My blog n'at

I was surprised in myself as to how I reacted when I read on Twitter that Steve Jobs passed. I actually got a little emotional and it felt like losing a relative even though I have never owned a product from Apple.

The first computer I used was an Apple II e in the 1980′s and once I went to college I was straight PC. Only reason for the move was that’s what Pitt had in the computer labs and if it wasn’t a machine running Windows 3.11 I was on a Unix box.  Apple’s though, never saw one. Then I ended up selling PC’s and built them from scratch and all of my programs were on PC so again, why would I use anything from Apple.

Then podcasting happened.

Granted there are other things that shaped podcasting but it was iTunes that got most of the public hooked and a became credible tool for broadcasting our content. The ease of using iMovie and Garageband started the movement of the everyday Joe becoming a viable media creator.

I don’t think many people outside of the geek community realize how much of their plugged in lifestyle they owe to this man.  Steve, thank you for being a visionary and moving forward when people said it will never work. Because of your influence most of us in social media wouldn’t be here.

Might come as a shock for some of you (OK not a SHOCK but more of a heh, I didn’t know that…) but I just graduated college on Friday with a degree in interactive media. I was waiting for my final grade to come in so I would know where my final ranking is. I have one assignment left and I’m at 97% in the class so I think its a safe bet to say I’m good to go.

I didn’t walk in graduation on Friday even though my wife wished I did; I would rather save the vacation day so I can spend it with my boys. Yeah it would have been cool to get the medal and all that jazz with dressing up but I would much rather have a day at the park with the monkeys.

It has been a long and difficult four years when I think about it. I’ve become a dad twice to preemies, I was laid off from a job of 10 years (1 week before Teaspoon was born 2 months early nonetheless) I dealt with a shitty landlord who did nothing as my townhouse was falling in around me and my family during Snomageddon and attack of the bees, I moved and I bought a house. All while somehow maintaining a GPA above 3.5. What was even more challenging was that these classes were all online and we had 2 breaks a year for a couple weeks. That was it. Also when you’re in online classses you may think its a breeze but in fact its very demanding because you have schoolwork almost every day.

When I started, online schooling was new and I had only a couple options. I took a lot of heat from my family because it wasn’t traditional schooling and they cant deal with anything that isn’t traditional but fact was, I couldn’t sit in a classroom with my work schedule and still get things done. I needed to be flexible and that’s what online gave me.

Now its common to see people taking their masters and many other degrees online because lets face it, we’re in a shitty economy and we need to work. The bonus to online schooling though is that while I’m up at 3am after a baby feeding I can get classwork done and submitted.

So what comes next? Well I’m taking a well deserved self imposed break. At least a year off from schooling to relax and spend some quality time with my boys and enjoying being a dad without the burden of having to say no because daddy has homework. It took me until my 30′s to realize what I had a passion for. Yeah I’m good with computers and web but that’s not what I wanted to do, that’s what paid the bills. Come to think of it what I wanted to do didn’t even exist 5-10 years ago.

What about here? Well this is my last post for awhile. Not like I was ripping up the feeds before but I knew that this last semester would be difficult since the job I was hired to do 2 years ago was finally being published and I had a heavy workload.

I thought about having a series of posts venting about the stupidity of the world and then ending with a big ole SEE YA but decided against it. I’m taking time away from everything. I have yardwork I want to do, I have writing on the side I want to get done and also I need to get things organized because some things coming up. Something badass and I need to force myself to take a step back and get my ducks lined up.  Its gonna be cool but I need to make sure I’m 100% ready. I have a couple books I want to read that aren’t tech manuals for once and really just want to see what its like not staying up until 2:30am stressing over homework.

Twitter, Facebook, everything… its an internet vacation where I can and I’m going to take time to finally stop and smell the hops. When I come back we’re gonna have some fun. I promise. You may see some posts randomly so don’t unsubscribe just yet.

I’ll see ya when I see ya.

-spoon

P.S. Get the August issue of Pittsburgh Magazine when it comes out

I really should start “Shit my mom says” as a category.

Last week I’m talking to my mom on the phone and in 1 conversation I was told that the pedophiles are around because of the internet and asked, in complete sincerity, “Douglas, why didn’t you invent Facebook?”

I did everything I could to not crash my car on the Parkway while trying to process that one.

Mom learned about The Social Network on Oprah and ever since tells me how its amazing that such a young man is a billionaire. Anytime she hears of someone in their 20/30′s making it rich I usually get the “why didn’t you do that?” speech. I had to roll back the history and once again tell the tales of my history to her.

While in my freshman year at Pitt (94/95) I had my first taste of working on computers. Enough so that I wanted to change my major from Psychology to Comp Sci. That’s when they dropped the bomb, direct quote from her and my dad was  ”you will NEVER make money in computers.”

I could go into greater detail about the lack of support because they didn’t understand and blah blah blah but really, wait for my biography or buy me a pint and we’ll chat. Honestly I think its an Erie thing and why so much talent flourishes once it leaves.

