Explore the Concrete Beach

Here’s a remix made out of parts of the Disney Pixar movie “UP”

I find this amazing. This is by DJ Pogo and he has more remixes like this

This following is part of a post I wrote a few years ago. Today I had a conversation about Hills popcorn and Cherry ICEE’s on Twitter and thought it would be appropriate to post again.

It amazes me still how we form bonds with certain brands and when they are gone you can still mention some small detail and the memories are as clears as day.

My memory of Hills Department Store:

You remember Hills, right? “It’s where the toys are.” Truth be told my mother worked at hills when I was younger. She worked in the layaway department. But what everyone remembers about Hills is when you first walked in you were greeted by the smell of fresh popcorn and ICEE’s!

It was really the perfect combination. Much better than Movie Popcorn and SnoCaps combo (I learned that one from one Jaime Fox in college; she always claimed it was the perfect combination of salty and sweet).  

There was just something about Hills popcorn that one could not resist. Maybe it was the taste lightly buttered with a little bit of salt. Maybe it was the packaging the long paper bag like container or the big plastic bag that made it so enticing. Whatever it was it evoked fond memories from everyone. We talked about the after Thanksgiving Sale commercial where the cooked turkey sat up on the table than ran out of the house to be ready for the Black Friday sale.

Whatever it may have been proves the strong bonds people form with brands from their past. It was a sad day when Ames took Hills over. Ames was awful, from the store, to the customer service. It was done on the cheap, unwelcoming and cold. Even the popcorn wasn’t the same.

In times like these, I wish Hills was still around so I could pick up a bag of popcorn and a Cherry ICEE and waste an afternoon with two comfort foods. Well at least I got my memories of the past and a bag of microwavable popcorn to pass the time.

55…yes, 55 that is what the temperature is suppose to reach today. It’s about time! It’s March and so that means temps need to warm up.

I know we’ve had snow in March, April and May before, but after the disaster of a month February, :shudder: I can’t even say the name of the month without shivering. was for snow. I would like to forget last month ever happened. I need warmth, as I hate being cold. There is still snow on the ground here in Pittsburgh, but my yard only has a few patches which I hope will be go by next week. My yard gets a lot of sun so the snow melts fast, unlike my neighbors’ across the street whose yard still looks like a winter wonderland and an unnecessary reminder of last month.

March also is the beginning of the end of hockey season. I went to watch the Pens on Saturday, they won 6-3 over the Dallas Stars and then won again on Sunday 2-1 against the Bruins. At the moment the next game I will be seeing live at the Mellon Arena will be the last regular season home game at Mellon Arena on April 8th. That will be a sad day. That building is full of memories, but I can’t wait to see the Consol Energy Center.

Hope everyone enjoys the nice weather!

As I’ve been talking to people on Twitter and at work everyone seems to be wrapped up in the Winter Olympics and this includes myself. The Winter Olympics > The Summer Olympics any day for me. I just enjoy the winter sports more, hockey, the sledding events, skiing, speed skating, snowboarding and many others, I enjoy watching them all.

So I decided to have fun and imagine Pittsburgh would host the 2022 Winter Olympic Games. First off why 2022? Well the bidding process for the 2018 games is all ready closed and only three, yes THREE countries submitted bids and none are from the US since the US Olympic Committee put everything behind the failed Chicago 2016 bid. Denver was going to submit a bid.

Little known fact: Denver was awarded the 1976 winter games but declined. Ya, I know how odd.

So let’s imagine Pittsburgh 2022 (BTW I hated this slogan from Pittsburgh 250 and found many things wrong with it and that whole 250 celebration, that’s for another day though.) the Olympic committee is on a kick with making the games “green” and affordable for cities, and it does cost a lot so let’s use as many existing areas as possible.

Here are the some venues:

Heinz Field- Opening/Closing Ceremonies and Medal Ceremonies- This is a given as it’s the largest space we have in Pittsburgh to accommodate a lot of people. Extra bleachers can be added to bring up capacity to the middle 70,000 (BC Arena in Vancouver can hold 55,000).

7 Springs/Hidden Valley- Skiing events- This would be tough because of traffic, two ski resorts would have to share the wealth, and it’s an hour away. But in comparison Whistler is 2 hours away from Vancouver. Each would have to put a lot of work into creating courses suitable for international competition, but this is all pretend anyway.

Consol Energy Center – Hockey Medal Rounds/Figure Skating/ Short Track- I know why just the medal rounds for hockey, well hockey is the longest tournament in the Winter Olympics and the ice can’t have all the hockey markings for figure skating and short track. Since those two sports are held earlier in the 17 days there would be enough time to hold the medal rounds there.

