Pittverse Magazine - Fall 2015 by Pittverse

Issue 3, Volume 1

Fall 2015

The Spectrum of Pittsburgh: Autism Society President Dan Torisky Autism Expert Dr. Nancy Minshew Local Rock Band: Big Atlantic Pittsburgh Musical Theater Washington Wild Things Pittsburgh Dad

Prepare to expand your experience! Pittverse Magazine is a quarterly

Pittverse is produced by Youth

It began as a newsletter written by

publication that proudly repre-

Advocate Programs ( Y AP ) , a

four of the adults in the YAP pro-

sents the introspection and crea-

national non-profit agency that

gram. This year, with generous

tivity of adults on the autism

comprises a multitude of services

funding from Edith Trees Founda-

spectrum. Its goal is to provide

for families with not only individu-

tion, Pittverse is growing from a

thoughtful opinion and enhanced

als on the autism spectrum but

newsletter into a magazine that

knowledge of wide-ranging top-

also other at-risk youth and

commissions up to twelve autistic

ics to the public while providing

adults. Brian Kluchurosky, the

adults.

its writers, who are all adults on

director of YAP ’ s PA Allegheny

Welcome to The Pittverse...

the autism spectrum, with skills

County Adults with Autism Pro-

applicable to future employment.

gram, founded Pittverse in 2013.

Cover photo: “Full Spectrum Tree” photographed by Jordan Meeter. Via flickr creative commons.

FEATURES

COLUMNS

Local Rock Band, Big Atlantic… 3

The Sci Fi Station

Autism Expert, Dr. Nancy Minshew… 5

The Spiritual Side of Sci Fi, Part 2… 27

Bigfoot the Movie… 7

Skidmore’s Hero Spotlight: Rod Serling… 29

Autism Society’s Dan Torisky… 9 Taking Pride in my Work… 13 Pittsburgh Dad… 14

Fugitor: The Time Escapee… 30 Jurassic Park Change My Life, Part 2… 31 Jurassic World Movie Review… 32 Sci Fi Spotlight: A.E. Van Vogt… 33

The Key to Long Term Employment… 15 Adywan of Star Wars Revisited… 17

The Pittverse Opinion

Raising a Child with Autism… 19

The Story of Life… 34

Working on the Railroad… 20 Pittsburgh Musical Theater… 21 Chaz Kellem of the Pirates Staff… 23 Washington Wild Things… 24

A Dog for U.S. President… 35 Black and White Society… 37 TV Flashback: Step by Step… 39 The Food Champ… 40 Top Ten Lists… 41

Letter from the editor Our biggest goal for Pittverse Magazine is to spread autism awareness throughout the greater Pittsburgh area and beyond. But what exactly does “autism awareness” mean? Just the term itself can be misconstrued. “Awareness” is often associated with finding a cure (i.e. breast cancer awareness), which may be why “autism awareness” can be misinterpreted. We aren’t hoping to wipe out autism; the world would lose a lot of great minds if autism was eradicated. (Did you know that many of America’s founding fathers were most likely on the spectrum?) So what are we hoping for? This fall, the Pittverse writers helped me to gain some clarity on what exactly they want Pittsburgh to learn about them and others on the autism spectrum. First, they want everyone to

be aware of what autism is and isn’t. Autism means that the brain is hard-wired a little bit differently. People with autism are more visually than language oriented which can make social situations difficult and crowded environments overwhelming. On the other hand, it also means they are great with details, patterns, and hard facts. There are a lot of misconceptions surrounding the autism spectrum. One is that people with autism are either all savants or all intellectually disabled. Neither is the case, and IQ doesn’t necessarily correlate with autism either way, especially among those considered “high functioning.” People with autism have brains that are wired differently, but it doesn’t mean they are smarter or slower than “neurotypical” people. Another misconception the Pittverse writers brought up is that they are thought to be

cold and emotionless. That’s obviously not true, and Delaine had a great way of explaining why her and her peers can be construed that way: “Interacting with nonautistic people is like communicating with people from another culture. We can easily be misunderstood or perceived as rude because of our cultural differences. It is also very tiring to constantly try to communicate across the cultural divide.” Overall, the Pittverse writers hope that everyone who picks up our magazine is able to learn through reading their articles that they have unique talents and interests just like everyone else. Like all of us, they have weaknesses they’d like to overcome and strengths they’d like to use to better themselves and contribute to their communities. As you enjoy the spectrum of fall colors this autumn, take time to get to know the equally brilliant spectrum of autism!

Enjoy our fall issue!

Renee Fisher, Pittverse Editor

Pittverse 2

Big Atlantic By Thomas R. Skidmore

ittsburgh-born and bred musician Lee Caruso is the founder and vocalist/guitarist of the local progressive band Big Atlantic. According to the band’s official website, their music is best described as a mixture of The Who and Rush. Since forming the band in 2008, Lee and the other members of Big Atlantic have pushed forth with their special blend of melodic music and soaring drive, fueled by a strong work ethic shared by all members of the band. This endeavor was rewarded in 2011, when their debut album Motive was released. They are now recording and mixing a new LP, due to be released in December 2015 or January 2016.

Interview with Lead Singer & Guitarist Lee Caruso

From the time he was nine years old, Lee has steadily and consistently stuck to his music, which gave him solace after a bike accident injured his leg to the point where he had steel used to heal the injury. At age 12, he and a friend formed their first band, X-Zaklee, and from there Lee never looked back. Shortly before forming Big Atlantic, Lee enrolled at Berkley School of Music to study theory in music, and by trade he’s in the mechanical engineering field, following in the family tradition. But Lee doesn’t believe in studying music to play rock. His motto is simple. “Trust your instincts, and just be yourself,” he says.

Among his musical influences, Lee lists Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Foo Fighters, Chet Atkins, Pete Twonsend, and Rush. Unlike most prog-rock bands, Lee states that his band’s music isn’t derived from fantasy and science fiction (although they are huge fans of the genre), but rather from dream symbolism and everyday contact with the community where they live. “You have people who aren’t influenced by society, but have their own ideas,” he states. “It’s exciting for people to develop their own dreams.” When asked about Big Atlantic’s place and approach in music, Lee has a very unique view.

Thomas and Lee Caruso “Big Atlantic is opportunitybased, and I wanted it to be a place where I can write my own songs, and not have to play standard pop.” The band’s statement reads: “The mission of Big Atlantic is to bring together an army of people that align with the open-minded thinking of an artist. We are all artists in some way.” The band was previously signed to a small label, but the band, and Lee in particular, felt uncomfortable with the set-up, and opted out. “I decided to leave my label because I didn’t want to be a ‘star’,” he says. Lee admits to not being happy to having the lion’s share of publicity thrust upon him.

“I’m considered the ‘leader’ but I don’t like being in the spotlight.” When asked if music is beneficial for people on the autism spectrum, Lee says yes. “People are going to like all different sorts of music, and I noticed that none of them fall into a specific type. It’s not music that defines the person, it’s the person who defines the music.” This viewpoint also translates into his understanding of “commercial music.” “Commercial is defined by the fans, and not by the ‘industry.’ The recording industry is in such a sorry state right now because, let’s face it, they didn’t adapt to the digital era fast enough, and it shows.”

With a bit of lament, Lee doesn’t see too much of a future for true progressive rock in Pittsburgh. “Progressive rock needs to have a crowd, and there aren’t enough venues in Pittsburgh for prog-rock. It can grow if it has fertile ground, but right now it doesn’t look too promising,” he says sadly. A grass-roots movement, observes Lee, is more of an ideal way to get any form of art, whether it be music or writing, out to the public. Lee Caruso and the other members of Big Atlantic can be reached at the following places: lcj@bigatlantic.com www.bigatlantic.com facebook.com/bigatlantic Pittverse 4

Dr. Nancy Minshew By Richard Campbell

World-Renowned Autism Expert

r. Nancy Jean Minshew is an internationally-recognized expert on autism and a person I’ve known for over a quartercentury of the over 30 years she’s been with the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. She is a neurologist and professor of psychiatry and neurology at the university. The University of Pittsburgh has been a school I’ve always had great admiration for, though I never attended it after high school because I was a person who was mentally ill. I had spent over five years in Western Psychiatric Institute when I was just an adolescent, and then six years later was admitted to Woodville State Hospital, where I spent 33 months. The interesting thing was it took a “court order” to discharge me from Woodville. I learned 18 was the age limit for Woodville’s adolescent unit, and after 2:30pm on Wednesday, June 16 1971, I walked out a free man out of Woodville. However, my time after that would be good at times and bad at others. I spent nine months at the Rehabilitation Institute (now Children’s Institute) of Pitts-

burgh at 6301 Northumberland Street in Squirrel Hill. I first met Dr. Minshew when I was 36 years old. Jeani Pierce, my primary counselor who worked for Mon Yough Community Services, introduced us. Jeani is a fantastic lady, one of the greatest I’ve ever known, besides Dr. Minshew. Jeani took me to meet Dr. Minshew in mid-November 1989. Previously, I had been mis-diagnosed with bipolarism and schizophrenia, and when I met Dr. Minshew she gave me my autism diagnosis. Now, 26 years later, Dr. Minshew, Jeani, and I are still friends. This fall I had the chance to talk to Dr. Minshew in-depth about her career and her autism expertise. What would you like the readers of Pittverse Magazine to know about you and your work? “I went to Mills College, a small college in Oakland, CA where my major was chemistry. I liked the ‘hard sciences.’ I liked being precise and understanding the chemical or molecule basis of the world around us. Chemistry was complicated

but very logical, and chemistry led to many improvements in our world. I went to medical school at Washington University in St. Louis, as I had always wanted to help people and I really like people. “Not surprisingly, I liked the medical specialty of neurology, which requires excellent observation and problem solving skills to see the details other people miss and decide what those details mean, a sort of Sherlock Holmes kind of thinking… My special focus in neurology has long been on alterations in the brain and in brain development that cause autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ASD is the term we use for people who do not develop the full range of human ability to interact, to communicate and to solve problems in the usual way. More and more, people with autism are able to do many things better than people without autism, even in the face of ongoing challenges. “In 1984, I came to work at the University of Pittsburgh in the Department of Psychiatry. In my first job, I met children and adults with autism and was fascinated. I wanted to understand how they saw the world and how

