Playoffs.

Thanks a lot, Mr. Blondie . . .

Brewed On Grant: Mayor Elect
Written by Rob Rogers on Wednesday, 18 September 2013.

Bill Peduto is walking like a mayor and talking like a mayor. That's more than I can say for the current mayor.

Very timely . . .

Gun Flood
Written by Rob Rogers on Tuesday, 17 September 2013.

Thanks in part to the NRA, two Colorado state senators who voted for mild gun control lost their jobs in a recall election.

The Pirates are going to finish the season with a winning record for the first time since 1992. The Curse of Sid Bream has been broken.

DAVE: The Pirates have clinched a non-losing record for the first time since 1992. One more win, and it's the first winning season.

JIM: One more to go. Don't get cocky.

DAVE: Don't you understand the significance? The long suffering Curse of Sid Bream will have been broken.


Sid Bream.

JIM: I'm not sure that's true yet.

DAVE: Yes, that's the curse. Twenty losing seasons, the major sports record. It can't be to make the playoffs or win the World Series. It's to have a winning season.

I don't know what the United States should do about Syria. I honestly just don't know.

I think every woman needs a really good friend, male or female, whom they can trust to tell them whether they can get away with wearing those black, stretchy yoga pants. And they have to be able to hear the truth without getting mad at their friends.

JIM: If you ever go to a game in Philadelphia (which I know you won't, but you never know), skip the cheesesteak and go to Federal Donuts. Oh my god. You will never eat so good at the ballpark.

DAVE: The only places that I've ever had a cheesesteak in Philadelphia are Pat's, Jim's, and some obscure place on the Main Line. The ones at Citizens look good on TV, though. I'm not a huge fan of donuts. They're so fattening.

JIM: Dude, Federal Donuts is chicken. And donuts. And you will never have anything better.

DAVE: Does the chicken have bones?

JIM: Yes. But it is so good you won't care.

DAVE: I don't like chicken with bones. What makes it so good?

JIM: Yes, I figured. It cannot be explained. You just have to experience it.

My wife hates chicken on the bone too. But she tried it at the ballpark on Wednesday night. And because she is my wife, if I say I like something, she is contractually obligated to disagree. But after a few bites, all she could say is that we must visit the actual restaurant now. She is converted.

I have to admit, I could never understand people's obsession with it either. People I know who have eaten there talk about it like they've been indoctrinated into some kind of cult or something. But now I understand.

Sentencing Reform
Written by Rob Rogers on Thursday, 15 August 2013.

Attorney General Eric Holder is pushing for fairer sentencing guidelines for non-violent drug offenders. It's about time. The "War On Drugs" has been a massive waste of money and human life that unfairly targets poor minorities.
 

Brewed On Grant: Burgh Bard
Written by Rob Rogers on Wednesday, 14 August 2013.

With all of the drama Pittsburgh has witnessed recently, I wouldn't be surprised if we got a visit from Shakespeare himself.
 

I just gave all of my mock turtlenecks to Goodwill. I'm going in a different direction.

DAVE: The Pirates could win their division.

FOCKER: You will make me very angry if you jump on the bandwagon now.

DAVE: Too soon?

I don't think there should be tip jars at take-out restaurants.

I somewhat shamefully admit that I do watch the last few episodes of "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette" almost every season. I watch them with my mother. We don't watch the early and middle episodes, but rather join the series in progress when it is down to about four finalists. So, we've been watching this season's version of "The Bachelorette" in recent weeks. And for the first time that I can remember, I genuinely like the young woman on the show, Desiree Hartsock. I find her very attractive. I think I might even have a little crush on her.

Royal Baby
Written by Rob Rogers on Thursday, 25 July 2013.

All this fuss over the royal birth is a little disconcerting. What about all the babies born into poverty who will struggle all their lives against things like hunger, violence and discrimination. Shouldn't those be the ones we cheer for?
 

For the record, I will take this heat and humidity over winter in February any day.

Sid Bream

DAVE: Do you know what Sid Bream does for a living now? He's an inspirational speaker in Pittsburgh. Ain't that just a bitch.

JIM: I did not know that. That ain't right.

Sid Bream

JIM: The Phillies announcers talked about Sid Bream during last night's game. Several times.

DAVE: When the Pirates are on national TV, they invariably mention Sid Bream. It hurts me.

"Friends"

Lately, I have been watching old episodes of "Friends" on TBS because apparently, I am still infatuated with Jennifer Aniston. And let me tell you that she looks even better and more "perky," if you know what I mean, in high definition.