Josh Oswald
Pittsburgh CityPaper
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Past articles by Josh:
I have become an 'Adult of science': Buying stuff from Facebook, a cautionary tale
Unless I'm making my third attempt at buying the appropriate audio wire or HDMI cable from Amazon, I don't make a lot of online purchases. I am also very skeptical, hate Facebook, and am the son of a man who thought everyone was trying to scam him, once telling a teenager at an ice cream shop in Oil City, Pa., "You'll never get my business again!" → Read More
No one has finished the Heinz Ketchup Puzzle, and I have 'proof'
Heinz makes a lot of things: ketchup, relish, baked beans, vinegar, kranch, stadiums. The list is endless. But in mid-May, the nation's foremost condiment conglomerate... → Read More
To be frank, there's nothing kosher about Sheetz's Hop Dog beer
I appreciate weird stuff. Friends, family, and coworkers know this. → Read More
An all-too-brief recollection of working at Fine Wine and Good Spirits
Before there was curbside pickup, online ordering, and anything resembling a palatable bourbon available, Fine Wine and Good Spirits – or the "state store," as... → Read More
Kindergarten in the time of corona
My son is 6 years old, in kindergarten, and is currently sentenced to a lifetime of hard labor the likes of which are typically reserved for North Korean dissidents. Or so he would have you believe if he were to describe the 10 to 20 minutes of online learning he is asked to do Monday through Thursday. → Read More
I want to like Star Wars, I swear. Here's why I don't
I don’t like Star Wars. There, I said it. Most of my friends know this, because I use my opinion as both as a source... → Read More
The kids' menu is boring and the best thing that's happened to parents
Feeding your children is difficult. At first, your only goal is to get to the point where you are not washing 25 rubber nipples each night or laboring over the precise amount of Costco brand formula for tonight’s dinner and tomorrow’s breakfast. → Read More
Justin Strong keeps a 90-year-old business viable by doing what he's always done — adjusting to the times
“In these uncertain times …” begins every commercial that’s trying to sell you a product you probably don’t need right now. It’s both maddeningly condescending but also sadly honest. → Read More
Top 10 things that are completely fine
Listicles are hyperbolic for a reason. Big opinions and hot takes elicit clicks and strong, shareable responses. And that’s good for businesses (read: media) whose... → Read More
Let’s remember The Speaking Canaries
I am the oldest a millennial can be, which affords me the opportunity to have a decent grip on pop-culture trends, but also the excuse that, if I don’t know of something, I can claim I’m just an adorable old man who over-waters my lawn. → Read More
3 Rivers Comicon has been canceled. But there are still ways to support the industry
The golden age of comic books is estimated to have taken place between 1938 and 1956, nearing the end of the Great Depression and through World War II. → Read More
Sooth yourself in isolation with the sizzling sounds of smoldering sustenance
During isolation, you can't beat the soothing sounds of "snap, crackle, pop." No, not a heaping bowl of Rice Krispies, unless that's your thing. I'm... → Read More
Make your favorite jagoff a champion with the Things That Turn People Into Jagoffs bracket
There's no March Madness and you've been stuck inside for what feels like four fish fry seasons. What better way to air your grievances than by voting your most intense pet peeve through a Sweet 16 of Things That Turn People Into Jagoffs? → Read More
Get a five-dollar caricature from local artist who drew for Superman, Archie, and more
I haven't had a caricature done since maybe the 1993 PiratesFest. I asked the artist to have me slam dunking a basketball before I was met with the harsh reality I would never be able to even touch the rim of a hoop. → Read More
I grilled my 5- and 6-year-old children about the state of America during the coronavirus
Generations of Americans are living through an unprecedented era right now. Coronavirus and the subsequent quarantine are new and difficult for people of any age... → Read More
Some parenting tips during self-isolation from your favorite unqualified source
Jobs can be stressful in a normal situation. So, what happens when you combine all the demands of your job with a life-threatening pandemic? And... → Read More
Inside a local South Hills government's emergency management plan for COVID-19
The national news and federal government are our main sources for information on how citizens and establishments should respond to the coronavirus. But those guidelines... → Read More
My family survived Disney World amid a global pandemic
Last Wednesday my family left for Disney World, and there were a lot of unknowns. Would the food be good? → Read More
Shrink me down and let me live in the Carnegie Science Center’s Miniature Railroad and Village
You probably know me as “the funniest guy in my office.” What you may not know is I am also Pittsburgh City Paper’s preeminent model railroad enthusiast. → Read More
I have no idea what to expect from Disney World, so I will go find out
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