Editorial: Why we need NASA funding

Just a day ago a senate panel decided to fund certain NASA programs above and beyond what was recommended by President George W. Bush. In fact, NASA will be receiving more than $1 billion worth of new funding to continue their non-manned space and earth exploration programs.

This is a great move by Senate Appropriations commerce, justice, science subcommittee despite the fact that naysayers have decried it as a waste of time and taxpayer money. After all, why should we spend money on looking at planets and galaxies instead of feeding the poor or helping to give everyone health care?

Well despite the inherent flaws in that argument, NASA has given more to this country than almost any single organization. They have been cash strapped for several years now, and it is time that the United States resumes its leadership position as the No. 1 country when it comes to the exploration of outer space. China and the European Union are creating extensive programs, and it is up to us to show that we can still provide innovative solutions and ideas, as well as have the drive and ambition to explore the heavens.

Throughout the decades, the space exploration program has given the American people so much. Faster computers and the ability to send information have both been born out of the attempts by NASA to launch and perfect all of the technology it has today.

A short list of innovations include:

-The Satellite Dish
-Medical Imaging Devices (Like the MRI Machine)
-The vision chart you see at the Eye Doctor's office
-The Ear Thermometer
-Fire Fighters' flame resistant gear
-Smoke detectors
-Superior Sunglasses (Blocking all harmful UV rays)
-A program developed by NASA determines how well cars perform
-The concept of cordless tools
-Thermal gloves/boots
-Invisible Braces
-Ski boots
-Shock-absorbing helmets
-Joysticks
-The plastic now used for most soda bottles

What we must realize as a nation is that it is never about the destination. It is about the journey that gets us there. In this case, planting a flag on the moon or landing a Mars rover might not yield financial windfalls, but what they invent along the way to make it all possible has revolutionized the way we live. Even the most basic of items could have been created in the mind of a NASA scientist.

So for the people that believe that this money could be better spent elsewhere, ask yourselves: Could there be any better way to revitalize our flagging international reputation than by resuming our place as the leader in cutting edge technology? Technology that could be manufactured here, with American know-how, and exported to nations around the world. When those countries begin to produce it cheaper, we will already be making the next great innovation. This concept works for any of the fields now opening up to us: Alternative fuels, biotechnology, nanotechnology, medical innovation and an infinite series of possibilities.

Remember, all it takes is one small step for man to create a giant leap for mankind.

New class to make fat professors better role models

Are your professors making you fat? Well, some people believe that overweight professors are poor role models for their students, and are offering a way to fix that. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center for sports medicine is teaming up with the Point Park University Summer in the City program to offer a class on being healthy role models.

The class, called “Eat Right, Live Right: Secrets to Living and Teaching a Healthy Lifestyle,” will teach the teachers how to demonstrate healthy lifestyles and promote them in the classroom.

“Eating well is key to feeling your best in and out of the classroom,” said class instructor Leslie Bonci in a press release. “This class will teach you to feed your body right so that you can be your best and help your students to achieve their full potential as well.”

The class is billed in the press release to help instructors create healthy living patterns “that actually work” and to learn recipes that promote a healthier professor. They will also participate in “non-strenuous physical activities.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 29.3 percent of 18 to 24 year olds are overweight and almost 11 percent are obese. The average age of a tenured professor is a little over 40, where about 42 percent of people are overweight, and about 27 percent are are obese.

The average age for a retiring professor at Pitt is around 65 according to the American Association of University Professors, when 42 percent of Pennsylvanians are overweight and 21 percent are obese. The ratings don’t change significantly when factoring in gender.

For the original press release, go to http://www.upmc.com/communications/newsbureau

For CDC obesity information about Pennsylvanians, go to http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/brfss/page.asp?yr=2006&state=PA&cat=OB#OB

New Comic: Parkway West

CLICK TO ENLARGE.

Hello readers of WritePittsburgh. Today we have a special treat, a new comic. Titled: Parkway West, this will be a local strip of dubious artistic quality. Enjoy.

