This was very amusing from today's Post-Gazette:

Even Diana Irey, his Republican challenger, acknowledged in an interview last week that she's facing "an uphill battle."

But Ms. Irey added: "The war issue has made people raise an eyebrow ... and given us an opportunity to tell people who he really is." She mentions Mr. Murtha's opposition to a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage: "Jack Murtha acts more like he's representing liberal San Francisco than conservative southwestern Pennsylvania."

Diana, honey, both my eyebrows are raised in skeptical disbelief that you actually spew this ridiculous crap in front of people with notepads and cameras.  Its so very predictable to trot out the tired old gay-by-association references.  And very sad that you attempt to counter Murtha's pragmatic stance on the war with the old homo thrust and parry. 

Check out Chris Matthew's smackdown of Irey here ....

Dee Sias, owner of local independent video store Heads Together, wrote to the Post-Gazette to share the store's secret to small business success in the face of competitor's like Blockbuster and Netflix -- they carry movies people want to see.  Including (gasp!) gay movies.

I would like people to know that my store does very well -- considering the bills I have to pay -- and the reason is that I carry what other stores do not, what Netflix cannot provide, what is not available on cable and what Blockbuster refused to carry.

I have an extremely loyal customer base of individuals looking for independent, foreign, cult and gay movies. I believe we succeed where others do not because we are knowledgeable and passionate about movies, familiar with our customers and love to talk about and recommend movies.

Sias is responding to a PG article questioning the uncertain future of independent video stores.  Sias points out that Heads Together thrives while two other Squirrel Hill stores have closed their doors, including a Blockbuster.

I used to belong to Netflix, but I don't rent movies often enough to justify it.  Oh sure, I had noble intentions --- renting movies, cuddling on the sofa, staying in touch with pop culture, etc.  Then life got in the way --- newspapers and books to be read, friends to engage in conversations, blog posts to write, even the occasional television program.  There was too much real life happening to watch the movie edition.  Sigh. 

Now we'll be toddling off to Heads Together to check out their selection.

Dee -- good for you for writing in to defend the small entrepreneur as well as those of us who aren't irreversibly cocooned in corporate webs.