Election Day +1

Quote from the P-G coverage:

Mr. Swann dodged interviews and spoke in vagaries, ...

Bingo!

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania won't elect a person to stand with the people when the candidate hides from the people and attempts at honest, direct, communications on issues.

An elite glow came from the Team 88 efforts in the early stages. At the end of the campaign, candidate Lynn Swann was doing line dances with seniors in Homestead. And that interaction is a new verse of the same message -- don't engage in issue discussions.

Lynn Swann and Bob Casey both used the same playbook in terms of being a good guy in a suit that says little. Meanwhile, Rendell and Santorum are both bold. Swann's sticking point was being unknown beyond the celebrity status and football legacy.

Good guys with little to say, or I could say, GREAT GUYS who are new to the scene and choose to play defense in terms of political discussions won't win.

Casey is unlike Swann because Casey has run for public office in the past. Casey ran and won and ran and lost. But Casey has run.

Swann should be gearing up for County Council, perhaps as the at-large candidate. Or, for County Executive. Or, for State Rep in 2008. I think it is too late to have Swann move into the city and run for mayor in 2007.

Swann needs to stand on his issues and ideals all by himself. I'd love to see Swann dance in political circles in isolation. Win or loose, it won't matter. But, Swann needs to gain confidence and trust with the people in the realm of being a political governor.

Surprises, close finishes highlight races for state House seats

Spin the truth.

Surprises, close finishes highlight races for state House seats Petrone wins big in 27th
Rep. Tom Petrone, D-Crafton Heights, easily won a 14th term over GOP challenger William Ogden, 45, a Crafton councilman.

Mr. Petrone, 69, said his re-election showed that constituents in the district are satisfied with his representation and service.

'People who came to the polls they were not dissuaded by any negative comments made about me,' Mr. Petrone said..

The negative comments made about Petrone came from citizens in the district, and not the other candidate. The other candidate, Bill Ogden, spoke in a negative way about Petrone being in office for 13 terms and in favor of term limits. Petrone had been in Harrisburg for 26 years. That isn't a negative -- by falsehood.

Another biggie that was talked about by Ogden was the pay raise. Petrone voted for the pay raise. Petrone took the pay raise. Petrone said he gave the pay raise to chairty -- but only proved that he gave $100 of it away to a widow of a veteran. The rest remains unaccounted.

The only other point that was made as far as a negative about Petrone is the fact that Petrone is on the urban affairs committee in the PA House. Nuff said.

Citizens including Carl Sutter of the district have been spreading the negative messages.

Hacking Democracy -- HBO special, now online

Check it out.

HBO's special, Hacking Democracy. Finding out how America counts its votes.

SI.com - Olympics - Olympic-spirited Beijing considers car-free days for 2008 - Monday November 6, 2006 11:23AM

SI.com - Olympics - Olympic-spirited Beijing considers car-free days for 2008 - Monday November 6, 2006 11:23AM: "Beijing ponders car-free days for '08

BEIJING (Reuters) -- Beijing may expand a campaign to urge people take public transport to work and could introduce totally car-free days ahead of the 2008 Olympics, an official said on Monday. A voluntary effort over the China-Africa summit at the weekend to encourage people not to drive was successful, cutting down on traffic and clearing away pollution, said Du Shaozhong, deputy head of Beijing's Environmental Protection Bureau.

'We believe that cutting down on driving is helpful to the general Olympic spirit,' Du told a press conference in increasingly rich Beijing where some 1,000 new cars hit the streets each day."

Citizen Driven -- my *ss!

Last week I got tossed out of a Grant Street meeting, of sorts. I'm still pissed.

Just don't tell me that a project is going to be "citizen driven" when it has taken five years, and the next stages in the process include work with the legal department, operations from the Planning Department, a RFP, then a community engagement meeting at the tail end of the efforts.

That's not something I'm going to buy into, in the slightest.

If something is 'citizen driven' -- then the citizen meetings happen at the outset.

Furthermore, don't expect me to think for a moment that the South Side Local Development Committee, (SSLDC), speaks for us -- the citizens.

I don't speak for citizens. But I do know what citizen driven looks and feels like. And, that those on Grant Street can't hoodwink me without an objection.

We have a dark spot in our South Side Community -- behind the South Side Hospital. Another year comes and kids throughout the city are getting into vans on school nights to play hockey at a facility near the airport. We only have one indoor ice rink in the city -- and it is the Civic Arena. It is a little hard to get ice time there. And, they want to tear it down too.

This year I talked about the closed indoor ice rink about 30 times at community meetings as I campaigned. Dozens of ideas have been floated. But, the city has been putting everything on ice -- go figure.

I get calls every other month from developers of sports facilities that would like to use the area for coaching, for kids, for community, for everyone's benefit. But nothing happens.

The former operator of that facility failed. But the biggest failure then was the lack of oversight. That is how leases are to work. When the lease holder fails to hold up his end of the deal -- you come in and change the locks.

This isn't a mayor's issue yet. But it will be in 2007. It was in 2006. And I'm still frustrated by those on Grant Street.

Fairy Tail

A young person asks, "Do all fairy tails begin with, 'Once upon a time, ...?'

An elder answers, "Another series begins with the words, "When I'm elected..."

Look out.

kdka.com - Murphy Staffer Who Appeared On KDKA Told To Leave

Another segment on another day.

kdka.com - Murphy Staffer Who Appeared On KDKA Told To Leave Murphy Staffer Who Appeared On KDKA Told To Leave

Andy Sheehan Reporting

(KDKA) PITTSBURGH There are new developments in the story KDKA Investigator Andy Sheehan broke Thursday night about Congressman Tim Murphy.

Evidence obtained by KDKA reportedly shows members of his staff are working his reelection campaign which is a direct violation of congressional ethics rules.

Now, Sheehan has learned a Murphy staffer who appeared in his story showed up for work Friday morning but was told to leave.

Jayne O'Shaughnessy doesn't call herself a whistle blower but she says she felt compelled to speak about goings on inside the Murphy office.

And she believes that may have cost her the job.

'The taxpayer are picking up the tab and don't know about it or didn't know about,' said O'Shaughnessy.

O'Shaughnessy is on vacation today.

Ethics board lies dormant despite charges - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Ethics board lies dormant despite charges - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Ethics board lies dormant despite charges

By Jeremy Boren

Members of Pittsburgh's 3-month-old Ethics Hearing Board still haven't met despite several charges against city employees of ethical wrongdoing.

Duhh... Come on folks.

The trend is to make excuses for doing nothing or little. These excuses won't fly smoothly in the future.

Action! We want action!

Bill Ogden on Property Tax

Mini profile on TV.

My space.com page for Emmas Revolution fans

www.myspace.com/emmasrevolutionfans: "EMMA'S REVOLUTION Folk / Folk Rock 'truth, hope and a dash of irreverance'

Why can't they count our votes! Good song.

Now has 78 plays. Send it higher.


Here are the gals playing in a Pittsburgh House Concert.

You Tube has video story of KDKA's TV story that hits hard against Congressman Tim Murphy

Folks, you can't use the state or federal office to help in a campaign. Duhh!

This is a great investigative report from KDKA TV. Getting the staffer on camera my prove to be fatal for Murphy's hope to finish his next term, or get elected.

Sadly, I don't think that the Dem has the juice to get out the message in a weird district that spans three counties. I don't want to make excuses, but it would make for a great topping for a hard waged campaign.

Next questions: Where is the DA, Attorney Gerneral, FBI corruption folks and others from the the same party as Murphy? This story should have legs.
Hat-tip and more at 2 Political Juniies blog.

Freedom to fascism . com

New movie, not yet in Pittsburgh.

Commonwealth of PA - Campaign Finance Reporting

Commonwealth of PA - Campaign Finance Reporting: "Campaign Finance Reporting Home"

For K-5, K-8 and ALAs about reading

Letter about reading.

The changes to the grading in the reading programs have been a bit of a hurdle for some of the students and families, yet alone teachers, in the district. A letter is headed to all. Here it is, cut and pasted below.

Superintendent of Schools

SUBJECT: NEW READING PROGRAM FOR K-5 STUDENTS

Dear Parents/Guardians:

The Pittsburgh Public Schools Excellence for All reform agenda recognizes literacy as the primary building block for all learning. One of the objectives of Excellence for All is to increase the percentage of students proficient in reading on the PSSA by the end of 3rd grade from 49% (2004-2005) to 80% by the end of the 2008-2009 school year.

Providing a rigorous curriculum aligned to state standards is critical to achieving the goal of improved academic performance for children at all levels. Among the steps the District has taken toward meeting that goal is the adoption of Treasures, a new reading/language arts program published by Macmillan McGraw/Hill. Treasures is currently being implemented in Kindergarten through Grade 5.