Researchers find ways to lower risk of type 2 diabetes

Researchers at UPMC decided to tackle the growing problem of people at risk for diabetes. And the results are promising. The study showed that regular healthy living and exercise can drastically lower the risks of contracting Type 2 diabetes according to a UPMC press release.

The study focused on people in communities traditionally underserved and with limited options to determine whether a complex lifestyle change could help curb the onset of type 2 diabetes.

Participants in the 12-week study were encouraged to eat healthy and lose 7 percent of their total body weight. According to the press release, about 46 percent lost 5 percent or more of their body mass. They were also encouraged to exercise for 150 minutes a week.

Researchers found that this sort of lifestyle change contributed to a 58 percent reduction in type 2 diabetes.

“Previous research has demonstrated that people in underserved urban communities have a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, but lifestyle interventions could help prevent diabetes and heart disease. However, there is very little research on the sustainability of improvements following lifestyle interventions designed to prevent diabetes and heart disease in these community settings.,“ said Mim Seidel , the diabetes program director at the Pitt’s Diabetes Institute in a press release.

According to the American Diabetes Association, nearly 21 million people have diabetes, and 95 percent of those cases are type 2. Also, more than 50 million people are considered at risk for contracting the chronic condition.

Type 1 diabetes affects 5 percent of the people with diabetes, and basically occurs when the body’s immune system attacks the insulin-producing pancreas. For both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, the is no cure, only a series of treatments and lifestyle choices that help make the chronic condition manageable.

Construction, or: Patches? We don't need no stinkin' patches!

Well there is a lot of construction going on right now in our backyard. So here are some photos and some updates for all of the loyal and disloyal readers (you know who you are!) of Write Pittsburgh.

Top: The construction at the Intersections of Bates and Coltart Streets proceeds apace. But it will lead to the inside lane being blocked off every so often as the bulldozers switch positions. Expect to navigate traffic cones and a person with a "slow sign" every so often.


Middle: The monumental efforts on the Boulevard of the allies to construct some sort of coherent pattern has yielded few "concrete" results (get it?). So far the vast amounts of machinery sitting on the construction site seems to be doing less than they should. Expect continuing delays and betweem about 8 a.m. and 8:20 a.m. expect to sit in traffic for 10 minutes or so until the man with the flag waves you through. But sometimes it is a traffic cop, and sometimes its a stop sign. So watch out.


Bottom: Work on the water main at the intersection of Forbes and Oakland Avenues finished, leaving the residents with a beautiful black scar running diagonally across the road. A large metal plate fixed into place with semi-temporary black tar is now holding space on the road. This sort of "patch" is common in the Oakland neighborhood and in others, but a lot of times it degrades before it should. But traffic patterns have been restored.

According to a press release from PennDOT earlier in the year there will be many attempts to improve the roads and highways in and around Pittsburgh. The Boulevard project is just one of the efforts that spans the county.

“This will be another robust construction season for PennDOT District 11 in Allegheny County,” said District Executive Dan Cessna, P.E. “All regional expressways will see dramatic improvements in ride quality. Thanks to the hard work of our employees and partners, District 11 will deliver many much needed transportation improvements in 2007.”

House to vote on 9-11 Resolution

In a Pennsylvania House resolution scheduled to be voted on today, Sept 11 will be known as Pennsylvania Emergency Responders' Day. The resolution stated that this day would be a chance to honor emergency responders to the terrorist attakcs "for their valuable service."

The Resolution gives several reasons for the creation of such a day, including the fact that "Emergency responders significantly reduced the amount of death and injury associated with that disaster" and that "Emergency responders answered the call on September 11, 2001 and displayed unselfishness and bravery in responding o the disaster in Somerset County."

The Resolution also calls on congress to pass its own version of the bill to honor emergency responders nationwide.

More than 30 legislators from both parties sponsored the resolution.

To see a copy of this resolution go to http://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=PDF&sessYr=2007&sessInd=0&billBody=H&billTyp=R&billNbr=0216&pn=1838

Jimmy Buffett Gets Own Day

Every dog has his day, and now so does Jimmy Buffett – at least in Pennsylvania.

