2007 .. The Stories I Remember December 31, 2007

Happy New Year! It’s hard to believe another 365 days have come and gone … and there have been many moments worth remembering. I thought I would share with you my view of 2007 from the point of view of the stories that I covered. Stories that stuck with me.
Steelers Like Mike .. and so [...]

Hey Brother, Can You Spare Bus Fare? December 28, 2007

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know I have few pet peeves. Aside from the glorification of no-talent young starlets who get into accidents and use drugs, I can pretty much deal with anything. However, last night on the streets of Pittsburgh I was reminded of the one thing that drives [...]

Swin Cash: She’s Money! December 27, 2007

It’s a phrase that was popular during the 90’s .. and I think it applies to a woman I met exactly ten years ago. A woman who was but a teenager at the time, but has become a woman of exceptional talent and success. A woman who has become a person an entire community can [...]

Home for the Holidays December 26, 2007

Happy Holidays! Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas. Sharon and I spent our holiday back home in Chicago at my parents’ place. On Christmas eve, they hosted a dinner with included my mom’s sisters as well as my brother-in-law and Sharon’s cousin and boyfriend. Here are some the photos from the night:
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Cutting the Cord December 21, 2007

It took 39 years .. but I finally cut the cord.

After Ashley DiParlo’s “Plugged In” story about 2007 being the first year cell phone spending surpasses landline phone spending, I went ahead and got rid of my home phone. It wasn’t easy. After all, since I was a child there was always a phone in [...]

Career Implosion Made Easy December 20, 2007

A question: Don’t you actually have to have a career before you can blow it up?

I ask this because of three recent incidents in the news which makes me wonder – and probably you as well — what the heck were these women thinking.

Up first, Britney Spears’ sister – Jamie Lynn Spears – who [...]

My First Murder …. Story That Is December 19, 2007

Not exactly the most relaxing of headlines, I know. Still, it’s an experience that is worth sharing and thanks to the blogosphere, I can.
Monday after nine am, I was out on another story when my photographer Kathy Driscoll and I were sent to the Midtown Towers on Liberty Avenue. There we learned of a stabbing [...]

Majoring in Chemistry December 18, 2007

Confession time. The best grade I ever got in science in high school was a B. However, after a year and a half of doing this morning job, I guess I should have majored in science because according to viewers who take the time to stop me on the street, I’m getting straight A’s in [...]

Fair-Weather Nation December 17, 2007

They bailed just after halftime at Heinz Field, giving up on any hope of victory once they trailed by 15 points. Afterwards they did nothing but make excuses – poor excuses – for a losing effort.

I’m not talking about the Steelers. I’m talking about a rather large group of their fans.

After covering the team for [...]

One Cool Relationship December 14, 2007

It’s one of the cooler parties of the holiday season and one I never miss. WDVE pre-tapes it’s morning show at Diesel nightclub on the South Side. They have been doing it for years and it’s featured guests from the entire year as well as skits incorporating some holiday humor. Below is a shot of [...]

A Tale Worth Telling December 13, 2007

You probably get one of these in your e-mail a week like I do. You know what I am talking about. Those long format stories sent via chain letter with some sort of tale with a moral at the end. Then, the sender asks you to pass it on to ten friends. I usually delete [...]

Engage Brain Before Putting Mouth In Gear December 12, 2007

It’s one of my father’s favorite saying. Though he did not invent it, the adage has stuck with me over the years. Engage brain before putting mouth in gear. Always think before you speak. In my current job, never has it been more important. When you spend two hours on live TV with a semi-scripted [...]

A Blog Break December 11, 2007

Sorry, everybody.
I have a busy day ahead with the North Shore Casino groundbreaking and various other duties – which include making dinner tonight – so I’m going to take a break from blogging today. Sometimes I find it hard to sit and think of things to talk about when I have so much on my [...]

Cool Weekend December 10, 2007

Unlike Steelers safety Anthony Smith, I never guarantee anything .. and that includes the weekend. I never know whether it’s going to be fun or a complete bore. This one wound up being pretty cool.
Friday, I had the honor of serving as emcee for the annual Ronald H Brown Leadership Gala at the Westin Convention [...]

The Topic Nobody is Talking About December 7, 2007

I think I had mentioned before I am taking a year-long class called “Leadership Pittsburgh”. For 25 years, the program has helped to expose the next generation of leaders to the problems confronting western Pennsylvania. My class of 57 business professionals meets once a month to gain a better understanding of the issues around our [...]