they thought so that I could understand why they said and did things differently from other people…If I understood those two very big questions, I would be able to help them live happier and more satisfying lives. I also hoped that I could help other people be more understanding about them and better able to help them be successful.” What do you like the most about your job? “I like the challenge of doing things that are very hard and the satisfaction of slowly figuring things out that are not yet understood or known. I like finding the scientists that can work together on these important questions about autism and helping them get their stud-

ies done. It takes a long time to make progress, but progress grows and grows over time.” As an autism expert, what has been the most important thing you’ve learned that you apply to your job today? “That people with autism see the world differently than other people do and they think differently. They are very logical. Their logic is just different. I also learned that they do not lie because their brains and minds have not developed the capacity to lie. As a result, they have excellent character. They want to follow the rules and that includes being on time for work, doing their work when they are at work, doing their

work exactly as they were asked to do it, always going to work, and never stealing. What would you like to achieve before you retire, and when are you planning to retire? “I would like to be part of developing two more treatments for people with autism. We are testing two new treatments now to determine if they help adults with autism be happier and more successful in life and if their brain connections grow as a result of the treatment. The first of our two studies have shown strong improvements in function and brain connections in people with ASD. Our second study is in progress. If the second study also shows such improvements, Continued on page 25

Dr. Minshew and Richard Pittverse 6

Jared Show

Producer of Bigfoot the Movie By Delaine Swearman

ared Show is a downto-earth guy who grew up in Ellwood City, a die-hard Steelers fan, a California University of Pennsylvania graduate, and he also happens to be a Hollywood movie producer. I met up with him before his August 28th screening of Bigfoot: The Movie at Row House Cinema in Lawrenceville. Bigfoot: The Movie, Jared's first film, is a comedy/ horror flick set in the 1980s about three "yinzers" from

Delaine and Jared Show

Ellwood City trying to capture Bigfoot, and Jared himself plays the part of "Burl," an exterminator. It was released on May 29, 2015 at the AMC Theater at the Waterfront. Since that time, Jared has been traveling throughout the region, hosting local screenings and attending festivals and other special events to promote the movie.

So, how did small-town Jared become the Bigfoot movie producer? According to Jared, it started with inspiration from his grandfather's Bigfoot stories and the movie Tremors. Then he majored in TV and film at California University of Pennsylvania. After graduating college, Jared moved to California and worked behind the scenes on other movies. Eventually he got into a company that did producing and editing. He produced a trailer for Big-

foot in 2007. In September 2013, he set a goal of raising $10,000 on Kickstarter, and people started investing. Shooting for the movie started in November 2013, but was halted due to an early snow and then resumed in March 2014. The release date for the final movie was set for early summer 2015 to take advantage of the availability of outdoor summer screenings and local festivals. As a movie director, Jared says, "I feel like the head of a camp. People come to me for everything. It's stressful but fun. I'm tired but wired." When asked how many showings of the movie he's

had in the past three months, Jared wasn't sure, but thought it had to be at least 30 shows. Some of these screenings were scheduled in "nontraditional" venues and Jared had to deal with some technical difficulties and less than favorable conditions. For example, Jared said that one place had the screen set up outdoors with the streetlights shining behind it, and no one could see the picture. In another "make -shift" theater inside a warehouse, the speakers blew out, necessitating a mid-movie run to Wal-Mart for replacements. There was a venue with no seating, and in another place the wrong movie

was advertised. But in all cases, despite the challenges, the show went on. Jared has movie screenings scheduled through October, and then plans to have the movie released nationwide for rental and online streaming, hopefully by next spring. And as for the future, Jared already has a sequel in mind.

Pittverse 8

Dan Torisky: Autism Society President By Michelle Middlemiss

n August I had the pleasure of interviewing Dan Torisky who is responsible for helping many people on the Autism Spectrum. The list of his accomplishments is very long, but here are a few of his roles. He is the past president of the American Autism Society (19901992), the current president of the Autism Society of Pittsburgh (1996-present), and current secretary of the Autism Society of Pennsylvania (1999-present). Dan co-founded Spectrum School in Monroeville and co-founded the Autistic Children’s program in the Allegheny Intermediate unit. He is also the current secretary of the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix Association, which he co-founded in 1983. Dan began our interview, “I was one of the original members of the Autism Society of America in October 1965 when myself and 62 other daddies got together and were battling with psychiatrists who said the mothers caused autism. There was a psychiatrist named Bruno Bettelheim who was well respected by the American Psychiatric Association.”

Dan was enraged when Bettelheim told him and his wife that while their son was in the womb, he became autistic from sensing that his mother did not want him. According to Dan, Bettelheim said of children with autism, “The fetus picks up from its mother that she didn’t want you and that you were interrupting her life by being born. You were affected neurologically in the womb. Your mother caused you to have autism.” Dan told me that “All we wanted was our first kid, Eddie, who is seriously autistic. He screamed all the time and my first wife Connie and I did four hours on and four hours off holding him. What we noticed was that we had four kids in four years and it wasn’t happening to them. If anyone was going to be autistic it would have been any of them. I didn’t even know any of their names until they were 6 years old,” he joked. Bettelheim’s theory wasn’t realistic because Eddie, as their first child, was the baby they were the most excited to have, and the only one who was autistic. “At that time there were no computers or internet or or-

ganizations for autism. I would read about people like Eddie and my wife and me,” Dan explained. “We rounded up names of parents who had kids like Eddie, and in 1965 we all agreed to meet in New Jersey. We knew damn well that our wives didn’t cause autism.” Dan said that his friend Dr. Bernie Rimand wrote a book on early infantile autism that described the symptoms of autism in a way that ordinary people could understand. Rimand was the one who got them all together. I liked that the people who met up were mainly just parents of kids with autism! Dan told me about how his wife Connie went back to school to get degrees and learn as much as she could about what was going on with their son. I really admire her for wanting to know everything she could about how to deal with Eddie. His wife founded the Pittsburgh Autism Society and was working on her PhD before she died. Dan stayed with the Society as Secretary for 28 years. Dan continued to tell me that new people began joining the Society. “In 1988, new thought was coming from

people in the Autism Society of America (ASA) and it all came to a head. These people were saying that our autistic kids have to get along with people. The ASA was beginning to falter. Membership dropped down to its lowest at 18,000 members and 40 Chapters nationwide. People in the chapters did not feel that the ASA was any value to them. They were pushing for a one size fits all. They said to do one thing or you’re a rotten parent.” Dan said, “Autism is what it is; Auto-ism, or self. They need to work with what they got. They don’t want to be like everyone else.” Dan got really irritated when he talked about how some members were saying what they thought the autistic person should or should not do. He told me that “Every autistic kid is different than every other autistic kid. They all need continuing services that parents can pick from.

“For instance, our son Eddie lives in a group home and I have options for his care. What he can manage, he does well. He has the right to choose but the right to know the consequences. But Eddie only understands restrictions when privileges are taken away. Parents must be involved. I gave the group home permission that he may be restrained in a case where the situation could be harmful. I made that decision, although the ASA said ‘Don’t restrain him.’” Dan told me that parents need to be the primary decision makers. They are the ones who should decide the programs to be used. “Then in 1990 we had a revolt and proxy fight. We wrote to people all over the US and ran candidates for a board of directors in the ASA. Guess what,” Dan continued. “I got elected President of the Autism Society of America.”

Dan said that he is Eddie’s permanent case manager as long as he is alive. “You are always gonna be concerned, especially with an autistic child. Nobody is ever gonna love Eddie more than me. It’s my decision and my responsibility as a parent to monitor my child’s care.” Dan’s other three kids have PhDs and he said that he would help guide them in anything they ever needed or if they were in trouble. Dan said, “I feel the same way about them and don’t control their lives. If I can possibly help them, I will, because I am still their case manager too.” Dan got very serious and I listened. “There’s one thing I did that’s gonna get me into heaven. God will tell me: ‘Of all the things you did Dan, you wrote the Autism Policy. I gave you the gift of how to write and think and you came up with the autism policy. This was the right thing

Dan Torisky and Michelle Pittverse 10

to do.’” Dan stated, “The policy is simply this: Parents have a right to learn about and then choose options that they feel are best for their autistic son or daughter. That is what I live by. It’s as simple as that. If you believe that, parents must see that there are continual services." I asked Dan, “What I really admire about you is this, sir: You aren’t just standing up for your son with autism, but you went the extra mile. You’re standing up for all of us. In my life I hardly ever saw that. I was diagnosed when I was 30. Up until then, we did not know what I had and I had no help until I got into the Autism Waiver. So to me someone like you is high up on my respect list. Why do you feel so strongly that you have to stand up for all of us and not just for your boy?” Dan answered, “Shit, I ain’t never been asked that before!” He thought for a few minutes and said, “Because I hate bullies. They called autism an emotional dysfunction, social and emotional disturbance, social delayed.” Dan went on to tell me about how they knew that some-

thing was wrong with Eddie and that he really couldn’t defend himself. “The slightest thing could make him scream or cry. He walked through the neighborhood yards. He always seemed happy to be alone. Didn’t bother with other kids. Other kids his age wondered why he wasn’t paying any attention to them. Eddie was different.” I listened to a story that Dan told me about Eddie. There was a bully who tied Eddie up to a tree and poked sticks at him until Eddie’s younger brother, Jesse, punched at the bully’s face to stop him. When the bully and his dad came to the house to tell Dan what had happened, the dad said terrible things about Eddie needing to be locked up for ‘being a monster.’ Jesse stood up for Eddie and told the bully’s father what his son had done to Eddie. After apologizing for his son’s actions, the bully’s dad said that there were going to be more marks on his son’s face when they got home. Dan told another story of bullying when he was in the Marine Corp in the late 40s and 50s. “When I was draft-