House Resolution No. 333, passed yesterday in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, designated June 23, 2007 as “Jimmy Buffet Day.”

The entertainer will be performing at the Post-Gazette Pavilion in Burgettstown that day in a sold-out concert.

According to the resolution “Jimmy Buffett is a world-class entertainer known for his support of charitable and environmental causes throughout the region,” “more than 1,500 active Pennsylvania Parrot Heads (as some of his supports are known) join all citizens of this Commonwealth in Welcoming Jimmy Buffett …”

The resolution also credits Buffett for the charitable works committed by his fans, as groups such as the Alzheimer’s Association, Animal Friends and Make-A-Wish Foundation have all benefited from their activities.

The singer/songwriter is known for his popular breezy songs like “Margaritaville” and for his chain of music-themed restaurants in coastal resort towns.

New Bill would make it easier for young people to stay on parents health plans

In a bill passed today by the Pennsylvania Game and Fisheries Committee, students may have the option of sticking with their parents health plan.

Senate Bill No. 13 would amend insurance statutes in the Commonwealth that would have insurance carriers “provide coverage to a child of the insured beyond that specified age, up through the age of 29 …: as long as the person in question is not married, has no dependents and is living or enrolled in Pennsylvania.

According to census information, more than 11 percent of Pennsylvanians live without health insurance coverage of any kind. That is below the national average of 15.9 percent uninsured.

The bill would also authorize penalties to be levied against any insurance provider or agency that fails to abide by these new guidelines. Punishments include fines, suspension of insurance licenses and the ability of the person denied to sue the carrier.

The bill passed unanimously, with one senator not available to vote. If passed by the full Senate and the House, the bill would take effect in 60 days.

Wisconsin Chancellor Names Pitt as a Professor Stealer

Pitt has recently been charged with stealing – professors.

In a recent Associated Press article, Chancellor John Wiley was quoted on the University of Wisconsin’s increasingly rapid loss of full-time professors.

“In years past, schools like Pitt or Rutgers, even some of the other major state universities like Ohio State, Michigan State, Iowa and Indiana would not have been able to hire away from Wisconsin. And they are doing that now.”

And it is no wonder either. According to the American Association of University Professors, Wisconsin professors make an average of $103,500 while Pitt professors make an average of $119,500. Ohio State’s main campus offers $117,200 and Rutgers pays out $124,500.

These two schools are considered to be in the same general category of schools. The University of Wisconsin Madison branch is ranked 34 on the U.S News and World Report ranking of the best universities nationwide while Pitt is ranked 57 on the same list.

But Wisconsin is fighting back. As part of an effort to keep professors at their various campuses, the Wisconsin state legislature is debating a measure that would set aside $10 million a year to keep their faculty at the state-run university.

It’s not just pay between schools that are drastically different, but between academic fields as well. A 2006 study of its membership showed that professors in business, health fields and law make substantially more than those teaching fields in the humanities –such as English. English literature, communications and library science have not seen significant changes in their overall income.

Pennsylvanians Support New Direction; Alternative Fuels

Many Pennsylvanians do not like the way things are going in their commonwealth. In a new poll released by PennFuture, an alternative energy advocacy group, 47 percent of respondents believe that the state is heading in the “wrong direction” with 38 percent believing the opposite.

When asked about the No. 1 problem facing Pennsylvanians today, the top choices were the economy (10 percent), specifically jobs and unemployment, healthcare (9 percent) and crime (including drug use- 9 percent). Other issues included “education” and “politicians.”

In the poll released today, PennFuture highlighted commonwealth concerns about energy issues –such as alternative fuels research and the price of gas. About 73 percent of respondents were very concerned about the rising costs of fuel, including gasoline. And 77 percent said it was “very important” for consumers and businesses to increase their use of alternative fuels.

Respondents also support Democratic Governor Ed Rendell’s energy proposal, as well as creating a separate fund to support energy research and independence. Most voters support paying several dollars extra a year to support various energy initiatives and 33 percent of people claim that a politician’s stance on renewable energy would influence their vote.

