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Friday, 03 September 2010 16:39

Written by Reg Henry

       The season has turned in Pittsburgh. It is not about the leaves, they are still on the trees. It is not about the arrival of cooler weather (just in time for the weekend, something of a bummer). It is not even about the coming of Labor Day.
       No, it is about the imminent start of football. Suddenly, the civic conversation is about Byron Leftwwich’s injured left knee. It is about Ben Roethlisberger’s four-game suspension for his wicked bar-hopping ways, a suspension which I think is relatively lenient all things considered.
       Yes, there wasn’t enough evidence to charge him with rape but some people in this country are in jail for less (they are generally people who are not celebrities and cannot afford celebrity-caliber attorneys).
        It is now the season when the definition of tragedy in Pittsburgh also includes the following meaning: Tragedy: Anything that interferes with a quarterback’s ability to play.
        Man, I will miss summer.
        On that happy note, I announce the Reg-ulator of the Week.
         The award goes to Toadsly, who in recent months has acquired an exclamation point, which I believe is thanks (or no thanks) to Joomla, the contrary system that runs this blog. But he does seem to be an exclamation kind of guy, because his presence does make things instantly more lively. In fact, I can think of no one who posts here who comes closer to the wry-but-informed, laughing-but-serious attitude I try to encourage.
           It may seem unfair to some that I am honoring Mr. Toadsly when he really doesn’t post as regularly as others. But as Ciejai reminded us last weekend: “Tourist recently pointed out that during the early months of Reg onWry, Toadsly & Mermaid & little minx kept the comment section going. Without them it would have been crickets.”
           I hate those darn crickets. I hear them whenever I write a whimsical (non-political) column, such as this week.
            Mr. Toadsly, congratulations. It was a pleasure to meet you when you came into the PG for the tour and I hope you will come for a drink in December. Thank you for your long contributions.
            Happy Labor Day weekend to all. I will be back Tuesday, because I am honoring Labor Day by not laboring.

Comments (19)

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written by Tourist, September 03, 2010 - 07:53 PM

There are types, and there is unique. Long-deserved recognition, Toadsly. Congratulations! Wear it in good health. (Weren't the jokes your doing, too?)

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written by ciejai, September 03, 2010 - 08:19 PM

Toadsly! You are the man. And yes I'm certain he started the joke sessions.

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written by RFSIII, September 03, 2010 - 08:48 PM

Congratulations, Toadsly! Here's to more humor and less mean spirit.

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written by ciejai, September 03, 2010 - 10:34 PM

Toadsly, how can we honor you if don't check in?

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written by Mugsy, September 03, 2010 - 10:58 PM

A more deserving candidate for this honor has never stood before us!

High School football started tonight, and that's a wonderful thing. Pittsburgh is into HS football on a much larger scale than many other places. There's something very good about the band, the cheerleaders, a night with a cool breeze and a bunch of kids playing because they love the game.

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written by Toadsly!, September 04, 2010 - 03:10 AM

Thanks Reg, Tourist, Ciejai, RFSlll and Mugsy, but I really don't deserve this award. Many other Reg-ulators are far more deserving and better nuanced in the fine art of commenting. I thought thescarletpumpernickel or RFSlll would be this week's recipient. I'd like to apologize to any Reg-ulator I've ever offended, except...oh, what the hell, even myreply. I hope little_minx's absence from this blog isn't due to health problems...either hers or her husband’s.
I’d enjoy having a drink in December, but only if I can buy a round or two.

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written by RFSIII, September 04, 2010 - 10:27 AM

You earned it, Toadlsy.

Here's another round of apologies from the dog house for things better left unsaid. Must get that judgement transplant I've been saving up for.

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written by thescarletpumpernickel, September 04, 2010 - 02:25 PM

There's stars, and there's superstars.
(Now where did I steal that from?)

As the staff at the P-G knew (during our tour), Toadsly is a superstar. He's one of the reasons that I subscribe to and read PG+, and I encourage others to do so. (I suspect he's really Kafka.)

(P.S. - Thanks for the props, Toadsly, but as I've stated before, I just here for the fun and the beer. I watch others do the heavy lifting. That plus as everyone knows, my raison d'etre is to make a certain unnamed bloger's life miserable.)

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written by Toadsly!, September 04, 2010 - 06:21 PM

Thescarletpumpernickel,

I'm touched...you're far, far too kind. Still laughing about the "Who farted" comment.

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written by rockhardabs, September 04, 2010 - 08:17 PM

Just got back from a couple of days at my camp in the woods of Limestone, PA.

Congrats, Toadsly. Haven'y really spoken with you in the past, but I hope we can in the future.

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written by ciejai, September 05, 2010 - 07:16 PM

Toadsly, you are and always have been the big dog in this forum. For those of you who missed the P-G tour, our favorite amphibian was treated like a rock star by the staff. My little green friend, you bring the wit, the wacky, and the wonderful to this discussion. Your blog on the Plus site is worth the whole price of admission. I salute you with a big gulp of Fume Blanc.

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written by regis, September 05, 2010 - 07:41 PM

Allow me to add my "Regis Come Lately" approbation. The Toadster's somewhat skewed sense of humor helps lighten the plodding ernestness that afflicts most people writing on these blogs, including myself.

We need you over in "open letters" once in a while.

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written by Tourist, September 05, 2010 - 07:50 PM

regis:

I've been enjoying *you* in Letters. I continue to learn from and agree with almost everything you say. You explained that your problem is now the operating system at work. One of us suggested an iPad. Maybe from the bathroom. We need you.

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written by ciejai, September 05, 2010 - 08:30 PM

I meant to write "big frog" above but I spaced out.

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written by fhornplayer83, September 06, 2010 - 10:42 AM

I hope everyone is enjoying their Labor Day and the rights of workers it represents. Make sure to put away your white shoes and clothes, lest you run into "Serial Mom."

I hope the conservatives are finding some way to enjoy it, too.

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written by fhornplayer83, September 06, 2010 - 10:43 AM

Oh, and congrats, Toadsly!!

(Note the need for TWO exclamation points to be grammatically correct.)

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written by Mugsy, September 06, 2010 - 03:04 PM

"I hope the conservatives are finding some way to enjoy it, too"

Yep, I'm reflecting on the value of work, the dignity of workers, and the value of the people who create the opportunities to work.

I'm also going to a backyard picnic where I will reflect upon the merits of ribs and chicken.

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written by ciejai, September 06, 2010 - 07:50 PM

Speaking of difficult jobs to do:

http://online.wsj.com/article/...93116.html

The Islamic community center in lower Manhattan is a great election year issue for some. For others it's another phony stab at dividing the country, betraying its ideals and making the really tough job of winning hearts and minds in Afghanistan almost impossible.

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written by rockhardabs, September 06, 2010 - 08:24 PM

Enabling the enemy. Putting troops in danger.

Just like Hanoi Jane.

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