As the District moves from the previous reading program to Treasures, you may notice an initial change in your child’s grades for two specific reasons:

The difference in the way students are tested in the new Treasures Reading Series

The new standardized district-wide grading guidelines

CHANGES IN TESTING:

In the previous program, students read and discussed one selection per week. The weekly tests were then based on comprehension of that story as well as the skills taught. This year, students read three selections a week focusing on the same vocabulary and skills. Then on the weekly test, they read a different text that focuses on the same vocabulary and skills. This is known as a “cold read”.

The advantage of a “cold read” is that the test better measures how well children have learned the skills that were taught as well as strategies they apply as they encounter other “cold reads” such as books, newspapers, magazines, etc.

CHANGES IN GRADING PROCEDURES:

A standardized procedure for grading has been established and implemented throughout the District. This means student achievement in reading will be measured in the same way in each classroom across the District in grades 1-5. The grades are based on weekly assessments, unit assessments and classroom assignments. To measure what your child has learned, a nine-week grade will be based primarily on work that was graded according to these procedures.

Treasures reflects the most recent reading research and represents the first new reading program developed since the release of the National Reading Panel’s findings. Treasures supports Pennsylvania State Standards and the requirements of No Child Left Behind (NCLB).

Further information on Treasures can be provided by speaking to the Principal or Curriculum Coach at your child’s school or by calling the Parent Hot Line at 412-622-7920.

Sincerely,

Dr. Barbara Rudiak

Project Manager, Macmillan

This got coverage in the P-G, after it was blogged about yesterday.

Tougher reading program means low city grades Tougher reading program means low city grades

Friday, November 03, 2006
By Joe Smydo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Parents of some Pittsburgh elementary school students will find an unwelcome surprise -- unusually low marks in reading -- when their children bring home report cards Nov. 17.

Newspaper stops giving endorsement and publishes full text of candidate interviews instead

� Grand Forks Herald � The election is nine days away - and the Herald's editorial columns should be filled up with endorsements.

Not this year, however.

Earlier in the year, Editorial Page Editor Tom Dennis convinced me and other members of the editorial board that we should try something different. Instead of endorsements, the board would offer interviews of candidates. These would be posted on the Herald's Web site, www.GrandForksHerald.com for anyone interested to read.

Interviews of most candidates have been posted. A few are yet to be transcribed. They should be on the Web site by the end of the week.

This is a great idea.

I would be all in favor of the editorial board endorsement coming along with the full text of the interviews of those meetings. Better still, release the full text of the meetings along with a podcast of each of the meetings as well.

By the way, a full text of the interviews I've been a part of at the Pgh Tribune Review, including audio and video, have been posted to a blog in Never-never Land dot com because I've NEVER been invited to an interview with that newspaper.

So, while the rest of the country is moving these endorsement interviews into the modern age, it is impossible to get candidate interviews with some newspapers in this town.

It is no wonder why there are hundreds of newspapers throughout the nation that are in deep financial troubles. The industry is dying because of a lack of motivation and creativity.

Catherine's quotes hit Woman's Day Magazine - Checkup: Hearing Loss

Woman's Day Magazine - Checkup: Hearing Loss “We live in a noisy world. But our ears don’t split open and start bleeding when we damage them. So you can have quite a bit of hearing loss before you know it.
Catherine Palmer, Ph.D., head of the Center for Audiology and Hearing Aid Services, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Catherine Palmer, Ph.D., is at UPMC's Eye and Ear, and with Pitt's School of Health & Rehab Sciences, -- and she's my sweetheart.

This is on news-stands now.

Inmates 'fish' for contraband with broomsticks - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Inmates 'fish' for contraband with broomsticks - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Inmates 'fish' for contraband with broomsticks

Don't build a fence around the jail.

For Mom & Dad and their 50th

Faith, hope, love.
These three I offer you this season.
Faith that living affirms.
Hope that caring illumines.
Love that more matters than anything.
(Richard S. Gilbert)

Growing up, our home was filled to the brim with faith, hope and love. We were blessed with great models, you two. The families and generations notice and renew. Feeling you spread faith, hope and love to our kids is wonderful. Fifty years of marriage is a testimony to faith, hope and love. You have offered these to us through all the seasons.

Mark, Catherine, Erik & Grant

Trick or Treat Stats --- Last night we had 80 visit our house

The rain came. So did 80 trick or treaters.

Grant and I made the rounds in the neighborhood for an hour or so. Erik and my wife worked the front door.

We bounced into a Steeler in our rounds as well. He said Big Ben will be fine -- thanks to my son's probing questions.

If I was mayor, or on city council, -- I'd be working hard to host Open Office.org's conference in 2007

Check out this call for proposals for holding an open source conference. This is for the OpenOffice.org community.

When I campaign, I give out CDs and those CDs include an installer for OpenOffice.Org. It is a free and open source software package that can take the place of Microsoft Office. It costs $0. And, it includes a database, drawing program, word processor, presentation program and more.

I'm going to three meetings in the next few weeks where I'll raise this question. The blogfest, the PodCamp and a meeting on Grant Street about the still closed, lone, indoor ice rink on the South Side.

If your interested in putting together a bid for this event, let me know. I'd be very willing to help and be a co-organizer.

Dear OpenOffice.org Community members,

The annual OpenOffice.org Conference continues to go from strength to strength, with this year's glittering event in Lyon, France attracting more than 600 registrations and enjoying a civic reception laid on by the Mayor of Lyon in the historic town hall.

Can your team do even better next year?

We are collecting applications from teams who are willing to organize OOoConf 2007. To give you an idea about what we are looking for, you can take a look at last year's proposals: http://marketing.openoffice.org/ooocon2006/proposal.html##PROPOSALLYON

Interested teams should send their applications to the mailing list mailto:conference@marketing.openoffice.org following the guidelines below.

Key Question

In 400 words or less, answer this question:

* Why is your location and the date you propose the best for OOoConf 2007?

Your proposal MUST include

* Location (country, city, conference center/university)
* Proposed Date(s)
* Team Lead (main contact person)
* Team Members (all members should be willing and able to commit at least 3 hours per day to planning the conference during the last two weeks before OOoConf 2007)
* Local events that are taking place in parallel (or right
before/after)
* Special visa or entry requirements, e.g. vaccinations

Your proposal COULD include

* Large local OpenOffice.org deployments (for user keynotes and success stories)
* Names of local OpenOffice.org developers (for developer sessions)
* Names of local OpenOffice.org vendors/partners (potential sponsors)
* Travel costs (e.g. flight costs from the following cities: London, Paris, Rome, Beijing, Sydney, New York, Hamburg, Dublin, San Francisco, Cape Town, Tokyo)
* Accomodation costs (youth hostel, hotel)

Supplementary Information

User feedback from previous conferences suggest that the ideal location will:

* have a strong local OpenOffice.org community
* attract strong sponsor support
* have a low-cost/free conference centre with conference venues close together
* have facilities where people can pass the time, socialise, and mingle with other conference delegates close to the conference building(s)
* have a range of low-cost accomodation with easy/cheap transport to the conference location
* attract the largest number of community contributers
* facilitate the attendance of a large number of Sun's OpenOffice.org developers (who are in Hamburg, Germany)
* be accessible by cheap flight and train tickets
* be aligned with a large IT event (e.g. CeBIT, Systems, Comdex)
* provide low-cost broadband Internet access (e.g. wireless LAN in the rooms)
* allow for video and audio streaming (e.g. via the support of a company)

Submitting a Proposal

Proposals should be sent to the mailing list
mailto:conference@marketing.openoffice.org.

The deadline for submissions is December 31, 2006. Shortly after that date we will publish the applications and call for votes from community members.

Information about previous OpenOffice.org Conferences can be found at:
http://marketing.openoffice.org/conference

Thank you and good luck with your proposals!

The OpenOffice.org Conference Team

Questions: Where are the biggest OpenOffice.org installs, other than with the CDs I've passed around town?

Too bad we also have a closed hostel too -- in Allentown.

Perhaps we can make the event the key for the re-opening of South Vo Tech High School -- and South Hills High School -- and Knoxville Middle School -- and Gladstone Middle School. We could make them all Hostels for this event. Then we'll hold the opening and closing ceremonies at the Neville Ice Rink!

Pennsylvania Governor Rendell Delivers 40 New Police Officers to Pittsburgh Force: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance

I had a conversation with the FOP's union boss today on Grant Street. He was before city council to complain because the crossing guards got new rain coats and now the police officers can't get their belts repaired.

No joke.

And, the guys in the mayor's office didn't know about it. The budget was dry and a transfer of funds was needed to keep the folks in their gear. Else, I guess, the fashion police would be called. Or, the police might be wearing their pants low, like some of the kids that they might need to chase on neighborhood streets.

Pennsylvania Governor Rendell Delivers 40 New Police Officers to Pittsburgh Force: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance Pennsylvania Governor Rendell Delivers 40 New Police Officers to Pittsburgh Force

Second grant will reduce the backlog of drug samples at county lab

PITTSBURGH, Oct. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell today joined Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and Police Chief Nate Harper to announce two grants totaling $2.12 million. One enables the city to hire 40 new officers to battle the rising gun violence and the other will fund a high-tech microscope to reduce the backlog of drug cases at the county's forensic laboratory.

