tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64302535806695662452024-02-07T14:20:35.742-05:00InfinonymousInfinonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02523717432084762839noreply@blogger.comBlogger1247125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430253580669566245.post-13379342322188891292012-02-19T13:16:00.010-05:002013-03-01T11:51:51.331-05:00A Song For A Cold February In Pittsburgh<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;">
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><i><b></b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><i><b>But February made me shiver<br />With every paper I'd deliver<br />Bad news on the doorstep<br />I couldn't take one more step</b></i></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-weight: normal;">Every word is true.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">UPDATE (February 18, 2013): Every word is still true.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">UPPERDATE (February 22, 2013): Propositions Board (far right column) continues to be revised -- place your bets! [nudge] [wink] [another wink]</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">UPPERERDATE (February 28, 2013): We tried to tell you. Also, new Infytunes (middle column).</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">UPPERERERDATE (March 1, 2013): Anything posted in the foreseeable future will be a Snapchat-like post, with a limited shelf life. Get 'em while they're hot. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br /></span><b>Infytune: </b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QUYvRaQ4XM" style="font-weight: normal;">American Pie</a><span style="font-weight: normal;">, Don McLean</span><br /><b>Infytune:</b> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeR4G8519vI" style="font-weight: normal;">Vincent</a><span style="font-weight: normal;">, Don McLean and Chet Atkins</span><br /><b>Infytune:</b> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsZFiMo8TIc" style="font-weight: normal;">American Pie (annotated)</a><span style="font-weight: normal;">, Don McLean</span></span></div>
Infinonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02523717432084762839noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430253580669566245.post-82212411546842656952012-02-11T20:43:00.004-05:002012-02-11T20:53:58.587-05:00Whitney Houston's Soaring Voice, StilledWhitney Houston, whose stunning voice was eroded by poor choices concerning lifestyle and marriage, has died, aged 48.<br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/m3-hY-hlhBg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><b><span >Infytune: </span></b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5L_23XC3uCY">The Star Spangled Banner</a>, Whitney HoustonInfinonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02523717432084762839noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430253580669566245.post-72997838170362323492012-02-11T12:54:00.014-05:002012-02-11T13:24:11.777-05:00Yinzer Admission Test: Art SectionThe self-promoting parasites at VisitPittsburgh <a href="http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12042/1209523-28.stm">have chosen</a> as Pittsburgh's new slogan:<div><br /><a href="http://rogallery.com/_RG-Images/Morris_Burton/Morris-Dollar_Sign-framed.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0px 30px 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 120px; height: 110px;" src="http://rogallery.com/_RG-Images/Morris_Burton/Morris-Dollar_Sign-framed.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><blockquote><b><span>1) InsolvenCity<br /><br />2) BankrupCity<br /><br />3) The Birthplace of Pop Culture</span></b></blockquote><br />Hint: Truth-in-advertising laws do not necessarily apply to this promotional campaign.<br /><br /><b><span>EXTRA CREDIT:</span></b> Connect each Infytune to the new campaign.<br /><br /><b><span>Infytune:</span></b> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_hiDyKLVlw">Sweet Jane</a>, Velvet Underground<br /><b><span>Infytune:</span></b> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apZm9zaKTAw">Walk On The Wild Side</a>, Lou Reed<br /><b><span>Infytune:</span></b> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ow0WnV5fDyA">Brown Sugar</a><a>, The Rolling Stones (Paris 1976)</a></div>Infinonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02523717432084762839noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430253580669566245.post-64659813493766460302012-01-25T17:52:00.009-05:002012-01-25T19:56:04.883-05:00A Hopeful Day Brings Happy MusicAgainst a persistent background of partisan strife and paralysis, we have witnessed three acts of conciliation in a 24-hour period, perhaps providing a welcome opportunity for Americans to learn, improve, and benefit.<br /><br />First, President Obama presented a call for cooperation during his State of the Union address; a number of legislators in the audience again broke party seating lines. Both parties' focus on electionyearing is likely to interfere with many opportunities for collaborative progress, but President Obama pulled some partisan punches and there seems reasonable hope that some Republicans could respond productively were the President to offer some consensus-friendly initiatives. The situation in America's government has deteriorated to a point at which even needed legislation on which nearly all can agree is difficult to enact. We experienced a flicker of optimism as some Republicans and some Democrats commented after the President had described the state of our union as "getting stronger."<br /><br />Next, again on the House of Representatives' legislative floor at the Capitol, a politically ecumenical program this morning celebrated Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' recovery from a horrific, targeted attack by an armed madman -- to a point at which she could deliver her resignation in person -- suggested that members of Congress might be people, too. For a period, it appeared that legislators saw each other not as Republicans or Democrats or liberals or conservatives but instead as fellow Americans.<br /><br />Those events were scheduled, perhaps even predictable. But then ...<br /><br />From Harrisburg, this afternoon, arrived the unexpected news that one member of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court -- the chief justice, Ronald Castille -- had broken partisan lines to reject this decade's grotesquely contorted legislative reapportionment map.<br /><br />Let us hope we are detecting the new pattern. Please listen, and enjoy:<br /><span><b><br /></b></span><b><span>Infytune:</span></b> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQqTxK7VhSk">People Get Ready</a>, Curtis Mayfield and bandmates<br /><b><span>Infytune:</span></b> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sjSHazjrWg">Peace Train</a>, Cat Stevens (Yusef Islam)<br /><b><span>Infytune: </span></b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCPjeOPjH5Y">Higher Ground</a>, Stevie Wonder (a blind man, alone)<br /><div><b><span><span>Infytune:</span> </span></b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlXeLgfBaT4">What's So Funny ('Bout Peace, Love, And Understanding)</a>, Elvis Costello and bandmates </div>Infinonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02523717432084762839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430253580669566245.post-43743669745542130012012-01-24T11:56:00.007-05:002012-01-24T12:58:48.574-05:00Springsteen Tour Bypassing InsolvenCity, But Fans Can Still Pull Out Of Here To WinBruce Springsteen has announced an E Street Band schedule <a href="http://infinonymous.blogspot.com/2011/11/save-your-money-and-date-bruce.html">that does not include a March 31st concert in Pittsburgh</a>. Anyone desiring a respite from the persistent and lamentable local infestation of country acts could consider these dates for a "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FocIlccCBsY">pulling out of here to win</a>" trip:<br /><br /><span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>March 28 – Philadelphia – Wells Fargo Center (on sale Jan 28)<br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>March 29 – Philadelphia – Wells Fargo Center (on sale Jan 28)<br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>April 1 – Washington DC – Verizon Center (on sale Jan 28)<br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>April 3 – East Rutherford – Izod Center (on sale Jan 27)<br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>April 4 – East Rutherford – Izod Center (on sale Jan 27)<br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>April 6 – New York – Madison