Survey finds Steelers have largest female fan base. Because in Pittsburgh, you're *born* a Steelers fan.

Nik sent me this picture from today's Post-Gazette. I went to school at Westminster College in New Wilmington, where the photo was taken. Makes me a little homesick. (Click the picture for a larger version)

The caption reads: A horse and buggy makes its way through New Wilmington, Pa., this morning as a light snow falls.

I just did something I haven't been able to in a long time. I stood out on the (covered) deck and watched a thunderstorm roll in towards the valley, and the lightning striking over the hills.

We get plenty of rain, but never thunderstorms where I live. And even if we did, I don't have anywhere to watch them.

Here we go Steelers... here we go...

Made me just a little homesick... I understand and embrace the Pittsburgh left. I still don't understand the Bay's phobia to driving in the rain. Link thanks to kcm.

http://bandit.pc.cs.cmu.edu/driving/

I'd like to issue a public apology for complaining that I haven't seen the rain since February. I come to Pittsburgh for a week and Ivan feels the need to make up for that.

I noticed the Post-Gazette has a bit on Pittsburgh webloggers. Funny, I had no idea Obscure Store was a Pittsburgh blog. They failed to mention some of my favorite local reads though, like Cope, Jilly, and Craig.

Why can't Pittsburgh get one of these? After all, they *did* cut back the budget spending of air fresheners and picture frames.

A music director at a local church has written an 11-movement composition entitled "Memoriam: A Requiem for Mr. Rogers" in honor of the late Fred Rogers. It will debut February 29th at St. Justin Church in Mt. Washington. The one-hour piece will be presented by Slippery Rock University's 25-piece orchestra and 65-member choir. It includes English, Hebrew and Latin lyrics, poetry and dramatic readings.

I'm sappy about these sorts of things. There's a second performance on Mar 2 at BC3; perhaps I could drag some fellow WC music dept alumni?

Jon, Steve, Joe, Dawnie, TJ, Andrea, and myself went to B'Witches Tavern in North Versailles last night. It touts itself as a medeivel tavern, but dear god, the music was horrible. It was also kind of dead for a Saturday night, but perhaps it just needs time to grow a following, as it just opened this month.

A story about how TSA wouldn't let a student bring her beloved betta fish aboard because it apparently was a threat to national security, her defiance, and a warm and fuzzy outcome.

Pagewater cd release party. Saturday Dec 20 (tomorrow!) Nicks Fat City on the South Side, 5-9PM, All Ages. $6 at the door.

Yup. Bush was in the Steelcity and didn't even address the concerns about dropping the steel tarriffs. He only sang his own praises. I might have to take back those Kudos... I just felt bad for always complaining about him.

Hey anyone know why 279-S was completely closed last night, where it splits off from 79? They were forcing all cars onto 79 S and then people had to exit at Mt Nebo and turn around. Damn... nevermind.

As heard on WDVE this morning, and the link via Doug... a gentleman is auctioning off a lease on his life, including his place in Mt. Washington, while he's out of town. He's since pulled the auction, probably to up the price, but it's worth a look. Auction has been relisted at the same starting price, $1000.

Pennsylvania is looking for a new slogan to increase local tourism. You don't have to be a resident, though there is a seperate student contest if you're under the age of 18. The prize? A weeklong Pennsylvania vacation :P

I didn't know Pittsburgh had a Craigslist. Kickass.

and closed off the Interstate exits and major roads thanks to the horrible storm taking out part of the mall. I barely made it home in time to get ready for the Eddie Izzard show... woulda sucked to drive down to the next exit and back up again. As it was we sat in the traffic for it, and getting to my house was a pain in the ass. Thank goodness I'm going south to the city.

They shut down the turnpike for a large stretch too.

Someone vandalized Flossosaurus :( They actually took the time to *saw* one of her horns off. She's being repaired, as the other dinosaurs are also being cleaned up, to be auctioned at the gala for Dinomite Days in October.

CNN did a write-up on the PA Renaissance Faire.

Driving around the city lately, I've been seeing dinosaurs. Turns out they've been there since May to promote DinoMite Days. Each dinosaur has a different theme, like the pink piggy-bank dino outside Dollar bank. Some of my favs are Fredosaurus Rex Friday XIII, Ketchupsaurus, and T reX Ray.

I'm sure you've already heard about the Pirates first baseman hitting the Italian Sausage with his bat. KDKA has the video online, and it doesn't look even remotely as bad as what the media made it out to be. Even the sausage girl isn't upset with him; She just wants the bat autographed.

