Confronting Strangers

Rarely do I endorse confronting strangers. In today's world, it's usually too risky. You might get shot over something completely idiotic. However, if the situation seems safe and I feel like I have to say something - I usually say it. Some of my more memorable (humorous) episodes have been getting into a tiff at the Academy of Music with another patron and an attendent over a seating discrepancy (did NOT use the F-Bomb but I told the guy to "kiss my ass") , another tiff with a parking lot attendent in the city after they wanted me to pay for an hour for running inside and asking directions (the F-Bomb was used), my scrape with a company contracted by DirecTV when I moved 2 years ago (I told a Russian guy he better get in his truck and leave and he wisely did), my nose-to-nose with a guy in my Septa lot a few years ago who honked at me to make a left going into the lot between cars going 70 mph (I politely told him what I was going to do with his horn if he ever honked at me again), and the time my wife and I watched a woman in a parking lot let her cart roll away and slam into another car (I was semi-polite to her but I let her know how lousy it was to drive away). I had another small incident yesterday that was so small it didn't even register with me to tell my wife last night when I returned (my daughter was there anyway and I forgot once she went to bed). I went to Costco to buy a few items and as I was getting out of my car a woman between 35-45 was putting things in her truck and my right front bumper was near her left back bumber in the lot. Her cart was about 12" from my car. I had a feeling she was going to leave the cart there and it was very windy yesterday. i got out and started walking to the door and I turned around about 10 seconds later and the cart was still there - empty. I turned around and walked back and she was still standing at the side of her truck. I was VERY NON-confrontational but I asked her if she was planning on leaving the cart that close to my car. Without a care in the world, she just stared at me. I pointed out that the return bin was about 15 yards away. She replied "It's not like it's going anywhere" with the tone of a spoiled brat. If I was a cat my tail would have been bushy as she started to get in her vehicle. I took 5 more steps to get the cart myself as I said something like "lazy ass people make me sick" loud enough for her to hear me. What's wrong with people? I would have felt embarassed if I were her but I think she was proud and thought she was right. Take the extra steps.....it won't kill you and maybe you'll drop a few pounds while you're at it. I felt like pushing the cart into her truck but I squashed that feeling hoping she won't do it again. I think that's why I have to open my big mouth sometimes. I'm just hoping that maybe when she went to bed last night - she'll reflect and feel bad and maybe never do it again. Who knows. I at least felt better that I said something because I would have regretted it the rest of the day if I had not.

Odds Makers: Colts That Good or Stupid Fans?

The Vegas odds are out on winning the Super Bowl this year. You guessed it, the Colts are 3-1. The next closest team is the Seachickens at 6-1. The Steelers are 5th at 9-1! How on Earth can the Colts be picked that high when Manning's playoff record is 3-6? He has proven time and time again, both in the pros and in college, that he CANNOT get it done when it matters most. The world (outside of Indy) will continue to have that opinion until something is done to change it. How the Colts treat defense fascinates me. The fact that they paid both WRs crazy money, let 2 defensive starters go, signed a kicker to the highest kicker contract in the league and then let Edge go is suspect to me, but what do I know? I think running the ball and defense wins championships, but again, what do I know? So, question 1 is this: Is Coach Dungy happy with those decisions based on his penchant for defense? Would he speak out if he wasn't happy? Question 2: Are the odds 3-1 because the oddsmakers know the Colts fans will jump all over that "easy money" only to be shattered in the playoffs once again by the Stillers or Pats? Question 3: Is this the Barry Bonds effect football equivalent? People want homeruns! If the Colts score 42 points a game, their fans will be happy to keep racking up huge numbers in the regular season and then they are too "good-natured" to demand accountability in the end (kind of like their coach). Don't get me wrong - I'm not a hater. I enjoy watching the Colts play, especially at the beginning of last season when they were winning close low scoring games. I just think if they would have kept their 2 defenders, not signed the kicker, and taken a defensive player in the first round of the draft they would have been better off, but what do I know? This would be my serious question to the Colt's front office: I'm assuming Edge was let go and the WRs were kept because with their spread offense, their RB is never going to face 8-9 guys in the box. He might not even face 7! I should be able to run the ball for the Colts. Anytime Edge was hurt, the replacements did better than fine. So, why not take a RB later in the draft like the Broncos always do? I think Manning's success had more to do with Edge's success than most people realize. I think they wasted their pick this year. Time will tell. He might rush for 140 yards per game, but didn't their backups do the same thing when Edge was hurt? 3-1? Wow. Consider the Steelers feeling good and disrespected going into camp. Cowher is smiling ear-to-ear over that number. He likes a pissed-off team.

