Yeesh. It's been a long time since I posted a blog. Unfortunately, this one will be short. It's nearing end of the month, and that means that many people will have funds for Halloween festivities tonight at midnight.
I have been eating Ramen noodles and cereal for the last week. I need my paycheck. However, I heard someone say, "I could really use money now." Well she definitely deserves the money now because she can "really use" it, while I can only use it.
Also, it's a GPS unit, not system. GPS stands for global positioning system. We don't need global positioning system systems.
What other extraneous words bother you?
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Pittsburgh Pirates honor Homestead Grays
Gray might be the Pittsburgh Pirates' lucky color.
The team is paying homage to the Homestead Grays for the Pirates' Heritage Weekend by wearing the Grays' uniforms in the series against the Kansas City Royals.
With two wins and four home runs so far, the Pirates are doing a sensational job honoring the Grays, who won more Negro League World Series titles than any other team.
The Grays won three championships, including the last one before the league disbanded in 1948.
The previous year, Jackie Robinson played his first game as a Brooklyn Dodger, making him the first African-American to play in the white-only major leagues.
At Friday night's game, fans received free commemorative Grays baseball caps. Some tried to answer a trivia question about the Negro League.
Like many of the other attendees sporting those "G" caps, my knowledge of the Pittsburgh's black baseball teams was minimal.
Unknowing of the Grays' success, I wondered why they were being honored since Pittsburgh had its own team in the Negro National League, the Pittsburgh Crawfords. Their successes weren't comparable. Even though the team showcased five Hall-of-Famers during its run, the Crawfords never saw a championship game.
The navy blue hat with an embroidered "G" gave me more than just something to fiddle with during the game's slow times. It gave me something to think about.
There isn't much of a lesson in this blog except to remember those who struggled for acceptance.
And if the Pirates have seen a little further, it's by standing on the shoulders of Grays.
This might have helped the Pirates too.
Let's go Buccos!
The team is paying homage to the Homestead Grays for the Pirates' Heritage Weekend by wearing the Grays' uniforms in the series against the Kansas City Royals.
With two wins and four home runs so far, the Pirates are doing a sensational job honoring the Grays, who won more Negro League World Series titles than any other team.
The Grays won three championships, including the last one before the league disbanded in 1948.
The previous year, Jackie Robinson played his first game as a Brooklyn Dodger, making him the first African-American to play in the white-only major leagues.
At Friday night's game, fans received free commemorative Grays baseball caps. Some tried to answer a trivia question about the Negro League.
Like many of the other attendees sporting those "G" caps, my knowledge of the Pittsburgh's black baseball teams was minimal.
Unknowing of the Grays' success, I wondered why they were being honored since Pittsburgh had its own team in the Negro National League, the Pittsburgh Crawfords. Their successes weren't comparable. Even though the team showcased five Hall-of-Famers during its run, the Crawfords never saw a championship game.
The navy blue hat with an embroidered "G" gave me more than just something to fiddle with during the game's slow times. It gave me something to think about.
There isn't much of a lesson in this blog except to remember those who struggled for acceptance.
And if the Pirates have seen a little further, it's by standing on the shoulders of Grays.
This might have helped the Pirates too.
Let's go Buccos!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
White men can't jump? Black men can't skate?: Ethnic excuses for athletic ability
Three hours before the beginning of game seven of the Stanley Cup, I paced around the set of "Warrior" nervous about whether the director would wrap the scene before the puck dropped - I committed to being an extra before I realized that the series would go on for seven games.
It seemed like everyone was eager to get out; the crew moved the start time from 8:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. and dozens of crew members wore their Penguins gear. Some even had the moxie to wear Detroit Red Wings jerseys around Pittsburgh's North Hills Senior High School, where some of the movie's classroom scenes were shot.
While I was standing in a hallway waiting to enter the classroom, I heard a girl laughing and telling people why she couldn't like hockey.
"I don't follow the Penguins. Sure, I smile when they win, but I don't watch hockey. I'm black, and black people don't watch hockey. They just don't. My race doesn't let me watch hockey," she said.
I had to jump in. I told her that there are fewer Asians in the National Hockey League than black people, but my ethnicity doesn't keep me from watching hockey or football. Her excuse was just a cop out.