I still get phone calls asking to fix computers and you know what, they were right, I could never make a living because everyone wants their computer fixed, a website made or a social media strategy for free.

OK this post is taking a turn I wasn’t expecting when I started writing it. nice.

With world changing on an almost daily basis don’t discard someone because they’re not doing something you understand. We don’t know what the next big thing will be. I was told by a family member to quit podcasting when I started because it was a “waste of time” and in the 5 years since I started I think its treated me rather well.

I still hear “whats wrong with that person” because you dont follow the 1950′s idea of a professional. That is until someone makes money and your mom asks why you didn’t do it.

Don’t even get me started on the craft beer thing…

trainwreck

waste of an hour

jumped the shark

I’ve never seen 50000 people bail so fast on a webcast in my life. I stayed tuned in to see what would happened and what I got was an hour of public access quality writing and sfx of fart jokes and applause. The only saving grace was the girl who would get up once in awhile and bop around while the others sat there sucking what is left of Charlie Sheen’s fame.

I’m sure the only time my kids will ever ask about this moment is when they have a school project on social media disasters but when they do I can point to this post and say “boys, I was there.”

I think this train may end faster and more harsh than the one Ted Williams was on.

Go ahead and click on it. You know you want to.

The furnace has been a thorn in my side since me moved in. Its ran like a champ but the problem is that Captain Obvious went balls to the wall having this thing installed and left ZERO documentation to it. Yeah its not your typical furnace with $12 filters either. Of freaking course it wouldn’t be.

So here’s the deal

We’ve had a problem with heat getting to the nursery. Never an issue after we moved in because we always had the windows open so we knew the room was at least cool. Come winter time and its barely blowing. We call and the guy stops out THREE times. Yes, THREE! Each time with a different excuse. First time it was the filter which was $40 (this I actually looked up online and confirmed because its some 1 year accordion thing) Then he said it needed cleaned and since I saw the gunk in it I figured why not. Third time he comes back because the whole house is shaking when the furnace kicks on and there is water on the floor. At this point they think we’re full of shit.

Really? Look at this. Go one and click to make it bigger.
Does that look like I’m imagining things? It takes 4 days for these people to come back.

This time they send a new guy and he says that not only does the pump need replaced but there is a 1ft long piece of foam in the blower. Funny since we never had issues until the guy serviced the furnace and now this piece of foam is there.

Someone call the Hardy Boys to solve this mystery. Good lord it amazes what people do to make a buck.

Last Saturday Lushie and I took some time for ourselves and spent the afternoon down at Vatican Splendors showing until Jan 9th at the Senator John Heinz History Center. I have been pumped to see this exhibit from the moment it was announced. I’m no where near over the top uber catholic boy but after 12 years of catholic schooling I have a pretty good idea of what’s going on. I’m also a big sucker for anything historical so this was an absolute must.

From vaticansplendors.com
Michelangelo items and works by Bernini, Giotto, and others. Objects dating back to the first century. From the venerated relics (bone fragments) of Saint Peter and Saint Paul to personal items of Pope John Paul II, this exhibit comprises one of the largest Vatican collections ever to tour North America. Many items have never before been on public view. From culture to history to art, explore how the Papacy has impacted-and been impacted by-the world throughout the centuries.

First impressions
Old people. A LOT of them. I guess that’s to be expected when you’re going to look at something ancient and religious based. There were some 30-somethings there but I think they were all parents also looking for an afternoon off.

What I liked
It wasn’t as much a “spiritual OMG” as I thought it would be but from a historical view I was really into the garments, religious symbols,  and statues. The casting of Pope John Paul II hands were beautiful and given the chance to actually put my hands on one of the displays seemed surreal. It amazed me the engineering it must have taken to build these empires for the popes and just the scaffolding alone for Michaelangelo’s work plus his caliper was mind boggling. The highlight was seeing the the Cast of the Pietà which was the most famous of the items on display. (side note: Lushie saw there was a stinkbug on the Pieta. I hope they dont take it back to Rome).

What I didn’t like
They offered audio tours for $5. You get a headset/player and get to listen to an audio tour. While I’m sure that was great to listen to it made everyone into drones. Countless number of people were cutting in front of us, reading the signs out loud because they couldn’t hear themselves over the headphones, Lushie got a couple elbows from inconsiderate folk trying to get ahead, freaky smelly old people who would act like they were religious experts and try to tell everyone around them about each artifact when all they know is what they watched on History Channel. There was some art student who kept saying everything was fake because she studies art and she knows what’s real *ugh*. WAY too many paintings for me. I’m not a paintings guy so it bored me. Final thing, while I know you’re trying to make some cash at this gig did you really need to sell short glasses and bottle openers? Rosaries, prayer books, Christmas ornaments… and shot glasses. No I didn’t get one.

Overall
It was worth the price of admission ($23/person) being this close to religious history I will probably never see again. Besides a few rotten apples we really did have a good time. Everyone should at least check it out but be considerate of those around you.