Square Garden (on sale Jan 27)<br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>April 9 – New York – Madison Square Garden (on sale Jan 27)<br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>April 12 – Detroit – The Palace of Auburn Hills (on sale Jan 28)<br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>April 13 – Buffalo – First Niagara Center (on sale Jan 28)<br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>April 17 – Cleveland – Quicken Loans Arena (on sale Jan 28)<br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>May 2 – Newark – Prudential Center (on sale Jan 27)</span><br /><br /><b><span>Infytune:</span></b> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibvjG14Amwg">Thundercrack</a>, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band<br /><b><span>Infytune:</span></b> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WL25NcSIgM">Rosalita</a>, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band<br /><b><span>Infytune:</span></b> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=licBuZmZbcQ">Detroit Medley (Devil With The Blue Dress/Good Golly Miss Molly/CC Rider/Jenny Take A Ride/</a>, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street BandInfinonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02523717432084762839noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430253580669566245.post-81443496872656925972012-01-23T17:40:00.010-05:002012-01-24T13:30:18.699-05:00A Fine Pun Is Detected Today In Null Space, But InsolvenCity's POS Is No Laughing Matter<a href="http://nullspace2.blogspot.com/2012/01/city-125-million-bond-pos-hits-street.html">Null Space</a>, switching from the reassessment beat to a bad situation, has unveiled (and aptly named) <a href="http://www.briem.com/files/2012_PittsburghCity_POS.pdf"> the huge POS</a> that the City of Pittsburgh, <a href="http://tomdrexlerplumbing.com/images/drain-cleaning.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:10px 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 136px;" src="http://tomdrexlerplumbing.com/images/drain-cleaning.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>apparently addled by delusions of solvency, is presenting to financial markets.<br /><br />Mainly, it is InsolvenCity's mayor (or at least the leeches who wind his spring) and the city council president (who doesn't even a have a spring to wind) who are responsible for this return to an unsustainable financial trajectory. For the mayor, this offering is designed to promote re-election by funding a bunch of paving projects and (if history guides) self-promoting trashcans. For the city council president, this spending spree was the cost of doing the business of obtaining the mayor-controlled votes among city councilors for her re-election. For everyone else in Pittsburgh -- well, you voted for these knuckleheads, so reach for the Vaseline and hope for the best.<br /><br />InsolvenCitiers should hope this POS is the final payment by Darlene Harris on her account with the mayor's office.<div><br /><span><b><span>Infytune:</span></b></span> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8zx68HENIA">Can't Buy Me Love</a>, The Beatles<br /><b><span>Infytune:</span></b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdTDtpsbJgY"> Gold Digger</a>, Kanye West with Jamie Foxx<br /><b><span>Infytune:</span></b> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqfHkjyC8aM">I Gotta Feeling</a>, Black Eyed Peas</div>Infinonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02523717432084762839noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430253580669566245.post-27378847965854937132012-01-23T12:03:00.004-05:002012-01-23T12:22:02.489-05:00Erin Molchany Dips Toe Into 27th's Murky Water<a href="http://media.lt01.net/2075/Erin-Molchany-PUMP-edited.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:10px 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 160px;" src="http://media.lt01.net/2075/Erin-Molchany-PUMP-edited.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Despite her association with the Pittsburgh Urban Magnet Project, we perceive Erin Molchany's <a href="http://earlyreturns.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/early-returns-20/53-post-gazette-staff/3928-molchany-challenging-deasy-in-27th">expression of interest</a> in the campaign for state representative from the 27th District as a positive development. The seat is currently occupied by Dan Deasy, known principally for using his water authority position to steer profits to List-Makers at ratepayer expense. (With Deasy's help, reptilian scavenger <a href="http://postgazette.com/pg/10257/1087418-53.stm">RDM</a> seems to be preparing to rise again from PWSA's brackish pool shortly.)<br /><br /><b><span>Infytune:</span></b> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5apEctKwiD8">Dirty Water</a>, The StandellsInfinonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02523717432084762839noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430253580669566245.post-9723497307447378392012-01-21T23:34:00.016-05:002012-01-21T23:54:40.681-05:00Infinonymous Calls South Carolina's Republican Presidential Primary For President Barack Obama<a href="http://www.ariousentertainment.us/PresidentObama11.4.08.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:5px 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 160px;" src="http://www.ariousentertainment.us/PresidentObama11.4.08.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Infinonymous declares with confidence, with <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVzYxqG9N1c">nearly all precincts reported</a>, that the decisive winner in the 2012 South Carolina Republican presidential primary is <b>President Barack Obama</b>.<br /><br /><b><span>Infytune: </span></b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVzYxqG9N1c">Let's Stay Together</a>,<br />Al GreenInfinonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02523717432084762839noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430253580669566245.post-10749343554577938072012-01-16T10:02:00.013-05:002012-01-16T18:45:34.481-05:00Reassessment Reminiscences: An Album Of Dan And The County's Greatest Hits Misses<a href="http://postgazette.com/pg/images/200803/vwhc21132_local_hillary_330.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0px 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 270px; height: 220px;" src="http://postgazette.com/pg/images/200803/vwhc21132_local_hillary_330.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>As sentient citizens begin to sense that Dan Onorato (right, comparing political dreams with Hillary Clinton) <a href="http://www.wtae.com/video/21925069/detail.html">sabotaged</a> the most recent reassessment project (at a cost of millions of taxpayers dollars) for selfish political gain, and Judge Wettick regrettably rewards the immoral recalcitrance of fat-cat-feeding conservatives masquerading as Democrats, this seems an appropriate point at which to review (bold type signals the better bits):<br /><br /><a href="http://infinonymous.blogspot.com/2009/04/allegheny-countys-inaccurate.html">Allegheny County's Inaccurate Assessments Violate Constitution, Court Rules</a><br /><br /><a href="http://infinonymous.blogspot.com/2009/04/dan-onorato-foreshadowing-county.html">Dan Onorato Foreshadowing County Secession?</a><br /><br /><a href="http://infinonymous.blogspot.com/2009/05/has-judge-wettick-reached-his-limit-yet.html">Has Judge Wettick Reached His Limit Yet?</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><a href="http://infinonymous.blogspot.com/2009/06/wheres-burning-sense-of-justice.html">Where's The Burning Sense Of Justice?</a></span><br /><br /><a href="http://infinonymous.blogspot.com/2009/08/synonym-for-donkey-found-in-assessment.html">Synonym For Donkey Found In Assessment</a><br /><br /><a href="http://infinonymous.blogspot.com/2009/07/finding-asses-in-assessments_12.html">Finding Asses In Assessments</a><br /><br /><a href="http://infinonymous.blogspot.com/2009/09/county-dog-ate-our-copy-of-constitution.html">County: Dog Ate Our Copy Of Constitution</a><br /><br /><a href="http://infinonymous.blogspot.com/2009/08/time-to-reassess-countys-position-on.html">Time To Reassess (The County's Legal Position)?