ed, blacks weren’t allowed into the service. My platoon was the first to have black guys in it. We saw how they were bullied by the very Marines who make them qualify. But when it was spotted by the drill instructors, they knocked the bullying out of them. I noticed how bullies were dealt with and when you’re together in a squad it doesn’t matter what color you are.” He then talked about how there are government bullies who stand in the way of disabled people simply trying to fill out a form. “Their lack of compassion and inability to be flexible: that’s bullying. They are controlling your life. Sometimes they were enjoying it or just don’t know any better. It doesn’t make me like it any more. “Put this in your interview. Before I was in the service, before I was a dad of an autistic kid, before I realized the value of my wife in my life, we simply stayed together and found that we got along. Love didn’t happen until I realized that this woman had done 15,000 times more than I did to adapt to life with our boy. She went back to school to learn about Eddie. I had just

stood there shaking my fist at the Almighty for giving me this monster child. I was a class one son of a bitch. “I am a felon because I would have killed that psychiatrist if Connie hadn’t stopped me. That psychiatrist was bullying my wife saying ‘It’s obvious you’re the weak link in this chain.’ “The person that saved my life was God Almighty when he gave me that kid. I saw Eddie struggling and using 100 percent of his brain and I was only using a part of mine.” My next question to Dan was this, “I volunteered at Spectrum School for over a year. I know your wife Connie died in 1996 and your school opened in 2001. Was she helping you behind it or did you guys build it up in five years?” Dan answered, “No, it was her idea in the 80s to get vocational training introduced in the education department in the schools in IEP’s especially at the age of 12. She thought of continuing education after the age of 21 and assessment to see what students are inclined towards. Especially autistic kids because they hit their stride at age 21. Eddie still learns to this day.

“When my wife got cancer I needed to care for her for the next six years. When I came back, the society had slipped back into the same old shit.

and thought, We have money here so why don’t we see if we can provide some classes? What could be an easier way to do it?

“I took over my wife’s Chapter and came back into the same old battle. In this battle to preserve my ‘options policy’ they had added the clause ‘However, these people are entitled to a chance for the American dream.’ They thought that everybody had to have a

“Start kids at the age of 12 and only the ones that the district would refer to us that public schools couldn’t handle, the tough ones. Prepare them for whatever is ahead of them. Whatever skill they need refined.”

meaningful job; everybody’s got to have a house.” “Sure, if they can, but we have to help. When they turn 21 the school system is done with them.” He explained how students with autism need opportunities to learn at their own pace and use their strengths, and it’s up to us to create opportunities for them. “We have to give them options.” “After Connie died, we looked at our funds balance and I was hitting my stride after taking over her Chapter

Years ago, Dan started up a very successful Community Placement to employ students who are learning certain trades. He explained to me how it seems simple for an employer to look at how a job needs to be done. “But for an autistic person there are so many steps involved in a job that it has to be mapped out beforehand. Each step could cause that person to fail at the job. There is no ‘one size fits all.’ But the autistic person is the best worker and always shows up for work. They don’t try to take anyone’s job. They won’t be sneaky. They strictly follow the rules; won’t laugh at people’s jokes. But jobs must be adjusted to people with autism to make it work. “I truly believe in this philosophy of life. If you walk the earth and leave before you’re supposed to there’s a reaContinued on page 25

Pittverse 12

Taking Pride in My Work By Mark Sulkin

feel good about where I work. I work at a seafood restaurant. At that restaurant, I sweep, clean chairs, and set tables. I also set up the patio. One person I like at work is Davy Jones, one of the custodians. What I like about him is he’s really funny. I also like the view outside. I can see the Monongahela River. The location of the seafood restaurant is the Waterfront. I’ve been working there for months when I was at Steel Valley looking for a job. Having a job makes me proud. On Fridays, I get lunch there. For lunch, I usually have a hamburger and strawberries. When I work there, I work five days a week. I don’t work on the weekends. I work in the morning from nine o’clock to eleven o’clock. When I arrive at work, I say hello to everyone there and get started. I start off by sweeping. I sweep the front of the restaurant, the back of the restaurant, and even the patio. I’ve been working at that restaurant with a few aids. Some people I work with are Patrick, Valerie, and Ryan. I asked Ryan some questions about how I’ve been doing at work. He thinks I do a great job sweeping, that I’m very hard-working, and that

I pay very close attention to details. Besides sweeping, I set the patio up. The patio is for people who feel like eating outside. I go to the kitchen and fill up a bucket with water. Then I go get some rags to clean the tables. When I get to the patio, I start by using a wet rag to wipe the dirt off all the tables. Ryan thinks it looks like I’ve been working there for years and I am very professional. After I wet the

silverware on each plate. After the patio is set, I go inside to clean booster seats and high chairs. When that’s done, I clean booths and tables in the bar, the dining room, and in party rooms. Sometimes, I even clean the waiting area. At eleven o’clock, when it’s time to go home, I say goodbye to my boss and everyone who works there. Then I go home at have lunch. Then, I do it all again the next day. Here are some quotes from some of my staff about how I have been doing at the restaurant:

via pixabay

tables, I take a dry rag and dry them off. Soon, it’s time to set them. I start by placing salt shakers on the tables. After that, I place pepper shakers on the tables. I even put sugar caddies in front of the salt shakers and the pepper shakers. After that, I put plates around the tables. Some tables need four plates and some tables need two plates. Then, I put rolled up

“Mark has really learned a lot about the restaurant business in a really short amount of time. The amount of effort and focus that he has when he is working really shows that anyone can do a great job if you give them a chance!” –Patrick When I asked how well I work, Brian said, “I was amazed at how quickly you picked up all of the tasks.” “Once Mark found his groove, he excelled at work and exuded an air of confidence and pride in his work. He’s always willing to do what is asked of him, and he does so with a very positive attitude.” – Ryan

Pittsburgh Dad By Michael Perett

his fall I had a chance to chat with Curt Wootton, the man behind the Pittsburgh Dad YouTube videos. Curt has become a famous figure in the Pittsburgh community because of his comedic skits that poke fun at Pittsburgh traditions. Curtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first video was inspired by his own dad, who is a big fan of the videos. Each video takes at least two to three hours to film. Curt writes his own skits and stars in them, as well. Curt is a big Pirates fan like

Curt Wootton as Pittsburgh Dad agreed that we like to have me, and we are both also big tons of fun. fans of Kennywood. We both like to go to PNC Park I am a big fan of the Pittsto watch the Pirate games burgh Dad videos, and had a live. After I did my intergreat time getting to talk to view with Curt, we both him!

Pittverse 14

The Key to Long Term Employment By Kevin Hart

i, my name is Kevin Hart. I work full time at the Pittsburgh International Airport for a company called Aviation Safeguards. My job is to assist travelers with their luggage, and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been doing it for 14 years. I enjoy it when I'm not being overwhelmed. I also like going on vacations every year. This is one of the things that keeps me moving. Having the help you need is another. My overall experience is good working here. I don't like it as much during the summer time; it's too hot and you don't get the help you need. What I do like is helping most or all the bags make the flights and not get-

Damon Mains

ting too many complaints. I don't like being rushed. One other perk I have working here is that I get the latest info about the airport and airlines, so I'm up to date. I interviewed Damon Mains about the key to long term employment. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the assistant director for a local nonprofit agency, and he's been there for many years. I got a lot of insight on the topic. He enjoys helping families out when in need and tries to find solutions for them at his job. According to Damon, it's important to include on a resume how long you were with an employer because it shows them that you are

dedicated, reliable, trustworthy, and can be depended upon when hired at any company. The perks of working at the same place for a long time are that you get to know other people and obtain more benefits and more flexibility the longer you stay. Damon works with Brian, the director of the nonprofit, and helps him out as much as he can to get the job done. Damon enjoys working with Brian because he's very friendly and good to get along with. Damon said that it depends on the person on how long the employee stays at one job. He has been inspired to

stay this many years because of the workers he works with and the time and dedication of every employee puts in every day. Most employees like it where they work and stay as long as they can; it shows dedication to their employer. However, Damon said there are many things that can distract an employee from staying a long time. These include family problems, financial distress, worries about some things on your mind, and it just depends on the person him or herself. He said some employers want you to stay at least 6 months, while others want you to stay for one year. Some employees get inspired to stay long because they find someone that they like to work with and possibly a relationship can come from it. They can also get inspired by helping out each other and working out the problems they have. He said that the some workers are inspiration for others to stay longer, and some love the job a lot. It depends on the individual on what makes them stay at a job for a long time. Damon said at a certain point of employment, some employees find it to be boring after along time and find something else of interest that they enjoy doing more. Some of the employees stay for a long time for the job they're into now. At this point of time some employ-

Kevin and Damon ees like or dislike their job, but we need a job to pay bills, eat, etc. Many employees do stay longer than others because of being determined, liking the job they're in, being interested in their work, and so on. Some other employees don't stay as long because it bores them or they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like the benefits and the pay, and they find something that will satisfy them later. At this point of employment it can be very difficult for them to decide on what they want to do. He said that it's up to the person him or her-

self to decide to work this long and what they are looking for within a company. When it feels right for the employee in a work setting, and if it's what the employee wants to do in the long run, then working at one company for a long time is great. I stayed this long at Aviation Safeguards because I enjoy working with my coworkers and like lifting heavy bags. After working all this time at our respective jobs, Damon and I agree that liking your coworkers is the number one thing to stay on the job for many years. Pittverse 16

