Category: default || By jt3y

One of the men's stores in Our Fair City --- I think it was David Israel, but it could have been Kadar's --- used to run an "ugly tie contest" on Father's Day to play up the stereotype that kids always got dad a tie for Christmas and his birthday. The owner of the "ugliest tie" (which was put on display) got a prize each year.

I actually tried to get one going this year in cooperation with a local disc jockey who has a men's wear store as a sponsor, but the store said "no way." The owner said he didn't want to be associated at all with the word "ugly," which kind of misses the point. Maybe I'll try again next year, but there are few local men's wear stores around any more.

I wouldn't participate because I think I would have a good chance of winning. I've always worked jobs where I had to wear a tie, if not every day than at least on a regular basis, and while the regular rotation is fairly new and sedate, there are a few real "clinkers."

In fact, my hobby for a few years has been scouring the thrift stores and buying ties from defunct local stores, and since many of them faded out in the 1970s and early '80s, I've got a few beauties. Big, wide polyester jobs from Cox's and Gimbels, and skinny narrow knit ones, too.

Most of them are so hideous they can't possibly be worn, but a few do appear from time to time --- for instance, that royal blue job with the fluorescent orange swirls that's in the picture. That'll wake up your co-workers on Monday morning. It makes me smile every time I wear it.

Surprisingly few people ever say, "That's one ugly tie, Jason." They must think I just have terrible taste, and I do, but that's not the point. I know these ties are ugly. That's why I like 'em.

Recent news reports indicate that "casual days" are falling out of fashion as employers institute dress codes again, and that means ties. I can't wait.

I've got a lime-green job from Troutman's in Greensburg that's going to knock the boss's eyes out.

. . .

Speaking of Ugly: As an Alert Reader told me, "Anytime someone says something isn't a racial issue, you can bet it's a racial issue." Unfortunately, I wasn't able to attend the town meeting at West Mifflin High School last night, which is just as well, because my brain would have exploded. Read the stories in the Tribune-Review and Post-Gazette and see if your brain doesn't cramp, too.

More than 150 people showed up to complain about the idea that the state might force West Mifflin Area High School to accept students from the now-closed Duquesne High School. According to the papers, only one lonely woman showed up to speak in favor of the plan.

I have no proof that this a racial issue --- and maybe it isn't. But in any case, this wild and vocal reaction doesn't make a whole hell of a lot of sense.

First of all, we're talking 200 students total. That's 50 per grade. That's two homerooms per grade, tops.

Second, the line between Duquesne and West Mifflin is invisible. If Duquesne's school system goes down the drain, we condemn future generations to poverty and the city to an endless spiral of decay.

That's going to run down West Mifflin, because the problems will keep spreading up the hill. West Mifflin should have a vested interest in Duquesne's well-being for no other reason than self-preservation.

Third, the idea that West Mifflin School District is "overcrowded" seems suspicious. West Mifflin has at least one school building completely empty and has sold off several others. The Mon-Yough area is bleeding population. Where's this "overcrowding" coming from?

Finally, if there were "tensions" between West Mifflin and Duquesne before, as some parents fear, they sure as hell have been aggravated now. West Mifflin has spent the last year basically telling Duquesne students and their parents that they're not good enough for West Mifflin schools. If the state does force West Mifflin into a merger with Duquesne, PTA meetings are going to be awfully tense.

This could have been avoided. Instead of Pittsburgh Public Schools managing the Duquesne district, West Mifflin could have entered an agreement to run the district, sharing office personnel and jointly purchasing supplies. Support staff could eventually have been shared as well.

Slowly, Duquesne students could have been sent on a tuition basis to West Mifflin schools --- perhaps starting with the younger grades --- until a merger was effected in a few years.

But that didn't happen. And instead of being focused on education, we're focused on ways to keep us more separate. Who suffers? The students of Duquesne High School, and ultimately our whole Mon-Yough region.

Do you know why Pittsburgh lags the rest of the country in entrepreneurship and economic development? One huge reason is that talented people of all races look around at our segregated neighborhoods and get the hell out of here.

Bang! There goes one more toe. Shall we try shooting ourselves in the other foot now?

. . .

To Do This Weekend: The Greater Pittsburgh Soap Box Derby will be held Sunday morning along Eden Park Boulevard near McKeesport Area High School. Racing gets underway at 9 a.m. Visit its website for details ... McKeesport Symphony will hold a free concert at the Renzie Park bandshell at 7 p.m. Sunday as part of the city's summer concert series. Call (412) 664-2854.