<br /><br /></a><a href="http://infinonymous.blogspot.com/2009/09/assessement-czar-gives-county-one-month.html">Wettick Gives County One-Month Reprieve</a><br /><br /><a href="http://infinonymous.blogspot.com/2009/12/onorato-to-allegheny-county-homeowners.html">Onorato To Allegheny County Homeowners: If You Want Any Help From Me, Move</a><br /><br /><a href="http://infinonymous.blogspot.com/2010/04/unsolicited-advice-series-candidate-dan.html">Unsolicited Advice Series: Dan Onorato</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><a href="http://infinonymous.blogspot.com/2010/05/onorato-record-on-property-taxes-in.html">The Dan Onorato Record On Property Taxes, In Photographs, Video -- And An Elegant Tea House</a></span><br /><br /><a href="http://infinonymous.blogspot.com/2010/05/campaign-criticism-can-become-boomerang.html">Beware The Campaign Criticism Boomerang</a><br /><br /><a href="http://infinonymous.blogspot.com/2011/01/fitzgerald-launches-candidacy-by-asking.html">Fitzgerald Launches Candidacy By Asking Governor To Declare Martial Law On Assessments</a><br /><br /><a href="http://infinonymous.blogspot.com/2011/01/reassessment-watchdog-that-hasnt-barked.html">The Reassessment Watchdog That Hasn't Barked</a><br /><br /><a href="http://infinonymous.blogspot.com/2011/01/in-choosing-republican-candidate-for.html%3EIn%20Choosing%20Republican%20Candidate%20For%20County%20Executive,%20Might%20Roddey%20Turn%20To%20A%20Familiar%20Name?%3C/a%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Ca%20href=" com="" 2011="" 02="">Infindorsement: Allegheny County Executive</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><a href="http://infinonymous.blogspot.com/2011/06/apt-assessment-post-gazette-pinpoints.html">Apt Assessment: Post-Gazette Pinpoints Perfect Platform For Onorato's Next Political Campaign</a></span><br /><br />A trip to the <a href="http://nullspace2.blogspot.com/">Null Space archives</a> is always worthwhile for those who like information and insight. Or for city editors wondering how a newspaper would cover this situation.<br /><br /><b><span >UPDATE:</span></b> After reports such as <a href="http://nullspace2.blogspot.com/2012/01/but-they-never-ever-reset-tax-rates.html">this one</a>, if anything happens to Chris Briem, Rich Fitzgerald and the rest of the gang that couldn't assess fairly will need a strong alibi. <br /><br /><b><span >Infytune:</span></b> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJHgMD1S0bg">Redemption Song</a>, Bob Marley and the WailersInfinonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02523717432084762839noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430253580669566245.post-61801658358008132312012-01-10T22:10:00.012-05:002012-01-10T23:34:37.697-05:00A Couple Of Questions About Allegheny County's Courtroom Strategy For The Assessments Case<div>A couple of questions:</div><div><br /></div>Which law firm recently hired two former clerks to Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge R. Stanton Wettick?<br /><br />Which law firm was hired by Rich Fitzgerald to defend the indefensible in the assessment litigation assigned to Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge R. Stanton Wettick?<br /><br />It might be worthwhile to determine when that firm became aware it would be engaged to represent the new Allegheny County administration in Judge Wettick's courtroom, and how many former clerks of Judge Wettick that firm had employed before the assessment litigation commenced.<br /><br /><b><span>BONUS QUESTION: </span></b> Has anyone informed the public about how much taxpayers will pay a law firm to help Rich Fitzgerald try to dodge a <a href="http://www.post-gazette.com/downloads/20090428assessment_castille.pdf">unanimous Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling</a>?<br /><br /><b><span>Infytune:</span></b> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQDakdp5WZ0">With A Little Help From My Friends</a>, Joe Cocker<br /><b><span>Infytune:</span></b> <a href="http://nunzioweb.com/movies/belushi/?currVideo=0&currCateg=0"> With A Little Help From My Friends</a>, John Belushi<br /><b><span>Infytune:</span></b> <a href="http://www.videolog.tv/video.php?id=503192">Feelin' Alright</a><a>, Joe Cocker and John Belushi</a><br /><b><span>Infytune: </span></b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBd4PPZV6QI">Back Door Man</a>, Howlin' WolfInfinonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02523717432084762839noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430253580669566245.post-17031458487100695892012-01-10T14:00:00.014-05:002012-01-10T22:05:21.832-05:00Allegheny County Democratic Committee Declares "You're On Your Own This Year, Mr. President"The Allegheny County Democratic Committee today <a href="http://earlyreturns.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/early-returns-20/53-post-gazette-staff/3849-pgh-area-democrats-announce-leadership-team">announced</a> the appointment -- not the election, the appointment; anyone have a set of bylaws handy? -- of several new officers.<br /><br />(One curious change involves the treasurer's position; unless a resignation by Edward Abes was not publicized, why was a new treasurer appointed?)<br /><br /><img src="http://www.post-gazette.com/images4/2010_ntwk_cambest-john-f_160x220.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 100px; height: 140px; " /><img src="http://www.post-gazette.com/images4/2010_ntwk_grattan-edward-j_160x220.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 100px; height: 140px; " />Maintaining tradition, the county committee's statement did not address the <a href="http://infinonymous.blogspot.com/2011/09/could-move-kick-start-local-donkeys.html">long-ambiguous status</a> of <a href="http://infinonymous.blogspot.com/2010/10/rich-lords-over-list-of-county.html">Edward Grattan </a> (right) or <a href="http://infinonymous.blogspot.com/2010/09/getting-led-around-by-nostrils-seems-to.html">Jack Cambest</a> (left), which suggests any attempted housecleaning did not involve <a href="http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10255/1086909-454.stm">the sub-basement</a>.<br /><br />The lineup announced today -- unproven show horses -- sends an unmistakable message to the Obama campaign preparing for the November election: You are entirely on your own, Mr. President, in Allegheny County.<br /><br />Organizing for America and MoveOn were already doing most of the substantive lifting for Democrats in Allegheny County, but the press release from the Allegheny County Democratic Committee suggests "most" has become "all."<br /><br /><b><span >UPDATE:</span></b> A couple of sources claim that the reorganization did not comply with the committee's written rules ("for a reason," one wrote -- without identifying that reason). Another correspondent states that the average age of the four announced officers is 70, suggesting "somebody out there does not want this Committee to be very active." Our preliminary hunch: the county Democratic Committee just became a redhead's stepchild. <br /><br /><b><span>Infytune:</span></b> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UCY_U4QwqI&ob=av2e">Where The Party At</a>, Jagged Edge with NellyInfinonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02523717432084762839noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430253580669566245.post-87570699853041110302012-01-08T10:13:00.013-05:002012-01-08T14:32:32.618-05:00Perhaps A Child Should Lead Them: In Praise Of Pitt's Standout Safety, Andrew TaglianettiAndrew Taglianetti, with a brief and unscripted display of instinctive character, yesterday provided a moral example for the adults who have so calculatedly diminished <a href="http://files.pittsburghlive.com/photos/2008-01-28/0128Taglianetti-b.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:10px 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 178px;" src="http://files.pittsburghlive.com/photos/2008-01-28/0128Taglianetti-b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>college football and educational institutions in recent months.<br /><br />Taglianetti (left), a fourth-year junior at Pitt, spent the first week of this semester's academic calendar not in class but instead in Alabama, learning that football trumps academics at Pitt. He was in Birmingham to participate in <a href="http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2010/11/espn_develops_new_financial_mo.html">low-grade television programming masquerading as a bowl game</a>, a <a href="http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/11/sec_wont_be_in_birminghams_bbv.html">farce</a> whose result was not only deemed unworthy of mention on the Post-Gazette's main online sports page this morning but indeed was listed fourteenth -- of fourteen stories -- on the P-G page devoted to Pitt athletics.