Meanwhile, the union boss for the police told me he is dead set against anyone doing police work, other than police. So, he doesn't like the fact that crossing guards can write a ticket. I don't think he knew that they had those powers already.

Furthermore, he was un-aware that the Safety Ambassadors hired by a tax impossed from the Downtown BID (Business Improvement District) are really beat cops, or try to take the place of beat cops. However, some of those PDP (Pgh Downtown Partnership) safety ambassadors were dealing drugs while on the job in the past.

That program is nuts.

Why should it be a priority to have CROSSING GUARDS like people help corporate types downtown when we don't have the real crossing guards employed by the right agency and with the right equipment, as in radios and cell phones.

The meter maids who write parking tickets have radios. The same should be provided for Crossing Guards.

The PDP should be hiring CROSSING GUARDS and not its own secuirity force for downtown.

Stay safe and smile -- and Happy Halloween to all

Stay safe out there with trick-or-treaters.

Smile.

China comes through

China's Foreign Ministry says North Korea has agreed to rejoin six-nation nuclear disarmament talks, wire services report.

Energy drinks wire teens, worry me

I'm worried about these energy drink. This topic needs to be a new wellness issue talked about in schools and with coaches and teams.

Pittsburgh's market has had a long-standing energy drink for some years. It is called, "Ice Tea." Folks around here gulp the boxed iced tea by the half-gallon.

That stuff is strong in terms of its stimulant.

The State | 10/30/2006 | Energy drinks wire teens, worry others Energy drinks wire teens, worry others
By CARLA K. JOHNSON The Associated Press

CHICAGO — More than 500 new energy drinks launched worldwide this year, and coffee fans are probably too old to understand why.

Energy drinks aren’t merely popular with young people. They attract fan mail on their own MySpace pages. They spawn urban legends. They get reviewed by bloggers. And they taste like carbonated cough syrup.

Vying for the dollars of teenagers with promises of weight loss, increased endurance and legal highs, the new products join top-sellers Red Bull, Monster and Rockstar to make up a $3.4 billion-a-year industry that grew by 80 percent last year.

Thirty-one percent of U.S. teenagers say they drink energy drinks, according to Simmons Research. That represents 7.6 million teens, a jump of almost 3 million in three years.

Nutritionists warn that the drinks, laden with caffeine and sugar, can hook kids on an unhealthy jolt-and-crash cycle. The caffeine comes from multiple sources, making it hard to tell how much the drinks contain. Some have B vitamins, which when taken in megadoses can cause rapid heartbeat, and numbness and tingling in the hands and feet.

Fast Break for Fathers and Families at UPMC SportsWorks, Sunday

Bring your kids. Fast Break for Fathers and Families is this weekend at UPMC SportsWorks on the North Side. Doors open for the event at 5 pm. Nancy Crago from Penn State has arranged for the Dairy Association to give away free yogurt-type snacks on site. She also has stickers and water bottles.

Charity Leonette from the Library will have literacy-type items and interesting crafts for the children. Read 365 donated bookmarks and a Great Dads Books list. The Three Rivers Adoption Council has graciously donated Caught Being Good stickers - 8 per child, Because Every Child Needs a Family heart magnet and Great African Americans of the 21st Century activities book. We have white paper bags to place all of the items donated by them, as well. Unfortunately, the Pirate Parrot and Pierogi will not be there, but they are interested in making appearances next year.

More than 150 people attended. A good time was had by all.

Volunteers who are not coaches, part of Penn State or the Library can help to stuff bags after the initial registration is completed.

Salon Interview: Camille Paglia | Salon.com

Salon Interview: Camille Paglia | Salon.com But I was still amazed at all those servile TV reviewers who raved about the recent four-hour PBS documentary about Andy Warhol. What a tedious, pretentious program -- with its funereal music and preening, jargon-spouting talking heads. Shows like that do incalculable damage to the reputation of the fine arts in the U.S. And this was about one of the most populist artists ever! Warhol, who came from working-class Pittsburgh, spoke directly to the mass audience with his Campbell's soup cans and Brillo boxes. And where was the protest about [director Ric] Burns' censoring out of Warhol's pioneering drag queens? It was outrageous, but the cowed reviewers didn't utter a single peep.

Urban planning forum set for Wednesday - Pittsburgh Business Times:

Urban planning forum set for Wednesday - Pittsburgh Business Times:: "Urban planning forum set for Wednesday
Pittsburgh Business Times - 4:08 PM EDT Friday
by Dan Reynolds

An urban planning forum inspired by Pittsburgh's late Mayor Bob O'Connor's idea to 'Redd Up' the city is scheduled to kick off on the North Side on Wednesday.

What's being dubbed the Pittsburgh Green Forum on Vacant Land Revitalization will be held at the Pittsburgh Project offices on Charles Street on the North Side next week.

Architects, environmental engineers and other businesses interested in supporting green growth in Pittsburgh are urged to attend and give their ideas on the topic of creating a plan for green spaces and networks using abandoned land in the city.

The forum hopes to find ways to make better use of the city's approximately 23,000 vacant lots.

The way to make better use of the vacant land is to tax it. Don't tax the buildings that go on the land. Rather, put a heavy burden on the land itself.

The Land Value Tax is the key to this problem.

Bob O'Connor did a lot to change tax policy and make it easy for downtown buildings to go vacant. And, his policy of a unified tax plan rewards those that tear down homes, let property decline. His policy needs to be reversed.

Now in all fairness to the late O'Connor. Bob had to do it to get over the hurt caused by the botched Sabre Systems re-assessments. But, the fix should have been for one year and the fix should have been such so as to allow for time to get the land value records for each property into a corrected condition. That long-term solution wasn't forthcoming from O'Connor.

Pa. Senate corrects lobbying, slots bills

Corruption proof, so says Ed Rendell. Yeah, right.

Pa. Senate corrects lobbying, slots bills Mr. Rendell praised this change, saying it 'sends a strong message to would-be criminals and will help make Pennsylvania's gaming industry corruption-proof. We will not tolerate any nefarious players in our gaming industry.'

The one gambling reform measure that I wanted, and have called for, is a sunset of the casino licenses. These bone-headed state lawmakers sold gambling licenses (or are in the process of selling them) that do not expire. The casino licenses they sold, for a one-time fee, go forever.

PA's Casino licenses go forever, like a palace of royalty that lives as it is god's will.

Only royalty and a corrupt official would ever belive, yet alone say in a newspaper, that any institution was 'corruption proof.'

Free Food and Pat Toomey - BLOGGER is BROKEN! I can't update this site, sadly.

Pat Toomey ran against PA's Senior US Senator in a hard primary battle two years ago. He had been in the US Congress and had put a term limit on himself and kept to his promise and didn't run for that next term. Since getting out of Congress, he has been with the an the Club For Growth.

Yummy.

Pat spoke at an event I attended about a month ago hosted by the Allegheny Institute, a local issues think tank. Pat gave a nice presentation on various matters.

I asked him specific questions about the lack of support for candidates in viable positions in elections who are not from the D nor R party. His answer was less than desired, to say the least. The Club For Growth has given money and attention that then draws donors for D candidates as well as mostly R candidates. But, great free market candidates who are not D nor R need not apply, sadly.

But, that's not stopping anyone from getting a free meal with the Rs picking up the tab in the following events.

I won't be attending.

There were a few questions about Pat's ambition. He might be a great governor candidate in four more years. Or, he might run for another office. Perhaps A.Specter won't run for another term next time? Perhaps Pat might make a grab to run for the PA Treasurer's job should Bob Casey, Jr. get elected?

Please Join Keynote Speaker Former Congressman Pat Toomey (R-PA) for a Republican National Committee Conservative Outreach Complimentary Event in Pennsylvania on November 1st or 2nd.

Respect for Life. Traditional Values.

Pat Toomey will speak. He is a pro-life and pro-family champion. He will address why he is also a Republican. He will be discussing why conservatives should strongly support Pennsylvania Republican candidates this November 7th.

SUBURBAN PITTSBURGH, Wednesday, November 1, 2006, 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM, Four Points Sheraton, 910 Sheraton Drive, Mars, PA 16046 Complimentary Dinner Will Be Served.

BUCKS COUNTY/ALLENTOWN AREA, Thursday, November 2, 2006, 7:30 AM to 8:45 AM, Revivals Restaurant, 4 South Ridge Road, Perkasie, PA 18944-0322, Complimentary Breakfast Will Be Served.

SCRANTON/WILKES-BARRE AREA, Thursday, November 2, 2006, 12:00 PM to 1:15 PM, Wilkes-Barre Republican Victory Center, 41 South Main Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701, Complimentary Lunch Will Be Served.

SUBURBAN PHILADELPHIA, Thursday, November 2, 2006, 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM, Blue Bell Republican Victory Center, 1257 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422, Complimentary Dinner Will Be Served.

Please RSVP for this event by emailing Martin Gillespie at mgillespie@rnchq.org or by phone at (202) 863-8605.