My wife and I just recently got into watching Man vs Food hosted by Adam Richman on the Travel channel. I heard of the show a couple years ago when he was in town shooting a Pittsburgh episode and did his food challenge at Quaker Steak by eating Atomic Wings (I can’t believe that was the best he could find here. Its way over hyped). The premise of the show is Adam goes to a city, eats at 3 places and then does a food challenge which is usually eating an obscene amount of food or something that would make your ass pucker. Its almost like a wonder twin version of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives but the appeal comes from the host. Adam is the kinda guy you could watch a game with and have a dog & a beer.  Basically he’s a food version of Should I Drink That.

Last night we watched the Chicago episode which he had some deep dish, yada yada yada and… a Lucky’s overstuffed sandwhich?

Wait a second. Bread, tomato, cole slaw, fries, cheese and meat…That looks REALLY familiar.

Hey, it’s Pittsburgh’s own Primanti sandwich!

Yes I know that these are probably imitated all over the country, it happens, but the fact that not only was it featured on Man vs Food: Chicago but ALSO on Man vs Food: Pittsburgh! You mean to tell me that someone, especially Adam, didn’t say “I think I’ve had this before.” when he was at either place (whichever aired second).  Almost beats the joints in Erie that sell “Pre-manny style sandwiches”. Oh wait it gets better, the menu and vibe of Lucky’s is damn near the same as Primanti’s! If you watch the episode and look at the menu on the wall it’s creepy similar.

Just when I thought it couldn’t get any more bizarro world on me, enter THIS guy

Dude is wearing a Pirates cap! Not only did they rip off the food but there’s a guy pimping the Buccos. if you check the interwebz you’ll see this episode came out a while ago and people have been bitching ever since. Whatever the reason if you get the chance try out both places and make your own judgement. If I ever get to Chicago on a beer tour I’ll make sure to stop here.

Onto the challenge. Adam has to eat 3 sandwiches in 1 hour. The feat originated when some drunk dude (probably the guy in the hat above) came in loaded on cheap beer and downed 3 in one sitting. Adam did this in 25 minutes. Yeah, 25. This is no challenge and in fact next time I go to Primanti’s I’m going to see what its like there. I’ll ask sickpuppy to bring the camera along.

One last thing - Primanti’s (founded 1930′s) > Lucky’s (founded 2004)

I’m not a fan of coming home when its dark out. In fact I don’t like seeing the sunset out my office window as my day winds down. Let’s face it, it’s depressing when you know a long drive home is ahead and traffic will suck.

I just don’t see the point in messing with our clocks anymore. It seems like I’m losing productive daylight hours knowing that at 6am sun could be coming in my window.

I know this is just rambling and jibberish but I really wanted to use that image of Flava. Christ see what its doing to me already! Only plus was that Saturday night I got to stay at the Lounge an extra hour.

Maybe its just a sign that I would suck at flying back and forth from the coasts.

Maybe I just need a nap.

Guess who didn’t properly vent the nursery he was painting this weekend. Never thought that a white room could be so entertaining. If you’ve ever used Kilz you know what I mean.

I had fans running and the windows open. Nothing can save you from the Kilz.

That is what’s left of Teaspoon’s pumpkin. Never got to carve it because last night some teenagers nailed not only our house but the surrounding 4 blocks.

At first I was hella pissed because this was Teaspoon’s pumpkin and you don’t mess with my kid but then I thought about karma kicking their ass. You see one of the kids got caught and from what I heard literally pissed himself because the lady screamed at him so bad. Then, since they did it at 7pm, the police were right on top of it and most likely caught the others. There were pissed off parents roaming the streets so there was no way these kids were making it out. I don’t know what the final outcome was but the rest of the night was very peaceful. The problem here is I’m a smart ass and next year anyone who knew me in college knows the level I can take things. I was caught off guard this year but in 2011 I’ll be ready.

So here’s where it gets good. My mom is always telling me what a rotten kid I was growing up and every time she tells me of a memory to prove her point its never me. Its either something from a TV show or an assumption. I’ll be honest here, I was your average kid in high school. I stayed home and played video games yet she has vivid memories of me being some thug which is ironic since I never left the house besides to play pool with Mario at Eastway Billiards or go on a church youth group trip. OK, MAYBE I took a road sign but that was like once… or 3 times.

Case in point, today I call and tell her about the pumpkin getting smashed. Instead of saying “oh thats a shame” like she always does she says “Well i remember when you did that! Your dad was always pissed.” I never did. In fact my dad would have me hide in the bushes and jump out at people which, looking back now, was really dumb on the personal safety level.

Jump ahead to today where I hear one of my nephews told his parents he was going out to throw TP with their blessing yet I’m portrayed as a delinquent for not doing anything.  I get that kids will be kids and all that jive but come on, quit blaming me for being something I’m not when you’re approving of the same behavior.

I still have the signs btw. Hidden in a nice safe place.