Today is the deadline for the Penguins to take a one-year extension option at the Mellon Arena. The P-G’s Mark Belko tells us why that is not going to happen. (One would think this is totally unrelated to a Rich Lord piece in that same paper.)

As of midnight tonight, the Comet Style and Usage Guide will be amended. In the future we will make reference to the “civic arena.”

Twofer! Mark Belko also reports on County Councilman Jim Burn, D-Millvale, getting all up in David L. Lawrence’s and Mary Contruro’s grill. Meet the man!

Finally … if somebody would patch together a Grand Unified Theory of this Burgh Report post, this Rich Lord piece, this other Rich Lord piece, a three-part series by the Admiral beginning HERE, the implications of the legal standoff outlined by the Busman, one of our own seminal works HERE, including a comment left by reader Grant W. Stapleton [warning: his website contains offensive material] … we would be much obliged!!!

We’re looking at you, Jeremy. We have a Masters of the Universe character picked out for you and everything.

The latest exclusive WTAE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Keystone Poll of people across Pennsylvania has been released.

Initial surprise: Rendell’s proposal to tax oil company profits enjoys 62% approval.

It also would appear Hillary Clinton is not doing so hot.

The Comet can find no WTAE on-air, or on-web, coverage on the state of the invitation by ‘TAE to mayoral candidates for a televised debate. Update: Although the Busman has some.

1. The science, art, and dance of discussion moderation is an important and subtle work, which will require deep and specific examination of the works of Chris Moore, P.J. Maloney, Phil Donahue, Charlie Rose, and yes, even Oprah.

2. Nonetheless, I dropped 300-small on this microphone, and I’m going to hold it, thank you very much.

3. The resentment within the black community of police officers runs both deeper, and closer to the surface, than I would have expected. And I expected some already. Some sort of reaching out, or reinvigoration, is imperitive in this crisis, on both sides.

4. Our sad, semi-conscious, zombie-like plodding through the construction of flagrant public-works boondoggles is not a good thing. How many times will the trumpet-call of “You’re a nay-sayer! You hate progress!” prevent us from realizing this in time?

5. The Pittsburgh League of Young Voters did yeoman duty to promote and support this event. Next time, we will recruit five or six more civic groups like them, to do my dirty work. As Jesse Jackson once said, “I’m a tree-shaker, not a jelly-maker.”

The next Civic Duty will be held in about a month, either back in Slibberty at the Shadow Lounge, or else at the New Garden Theater, or the New Granada Theater. Anyone with the access, or the skills-of-a-hustler, to help make this happen please contact me. Look alive.

10:56 – Joseph S. Mistick, left out of the He-Man analysis, looks at the mayoral race through the space-opera of his own generation, Star Trek. (Pictured: Sex & the City’s Kim Catrall, and Mr. Spock, in a Vulcan Mind-Meld)

It remains a mystery whom Mistick supports, until someone discovers whether he considers himself a policy wonk, or a sycophant.

The Comet wonders whether the “chicanery and skulduggery” has been limited to one-upsmanship, as in the tax-abatement tango, or if Joe is referring to something lying elsewhere … elusive.

11:03 – Battle Cat fiercely savages the downtown YMCA, who we suppose occupies some sort of midpoint between UPMC and the Little Sisters of the Poor. Ravenstahl plans to enter negotiations with nonprofits by declaring that he does not expect very much, wheras Peduto has some sort of 20-to-40-year plan.

11:09 – We of the Comet do not think that Luke Ravenstahl intends, or expects, to reap any political gain from his stance — or rather, feelings — on contraception and abortion.

11:14 – The P-G’s Elwin Green has a lovely thumbnail history of Homewood. A surprise to us: Homewood used to be an Italian community, until those displaced from the construction of the Civic Arena arrived to cause a bout of “white flight.” Which was followed by a round of “black flight.”

11:17 – Hallelujah! Early Returns has updated!

James O’Toole says Ravesntahl “appears to be the favorite going into Sunday’s committee endorsement.” Agreed. He certainly appears that way. Is there any evidence? Besides that everyone sort of knows that? We wonder. We wa–wa–wa–wa wonder.

He gives The Comet a plug in his list of recommends. He rightfully asks to be told of any “rabidly pro-Ravenstahl blog ” out there.

11:29 – The Trib has an Associated Press summary of the nonprofit tax contributions. There is much talk of inconsistency. Surely, nobody likes inconsistency?

11:34 – Hey Trib Whisper-People – If (#10) Ron Francis is such a peach, why doesn’t he run against Onorato? Sure he ruled that out some time ago … but the collapse at the Convention Center! The North Shore connector! The Mon-Fayette expressway! Property taxes! Won’t somebody please think of the children?