<br /><br />Long after it had been determined that <a href="http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12007/1202095-142.stm">Pitt would lose</a> to an unranked team from a lackluster conference, Andrew Taglianetti was still playing hard in the fourth quarter against Southern Methodist University. He tackled SMU runner Jared Williams with a clean, low, shoulder-first hit that, by gruesome happenstance, snapped Williams' femur. Taglianetti knew immediately that Williams had been severely injured; the break could be heard along the sideline. <iframe width="450" height="265" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/n0q3XC9ri1k" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>Taglianetti was responsible, but not culpable, for Williams' injury, but that distinction did not diminish Taglianetti's vividly displayed anguish. Taglianetti did not calculate; he immediately put his hands to his head, fell to his knees, touched his forehead to the ground, and rose to curse fate. Despite the apparent emotional devastation, Taglianetti approached Williams in an obvious expression of regret as trainers assisted Williams for several minutes. When Williams, <a href="http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/.g65QTmtdbQGirq2Rk5rjw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9aW5zZXQ7aD00NDY7cT04NTt3PTYzMA--/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/caf084deb927a600030f6a7067000e2c.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:10px 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 210px;" src="http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/.g65QTmtdbQGirq2Rk5rjw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9aW5zZXQ7aD00NDY7cT04NTt3PTYzMA--/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/caf084deb927a600030f6a7067000e2c.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>prone on a gurney, was ready to leave the field for a hospital, Taglianetti stood with Williams (right), empathetically tapping the injured man's chest. Taglianetti seemed shaken for several minutes after play resumed.<br /><br />Taglianetti's exhibition of sportsmanship, accountability, perspective, and decency would deserve credit in any circumstance. Its purity and context, however, created a striking, instructive comparison with the self-serving, substandard conduct of the grown-ups overseeing the seedy business of football at Pitt and Penn State. Penn State administrators, who <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/football/ncaa/01/04/penn-state-records.ap/index.html">focused on public relations and money</a> after it was revealed that their institution's deplorable conduct had concealed and facilitated the rape of children, and Pitt officials, who have poorly served the student athletes they are ostensibly educating, could learn much from Andrew Taglianetti.<br /><br />There is scant evidence that Penn State or Pitt has learned the appropriate lessons yet, but so long as our Andrew Taglianettis -- who deserve better from their elders -- are better than their elders, we are hopeful.<br /><br /><b><span >Infytune:</span></b> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJCXpFy0E5s">Young Man Blues</a>, The WhoInfinonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02523717432084762839noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430253580669566245.post-25077289970146472522012-01-06T12:46:00.008-05:002012-01-06T15:22:51.466-05:00Unsolicited Advice Series: Judge R. Stanton Wettick<a href="http://files.pittsburghlive.com/photos/2003-08-09/0810wettick-a.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:10px 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 198px;" src="http://files.pittsburghlive.com/photos/2003-08-09/0810wettick-a.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>We hope Judge Tony Wettick (right) recognizes that he -- like the victims of unconstitutionally unfair taxation looking to him for vindication -- has been rope-a-doped by disingenuous and morally bankrupt elected officials for some time.<br /><br />Dan Onorato and Rich Fitzgerald have relied on delay and chaos for years and, with Judge Wettick's acquiescence, have succeeded. Some observers have suggested that Judge Wettick must choose today between 1) jailing Fitzgerald for the most recent cynical maneuver or 2) rewarding the rope-a-dopers by delaying the delivery of justice for another year (while providing another year for more maneuvering).<br /><br />We humbly wonder whether Judge Wettick might chart a different course. Why not forbid Allegheny County to collect another dime of taxes based on the unfairly inaccurate assessments? We suspect such a ruling would induce the appropriate public officials to find a prompt and just solution.<br /><br /><b><span >Infytune:</span></b> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOwaBwaU-1Q">How Soon Is Now?</a>, The SmithsInfinonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02523717432084762839noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430253580669566245.post-70203979253536577602012-01-03T18:25:00.019-05:002012-01-04T18:43:02.119-05:00The Bride Of LukensteinThe expressions of InsolvenCity's council members revealed more than did the <a href="http://postgazette.com/pg/12003/1201010-100.stm">votes</a> and <a href="http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_774777.html"> appointments</a> that set the stage for another year of dysfunction among the City of Pittsburgh's elected leaders.<br /><br />In quintessential fifth floor fashion, the mayor, his minions, and nine city councilors alienated allies, roiled relationships, and forged faithless allegiances to accomplish not even a feint at progress but instead the maintenance of a mediocre status quo. Another improbable broken-field run places Darlene Harris in the council president's chair, this time leaving an even more broken field. A recipe for a <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/79/Brideoffrankenstein.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 176px; " /><a href="http://lukenstein.com/pics/luklogo.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 286px; height: 67px;" src="http://lukenstein.com/pics/luklogo.png" border="0" alt="" /></a>combination of free-for-all and free-fall.<br /><br />Accepting her colleagues' affirmation, Harris (left, reaching for swearing-in Bible) looked every bit the Bride of Lukenstein she had become, jolted into a tortured approximation of political life by strange applications of power and chemistry. She has her presidency, but is not quite sure how or why it came to creation, and even her flickering faculties sense there is something unnatural and doomed about it.<br /><br />Patrick Dowd, who bartered his vote for . . . who knows what? Not even a hackneyed horror script could devise a plot lurch in which Dowd received anything worthwhile. On this day, his was the pivotal vote (except in <a href="http://earlyreturns.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/early-returns-20/53-post-gazette-staff/3814-oconnor-casts-deciding-prez-vote">the fantasy world of the Post-Gazette's local political coverage</a>). But his expression indicated that he knew not one of his eight colleagues would ever consider him reliable again. If there was a strategy or benefit associated with this vote, it is known, or perhaps exists, only in the mind of Patrick Dowd.<br /><br />Ricky Burgess looked like a student whose forged hall pass just fooled one teacher but is not expected to carry him all the way to the parking lot. He has the finance <a href="http://drnorth.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/bride-of-frankenstein-teaser-poster.jpg?w=743"><img style="float:right; margin:10px 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 320px;" src="http://drnorth.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/bride-of-frankenstein-teaser-poster.jpg?w=743" border="0" alt="" /></a>chair, but can not count on anything after today.<br /><br />Theresa Kail Smith, maid of honor for a day, had the look of an outsider who had maneuvered her way into the "in" crowd, but who realized she would probably be back to her customary level of popularity tomorrow.<br /><br />Corey O'Connor displayed the genuine smile of someone who was overwhelmed, mostly by good things like inauguration and a marriage proposal, but also by the recognition he was now responsible for voting on public policy despite barely understanding what he had gotten himself into. He looked much like fellow Central Catholic graduate Tino Sunseri in a collapsing pocket, two long seconds after the ball should have been thrown.