Big Pittsburgh

November 22, 2006 11:35am

Two great advancements (in my mind) of our city (articles from the Post Gazette):

Free liquor in the state’s new casinos:

Senate voted tonight to make a major change to casino operations in Pennsylvania, allowing slot machine casinos to serve unlimited free drinks to gamblers from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m., seven days a week.
Park to get built on either side of all of Allegheny County’s rivers:

County Council tonight threw its unanimous support to the planning and developing of a countywide riverfront park, stretching on one side or the other of every river from county line to county line.

The liquor / gambling thing is, in my mind, important because government-affecting religion has affected the laws of drinking for too long – from the ridiculous need to have no liquor sales on Sundays to determining the exact times people are allowed to consume alcohol in private businesses. And as for the parks, well, if something could be built on that scale, it would certainly help to drive Pittsburgh to becoming a bigger, better, more beautiful city. My theory of city development? Provide an involving, interesting, beautiful place and young people and, particularly, young artists will move there, involving themselves to further beautify the area, improving its value, which will inevitably lead to businesses investing in the region.

Up Next: Nail Polish on Black Boots

Discussion

Ms. Wakame 22 Nov 2006

Wow that was so thoughtful of them to give patrons the opportunity to sober up slightly for 5 hours before starting the next day.

Its good to know the Senate is keeping itself busy voting on things we all need so badly.

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Mark Rauterkus 22 Nov 2006

In the times of Kings and Queens — there were “court jesters.” The Jesters were court appointed artists.

In Poland, in times of policial choking, artists thrived — by making enhancements to postage stamps, by drawing ornate building decorations, by playing music of the highest order.

The arts are very important and I’d never talk down to them as they are so important in our lives too. But, the pathway to arts to prosperity and business is frail.

I’d hop on the ‘freedom train’ to get where we all want to go in our communities and public lives – – much more quickly than the provide beautiful place for young artists.

Now, you’ve got the right seed with the ‘involving’ element. But, to ‘provide it’ — well — is anti. You gotta make it, take it, create it.

Likewise, bigger isn’t always better — but that’s a side-issue.

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nathan 22 Nov 2006

I agree, Mark, that bigger isn’t always better. But a park along the Mon towards Elizabeth doesn’t do anything for the Northside…

And Olivia, the thing is, if there weren’t Senators making these silly rules, constricting people’s ability to do what they want, when and where they want it, in the first place, we wouldn’t have to waste time unmaking them. No amount of infringement on a person’s rights should have ever been allowed to make it into the lawbooks – we should all be free to smoke ourselves, drink ourselves, and prostitute ourselves silly.

Thanks for your opinions, one and all!

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hello 4 Dec 2006

it’s so much easier to comment if it’s in argument form.

i’m all for taxing (in a way) fat people for increasing medical bills, but drinking can be a problem as well. the world wouldn’t be that bad had prohibition stuck. you want your beers now, but if you’d never had them, you’d still be happy.

america sucks in all the ways europe/other cultures are cool. in a way i make it a point, but at the same time it’s almost inevitable that i get into a deep, thoughtful conversation with every customer that comes into the store talking with an accent. sometimes i guess it straight off to their surprise that yes, they’re from maine. other times, his dad bought an english castle for a few thousand pounds only, this because the gov’t there doesn’t want entreprenuers (prob from US or i’ll throw in UAE, etc) buying them all up and selling them for mega profits. but while drinking ‘over there’ is a way of life – not far from our own kind of back porch fire laughings – in a place like here, there are too many pricks. something like that. there, old joe is hammered off his lolly again but he’ll get those sheep regatherered up’n ‘fore morn, but here, d’brickashaw ferguson just fist-smashed you in the collarbone for clanking into his gold watch with your handful of corona bottles intended for yon witches and wisps you’re trying to roll the dice with.

no longer is there any argument, i just had to start that way.

so, what else have ya written? let’s go see

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nathan 5 Dec 2006

See you shall, go.

My impression of Europe, or England rather, was not a happy conversation with store clerks, however. In fact, most people other than those I knew were assholes. No one apologized for bumping into eachother or having their shopping cart in the aisle so no one could get by, they just got angry and huffed until you moved, or ignored you all together and smashed their way through.

I think we apologize too much here, everyone always saying “Sorry” or “Thank you” but never a “No problem” or “You’re welcome”, only the same reply as was initially doled out…

If that was somehow part of your point.

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