The Force Re-Awakens: By Michael Kurland

long time ago, in a theatre not so far, far away, a 10 year old boy named Adrian Sayce was on a trip to the movies to finally see George Lucas’ sci-fi smash hit, Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope after waiting six months since seeing its trailer. Now, almost 40 years later, Adrian, now known as Adywan, has taken it upon himself to restore, enhance, and even fix the entire six-part saga starting in 2007 with Star Wars: Revisited, and continuing to this day. The Force must have been with me because I was able to interview him for this issue about our love for the films and why he decided to do what he’s done. When were you first exposed to the Star Wars saga? It was the summer of 1977. I was 10 years old and my mother had taken myself and my younger brother to watch Disney's Snow White at our local cinema for his birthday. While we were being shown to our seats, the trailer came on the screen and I was instantly hooked. But we would have to wait until January 1978 before we could see it in the UK. I was lucky enough to go to the first showing at the Gaumont

An Exclusive with Adrian Sayce (Adywan), the creator of Star Wars: Revisited Cinema in Birmingham, in 70mm. There was a real buzz about the film as we queued and we were given goodie bags containing a program, poster and badges as we entered. The moment that Stardestroyer roared overhead, you just knew this was going to be something special. What was your goal when you made Star Wars: Revisited? Well it all started when I purchased the DVD box set back in 2004. I just couldn't believe how bad the grading (color-correction) was when along with some serious problems with the lightsabers. Shortly after, I watched a fan edit by Darth Editous & AdigitalMan where they removed some of the special edition changes, and this inspired me to give something like this a go myself. Originally, all I set out to do was to regrade the colouring, fix the lightsabers, and remove some of the Special Edition additions I didn't like. But I had never done anything like this before, so I didn't even know if I would be able to even achieve that goal. I'd used editing software two, maybe three, times before, and I had never attempted any form of visual effects work or col-

our grading. So I started a thread over at Originaltrilogy.com a year or so later and things just grew from there. I started to learn what was possible with Adobe After Effects from watching some online videos and tutorials. A lot of it was trial and error. What's still needed to finish Empire, and when do you expect to be finished? I just have the Wampa costume, Han in Carbonite and the miniature hangar set left to complete now. Then, once these have been made and filmed, it's just a few minor tweaks and clean-ups left to do. I was originally going to leave the audio mix until last, but I decided that I was at a stage in the edit now where I was able to start working on the audio side of things while I had some spare time between working on the props. There is still a chance it could be out by the end of the year but, with December being my cut off period for working on the models down to the fact that I use my dining room to film the models and miniature sets, it’s looking more likely that it will be first couple of months of 2016. Any chance of showing your work to George Lucas, himself?

I think that George has moved on to new things now after he sold to Disney. I doubt he would even be interested in it. When we reach Jedi and the Prequel Trilogy, will there be any other changes besides what you already revealed? Oh, there are a lot of changes that I have planned so far that I haven't announced just yet. Mainly with the prequels. It isn't really worth saying anything more than I have said about what I have planned for those films because I’m still working on how to implement the ideas I have so far. Things could easily change direction due to impossible goals & ideas.

Jedi is planned to begin production in March 2016. I just need to get Empire finished and out of the way first. Will you be among those to see The Force Awakens when it's released? I'm hoping they will be having midnight showings on opening day because I plan to be there. There's something about this film that has made me feel like a kid again. Something that I didn't feel with the run up and viewing of the prequels. If this turns out to be a good addition to the saga, I plan on seeing it multiple times (I’ve already got my wife to book the 17th and 18th of December off in preparation to do just that). I've been lucky

enough to see every Star Wars film at the cinema and, even though I really didn't like the prequels all that much, it is definitely the way they should be seen When doing the Revisited series, are you open to ideas from others? Oh, yes. I will always welcome input from others. There are things I altered in these edits that were suggested by others, both on the Facebook page and the OriginalTrilogy.com threads. When doing anything like this, I do think it is a good idea to get input from others. You may get an idea that you think is amazing, but when you discuss it with the Continued on page 25

Pittverse 18

A Mother’s Perspective: Raising a Child with Autism By Bryan Lippert

have known Miss H. for the past three years. For this article, she has chosen to remain anonymous. Miss H. has a daughter with autism which is the primary focus of this interview. I had a chance to sit down with Miss H. and ask her some questions about her and her daughter. When did you find out that your daughter had autism? It was a very difficult process to get her diagnosed at 18 months old back in 2001. It took until 2004 to determine she had Autism. How did you deal with the fact she was different from

all of the other little girls? It what is difficult to watch her struggle every day with sensory issues with noise and sound. She didn't want to wear shoes or socks, plus she didn't want to go to noisy places such as Chucky Cheese or to any concerts, etc. Once she got older, the noises and sounds didn't bother her as much. What advice would you give to other mothers with autistic children? Try to learn as much as you can about your child's diagnosis. There will be challenges trying to focus on the positive about your child.

Was it hard to teach your daughter life skills? Yes, kids with autism have difficulty with eating , sleeping and focusing. Luckily I had an occupational therapist to help assist her in school. Does your daughter have many social problems with interacting with other kids and adults? It’s hard for her to make conversation with people, and it takes her a while to adjust with new routines. Does your daughter have any goals? To obtain her drivers license. How do you cope with raising a daughter as a single parent? We rely on each other and listen to each other as best as we can. Does your daughter do well with facial expressions? It was worse when she was younger, between two to five years old. Now she's getting better as she ages at understanding other peoples’ perspectives. Does your daughter get along with you? Yes, we have typical difficulties such as what she wears or how late she stays out, but we have a really good relationship. What does your daughter want to become when she

Bryan with his hand-drawn caricature Miss H.

Continued on page 25

Working on the Railroad By Max Chaney

y grandmother’s name is Martha Legas Greiner. My grandmother’s father was my great grandfather. His name was Blaise Legas. He was born in 1874, and he became an American citizen in 1915. This fall, I asked my grandmother some questions about her father’s work on the railroad. Where did he work? He worked on the railroad and repaired trains in the station on 33rd Street on the South Side of Pittsburgh – in the 1920s. Did he ever ride the trains he fixed? I don’t know. He lived across from the train tracks and he walked to work, and he never had a car. Did he ever have any other jobs? He lived in Austria as a young boy and he worked in

the mines there.

they have?

My mom has told me a story about what your dad would do on payday – Can you tell me the story?

They had 12 children – one died at birth. Nine lived long lives and two are still living today. I am the youngest and I am 85 and my sister lives in Arizona and she is 95.

The men worked very long hours on the railroad. On payday the men would usually stop and get a beer on their way home. Instead of getting a beer, your great grandfather would go to the candy store and buy a small bag of penny candy for us kids. He would also give a piece to the neighborhood kids so they could enjoy it too. Did he ever smoke? No, not cigarettes, but he did smoke a pipe. Did he ever get into fights with his family? As many kids that he had, he got along fine. He and great grandma were very lovey with each other. How many children did

Where is he buried? Loretta Cemetery on the South Side. If he were alive today, what would he be doing? Probably something with trains; he liked working on the trains. What would he think of the new diesel and the end of the steam engine? He would probably be excited for the progress that was made in diesel trains and the end of the steam engine.

Thank you to Martha Legas Greiner!

via Wikipedia.org

Pittverse 20

Pittsburgh Musical Theatre: Behind the Curtains By Sara Brooks

got my start as a musical theater lover when I watched my cousins perform in musicals. I love the story lines, the excitement, and the energy that I feel while watching a musical. Some of my favorites are Into the Woods and Annie, as the characters and the story lines are so wonderful. You feel like you are in a different place, and it is magical to get caught up in the world of theater and music. I had a chance to go behind the scenes and discuss this “magic” and how it comes to life with Patricia (Patti) Knapp, the Marketing and Communications Manager at the Pittsburgh Musical Theater. She was very friendly, welcom-

The cast of Oliver

ing, and creates a first great impression! Patti gets excited about the musicals and what she does, and this was evident while I was interviewing her. Importantly, Pittsburgh Musical Theater is a nonprofit organization, so Patti wears a lot of different hats! Aside from the marketing and communications aspect, her biggest role is to make sure that she reaches the largest audience possible and to engage them in the arts provided through the Pittsburgh Musical Theater, which is easier said than done! Patti also assists in a variety of different roles. She works with the children’s musical theater and tries to encourage

children to attend matinees and shows. She also encourages them to participate at the Pittsburgh Musical Theater and to be part of the shows! Most students that go there have a love of art, but Patti believes that through their school and with the right training, the “little spark” that the students come in with can be turned into a “big fire!” Patti has been in the theater business for about 18 years. When asked about her favorite part of her job, she stated, “My favorite part is getting people excited about the show, and I also love working with the kids at the school.” Her favorite show that she has worked on with

the kids has been Annie, but she says she has many other favorites. Patti is Pittsburgh raised, and went to school at Carnegie Mellon and Edinboro, where she studied musical theater. When Patti first came to Pittsburgh, she worked at Pittsburgh Laboratory Theater, then the City Theater, and then the Public Theater. She started her career as a performer following her graduation from college, and then worked in the corporate world, going to companies along the way and finally ending up at the Pittsburgh Musical Theater. In her 12 years at The Pittsburgh Musical Theater, Patti guesses that she has worked on about 60 to 70 musicals! Her favorites that she has worked on while employed there have been Beauty and the Beast, Young Frankenstein, and Jesus Christ Superstar, as the founder of the company worked with Patty on this musical, and she remembered the fun she had working with him on his signature musical! Patty is really excited about working on Spring Awakening as it is a really cool revival on Broadway with deaf actors and other actors with disabilities. It is the first time on Broadway and has limited availability, so make sure to check it out if you’re interested. Patty’s favorite musical is Les Miserables, as it is very epic in nature and the score is beautiful. I agreed with her on this, and that the overall message of the musi-

Sara and Patti Knapp cal is very wonderful. I was curious about her starring in any musicals, and she reported, “Yes I have starred as Maria in West Side Story, and I’ve also been in Godspell, Children of Eden, and many others. I believe I have been in about 15 to 20 musicals.” Patti believes that the most popular musicals in Pittsburgh are: Grease, Les Miserables, and any Disney production, especially The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. One of my favorites is The Lion King, and Patti mentioned that this is also her daughter’s favorite!

