As an alumnus of Saint Vincent, this is big news (not quite as big as when the Hollow Tavern burned, or more importantly, Route 30 Beer), but the Adult book store just off campus was set on fire.  I drove past it (heading out past Ligonier for work) and the building is just decimated.

Now, here’s the thing.  There are a couple of businesses between Fraser Purchase Road (where Saint Vincent sits) and Route 981, which, depending on which way you turn, either takes you to the Arnold Palmer airport or into downtown Latrobe.  However, those businesses are either obscured from the road, or down in a small gully, so you never really notice they are there to begin with.

Fun story though, a year or two after I took the class, a group was getting ready to film their music video for the introduction to video production class.  They talked with the owners and were going to see if they could use some of the stage space during the day for their project.  While they were waiting to speak to said manager, they were admiring the printed profiles of the ladies who worked there, which were pinned to a bulletin board just inside.  Low and behold, one of the dancers took her picture with a very distinctive desk which was only found in one building: the lobby of the Freshman dorm.

As Ginny’s Bandwagon finds itself with more and more seats, the Pirates continue their losing streak.  But don’t lose faith, instead, watch this awesome video from Benstonium (which I”m not sure if it will show up embedded below):

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NY1Vs-KmWNQ&feature=youtube_gdata[/youtube]

Copyranter found an old letter that Mr. Rogers wrote an overly-eager fan.  Of course, his poise, compassion and kindness show through, even all these years later.

Click through the link to read Copyranter’s post and see the larger version.

I saw Quantum Theatre’s production of “Twelfth Night,” and really enjoyed it.  However, I learned a lot of other random things that night.  In no particular order, here’s what else I gleamed from my trip to an unused building on a dead-end street in Bloomfield:

I recently got a new camera, and have no idea how to use it apparently.  However, I did manage to capture this really awesome shot, somehow.  And one, which I’ll never be able to do again, even if I tried.

As a whole, I think the audience had a hard time with the Shakespearean English.  The guy next to me, had no idea what was going on.  I know, because he told his wife that, multiple times during the first act (they left during intermission).  Now, it might have been all the wine he drank before coming to the show (again, I know, because he wreaked).

I found myself laughing a lot more than the rest of the audience.  Maybe I was just picking up more of the jokes.  Maybe I’m just the right mix of intelligent and immature, but this play has a lot of dark, adult humor in it.  So I of course, loved it!

I got bit by a mosquito.  Anyone who has camped with me, will not find this to be a surprise at all.  I’m a mosquito magnet.  But, I guess that’s a hazard (one that I’m willing to withstand) of seeing a play outside.

Which, aside from the interference from the trains, the actors also have to deal with car alarms, racing motors, police sirens, helicopters and what sounded like a table saw.  Good for them for being able to block it all out.

I had read about this production before going to see it, so I was prepared for the train stoppages (and kind of looking forward to seeing them), but I don’t think many of the audience members were.  Which, of course, combined with their apparent lack of understanding, made me laugh even more at their confusion.  Because I’m a horrible person.

I did find it extra amusing, what appeared to be the performance’s third train stoppage, which was announced with the train whistle after a very climactic moment…then to be called off.  I’m still amazed at how the actors and crew coordinate it all.

Again though, go see this show, you won’t be disappointed!

I thought it was illegal to sell fireworks in pa

A player from my alma mater was gunned down while in North Carolina.

An impromptu vigil was held this afternoon as word spread.  WTAE and GatewayGators.com are both following the story.

I recently headed down to CMU.  I was getting the beta version of Tiramisu installed on my Android phone.  The team behind the app hopes to have it available in the next few weeks.  I was away for work, but I’ll be testing it some more and recording trips all this week and next to help them out (I ran out of things to test without actually riding a bus or watching them go past me, so I became useless for a few days).

Anyway, here are some observations from my trip, again, in no particular order.

I might have out-geeked some of the CMU students.  I have the R2D2 phone, which makes noises like it’s namesake when I get e-mails.  Which perked up some of the engineers from their coding work (it also plays sounds from Myst when I get a text, but that didn’t happen.  Yes, I have serious nerd/dork-cred)

There was a coffee pot sitting on a bench outside of Dougherty when I walked to the office.  It was still there when I walked back to my car.

I totally parked in the wrong spot.

But in doing so, I got to see a lot of campus.  I’ve been to their campus numerous times, I was the adviser for a conference held there a few years ago, which was nice, since most of the meetings were at night, I got to park for free, which sadly, does not translate on a Friday afternoon.

Campus is really, really big.  I went to Saint Vincent, which is a pretty compact campus (also, must smaller enrollment), surrounded by corn fields.  CMU seems to go on forever in all directions, and is surrounded by concrete and Oakland traffic.

I did not see Batman, the Batmobile or Catwoman, even though I was secretly hoping to stumble into Gotham City and need saving.

I don’t think I can embed youtube videos yet, but I wanted to share these two videos from Waffle Shop for your Sunday viewing pleasure.

First up, Bucks County Representing, which includes the following:

• Speedos
• Trips to Japan
• Chocolate smells
• The witness protection program
• Phone technology

And the second is The Freak Hours, including:

• Puppet shows
• Searching through tags
• Dental hygiene
• More puppets

Happy Sunday!

Yesterday was the last day of Anthro Con, so the furries have come and went, once again, leaving us all wondering.  For some fun speculation, check out Franktuary’s blog.  Could it be that our Commander in Chief is a furry?  Frank Discussion is on the case!

I found some pictures, check them out:

Holy crap!

More after the jump

Why do they all dress as the same animal?  Maybe you can get fox/dog things at a discount?

She’s totally working it!

See more pictures from the Parade here.

And of course, no coverage of Anthro Con would be complete without this brilliant piece from xkcd:

Winter beers and a santa hat on the delirium elephant.  Who could ask for anything more?