Although 47 percent say that it would have no impact at all.

A plurality of respondents are between the ages of 45 to 59, while Democrats edge out Republicans by four percentage points. Women also slightly outnumbered men.The margin of error is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.

Problems Facing the Nation

I have decided to list the problems facing the United States and all of its citizens as we move ahead. Now, I don't think that these problems are insurmountable, but we must begin to face them now or we will eventually see significant consequences. This list is by no means exhaustive, but it should provide everyone with an idea of what we are facing.

Economic Problems:
In the United States more than 12.6 percent of people are in poverty. That means 37 million of people do not make enough to afford many things we take for granted. Poverty is when a single person makes less than $10,500 a year or a two-person household makes $13,500. The numbers go up slightly as you add more people.

Real Median Income (adjusted to today’s dollars) has only risen 10,000 since 1968, which combined with consumer price index figures and tax figures, means that Americans make less today than they made in 1979.
The share of income in this country controlled by the top 5 percent is 22.7 percent. The share of the top 20 percent is more than 50 percent. Every other quintile has seen losses of total shared income. The median (middle class) share of total income has been consistently shrinking since 1986. All quintiles not on top have seen losses of more than .5 percent of shared income in only one year.

15.9 percent of people in this country do not have health insurance. That is 46.6 million people.
The current national debt is 8,849,161,696,027, or more appropriately, 8.84 trillion dollars. By the time you finish reading this sentence , the United States will be further in debt by $250,000. The national debt incurs $27 billion of interest a month, or enough to pay for the Iraq War in 10 months, universal health care in several days or completely fund the No Child Left Behind Act in a week.

Home values, another indicator of economic health, are falling around the nation – which sounds like a good thing. But for the millions of people that bought homes in the last few years, there will be a substantial drop in home value and an increase in subprime loans. Which means that I am glad to live in an apartment.

The United States is losing manufacturing jobs and service jobs to nations with lower wages, lower standards and less government regulation. But now those jobs have spread to occupations such as tutors, computer chip production, article writing and others.

Economic and Political
The last time the United States had a trade surplus with China was in 1984. Every year since then it has increased. Last year it was $232 million. This year – for the first four months – the deficit is already at $76 million, set to surpass last year’s level. China is also set this year to surpass Japan as the largest foreign governmental holder of U.S. Bonds in the world.

Over the past few years, the dollar has continued to fall. In 2002, the U.S. dollar was worth 1.2 Euro. Today, the same dollar is worth .7 Euro. The Canadian dollar is almost equal to the American dollar.
Political:

Congress has shown an inability to pass bipartisan legislation, and every year fewer and fewer of the 11 national spending bills are passed. An inability to pass significant legislation could lead to a political crisis.
The United States faces political pressure to clamp down on global warming, and intense scrutiny from its traditional allies over emissions reductions.

Iraq is a chaotic hotbed of militia activity. An unstable Iraq will not help the situation in the Middle East, yet military experts say that violence there has only increased.

Hamas has fully taken over the Gaza strip and set up its own government. This has split the Palestinian territories in two. Chances for a two-state solution to the middle east problem seems to be non-existent.

Russian Premier Putin has tightened governmental controls over the free press and discontinued regional elections, as well as having used its natural gas and oil exports to cause instability in the Ukraine, Belarus and Poland.

Social
The education system in the United States is rapidly losing ground. In 1972 the average yearly cost of a college education was 2,500 and has since risen to more than 20,000. According to government publications, the United States has the least affordable colleges in all the Western world and Japan.

The United States consistently ranks low for best public schools system. – consistently behind Cyprus.

Work Crew redirects traffic for night construction

A work crew began digging out a narrow section of the street yesterday at the corner of Oakland and Forbes Avenues. Traffic cones and an electronic arrow pointed traffic away from the workers.

According to the Pittsburgh Department of public works, the crew was working on the water main under the street as part of routine repairs. The work should be short, and regular traffic patterns should be restored soon.

Note: This photo was taken at 10:30 p.m.