Please be certain to specify which event you will be attending - and feel free to bring friends and family!

If you do attend, please don't start a food fight on my behalf.

Hungry? Watch the Video

Ms. Adventures on the Mon: BIG BEN UNABLE TO PERFORM "BERNADETTE'S WEIRD ARM THING," FORCED TO SIT OUT SUNDAY'S GAME AGAINST RAIDERS

Ms. Adventures on the Mon: BIG BEN UNABLE TO PERFORM "BERNADETTE'S WEIRD ARM THING," FORCED TO SIT OUT SUNDAY'S GAME AGAINST RAIDERS The highly calibrated test, which among other things, checks for range-of-motion ability and hand/eye coordination, was instituted as standard medical practice in 1986, and is considered to be the neuroscientific breakthrough equivalent of the Rorschach Test, which is used to evaluate a person's psychological condition.

I've been waiting for the opportunity to publish these masks from Opera in China.

Looks like he had his bell rung.

M. Hodge, perhaps?

Another reason why I coach swimming.

We've got our own tests in swimming. The basic one is what I call "opposites." It is a range of motion flexibility exercise. One arm swings around forward while the other swings around backwards. Then part tow of the ballistic excercise is called "opposite opposities."

Furthermore, I train the swimmers that I coach to be able to swim reverse. Even for great swimmers, this skill is difficult. Swimmers start in the lane with the hands in the gutter and the feet into the direction they'll swim. Then they swim feet first. And, we move the arms in all the styles of swimming an I.M. (fly, back, breast, free). Think of those old Super 8 movies playing in reverse.

Chief of operations loses his office - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Chief of operations loses his office - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 'There's no reason for the car,' said James Broussard, chairman of the Central Pennsylvania-based Citizens Against Higher Taxes. 'The car is available because it's part of the job, but he's not on the job.'

Does this story have wheels or not?

Luke said on the radio today, Thursday, at 11 am or so, that Dennis does NOT have use of his car any longer.

So, we've got conflicting stories. ???

Dennis might be a good one for hire by Jeff Koch. Jeff is going to need to have some muscle to win his re-election to Council in the spring.

Who needs a bowling league to make friends when there's the Web? - USATODAY.com

Fess up. Who is the singer in Pittsburgh?

Who needs a bowling league to make friends when there's the Web? - USATODAY.com At SpliceMusic.com, they call this 'rich media networking.' Splice offers online music recording and mixing. A singer in Pittsburgh, a guitarist in Saskatoon and a drummer in Swaziland could work together on Splice to record a song. To facilitate that, Splice built in ways for like-minded people to find each other and build relationships around creating music.

'We see that as a sticky and addictive form of interaction,' says Splice's Thomas Hutcheson.

Stickey, no less.

PodCamp UnConferences / PodCampPittsburghSessions

I'm going to present at PodCamp Pittsburgh, on Sunday afternoon. Try to attend.

PodCamp UnConferences / PodCampPittsburghSessions 1:45 Mark Rauterkus: Thinking again with community interactions, plus vision and political jazz. Mark has been there with public domain art, open-source ideals, tech tools, house concerts and hybrid CD campaign handouts.

911-plank - PittsburghPlatform - concerning the NEW 3-1-1 phone do-hickey from Pgh, PA

Hop over

The 3-1-1 phone system is now working. This is a success. And, I'll take the credit for hatching the idea in public.

911-plank - PittsburghPlatform 911-plank
(Revision as of 20:26, 1 Mar 2006)

* The city should start a 311 system, like 911, but for less urgent calls.

Back in March, 2006, this page was on the Platform.For-Pgh.org.

Leap

At the Post-Gazette editorial board meeting with all the candidates in the city council race in 2006's special election, I raised the 3-1-1 system as something that I'd be sure to start. And, the P-G editors wrote about it, giving credit that I've raised plenty of good ideas.

Another feature that should also be considered, if anyone is listening, is Reverse 9-1-1. In the time of an emergency, we should have the technology tools to make phone calls out to various citizens and give warnings and updates.

Don't crash

The benefits of a Reverse 9-1-1 system are clear when you think about the events that unfolded on Friday in New Brighton. A freight train went off the tracks and a fireball was created. Some of the train's cars went into the river. Residents were evacuated.

With a Reverse 9-1-1 system, the authorities would have been able to call everyone within a mile of the accident telling them of the dangers, how to exit the area and where to turn for more insights.

Trip

Another big concern with the 3-1-1 system and today's announcement from Grant Street is the second point in the platform, also published formally in the Platform.For-Pgh.org months and months ago. I would NOT and we SHOULD NOT use the services as a way to self-promote. The 3-1-1 line should not be known as the Ravenstahl Response Line. That's wrong Luke.

I hated how the "Mayor's Complaint Center" was branded by Tom Murphy. I hated how it operated. I hated how it was closed as well.

Flop

Those that are on Grant Street should not be sending out postcards and putting up billboards for self-promotion on these technical matters of city life.

Otherwise, we'll need to counter with their names on things that are also failures and not around here any longer.

Should we name the soon to close Wabash Tunnel the Alan Hertzberg Tunnel?

Skip

Should we name the City's Charter Amendments after Jim Ferlo, in that we can't tell when to hold an election after the passing of Bob O'Connor due to its conflicting text?

Float

Should we name the city's lone, closed indoor ice rink after Gene Ricciardi, a long-time councilmember and past head of the Committee that directed Citiparks.

Navigate

Should we name the absent Halloween Parade after Tom Murphy. The South Side used to have a wonderful parade down East Carson Street with nearly ten marching bands. The dancers and musicians were often dressed up in costume too. Then the kids of the region were able to march and compete for prizes and even cash. But, the Haloween Parade on the South Side is just a memory now -- thanks to Tom Murphy. So, let's name it after HIM -- a Ghost Parade in 2006.

Glide

Then the Market House Youth Soccer League can be named after Jeff Koch, D, City Councilmember. There was a league there last year but it is GONE now. More than 90 kids used to play in three different levels three night s a week -- until Jeff came into office. See some photos -- as you can't find it in the real world now.

Clear

Those that want to slap their name onto things for self-promotion with public money need to watch out. The folly of that move can backfire.

Jump

Luke, you'd be wise to NOT call the 3-1-1 system the Ravenstahl Response Line.

Remember, I thought of 3-1-1 for Pittsburgh, published the idea, blabbed about it, was quoted in the newspaper about it too -- before Luke took the 3-1-1 concept over from Bob O'Connor. Bob O'Connor took a page from my playbook, again, and I'm happy he did.

I'm going to be happy to use the 3-1-1 line and services as necessary in the months to come. I'm not going to be happy to see self promotion on any city property from any politician.

In Australia, they use two words that are of interest to this conversation. One is "nick." The other "flog." To nick someone's idea or work is to take it, use it, re-deploy it and keep a low-key approach to the lifting. But to "flog" is to steal the idea and be overboard with boasting and of a grand attitude of the idea.

I don't want to see Luke "flog" just as I hated to see Tom Murphy put his name on garbage cans on sidewalks and grafitti trucks.

Furthermore, there are hundreds of additional ideas, great ideas, that can flow from my domain. Use them all you want. Put them into the system so we can fix the city. The ideas are not 'mine' really -- as I often harvest them from elsewhere anyway.

Nick freely and repeatedly.

Buck

Footnote: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_slang

Easy.
Hold up and horse around, not over. Not easily.

West End Event proceeds without the co-star

Missing from debate, Tom Petrone, D, payjacker.

Last night was the only time when Bill Ogden, challenger, was set to square off at a community forum with long-time State Representative, Tom Petrone. Petrone didn't attend.

Sure, Petrone has an excuse. He was in Harrisburg and a few last minute things are getting some attention, such as gambling reform and lobby disclosure efforts. Neither of these are Petrone's domain however.

All in all, from what I gather, the event was a success for Bill Ogden.

Public Calendar with Google

Feel free to click and subscribe to the calendar and catch the events I post there.

Baseball in the Ashes - Detroit insights

Baseball in the Ashes Baseball in the Ashes by Dave Zirin

The Detroit Tigers are in the World Series and a historical look comes from a great sports journalist, Dave Zirin. He talks about race and hitory. Plus, about a time past when the Tigers played in the fall classic.

Visiting with Australia's Olympic Motivational Coach

Coaches: (L-to-R) Rauterkus, Bower, & Laurie Lawrence of Australia.

Check out the video below and witness a bit of the pep talk and poem he delivered to the guys at camp this summer.



Watch the Video

Links:

http://www.laurielawrence.com.au/


ISHOF - Laurie Lawrence (AUS) - 1996 Honor Coach From being around the Townsville Pool his father ran, and sparked into swimming by the legendary Hall of Famer Jon Henricks, Laurie Lawrence has become a swimming legend and a maker of champions, capable of lifting the spirits of those around him to soaring heights. He is many other things too - extrovert, patriot, poet, humorist, singer and now the most sought after motivational speaker in Australia. His swimmers have set over seventeen world records, and he has coached Aussie Teams to three Commonwealth Games and three Olympic teams. He possesses the qualities with which he works to instill in every competitor: be proud, persist, work hard, stand tall, don't quit, don't bend, don't break, don't fall.


http://www.laurielawrenceswimschool.com.au/

Tricks or Treats?