RMU Island Sports Complex- Hockey/Curling – They would host the bulk of the hockey games to be played, which may also be shared with either a temporary venue or an existing ice rink. And since the Curling Club is housed there why not let them have this? It makes sense in my head at least.

David L. Lawrence Convention Center – Speed Skating- I know your thinking “how?” Well it has a ton of floor space so why not build a temporary speed skating rink on the site? If now a new venue would have to be constructed because typically these venues have to exist 2-3 years before the games begins. But it’s reusing what we have, I also thought about PNC Park, but the whole outdoor thing here wouldn’t work.

New Sledding/Ski jumping venue- This would have to be constructed somewhere and it would be permanent. It most likely would go out in the Laurel Mountains to keep all of the “snow” events out there.  

The Athletes Village- While I have no location in mind to put it I do know these apartments would be great affordable housing after the games were over. Well that’s the plan at least.

Olympic Cauldron- This one has me torn. I though well a cauldron above the fountain at the point would make sense. I also keep thinking the top of Mount Washington makes sense too as it can be seen anywhere in the city, but the Point just makes sense so I leave it up to debate as it doesn’t matter it’s not real.

There are other things I thought of, like an outdoor winter village where guests can play in the snow ride down ice slides, watch concerts etc…

In the end though Pittsburgh can’t even clear snow off of streets so the Winter Olympics are far out of reach, but its fun to dream and imagine the possibilities. The games would cost too much and there is all ready enough political red tape on the City, County and State levels that would need to make improvements to roads and transportation needed to host the game impossible.

It’s fun to dream.

            The U.S. has some odd rules in its history and some states do too. We’ve probably all have read on of those “crazy, but true law” books, read them online or had someone tell us on and responded, “that’s not true,” to just be proven wrong. The best example I can think of is in the state of New Jersey you cannot pump your own gas, which to everyone around here in Western Pennsylvania can’t wrap their minds around that, maybe because it seems lazy to us, but it’s true, you can’t pump your own gas in New Jersey.

            Well the U.S. seems to have problems revising some laws as a 1938 law is preventing one of the best candies from being sold in the U.S. That candy is the Kinder Egg.

            The Kinder Egg, also known as Kinder Surprise, originated in Germany. It’s a chocolate that hides a capsule inside that contains a toy, usually one that needs assembled. Think of it as a Cadbury Crème egg with a plastic mini-egg inside instead of cream. They are delicious and fun. People collect the toys that remind me of old McDonald’s happy meal toys sometimes.

            So why is this little piece of heaven not available in the U.S.? Well the 1930 Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic act prohibits placing anything “non-nutritive items in confections.” Sad, but true, thank you 1938. It’s not like they haven’t been sold in the U.S. before though. Import shops use to carry them until 1997 when the Consumer Product Safety Commission deemed them unsafe for small parts that little kids may chock one. Mind you Kinder Eggs came out in the 1970s and it took over 20 years for them to be completely banned.

           Nestle had  a product called the Nestle Magic, it was very similar to the Kinder Egg, except it was completely round in shape. It was covered with a thin layer of milk chocolate and had the plastic ball underneath, which contained a figure form one of Disney’s many animated films.

         Due to the 1997 Consumer Product Safety Commissions recall they were quickly pulled, which was unfortunate because they were a really great idea. In 2000 Nestle revived the Magic as the Nestle Wonderball, same concept but install of a plastic ball with a figure, it was hollowed chocolate ball with Disney characters in candy form, think SweetTarts flavor meets Flintstone Vitamins shapes that came with a collectible sticker. Not as cool as the collectable character.

            You can find some of the Nestle Magic toys on Ebay. If you search, it was so short lived they are pretty collectable. You can sometimes find a Kinder Egg in the U.S., but the store might not know, or the may, that it’s illegal to sell them. The closest place you can find Kinder Eggs is Canada. It’s sad you can’t find them here. Don’t get all, “well kids can choke on the toys” on me. Use common sense and don’t by little kids these and let them put tiny things in their mouths. Just like don’t stick marbles up your nose, gold star to whoever gets that reference.

         Has anyone ever had a Kinder Egg, or remember the Nestle Magic? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Sometimes I get fascinated with a concept I become borderline obsessed with it then my ADD kicks in and I move on to something else. I’m like a little kid who can be distracted by shiny objects at times, but then 6 months to a year later I pick up on it again. I use to do this with video games. I would play one game for months no matter how many times I would beat the game then I would get so bored with it I would just toss it aside and be all, “This game is so boring. Why am I even playing it?” Though it did entertain me for a good long while, I was really over it.

