Channel 4 Action News Steelers Bet

 

After Lost Bet

It’s an image you will probably NEVER see again. Channel 4 Action News’ satellite coordinator Jim Spence wearing a Cleveland BROWNS jersey! Weather Watch 4 meterologist Demetrius Ivory is standing next to him with the big grin because Jim’s jersey is the result of a bitter bet! Demetrius bet Jim the Browns would beat the Steelers Thursday night. And they did, so Jim was forced to wear this Browns jersey all day long on Friday. Jim was a very good sport, but my guess is he’ll be a little more cautious making bets with Demetrius in the future…

Sketchy Santas

No Links N’@ today. We will be back on Monday.

In the meantime, you might like to check out this website, http://www.sketchysantas.com/. The site allows viewers to share their most bizarre Santa photos. The pictures are pretty hilarious. The site even sells Sketchy Santa Christmas cards. One regular sized card goes for $4.50. It’s cheaper if you buy in bulk. I hope the site brings back fond memories of your times with the mall Santas!

courtesy: www.sketchysantas.com

courtesy: www.sketchysantas.com

courtesy: www.sketchysantas.com

Free Shipping Day

First there was Black Friday…

Then Cyber Monday…

The next retail event of the holiday season is FREE shipping day! Mark your calendars, it’s scheduled for December 17th. Free shipping day is a day in which retailers guarantee both free shipping and arrival prior to Christmas Eve. So far, more than 490 retailers have signed up. Some of my favorite stores participating are American Eagle, Apple, Bebe, Express, Godiva, Nike, Nordstrom, Omaha Steaks, Sephora, and Ugg. Here’s the website with a list of all of the stores. Why are all the stores choosing to do this? Numbers show that online shopping dramatically slows after December 10. Retailers hope this will keep people buying later in the month of December.

Best Wii Deal…Ever?!

Thought you missed out on the best deals on Black Friday? Think again! If you are looking to buy a Wii this holiday season, you’re in luck. Starting this Saturday at 8:00am, Wal-Mart will be offering a $50 gift card with every Wii purchase, bringing the price of the console down to just $149.99. The deal will last until December 12, or while supplies last. You better act quick!

Top 10 Searches of 2009

On this Tuesday, December 1st, I’ve spotted my first “year in review” story. Yahoo has released the website’s top searches of 2009. This year Britney Spears’ four year reign at the top spot has come to an end! Thank goodness! Here’s a look at the top five.

1. Michael Jackson

couresty: Steve Granitz/WireImage.com

2. The Twilight Saga

courtesy: Kimberly French/Summit Entertainment

3. WWE

courtesy: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

4. Megan Fox

courtesy: Jaimie Trueblood/Paramount Pictures

5. Britney Spears

courtesy: Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com

This link will show you the top ten.

 

 

WTAE Chili Cook-Off

The Sunday night crew made WTAE history last night.  It was the first ever Chili Cook-Off!  Weather Watch 4 meterologist Erin Kienzle, technical director Michelle Benedict and director Rick Watson all made their best recipes.  Erin made her husband’s traditional recipe, Michelle made her family recipe and Rick made an easy Italian chili recipe.  This was such a serious competition, that Rick came in on his day off to participate!  Everyone at work sampled each chili, then gave the chili a score from 1-5 on a secret ballot.  It was a tight race, but we tallied up the points and…MICHELLE WON!  Good competition everyone!  Thank you for allowing me to taste test!

Sampling the Chili courtesy: Cary Toaso

Channel 4 Action News Crew Enjoying The Chili Cook-Off

 

The Winning Chili

Michelle’s Winning Family Chili Recipe

2 tablespoons salad oil

1/2 cup minced onion

1 teaspoon minced garlic (I use one or two cloves of garlic that I cut up with a knife.)

2 1/2 lb boneless lean beef chunks in 1/2 inch cubes (It comes this way.)

1 12 oz bottle of beer

1 1/2 cups water

1 8 oz can whole tomatoes crushed (You can use two cans if you want)

1 8 oz can tomato sauce

1 4 oz can mild green chilies chopped (undrained) (I usually use two or three of these.)

1/2 cup chopped green pepper (I use all the green pepper.)

4 teaspoons chili powder

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon crushed oregano leaves

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper

 In a large sauce pot, heat oil till hot. Saute onion and garlic. Add half the meat; brown well on all sides. Remove with a slotted spoon.

Add remaining meat and brown. Return all meat to sauce pot. Add beer, water, tomatoes, tomato sauce, chilies, green pepper, cumin, salt, oregano, paprika, red and black pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer covered, stirring occasionally and adding more water if needed, for three hours.

 Tips: Leave some of the tomatoes in chunks to give the chili a better texture. The fat in the meat gives the chili a good flavor so don’t use meat that’s too lean and don’t drain the fat after you’ve browned the meat.

 Top with monterey pepper jack cheese

 To extend chili, serve over rice.

 

Jeff Jimerson’s Mic Stolen

…from a beautiful bride that is! Jeff Jimerson’s band, Airborne, performed at my former tennis teammate’s wedding. When the band started playing the song “Don’t Stop Believin’, ” Nikki grabbed the microphone and took over on vocals! Some wedding guests later said, “When the bride gets the mic, you know it’s a good wedding.” I agree! Great wedding Nikki and Paul!

The Bride Steals The Mic From Jeff Jimerson (courtesy: Kristy Borza)

Posing with Jeff Jimerson

Pitt Tennis Alumni

Emily, Kristy & Me

Mr. Borza & Mrs. Mathews

Now here’s some information on Jeff Jimerson. Every Penguins fan knows Jeff because he often sings the national anthem before home games. He fires up the crowd more than any other singer has and he’s considered to be a good luck charm.