<br /><br />Bruce Kraus, Bill Peduto, and Natalia Rudiak tried but could not hide shell shock. Three faces, one expression, evoking Jon Lovitz in a Saturday Night Live presidential debate as Michael Dukakis, who, when asked to comment on the inane mumbling of Dana Carvey's George Bush (the older, competent one), offered concise rebuttal: "I can't believe I'm losing to this guy!" Watch: <object width="512" height="288"><param name="movie" value="http://www.hulu.com/embed/xgQKVtsW5ZXDUVIPuHxZXg"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.hulu.com/embed/xgQKVtsW5ZXDUVIPuHxZXg" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="512" height="288" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object><br /><br />Daniel Lavelle just looked happy that his first day of this year's council term could not be as face-plant disastrous as his first day one year ago.<br /><br />We will leave it to others to perform the detailed autopsy on this year's council, a body decomposing less than one hour into its new life. Divided government has its virtues in some circumstances, but this council is too divided to stand or crawl. Two men put Harris back into the president's position; one hates her, the other dislikes her. As of today, those sentiments are shared by the council colleagues who stood by Harris as the mayor <a href="http://www.wtae.com/news/26917979/detail.html">attempted to whack her</a>. There is no discernible majority for anything; not for good government, not for mayoral sycophancy, not for ham-handed corruption, not for any identifiable strategy, not for any sensible tactic.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0lRYVHegbkw2b7KKLA1Cd8f8t_Y551MyAlMH5Yfvz9l_3ynlb1pevodb8N-t8WxoONUxJJpvgVzhmkPK8zGyiv7VOc34mo_e0Z41qSfUjaK61lDYWyajWt-uvCp4TvnfE4ujORiV6iqB/s800/bwwarning.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:10px 0 0px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0lRYVHegbkw2b7KKLA1Cd8f8t_Y551MyAlMH5Yfvz9l_3ynlb1pevodb8N-t8WxoONUxJJpvgVzhmkPK8zGyiv7VOc34mo_e0Z41qSfUjaK61lDYWyajWt-uvCp4TvnfE4ujORiV6iqB/s800/bwwarning.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><img src="http://lukenstein.com/pics/luklogo.png" border="0" alt="" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 87px; " />Can InsolvenCity, still failing after a sustained period of decline, afford the year of paralysis precipitated by today's exhibition of fifth floor dysfunction? What spooked the largely intact majority into splintering? Does anyone other than the List-Makers (and, perhaps, Jeff Thomas) stand to benefit from today's events?<br /><br />Some (such as <a href="http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_774777.html">Trib headline writers</a> in distant counties) may infer that the animation of the Bride of Lukenstein indicates that Mayor Ravenstahl has regained control of the levers of power. But most people forget that the beneficiary of the bride's creation was not Frankenstein but instead Frankenstein's monster. Frankenstein was the guy who threw the switches and pulled the levers -- and that still is not Luke Ravenstahl, not by a long shot. Far more likely, Pittsburgh will spend this year traveling downhill with no one at the wheel. That's right, another horror movie.<br /><br /><b><span>Infytune:</span></b> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEQZTzIYRXs">Frankenstein</a>, Edgar Winter GroupInfinonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02523717432084762839noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430253580669566245.post-44497155997518129102011-12-30T19:12:00.001-05:002011-12-31T19:38:02.237-05:00Adjusted Odds On Tuesday's Voting For InsolvenCity Council President, Finance ChairA series of recent developments -- including a <a href="http://postgazette.com/pg/11364/1200257-100.stm">telling vote</a>, a few hushed assignations, and at least one inchoate backstabbing along<a href="http://www.post-gazette.com/images2/20030521ho_schoolcombo_230.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:3px 5px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 230px; height: 107px;" src="http://www.post-gazette.com/images2/20030521ho_schoolcombo_230.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> a fifth-floor hallway at the City-County Building -- incline adjustment of the no-longer-early betting lines for InsolvenCity's council presidency and finance chair, and we have reached the point at which favorites are published in bold type (with former odds in parentheses):<br /><blockquote><span style="font-weight:bold;"> Council president</span><br />(1) <span style="font-weight:bold;"> Darlene Harris</span>: 2-3 (4-1)<br />(2) Theresa Kail Smith: 40-1<br />(3) Bruce Kraus: 8-1 (3-1)<br />(4) Natalia Rudiak: 15-1 (7-2)<br />(5) Corey O'Connor: 5-1 (12-1)<br />(6) Daniel Lavelle: 40-1<br />(7) Patrick Dowd: 99-1 (40-1)<br />(8) Bill Peduto: 15-1 (25-1)<br />(9) Ricky Burgess: 40-1<br /><span >Lukefecta</span> (2, 6, 9 vote together): 1-8 (1-3)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;" > Council finance chair</span><br />(1) Darlene Harris 40-1 (3-1)<br />(2) Theresa Kail Smith: 40-1<br />(3) Bruce Kraus: 15-1 (4-1)<br />(4) Natalia Rudiak: 15-1 (5-2)<br />(5) Corey O'Connor: 25-1<br />(6) Daniel Lavelle: 40-1<br />(7) <span style="font-weight:bold;">Patrick Dowd</span>: 2-1 (40-1)<br />(8) Bill Peduto: 10-1 (8-1)<br />(9) Ricky Burgess: 40-1<br /><span >Daily Double</span> (1, 3 in either order): 25-1 (7-2)</blockquote><br /><span><span ><b>Infytune:</b></span> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugFLGXF2zXA">Waiting On The World To Change</a>, John Mayer<br /></span><b><span >Infytune:</span></b> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOoy6e1LeYA">This Time It's For Real</a>, Southside Johnny, Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, and Little Steven Van Zandt (that makes four, for those who are counting)<br /><span ><b>Infytune:</b></span> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmfKzTOGf-U">Five Jive</a>, ElmoInfinonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02523717432084762839noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430253580669566245.post-25127741157262452562011-12-27T22:08:00.015-05:002012-01-04T18:46:59.367-05:00Half-Baked Holiday Fare, Part 2: Police-Paid Expert Claims Training Is Reliable Evidence In Jordan Miles Case (Except When It Isn't)Local newspapers are putting <a href="http://postgazette.com/pg/11361/1199520-53.stm">big headlines</a> on <a href="http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_773761.html"> stories</a> spurred by an "expert report" filed by InsolvenCity's lawyers in their continuing attempt to defend the seemingly indefensible police officers who beat an <a href="http://nigelparry.com/enginefiles/uploads/jordan-miles-poster.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:10px 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 340px;" src="http://nigelparry.com/enginefiles/uploads/jordan-miles-poster.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>honors student senseless over an illusory plastic soda bottle. Why?<br /><br />The report exonerates the people who engaged a hired-gun, police-favoring "expert" to write it. This is news?<br /><br />The report concludes that Jordan Miles (left) "must" have known that the three nonuniformed men who chased and beat him for no apparent reason (in this case, no reason apparent before or after the brutal beating) were police officers. Why? Because the officers were trained to identify themselves, and performing as trained is a reflex, making the training adequate evidence of conduct consistent with that training.<br /><br />The power of training led the expert to <a href="http://postgazette.com/pg/11361/1199520-53.stm#ixzz1hnPNihgU">describe</a> (and rely on) a remarkably specific narrative: "It is my opinion that in order for Jordan Miles not to have known that the males who attempted to stop him and whom he eventually struggled with were police officers . . . He would have to have not heard any of the constant repetition of 'Police. Stop. Police.'" Training is, in this expert's opinion, so strong it supports reliance on inferred and detailed dialogue in contested circumstances.<br /><br />If this training-based inference helps InsolvenCity concerning the issue of shouted warnings, it surely creates a problem for the officers concerning their failure to produce as evidence the plastic soda bottle that ostensibly triggered the savage attack, right? Police officers are trained to preserve important evidence, so the absence of the bottle, in circumstances in which that evidence would be not only important but indeed crucial in a case involving a severe beating, suggests the bottle never existed, right? Especially in a circumstance in which the officer allege that they found the bottle but nevertheless "discarded" it (which would likely eviscerate at least a chapter in the training manual), right?