I wouldn’t call it a habit, but it still happens today. I will be so involved in a game, project or something around the house (like remodeling my bedroom) then I will just stop, I want to continue but for some reason I just can’t. I do this when I blog. I have so many ideas written down on what to write about and when I got to write, I say to myself, “I’ll write this tomorrow.” Then I never do. I get distracted with other minor things and then it just sounds like making excuses for not writing, but I just can’t. It’s hard to describe. I get everything ready from pictures or a YouTube video and then when I go to write the post that I have been formulating in my head from hour to days it’s like my mind let’s out a giant brain fart and poof their goes the desire to write and post.

Yet, when I am at work I want to write and post things. I find articles and other things I share on Twitter and people will respond to them and I feel like I should expand on my Twitter comment later when I get home so I can pull the images and videos I need since my job pretends to like communication and sharing thoughts and ideas, yet blocks the tools to do so, and then I just don’t do it. I don’t know what prevents me from doing so something just clicks in my brain and is all like, “Nope you’re not going to do it, go play Mega Man 3 on the Wii, Dr. Wily awaits. Look at the flashy screen the fast moving colors…what was I going to do again oh yeah Mega Man 3?” Evil laugh from my brain :Mwahahaha: because it clearly won again.

There are so many videos I want to make and projects I want to do but I don’t know what’s preventing me from accomplishing these things. I start working on them then poof. This happens when I have to do things like update my resume because it hasn’t been done in months. I think I look awful on paper, but I tend to way tougher on myself then other people are to me. This probably sounds awful, but I laugh at my resume, not because I think it’s bad but how random it is.

I have a B.A in Journalism only because my concentration was Advertising and PR, and I never claim to be a journalist and find most people that are “journalists” annoying and out of touch with the people they write for. I have an MBA in Sports, Arts and Entertainment Management. My work experience includes a long stint at an amusement park, then a radio station, retail and the banking industry. The plus side to all of this is I know a lot of random crap. It has its positives and negatives to knowing randomness.

I feel it’s better to know a lot of random things then just one thing. Because no one really cares if you can find a dangling participle, it’s something you don’t brag about, yet I know some people who are grammar Nazi’s and it drives me nuts. Instead of enjoying a funny story or column you get, “Well their comma usage is atrocious and their sentence structure isn’t perfect.” At that point I just sigh and say never mind, thanks for being a writing douche. I feel people write to share and if a person can’t lighten up and if the only thing a person can do while reading is criticize how something is written or if a comma is out of place, well then they got some issues. The funny part is the people who think they are the kings and queens of grammar can’t take the criticism when they make a mistake and I usually find their writing boring.

Well how was that for random post? There’s  probably two posts in this, but I don’t care. It’s what I was thinking and that’s what part of this blog is about.

My co-worker, Kristine, said the other day said to me, “So, now that you’re done with grad school, what are your goals? Like what’s your 5-year plan?”

I gave her a look, which I often give to people and if you know me you’ve scene it before, the look of “you’re kidding right? :eye roll:” Yeah, the eye roll is a bad habit of mine, but I’m not one to hide his feelings on something. I replied to her, “I hate that question.”

Yes, I hate the “what’s your 5/10 year plan?” question. I don’t like to predict the future for myself and I don’t let “fate” take me wherever it wants, typically I find people who wait for something to happen usually get left behind.

I don’t believe in making plans for myself, because “the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” When that happens you gotten continually change and adapt.

This poster is just so wrong.

Yesterday, I work I let it slip (mostly on purpose) that I wanted to find a new job by the end of the year. It’s not because I hate the company I work for or my current job, I just want to do something different and maybe more in tune with what I spent the last year in grad school doing. I mean how many people have a MBA in Sports, Arts and Entertainment Management? Not a lot, because my school is the only one in the country to offer it. It just feels like time to do something different.

My boss found it kind of surprising that I said I was looking for a new job, she said I couldn’t leave, I just laughed, but she knew this was coming and she knows I’m not one to hide my feelings or thoughts.

So what do I want to do?

Well, there lies the problem.  I’m not 100% sure. I’ve always been one of those people who learn about a lot of subjects and then fill the gaps as needed. I’ve narrowed down the companies and organizations I would like to work for to a select few, but looking at their job databases it’s hard to figure out exactly where I would fit and what job would be suited for me. I look at most jobs and think I can do that. When I started at my current company no one trained me, I learned the product and created procedures by myself, I had a few guidelines, but I learned everything by asking people questions and using commonsense. If you make mistakes, they are fixable no matter how badly someone blows the issue out of proportion ( :cough: sales people :cough: ), because that’s how I, and most people, learn.  