State proposes less funds for Pitt

In a bill just passed by the Pa. senate appropriations committee, Pitt will receive $167,869,000 for the coming fiscal year, an amount smaller than those passed in recent years. According to the University's 2007 fact book, Pitt draws about 11.9 percent of its funding from the state.

In 2006 Pitt received an appropriation of about $175,038,000 and in 2005 Pitt was allocated $168,768,000 by the Commonwealth. The current amount awarded Pitt is also several million less than Pitt forecasted in a financial statement it released in 2007, when it predicted the State's allocation to be $182,986,000 for that year.

Senate Bill 930, introduced by Gibson Armstrong, R-Lancaster, and approved unanimously by the committee - pledges the money "for educational and general expenses" and divides some of the money up into amounts to be used for "student life activities" and to "enhance the recruitment and retention of disadvantaged students."

Note: Pitt receives 40.2 percent of its operating budget from grants and contracts, 23.2 percent from tuition and fees and 16.7 percent from sales and services. The rest comes from interest on Pitt's endowment and from donations and gifts.

For a link to Bill 930:
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=PDF&sessYr=2007&sessInd=0&billBody=S&billTyp=B&billNbr=0930&pn=1113

Senate Committee Approves Pa. Smoking Ban

The new state senate bill to ban smoking in bars and restaurants, as well as all public places, has passed in committee. The bill was given the thumbs up by the Appropriations Committee and will now have to make its way on the agenda for the current session.

Senate Bill 246 would make it illegal to smoke cigarettes or other tobacco products in public spaces – punishable with a $100 fine for first offenders with increasing penalties for repeat violators.

State Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, R-Montgomery, said in an e-mail to WritePittsburgh that he was pleased to have passed the bill after 10 years of campaigning for healthier workplace environments.

“I have introduced similar legislation for over 10 years and it is important for me to see this bill passed this session, especially since all our surrounding states have smokefree laws,” Greenleaf said.

“The one state that does not have a state law--West Virginia-- has smokefree ordinances in 45 out of its 55 counties. Pennsylvania is standing almost alone in this region in not protecting its workers.”

The bill states that “The use of tobacco products is dangerous not only to the person smoking, but also to nonsmokers who must breathe the contaminated air,” and that “53,000 nonsmokers in the United States die annually from lung and heart disease due to exposure to passive smoke.”

Greenleaf said that the earlier effort to ban smoking in Allegheny County was a noble one, and that for too long it was up to localities to push for smoking bans.

“I was very impressed with the Allegheny County ordinance and wished that it would have been upheld in the courts. I think that local governments in this state are leading the way,” Greenleaf said.

The bill would effectively ban smoking in any public space, including bars and restaurants, theaters, museums, retail stores, commercial establishments and service lines – a line that extends into public areas where people are waiting for products or services.

It will also ban smoking in any “licensed gaming facility,” which would include the new Majestic Star Casino being built on the North Side, as well as the other state-approved slots halls.

The legislation is co-sponsored by seven other lawmakers, a mix of Democrats and Republican lawmakers. If the legislation is passed in both chambers, it would become law 90 days afterward.

The Pothole Invitational

So the first Pothole Invitational continues with these two photos. The first is a large chunk of missing road on Atwood Street, near the La Fiesta restaurant. There is nothing pleasant about bouncing down into that chasm. Then there is the filled in sinkhole on Bates St, which was so poorly filled in it acts as a sort of ramp.
With irregular patches and mounts, it feels like traveling over a series of bowling balls on a dune buggy, and it is not unusual to see drivers slow down almost completely when they come upon this. Anyone who knows that it is there takes care to go slowly. Even I do.
Come on everyone, there are plenty of potholes, so snap a picture or send a description for your chance to gain bragging rights in the first Pothole invitational.