<br /><br />After considering these points, the expert concluded that the officers' inability to produce the bottle as evidence in these circumstances means . . . nothing.<br /><br />The expert deems this disregard of training a "mistake" attributable to "human nature," but claims the officers are nonetheless to be excused, and the existence of the bottle to be presumed despite the "training equals conduct" theory, because the officers were acting in the wake of "what they believed to be a life or death struggle."<br /><br />In other words, the city's expert proposes, the point that excuses the officers' disregard of training is the very point that made the evidence so crucial and therefore, by training, required to have been preserved.<br /><br />We won't know whether the expert for Jordan Miles is any better for a<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Wb7gmBhM3z4/ST_v3HEUS8I/AAAAAAAABE4/5cYTPEE7vM0/s400/lionel-hutz-iphone.gif"><img style="float:right; margin:10px 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 223px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Wb7gmBhM3z4/ST_v3HEUS8I/AAAAAAAABE4/5cYTPEE7vM0/s400/lionel-hutz-iphone.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a> couple of days. But neither side's lawyers seem particularly sharp in this case. One of Miles' lawyers called the report "kind of racist-based," which doesn't even sound like something a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lionel_Hutz">law-talking guy</a> (right) would <a href="http://www.soundboard.com/mediafiles/NTIwMTEzNjM1MjAyMjk_jD4vo1LVIq8.mp3"> say</a> (hit soundboard #39):<br /><blockquote><span><b>Lionel Hutz, Esq.</b>: </span>I move for a bad court thingy.<br /><span><b>Judge Snyder:</b> </span>You mean a mistrial?<br /><b><span>Hutz: </span></b>Right!! That's why you're the judge and I'm the law-talking guy.<br /><b><span>Judge:</span></b> You mean the lawyer?<br /><b><span>Hutz:</span></b> Right.</blockquote><br />For Jordan Miles' (and justice's) sake, we hope the judge and jury devote more attention to the facts and witnesses than to the experts and law-talking guys.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Infytune:</span> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5G2LtPvPemw">Message In A Bottle</a>, The PoliceInfinonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02523717432084762839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430253580669566245.post-78562705878163141292011-12-27T09:53:00.013-05:002011-12-27T11:00:49.558-05:00Half-Baked Holiday Fare, Part 1: Marty Griffin Putting The "Asses" Back In AssessmentsEven before the wonderful store of Christmas cookies has been exhausted, 'tis the season for half-baked arguments in InsolvenCity.<br /><br /><a href="http://files.pittsburghlive.com/photos/2006-01-02/0103rgriffin-a.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:10px 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 230px;" src="http://files.pittsburghlive.com/photos/2006-01-02/0103rgriffin-a.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>KDKA Radio's Marty Griffin (left) is self-righteously railing about Allegheny County assessments this morning, spreading stories of scary tax increases that, he says, are soon to confront residents of downtown Pittsburgh and the Strip District. Griffin's claims -- that owners of Strip District homes will soon experience ten-fold increases in property taxes, for example -- turn out to be more slapstick that scary, however, if examined even briefly.<br /><br />The reason tax bills in the Strip District are certain to increase in general is that luxury condominiums have supplanted abandoned warehouses. The (rare) owner of an unimproved Strip District home may encounter a slight tax increase because of the Strip's general rising tide (which makes that home more valuable), but Griffin is conflating granite-and-mahogany penthouses with siding-and-spackle tenements. A (subsidized) $1.2 million loft will -- and should -- generate a far greater tax obligation than did the broken-window rathole it replaced. The outrage is that the loft-dweller has been permitted to shirk civic obligations for years by Dan Onorato's Reverse Robin Hood Theory Of <del>Low-Rent Politics</del> Taxation.<br /><br />Griffin's half-cocked rant also overlooks the crucial role of tax rates in calculation of tax obligations. Most assessments will increase, because values have increased, but an increased assessment does not necessarily signal an increased tax obligation. To the contrary, an increased assessment could generate a reduction in tax obligation, because Pennsylvania law will obligate taxing agencies to reduce tax rates in proportion to the increased assessments.<br /><br />Reassessment does not involve the aggregate burden of real estate taxation nearly so much as the identification of which property owners are forced to shoulder that burden. Dan Onorato, Rich Fitzgerald, and Marty Griffin prefer that average (and below-average) property owners subsidize discounts for the affluent. <br /><br />Griffin's statements could support an inference that he doesn't even know what he doesn't know, but we believe it more likely that Griffin is aware of the factors that render his simplistic analysis so misleading. Which, for him, is worse; profound ignorance would reflect far better on Griffin that any of the other conceivable explanations.<br /><br /><b><span >Infytune:</span></b> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_gMYuXQj2M">Take The Power Back</a>," Rage Against The Machine<br /><b><span >Infytune:</span></b> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2k5TLvEK-0">The Great Pretender</a>," Freddie MercuryInfinonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02523717432084762839noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430253580669566245.post-47534496302243340602011-12-23T21:55:00.002-05:002011-12-23T22:12:41.199-05:00Time For Some Christmas Music! (And More)Time for some Christmas music!<br /><br /><iframe width="220" height="160" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/qEdUjihZ8F0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="">&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;</iframe><iframe width="220" height="160" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/pA8UHeoYHQM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><iframe width="220" height="160" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xhce_LI9dgc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><iframe width="220" height="160" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-OVTlSXnxP0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><br /><b><span>Infytune:</span></b> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeC8nTYEwQQ">The Chanukah Song I</a>, Adam Sandler<br /><b>Infytune:</b> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1sf5yqZX-k%22">The Chanukah Song III</a>, Adam SandlerInfinonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02523717432084762839noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430253580669566245.post-41222740389283741582011-12-23T21:20:00.008-05:002011-12-23T21:44:27.824-05:00Early Wagering Lines: InsolvenCity Council Presidency And Finance Committee ChairThe initial line on InsolvenCity's city council presidency:<br /><blockquote><span>(1) Darlene Harris: 4-1<br />(2)Theresa Kail Smith: 40-1<br />(3) Bruce Kraus: 3-1<br />(4) Natalia Rudiak: 7-2<br />(5) Corey O'Connor: 12-1<br />(6) Danielle Lavelle: 40-1<br />(7) Patrick Dowd: 40-1<br />(8) Bill Peduto: 25-1<br />(9) Ricky Burgess: 40-1<br />Lukefecta (2, 6, 9 vote together): 1-3</span></blockquote>The initial line on InsolvenCity council's finance chair:<br /><blockquote><span>(1) Darlene Harris 3-1<br />(2) Theresa Kail Smith: 40-1<br />(3) Bruce Kraus: 4-1<br />(4) Natalia Rudiak: 5-2<br />(5) Corey O'Connor: 25-1<br />(6) Danielle Lavelle: 40-1<br />(7) Patrick Dowd: 40-1<br />(8) Bill Peduto: 8-1<br />(9) Ricky Burgess: 40-1<br />Daily Double (1, 3 in either order): 7-2</span></blockquote><b><span>Infytune: </span></b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQT-9mBBmWM">All The King's Horses</a>, The MonkeesInfinonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02523717432084762839noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430253580669566245.post-56083240240528156262011-12-21T20:13:00.009-05:002011-12-21T20:47:23.934-05:00Pitt Football Interviews Pulling Double Duty As Research On The Definition Of Insanity?A <a href="http://post-gazette.com/pg/11355/1198533-100.stm#ixzz1hDo1WU3O">bizarre report</a> concerning the Pitt football coaching search from today's Post-Gazette:<br /><blockquote> A third candidate, Ohio State defensive coordinator Luke Fickell, who was made interim coach after the forced resignation of former coach Jim Tressel, interviewed for the job <span style="font-style:italic;">but Chryst made a good impression with a strong interview.