My hometown of Pittsburgh is loaded with historical landmarks and significance. A short walk through Oakland reveals markers and statues and great, old buildings where important things took place.

Today’s short video is timely as the World Series is currently going on between the Texas Rangers and St. Louis Cardinals. I thought I’d show a little glimpse of one of my workplaces where one of the biggest moments in the history of sports occurred.

If you’d like to see the short clip of this historic blast click here. You’ll see what Forbes Field and Pittsburgh looked like a half century ago as the camera follows the flight of the ball through the air and over Yogi Berra’s head.

Do you have any cool landmarks near you?

“It all happened so fast with Curly Bill… I didn’t really have time to think about it, but I’ve had plenty of time to think about this. I can’t beat him can I?”

Watching someone rush into what appears to be certain death shocks and humbles me. Someone who takes time to think about the sacrifice they are making amazes me even more.

I think Ben Franklin came up with this logo after lighting black smoke snakes.

The men who signed the Declaration of Independence were in the latter category. Putting ink to paper on that document was the equivalent of signing a death warrant. Those guys knew what there were doing and had plenty of time to think about what the British would do to them when the opposition showed up.

At the time of the American Revolution the English law codes considered the founders traitors, and treason was punishable by a death worse than the watered down version shown in Braveheart. Ben Franklin exuded optimism when he told the Second Continental Congress:

“We must, indeed, all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately.”

Benjamin Harrison of Virginia managed to quip about impending death as he made his way to the front of the hall where he penned his name on the declaration written by Thomas Jefferson. Harrison turned to Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts and said:

“From the size and weight of my body I shall die in a few minutes, but from the lightness of your body you will dance in the air for an hour or two before you are dead.”

Like I say, rushing into death is already unbelievable. Doing so with so much time to calculate the cost is nearly unimaginable.

These men could have gone home to their families and accepted a life of pushy British officials who threatened basic freedoms. At least they’d be with their families and alive!

I’m grateful that they got it right.

Now we can celebrate our independence by gorging on food and blowing stuff up. Of course, if you’re from California you can wear helmets while lighting sparklers or black smoke snakes or something. I mean, that’s cool if you wanna roll like that, but here in Pennsylvania we like our celebration of freedom to be tough and explosive. Even that’s nothing compared to some parts of the country where dropping the lit firework and walking away is considered wussified. I’m looking at you Tennessee.

Just like Wyatt Earp, the founders got a little help from their friends including a couple hundred thousand fellow countrymen and women who believed in something greater than themselves and changed the world.

Happy 4th of July!

I received a pleasant email from Zechariah Brewer a little while back telling me that he would be in Pittsburgh on business (he’s a hitman) in a few days and could I recommend any attractions. Fearing this might be bait and the contract might actually be on my head I immediately left town.

I laid low for a few days, about 16 inches off the ground to be exact, and waited for the coast to be clear. Eventually I realized we don’t have any coasts in Pittsburgh which should’ve occurred to me earlier because I know so much about this city. It’s the town that I love.

Your humble tour guide

So here are a few things you just must check out when you come to visit me. Bring money. Or at least food.

1. Incline (Decline option also available)

The first and easiest suggestion is to do the incline. Take a ride up to the top of Mt. Washington (you leave from Station Square which is right across the river from downtown) and check out the city from one of the outlooks. You’ll also see that everytime Pittsburgh is shown anywhere in sporting events or whatever that they’ll show the incline. You can say you rode the thing.

2. Kennywood

America’s finest traditional amusement park ain’t no joke yo. No other park in the world combines such a variety of rides and events. We still have three wooden coasters! If you don’t have a need for speed like me there’s always Potato Patch fries. (Everybody from Pittsburgh just drooled a little). Kennywood is also a possible location for the “Friends of Clay Convention” to be held at some point in the next 15 years. Other possible locations include Hawaii and Graceland.

3. Heinz History Center

You’ll find this sweet spot just past the Convention Center. Pittsburgh has loads of history that’s recognized around the world. Catch it all in this spot. You’ll be ready to eat when your done so grab a bite on the same street in the Strip District. Don’t let the name fool you. You don’t have to take your clothes off down there. Not until midnight anyway.

4. PNC Park

The Pittsburgh Pirates are a bad baseball team, but they play in a beautiful park. You must spend a couple hours there. You can eat at Primanti Brothers and see what all that fuss is about. You’re also likely to see fireworks as Pittsburghers enjoy blowing stuff up for no apparent reason. Seriously. If the Pirates ever make the playoffs grab the children and leave town.

5. Andy Warhol Museum

Because I know I’m supposed to say this. Is there some cool stuff there? Absolutely. Is there some freaky deaky going on there? Oh yeah. Have I ever gone back? Not yet. Look, pop art can be really good but is often very terrible. You could say it’s verible.

If you want even more options then check out this breakdown of a few things I left out.

Of course, you all know that the biggest attraction in the Burgh is me. So if you’re heading this way be sure to give me a heads up. Especially if that contract’s real and you’re coming for me.

~*~*~*~

I recommend this idea to all you fellow bloggers out there. Why not write a post that answers the question: What should I do if I visit your home town? Come back and share the link here when you do!

What town do you live in and where do you keep your valuables what’s the hot attraction there?

The first article highlights how Harry Houdini became the 1st international superstar and specifically details some of his appearances in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Amazing to imagine him leaping into one of the Three Rivers or hanging from skyscrapers in a straight jacket.

The more recent feature is all about using pop culture in education to better connect with students of all levels and disciplines.

Click on the links to check them out. I hope you enjoy reading them.

So the connections to Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania are many this week. Gene Kelly was the man, a Steel City star unlike anyone in entertainment history. Hope you enjoyed.

In Groundhog Day, Phil gets stuck living the same day over and over again.

If you had to repeat the same day over like that, what would your dream day look like? Where would you go and what would you do? With whom?

____________________________________________________________
 Find me on Twitter @eduClaytion.