Hi friends and strangers alike,

I wanted to apologize for abandoning this site for so long. Needless to say, there was a good reason.

My 20 year old, younger brother was recently diagnosed with testicular cancer, which has obviously put my family into a bit of a whirlwind over the past few weeks. I’d like to take a second to talk about how amazing my brother is - that he handled everything that happened to him so far is truly amazing…and he handled it with class - and humor!

In fact, I think some of you may get a kick out of the fact that when he first found out, he told me he was going to ‘kick cancer in its nuts’ and then right before surgery he mentioned he might get a ‘prosthetic that plays music or blinks or something.’ Does this kid rock or what?

In tribute to my brother, I’d like to post a few quotes (translated into Pittsburghese, of course, with courtesy from the Pittsburghese translator!)

Da Pittsburghese translation is:

“Yinz gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which yinz rilly stop to looky fear in da face. yinz must do da ting which yinz think yinz cannot do. ” ~Eleanor Roosevelt:

“Love da moment. flahrs grow aht of dark moments. derefore, each moment is vital. It affects da whole. Life is a succession of such moments and to live each, is to succeed.” ~Corita Kent

“Da world is fool of suffering, it is also fool of overcoming it.” ~Helen Keller

“Whenever a resolute young fellow tramps up to da great bully, da world, and takes him boldly by da beard, he is often surprised to find it comes off in his han, n’at it was only tied on to scare away da timid adventurers.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Enjoy all - and I’ll be back soon. Also coming: videos, interviews, event coverage, and MORE! Stay tuned because this site is about to blow up!

“As my career has progressed, I’ve had the pleasure of playing with the baddest jazz cats on the planet. But that doesn’t change my desire to entertain folks. That’s really who I am.”

George Benson, Famous Jazz Guitarist from Pittsburgh

From Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

English Translation

“It is a fair, even-handed, noble adjustment of things, that while there is infection in disease and sorrow, there is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good-humour.”

Pittsburghese Translation

“It is a fair, even-haned, noble adjustment of tings, that while dere is infection in disease and sorrow, dere is nothing in da world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good-humor.”

“I have really never considered myself a TV star. I always thought I was a neighbor who just came in for a visit.”

~Every Burgher’s Neighbor: Mr. Rogers!

“Pittsburgh isn’t fancy, but it is real. It’s a working town and money doesn’t come easy. I feel as much a part of this city as the cobblestone streets and the steel mills, people in this town expect an honest day’s work, and I’ve given it to them for a long, long time.”

~Anonymous

STEVIE WONDER: SIR DUKE

Stevie in concert at the Mellon Arena: November 9, 2007 

Normal English Usage:

Music is a world within itself
With a language we all understand
With an equal opportunity
For all to sing, dance and clap their hands
But just because a record has a groove
Dont make it in the groove
But you can tell right away at letter a
When the people start to move

They can feel it all over
They can feel it all over people

Da translation is:

Music is a world witin itself
wit a language we alls understand
wit an equal opportunity
fer alls to sing, dance and clap their hans
But jest cuz a record has a groove
Dont make it in da groove
But yinz can tell right away at letter a
whenever da people start to move

They can feel it alls over
They can feel it alls over people

This posting is in celebration of the Stevie Wonder concert tomorrow night at Pittsburgh’s Mellon Arena, which is bound to be just about the greatest night of my entire life. All Hail Stevie! and Pittsburgh - Thank you so much for bringing Stevie to the city! November 9, 2007! Starting to hyperventilate…and, i’m out.

The Pittsburgh Quote section will contain quotes about Pittsburgh (past and present), as well as just good quotes from people who have been related to Pittsburgh!

Here’s the first:

“My father always taught me to appreciate what you’re fortunate to have and give back to those who need it. No part of our society is more important than the children, especially the ones who need our help. “

~Dan Marino, a Pittsburgh native and University of Pittsburgh Panther Quarterback, who set a school record for total offense with over 8,500 yards