Yet Another Reason to Hate Flying

I'm supposed to go deep into West Virginia in June for a business trip. I hate connections and view them as a waste of time. From Philadelphia there is a direct flight for $1000. Can you explain that? You can fly to Florida for $139. So I see my trip is 467 miles and driving at or near 80 mph will get me there in 6 hours. 7 is more likely. From Philly airport I can make 1 connection to get there but it will then take 4-5 hours and still cost over $400. I check around for flights out of Allentown, Trenton, Wilmington, Baltimore and Harrisburg. Nothing is available that will be worth the drive first. If I'm going to drive up to 90 minutes to an airport - I need a direct flight from there or it's easier to just drive. Here's the kicker: There is a flight leaving from Harrisburg that connects in Philly for $365. I write down the flight number for the second leg and go back to check the direct flight from Philly - it's the SAME! From Philly it's a 1 hour and 10 minute flight. From Harrisburg it's about a 3.5 hour flight and $635 cheaper! So I'm thinking I'll buy the ticket for Harrisburg and then skip the first leg.....can't do it. The travel agent says if you are a no-show for leg 1, they cancel the entire itinerary. Looks like I'll be driving to WV. I know this cool place in Westminster, MD where I hear you can get a good meal and a few beers around 8 or 9 pm at night if you are a weary traveler.

Hannity & Colmes Agree For A Change

This is a good one <-------- Click Me!

Southwestern PA Image Hard To Shed

You know, growing up near the mountains of southwestern PA, you never really think about self image much if you don't travel to other parts of the country. Small town was all I knew, even though my "small" town had about 12,000 people in it. Once you move to a more urban area - you hear some of the jokes...."Pennsyltucky, mountain hick, from the sticks" that people in the Northeast use to describe Pittsburgh and the rest of the region around West Virginia. Maybe "Deliverance" started it all, maybe not, but the image is hard to shake sometimes. I defend Pittsburgh and the surrounding area well. It was voted most livable city in the early 90's and is no longer associated with being simply a dirty steel town. Not only that, my thoughts are that if you get outside of any major city about 45 miles - it's not that much different if it's Pittsburgh, Philadelphia or Boston. it's not like people that live 45 miles outside of Philly are going to coffee or martini bars, paying $4 for a cup of coffee or $35 for a filet dinner. Rural is rural. Yes, there are degrees, but it's not like being on another planet. Some would have you believe that downtown Pittsburgh is like another planet from (insert major city here that is not NYC). I'm not saying it's the cultural epicenter of the country, but it's not as bad as it's reputation. In fact, many people that I know in this area that travel to Pittsburgh actually have good things to say about it when they return....like they weren't expecting much. Anyway - my point is, I'm proud of where I came from and the values I have from growing up there (drumroll please) and just when you think it's safe after the Super Bowl win to shout from a rooftop "I'm from southwestern PA baby and proud of it!" this little nugget of information escapes from the area. This couple went to their high school prom wearing a gown and tux made from.....duct tape. Yup. Git'r done. Frasier, no less. Close to my home town. In fact, my wife's first cousin was homecoming queen there back in the 80's. When I was in college I worked a summer job with kids from Frasier. Duct Tape. It was part of a promotion for this kid to win a scholarship, but he also has a wallet and a hat that he uses that he made out of duct tape....before he even knew about the contest. I'm not going to include the story this time, it's too embarassing. If you want to find it - I'm sure you can google "Frasier duct tape prom virgin" and it will be the first item listed. Me? If this story makes my local paper here, the guys at work will say "Did you ever hear of Frasier, PA?" and I'll be forced to say "Frasier? Noooo, thats over where they filmed 'Deliverance' why?" They do make a cute couple though, don't they? I bet his dad wishes he would have duct taped his penis shut about 17 years ago.

Ebonics in Commercials?

