A Senseless Day

What is a senseless day to SWB?

Today.

The sun is out.  The air is cool. Everyone seems happy. The only real irritating news is of the 10th street bypass having construction near it soon, and that’s not really even irritating because we are so used to it. There is nothing to whine or rant about today.  that really sucks for this blog.

The only thing we can rant about is not being able to rant.

We’re even too used to potholes to care about that much anymore.

The politicians are all the same, so if we rant about one we automatically rant about the others in the same exact way, which nullifies any of our rant enough for anyone to actually really give a crap about it.

The rivers are flowing good, so we can’t even complain about stagnant water, or dead and decaying fish.

……… HELP US HERE!!!!!

-SWB (a frustrated weasel on a too nice of a day)

 

The Wine Bistro Theory

The Wine Bistro Theory – intro

Welcome to The Wine Bistro Theory interview series.

SP is going to be doing an interview with a couple that started The Naked Grape in Sewickley.  One reason we chose them was because of their willingness to do this project with us and access.  Another reason was the area. The other reason was to show a small business becoming successful in an area that tends to be more discerning of their establishments.  Click Here to read article.

Riding The Trails

The Trails are Calling!

It’s that time of the year when the birds start singing, the trees start budding, and the commercials remind us that holiday goodies from the winter months haven’t left us.  So what to do?  Go down to the local sweat shop (aka health club), work yourself into possible cardiac arrest all while surrounded by bodies you with that you had (or are thankful for not having … since you haven’t left yourself get *that* far gone yet).

Click Here to read the rest of the article

New Orleans Has Landed (at Nola)

Nola On The Square, we are quite sure now houses that parts of New Orleans that hurricane Katrina blew up our way.  There is no other explanation for the change that has happened to this old building in Market Square.

SP has persons at lunch and dinner on March 25th to enjoy some fine dining and entertainment … with review to come at the end.  Since Nola is in the Seviche and Sonoma family, we expected nothing less than culinary perfection.  We weren’t disappointed there, but we were extremely surprised at what we found during dinner (we will give you a brief on lunch near the end).

Click Here to read the SP article.

We Got It Backwards

does this look right???

Ok, let’s give you a better pic of the situation:  The picture is of one of the warmer days in January.  Notice the lack on sun.  The last time the sun came out, it was in the single digits.  Even in Pittsburgh we get the weather backwards!

Pittsburgh winter weather summary: SUN = COLD, CLOUDY = WARM

Actually we’re pretty sure this weather situation is actually controlled by those old weather guys that were traded in for the newer, sharp-looking, fancy weather people.  We investigating at this point, but we feel we’ll prove that those old weather guys are ticked and disgruntled about not getting enough TV time and they’re taking out on the residents of this city by employing some of the technologies that the military discovered in WWII from weather control experiments.

Yep, they told us all those tests were a farce, and didn’t work.  SWB’s theory is that the weather forecasters of yesteryear bought that weather control technology from the military to use for their own gain in job security – and just to mess with people.  Since Pittsburgh basically started broadcast TV, we’re just the testing zone.

…. and then again it could be the pharmaceutical companies using the weather to trigger a city-wide depression to up their drug sales getting the stock holders higher dividends.

If you have a good conspiracy theory as to why the weather generally sucks in this city, print this blog entry out and write it on the bottom of the page:

-SWB

 

Changes To SWB

Our New Owners

Yup, we being taken over.

This is for the good.  After being inactive for a while, another site has inquired about taking over Screaming Weasel.  There will be changes, it will retain some of  the sarcasm, but will lose some of the “rantiness”  and negativity that it had when it started around 2005-2006 and rant blogs were the fad – although we will gripe a little through it,  and SWB will be the occasional guest writer.

We think you’ll like it … and what it will present about Pittsburgh.

If you want to check out our new owners, Click Here

Here is their future WordPress Blog (Click Here)

Please welcome Karyon Nightly (sophisticatedpgh) as  the new main writer.

-SWB

The Day After and the Road To Super Bowl 45

Yinzers getting ready the morning after AFC championship

Yep, we won again.  Being the courteous people that Pittsburghers are, we gave them a link of Parma Sausage and a cheese sampler from Penn Mac as a consolation prize.  We believe them a worth opponent, but not good enough to get that cool metal trophy we’ll put on out shelves.

