with and thus simply afraid of any and all defensive weaponry.
James Babb, State Representative candidate for the 157th District in Montgomery County (www.jamesbabb.com) , articulates the Libertarian perspective “Self defense is a basic human right and not a privilege granted by the government.”
Tom Martin, State Senate candidate for the 30th District in Centre County (http://members.aol.com/martin4senate/) notes “Having a tax-free week on firearms-related purchases would be an important demonstration that our freedoms are not supposed to be taxed and regulated. Not only does the first amendment protect one’s right to yell for help, the second amendment protects the means to help defend one’s self.”
Jeremy Levan, State Representative candidate for the 129th District in Berks County (http://www.voteforjeremy.610knows.com/) adds " I think a tax-free week on firearms related sales is a great way to celebrate a right that other countries only wish they had. "
Contact your state legislators and insist that they embrace freedom, support the Libertarian Party tax-free week plan, and reject all legislative efforts to criminalize self-defense.The Libertarian Party is the third largest political party in the United States with over 600 officials serving in office throughout the nation. Please visit www.LP.org or www.LPPA.org for more information on the Libertarian Party.
Going To Jail For Doing Your Job Is Not The American Way Of Justice
Going To Jail For Doing Your Job Is Not The American Way Of Justice If Lance Williams and Mark Fainaru-Wada go to jail for doing their job, this will be another black eye in American history and by all accounts, it may be the case. As many already know, Williams and Fairnaru-Wada have done a series of investigative pieces on the BALCO case and thanks to much of their hard work, columnists like myself have been able to expound, enlighten, infuriate and even chastise numerous subjects on this matter.As a candidate, I support(ed) the crafting and enforcement of great 'shield' laws.
But what they are known for right now is the fact that their work has gotten rave reviews from common people who are not even sports fans to the President of the United States for the steroids issue. Congress moved on hearings because of their work. And that’s the irony because now the very government that applauded them in 2003 is now trying to put them in jail three years later.
'It's a tragedy that the government seeks to put reporters in jail for doing their job,' said San Francisco Chronicle executive vice president and editor Phil Bronstein after the hearing.
Sunday, September 24, 2006
7 pm Meeting on Monday, Sept 25, concerning South Side Bars
With almost 200 liquor licenses in the South Side, many believe that South Side is THE place to visit on weekend nights. But there are also people who live here, and many hope that those visiting recognize that this is a PLACE, not just a party. It is a neighborhood with many taxpaying residents who are entitled to peaceful and quiet enjoyment of their homes, respect for their properties, and understanding from visitors that we call South Side our home.Nightlife
Due to increased concerns about quality of life issues here in the South Side, South Side Community Council has formed a Bar Task Force. This Task Force is working to actively address serious concerns regarding public safety and liquor license enforcement. Come learn about the recent work by this volunteer group of residents and business owners and how you can help.
Monday, September 25th at 7:00 p.m.
Brashear Center, 2005 Sarah Street
Refreshments will be provided.
Call to speak to County Council about voting machines
eVote Blog: "ASK Allegheny County to verify the voting software!PS: While you are there you might want to ask about the date of the next mayor's election.
Given that our votes are not observable, recountable, or auditable.
Let at least have software verification and parallel testing!
Call County Council: 412 350-6491
Please Sign Up by Monday 5PM to Speak to County Council on Tuesday, September 26th!"
AntiRust: Housing Subsidies: But How Will the Fat Cats Survive?
Great blog talk at Anti Rust. I am NOT in favor of subsidized housing in Downtown. I am in favor of housing, but it needs to be build if there is a demand for it to be built. The subsidization is one sure method of stopping its supply. Downtown housing won't occur in Pittsburgh once it is subsidized. The subsidization is a poison for the marketplace.City life...
AntiRust: Housing Subsidies: But How Will the Fat Cats Survive? Housing Subsidies: But How Will the Fat Cats Survive?
And this post too.... with a classic line in the threaded comments:
AntiRust: Demand for Downtown Housing Explodes: No Word on Fate of Unnecessary Subsidies: 'Pittsburgh is kind of like NY, run by Homer Simpson.'
Saturday, September 23, 2006
kdka.com - Remembering Mayor Bob O'Connor
kdka.com - Remembering Mayor Bob O'Connor The former council president beat a political newcomer to become Pittsburgh's 58th mayorKDKA is re-writting history.
In the General Election in 2005, Bob O'Connor beat Joe Weinroth, R. Wienroth had run for City Council four years prior. Weinroth was on the STATE GOP Committee. He had gone to Republican National Conventions. Weinroth wasn't a 'light weight' nor a 'political newcomer.'