No kidding. I was watching The Disney Channel this morning and a commercial for Build-A-Bear Workshop came on. The commercial featured nothing but mostly a head shot of a young African-American girl. She was talking about the entire process of building the bear. At the end of the commercial, almost as a throw-in she adds "You have to get you one." Are we to the point now where commercials for kids (little kids) are fair game to not use correct English? I'm not saying the girl should have said "Muffy, you simply haaaaaave to have one of these bears for yourself - they are daaaaaaarling." Adult shows, kids sitcoms, I almost expect slang or ebonics on these shows. The Proud Family uses ebonics in every episode - but it's also a silly cartoon. Kids know the difference between silly cartoons where anything can happen and reality. If you are making a commercial based on reality - then please don't insult our intelligence and not use proper English. That commercial is only going to reinforce kids using ebonics. God help them when they get to English class in grade school and they have to tell which sentence isn't correct. They won't be able to do it because they've been talking that way for years.

Steelers Training Video For All Linebackers

Featuring Jack Lambert.....my alltime favorite Steeler <------ Click It!

Evolution Of Dance

This is six minutes long but it has a few belly laughs in it <------ click here.

Rollin' Old Skool

My dad's best friend (and my bud too) recently sent me dvds of the Steelers in Super Bowls 13, 14 and 40. I tweaked my stupid hamstring again around Easter and I've been taking it easy and using a treadmill for the past week after taking 10 or so days off from running. I usually throw a movie in while I'm on the treadmill since I find it so boring so I reached for Super Bowl 13 one night this week. What i saw amazed me! I didn't even watch the entire first quarter but I watched everything that lead up to the beginning of the game and the Steelers first TD. I don't mean to pine for the old days, but this is just a sample of what came to my attention without me even trying to look for things:

* There was only about 20-25 minutes of pregame.

* Very few pregame graphics and weak ones at that. No exploding helmets! Single colors!

* The pregame introductions were by line, receivers (TEs), and backers (RB, FB, QB).

* Curt Gowdy made reference to the Steelers good "Specialty Teams". Allen can you comment here - did they always say that? I don't remember.

* Get this...no celebrations for tackles, no walking up field 5 yards after a tackle, no celebrations for routine catches.

* Unbelievable as it was, there wasn't a comemercial until the Steelers scored. There was a fumble recovery by the Steelers leading up to the TD and I was expecting a commercial and they just kept talking while the teams changed. I couldn't believe it. No TV timeouts on a change of possession.

* You have to remember I was just a kid when this game actually happened (12) . When Bradshaw retired circa '84 I was 16. When I started watching Brett Favre I was already in my mid 20's. On at least 2 or 3 plays already in the game I could tell Bradshaw had the same arm strength and gunslinger mentality. I watched him thread a 3rd down pass to Randy Grossman that he made moving backwards and got popped as he released it. It looked like Favre to me. Weird, really, that I made the connection that fast. As I was thinking it the guys in the booth said Bradshaw was the only QB in the league who would even attempt that pass.

* No graphics covering up the game. The entire screen was pure, beautiful - football.

* It's well into 8 or 9 minutes of the game and the time on the clock HAS NOT BEEN MENTIONED or DISPLAYED....anywhere. Even when they showed the score going into commercial - no time remaining.

* Also weird - no mention at all of Offensive or Defensive coordinators and after the team intros, I'm not sure they've showed Noll or Landry since!

* Lastly and then I'll update this list after I finsih the game, they had a boy's choir sing the National Anthem. No Hollywood types here! Just football.

They say you can't go back...........................................rats!