Are you getting ready? Got your costume? Got your treats?

Candidate Forum for PA House Race: Ogden challenges Petrone, a 16 term D pay-jacker

The square off is slated for 7 pm on Monday, October 23, 2006 at Thaddeus Stevens School, of the Pgh Public Schools in the Elliott / Westend area of the city.

The forum has three parts: Intro, Bio and Vision, plus questions from audience. Plus, candidates ask each other questions.

Bill Ogden says he is NOT the type to debate "Party Lines" at this forum nor anywhere. He has the belief that the people should vote for the Person and Not the Party. He asks that people attend with an objective and open mind, and without party mantras.

Blog's pop quiz

Trick or Treat Quiz:

Where am I?

Hint, floor 1 is at the top in the elevator and at the top of the building.

Put your answer in the comments. Winner gets 12 Trick or Treat Goodies that we'll be passing out at our place on the 31st.

Give Them Back.com -- HEAVY

Give Them Back.com Story of Gun Confiscation In America

Brashear, a man with excellent vision, given his telescopes and ability to share

Investor's Business Daily, the national business newspaper published in Los Angeles, printed a biography of prominent 19th century astronomer and lens-maker John A. Brashear, near the top of page A3 of their Wednesday edition, by their Technology Reporter, Donna Howell.

Affectionately known as "Uncle John" to residents of Pittsburgh, Mr. Brashear, with little money and limited education, became the premiere producer of telescopes and precise scientific instruments in the latter part of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, and the confidant of major industrialists of the time including Andrew Carnegie and Henry Clay Frick.

There is one mistake in the article, when it is said that John Brashear became Chancellor of a school that became the University of Pennsylvania. He actually became Chancellor of the Western University of Pennsylvania, which became the University of Pittsburgh.

Friends of the Zeiss Project Director Glenn A. Walsh and Allegheny Observatory Director George Gatewood were interviewed and quoted for this article, read here or http://www.investors.com/editorial/IBDArticles.asp?artsec=21&issue=20061017.

"Somehow profiting from tragedy and horror is tolerated" - from Dave Zirin and Pat Tillman's brother, Kevin Tillman

Pat Tillman's Brother Breaks his Silence

By Dave Zirin

When Pat Tillman, former NFL player and Army Ranger, died in Afghanistan in 2004, it unleashed a drama that moved from tragedy to obscenity to mystery.

First there was Pat's death. Because Tillman wasn't the kind of anonymous fallen soldier the Bush administration could blithely ignore, we all bore witness to the tears of his family - including his brother, best friend, and fellow Army Ranger, Kevin. Pat's death - like every last death that’s resulted from this horrific Middle Eastern escapade - was tragedy. Then came obscenity: it came out after Pat's funeral, that he had died at the hands of his own troops in a case of "friendly fire". This bit of information was suppressed from everyone outside the Pentagon and Oval Office even from Pat's family. It was even kept from Kevin, serving in Pat's battalion. Eulogists like John McCain - knowingly or unknowingly - told lies over Pat Tillman's body about death in combat. Bush gave a speech about Tillman over the jumbotron at football stadiums. He was given the Silver Star - a merit for combat, not friendly fire.

From the perspective of this administration, Pat died for the noble cause of PR.

Finally from obscenity sprung mystery. For Pat's parents Mary and Pat, Sr. there were unanswered questions. Why were they fed lies? Why were Pat's clothes and equipment burned at the scene? Why wasn’t Kevin told the truth at the scene? What happened to
Pat's journal, that he had kept with him for years? To pressure army investigators, Mary and Pat, Sr. went public about Pat's true feelings about the war in Iraq (he thought it was illegal) and his growing questioning about the Bush "war on terror." Now Pat's brother Kevin has broken his silence as well. Kevin has written a brilliant piece that should be distributed in front of every army recruitment center and sent to every person who wears the uniform. I don't agree with every word, but that's hardly the point: Kevin, like Pat, represents a growing surge in this country against the machinery death and the lies that grease its wheels. We have paid dearly for those lies. It's time to bring the troops home now.

You can email me back at dave@edgeofsports.com

After Pat's Birthday
By Kevin Tillman

It is Pat's birthday on November 6, and elections are the day after. It gets me thinking about a conversation I had with Pat before we joined the military. He spoke about the risks with signing the papers. How once we committed, we were at the mercy
of the American leadership and the American people. How we could be thrown in a direction not of our volition. How fighting as a soldier would leave us without a voice... until we get out.

Much has happened since we handed over our voice:

Somehow we were sent to invade a nation because it was a direct threat to the American people, or to the world, or harbored terrorists, or was involved in the September 11 attacks, or received weapons-grade uranium from Niger, or had mobile weapons labs, or WMD, or had a need to be liberated, or we needed to establish a democracy, or stop an insurgency, or stop a civil war we created that can't be called a civil war even though it is. Something like that.

Somehow America has become a country that projects everything that it is not and condemns everything that it is.

Somehow our elected leaders were subverting international law and humanity by setting up secret prisons around the world, secretly kidnapping people, secretly holding them indefinitely, secretly not charging them with anything, secretly torturing them. Somehow that overt policy of torture became the fault of a few "bad apples" in the military.

Somehow back at home, support for the soldiers meant having a five-year-old kindergartener scribble a picture with crayons and send it overseas, or slapping stickers on cars, or lobbying Congress for an extra pad in a helmet. It's interesting that a soldier on his third or fourth tour should care about a drawing
from a five-year-old; or a faded sticker on a car as his friends die around him; or an extra pad in a helmet, as if it will protect him when an IED throws his vehicle 50 feet into the air as his body comes apart and his skin melts to the seat.

Somehow the more soldiers that die, the more legitimate the illegal invasion becomes.

Somehow American leadership, whose only credit is lying to its people and illegally invading a nation, has been allowed to steal the courage, virtue and honor of its soldiers on the ground.

Somehow those afraid to fight an illegal invasion decades ago are allowed to send soldiers to die for an illegal invasion they started.

Somehow faking character, virtue and strength is tolerated.

Somehow profiting from tragedy and horror is tolerated.

Somehow the death of tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of people is tolerated.

Somehow subversion of the Bill of Rights and The Constitution is tolerated.

Somehow suspension of Habeas Corpus is supposed to keep this country safe.

Somehow torture is tolerated.

Somehow lying is tolerated.

Somehow reason is being discarded for faith, dogma, and nonsense.

Somehow American leadership managed to create a more dangerous world.

Somehow a narrative is more important than reality.

Somehow America has become a country that projects everything that it is not and condemns everything that it is.

Somehow the most reasonable, trusted and respected country in the world has become one of the most irrational, belligerent, feared, and distrusted countries in the world.

Somehow being politically informed, diligent, and skeptical has been replaced by apathy through active ignorance.

Somehow the same incompetent, narcissistic, virtueless, vacuous, malicious criminals are still in charge of this country.

Somehow this is tolerated.

Somehow nobody is accountable for this.

In a democracy, the policy of the leaders is the policy of the people. So don't be shocked when our grandkids bury much of this generation as traitors to the nation, to the world and to humanity. Most likely, they will come to know that "somehow" was
nurtured by fear, insecurity and indifference, leaving the country vulnerable to unchecked, unchallenged parasites.

Luckily this country is still a democracy. People still have a voice. People still can take action. It can start after Pat's birthday.

Brother and Friend of Pat Tillman,

Kevin Tillman

Official Home of the Pittsburgh Penguins: PITTSBURGH PENGUINS STATEMENT ON THE RECENT LETTER FROM THE PITTSBURGH GAMING TASK FORCE

Official Home of the Pittsburgh Penguins: PITTSBURGH PENGUINS STATEMENT ON THE RECENT LETTER FROM THE PITTSBURGH GAMING TASK FORCE: "PITTSBURGH PENGUINS STATEMENT ON THE RECENT LETTER FROM THE PITTSBURGH GAMING TASK FORCE

10/20/2006

“We have said all along that the Isle of Capri plan is by far the best plan for the city and the region, and we are very encouraged that the Pittsburgh Gaming Task Force has reached the same conclusion. Over 50 elected officials, including Mayor Ravenstahl, and a number of major news outlets already have come out in support of the Isle of Capri. The local gaming task force has just added its voice to this growing chorus of support. It’s going to be hard for the state gaming commission to ignore the collective voice of the City of Pittsburgh.”"

It was hard to be the worst team in the NHL.

It was very hard to walk out and not play hockey for the second part of a year in a recent season.

It will be super hard to tear down the Civic Arena, a building that is owned by the public, and not the Penguins, for a new building that the public doesn't want nor need. If the new arena is being built with the windfall from gambling, it would be EASY for the Penguins to own and operate that building and NOT make it a public liability.