Titus North, Green, was also in the race in 2005.
Bob O'Connor (Dem) 40,226 67.1%
Joseph Weinroth (Republican) 16,321 27.2%
Titus North (Green) 2,392 4.0%
David Tessitor (About Open Gov) 625 1.0%
Jay M Ressler (Socialist) 397 0.7%
Totals 59,961
Clean Sweeper of the Week -- photo from Thailand
Photo of "Clean Sweeper of the Week." This guy works at the Presidential Palace in Bankok, Thailand. He is a real clean sweeper. Thailand is hold a 'coup.' They are not interesed in any lame-duck leadership and will have a trustee take over until the October general election. The trusetee just happens to be a military boss with a nod to the king.
Panel delivers advice to Bayou
Panel delivers advice to Bayou 'One of the most amazing things we found was that, for some reason, in the city's long history, hardly anyone seems to have crossed the bayou' and developed the wetlands and pine savanna on the west side of the waterway that gives the town its name, said Tom Murphy, one of the panelists and a former mayor of Pittsburgh.Golly.
So, let's subsidize the bayou. Get a critical mass. Then tax it to the heavens.
Bugs, critters, waste water, and other tidbits like infrastructure won't present a problem when we all 'work together' and use government money.
Public access to the docks land means public subsidization. If private developers were to enter the scene, they'd want to invest private dollars and marketplace forces. You don't want a free-market landscape because only the government officials should wine and dine and pick the developers. That way government corruption and kickbacks are on the backs and in the pockets of the governement officials.
The 'power point' presentations are nothing but hype. I've got some nifty power point presentations to show you of downtown Pittsburgh that never came true.
These types of gigs are right up Tom Murphy's alley. He gets to come in, present without much follow-up, without much advance community discussion, and then leave. Plus, he gets to use soft money to make slide shows.
On page two of the article comes the 'Tom Sawyer attitude' and getting everyone on a committee. Once there is a committee, there won't be any votes. Once everyone is on the list -- the guy who manages the list becomes the czar. His committee model is all about power for the one at the top and no power for the pawns and everyday citizens and committee members.
Accountability and democracy vanishes in the Tom-Murphy world. You don't need democracy because the committee suggested it. And, the committee is all of us. (Yeah, right.) The vision isn't a shared vision, it is his vision. The vision doesn't need to stand up to public comment as all public comment happened with the private developers and the RFPs (Request for Proposals) and the pre-paperwork to qualify as to who can submit a RFP. There will be RFQs too, Requests for Qualifications.
RFQs are gatekeepers to screen out anyone who isn't able to play the 'cronie game' of kickbacks and secrecy.
Friday, September 22, 2006
Some road closings start tonight for Great Race
Tell me why some of the roads need to be closed on Friday at 7 pm for a race that happens on Sunday at 8 am. That is silly.
The races should be able to happen without such a choke hold on the neighborhoods. If a driver screws up in a race zone, it should be double the fines, such as with a 'construction zone.' Then they can close the road at 6 am and get along just fine.
The Pittsburgh Marathon was designed to snarl traffic. It needed way to many police officers, on bonus pay. It needed too many road blocks. It was a major road nightmare. Many of the churches had trouble too.
We should hold a marathon in this city -- and not utilize the roads but when necessary. Then use only a bit of the roads so as to night tie up major roads from start to finish.
Run the race down the busway. Run the race on a river path. Run a race in a park. Run a race on Sarah Street -- not East Carson Street. Run a race in an out-and-back fashion too. Or, run the race in loops.
 | Image from the new Mark Rauterkus public domain photo album called signs. |
Some road closings start tonight for Great Race Some road closings will begin tonight in advance of the 29th running of the Richard S. Caliguiri City of Pittsburgh Great Race on Sunday morning.Better yet, and this was the case with the now defunct Pittsburgh Marathon, don't run the race on the roads. Move a good portion of the race off of the roads, then things go much more smoothly.
The Finish Line area, located at Penn Avenue and Liberty Avenue between Stanwix Street and Commonwealth Place and Stanwix Street between Penn Avenue and Liberty Avenue, will close at 7 p.m. today and will remain closed until 3 p.m. Sunday.
The Pittsburgh Marathon was designed to snarl traffic. It needed way to many police officers, on bonus pay. It needed too many road blocks. It was a major road nightmare. Many of the churches had trouble too.
We should hold a marathon in this city -- and not utilize the roads but when necessary. Then use only a bit of the roads so as to night tie up major roads from start to finish.
Run the race down the busway. Run the race on a river path. Run a race in a park. Run a race on Sarah Street -- not East Carson Street. Run a race in an out-and-back fashion too. Or, run the race in loops.
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