Just e-mail me at andy.medici@gmail.com

The 5th Annual Summer Reading Extravaganza

So even though this is the 5th annual reading extravaganza, and I have been in Oakland for about 4 years, this is the first time I actually went. Why? I am not really sure, but it was actually enjoyable. Even though it was mainly for kids, there were some nice events and a sense that people haven't completely abandoned the Oakland area ... at least not yet.
There were crowds of people there, even when it was time to close up. From that guy in the stupid hat above, to the Eat N' Park booth - there were lines. You could make your own smiley cookie or pet some of the largest dogs I have seen near children. They were mastiffs, and there is nothing more fun than petting a dog that is bigger than you are.
There was also a rock climbing wall, which seems that no one decided to take advantage of, since they took it down early - but it was still a good effort. And of course there was Radio Disney, and for everyone out there that has been to the Zoo, or any other family-oriented event, you have to hear these people hold games and dance contests to get kids to ask their parents for Radio Disney.

Host: What's your favorite food?
Kid: Hot Wings!
Host: What's your favorite season?
Kid: Fall!
Host: Are you going to listen to Radio Disney?
Kid: Yeah!!!
Parent: (Trying to look amused and entertained) Time to go ...

But all in all, any place that serves hotdogs outside gets a thumbs up in my book, and encouraging kids to read is a noble goal - albeit a futile one. I just hope that the next generation at least knows how to tie their shoes. We'll see though.

Three Rivers Arts Festival

So this weekend I went to the Three Rivers Arts Festival, and it was pretty fun. Held for the second time in as many years, the Festival brought in hundreds of artists and artisans from around the tri-state area to showcase their talents. The first show was held in Point Park, but because of usage and space concerns they were forced to put the Festival at the Stanwix St. park and at Gateway Plaza. It worked out pretty well I would think.

Above are some pictures I snapped. The one on the top left is a 6 foot tall praying mantis. The artisan said that she was told that if the praying mantis was three feet tall, it would be one of the most deadly animals on the planet. So she decided to make it twice as deadly. I like the way she thinks.

And the picture to the right is a man selling didgeridoos. He shows them off by playing occasionally, and I was able to capture the moment. I have other photos, but I figure you've probably seen enough of the Festival in newspapers, other publications and other blogs. But if you still haven't gone, you should. It's going to last for one more week and they serve great carnival fare. Keilbasa and hot sausage were just some of the food items I tasted when I went there.

Paris Hilton and Potholes

Now, I thought I would never say this, but Paris Hilton has finally given us a reason to discuss something important. Basically, whether the United States has a two-tier justice system, one for the rich and powerful, another for the other 99.999 percent of the population.

After serving just a few days of her jail sentence, Paris Hilton was released with an ankle bracelet to her home - in strict defiance of the judge's orders. Why? She had an "unidentified medical condition" that allowed her to leave. In what was a great response, the local prosecutor has dragged her back into court to demand she go back to jail, and to hold the sheriffs that let her go in contempt of court.

This is important. It shows that being a celebrity doesn't mean you get special treatment. Although in the majority of cases, it does. If I had been caught with a DUI, I would have gone to jail immediately - Paris paid a fine. She was then caught driving on a suspended license. She signed a pledge promising not to do it again. Finally, after getting another DUI, she was forced to spend time in jail - Something I would have had to do for any of those three offenses, more than likely.

And the sheriffs should not have let her out. I hope they too get punished for deliberately violating judge's orders under some misguided idea that she had a medical condition. If she did, she could have had it treated in jail, like every other inmate, and if it was serious, it would have been addressed at her hearing.

According to the National Institutes of Health, about 1.8 to 3.0 percent of the incarcerated population has AIDS. Of those, several hundred die in jail each year. So what could Paris possibly have that can make her leave? Now she is under house arrest in her multi-million dollar mansion, which is like grounding Bill Gates to his room.

I hope she goes back to jail, and I hope those sheriffs are fired for doing something like this. We must not allow our judicial system to continue to fall apart like this. Celebrities are people, let them suffer the consequences for their actions and maybe many people wouldn't see Hollywood as a haven for coke sniffing criminals.

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On an different note, I will be holding the first "Pothole Invitational." Send me descriptions of potholes in the Pittsburgh Area, or even photos if you want, and I will post the most flagrant on the blog for all several of you to see.

