Out for a(nother) Ride

As you've learned by now, it's always fun when there's enough time in the day (and enough gas in the tank) to wonder aimlessly about the area trying to get lost. You never know what you'll find. Here's just a few sites from the latest aimless adventure. 

Foo Fighters Wasting Light (Live)

Any time Pat Smear is involved, the Foo Fighters always seem to step it up. This album is no exception to that rule. I really can't wait to see this live. In the mean time, this will have to cover. The Foo Fighters were nice enough to post a video of them performing their entire new album live in studio. Excuse me while I tap my veins for a bit...

Most Annoying Guy Ever

So I roll over to Einstein Bros for a quick 15 minute lunch (which was quite fantastic, by the way), and I end up sitting at the table next to this guy. Looking at him, you wouldn't guess that he was a bottomless fountain of snot which he masterfully rockets into harmless napkin with the combined noise of all of the vuvuzelas at the World Cup. But he does, proudly, no less than six times during my 15 minutes in his proximity. Add to that the three guttural belches he summoned, from which, I'm pretty sure I felt the heat from as well as smelled last night's dinner. Or maybe he had some other bodily function firing away as well. But, it would be tough to tell over the noise from him continually crinkling his Diet Coke, which clearly is not helping. Needless to say, I'm thrilled to be headed back to work. Wow!

Not all those that wander are lost

If you don't care where you're headed, it can be quite fun to see where you end up. Even in a tiny area like mine, you can never possibly see everything there is to see. That's why it's fun to occasionally just venture out and about and try to find something new. For example today, riding around, it was fascinating to roll across an aged structure called "Jack's State Line Inn" in Avella, PA. Jack's advertised Beers n Dolls, in addition to an old tin sign touting drinks, food and fun. It might be fun to venture in there some time just to see their brand of fun.

Another place I'd never heard of was Meadowcroft Rockshelter (http://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/meadowcroft.aspx), which is alleged to have been inhabited for more than 16,000 years, since Paleo-Indian times. The place is now operated by the Heinz History Center and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2005 with several key archaeological findings. 

Other things along the way included, Doddridge Fort (http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=20851) and a place in Georgetown, PA where Meriweather Lewis traded in a leaky canoe and for $11, bought another canoe that also leaked (http://lewis-clark.org/content/content-article.asp?ArticleID=2966). Oh, and did I mention that I learned that Wisconsin's Barry Alvarez was from around here. Learned that by driving through his hometown of Langeloth, PA where they have a welcome sign in his honor. Also, learned that a ferret is a domesticated pole cat, thanks to a quick jaunt down pole cat hollow.

Ah, the things you learn. Looking forward to another outing some time soon!

Super Bowl Party

Another great season of Steelers football. I always love having everybody over each week for Steelers games. And, it was especially great getting everybody together for the Super Bowl. I was just sorry that we couldn't deliver a victory. 

Rockin the new avatar in honor of Brett Keisel. Go Stillerz!

via TweetDeck

Steel Is Dead?! Steel is alive and well in Pittsburgh

With all the excitement of the Steelers making the Super Bowl, it's that time of year where the media does that same story on the origin of the Steelers logo.

In fact, there is a great, factual piece on the history of the logo that can be found on the website of the logo owners, the American Iron and Steel Institute.

The story of the Steelers logo (the steelmark) is a fantastic one. And, it gives people great insight to the formation of the Pittsburgh region.

But, there's always that paranthetical remark by media and announcers that "steel is no longer made in the region," "steel is dead in Pittsburgh," or even worse, "steel isn't made in the US anymore." Let me explain why that is horribly incorrect.

While it's true that downtown Pittsburgh isn't packed with side-to-side mills, the fact is that steel IS still made here. In some instances, the quantities of steel made here are in excess of when we had s

ide-to-side mills lining the downtown area.

It just so happens that steel mills can do much more with much less today. In what once took miles of mill space to make steel, modern steelmaking can take place in much cleaner, smaller steelmaking facilities.

Downtown pittsburgh, has become a metropolitan area. But the steelmaking capacity is still here in the region. In just a 25 mile circle from the downtown area, you'll find several steelmaking facilities:

• US Steel Edgar Thompson
• Universal Stainless
• Union Electric Steel
• Allegheny Ludlum (Midland, Latrobe, Brakenridge, and Natrona)
• Whemco
• TMK Ipsco Koppel
• Ellwood Quality Steels
• AK Steel Butler

And, that doesn't include the global headquarters for US Steel in Pittsburgh's downtown area and other corporate offices that ARE in the downtown area.

So, to pronounce steel dead in Pittsburgh, or to dismiss the 80+ million tons of steel annually produced here in the US as dead--just because you don't see it in our downtown areas, is just perpetuating a misconception.

Steel IS still here in Pittsburgh--it's smaller, cleaner and much more quiet than its ominous past. Which, I guess that should be a compliment to its environmental and technical advancements. But, still, PITTSBURGH IS STILL A STEEL TOWN. Go Steelers!