She tried to tell me off saying that the black people in the NHL were Canadians and not Americans so they aren't "black." That argument got tired out during Barack Obama's run for president. She couldn't name a black player in the league and yet she knew that their families didn't go through the struggle.
Well they are going through a struggle. They're overcoming stereotypes of their race. Perhaps their parents pushed them to pick up footballs, basketballs or at least baseballs, but they were happier with hockey sticks in their hands.
Mike Grier had a stint with youth football, but he soon realized that he was in the wrong sport. He became the first African-American to play in the NHL when he joined the Edmonton Oilers in 1996, with the support of his parents. However, growing up in "Hockeytown, USA" might have helped.
Willie O'Ree became the first man of African descent to play in the NHL in 1958, but he's Canadian.
**I have to put a plug in for the charitable, vegetarian, anti-fur, hockey-fight-extraordinaire Georges Laraque, who hails from Montreal but is of Haitian descent. I have to say that is seems like his Web site got an Obama-style makeover. You've got to love the blue gradient.
I told the girl that most hockey stars are not American, whether black, white, yellow or brown. The Canadian Ray Emery, Russian Evgeni Malkin, Canadian Manny Fernandez and the first player of Asian descent to captain a team in the NHL, Paul Kariya, who was born in Canada, have many things in common. But there's one glaring similarity: they weren't raised in the United States.
**Don't mind if I put in another plug. Paul Kariya had a cameo in D3: The Mighty Ducks, which is all about a diverse group of youngsters who outplay the contentious and preppy varsity team that believes ducks don't belong. Plus, his Japanese father played rugby, and his mother is Scottish. The Kariyas broke boundaries left and right.
Paul Tetsuhiko Kariya
If anything, the girl could have partially blamed her lack of interest in hockey on the country's and networks' lack of support since the lockout, pushing games on to more obscure networks and giving Conan O'Brien preference over the Stanley Cup finals.
But anyone who has interest in any sport, despite his or her color or culture can find a way to follow it, even if it's not on cable television.
The same goes for playing the sport. Physical superiority only goes so far; the only thing that can stop an athlete from playing the game is his or her mind.
To the nonbelievers, I have this video for you.
It seemed like everyone was eager to get out; the crew moved the start time from 8:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. and dozens of crew members wore their Penguins gear. Some even had the moxie to wear Detroit Red Wings jerseys around Pittsburgh's North Hills Senior High School, where some of the movie's classroom scenes were shot.
While I was standing in a hallway waiting to enter the classroom, I heard a girl laughing and telling people why she couldn't like hockey.
"I don't follow the Penguins. Sure, I smile when they win, but I don't watch hockey. I'm black, and black people don't watch hockey. They just don't. My race doesn't let me watch hockey," she said.
I had to jump in. I told her that there are fewer Asians in the National Hockey League than black people, but my ethnicity doesn't keep me from watching hockey or football. Her excuse was just a cop out.
She tried to tell me off saying that the black people in the NHL were Canadians and not Americans so they aren't "black." That argument got tired out during Barack Obama's run for president. She couldn't name a black player in the league and yet she knew that their families didn't go through the struggle.
Well they are going through a struggle. They're overcoming stereotypes of their race. Perhaps their parents pushed them to pick up footballs, basketballs or at least baseballs, but they were happier with hockey sticks in their hands.
Mike Grier had a stint with youth football, but he soon realized that he was in the wrong sport. He became the first African-American to play in the NHL when he joined the Edmonton Oilers in 1996, with the support of his parents. However, growing up in "Hockeytown, USA" might have helped.
Willie O'Ree became the first man of African descent to play in the NHL in 1958, but he's Canadian.
**I have to put a plug in for the charitable, vegetarian, anti-fur, hockey-fight-extraordinaire Georges Laraque, who hails from Montreal but is of Haitian descent. I have to say that is seems like his Web site got an Obama-style makeover. You've got to love the blue gradient.
I told the girl that most hockey stars are not American, whether black, white, yellow or brown. The Canadian Ray Emery, Russian Evgeni Malkin, Canadian Manny Fernandez and the first player of Asian descent to captain a team in the NHL, Paul Kariya, who was born in Canada, have many things in common. But there's one glaring similarity: they weren't raised in the United States.
