“What matters to me and my teammates? A player with a hard slap shot. A player with awesome puck-handling skills. A player who can shoot. A guy who can help our team win”

Patrick Burke founded the campaign after his brother died and it’s been making a lot of traction as the playoffs continue.    The Post-Gazette interviews Orpik here, and he really does seem like a class act:

Orpik said the reaction he has received since his video was released last week “has been nothing but positive.” But he knows negative reaction might be coming from those fans who have no idea what the words “tolerant” and “accepting” mean. “If I do hear anything negative, it’ll probably be from people who have a problem with themselves and don’t like who they are.”

Check out the video here, and the comments from the Pensblog fans in the youtube comments make it just as much fun as the sad comments on the Pirates video.

The word was thrown around a lot during the last round of cuts, but Draconian does seem to fit.  Maybe I’m a little bitter since for the second time I’ll be losing my bus route.  And this time I really can’t find an alternative.

Andrew Sullivan shares stories about his interactions with a young man with cerebral palsy here, and readers offer their own thoughts and reflections here.

The Pirates are also working on programs to support local LGBT organizations, and President Frank Coonelly had this to say:

We feel it is important to get the message out that there is no place in our society for bullying anyone for any reason,” he said. “The organization is pleased to utilize our resources to help call attention to this subject and to encourage those that have been a victim of bullying to come forward and seek help.

Pittsburgh City Paper covers the story here, and my favorite comment comes from YouTube, looking at the irony of the most-loosing professional sports team saying that “It Gets Better.”

The clips are great lessons for adults, and it’s so amazing to be reminded of how kind and gentle of a man he really was. It makes me miss him even more.

The clips are planned to be aired before movies around the area, and I can’t wait to see that.

Check out the YouTube channel here.

My only complaint is that the steps were messing with my eyes a little bit, but I think my glasses hadn’t gone all the way back to clear from sunglasses at the time, so I’ll chalk it up to that.

We ended up waiting about five minutes with a pretty large group.  We all got on, and smoothly headed across to downtown.  It has been years since I’ve ridden the T, and I forgot how smooth it was.  I ended up helping a very nice couple who was unsure of the order of stops, but were also getting off at Steel Plaza, so it made it convenient for them to just follow me.

I’m a little confused as to what the “Area of Refuge” signs are for.  First I was thinking it was for lost children, but then I realized young kids would not understand the word “refuge.”  Then I thought maybe in inclement weather, the T station can be used a storm shelter, or maybe it is a warming station for the homeless.  If you know, please sound off in the comments, I’m interested!

Since it was free, I took the T, although I think I probably would have ridden even if I had to pay for the convenience, I just don’t know how I would have shown the operator my pass, but I guess since I rarely ride the T my ignorance can be forgiven, at least this once.

Check out the rest of the pictures from the North Shore station (and pictures from the game) in the gallery here.

“I’m not sure about these cookies. They don’t look like you made them,” Romney said to the woman sitting next to him. “No, no.They came from the local 7-eleven, bakery, or whatever.”

The cookies came from Bethel Bakery.

Here’s the deal, I’m probably going to start some sort of flame war, but maybe it’s because I live out east, so the only times I have Bethel Bakery is when someone brings it into the office, but I think Oakmont is better.

I know, I know, flame away in the comments, but I guess either way, we can just be proud of the fantastic baked goods coming out of the local Pittsburgh bakeries.

Oh yeah, and Bethel Bakery is taking advantage of the gaffe and started a “Cookie-gate” promotion, pretty awesome.

Last night, I headed to my local bar for their Founder’s event, where they had a tapping of their incredible Breakfast Stout.  I left very happy (I haven’t had this awesome beer in a long time) and a free Founder’s glass (and of course, a Penguins win)!

Untappd is also getting into the spirit of the week, offering a special edition badge for anyone who checks in at two officially participating venues during the week.  You have a ton of choices, so get out there and find some of the awesome places in Pittsburgh that celebrate craft beer the entire year!

My friends and I had been using Beerby, which is another beer app, developed and owned locally.  At one point they announced they were closing, so we all moved over to Untappd.  Local money came in and Beerby is still operating, so take your pick.  Beerby has cooler badges (they are all badgers) but Untappd has more features.  Either way though, they are both great, free apps for both Android and iOS to find great beer near you.

I’ll be back with more, and hopefully I can try some of the three special beers, and I’ll check in throughout the week.  Enjoy the brews, be safe, and find some new craft beer around Pittsburgh!

Twenty bucks gets you large popcorn and pop with free refills and into three of the following four movies: Cabin in the Woods, Lockout, Safe and The Raven.

Twenty bucks for one movie and a large popcorn and pop is a good deal, and even though I don’t think I’d be able to make it through more than two movies without falling asleep, I may go check out Cabin in the Woods, which I’ve been waiting for.

Check out Destinta on Route 30 in North Versailles, and the Terror-Fest begins Saturday, April 28 at midnight.