The Civic Arena suits us just fine for Disney On Ice, graduation day for Carrick High School, and the circus, when there isn't any demand for luxery box seats.

It will be super-duper hard to put any faith in a task force formed by Tom Murphy that is falling apart at the seams now and had spoke in June that it would NOT endorse any plan. That Task Force is filled with weenies and has had closed meetings throughout. There isn't an ice chip of democracy in their voice.

Want to talk about 'hard' -- let's talk. This is the team that built a roof over an indoor ice rink on the South Side years ago and then left the facility. It is hard to have a city without any indoor hockey facility, other than the Civic Arena. It is hard to have city hockey teams play all their games and practices in suburban rinks, even Pitt! And, it is hard to see that facility stay dark for so many years now.

It is hard to turn your backs on the local kids and leave them high and dry -- for a facility in your own sport. Hockey In the Hood knows about 'road trips' -- to the airport ice facility, from the city, for practices.

Great TV quote from Tom Martin, a candidate in the other part of PA

"We don't need new legislation to protect immoral legislators, we need new legislators who will follow existing laws."

Details about the debate event.

Centre Daily Times | 10/20/2006 | Candidates square off on the defense: "The political confrontations at the League of Women Voters of Centre County Candidates' Night took place before a packed house at the State College Borough Building and a live C-Net TV audience.

Corman, R-Benner Township, is a two-term state senator defending his 34th District seat against challenges from State College Democrat Jon Eich, Huston Township Libertarian Tom Martin and Perry County lawyer Bob Cash.

There, they've got four candidates on the ballot to choose among. Here, in PA's 42nd district, we only have one, an undemocratic democrat who isn't worth anyone's vote.

Libertarian is center stage as Cantwell and McGavick joust

Big victory for a Libertarian on the west coast when he was put onto the debate stage for a US Senate race.

Libertarian is center stage as Cantwell and McGavick joust Libertarian is center stage as Cantwell and McGavick joust

By NEIL MODIE, P-I REPORTER

Democratic U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell and Republican challenger Mike McGavick exchanged mostly familiar verbal blows Tuesday in an hour-long debate, a sedate event except for a barbed zinger by Cantwell about her opponent's tenure as Safeco's chief.

But if anyone 'won' the televised exchange -- Cantwell's and McGavick's second and final formal debate -- it was a third candidate, Libertarian Bruce Guthrie, just by being there.

McGavick accused the senator of being 'the biggest spender' in Congress in 2003 and 2004, of opposing what she terms tax cuts for the wealthy, and talking about 'peripheral issues,' not 'the issues that keep us up at night.' The front-running incumbent ignored or brushed off most of his charges.

The two major candidates disagreed, as they have before, about abortion rights, immigration, border security, oil drilling in the Arctic, how to keep Social Security solvent and how to decide whether and when to start pulling U.S. troops out of Iraq.

But they had to share the podium at the KING/5 studio in Seattle with Guthrie. It gave the polite, well-spoken Libertarian a forum for an earnest presentation of his sometimes out-of-the-mainstream views, a gift of TV exposure and equal footing with two major-party contenders that a third-party hopeful rarely gets.

The article also talks about a Green candidate and Green supporters who were arrested after being blocked from the debate stage.

Dr. Spampinato has taken a leave of absence

She is a top official with the Pgh Public Schools.

In other school news, I'm still worried about the lack of a second Spanish teacher at Frick Middle School. What's up with that? Bad hiring practices. You can't hire teachers after the school year starts. They do things too late.

Caseymania has caught fire.

Mandatory, all-day K.

Giggle post from GrassrootsPA.com blog comments.

Come on, people want a “new direction”. No more “rubberstamping”. No more “98%”. How about that new “bi-partasinship”. We’re finally gonna get Paris Hilton’s tax cut back. No more breaks for “Big Drug Companies” or “Big Oil”. We’re gonna finally close that nasty “Haliburton loophole”. Terrorism….uh…um…. ahh… (wait, I’ve got it here somewhere, oh yeah, here it is) “Fire Rumsfled”, and “new solutions”. For God’s sake UNIVERSAL PRE-SCHOOL FOR FOUR YEAR OLDS. Caseymania has caught fire. We’re just behind the curve.

Compendium Institute - News

Compendium Institute - News: "Compendium to support Open Content knowledge mapping"

Pennsylvania was one of only four states that had a Democratic-Republican ballot monopoly in 2006.

For state-wide office, we can only vote for Ds and Rs.

I hate it when there is only old-party choices.

Wonder why PA's population is on the decline.

Bottom welcome.

This puts the Commonwealth of PA at the bottom of the pile in another, key, economic indicator. Yes, this is 'economic' -- not just political. This is about being a place that welcomes new ideas, new visions, new people. Otherwise, we're just old and rusty.

Marty G (KDKA Radio) asks: "Pandering or Real" concerning the gambling reform from the PA House

My call says, neither. This is process. It isn't real in that there are at least two more steps needed before this becomes real. The PA Senate needs to pass a bill that is the same and the governor needs to sign it.

Hats off to Marty and the show to get the citizens a pipeline to Harrisburg on the making of a bill, and pressures to get it hatched. Mike Turzi went on the air, again, and today he pulled in a guest on his line for the on-air conversation, Sam Smith. Good snag!

For real reform, and something I've been asking for for more than a year: Give TERM LIMITS on the Casinos.

They've sold these casino licenses at a cheap price, without bidding, -- but the kicker is that the license never expires. They have the rights to run the casino forever.

A drivers license for a citizen needs to be renewed from time to time. A professional license, such as for a MD (medical doctor) or hair dresser does NOT go forever.

They sold the rights to the casino operators and should have had a sunset provision for each casino. Give them various terms, say, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 years of operations. Then make them renew and re-negotiate before they expire.

Give some control to our children's generation. Let them get drunk on the income from the fees for the re-do of the licenses.

If I'm elected to the PA Senate or become a public official, I'd make sure that there are sunset provisions on as many matters as possible. And, I'll work hard to put a terminal point in time for the casinos.

Invite to a Thursday event

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl
Councilman Dan Deasy
Commander William Bochter
West End Valley Business Association
West End Village Residents Association, &
West Pittsburgh Partnership

Cordially invite you to attend a WEST END CELEBRATION HONORING THE OPENING OF PITTSBURGH's SPECIAL DEPLOYMENT DIVISION at 312 South Main Street (Old Zone Four) for a RIBBON CUTTING at 11:30 am to 12:30 pm on THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2006. A light lunch will be provided.

ADDITIONAL OPEN HOUSE TOURS from 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm.

Tour the Station - Meet the Staff: Motorcycle, DUI, EMS & Swat Team Exhibits

Maybe a Mayoral Race Candidate: Mike Dawida

kdka.com - Former Commissioner May Join Mayoral Race Former Allegheny County Commissioner Mike Dawida says he's considering running

Mike, give your logic a review.

On one hand, Dawida says he still has "the same ideas when I was 28 years old." But, the young Ravenstahl is too young. Which way is it?

I don't think Dawida will be the only one who is a 'grown up' in the campaign.

I look forward to the second coming of Mike Dawida. The city will be better once Dawida ends his slumber.

Local Net & Minnesota Gubernatorial E-Debate

My observations for MN's Gov Race and the e-debate question about technology and broadband.

SAQ7 - Local Net | Minnesota Gubernatorial E-Debate - Oct. 9-19 Short Answer Question 7 - Which models of community involvement in broadband – be it wi-fi (wireless Internet), fiber, etc. - should be promoted or limited by the state or legislation? This might include the Windom municipal-owned fiber-to-the-home model, the Minneapolis franchise-like public-private wireless partnership, or other private marketplace models? Will you work toward a repeal/change of Minn. Stat. Ann. 237.19 requirement for municipalities to obtain a super-majority of 65% of voters before providing telephone services (including voice over the Internet)?

> Short Answer Question 7 - Local Net
>
> Which models of community involvement in broadband - be it wi-fi
> (wireless Internet), fiber, etc. - should be promoted or limited by
> the state or legislation?.

Seeing what the candidates wrote, I think that they all missed out on the big answer that I would have wanted to see.

What about the schools? What about the kids? What about educational needs?

I think it makes great sense to make investments in technology and broadband for our educational institutions. Then the marketplace can worry more about businesses. But, the marketplace needs to be pulled and pushed to care for the kids, for homework needs, for reserach, for study, and for parental involvement in school efforts.

Did others notice the same absence of info about schools in the initial responses?

+ Schools could be wi-fi hubs.
+ Schools can be places for experimental networks.
+ Schools can do outreach to school students in homes, with justifications.
+ Schools could be places to take caluclated risks with investments in tech and broadband.

Posted to: mn-politics-discuss@yahoogroups.com

Insights welcomed.