**Don't mind if I put in another plug. Paul Kariya had a cameo in D3: The Mighty Ducks, which is all about a diverse group of youngsters who outplay the contentious and preppy varsity team that believes ducks don't belong. Plus, his Japanese father played rugby, and his mother is Scottish. The Kariyas broke boundaries left and right.
Paul Tetsuhiko KariyaIf anything, the girl could have partially blamed her lack of interest in hockey on the country's and networks' lack of support since the lockout, pushing games on to more obscure networks and giving Conan O'Brien preference over the Stanley Cup finals.
But anyone who has interest in any sport, despite his or her color or culture can find a way to follow it, even if it's not on cable television.
The same goes for playing the sport. Physical superiority only goes so far; the only thing that can stop an athlete from playing the game is his or her mind.
To the nonbelievers, I have this video for you.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Penguins on parade
Enough of this "march of the penguins" talk. I was happy to see the Penguins ride today.
The victorious Pittsburgh Penguins waved at their fans from the back of pickup trucks at the team's parade Downtown.
The parade began on Grant Street at noon and proceeded down the Boulevard of the Allies and onto Stanwix Street, where the team showed off the Stanley Cup and thanked their supporters.
For those of you who were trapped at work, out of town or want to relive the excitement, I made a slideshow from the parade. Some highlights of the parade were seeing game-seven-hero Maxime Talbot clean shaven and joking around, a few local high school bands with black and gold colors, Marc-Andre Fleury next to Sidney Crosby and the Stanley Cup and, of course, Vladimir and Natalia Malkin. Unfortunately, I wasn't close enough to see Evgeni Malkin holding the Conn Smythe Trophy dressed up in a penguin (not Penguins) hat.
And here's a video of the MVP himself, Malkin. The crowd chants his nickname, Geno, as rides with the Conn Smythe Trophy.
Hopefully, we'll get to see the Penguins ride again soon.
The victorious Pittsburgh Penguins waved at their fans from the back of pickup trucks at the team's parade Downtown.
The parade began on Grant Street at noon and proceeded down the Boulevard of the Allies and onto Stanwix Street, where the team showed off the Stanley Cup and thanked their supporters.
For those of you who were trapped at work, out of town or want to relive the excitement, I made a slideshow from the parade. Some highlights of the parade were seeing game-seven-hero Maxime Talbot clean shaven and joking around, a few local high school bands with black and gold colors, Marc-Andre Fleury next to Sidney Crosby and the Stanley Cup and, of course, Vladimir and Natalia Malkin. Unfortunately, I wasn't close enough to see Evgeni Malkin holding the Conn Smythe Trophy dressed up in a penguin (not Penguins) hat.
And here's a video of the MVP himself, Malkin. The crowd chants his nickname, Geno, as rides with the Conn Smythe Trophy.
Hopefully, we'll get to see the Penguins ride again soon.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
City of Champions
The morning after the "next generation" of Pittsburgh Penguins hoisted the Lord Stanley's cup above their heads, the Strip District was ready to honor the city's newest set of champions.
Saturday mornings at the Strip District are usually busy, but yesterday's crowd seemed a little different than usual. Vendors took the taunting shirts off the tables and made room for official Stanley Cup champions shirts and unofficial "City of Champions" shirts. People gave equal time to chat about Maxime Talbot, the scorer of the only two goals in the final game, as they did to the most valuable player of the playoffs - and possibly the season - Evgeni Malkin. Talbot got his number (and age) drawn on a black and gold cookie, which enjoy plate time next to the youngest captain to win the Stanley Cup, Sidney Crosby, 21.
Some vendors ran out of Marc-Andre Fleury shirts and smaller shirt sizes less than 12 hours after the final buzzer sounded in Detroit. Patrons interrogated vendors about when the locker room shirts, hats and other merchandise would be coming off the trucks.
It was how I envisioned the Pittsburgh in the early '90s after the Penguins won back-to-back championships: happy, buslting and confident in their teams. Plus, people were buying newspapers!
It was a great day to be a Pittsburgher, and Monday will be too. Check back for lots of pictures from the victory parade Downtown.