So, that’s where my thinking is right now, trying to figure out details and something new I want to try. If I set I goal it’s not 5/10 years out it’s for the 1 year at most. It’s all about enjoying the journey, not the end. If you haven’t realized that yet, you’re probably falling behind as we all ready know what the end is…right?

So am I crazy for not setting 5/10 year goals? Suggestions?

So long 2009, I bid thee farewell.

I wish I could say 2009 was a superawesomefantastico year, but I can’t, but what I can say it was pretty darn good to me.

In January I started Graduate school and now at the end of 2009 I finished Grad school in just one year and have an MBA in Sports, Arts and Entertainment Management. Now how many people have an MBA in that specialty? It was long and there were times I threw up my hands and said why did I do this, but in the end I’m glad I did and I’m the first person in my family (at least between my sister and me) that has an MBA. No I just got to figure out what to do next.

2009 was an excellent sports year in Pittsburgh. I got to see the Steelers win their 2nd Super Bowl in my lifetime and saw the Penguins when their 3rd Stanley Cup. I don’t think Pittsburghers realize how lucky they are. My dad said he never though he would see the Steelers win another Super Bowl in his lifetime after the win in Detroit in 2005, but he did and that’s coming from someone who’s only 48.

2009 at work was with it’s ups and downs. The current project I’m working on gets more frustrating everyday, but I’ll live and in 2010 I think it might be time to move on, it just feels right, but we’ll see. My second I still love, who knew I would like retail so much, but I think it’s because of the people I work with, they are just so much fun. I wish more people would come by and shop, but it’s still realzing to me and hasn’t gotten old.

2009 was also a big travel year for me. I didn’t leave the US but I flew to Florida 3 times this year and California once. I also got two knew airport credits (DFW and Santa Anna/Orange County/John Wayne) and a new hotel credit (HoJo Anahiem). I love traveling and hope to do more in 2010, I know there is a trip to Vegas scheduled for May and I hope to visit places I haven’t been to in years. On top of that list would be New York City and Toronto.

 The world was odd in 2009, but in the end we survived another year and that is really what matters.

So long 2009, you were a fun year and I hope 2010 is better not just for you too!

Happy New Year Everyone!

I just opened my school e-mail a few minutes ago. I found a reply from someone in my group who thinks we need a itemized list of services and products for the pro-forma budget for our project.

This is after an e-mail I sent that explained what to do. All he needs to do is group things together like labor, special purchase, equipment, facility fees etc..

I love when people make things more difficult for themselves. It just makes me want to bang my head off the desk. :head desk: Ah, much better.

 I haven’t started my slides yet. They’ll get done tomorrow since I have to work tonight until 10 tonight. They shouldn’t take me long as I know what what goes on them, and I wrote it out on paper so it should be easy to assemble.

I’m a little stressed at this point between work and school, but knowing it’s all over on Saturday makes things better. Also knowing I will be in Florida all next week brings a smile to my face!

Here’s to drink Back Scratchers at the Polynesian Bar, Cheers!

Mark

So quick hits:

I’m going to duck as soon as some Pittsburghers see this. I’m glad Luke Iwonhahanannynannyenstahl (Ravenstahl) won on Tuesday. For all these people crying foul and how Dowd would lead this city yada yada yada… Where was Dowd’s presence? I don’t live in the city so I don’t vote for this, but I would have voted for Lukey.

Why?

1)      Dowd did nothing to convince anyone he existed and when I saw him on TV news all I saw him do was rant and rave about the current Mayor. Zzzzz…

2)      Why have people harassing people downtown on Tuesday walking through town during lunch and after work by people on every corner asking to vote for Dowd. Um… a lot of people who work in the city do not live there. One followed me as I walked up Grant even after I said I don’t live in the city.

3)      I never heard what he would do for the city. I saw no signs, no promotion and face it, all elections are based on promotion. His campaign was a failure no matter what is said. No clear message, just lots of ranting about a half built electronic sign from what I saw. You are what gets picked up on TV.

:ducks from flying tomatoes:

Michael Vick was released from prison. So what. He shouldn’t be able to play in the NFL again, but the NFL is a PR machine and some team will pay an outrageous amount for him. He did something very wrong and illegal, why should he get rewarded with it in the end just because he spent some time in jail? Seriously the NFL wants to make football a family friendly letting Vick back in will not help. It just shows you can do something totally illegal and someone will give you millions once you serve some time. Bad lesson.

I wrote my first complaint letter to Walt Disney World. I never had a problem there before until I received some ghastly customer service because of an incorrectly marked item. I’ll keep everyone posted on that when I hear back from them in “7-10” business days.

Enjoy the 3 day weekend (4 for some) and I’ll be back next week.