Pittsburgh Tuesday takes

Democrat sleaze: The Pennsylvania State Democratic Committee is engaged in what might be the most dishonest and sleaziest political smear job in the history of eystone State politics. Using partial, out-of-context quotes, it is attacking epublican 42nd Legislative District candidate Mark Harris. And it can only be ndicative of a party that thinks its candidate, Matt Smith, is in deep trouble. Mr. Smith should renounce this garbage. If he doesn't, "Matt Smith" will become synonymous with "sleaze."

Come out to hear both candidates at our church for a community forum with candiates from 7 to 8 pm on Monday, October 30, 2006 at 1240 Washington Road, Mt. Lebo. http://Sunnyhill.org.

Cleveland Columnist Who Shut Up to Speak Out - washingtonpost.com

The Columnist Who Shut Up to Speak Out - washingtonpost.comConnie Schultz Gave Up Her Platform to Jump on Her Husband's Bandwagon"

Read about family, couples, politics, media, campaigns and blah, blah, blah.

My only question, "Where is the first wife?"

CT Senate Debate On TV: Not Live, And No Local Media Allowed

courant.com | Senate Debate On TV: Not Live, And No Local Media Allowed: "Senate Debate On TV: Not Live, And No Local Media Allowed

When WFSB-TV, Channel 3, announced plans to sponsor the only debate of all five candidates in Connecticut's nationally watched Senate race, station general manager Klarn DePalma said the event reflects 'our commitment ... to deliver news and information to viewers in Connecticut.'

But it appears that the delivery is going to be delayed.

The Hartford CBS affiliate has banned representatives of the news media - other than its own - from Wednesday's 3 p.m. taping of the debate that is to be moderated by national CBS newsman Bob Schieffer before an audience of specially invited guests at The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts.

After a news blackout of 27 hours, WFSB plans to show the canned one-hour event Thursday at 7 p.m.

'We're renting the hall, it's our debate, and we'll invite who we want to invite' - that was Channel 3's position, as paraphrased by Richard Foley, campaign manager for Republican candidate Alan Schlesinger. Polls show Schlesinger running a distant third in the race, and so, Foley said, 'we feel that we cannot make too many demands.'

The statement that this is 'our debate' is crazy.

Shame, shame, shame on WFSB-TV. Same to for any candidate that doesn't raise red flags while on the debate stage about the terms of the event.

Folks, our democracy is frail. We can't let junk like this onto our shared landscape.

Check out what they are doing in MN for the Governor's race. An on-going, on-line debate among all participants is a treasure to witness and makes a model that many others need to repeat in the election cycles to come.

Double zero - Post Gazette endorsement nails Petrone. Big win for Ogden, R, IMNSHO

IMNSHO = In my not so humble opinion. This is great news of Candidate Bill Ogden, R.

Double zero In the House, two painful non-endorsements

This is amazing news and a wonderful victory for Bill Ogden.

The P-G did NOT endorse Tom Petrone. Tom Petrone should retire from the state house. Other suggestions for Petrone will follow later.

Bill Ogden, Republican, was able to push out some of his ideas. However, he felt the interview didn't go as smoothly as it could have. Regardless, this is a big victory for Ogden.

Bill Ogden is much, much more than a personal trainer. He owns his own gym. He has been there for many years.

To call Ogden a 'personal trainer' is the same as calling Kevin Joyce, owner of a downtown restaurant, a cook or a waiter. Bill Ogden is a long-time small business owner. He employs people. He helps the economy by doing business here, in his home town.

How a blogger got in the middle of Foley story

We are investigative reporters.

How a blogger got in the middle of Foley story How a blogger got in the middle of Foley story

Monday, October 16, 2006
By Amy Schatz, The Wall Street Journal

MOORE, Okla. -- For three days, William 'Wild Bill' Kerr huddled over an old computer, trying to solve a curious mystery.

He wanted to figure out the identity of the congressional page who received the salacious instant messages that prompted Florida Rep. Mark Foley to resign Sept. 29, triggering the scandal that's rocking the House of Representatives just weeks before the election.

The 32-year-old conservative blogger said he felt the news media were distorting the story, and he suspected, among other things, that the page in question was over the age of consent.

Save the Internet song on YouTube

The production quality isn't top shelf, but the mix of the song's words, chords and concert setting is neat. Old folkie bloggers might like the tune's message.

I'm often upset with the media. It is nice to see that others share the same concerns.

OMG: Hannah Montana! ... HERE...

Series of made-for-DVD movies to be shot in Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Business Times: ... will star Emily Osment, co-star of the hit Disney Channel television series 'Hannah Montana.'

Do we still close roads, reserve street parking, and alter the bouncers on East Carson Street for film crews and movie stars if they are only working on flicks that are slated for a DVD release?

Let's not roll out the red carpet today, as it is raining. But we are in for something as it took a year of negotiatins for the one crew. It is bad when film crew talks with a city take longer than the creative work to author, direct, shoot and produce.

The broad range of financial support for Dept of Community and Economic Development means what, exactly?

Next months movie title, "Smart People" has its first casting call slated, TBA, in City Council Chambers. Keep watching this blog for details.

Joe Jencks on the Charts!

From Joe Jencks ho...

Joe played a concert for us on the South Side early in the year. His newest CD "Rise As One" charted at #24 on the Folk Music Charts in the US for the month of September! This marks the first time he hit the charts.

"Rise As One" is a live concert CD, celebrating the music of the labor movement in the US, and featuring traditional, modern and original music about workplace dignity. Visit www.joejencks.com for more info.

GrassrootsPA puts up telling quote of GOP Leader on behavior of Rs in leadership

Duhh....

GrassrootsPA � The Online Home For Pennsylvania’s Conservative MovementPA's GOP Chairman said, "We have a platform, but our guys didn’t read it. They lost their way,” Gleason said as he mentioned the pay raise, state budgets, approval of slot machine gambling, expansion of government and this year’s vote to raise the minimum wage as a few examples.

MP-N: Congressional Elections

Hi All,

I'm in Pennsylvania. I don't think Rick Santorum is going to win his re-election. The Dem in the race, Bob Casey Jr. is a real dolt who is a lazy worker, without much personality nor smarts -- but he'll win because there are no other options and Rick has worn out his welcome.

So, the notion that a vote for one person is also a mandate for something else needs to be put in the trash, where it belongs.

The post said, a vote for the R candidate in MN is really a post for Santorum to be a leader in the US Senate. I don't agree.

Politics is complicated. But, voting is simple.

A vote for a person on the ballot is a vote for the person on the ballot, at that time, for that post -- and NOTHING, or little else. That's the beauty of democracy. Politics is complicated. But voting is simple. And, we should keep it that way. All the other hang-ups and reading between the lines is not what really matters.

If you want to worry about the leadership of a legislative body, and that is a decent worry to ponder, then there are better things to do.

First, ask the candidate in your district if he or she will state support for or against those in leadership positions. For example, a guy running for state house can say that he will NOT vote for so and so as the speaker of the house. He'd vote for another person in the same party, I imagine. But those can be strong statements. And, we should ask those questions more and more of candidates.

Second, figure out where the tight elections are unfolding if the leadership of a body might tip -- and back those candidates in those locations with your funds and efforts accordingly. Those battleground districts and associated campaigns are ripe for influence from other quarters.

So, if you want Santorum out of the US Senate -- send money to Bob Casey. And, if you want to buffer his hope for Senate leadership, speak to Rs in campaigns in the US Senate and get a pledge that they'll NOT back Rick Santorum for leadership whatever.

It is interesting to see if these candidates choose to break ranks with expected leadership, or not.

Bob Casey to Paris Hilton: Watch your purse.

Bob Casey's remarks in the radio debate on Monday about more taxes for Paris Hilton was goofy. To make a point of Santorum being 'out of touch' and then to use the lines that Casey uses is ironic. Casey isn't the guy to hit a homerun against Santorum for being out of touch.

On KDKA Radio show following the debate, show host, Marty Griffin, was hitting in a negative way upon the mention of Bono. Senator Santorum mentioned Bono and Marty Griffin tried to dig for some humor in that and it backfired. Bono isn't a rock star that takes community involvement as a joke! The Bono mention in the debate was in a friendly, respectful way.

My unanswered question is, 'Do we all work hard?'

Then how can it be a 'do nothing Congress' and then they all work hard? The double talk from Casey is without logic.

Casey says to Santorum, "I don't know what you are talking about." (Not good Bob.)

Neither of those guys are going to get my vote. However, I give a big LOSS for today's radio debate to Bob Casey.

Veteran pols among hopefuls - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Told ya. Weeks ago I said that Jack Wagner would need to be in the list of potential candidates who are interested in running for mayor of Pittsburgh.

Veteran pols among hopefuls - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review He could face his most formidable challenge in the Democratic primary from state Auditor General Jack Wagner, who according to spokesman Steve Halvonik is considering a run. Wagner believes O'Connor was shepherding Pittsburgh toward financial recovery.

Posting to MN

Subject: Re: MP-N: Iraq .....and other things.

Hi All,

R. R. H. wants to arm the world, as we are armed, sorta. He said that is the only way to go.

Well, I think we can be more creative and come up with other pathways. For instance, consider the last time the USA nuked Canada. That would be crazy, right. There are many levels as to reasons why there isn't fear or threats of war and nukes between US and Canada.