Although we both agree on many favorite musicals and share a passion for musicals, we both hope to get more people excited about Pittsburgh Theater! Patti wants Pittverse readers to know that the Pittsburgh Musical Theater is very inclusive, and accessible to a lot of different audiences, as the prices are very economical. Patti likes to engage as many people as she can, from as many diverse backgrounds as she can. So please check out the wonderful productions coming to the theater. Also, if you are interested in performing, Patti reported that the Pittsburgh Musical Theater employs local actors and musicians, so keep it local and go audition or attend a show soon! Oliver will be playing from October 22 to 25, so be sure to kick of the season with Patti and the Pittsburgh Musical Theater cast and crew! Also, Patti is letting me attend a show of my choice, and I will be writing and sharing this experience with you! The productions they are putting on this coming winter and spring are, Saturday Night Fever, Sister Act, Grease, A Lyrical Christmas Carol, Annie Jr., and Rent. It seems like I will have a tough decision to make since there are so many good ones! Go check The Pittsburgh Musical Theater out; I promise you will have a great experience! Enjoy the magic of the theater!

Pittverse 22

Pirates Baseball for All: Interview with Chaz Kellem By David Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Rorey

grew up playing a lot of baseball and was a big N.Y. Mets Fan. I grew up in Arnold and played locally. The Orioles were my second favorite team after the Mets. Todd Hundley was a favorite player of mine; he used to catch for The Mets. John Franco also was a great pitcher back in the day. I also love the Pittsburgh Pirates as well. What many people might not know about the Pirates is that they do a lot of charity work in the community. The Pittsburgh Pirates Charities do a ton of work for people with disabilities. Chez Kellem is vitally important to that. His title is manager or diversity and youth baseball programs. He has been at this for 10 years.

Chaz Kellem

"In short, I work with all types of unique, diverse, and important people from all walks of life. I also make sure that all kids in all communities have an opportunity to play baseball." Chaz says he works with six different "miracle leagues" and has one in Florida too. I asked him about opportunities for adults with autism. He said "The Gameday Staff has opportunities with ticket takers and ushers as well as the food industry, Aramark, and other restaurants that partner with the Pirates." Chaz even has an awesome opportunity to meet the Pirates players and their families, and he gets to know them well. Chaz also said you can learn a lot of life lessons through sports. The distance range

that he works in are two hours in any direction from Pittsburgh to have special events. They also have an office and staff in Florida. I asked how he got into the position he is in today and he said, "I got very lucky, but I work extremely hard. I am the first one in and the last one to leave. I believe that hard work pays off. I was willing to do whatever it took. Whatever you are passionate about, you work hard at it and stay hungry." Getting to go and giving other people a chance to go to the games is his favorite part of the job. Also, Chaz said that talking to people like me gives him joy. Chaz also used to coach a wheelchair basketball team that he really enjoyed doing because he also loves basketball. Chaz really showed me that any disability doesn't slow you down if you work hard enough at what you're passionate about. The Pittsburgh Pirates are a great MLB Team and make you really feel a part of it all. They provide many opportunities for people with special needs. It's great to know we have someone like Chaz to support those with special needs in our community.

Scott Kalamar of the Washington Wild Things By Sean Gannon

n August 20th, 2015 I had an interview with the starting right fielder of the Washington Wild Things, Scott Kalamar, at Consol Energy Park. The Washington Wild Things were facing the Windy City Thunderbolts.

ball player? “Greg Dobbs!” He said he likes the way he plays. Dobbs has been with Miami Marlins and the Philadelphia Phillies. What do you eat before the game?

Is college baseball harder or easier than professional baseball?

How often does your family come to see you? Scott's parents come to see Scott pretty much every home series. It is a five hour drive, and they are great supporters so they're here a lot. How do you feel about playing for the Wild Things?

"It's different for sure!" There is lot of good competition and good draft picks. You play almost every day in professional baseball where in college we don't play as much because it’s more demanding, so talent-wise so definitely at Washington.

He said it was a lot fun. The team has a lot of fan support. Do you like the East side of Pennsylvania or the West better? He likes the East better but he thinks Pittsburgh is cool.

What do you like about playing for the Wild Things? "Everything! I get paid to play baseball so it's awe- Scott Kalamar and Sean some." He likes to hang "I go to Moe's every single the same group of guys eveday!" He is a Chipotle fan, ry day. too. What influenced you to play baseball?

How many home runs do you have?

His father started him when he was really young with tee ball. He was very talented and his friends started to play too and it turned he liked to play baseball.

At press time, Scott had six home runs.

Who is your favorite base-

fession right now; it's probably baseball but golf is up there too!"

What is sport?

your

favorite

"It is a tie between golf and baseball! Baseball is my pro-

Before the game, Scott signed and gave a ball and a bat signed by the whole team. Then I met the umpires and the managers of each team. Then I listened to the anthem with the players. Then I said to the crown with a lucky fan, "Play Ball!" We ended up winning six to five Scott was three for three with two runs and one triple. I had a great time in Consol Energy Park. See ya on the flippity flop!

Pittverse 24

Dr. Minshew

Dan Torisky

then it is likely the government will approve these treatments for reimbursement, which is the essential step to disseminating their availability throughout the community. Right now, only people with ASD who join our research study can receive these treatments and at no charge. (People with ASD over the age of 16 can find out about this study by calling 866-647-3436.) We hope our next treatment study will use electrical or magnetic stimulation from the surface of the brain to help people with ASD who cannot talk begin to talk.

son. My whole philosophy of life came from a cartoon. People were looking up at the stars and one kid said, ‘Why does God let bad things happen?’ The heavens opened up and a voice said ‘Why do you allow bad things to happen?’”

continued from pg 5

“[When I retire], I plan to stay in Pittsburgh. It is a wonderful place to live. I do not know when I will retire, but it will be when I can no longer contribute to the program.” Dr. Minshew has been a wonderful friend to me for almost 26 years and plans to continue to be even in retirement. I was glad to be able to ask her these questions.

continued from pg 9

Dan said “We got everything. I allowed these things to happen. I didn’t give us this earth, I got it. In battling these bad things I do my best to reduce or eliminate them. I can’t cure somebody but I know damn well I can work to make the disability they have less disabling.” Taking off his glasses, Dan said, “Glasses make my eyeballs less disabled.” Pointing to his ear he said, “This hearing aid makes my hearing less disabled. This metal knee (my souvenir from Korea) makes me less disabled and more mobile. Little by little I will make my influence world a little better.” “The most precious gift you get from God is free will. The worst sin anybody can commit is to control somebody’s free will. Without

free will, what’s the point? If you have to do things in a certain way that makes God a bully, which is absurd! That’s the ultimate of bullying and the ultimate of sinfulness. “I’m glad Heaven is my home and I’m put here for a visit. There’s you, and there’s Eddie, and my granddaughter. While I’m here I will be battling bullies on behalf of all the people with autism.”

Adywan

Motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Perspective

rest of the team and others you get to realise it may not work as well as you first thought, so you can either drop it or rework it.

grows up? She wants to go to college to become a pharmacist. Either at Pitt or Duquesne.

continued from pg 17

What is your overall motivation for doing this? Just to have fun doing it really. It's more of a hobby than anything else. My go-to versions of the films will always be the original, untouched ones I saw in the cinema when I was a kid. I just wanted to do these as a fun alternate to the Special Editions. Any bits of advice for our readers about how to develop a successful career doing what they love? I can't really answer this one, as I haven't made a career out of doing this Wise words from a wise man. As the Star Wars saga continues this December with the release of Episode VII: The Force Awakens, Adywan might have his work cut out for him. For Adrian Sayce, George Lucas, and all fans of this phenomenon, May the Force be with you, always.

continued from pg 19

Do you feel there are enough services for autistic children? There are many services for children for intervention programs and schooling, but not enough services for young adults. How was your experience with dealing with families you may have met with autistic kids? The best advice I get is from other parents. (Miss. H runs support groups for families with autism.)

I even got to draw a caricature of Miss H. I have known Miss H. for three years now. She educates others in the mental health field who have no idea of what autism is, plus I even helped her out with my knowledge of key signs to look for if you think a family member or friend may have autism. She is very knowledgeable in the field of Autism. I hope to see her again and work with her some more down the road.

How long do you plan on teaching others what you have learned about autism? I'd like to do this for the rest of my life; I have a sense of accomplishment. Do you plan on expanding your autism knowledge to other countries? Yes, with International Autism training in police officers and judges.