Oh, and one of the powerball winners bought the ticket up the road from me in Cranberry, but has yet to come forward and claim the $60million in winnings. Meanwhile, the other winner in Missouri, is planning on getting himself a new tractor with brakes.

This afternoon near my place of work, a tractor-trailer driver blew a stop sign and broadsided a car, resulting in explosions and the death of 4 people. The wreckage still wasn't cleared as I was driving home; had to detour. Yipes.

[Update]: The one survivor of the car died today, and the truck driver, who does not speak English (!?!), is being charged with homicide by vehicle, reckless driving and I guess and any other traffic violations they can think of.

From the local news... yup.

Via MeFi, Bridges and Tunnels of Allegheny County. Leave it to a national site to bring something local to my attention.

Sarah, Ed, and I went down to Nicks Fat City to see Down On Jane play a great acoustic show. Also, TonyJones opened. Stuck around and had a few shots with the band afterwards. Going to collapse into bed. More tomorrow...

IE5.5 isn't handling it very well. Yes, it's a browser that doesn't adhere to standards, but unfortunately, it's widely used. For some reason the further down you go, the left menus aren't lining up with their submenus. The only way to access the submenus is to go into the main menu, click and then navigate from there. Not exactly difficult or time-consuming, but annoying just the same. Not every menu is giving me the submenus once I click on it... i.e. CP Extra. Hrm...

Anyone else having this issue? Checking out the source code...

Liquor stores inside grocery stores? I guess it eliminates stops when you're running errands, but if Giant Eagle is open 24/7, can I also get wine 24/7? Jilly's right... the PA Liquor Control Board *has* gone mad.

9pm, Nicks Fat City, Southside. With Venus in Furs and Motopsycho.

I want the third one from the top. Someone adopt these poor fellas already.

The story on the original PA Liquor Control Board, and the move to change.

I'm supposed to check out Club Matrix in Station Square with the Blue House guys tonight, but the more I read about it, the more I wanna bail. The dress code rules out nearly everything I own, save for business suits. No jeans with frayed ends, no sweatshirts, no headwear whatsoever (I assume this rules out the scarves I like to wear as headbands), sneakers must be in good shape, nothing sleeveless (rules out my club dresses, even tho I wear arm warmers), nothing with band or sports logos, and nothing baggy. I'm expecting more of a upper-class crowd then, as opposed to the regular college crowd.

You have no idea how sad this makes me... I grew up on his show... I used to see him walking outside the studio in Squirrel Hill sometimes. He passed away in his home after a brief battle with stomach cancer at age 74.

I'm going to wear my Mr Rogers shirt today in his memory.

His obit didn't make it in today's paper, but I'm going to pick up tomorrow's... I'm expecting to see a large spread in his commemoration.

So first the Burgh was supposed to get a huge storm and people panicked and stocked up on groceries, then the weather said that the storm missed us and to have no worries, and this morning I woke up to a foot of snow with 8-14 inches expected.

Pittsburgh Pulp reports that Julie Bologna (WPXI meteorologist) and Mr. Rogers are the top two local celebrities that Pittsburghers would like to make love to. Apparently Scott Paulsen(WDVE) and Alan Cox (WXDX) were the top radio celebrity choices. Hehe.

Yup, they installed $250,000 toilet that costs 25 cents to use in a parking lot on East Carson. It's one of 19 in the whole world.

I keep seeing these all over the place! I was actually going to post about them today and I noticed Dave Copeland took a picture of one. I'm curious as to find out what the hell they are...

The state is starting a trial to let some liquor stores open for limited hours on Sunday. We have dinner parties on Sundays and we always forget to get wine the day before. This makes me very happy. Now if only we could buy beer in the grocery store...

Kickass. I actually just bought myself a new stuffed Grumpy Bear yesterday, but I've also had a small Grumpy Bear figurine on top of my stereo for a while. I also drink from my collection of Pizza Hut Care Bear glasses. I never grew out of my eighties childhood.

Mr Rogers sound clips out of context... Just not right, but none the less, made me giggle. I always liked Mr. Rogers, except for when he swore at the dry cleaners. Not on TV, of course, but in Squirrel Hill, where he broadcast from. I have a tshirt with his picture that says "Won't you be my neighbor?". I refrained from purchasing the other tshirt, which said "I am special". That's just asking for abuse. Yup. Via Boingboing.