Bird in the Newsroom

Courtesy: Joe Heckel

Talk about a major distraction in the WTAE newsroom last week. A wild BIRD was flying around! Our new feathered friend kept flying from one end of the newsoom to the other, as you can see in the video! I was a wimp and refused to get near the little birdie. In two incidents, birds have decided to “relieve” themselves on me. Thepittsburghchannel.com’s Maila was not afraid of the bird. In fact, she kicked off her shoes, picked up a garbage bin and borrowed a producer’s lightweight jacket to try to capture the bird. After about 15 minutes of controlled chaos, the bird flew into the mailbox room. Maila, Rege (our managing editor) and Tom (a producer) teamed up and forced the bird out of an open window. Unfortunately, you cannot see that marvelous display of teamwork on the video.

 

Additional Facebook Info

Here is some additional information about Facebook etiquette in the office. This is an article from careerbuilder.com. And here are the 10 privacy settings every Facebook user should know. Happy Facebooking!

P.S. The new dictionary word of the year is unfriend! Yes, you can now officially use this word in your vocabulary! Here’s the article.

 

 

Facebook Etiquette in the Office

It sure seems like everyone is now on Facebook. Your mom, your young cousins and yes, even your boss. The question is what do you do when your manager sends you a Facebook friend request? Or what about your co-workers? Etiquette experts say it’s best to accept, but make sure to use those privacy settings! There are ways to distinguish your friends from your co-workers on the social networking website. You can then design what each group of people can see on your profile. In other words, you can make sure only your best friends can see your college pictures. To get a better idea of how to use the facebook settings, watch my latest plugged in story. And remember, if worse comes to worst, you can always “unfriend” a Facebook friend!

 

Malkin on His Dog, His Car & the Steelers

The G20 Summit begins today!  Everyone here at Channel 4 Action News is working hard to bring you complete coverage of the historical event!  Everyday our morning show starts at 4:30am.  We also have a special every night at 7:00 and our 11:00 coverage last for an hour!  All of this extra coverage means no Links N’@ this week.  It’ll be back on Monday. 

If I were to produce Links N’@ today, you would be seeing this story.  The blog Puck Daddy interviewed Evgeni Malkin at the Penguins’ star’s home.

Courtesy: Puck Daddy

Here are some of my favorite excerpts from the interview:

 

Puck Daddy: Are you friends with any of the Steelers? Maybe Big Ben?

Malkin: No, I have never met him nor been introduced to him. I only know… What do you call them? They guys who kick the ball? Kickers? I went out to dinner with them a couple of times, hanged out with them.

Puck Daddy: What are you driving these days?

Malkin: Right now it’s a Range Rover. But I am going to change it because it is four years old. A week ago I ordered a Porsche Cayenne, and I will drive that. I also have a small Porsche that I “race” as you were told. When you’re young you want to have a sporty car and look for such cars every year, like a Ferrari or a Lamborghini. I keep thinking about buying one. Maybe I will.

Puck Daddy: What is your adult beverage of choice?

Malkin: Lately I really like Sangria. Just white or red Sangria, sometimes mixed, with lots of fruits. You can drink it after games in good quantities, unlike beer. You have to watch your weight.

 

I love Sangria too, Geno!  I love dogs as well.  Puck Daddy reports that right now, Malkin is working on getting the paperwork to bring back his dog from Russia.  Malkin tells Puck Daddy it’s a Dogue de Bordeaux, which is a HUGE dog.  Good thing he has a big house and big yard for the pup!

An example of the dog Malkin owns that I found on dogbreedinfo.com

August Weddings

Wedding season is slowly coming to an end.  I was lucky enough to be invited to two beautiful ceremonies in the month of August.  Zach and Julie Hughes got married on August 1st in Erie.  A few weeks later, Nick and Lauren D’Alessandro got married on August 29th in Pittsburgh.  Here are some pictures!

What a good looking wedding party!

Adam, Mrs. Hughes, Mrs. Smith & Me

My best friends (Hayley & Emily Hughes)

Me, Lauren, Nick & Adam

Me & Lindsay (sister of the groom)

The groomsmen hoisted the father of the bride (Mr. Keyes) into the air!

Poll Results

First of all, I want to let you know that Links N’@ will be back soon!  Look for an all new episode this Friday!

Second, it’s time to conclude my ice cream poll.  I asked you which ice cream treat is better, strawberry shortcake or chips galore?  As of Wednesday (9/9) at noon, these are the results:

Strawberry Shortcake 51%

Chips Galore 46%

Other 2%

I’m very disappointed in these results.  I am a HUGE chips galore fan.  Now I must follow up on my bet with co-worker Joe and eat a strawberry shortcake bar.  I’m sure he will be taking PLENTY of pictures and they will be posted on this blog soon.

Steelers Fans Are Worldwide

Forget Steeler Nation.  You can now call it Steeler World.  My friend Matt Ignacic just got back from Europe and look what he found!  A Steelers bar in Rome, Italy!  Steeler fans really are everywhere!

Steelers Bar in Rome

 

P.S.  The ice cream poll is still up and running!  And the debate in the newsroom is getting really heated.  Strawberry shortcake or Chips Galore, which really is the best ice cream treat?  Vote below!  Results coming soon…

Strawberry Shortcake or Chips Galore?

Some of us in the newsroom have an ongoing debate and I need your help settling the dispute. If you were to pick out a FREE ice cream treat, would you choose a Strawberry Shortcake or a Chips Galore? Please take our survey!