So e-mail me: andy.medici@gmail.com.

So next time the muffler falls out of your car, back up, pick it up and see what you hit. Chances are it's a crack in the ground, and chances are, it should have been patched a long time ago.

Pitt Versus the City: An Unfair Fight

The city of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh have a lot in common. They both have vowels, consonants and the word "Pittsburgh" in them. But they are different according to almost every other comparison you can think of. But that's obvious right? I mean, how can a city and a university compare to each other? Well, in this case, the city ends up looking like that pathetic older brother that can't seem to get in gear and just get a job and move out.

Also, the city is in dire financial straits, while the University is reporting vast revenues and expansive growth at a time where the city is actually decreasing in total population (with much of the reduction caused by flight to the suburbs and the considerable drain of fleeing graduates).

Let's see how the two measure up (According to Financial releases and figures provided by the federal and local governments)

Pitt operating budget Fiscal Year 2007: $1,448,745,000 or $1,477,250,000 because of projected expenses
Number of University Employees (Main Campus Only): 10,030 of all categories
Total Assets of University (2006): $2,642,746,000
Total Liability of University (2006): $1,217,007,000
Net Increase in Assets from last year to present: $271,582,000

These numbers of course can really only be understood if you have been following University news. Readers of The Pitt News will of course know about the University's massive fundraising campaign and pledge to renovate its campuses. And all signs point to continued growth and expansion for this public-related University.

But the city, on the other hand, has been struggling for fiscal solvency amidst rising pension liability and a bleeding of population.

City of Pittsburgh Fiscal 2007 Operating Budget: $425,657,607
Increase in revenues over last year: $1,843,771
Size of Population: 325,337 people
Percent change in population since 2000: -2.8 Percent
Population below poverty line (2000): 20.4 Percent
Number of Employees (All of Allegheny County): 7,215 (Based on Federal 2002 Census)

(Sorry, I couldn't get a hold of Pittsburgh's debt liability, since cities really aren't supposed to have debt.)

Pitt's revenues grew 250 times more than the city's over the course of one year, while Pitt has more employees than all of Allegheny county, and although it has liability, it is relatively healthy compared with the size of its budget. So hands down, Pitt wins.

But you can obviously see the differences. Of course, you say. The University is an institution better able to manage itself than an entire city, and it makes more because it draws in revenue from various locations. And I say, of course, but I just wanted to get that information out there. So next time you hear about disputes between the city and the University (And they will be increasing) you will understand the financial situations of the two.

Pitt doesn't want to be dragged down with the city, and the city feels that Pitt should give more back. But of course, Pitt doesn't have an aging population while the city does. So living inside the Pitt part of the city will seem an entirely different experience than living somewhere else, and Pitt will try to keep it that way.

So I have provided the information and the context, what do you all think?

The Inaugural Post

Hello. You are undoubtedly one of the first people to read this blog, and simultaneously, will probably be one of the last people too. I have decided that I will use my free time to start this cool new blog. Everyone is doing it, so I decided to give in to peer pressure and do it too. Hey, it worked for alcohol and drugs, why not for me?

But the real mad fat stupid dope props should go to my Dad, who sent me this link in an e-mail.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/31/AR2007053102032.html?referrer=emailarticle

For those of you that don't have time to read it, the story talks about how people are using neighborhood blogs to right perceived wrongs and do some grassroots journalism. But hell, everyone knows that no one reads blogs, so why the hell would I start one? Well, I am bored. Plus, a blog will be a great way to fill time, as well as complain about the various things locally and nationally that make me angry. Which means I will have a lot of stuff to fill this thing with.

Oh, and there will also be pictures. Lots of pictures.

So I will begin posting quite soon after this one, and it will mostly focus on events I see in the news and on television, but will also focus on neighborhood stuff like that huge sinkhole in Oakland that took several months to fix, while potholes in Shadyside and Squirrel Hill were patched up quickly. Oh the injustice of it all. So there it is, local stuff with a national flair, which pretty much amounts to anything I want.

Look for many frequent updates to this, as I presume that my free time will only increase as time goes on.