I think we should take the compliment.

(h/t to Joe My God, which also includes a great comment thread)

And parents in Bethel Park, I expected more from you!

The sweater wearing children’s TV icon Fred Rogers is the subject of A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood, an Alexis Jolly spec script that has sold to Justin Nappi and Kevin Turen’s Treehouse Pictures.

Words can’t describe how much I adore Mr. Rogers, and I can’t wait to watch this over and over and over again.

There are special events all over the region, including a lot of special brews and tap takeovers.  Even if you think you don’t like beer, I promise you’ll be able to find a beer that you’ll like.

And, just like last year, the local craft brew community came together and created five special collaboration brews:

• D’Pomme Rye Saison – Rye Saison
• Fear of a Black Walnut – Smoked Black Wanut Oatmeal Stout
• Pennsyltucky UnCommon – PA Swankey/Kentucky Common
• Fakin the Funk – American Wild
• None More Black IPA – Belgian Black IPA

I went down to Rock Bottom to try the Fear of a Black Walnut, and it’s out of this world amazing.  I’m hoping to find all the others, but I’ll be hunting for the None More Black IPA.

There are also a couple other special beers out there from some craft brewing, and I have to recommend the Pittsburgh Left by Southern Tier.

Find out more, find a participating location and check out the myriad of events here.

What I’ve always liked about Quantum is how they use spaces in new and innovative ways, and especially how they use that mobility to support the local community.  ”Dreams” is being staged in the former Park Schenley Restaurant in the Royal York, and the reviews have been very good.

The show runs through the rest of the week, and if you have a chance, certainly check it out (and hopefully I can make it to the next show!)

Find out more here.

When I was in college at Saint Vincent, we did a year-long project with some of the Lost Boys who were staying with the parish of St. Benedict the Moor in the Hill District.

We went down to visit them twice, spending Mass and an afternoon with them, learning about their stories, their culture and what it had been like since they came to the United States.

The third session, they came to visit us.  We had a huge cook-out and a great game of soccer on the Steeler Fields, and I really, really enjoyed the time I spent with them.  Check out the story and the video clip from CBS at the link above.

Ms. Burkhart is quoted:

“Lesbians, gays and transsexuals are honored … under a flag that many people have died for?” she said. “I’m crying for my country.”

Ms. Burkhart,

You make the assumption that those who have defended this country: one, should only be honored if they fit your narrow view of acceptability, and two, no one from the LGBT community has ever died for this country.

Let’s start with the countless scores of LGBT service members who have fought for this country since its very inception.  Who have died for this country.  Do you not think that they matter?  Can you so callously brush them aside?

Why do you not also cry for them?  Does their sacrifice, their family’s loss, not move you?  Why is your sorrow based upon their personal lives, in which you are in no way connected?

And what of the countless members of the LGBT community harassed, beaten and murdered, simply for who they are.  It was only a few short years ago that sexual orientation and gender expression were added to the federal hate crime statutes.  And it took the brutal and heinous murder of young man Matthew Shephard to bring this issue into focus.

Matthew died underneath that flag.  He died here, on American soil, tied to a fencepost, beaten and tortured and left to die in agony, all because of who he loved.

So when you cry Ms. Burkhart, cry for our fellow citizens.  Cry for the ones who spread bigotry and intolerance.

So when you cry Ms. Burkhart, cry for our county.  Cry for those who have died underneath the American flag, their lives cut short due to the hatred of their neighbors.

So when you cry Ms. Burkhart, cry for all the brave members of our armed forces, not just some of them.  For they all deserve our respect.

All my best,

Mike

July 25 – August 1, the tournament will be played at Deer Lakes, Knob Hill and Moraine (state) Parks, as well as Slippery Rock University.

I’m very bad at Disc Golf.  It’s fun, but I just don’t have much aim.  While playing Ultimate in college (as one does), I was much better at catching than throwing, not that I was that great, but I made a few good plays between classes.

Check it out here, and happy Fat Tuesday!

Guess I’ll need to make some changes.

You can check out the report here.