Saturday mornings at the Strip District are usually busy, but yesterday's crowd seemed a little different than usual. Vendors took the taunting shirts off the tables and made room for official Stanley Cup champions shirts and unofficial "City of Champions" shirts. People gave equal time to chat about Maxime Talbot, the scorer of the only two goals in the final game, as they did to the most valuable player of the playoffs - and possibly the season - Evgeni Malkin. Talbot got his number (and age) drawn on a black and gold cookie, which enjoy plate time next to the youngest captain to win the Stanley Cup, Sidney Crosby, 21.
Some vendors ran out of Marc-Andre Fleury shirts and smaller shirt sizes less than 12 hours after the final buzzer sounded in Detroit. Patrons interrogated vendors about when the locker room shirts, hats and other merchandise would be coming off the trucks.
It was how I envisioned the Pittsburgh in the early '90s after the Penguins won back-to-back championships: happy, buslting and confident in their teams. Plus, people were buying newspapers!
It was a great day to be a Pittsburgher, and Monday will be too. Check back for lots of pictures from the victory parade Downtown.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Saving the rainforest with orange juice
Ahh. That's the refreshing sound after drinking a refreshing drink of sweet Tropicana orange juice. That delicious, healthy goodness is not only good for you, but it can be good for the earth too.
I saved 200 square feet of rainforest today, and I've saved 700 square feet of rainforest so far with Tropicana.
Tropicana's campaign in conjunction with Cool Earth tries to combat these negative effects by rewarding people who purchase their juice, no matter what the size. Even the 12 oz. bottle offers the lush land some peace.
By saving rainforests in Brazil, Ecuador and Peru, Tropicana preserves the trees necessary for turning CO2 into oxygen. Tropical rainforests shelter more than half of the world's population of plants, animals and insects. Aside from the taking away habitats and trees that filter the air, the act of deforestation also sends great clouds of CO2 into the air.
Purchasing the product isn't enough though. This is what separates the people who really care from the casual consumer. While many companies will donate a few cents to charities just for purchases, Tropicana requires people to sign up and enter 11-digit offer codes.
I think I know what you're thinking. Here's the answer: Tropicana will NOT spam your inbox with offers.
Keeping codes and entering them online is a leap, especially for people who won't take the time to sort out recyclables. However, it's worthwhile because Tropicana donates more funds to take land away from loggers than other companies give to charities.
Take Starbucks for instance. If you sign up for a Starbucks (Red) card and remember to bring it, Starbucks will donate $.05 per purchase to the Global Fund to give medicine to people in Africa. That's great, but $.05 is insignificant considering that most drinks at Starbucks cost $4.
If a person buys a drink from Starbucks every day for one year, he will contribute $18.25. Though I believe it's good to take a little money away from a wealthy corporate chain to benefit the needy, this is no incentive to go to Starbucks more than usual, especially since it takes 53 gallons of water to make one latte. Read here.
Next time you go to the grocery store or to 7-11 for a cool refreshment, consider purchasing Tropicana Pure Premium orange juice. And remember to hold on to the bottle cap or code until you get the chance to go online. Your email, Facebook and favorite blog will be there but that spot of rainforest that you could have saved might not.
Check out the Tropicana rainforest Web site.
I saved 200 square feet of rainforest today, and I've saved 700 square feet of rainforest so far with Tropicana.
Tropicana's campaign in conjunction with Cool Earth tries to combat these negative effects by rewarding people who purchase their juice, no matter what the size. Even the 12 oz. bottle offers the lush land some peace.By saving rainforests in Brazil, Ecuador and Peru, Tropicana preserves the trees necessary for turning CO2 into oxygen. Tropical rainforests shelter more than half of the world's population of plants, animals and insects. Aside from the taking away habitats and trees that filter the air, the act of deforestation also sends great clouds of CO2 into the air.
Purchasing the product isn't enough though. This is what separates the people who really care from the casual consumer. While many companies will donate a few cents to charities just for purchases, Tropicana requires people to sign up and enter 11-digit offer codes.
I think I know what you're thinking. Here's the answer: Tropicana will NOT spam your inbox with offers.
Keeping codes and entering them online is a leap, especially for people who won't take the time to sort out recyclables. However, it's worthwhile because Tropicana donates more funds to take land away from loggers than other companies give to charities.