Pittverse 26

The Sci Fi Station

Outer Space, Inner Souls: The Spiritual Side of Science Ficiton By Thomas Skidmore Part Two: The Rise of the Modern Messiahs: Heroes and Their Frailties In Part One, we examined the usage of the Christian faith in science fiction stories by authors ranging from the subtle yet openly pro-faith tales of C.S. Lewis to the rather subversive tone taken by Michael Moorcock in his 1966 novella Behold the Man. As a result of Behold the Man in particular, we were forced to reexamine Christianity’s place in the lives of mankind. Another type of spirituality that sparked discussion in the science fiction field was the rise of modern hero worship (wherein humankind placed their faith in a leader, celebrity, or sports figure). This aspect was addressed to the utmost by legendary science fiction author Frank Herbert in his epic 1965 masterpiece Dune. Originally written as a multipart serial titled Dune World (starting in the December 1963 issue of Analog Science Fiction) and Dune Prophet, Herbert mixed the idea of having a charismatic herofigure leading his adopted people to revolution and freedom with Eastern-based religion, alongside the growing tide of environmentalism. Mostly, it was conceived out of Herbert’s critical view of

the Kennedy administration. In a 1985 essay, he stated that “mistakes made by a leader (or made in a leader’s name) are amplified by the numbers who follow without question.” In Dune, a secret plot devised by a female-led religious group called the Bene Gesserit to create their own Messiah, here called the Kwisatz Hadderach (“the one who knows all”), and to that end they team with the corrupt Emperor of the Known Universe to have two familial dynasties fall prey to the machinations laid out. But during the course of the novel, the young protagonist Paul Atriedes learns of this, and with the aid of his Bene Gesserit mother and the native tribes of the planet Arrakis (Dune), manipulates the plot to ostensibly lead the oppressed people to peace. In the interim, Paul somewhat reluctantly adopts and accepts the title Muad’Dib (Messiah). But Paul’s personal troubles only begin once the second book of the saga, Dune Messiah, opens. Throughout the story, Paul is bewildered by his role both as leader of the universe as well as his diminishing humanity. All around him, the Fremen take it on themselves to commit many acts, some Paul con-

sider atrocious, in the “name” of Muad’Dib. Over the long course of events, he loses his wife Chani in childbirth, survives numerous assassination attempts, and ultimately he goes literally blind, causing him to flee into the deserts. He is never heard from again. In contrast to the classic pulp space opera heroes of the 1930s and 1940s, the “heroes” of Frank Herbert’s Dune saga are extremely flawed, with severe emotional troubles and psychological dilemmas. Another good example is the theme of the “child herowarrior,” and this is clearly seen in Orson Scott Card’s space adventure Ender’s Game. Originally published as a novella in the August 1977 issue of Analog Science Fiction, and expanded into a multiple award-winning novel in 1985, Ender’s Game is today highly popular among middle school readers, who see the title protagonist as a very identifiable character. Yet Card did not envision Ender as a true classic hero; rather, Card saw him as simply a young child, barely into adolescence, caught up in events too complex to explain except in terms of “us versus them” (he’s recruited by the International Fleet to fight an interstellar war

against a race of insectoids called the Formic). While Ender acts out the role of leader playing a “game,” unknownst to him, the real war is already being waged. After all is said and done, Ender is repulsed by his actions and forces himself to bear the guilt, all because of decisions made by “adult” humans.

While heroes come and go in our world (and who prove to be extremely fallible if not corrupt), some science fiction stories do offer those archetypes for many who strive to do what is good, moral, and just. One can learn from the foibles of Paul Muad’Dib and Ender Wiggin, and learn to trust themselves with themselves,

as well as others in our increasingly complex world.

Pittverse 28

The Sci Fi Station

Skidmore’s Hero Spotlight: Rod Serling: Far Beyond the Twilight Zone By Thomas Skidmore

odman Edward Serling (December 25, 1924--June 28, 1975) is world-famous among fans of science fiction and fantasy as the creator and host of The Twilight Zone (1959-64) and Night Gallery (196972), as well as the playwright of the classic human drama “Requiem for a Heavyweight,” which established him as a major storyteller.

al elements to the play, and naturally he refused. Realizing his types of everyday life drama would never reach the masses, and rather than ceasing his work, Rod

It’s no great secret that Serling hated injustice with a passion, and this stems back to his days in early television. His stories and teleplays written before his foray into the Zone caused concern Rod Serling, 1959 among network execvia Wikimedia Commons utives, who took the most amount of umbrage over his overly humanistic approach to story- got on his feet and began telling. One play in particu- thinking. Since he’d grown lar, “Patterns,” sparked a ma- up a life-long fan of science jor battle between Rod and fiction, fantasy, and comic the Standards and Practices books, he reasoned that if he Department at CBS. They couldn’t change people’s ordered him to change sever- lives with conventional drama, then they should see it

from a cosmic, alien perspective. And so in October 1959, Americans made their first journey into The Twilight Zone, and they and we were never the same again. Even though he achieved great success with The Twilight Zone, Serling’s battles against prejudice and injustice only intensified. He marched for civil rights, and he taught new generations of writers how to create for the betterment of humanity . . . an art which, unfortunately, seems to be dying out. My views on Rod Serling will never waver. For me personally, he’ll always stand as a pillar for truth in creativity, a man of integrity, and a free spirit unafraid to dream even the most bizarre, outlandish dreams imaginable. If the late Rod Serling were to see what his words

Fugitor: The Time Escapee By Thomas Skidmore Eight Installment Times beyond times, worlds upon worlds, Realms and other Realms greeted us upon our rapid departure from Marlena’s home in the nowdrab Time Beyond Time. Somehow or other, I sensed that Marlena was welcoming this as much as I was. A new surge of omnipotence surged its way all about my being as my confidence in my just-discovered power increased exponentially. In fact, I began formulating a rather ominous plan in the deepest recesses of my mind but, for the sake of decency and good manners, I dared not utter them out loud lest I risk frightening Marlena out of her senses. Then again, however, maybe it was for the best that she learn about this sooner or later. Anyway, we grew quite fascinated by the various galaxy clusters that met our eyes. Star-system after starsystem sped by, and we witnessed more and more of the Myriad Worlds, some of which were in the process of chaotic formation, and some of which, unfortunately, were on a rather sad decline till their time of demise. In a sense, it was as if we were touring the very Essence of Life itself.

I’ll bet you’re wondering how we managed to stay alive and breathing throughout endless, airless Space, aren’t you? Well, it’s relatively simple enough. You see, when we departed the Realm of the Time Beyond Time, I had the good fortune of using my power (which, I’m glad to say, was in limitless supply) to create a force-field barrier about our forms. We’d also purchased some food and drink to sustain ourselves. (I have to apologize to you for neglecting to tell you much sooner.) Just then, Marlena unexpectedly turned ‘round to me. “Tony! Look down there!” she yelled, pointing downward. I followed her direction, and there I gazed upon one of the most weirdest sights I had ever encountered in my years of living. Below our vantage point was a majestic, gigantic city-ship -- well, fortress-ship, actually. Quite massive, and armed to the nines with humongous lasers, photon cannons, defense screen-shields, shockwave deflectors, and sundry other machines of power! What its purpose was, well, I

couldn’t dare try to even make a half-baked guess. I’d more than likely be wrong, anyway. A look of fear crossed Marlena’s lovely young face. “What if whoever’s in there sees us?” “Valid point.” In reply, I thrust my right arm out forward, and willed our speed to increase itself to eight times the speed of light (which, in case you were unaware, is exactly 186,525 miles per second). Our bodies felt just the Millenium Falcon, going at that rate of velocity. It did nothing for our eyesight, though, seeing those stars just whiz by in the manner that they did. A sense of relief, not unlike the feeling one gets upon drinking Alka-Seltzer for upset stomach, washed over us, and thus I reduced our speed, allowing us to resume our rather semileisurely tour of the Myriad Worlds, hopeful that we wouldn’t encounter any further sudden dangers. At least, that was our plan, anyway…

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The Sci Fi Station

Jurassic Park Changed My Life By Michelle Middlemiss

Part 2 After my Grandfather brought home the audio book of Jurassic Park for me, it took six months to learn that the words I was listening to were on the written page. (I would find out when I was 23 why I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get it before this. But thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a rant for some other time.) So after the first six months I began to be able to at least read Jurassic Park on my own! It would take more years to learn to read other books. But it was Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton that brought out my love for audio books and my hope that the wonderful world of books was not closed. These photos shows my cat Thalia looking at my favorite book.

Movie Review: Jurassic World By Michelle Middlemiss

Now you can guess why I wrote about Jurassic Park, the book. I needed to give a small background so you could understand why I hold any movie based upon Jurassic Park so high, and if it fails; well why I hate it so much. Luckily for Jurassic World it exceeded all my hopes… even though it had a very high expectation to live up to. Jurassic World was like watching the first movie all over again. But with a new

plot in a good way, not “here we go again” or “they made it a slasher film.” (Jurassic Park 3)

World was the number one movie of the summer of 2015.

I even thought that the way the thing called “Indominus Rex” looked okay. Mostly because it pointed out how monstrous the idea behind making it was. One of the main themes of the movie is that humans should only push the animal world so far. If you go too far with it, it will fight back. I’m not the only one who feels that way. Jurassic

via flickr

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The Sci Fi Station

Science Fiction Spotlight: A.E. Van Vogt: The Original Mutant Master By Thomas Skidmore Alfred Elton Van Vogt (April 26, 1912--January 26, 2000) was a Canadian-born writer who alongside Isaac Asimov, Robert A. Heinlein, John W. Campbell, Jr., and many others, helped usher in what came to be known as the Golden Age of Science Fiction. During the course of his long career, Van Vogt created some of science fiction’s most complex stories. A life-long fan of the genre, Van Vogt turned to writing slightly later in his life. His very first attempt was sent to editor/ writer John W. Campbell, Jr., who via flickr rejected it and yet sent some words of encouragement to the young author. That dose of kindness resulted in Van Vogt’s first professional sale, a dark SF thriller titled “The Black Destroyer.” This story about a star cruiser haunted by a predatory alien served as the basis for 1958’s It! The Terror from Beyond Space as well as the 1979 sf/horror epic Alien. From there, Van Vogt was on a roll. In 1940 he published a novella called “Slan,” which foretold so

many of the mutant stories seen in today’s comics. The story’s protagonist, Jommy Cross, is young mutant called a “slan” who exhibits unusual powers, and is forced to flee a corrupt futuristic society out to either destroy him or use his powers for their own self-centered, dubious gains. Van Vogt revised the novel twice, pub-

lishing it as a novel in 1951. A sequel, posthumously finished by Kevin J. Anderson titled Slan Hunter, was based on notes A.E. left in his safe. Also in the 1940s he wrote a story called “The Weapons Shop,” which reflected his growing concern with warfare. Like “Slan,” this work was revised and expanded into a series of three novels. “The Weapons Shop” was followed much later by “The World of Null-A,” using a form of logic known as intu-

itive, inductive reasoning (as opposed to the deductive reasoning so common in the science fiction of the era). During the 1950s, Van Vogt briefly ceased short story writing and joined his friend L. Ron Hubbard’s Dianetics cult (now known as Scientology), becoming one of its founding members. He remained a member until 1961, after which he returned to science fiction writing. Over the next few decades, his stories divided the critics within the science fiction community. Some accused him of focusing solely on ideas and not paying attention to the fundamentals of story-telling, while many more defended him as a true pioneer of the genre. By 1977 he earned the title Grand Master of Science Fiction. Throughout the 1980s and beyond, Van Vogt’s health deteriorated as he battled the effects of Alzheimer’s disease. But he had enough of his skill to start the aforementioned sequel to “Slan;” unfortunately, he was unable to complete the novel as he

slipped further and further into his illness. On January 26, 2000, A.E. Van Vogt died in his California home, his wife and family at his side. He was eighty-seven years old.

