As the vast T&A readership will undoubtedly recall, T&A’s favorite meteorologist, WTAE’s Don Schwenneker, commented here that he would post his chili recipe on his recipe blog after I wrote that I have been in the mood for chili lately. Well, it looks like I’ll be getting out the crockpot and making chili this weekend, Jack! I suggest you do the same. I’ll be sure to share the whole preparation and enjoyment of Don’s chili recipe.

It’s pretty cool that The Schwenneker posted the recipe and mentioned that we requested it in his blog, but it’s even cooler that he referred to us as the Tunesmith & Anthony. Not only is Don the man, but he also has a sense of humor.

Don rocks.

T&A has obtained an exclusive preview of “Dom Costa for Mayor” yard signs currently in production (shown below). Apparently, reports that Pittsburgh’s former police chief is planning on running in Pittsburgh’s upcoming mayoral race can no longer be dismissed as rumors.

WTAE’s Sheldon “I’m short, so shoot me with an upward camera angle so I appear as tall as the person I’m interviewing” Ingram reported one of the most bizarre stories I have ever seen this evening. It seems that a religious group from the South Side is upset over this racy billboard located near the Birmingham Bridge.

The group condemning the billboard is led by the pastor of the Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community Church, Jeff Eddings. I’m not discounting their religious beliefs because they are not the same as mine, but these people are clearly loons. I mean, they named their church after a bridge for Christ’s sake.

The Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community Church web site states that they utilize “a style of worship that shares the story of God through drama and the arts.” Perhaps this explains why pastor Jeff Eddings’ bio states, “You may remember Jeff from his appearance with Susan Plachette in ‘Alone in the Neon Jungle’- a CBS movie of the week in 1988.”

What? You don’t remember CBS movies of the week from 18 years ago? It was the one in which a by the book female police officer is assigned to the most corrupt precinct in Pittsburgh and told to get it cleaned up. Remember now? Good! Praise the Lord!

The bio of the church’s other pastor, Jim Walker, is equally as bizarre. It lists among his credentials, “As a teenager, Jim had an after school job as “Zee Shakey Chef” at a New Jersey amusement park. “

My favorite quote from the story is, “That it’s OK for women to be sold to marketing in the marketing field,” said resident Doug Brunner. “Does that make sense?”

Ummm no, Doug. That statement makes no sense whatsoever. I think Sheldon “I always look like I’m ready to kick someone’s ass” Ingram is the only reporter in town that could keep a straight face while reporting this story. I can’t believe WTAE would even dignify this group’s cause by covering it.

Hopefully, thepittsburghchannel.com will post the video to this story soon. The interview of a female member of the church who bears an uncanny resemblance to an Amy Poehler SNL character is priceless. When Sheldon “I’ll beat you so hard that your kids will be born dizzy” Ingram asks her how many signatures they have collected on their petition asking Clear Channel to remove the billboard, she solemnly replies, “Twenty-five.” That’s some funny shit.

So I’m watching WTAE’s 6:00 news earlier this evening, and they lead with the usual breaking news story. Back in the day, “breaking news” meant someone was assassinated or an airplane crashed. These days, Elsie Hillman having a solid bowel movement is considered breaking news. Anyway, the big breaking news story is that Jerome Bettis’ father suffered a heart attack in Detroit and died.

After The Empress and Mike Clark state that Jerome Bettis’ father had a heart attack and died in Detroit, they go to Guy Junker in the newsroom who basically says that Jerome Bettis’ father had a heart attack and died in Detroit. OK, I get it. I understand. Jerome Bettis, the former Steeler running back and future Hall of Famer had a father, and said father died today of a heart attack in Detroit. Gotcha.

The newscast then moves on to about ten minutes of the usual litany of killings and tragedies until around 6:15PM when they come back with an update of this evening’s breaking news story (which I read about on the Internet around 3:00PM this afternoon, incidentally). The Empress and Mike Clark then talk to a reporter from the ABC affiliate in Detroit. From this Detroit reporter, I learn that Jerome Bettis’ father had a heart attack and died in Detroit.

Good God! OK, I get it! Enough already! Jerome Bettis’ father died. Sad? Certainly. More sad or tragic than anyone else dying? I don’t think so. Worth telling me repeatedly by ten different people? Hell no. I’m hoping it was just a slow news days because if I have to sit through more of this shit until Mr. Bettis’ funeral, I’m changing the channel, Jack.

Inspired by the Men Who Look Like Kenny Rogers site, I have decided to start posting photos of men who look like the Post-Gazette’s TechMan. I snapped this one over the weekend.