Take Starbucks for instance. If you sign up for a Starbucks (Red) card and remember to bring it, Starbucks will donate $.05 per purchase to the Global Fund to give medicine to people in Africa. That's great, but $.05 is insignificant considering that most drinks at Starbucks cost $4.
If a person buys a drink from Starbucks every day for one year, he will contribute $18.25. Though I believe it's good to take a little money away from a wealthy corporate chain to benefit the needy, this is no incentive to go to Starbucks more than usual, especially since it takes 53 gallons of water to make one latte. Read here.
Next time you go to the grocery store or to 7-11 for a cool refreshment, consider purchasing Tropicana Pure Premium orange juice. And remember to hold on to the bottle cap or code until you get the chance to go online. Your email, Facebook and favorite blog will be there but that spot of rainforest that you could have saved might not.
Check out the Tropicana rainforest Web site.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Couples looking alike: The Sarkozy case
Though opposites attract, there's evidence that people tend to choose long-term partners with qualities that match theirs. These similarities sometimes translate into physical features. For example, men and women who have more testosterone in their bodies exhibit more masculine physical qualities (have larger muscles, pronounced chins and high foreheads). Here's a story that explains the biological reasons behind the whimsy.
While some couples start off looking like each other...
Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake in 2001
others tend to look more alike as they grow older...
Because of the similar-physical-features-similar-personality-traits complex, couples that look like each other tend to last longer -- ignoring the Spears-Timberlake example, of course.
Now, is it improper for me to point out that President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama have kindred qualities? They are both tall, slender, intelligent individuals who know how to command a crowd. With their winning smiles, President Obama and his wife might be the most similar looking first family; though they have stiff competition.
First Lady Martha Washington and President George Washington
When the Obamas met with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Cara Bruni earlier this month, the Associated Press captured a revealing moment for Sarkozy. The president, who has been divorced twice, might not look like his singer and former model wife, but that doesn't mean that he's not trying. ;)
(Notice Sarkozy's feet )
Palais Rohan in Strasbourg, France, Friday, April 3, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
While some couples start off looking like each other...
Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake in 2001
Because of the similar-physical-features-similar-personality-traits complex, couples that look like each other tend to last longer -- ignoring the Spears-Timberlake example, of course.
Now, is it improper for me to point out that President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama have kindred qualities? They are both tall, slender, intelligent individuals who know how to command a crowd. With their winning smiles, President Obama and his wife might be the most similar looking first family; though they have stiff competition.
First Lady Martha Washington and President George Washington
When the Obamas met with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Cara Bruni earlier this month, the Associated Press captured a revealing moment for Sarkozy. The president, who has been divorced twice, might not look like his singer and former model wife, but that doesn't mean that he's not trying. ;)
(Notice Sarkozy's feet )Palais Rohan in Strasbourg, France, Friday, April 3, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Review of the mayoral candidates' Web sites
While researching for a story about Pittsburgh's mayoral candidates, I started to think about something that was pivotal to President Barack Obama's election: His Web site. The three Democratic candidates - Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, Councilman Patrick Dowd and attorney Carmen Robinson - have unique Web sites that epitomize the images they're trying to convey.
Mayor Luke Ravenstahl
www.lukeformayor.com
The mayor is trying to show his Pittsburgh pride on his Web site, playing up his "Steelerstahl" spirit. His Web site's color scheme is black and gold and features a straightforward headshot with a smile that says, "I'm the mayor of the city of champions." Ravenstahl's new signs that say "Taking care of business" and "Getting it done" also exhibit big, bold graphics that scream "football."
Ravenstahl also beckons his supporters to "take action," rather than "volunteer." This goes with his young, virile persona.
Blog? Yes.
Link to Twitter? Check. Active? eh.
Link to Facebook? Check.
Link to Myspace? No. Myspace? eh.
Videos? No.
Councilman Patrick Dowd
www.dowdformayor.com
Dowd seems to the candidate for change because his Web site is reminiscent of Obama's campaign Web site, which is still up (Sen. John McCain took down his periwinkle Web site that also shared cosmetic similarities to Obama's). Before entering dowdformayor.com, there's a splash page prompting the viewer to donate. The blue and white color scheme is Obama-esque, though it doesn't play up the blue gradients as much on the homepage. Though the blue gradient is very similar to Obama's Web site, it's the portrait on that donation page that interests me. The photographer shot Dowd at a low angle that makes the upward looking Dowd seem optimistic, but not in the same way as the famous, sincere-looking Obama shot.