Slanted #7

Morris Proves He's Still On Drugs

Former Steelers running back Bam Morris has made it clear that he wants to return to the NFL. Yes, that Bam Morris. The one who was caught with enough weed in his trunk to keep Snoop Dogg and his dog pound high for a year. This just in....he's 34. Oh yeah, most fat 34 year olds can play in the NFL. Yup. Not sure if he'll be able to make any tryouts - he's busy playing in an indoor Texas league where he is paid $300 a game. He probably smokes that away before midnight on the day of the game. It's a shame really, but I'm glad Bam got himself into trouble. Do you realize if Bam hadn't decided to carry around a trunk full of reefer, we would have never traded for Bettis. Just think! Bam, not Bus. Not Super Bowl, Super Bust. Rhasta, not asthma. Heck, the more I think about it, Bettis should drive down to Texas and shake Bam's hand. Just think if Jerome had to sit on the Ram's bench in their doghouse one more year if the Steelers didn't trade for him. Maybe he would have let himself go. Maybe he would let himself get out of shape...maybe not make the team.....maybe start hanging around with the wrong people. Maybe HE would have filled his trunk up with whacky tobaccy and ended up in jail. Maybe I'd be poking fun at him right now. Bam had the nerve to say something like "If the Steelers would call me right now they wouldn't even have to buy me a ticket, I'd drive to the tryout." Ummmm, how can I put this politely? Don't hold your breath...unless your lungs are full of the chronic. Idiot. Here's the full article.

A Potentially Good Roundtrip Flight?

Well, I'm in Orlando this week for a User's meeting. I'm technical support for the salesman who is pushing my company's product to his core product's users. I was in a booth for a vendor's fair and I'm giving 3 demos. 2 were today. Kind of scary since I'm not used to talking to large groups of people - but I just went to the bar and a knocked back a few Ketel One and tonics first and everything went fine. Anyway I flew US Airways down and for the first time since I started traveling for business - nothing pissed me off about the flight. Decent sized seats, plenty of leg room, friendly help, no trouble in any lines, room in the overheads..... I have to say I couldn't find anything to complain about (which is weird for me). That leads me to one of two conclusions: 1. Everything will be fine again tomorrow and I'll continue to fly US Airways - or 2. the landing gear will fall off the plane somewhere over South Carolina and we'll be forced to belly land near Atlantic City off the coast. Things went so well Monday that I have a feeling the flying gods will be against me tomorrow. Here's looking forward to delays, reclined seats in front of me, a fat smelly woman on my right who wants to show me pictures of her trip, my car being towed when I get back to Philly airport, traffic jams trying to get home and realizing I don't have all my luggage when I finally arrive home at 10:32 PM from a flight that landed at 5:03 PM.

Slanted #6

For my favorite reader, "Big W", the small, pricklish creatures depicted in this comic are porcupines. If they were Guinea Pigs, the caption wouldn't make any sense. And that's not sour grapes (eggs?)! Please send me 1 copy of "Drawing For Dummies" and maybe I could actually make something of this.

Good Intentions, Bad Results

I'm confident the person who thought up the "Your Speed Is xx" signs found everywhere along our highways these days had good intentions. Typically they are placed near speed limit signs so offending drivers can say "Whoa! I'm going 42 in a 35 zone, I better slow down." My own neighborhood employs one of these very signs less than a mile from my home near a park that hosts numerous soccer and little league games. Being the good citizen that I am, I am usually appalled at myself when I find my lead foot pushing my car past 40 as I cruise past the park at 6:30 AM - right through the 25 mph zone. Granted, the only people out at that hour are dog walkers and gray beards, but I do try to pay attention to posted limits in neighborhoods, especially mine. Here's the problem I have with these signs...I have problems with authority figures. Just ask my Dad (who may comment on this rant)! My wife won't allow us to work on home projects together anymore because neither one of us likes being told what to do. I'll go so far as to say if you tell me not to jump - don't take your eyes off of me because I'm probably going to jump - just to piss you off or to see what the reaction will be. So, putting a sign that gives your current speed on the side of the expressway, visible half a mile away, in a 55 mph zone with no place for a patrol car to hide....well, that's like inserting Michael Jackson as a teacher into a daycare for mute kids. Am I going to suddenly look down, notice I'm going 78 and brake down to 55? No. Am I going to take my foot off the gas and drift down to 55? Nope. What I'm going to do is see if what's been called the best 6-banger ever built can get up to 3 digits before I get to the sign! Yes, that's what I'm saying. I think what started out as a good intention has now been turned into a challenge for lovers of speed. Sure, you can just check your speedometer, but maybe the sign collects data and it's a big F U to "the man" when he gets his report and sees the number that sticks out like a sore thumb: 57, 58, 56, 62, 58, 71, 58, 60, 103....103? Yeah, and I left some on the table! That is, until I got a ticket in the mail with a picture of the back of my car and a fine that rivals my mortgage payment! Nah, I'm just kidding about the ticket but I didn't quite know how to end this piece. Suffices to say, I think the signs are worthless on the highways. Keep them in the neighborhoods.