We’re on the way to Super Bowl 45, Ben could bring in the Steeler’s 7th ring in his 7th season, by number 7.  Think of the lottery possibilities here folks.  This is an important win for the city – it will bring even more international recognition of our city, the sport of American football, and people.  The more people come to our city, the more jobs come with them.  Considering that, even if you aren’t a sports fan, you might want to start rooting for The Steelers to get ring 7.

-SWB

City Life In Used Shoes

Is this another one of those posting where we use a catchy title just to get someone to read the posting so we get hits on it?

Probably.

But someone will read it.

While Market Square downtown is getting completed around me and the sounds of some uncoordinated idiot dropping something in the food court of PPG place sing in my ears I figured I write about my used shoes in the city.

That’s right … they are starting to crack, they smell, and now the same color as the bricks on the walkway.  I know that the only thing you want to know about is that they smell … there’s gotta be a few people into weird things like that.  I’ll put them up for sale on Ebay if anyone is interested.  They’re the original shoes used to walk most of the grounds while shooting pics for Pittsburgh By Mini Cam, so the collectibility value is up there.

That’s the whole post … I mean how much can you write about old shoes???

What did you expect?  Substance?

Oh, Get Real People!!!

They’re old, they hurt my feet, and they smell bad … that’s it!

-SWB

PS – If yinz can get some of the local politicians to do something stupid I’ll have something better to write about (with lots of substance … which means you probably won’t read it).  Geez.

Fight Tha’ Change … c’mon now, Fight Tha’ Change!!

Well, writing about typical Pittsburgh again … scream with me now “Fight Tha’ Change … c’mon now, Fight Tha’ Change!!”  – I JUST KNOW we can make this the new Pittsburgh hit tune.”

This isn’t one of those SWB postings where we rant about Burghers that are against stupid things like planting roses instead of tulips in front of government buildings … nope.  We’re going much further!!!

It’s Mother Nature!!!

Lots of changes are happening in the city …. some good, some bad, some political … but the big deal is the fact that not only do Pittsburghers now fight back against even the good changes that are happening to our city … Mother Nature is doing it too!

How?

Well, look at the debilitating snow fall … it’s depleting our Spring funding that is used for changes, it stopped construction, travel came to a halt, and more.  Now the earlier than normal 80+ temps are threatening to cause heat illnesses in our elderly, construction workers that are out in the heat, and later I’m sure the asphalt roads will buckle.

So Mother Nature even fights change in Pittsburgh … somehow I feel we’ll never get to move on.

{{groan}} It’s the never ending Pittsburgh cycle, “Fight Tha’ Change!”

-SWB

Something to rant about

Well, yinz haven’t seen a Rant Files from me in a while.  As you all know I’ve been fairly busy, and really haven’t had much time to get irritated enough by anything (with exception of maybe family … and it doesn’t matter how “Ozzie and Harrie” your family is, they irritate you at some point … “family” includes pets ‘n things too). Don’t worry – I’m not on “Happy Pills” either.

OK, let’s see, what can we rant about?

* Can I copy Pittgirl and rant about the pigeons in Market Square? … nope – because Market Square ain’t there right now.

* Can I whine about the fact that my Comcast “High Speed” internet connection is now operating at dial up speeds?  Why bother … some things you just learn to expect from Comcast.  Considering they’re still not as screwed up as FiOS, I’ll live with the temporary problem.

* Can I vent about the fact that the Pittsburgh Free WiFi I’m on right now is slower than the dial-up speed of my current Comcast connection at home? Well, maybe I shouldn’t because it’s free … but, I think we have a winner:

Free internet service was supposed to be a draw back to the city.  Great idea, but ….

If it takes longer to bring up a page of something like the City Paper on your computer than it does to just go find a printed copy of the City Paper, locate the page, and read it … the draw kind of looses it’s “umpf”.

The two hour limit for free is annoying enough, but understandable … if you are going to be able to bring up more than ten pages on your laptop or netbook during the time you are on.  Hey, if the service works good, I may actually be inspired to pay the $5 for the day to use it while I’m here – but if it stays as slow as I’m experiencing now … the chances of the City getting extra money from me (or other users for that matter) are pretty slim.

This seems to be par for a service that the City of Pittsburgh would provide … “it’s needed, so let’s do it … but not too well or the residents will expect quality ALL of the time.” This brings back memories of a blog past written on the hole going over to the stadiums … same attitude.

Oh well, Pittsburghers wished and asked for free outdoor internet, and we got it.  Maybe we should have been a little more specific about it actually working well. Lesson leaned.