Continuing with his image, Dowd has adopted a little logo - like our president who decided to keep his campaign rising sun logo - in the browser tab, a "D." It seems more like George W. Bush's "W" logo or Oprah 's "O" than Obama.
Dowd also likes to talk to supporters using videos in the same way Obama used videos in his campaign. His Web site is highly interactive, with opportunities for supporters to upload photos and write why they're voting for Dowd.
Dowd also knows how to treat the media. On his "press kit" page, he aggregated his press releases and news articles as well as a black and white and color press photo (used above).
Blog? Yes.
Link to Twitter? Check. Active? Almost as much as mine at 2 a.m.
Link to Facebook? Check.
Link to Myspace? No. Myspace? No.
Video? Oooo. Yes.
Carmen Robinson
www.carmenformayor.com/
Robinson's Web site is a traditional, patriotic red, white and blue with gold accents. The Pittsburgh native's page features a faded picture of Pittsburgh's skyline. She gets extra points for that. The featured portrait of Robinson shows the candidate with arms crossed in a stern pose that's expected of an attorney.
Robinson's Web site is viewed best in Microsoft Internet Explorer. Alright... I tried it, and I didn't notice any difference.
Moving on. Graphics on the Web site are playful and don't have an obvious theme. There are various eye-catching fonts and pictures. She's the only candidate who posted pictures of her family and one of her standing near Pope John Paul II. Robinson does a good job portraying herself as a member of the community as well as a tough attorney with unwavering principles.
Rather than copying Obama's Web site aesthetics, Robinson uses Obama's catch phrases. Her Twitter says "Vote for Change!" and "Yes we can!"
Blog? No.
Link to Twitter? Check. Active? Yes.
Link to Facebook? No. Facebook? Not one for her campaign.
Link to Myspace? Check.
Video? None of herself but one of Obama on the stump recognizing Ravenstahl who was M.I.A. when he called his name - I was actually at this round table discussion at CMU last summer.
The Democratic primary tends to be more competitive than the main election in November because Pittsburgh is a historically Democratic city, having elected its last Republican mayor, John Herron, in 1933.
Total hits
Unique hits
Mayor Luke Ravenstahl
www.lukeformayor.com
The mayor is trying to show his Pittsburgh pride on his Web site, playing up his "Steelerstahl" spirit. His Web site's color scheme is black and gold and features a straightforward headshot with a smile that says, "I'm the mayor of the city of champions." Ravenstahl's new signs that say "Taking care of business" and "Getting it done" also exhibit big, bold graphics that scream "football."Ravenstahl also beckons his supporters to "take action," rather than "volunteer." This goes with his young, virile persona.
Blog? Yes.
Link to Twitter? Check. Active? eh.
Link to Facebook? Check.
Link to Myspace? No. Myspace? eh.
Videos? No.
Councilman Patrick Dowd
www.dowdformayor.com
Dowd seems to the candidate for change because his Web site is reminiscent of Obama's campaign Web site, which is still up (Sen. John McCain took down his periwinkle Web site that also shared cosmetic similarities to Obama's). Before entering dowdformayor.com, there's a splash page prompting the viewer to donate. The blue and white color scheme is Obama-esque, though it doesn't play up the blue gradients as much on the homepage. Though the blue gradient is very similar to Obama's Web site, it's the portrait on that donation page that interests me. The photographer shot Dowd at a low angle that makes the upward looking Dowd seem optimistic, but not in the same way as the famous, sincere-looking Obama shot.
Continuing with his image, Dowd has adopted a little logo - like our president who decided to keep his campaign rising sun logo - in the browser tab, a "D." It seems more like George W. Bush's "W" logo or Oprah 's "O" than Obama.
Dowd also likes to talk to supporters using videos in the same way Obama used videos in his campaign. His Web site is highly interactive, with opportunities for supporters to upload photos and write why they're voting for Dowd.
Dowd also knows how to treat the media. On his "press kit" page, he aggregated his press releases and news articles as well as a black and white and color press photo (used above).
Blog? Yes.