</span></blockquote><br />Who was impressed? The three administrators who signed Dave Wannstedt to an extension, then fired him less than a year later? The proven losers who arranged the Michael Haywood era? The Three Stooges who were impressed by Todd Graham's interview? The guys who chose Keith "This Infytune's For You" Patterson as interim coach?<br /><br />If Steve Pederson does not depart before another football coach is introduced (or before Khem Birch returns to campus, whichever occurs first), Pitt's trustees should stop indulging Mark Nordenberg's desire to limp to the capstone of the current capital campaign.<br /><br />Instead, however, those trustees will enable Steve Pederson, Jerry Cochran, and Mark Nordenberg to treat Pitt fans to a double feature: <a href="http://huskersgameday.com/2009/12/17/sports-illustrated-2000s-review-says-bill-callahan-was-the-worst-college-football-coaching-hire-of-the-decade/">"Back To The Future"</a> -- Parts I and II. (Perhaps the Pitt band could develop a <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3129832">special musical presentation</a> for intermission.) <br /><br /><b><span >Infytune:</span></b> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCoUqU4gg3Q">By The Time I Get To Phoenix</a>, Glen Campbell<br /><b><span >Infytune</span></b>: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2tgVAML2gE">Galveston</a>, Glen Campbell<br /><b>Infytune:</b> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e33dzg09S70">I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry/Southern Nights</a>, Glen CampbellInfinonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02523717432084762839noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430253580669566245.post-6944215832731423002011-12-15T11:59:00.005-05:002011-12-15T12:27:52.348-05:00A Picture Is Worth A Number Of Questions<a href="http://blackandyellow12.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/jet.jpg?w=412&h=519" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:10px 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 251px;" src="http://blackandyellow12.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/jet.jpg?w=412&h=519" border="0" alt="" /></a>This photograph, circulated by Todd and Penni Graham as they flew to Arizona to swindle Arizona State University's top administrators, prompts several interesting questions:<br /><blockquote>1) Todd Graham was contractually obligated to the University of Pittsburgh when he obtained the maroon-and-gold necktie and when he distributed this photograph. Is this guy being advised by the lawyer who sent Jerry Sandusky into the Bob Costas interview?</blockquote><blockquote>2) Todd and Penni Graham circulated this photograph before some Pitt players had been informed that their faith-commitment-and-integrity coach had abandoned them like a snake impersonating a weasel. Would Pitt players be charged or congratulated for spitting on Graham if their former coach makes good on his pledge to return to Pittsburgh for a final meeting with those players?</blockquote><blockquote>3) Which one of these two sanctimonious God Squadders was hitting the Bud at 8 a.m.?</blockquote><b><span class="Apple-style-span" >Infytune:</span></b> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ckxb6Mn-as4">Back Stabbers</a>, The O'Jays<br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" >Infytune:</span></b> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8fWbj5LJIY">East Jesus Nowhere</a>, Green DayInfinonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02523717432084762839noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430253580669566245.post-26393327159426002422011-12-14T14:41:00.012-05:002011-12-15T10:18:54.128-05:00Pitt Learns The Hard Way That Todd Graham's 'High Octane' Was Fueled Mainly By MethaneTodd Graham left Pitt the carpetbagger's way: After a short spell of bragging, empty promises and failure -- and with bags of flim-flam cash. Graham demonstrated his character by informing players with a notification big on personal touches -- God and family -- that was delivered by text message and indirectly, through the e-mail account of a mid-level functionary employed by Pitt's foundering football program.<br /><br />Graham's slinking departure was not -- or at least should not have been -- unexpected among the men (Steve Pederson, Mark Nordenberg, Jerry Cochran) ultimately responsible for mismanaging Pitt's football program and leaving the Big East in much the manner Graham ditched them. Todd Graham's disenchantment had been <a href="http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Todd+Graham+Todd+Graham+Introduced+Pittsburgh+Nh8-Zufe0Jll.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:10px 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300x; height: 200px;" src="http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Todd+Graham+Todd+Graham+Introduced+Pittsburgh+Nh8-Zufe0Jll.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>reflected by short-termer behavior and increasing insubordination for some time.<br /><br />One example: Graham (or, more accurate, Graham's wife, Penni) wanted to indulge one of Graham's children by enabling the child to dance in a Panther costume along the Heinz Field sideline during home games. The idea met resistance among several elements of Pitt's athletics department, for several reasons. Penni Graham persisted, until the mini-mascot issue reached the athletics director, Steve Pederson, who ruled the child off the field.<br /><br />During Pitt's final home game, however, Graham's child -- wearing a tiny panther costume apparently purchased independently by the Grahams, and a Pitt jersey labeled "GRAHAM" -- nevertheless appeared along the Pitt sideline, dancing near the student section. One person familiar with the associated events pointed at the dancing child and said, "See that kid in the costume? That kid on the field today means Graham knows either he is gone or Pederson is gone. Not sure which, but it's one or the other."<br /><br />Pitt fans should hope that this observer was wrong, and that Pitt will soon be rid of Pederson, too.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">UPDATE:</span> It is becoming common currency among substantial Pitt boosters that Graham was pursuing several prospective employers for weeks if not months. Many influential Pitt supporters -- and a number of trustees -- are focusing on dumping Pederson, and some are expressing an inclination to reconsider Nordenberg's fitness if the chancellor attempts to protect the athletics director. <br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Infytune:</span></b> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hS3Yf45YSP8">Stray Cat Strut</a>, The Stray Cats<br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Infytune:</span></b> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DksGi7B5BdM">Midnight Special</a>, Creedence Clearwater Revival<br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" >Infytune: </span></b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAjy5sz8Y7A">Flim Flam Man</a>, Laura NyroInfinonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02523717432084762839noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430253580669566245.post-42761624730209180852011-12-11T01:00:00.008-05:002011-12-11T16:12:29.999-05:00Occupiers Of Pittsburgh, Unite (Effectively)!For months, Occupy Pittsburgh has been surprisingly successful, refreshingly resourceful, pleasantly persistent, and intensely worthwhile.<br /><br />Every American who recognizes the injustice (and chronic, unsustainable trajectory) of accelerating income inequality, every citizen who chafes against undeserved privilege embedded in our system, everyone who believes our society would benefit from diminution of greed and corruption should be grateful to the Occupiers, many of <a href="http://images.politico.com/global/news/111016_occupy_pittsburgh_ap_328.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:10px 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 160px;" src="http://images.politico.com/global/news/111016_occupy_pittsburgh_ap_328.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>whom have sacrificed comfort for the worthy purpose of comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable.<br /><br />Pittsburgh's Occupiers -- based at a Sixth-at-Grant camp, conducting periodic field trips (left) carrying a message to scattered neighborhoods -- have been especially admirable. They have avoided most of the problems -- some self-inflicted, some provoked, others ascribable entirety to thuggish politicians and police -- experienced elsewhere.