• Can you tell me why on earth Jose Castillo is not starting for the Pittsburgh Pirates? Tell me, please tell me Jim Tracy doesn't have a proverbial doghouse. On a last place team either everybody is in it or nobody is in it.Wouldn't it be great if Major League Baseball ended its hypocrisy and reinstated Pete Rose, and he became the new manager of the Pirates
• Now that it's over I can say it without worrying about getting whacked: THE SOPRANOS SUCKED! Not just the finale, but all nine years.
• Why would two clowns try to climb Mount Washington? Don't they know all that awaits them is piss-poor expensive food and an overrated view?
• Oakmont Country Club is going to bring the tour professionals to their knees this week. Five over par will win this year's U.S. Open.
• How plentiful is the Florida job market? I just hired a company named Two Guys and a Truck to move some furniture for me, and three guys showed up! I passed a McDonalds on the way to the office that was advertising a job that pays $15 an hour. Hell if Winky's paid that, I would have never left Bloomfield! 
• I believe Paris Hilton's next career move should be to recruit Halle Berry to co-star with her in a remake of Black Mama White Mama.

It's great to be back. Enjoy Brett Dennen!

A few days ago, the Wife of the Other Bob expressed her dismay with Tunesmith’s lack of posting after he said he would. Tunesmith is still in the process of getting settled in the Sunshine State and therefore his posting will be spotty. However, realizing that the vast T&A readership is jonesing for a little Tunesmith, I thought sharing some of the random text messages I receive from him with you every so often will both entertain and hold you over until he’s back full-time. Enjoy.

Fri, Oct 27
7:26 am: Mail me some Archway Ice Box chocolate chips.

Mon Oct 30
2:12 pm: A person walked in w/ a pair of dungarees chock full of groceries.

Tue, Oct 31
4:06 pm: Tell that old slut to kiss my ass!

Sat, Nov 4
12:24 am: Rachael Ray on Leno. Wawawa.
12:28 am: Her hair is too dark

Sun, Nov 5
5:12 pm: Why is Judd Hirsch doing those airline commercials?

[Actually, they are Citi Mastercard commercials.]

Thu, Nov 9
12:35 pm: Ed Bradley dead.
12:47 pm: Federline released the sex tape.

-It’s great news to hear Ben Roethlisberger visited his teammates today at the Steelers practice complex on the South Side today. It would be even greater news to hear him speak out against the jackasses who are calling the poor woman who was involved in his accident and threatening her life.

-Pittsburgh’s own Mark Cuban has more fun being rich than any man has a right to. I love the fact that when asked if he could come back as anybody who would it be he answers, Mark Cuban.

-The awarding of the Stanley Cup is one of the greatest traditions in sports. The center ice handshake procession between the two teams is The Greatest Tradition In Sports.

-Is there any local sportswriter or radio personality talking about the NBA playoffs? Dwyane Wade , a guard for the Miami Heat is putting together one of the finest performances ever witnessed in sports. Unfortunately nobody in Pittsburgh is going to see it or hear about it.

-Did the Steelers do their homework before they drafted Santonio Holmes? He doesn’t seem like Steeler material. I would cut my losses before he ever plays a down.

-I can’t believe Jimmy Krenn is still doing Stanley P. Kachowski and getting laughs . Hell even Willie Tyler put Lester back in the box.

-Does anybody else feel like Adam Sandler is playing a cruel joke on the moviegoing citizens of the great country?

-I love that a soccer field is called a “Pitch”. By the way I am praying that Sweden and Brazil play each other in the World Cup. There would be more T&A at that event than an Indigo Girls concert.

Enjoy The Gabe Dixon Band!

-Sidney Crosby is the sole reason the State of Pennsylvania should give the gaming license to the Isle of Capri. If the Pittsburgh Steelers were part of the equation there would be no question who would get the license.

-Speaking of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The local media should already begin to test market nickname ideas for running back LenDale White who will be their first round pick in this year’s draft. While they are at it make up one for Michael Robinson quarterback from Penn State who at some point will end up on the Steelers roster.

-I will buy Taylor Hicks’ first mass marketed Cd after he is done with this American Idol bullshit. If anybody is still buying that he is under thirty years old I have some property in Millvale to sell you.

-The Pittsburgh Pirates will be at or above .500 before the All-Star Game. They are quickly becoming one of the most exciting teams in Major League Baseball. Whether they are scoring eleven or giving up eleven it is never dull.

-Jason Bay is one of the top ten all around best baseball players in the game today.

-Don Schwenneker is the hippest weather man this city has ever known.

-If anybody knows of one or wants to build one. I need to find a Golf driving Range with a monitored playground my little girls.

-If you are not watching House on Fox Tuesday nights at 9pm. You need to start. The show is brilliant.

-The 2007 Dodge Caliber SXT is the best buy in the car market today. MSRP $17785.

Wife o’ Bob posed a good question in the comments section of my previous post, and since I’m at a loss for material these days I thought I’d turn it into its own post. Wife o’Bob asks: “I have a general question. Why does Anthony have “reflections” but Tunesmith has “ramblings”? My curious mind wants to know.”

That question is as good as it is difficult to answer. It’s right up there with, “Who was better: Steve Kemp or Jason Thompson?” (The answer of course is Sixto Lezcano. But I digress and reserve the right to use another baseball reference below.)

But to address the question, I believe that my “reflections” and Tunesmith’s “ramblings” are an indication of the differences in our personalities and styles. Tunesmith is very much the type to swing at the first pitch. He shoots from the hip. He is a free spirit, a charlatan, a renegade unafraid to act on an initial impulse. Therefore, “ramblings” is a proper word to describe the rat-a-tat-tat of his thoughts.

I, on the other hand, am more pensive, perhaps brooding. I wait for my pitch. I’ll take a few punches to get the opportunity to throw that KO punch. I’m more deliberate, perhaps even disciplined, unless of course I have a few drinks in me and then well…

So while Tunesmith and I are obviously different in some ways, our similarities are far more numerous. After all, we both are two of the most fascinating and charming individuals to ever emerge from Pittsburgh’s tri-state area.

I hope this helped answer the question and offered a small glimpse into the T&A window. And as always, Tunesmith and I encourage you, the vast T&A readership to proffer any and all questions that you may have. We are always glad to oblige. And we’ll answer your questions, too.