Meanwhile, there was a time, not too long ago, when the situation between the US and Cuba was such that nukes were feared. They blinked. A disaster was dodged and a long period of US and Cuba isolation was a result. The Soviet friendship and subsidization for Cuba also went to nothing.

Interesting, today, many in Canada vacation in Cuba (interesting side note).

The roots to the solutions, I feel, are within the expression:

YOU DO NOT Generally BOMB YOUR CUSTOMERS.

When we have a free market approach, with free trade and free travel -- then -- more peace and prosperity occurs and fears, uncertainty, doubt and war becomes diminished.

Furthermore, the trade needs to be free, organic and citizen driven -- not from the state. We need to turn away from the "mega deals" and "government deals" within business realms such as is the case with OPEC, Haliburton, and reconstruction of infrastructure after bombs turned back the clock to stone age survivals.

So, the slogan and truth found within not bombing customers might not hold when it comes to bombing suppliers.

We need more and closer trading partners. But, let's not fool ourselves with a hope to have them work in sweatshops to meet the demands and hungers of our consumerism.

eVote Blog, call to Tuesday's County Council Meeting on Voting & Paper Ballots

eVote BlogASK COUNTY COUNCIL FOR PAPER BALLOTS FOR NOVEMBER

What are you doing Tuesday evening? Or, can you pen a letter and make a few phone calls for democracy?

Swim Coach gets hired for another gig

Tom Burchill formerly of Mt. Lebanon Aqua Club (Pittsburgh, PA) and Carmel Swim Club (Carmel, IN) has taken a position with Lancaster Aquatic Club, Lancaster, PA.

Too often, in Western PA, as well as other parts of the nation, we "EAT OUR YOUNG." Tom did a wonderful job as a swim coach, locally. He built up the program. He is a dynamic young coach. He moved out of state. His career hit a bump in the road. But now he's back in PA with a new team.

Good for Tom. Good for those in Lancaster and even throughout PA. I'm glad he is back home, sorta.

But I worry about the ways we treat our young coaches. We have problems in these areas and our systems are frail.

In other coaching news, not at all associated with anything -- the outcome of the bean-ball coach is now known. The judge ordered him to jail for one to six years. This is the guy who lost grips with what sports is all about and instructed a kid to hurt another, on his same team, before a baseball game. What a mess that was. The coach goes to jail to think about that for some time. As he was being escorted away, as show on TV, he still had this 'clueless attitude.'

Furthermore, a swimmer and son of fellow coach is now in a cast. He hurt his hand while playing goal in practice with the high school soccer team. Ouch. The Carlynton HS boys team is #1 seed in the WPIAL class AA. You can play soccer with your arm in a cast in high school. We'll see how the swim season goes, in a few weeks to come.

KnoxNews, injured paper gives interview and Reporter gets Pass NUKED by AD

KnoxNews: Today's Editorial ... the UT Athletic Department suspended the credentials of one of our sports writers, Dave Hooker, for not getting approval in advance for a player interview. Hooker worked through a source within the athletic department to arrange an exclusive talk with Inky Johnson, the popular cornerback who was badly hurt in the Air Force game.

That was a technical violation of the rules that the Sports Information Office issues in exchange for letting journalists have the access they need to conduct interviews and take photographs.

Other reporters covering the Vols have broken that rule in the past. But the Athletic Department decided to come down hard on Hooker.

Initially, the department contended that he had 'ambushed' the injured player on campus, in effect invading his privacy during recuperation. But Hooker has since provided UT with a tape recording of the interview, which clearly shows it was done by telephone and with Johnson's complete cooperation.

Mike Hamilton, UT's athletic director, says he just wants to look out for the 18- to 22-year-old student athletes who aren't professionals and shouldn't be overwhelmed by media attention. We'll grant there is validity to that concern. We don't want to treat these young men and women disrespectfully either, and Hooker didn't in the case of Johnson.

Unfortunately, it seems that some in the Athletic Department have another motivation as well - tightening control of news about the Vols and punishing the News Sentinel for some of its coverage.

So, how is the guy with the long hair doing? Well, he's a pro athlete.

Pennsylvania Supreme Court denies political choice

From hex

Pennsylvania Libertarian Party condemns decision to ban Senate candidate

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Libertarian Party today condemned the Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision to remove Carl Romanelli, the Green Party U.S. Senate candidate, from the state ballot.

This year, Democrat and Republican candidates for statewide office needed only 2,000 signatures to get on the Primary election ballot and the winners required no additional signatures to be listed on the General Election ballot. In contrast, all other parties and independents needed 67,070 valid signatures to attain the same end.

Although the Green Party submitted 95,000 signatures, the Democrats challenged and convinced the courts that thousands of signatures were invalid, leaving the party 8931 short of the required total. Pennsylvania’s signature requirements are extremely strict. Signatures are rejected for technicalities such as forgetting to enter the date or entering information in the wrong box. In addition, the courts have redefined “qualified electors” from its statutory definition of Pennsylvania citizens over 18 to registered voters.

Supreme Court Justice Thomas Saylor dissented from the majority opinion because of this redefinition. “I maintain my belief that, under the material provisions of the Election Code, citizens need not be registered voters to validly sign nomination papers on behalf of an independent political body candidate. Since I do not believe that Appellant should be denied ballot access based on the Commonwealth Court’s existing assessment, I respectfully dissent from the majority’s present percuriamruling.”

To further discourage future efforts by independents and third parties to undergo the Herculean effort to offer Pennsylvanians additional choices on the ballot, the court ordered Mr. Romanelli to pay $89,000 in court costs and all the Democratic Party’s legal bills, which are expected to approach $1 million.

Tom Martin Libertarian Party State Senate candidate for the 34th District in Centre County (http://members.aol.com/martin4senate/) noted “The two old parties have further strengthened their monopoly on who can run for office. The great economist Adam Smith had important points about monopoly: One: They are the great enemy of good management and Two: Monopolies need government support to last. What better proof of both of these observations then the political parties using government support to protect themselves from the voters.”

Mr. Martin also failed to meet the draconian signature requirements in his efforts to run as the Libertarian Party candidate for U.S. Senate. He is now running as a write-in candidate.

With this year’s 67,070 signature requirement, Pennsylvania is the second worst state in the nation for ballot access. The Ballot Access Coalition has been pursuing a legislative remedy to this problem. The Voters' Choice Act (http://www.paballotaccess.org/voters_choice_act.html) is based on Delaware's reasonable ballot access law. Unfortunately, the VCA is locked in our legislature's State Government committee.

Ken Krawchuk, the Libertarian candidate for Pennsylvania Governor in 1998 and 2002, was outraged by the news. "This decision is the death knell for third parties in Pennsylvania. Who will undertake running for political office with the threat of a million dollar fine? Certainly not me! Unless we can convince the legislature to pass our Voters' Choice Act, this contemptible decision could drive me into political retirement. But I will still campaign full force against oath breaking judges who have made a mockery of our electoral process.

Press release from Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania, 3915 Union Deposit Road #223, Harrisburg, PA 17109, 1-800-774-4487, www.lppa.org from, Chuck Moulton, Chair, Doug Leard, Media Relations

'Man of the Year' tanks in a landslide - 10/13/06 - The Detroit News Online

We watched the debate between Rick Santorum and Bob Casey -- and thought that was bad. My kids were into the debate, watching those jokers.

'Man of the Year' tanks in a landslide - 10/13/06 - The Detroit News Online

'Man of the Year' GRADE: D

Rated PG-13 for language including some crude sexual references, drug-related material and brief violence
Running time: 115 minutes

'Man of the Year' is a well-intentioned mess, a dated, yuk-it-up sloppy civics lesson with such a lack of conviction that it backs away from the very questions it poses, which is really too bad, because this movie should have afforded Robin Williams his best role in years.

Wonder what the reviewer / critic would have said about the tv debate last night.

Friday the 13th.

Feeling Lucky? Feeling Unfortunate?

How about the feeling of 'freeze out' or being 'left in the cold?'

Bookstore workshops on South Side

Dr. SALLY G. HOYLE discusses and signs her book, Same Homework, New Plan, on Tuesday, October 17th at 7:00 pm at the Joseph Beth Bookstore on the South Side (SS Works).

Take back your family's evenings and weekends! Clinical Psychologist Dr. Sally Hoyle offers easy-to-follow steps that busy parents can readily implement to decrease homework meltdowns and help kids achieve their academic potential. Written for parents of kids ages 7 to 16, Same Homework, New Plan shows parents the techniques they need to win the homework war.

101 Ways to Become the Perfect College Applicant
is the workshop and book for 2 pm on Sunday, October 22. No matter where you are in your high school career, 101 Ways will provide you with tips and activities to make you a solid college applicant with a stellar transcript, a winning essay, and great recommendations, not to mention great test scores and a strong overall application package! Get the answers to your questions. Application Anxiety? Not a chance. Kaplan's got you covered.