Santonio Is Going To Miss Much

The NFL passed a new rule few years ago that says draft picks cannot practice with their new teams until after their school's graduation. Santonio Holmes former school, Ohio State, does not have graduation until mid June! Most other players will be wih their teams by mid May. Missing the first mini camps will absolutely put him at a disadvantage. Hopefully he's going to immerse himself in the playbook and show up hungry. The NFL should really have a "hard" date so all rookies can begin the same day. Just my opinion, but as usual, a good one.

Slanted #5

Bonds Bopped in Large Pumpkin Head

Call it Karma, call it just desserts, call it the Spirit of The Babe........

Whatever you call it, I call it funny! <-------- Click Here

We Made A Move For Duckett

Reports are coming out that the Steelers tried to trade for TJ Duckett on draft day. I'm hoping we continue to monitor his situation in Atlanta as they drafted a back on the first day. Once camp starts, if their new back look sgood to them, TJ may be able to land in Da 'Burgh. Of course I contemplated this exact scenario a few months ago. I just don't trust Duce's health. I just don't. Here's what I thought a few months ago.........

Charles Robinson Is an Idiot

He writes for Yahoo sports. He is their main NFL man. He recently wrote a column about grading the draft. I am suggesting that Mr. Robinson knows little about most teams and arbitrarily assigned a letter grade to draft depending on how he felt at the moment. He added one paragraph to each assessment and there are 3 blatantly wrong assertions about the Steelers in this one paragraph and a few others that are questionable. The first..."The Steelers paid deeply to move up seven spots in the first round." Well, no we didn't. We had four 4th round picks and gave up our 1st, our 3rd and one of the 4ths. The real effect of this trade was that we swapped our 3rd round pick and made our highest 4th round pick our "real" 3rd round pick....which is hardly a big deal at all in my estimation, but what do I know? The second...."Safety Anthony Smith provides good depth at safety". Huh? Ok, dude, our safety left to go play with another team. The guy we signed to replace him is no standout. We needed to draft a good safety to play for the next 3-4 years until we determine his real value. What we did was draft a safety in the second round who most people didn't have on their draft boards and has been described as a "weak tackler". You use the 4th-7th rounds for depth. When you draft a safety in the second round, it better not be just for depth. Third...."DL Orien Harris could be starting by opening day." Mr. Robinson, I will bet you $1 million dollars that won't happen unless there is a bad injury to one of our starters. Starter? Are you kidding me? We just gave Keisel the deisel a HUGE contract to replace Kimo. Hampton is the unquestioned leader of the line and Aaron Smith is a key component on this team. How on God's green earth is a mid round pick going to start on this line? How long can this idiot write this drivel without being called on it by his superiors?

I'm Not Impressed

After letting the '06 draft marinate for a while, I have to say that I'm not very impressed by the Steelers picks. I think I said earlier that I'm OK with Santonio Holmes at #1, even though it may be 2-3 years before he busts out - but the rest of the draft looks pedestrian to me. Holmes could well take over the #1 WR position which would allow Ward to be the possession type receiver that he is. However, with Miller and Ward needing balls and the propensity of this offense to run, I still wonder if a drive blocking OL would have been a better choice. The second pick wasn't even on other team's radars and the third pick seems like a special teams pick. From reading the write-ups of the rest of the lot, unless they get coached up, it doesn't seem like any of them will be starters anytime soon and they might not even make the team. The center is supposed to be tough but lacks speed, size and athleticism. I will say this, the Steelers have done a superb job in the past of drafting who they want regardless of draft grade and teaching them the system. Hopefully, 2 or 3 of these guys will pan out. When you win the Super Bowl and don't lose too many players, there aren't a lot of spots to be won on the team anyway. I just can't remember the last time I've read/heard so much about a pick being out of alignment like I have with the #2 pick. According to most draftniks, there were plenty of other choices at this slot for a safety. Hopefully they saw something in this kid that nobody else did. I realize you can't coach speed and he's fast, but the reports on his tackling don't really describe him as a Steeler type player.