Vogt, most science fiction today would look radically different. Let us all take a moment to re-appreciate what this seminal giant of SF brought us, and to enjoy what he achieved.

Questions or comments about Pittverse Magazine? Want to join our writing staff? Contact:

Though he is now largely neglected by today’s science fiction readers, it stands to reason that without the creative pioneering of A.E. Van

Brian Kluchorosky Program Director bkluchurosky@yapinc.org Renee Fisher Editor prfisher22@gmail.com

The Story of Life By Delaine Swearman

line. It is a one-of-a-kind novel filled with stories of joy, sadness, comedy, tragedy, adventure, anger, love, and despair.

And as I reflected on my past, I saw many stories, short stories intertwined with a long and twisted plot

And today’s page is being written in this very moment. We each write our novel along the way. The pages are blank until the moment we create them. Each and every decision alters our book of life, the ultimate ramifications of an alternate decision are forever unknown. Therefore, our choices are very powerful. We are the authors of the rest of our life.

nce upon a time, I realized that life is really just a story, a chooseyour own adventure novel with each of us as the hero of our own life. So I stopped to reflect on the story of life, and realized that birth and death are the only certainties, and the only commonalities between each of us. Every other page of the book is ours to write as we choose.

Check out the published science fiction novels of Pittverse’s own Thomas Skidmore: Search “Thomas R. Skidmore” at Amazon.com The Annals of Time Beyond Time Beautiful Legacy The Dawn-Rise of The New Sword *Coming Soon* Moondrive: Rise of the Sigil Masters

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The Pittverse Opinion

A Dog for President of the United States By J.D.C. All dogs and cats, plus all other domesticated and wild, or exotic animals, regardless of their species, breeds, and/ or mixed breeds, are all of Almighty God’s innocent creatures, both big and small alike, forever and ever, wonderfully! Amen!

form, stands for Canine Medical Doctor. This means, just like all dogs, both wild and domesticated alike, they are all experts in examining each other for body odors in instinctive manners of doggy behaviors in real behavioral scenarios.

The next, the 45th U.S. President, really, the very first canine president of the USA, is a male Chocolate Labrador Retriever named Duke Hershey Brown C.M.D. His canine first lady wife, the very first one ever, as well, is a female Chocolate Labrador Retriever named April Sasha Brown, C.M.D.

Both feral domesticated cats and dogs live just like their exotic counterparts, as we all remember reading about. This is also worth stating because cats and dogs are the two most well-owned domestic pet and/or service work animals in the USA, respectively, in terms of legal registered ownership numbers nationwide.

Yes, indeed, that is, caninedoggy-speaking! Her canine maiden name is Butterscotch! This is as if they were human beings! The very first canine vicepresident of the USA is a male Golden Retriever named Buddy John Wolfdog, C.M.D. His canine vice -president wife, the very first one ever, too, is a female Golden Retriever named Henrietta Sheba Wolfdog, C.M.D. Her canine maiden name is Pawlick. C.M.D, in the abbreviated

Domesticated cats and dogs, plus many other innocent pet companion and/or service work animals, have the documented ability to detect sicknesses and body odors in both other domesticated pets and humans alike. All canines and felines, both wild and domesticated alike, for centuries and currently, just like any other innocent wild and domesticated pet animal, are instinctively able to take care of their offspring almost as well as, or, sometimes, even better than some human parents! Amazingly, but literally true, yes, indeed, for years and

currently! All wild animals, including all wild dogs and cats, are able to detect sicknesses, body odors, and the beginnings of instinctive mating rituals, as is documented, similar to all domesticated pet and/or service work animals. Innocent pets, as is documented, for years and currently, also can live longer if they are neutered or spayed. Dogs on average one to three more years and cats on average three to five more years is normally the increased longevity. They are also less likely to fight with other pets, thus preventing many unwanted bodily injuries. In addition, they are easier to properly train and live with as a wonderful result and positive consequence! The dog, also known as “man’s best friend,” is the ever first domesticated pet and/or service work animal, as is documented, by as far back as 40,000 B.C., being largely descended from wolves, co-controlled everything along with us humans. The world would be even greater if other innocent wild and domesticated pet and/or service work animals got along on an equal basis. This would range from not only

politics, but also religion, science, ethics, military, education, and moral values in a pure Judeo-Christian faith manner that was once dominated by us humans only for centuries and currently. This would come as a result of us as humanity as a whole, meaning both Jew and Gentile alike, finally realizing that as beings created in Almighty God’s Image, starting with our original parents, meaning Adam and Eve, similar to the angels, we all needed to do this with the entire animal kingdom! Although it would not ever happen in real life, more than likely, it is wonderful, nevertheless, to imagine if innocent domesticated pets and exotic animals would be able to verbally talk as well as do all of the accomplishments and more that only us humans can do currently! In a pure and understandable reality, this is wonderfully pure fiction. However, it does literally illustrate how all of us humans from Adam and Eve to the present time, including my parents and me, as individual eternal animal and pet lovers, are all expected by Almighty God, whom is all of our supernatural and holy creator, according to the Holy Bible, Yes, indeed, literally and truly so, to be faithful stewards or caretakers of his entire non-human creations, including both plants and animals, including all of our families’ innocent and dearly

beloved pets, regardless of their species, breeds, and mixed breed alike! The very first canine-run White House at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, in Washington D.C., would completely support the international cause of maintaining sterilization practices, or more commonly called neutering and spaying clinics as well as the human equivalent in order to better control the worldwide populations of all species of both wild and domestic animals and humans alike. This would ensure that there would be adequate space, plus enough food and drinks, for all life to peacefully co-exist together, as is by a Divine purpose. This first canine presidential administration would also lead the international forefront in creating a more civilized global environment where people and all animals would equally share all the DivineGiven responsibilities and privileges in a nonthreatening atmosphere of interspecies communion. This dog U.S. presidential paradise essay is also a loving, yet, largely fictional, attempt to touch those, whom are, just like my folks and me, eternal animal and pet lovers, always and forever, yes, indeed, literally and truthfully true, for all time to come!

this heartfelt essay to the loving memories of our family’s dearly beloved and departed, as well as, innocent pet doggies named Duke and Hershey, plus to all of our families’ other innocent and dearly beloved and departed pets and human loved ones, whom died years ago, as well as, recently, whom we all believe are all in heavenly paradise with the Good Lord Jesus Christ perfectly, intimately, gloriously, beautifully, and wonderfully, forever and ever! Literally and truly so, we all believe that we will be all reunited with them, along with our family’s current pet dog names April, yes, indeed, literally and truly so, forever and ever, some day, with Jesus intimately! Amen! Amen! Amen! Thank you, everyone, for taking the time to read my heartfelt, witty, and happy essay! I really am grateful to have this essay published, once again, just like some of my essays in the past!

We all dedicate, meaning my immediate family and I, at home, or my parents and I, Pittverse 36

The Pittverse Opinion

Black and White Reunion and team of Summit Planners begins to surge toward the 18th annual summit against racism By Kenneth Miller On the evening of September 15, 2015, in the small dining room at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, we held a meeting with the 31 people of the Black and White Reunion. At this meeting, we declared the theme for the 18th Annual Summit Against Racism to be “Power Concedes Nothing Without a Demand.” It is a quote from Frederick Douglas in 1857 before the American Civil War. It rings true today and begs the questions from us, “What will we demand at the 18th Annual Summit Against Racism?” This theme was originally suggested by Martin Zehr, a member of the Industrial Workers of the World, and was presented by the Summit Organizer, Anupama Jain, who teaches African Literature at the University of Pittsburgh and serves on the Board of the Thomas Merton Center. So there we have it, for the 18th Annual Summit Against Racism, “Power Concedes Nothing Without a Demand,” the Black and White Reunion is pleased

that Etta Cettera, a long time Summit Organizer and member of the Black and White Reunion, is coordinating our email list and reviewing summit inquiries sent to summitaainstracism@gmail.com. You can join our email list, join the Summit Planning Council, get information about workshops, group registrations, and program booklet ads from Etta via email, or you can call Anna Mason using the Summit Hotline: 412501-3355 (?). The Black and White Reunion has been busy over the summer. In May, Tim Stevens attended the NAACP’s 61st Annual Human Rights Dinner on May 21 with the three winners of last year’s Jonny Gammage Scholarship. Members of the Black and White Reunion endorsed and marched in a protest of the Fraternity Order of Police during their Centenary Convention at the David L Lawrence Convention Center on August 9. Members of the Black and White Reunion then helped to organize a press conference on the 50th Anniversary of the Voting

Rights Act at Freedom Corner on August 12; there were concurrent press conferences in Harrisburg and Philadelphia. The struggle must continue. Thursday, October 22 will be the 20th Annual National Day of Action To Stop Police Brutality, Repression, and Criminalization of a Generation. Every year the October 22 Coalition issues a “Call to Action” that summarizes cases and legal developments over the previous year. When you sign up for the Summit Against Racism eblasts, you will also receive the October 22 Call to Action that will be very useful for everyone interested in human rights, the Department of Justice, or any of the 148 police departments in Allegheny County or any of the County Jails across the state. The Department of Justice has been lamenting the “lack of data” that has been collected about the people killed by police while continuing to ignore the October 22 Coalition’s Stolen Lives Project, a list of people killed by police with testimony from their families.