-SWB

PS – It’s 15 minutes after writing the blog, and the internet connections has finally caught up to my typing.  I guess it’s time to publish …

… And the five year olds start to battle …

I thought to myself, just for once, maybe this year we will have intelligent enough mayoral candidates that we will be able to hear good news bites and debates about who is best for the job. SWB is sorry to inform you that it’s not going to happen. The battle of the five year olds has started. Although it’s beginning a little less intense that the last Pittsburgh mayoral election, I compare this to a baby food battle and I’m sure they will progress into a full out “Animal House” style food fight. Carmen is now calling the Luke and Patrick “divas”. Hmmm … maybe there is some dress fetishes the men have that only Carmen knows about. They are also fighting about the May 19th primary date not being moved because “Luke is too busy” … must be starting into his golf outing schedule for this year.

Oh well, I’m hoping for maybe a few on camera full out food fights between the primary candidates this year. I think we should have blueberry and cherry jam just in case the “divas” are wearing anything white.

Click Here for the latest from The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on the start of the election food fights. The candidates did promise to stay with organic foods this year to promote health.

And don’t forget to Click Here to take our poll on who you want for mayor. The page also includes links to our interviews with them (of course only Dok has had the courtesy to accommodate so far), and links to their campaign sites.

We stuck this under “Utter Nonsense and Such” because we are fairly confident that the mud-slinging will go far beyond that label.

-SWB

PS – Do you remember when candidates could use two syllable words? … I don’t, it was too long ago.

Who do you want for Mayor Of Pittsburgh?

SWB updated its Pittsburgh Mayoral Race 2009 page with a poll so we’re posting this FYI. The four main candidates are listed (Carmen L Robinson, Dok Harris, Luke Ravenstahl, and Patrick Dowd). There is an option for a “write in” on the poll – feel free to add anyone you like as long as they are real. ie – I like Mickey Mouse too, but many cities already have him as Mayor.

Post is here too:

-SWB

New Pittsburgh Mayoral Race page on SWB

We have a new page dedicated to the 2009 elections for Pittsburgh’s Mayor.

Please check it out at: Pgh Mayoral Race 2009

Interview: Pittsburgh Mayoral Race Candidate Questions

As you know we sent out interview questions for three candidates for Mayor of Pittsburgh. One (Dok Harris) completed his over the phone and had the option to redo via e-mail for accuracy. Patrick Dowd’s group did get back to us, but has yet to return the e-mail with questions. Luke Ravenstahl has yet to respond. Needless to say we are losing a little faith in Luke this year.

Check them all out at their links below ….. remember, you need to look into all of the candidates, and not just depend on opinions from blogs and the media.

Candidate Links:

• Franco Dok Harris
• Luke Ravenstahl
• Patrick Dowd

-SWB

PS – We do not plan in any way to use the power of the internet to push any of the candidates into answering any of our question against their will, but we will use the acquired skill handed down by my Italian grandmother ….. guilt.

I hope they all remember the little guys will probably be making the decisions this year. {note the hint of grandma guilt here}

Pittsburgh Mayoral Race

Alrighty then …

We sent requests out for either a phone or e-mail interview to all major runners for the 2009 Pittsburgh Mayoral Race around March 11th. Those three were Luke Ravenstahl, Patrick Dowd, and Dok Harris. The requests were sent either via their campaign websites or discovered e-mail addresses. The only one that almost immediately replied was Dok Harris – the other two have not given even a reply from a campaign intern saying that they can’t talk to us now. This pretty much shows you who really thinks a little more “highly” of the common person, and points out who is just status quo. Or course, it could also point out who really needs e-mail going to their Blackberry.

As a “citizen reporter” SWB has an ethical responsibility to keep things balanced when pointing out things during an election timeframe (the same as the commercial media) – which we are going to totally ignore, but we will give all candidates the time of day and the change to have their say via our blog …. if they so wish or care to communicate to actual Pittsburghers.

*UPDATE* – Kudos for Mr Dowd’s group for getting us an update e-mail address very quickly! Gotta give credit where credit is due.

*UPDATE 03/24* – Click Here for update post.

But anyway … here are links to all three major candidates campaign sites:

Franco Dok Harris

Luke Ravenstahl

Patrick Dowd

-SWB

PS – If there more candidates you would like to given a chance or needing reference links on this blog, please comment to this post ….. we’d love to give them a chance also to ignore us, thus giving the excuse to drop a bunch of pigeon crap on them too. Our trained pigeons are getting cranky. See ….. we do our best to be fair at SWB.

BTW – “buy a new mayor day” is May 19th, 2009 if yinz iz wonderin’