<br /><br />Others deserve ample credit for working with the Occupiers to arrange a good situation. Most prominent are BNY Mellon, which has graciously <a href="http://cbspittsburgh.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/occupypghtents121011.jpg?w=420&h=316&crop=1" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:10px 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 200px;" src="http://cbspittsburgh.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/occupypghtents121011.jpg?w=420&h=316&crop=1" border="0" alt="" /></a>cooperated with protesters squatting on property (right) that it at least largely private, and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, which has exhibited a civic-minded restraint it has often lacked in spotlighted situations.<br /><br />Most of these noble circumstances could change today, however. That would be unfortunate, and avoidable.<br /><br />BNY Mellon has informed Occupiers that it has withdrawn its permission for an encampment, effective at noon today. It has declared that it would seek an injunction tomorrow if the park is not cleared today. BNY Mellon likely is entitled to enforce its wishes in this regard, and the Pittsburgh police would possess a duty to protect BNY Mellon's rights.<br /><br />Some Occupiers have promised to resist an effort to clear the park. We hope those voices have been the loudest but not the most numerous among the Occupiers; that the Occupiers who have expressed defiance will reconsider; and that the Occupiers' collective body will choose sound strategy over counterproductive tactics, for the sake of preserving and expanding the good their altruistic actions have accomplished.<br /><br />The history of populist movements is not encouraging in this regard. The wealthy and privileged customarily win these battles, even as the majestic arc of our nation's progress has traced toward justice over the long term. One important reason for the elites' enviable record is that they select strategy over tactics, and an important reason for that choice is that they have better advisers.<br /><br />The wealthy have strong lawyers, astute financial consultants, effective lobbyists, smooth mouthpieces. Those counselors have excellent support systems, and their clients are well-organized.<br /><br />The common man is not so fortunate. Unions have leaders and advisers who permit pension plans to submerge members' interests under decades of underfunding and mismanagement without so much as a modicum of inquiry, a moment of recognition, or a murmur of objection. Average Americans must rely on small legal offices to counter the privileged interests' huge, powerful law firms. The wealthy are served by financial magicians who enable billion-dollars companies to evade taxation, while the blue collar worker puzzles his own way through the 1040 to a higher tax rate than a hedge fund titan pays. <br /><br />Occupiers choosing counterproductive tactics without regard to finances and other resources, legal issues, and other factors would be destined to follow a predictable path to futility. They would squander public support, splinter their organization, disserve their message, and lose.<br /><br />Their ideals and accomplishments deserve -- and can be served -- better. They could devise and implement a long-term strategy that inclines success. For example, they could thank BNY Mellon for its hospitality, then negotiate with public officials for another location. (Several public parcels in or near downtown seem suitable.) They could try to persuade another private owner to provide another location, perhaps involving indoor accommodations. They could attempt to arrange an invitation to return to BNY Mellon's property after winter breaks.<br /><br />To engage in legal jousting with BNY Mellon and/or a physical confrontation with law enforcement personnel would be to succumb to short-term and longshot tactics when long-term and effective strategy is indicated. There is still time for Pittsburgh's Occupiers to avoid the temptation to rely on emotion, to take the low road, to play into the hands of their opponents.<br /><br />We hope our Occupiers find leaders, advisers, and strategies able to guide them to continuing success.<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Infytune:</span></b> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NHck8Sh-JM">Before The Deluge</a>, Joan Baez and Jackson Browne<br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Infytune:</span></b> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4ZyuULy9zs">Strange Fruit</a>, Billie Holliday<br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Infytune:</span></b> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McbSrw4GnRI">Only A Pawn In Their Game</a>, Bob Dylan<br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Infytune:</span></b> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHqOl7v4Axg">This Land Is Your Land, This Land Is My Land</a><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Infytune:</span></b> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmmY-hOkkJU">Occupy (We The 99)</a>, Jasiri XInfinonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02523717432084762839noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430253580669566245.post-68767387742175847202011-12-10T00:31:00.008-05:002011-12-10T00:52:03.526-05:00Obama vs. Conservatives = Walk vs. TalkPresident Obama's response to conservatives who snipe that he is 'leading from behind' and 'appeasing America's enemies' is a concise masterwork: "Ask Osama bin Laden":<br /><iframe width="460" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Iz9H6hZYoHs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />We can hear Dick Cheney's teeth grinding from here. <br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Infytune:</span></b> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtOy0-Ebn2A">I'm A King Bee</a>, Muddy Waters<br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Infytune:</span></b> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raP9uVHgfcA">Got My Mojo Working</a>, Muddy Waters<br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Infytune:</span></b> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NS2QQNDHQGk">Mannish Boy</a>, Muddy WatersInfinonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02523717432084762839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6430253580669566245.post-33521592797907427892011-12-07T12:09:00.014-05:002011-12-07T12:57:00.047-05:00The Death Of Blues Guitarist Hubert Sumlin, And Other Losses Sustained By Our Music<a href="http://www.chicagoreader.com/images/blogimages/2011/12/05/1323108723-hubert3.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:10px 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 260px;" src="http://www.chicagoreader.com/images/blogimages/2011/12/05/1323108723-hubert3.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><div>Two musical tragedies have been reported this week.<br /><br />More important is <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/06/arts/music/hubert-sumlin-master-of-blues-guitar-dies-at-80.html">the death of Hubert Sumlin</a> (far left), groundbreaking guitarist for Howlin' Wolf (pictured with Sumlin) and Willie Dixon and idol of many strong musicians, at age 80.</div><div><br /></div><div>Less important are the Beastie Boys, Guns 'N Roses, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers -- each of which has been <a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/guns-n-roses-beastie-boys-red-hot-chili-peppers-chosen-for-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-20111207">granted what has become a deeply discounted admission</a> to the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame.<br /><br />Who's next? <a href="http://www.jazzoasis.com/methenyonkennyg.htm">Kenny G</a>?<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Infytune:</span></b> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBLzTD2wTzg%22">Smokestack Lightin'</a>, Howlin' Wolf<br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Infytune: </span></b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUhcww0x0Bg">Smokestack Lightnin'</a>, Hubert Sumlin (instructional)<br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Infytune:</span></b> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tEVB-t04OU">Killing Floor</a>, Hubert Sumlin with Eric Clapton, Robert Cray and Jimmie Vaughan</div>Infinonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02523717432084762839noreply@blogger.com2