Link to Twitter? Check. Active? Almost as much as mine at 2 a.m.
Link to Facebook? Check.
Link to Myspace? No. Myspace? No.
Video? Oooo. Yes.
Carmen Robinson
www.carmenformayor.com/
Robinson's Web site is a traditional, patriotic red, white and blue with gold accents. The Pittsburgh native's page features a faded picture of Pittsburgh's skyline. She gets extra points for that. The featured portrait of Robinson shows the candidate with arms crossed in a stern pose that's expected of an attorney.
Robinson's Web site is viewed best in Microsoft Internet Explorer. Alright... I tried it, and I didn't notice any difference.
Moving on. Graphics on the Web site are playful and don't have an obvious theme. There are various eye-catching fonts and pictures. She's the only candidate who posted pictures of her family and one of her standing near Pope John Paul II. Robinson does a good job portraying herself as a member of the community as well as a tough attorney with unwavering principles.
Rather than copying Obama's Web site aesthetics, Robinson uses Obama's catch phrases. Her Twitter says "Vote for Change!" and "Yes we can!"
Blog? No.
Link to Twitter? Check. Active? Yes.
Link to Facebook? No. Facebook? Not one for her campaign.
Link to Myspace? Check.
Video? None of herself but one of Obama on the stump recognizing Ravenstahl who was M.I.A. when he called his name - I was actually at this round table discussion at CMU last summer.
The Democratic primary tends to be more competitive than the main election in November because Pittsburgh is a historically Democratic city, having elected its last Republican mayor, John Herron, in 1933.
Total hits
Unique hits
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Swing City!
I must be asleep.
Because I feel most awake, most alive when I'm dancing. Trying a new type of dance is like tasting a new dessert, and last night, I had the triple chocolate cake.
Walking onto the dance floor at Swing City in Squirrel Hill, I could not stop smiling. The music, people and dance moves seemed so familiar. I wished I had a polka dot dress, red lipstick and pearls. But I didn't feel awkward in my black skinny jeans and charcoal top - at least I was wearing my dancing shoes. The atmosphere was very casual. Some people dressed in vintage dresses and collared shirts while others wore Penguins shirts and poncho pants.
I went with the intention of observing for the first hour or so. This was not only because I plan on writing a story about Swing City for my newspaper 2 class but also because I had no idea how to swing dance.
After about 15 minutes of coaxing from friendly men who didn't want to see a girl sitting down, my favorite dancing buddy, Molly, and I took to the dance floor. I cursed myself for not showing up to the free lesson beforehand. But all of our dance partners were so helpful, counting to eight and reminding us of the slow-slow-quick-quick pattern. The way people crossed the room for each other reminded me of how Maria and Tony connected during the crowded dance in West Side Story. The kicking girls and twisting guys snapping their fingers helped too.
Dr. Zoot played the bouncing themes I expected as well as some polka and waltz. When they needed a break, the dance gods put on The Foundation's "Build Me Up Buttercup." The long trumpet skirts twirled and men got down on one knee with arms out, letting their girls parade around them. Amidst all of the swinging hips and dipping girls, there was an older couple in the middle of the room holding each other tight and spinning slowly.
The diverse crowd ranged from mid-teens to senior citizens, and everyone was having fun. Swing dancing is a lifelong activity, like tennis or golf, but I don't see love in peoples' eyes when they're golfing. Though tennis and golf clothes are pretty snazzy, there's just something about fedoras and chiffon scarves that's oh so fly.
You can bet that poodle skirt that I'll be back next Saturday and for many Saturdays after.
Swing City's Web site: http://www.swingpgh.com/index.html
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Welcome to Brave New Word
"O brave new world,
That has such people in it!"
-William Shakespeare
That has such people in it!"
-William Shakespeare
Salutations! Thank you for viewing Brave New Word, a new culture blog by Estelle Tran. My readership on Transforumer, my old blog and professional Web site, was minimal, so I finally decided to make the jump on to Blogger. I'm reluctant to restrict this blog to one niche since I love to make connections and compare subjects. So you can expect to see blog entries commenting about national news as well as Pittsburgh news. But I'll also be busy blogging about trends in television, music, fashion and green issues.
Please check back soon. :)
All the best,
Estelle
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