We will present The Stolen Lives Project to them again on Thursday, October 22, 2015. The Black and White Reunion continues our Non Partisan Voter Registraion, Get Out the Vote (GOTV), Roll to the Polls, and Election Protection programs in partnership with the Black Political Empowerment Project (B-PEP!). We are going to have another significant sampling of voter registrants from the Community College of Allegheny (CCAC) again this year and we are gong to invite all these new voters to the 18th Annual Summit Against Racism on Saturday, January 23, 2016. Help someone register to vote before October 5 so they can vote in the November 3 election. All voter registration cards have to be delivered to the county election office before the close of business on October 5. Nothing is more disheartening than a voter registration card left behind that you find in your desk drawer or in the bottom of a bucket on October 6. Almost as sad is the people who you will see on October 6 that you not able to convince to register. So I ask again, find them a reason to vote. Look harder. If you know someone who is not eligible to vote, because they are not a US citizen or

because they are under 18, then be sure to solicit their opinion before you vote and carry their concerns to the polling place. The Summit Against Racism will be on the Saturday After Martin Luther King Jr. Day again this year. We are moving up the street, from the East Liberty Presbyterian Church to the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (PTS) where we are pleased to be partnering with PTS’s Metro Urban Institute.

suggested by Tim Stevens, is to surge for racial justice and the whole Summit Planning team is interested in “demands.” If you can help by suggesting a publication of the Universla Declaration of Human Rights (UHDR) that is in both Spanish and English, please call me, Kenneth, at 412-512-1709.

It’s true, “Power Concedes Nothing Without a Demand.” Frederick Douglas was the editor and publisher of The North Star newspaper in North Hampton, MA. His colleagues included William Lloyd Garrison, the publisher of The Liberator and Pittsburgh’s own Martin Delany of The Mystery and Jane Grey Swisshelm of the Saturday Visitor. These four people would make a great facilitation team. Star planning your workshops for the 18th Annual Summit Against Racism early. We have a fantastic team that has convened to support your workshop at the 18th Annual Summit Against Racism. When you decide to facilitate a summit workshop, you will get support and encouragement from the Summit Planners. The plan,

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The Pittverse Opinion

Flashback: I remember watching the show with variety of people on TGIF. (Thank Goodness It's Friday!) There was a equally funny line-up of shows (Family Matters, Boy Meets World, Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, Dinosaurs, and lots more shows. But the show I remember the most was Step by Step which ran from September 20, 1991 to August 15 1997. The show stars by Carole Foster (Suzanne Somers) meets Frank Lambert (Patrick Duffy). Carole is a beautician and Frank is a contractor and they both have children: Carole's side: Has 3 kids Dana Foster (Staci Keannan): She is the eldest daughter of the family who thinks everything is dry humor and is for women's rights. Karen Foster (Angela Watson): wants to be a model, she is excessively proud of her own appearance and perceived by others a dimwitted

Step by Step By Sean Gannon

teenager. Mark (Christopher Castile): Depicted as a nerd, and he is into computers and academics. Frank also has three kids: John Thomas "J.T." Lambert (Brandon Call): The oldest son. He is known as a slacker. He is a "Cheesehead" because he is a Green Bay Packers fan. He, like all brothers do, make fun of his new step family, especially Dana. Alicia "Al" Lambert (Christine Larkin): She is Frank's only child. Depicted as a tomboy. She is addressed by her nickname "Al". She is openly hostile towards Mark, Karen, Dana. Brandon Lambert (Josh Bayne): He is the youngest of Franks children. He is depicted as a shy youngster and most accepting of his family. He appeared less as the show progressed was written out of the series after his sister was born.

Cody Lambert (Sasha Mitchell): Frank's nephew, and lives in his van in the driveway. His has a crew-cut and has a Valley teen accent. He uses words such as "dude" and "cheesed-off." He was written out of the series because of his 1995 accusations of domestic violence. Lily Foster-Lambert (Lauren and Kristina Meyering; as a baby. Season 5, Emily Mae Young, seasons 6-7.)": Frank and Carole's biological child. I encourage everyone to rewatch this show from the 90s!

The Food Champ By Bryan Lippert

I’m the food champ. Why? Because a few years ago I built up the courage to try to beat the triple atomic hot wings at Quaker Steak & Lube. So my friend took me out to the Robinson location to trying to conquer the hot wings. We arrived there, and I had to sign a waiver stating Quaker Steak & Lube is not responsible if anything happens to me. Luckily, I only had to eat six hot wings, so I ordered them while I placed an order of milk just in case. While I waited, my friend told me a strategy to beat them by peeling off all the skin/meat off the bones. They were so hot and spicy I had to wear gloves to eat them. Once I got them, I peeled all the meat off the bones and destroyed them without drinking any milk or water. Whenever I ate them, they

were extremely hot, but I wasn’t going to let the heat stop me even though my eyes watered and my face turned red. It was nothing to me; I like it hot and spicy. Also, it got to my stomach a little bit. On the other hand, some people couldn’t have done it, like my dad, as an example. The triple atomic wings were 500,000 SHUs compared to the so-called-hot buffalo wings were only 3000 SHUs. SHU stands for Scoville Heat Units. The food champ was born. I beat them and took home my free t-shirt. Oh I forgot to mention that, if you beat the hot wings challenge, they give you a free t-shirt. I beat them on March 13, 2012 at 3:00p.m. at the Robinson location, then a year later I went to Oakland’s Quaker Steak & Lube to beat the triple atomic wings for the sec-

ond time. I had to wait 2 weeks to get my t-shirt, plus while I was eating them, I filmed myself from start to finish. It takes me only three minutes to eat the hot wings. Then when I turned 26 years old in 2014, I beat this ice cream challenge at Remember When located in Wingap on Chartiers Ave. What a challenge it was! I had to eat this ice cream sundae called the big joe sundae which was one gallon soft ice cream. I picked my flavor, chocolate peanut butter, with whipped cream, nuts, hot fudge, and a cherry on top. It took me 26 minutes and also it cost me around $25. So at the end, I beat it on my birthday, I got my picture taken for the wall of fame, I got a $5 gift card for next visit. By the way, their ice cream is gluten free!

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The Pittverse Opinion

Pittverse Top Tens Top 10 Songs By Randy Mullner 1. “Man in the Mirror” by Michael Jackson 2. “Prove Your Love” by Taylor Dayne 3. “Eternal Flame” by The Bangles 4. “These Dreams” by Heart 5. “Dancing In The Street” by Mick Jagger and David Bowie 6. “I Get Weak” by Belinda Carlisle 7. “Little Red Corvette” by Prince 8. “Jumpstart” by Natalie Cole

via Wikimedia Commons

9. “White Wedding” by Billy Idol 10. “Wild Things” by Sam Kinson

Top Halloween Movies By Sara Brooks

Top 10 Wrestlers By Sean Gannon

1. Coraline

1. John Cena

2. Hocus Pocus

2. Stone Cole Steve Austin

3. Nightmare Before Christmas

3. Michael “The Miz”

4. It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

4. Paige Saraya-Jade Bevis

5. Halloweentown 2: Kalabar’s Revenge

5. Daniel Bryant

6. Return to Halloweentown

6. The Rock

7. Halloweentown High

7. Kane

8. Double Double Toil and Trouble

8. Triple H

9. Corpse Bride

9. Bill Goldberg

10. Beetlejuice

10. Randy Orton

Top 10 Restaurants

Top 10 Disney Movies

By Randy Mullner

By Kyle Walter

1. Dairy Queen

1. Lion King

2. Eat and Park

2. Bambi

3. Arby's

3. Aladdin

4. Burger King

4. Pinocchio

5. Wendy's

5. Dumbo

6. The Ground Round

6. The Great Mouse Detective

7. Long John Silvers

7. 101 Dalmatians (Animated)

8. Pizza Hut

8. 101 Dalmatians (Live Action)

9. Bob Evans

9. The Jungle Book

10. Baskin Robbins

10. The Little Mermaid Bonus: Beauty and the Beast

Top 10 Superman Portrayals By Michael Kurland 1. Christopher Reeve (1978-1987) 2. George Newbern (2001—Present) 3. Brandon Routh (Superman Returns, 2006) 4. Tom Welling (2001-2011) 5. George Reeves (1951—1958) 6. Henry Cavill (2013—Present) 7. Tim Daly (1996—Present) 8. Kirk Alyn (1948—1950) 9. Bud Collyer (1940—1969) 10. Dean Cain (1993—1997)

via flickr

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Youth Advocate Programs (YAP) currently has programs in 17 states and serves 25 major US cities as well as dozens of other urban, suburban, and rural communities. By tapping into the strengths and capabilities of the 10,000 families we serve each year, our 2,000+ YAP staff members, and the capacity of communities, YAP affects positive change. YAP has developed unique service delivery principles that guide our work with youth and families involved in the Juvenile Justice, Child Welfare, Behavioral Health, and Education systems. Our staff, who reside in or near the neighborhoods they serve, work non-traditional, flexible hours and are accessible 24/7. Our demonstrated ability to recruit and energize indigenous resident leaders within neighborhoods is another unique element of our success. External evaluations of YAP confirm the validity of our approach. Our model has also been cited by several external bodies, including the Annie E. Casey Foundation, as a “promising practice” in providing effective alternatives to institutional care. Since our agency opened, YAP has experienced rapid growth. We have broadened our scope of services and increased our capacity to service more children, youth, families, and adults— including those who have not succeeded with traditional services. We continue to explore new opportunities to demonstrate our unique and effective community-based alternatives to out-ofhome placements.

WRITERS Thomas Skidmore Richard Campbell Delaine Swearman Michelle Middlemiss Mark Sulkin

Michael Perett Kevin Hart Michael Kurland Bryan Lippert Max Chaney

Sara Brooks David O’Rorey Sean Gannon J.D.C. Randy Mullner

The Pittverse Magazine is made possible in part through the generous support of the Edith L. Trees Charitable Trust.

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