Pittsburgh Pontificating
Maybe I have not been paying attention and this isn't new... but anyone notice the PG changes. Book section back in forum. Next page off the back page. Anything else?


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NullspacePittsburghers know that the times are out of joint. Somehow they're expecting the prosperity to blow up in their faces.
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also today tin the DFP with yet another obligatory picture of a Primanti's sandwich. Do they get any copyright royalty from those photos?. Anyway, see also: Hockey rival's home is the Pitts. Cities used to be friends -- now it's on.
From me there is still my (now google enhanced) Rust Belt watch. That and if this story is really true, then I really would love to see stats on the spike in traffic today on the PA and Ohio turnpikes.
Lest we forget. The guest books for each of the above are at:
Sgt Russell Kurtz
Cpl Russell Grant Culbertson
The Pirates are an interesting case to look at. In 2008, up to May 21, six of 21 games at PNC Park (they had one rainout on 5/12) saw attendance below 10,000 (9,735 on 4/9 and 9,798 on 4/10 against the Cubs, 8,444 on 4/21 against the Marlins, 9,544 on 4/24 against the Cardinals, 9,788 on 5/7 against the Giants, and 8,805 on 5/21 against the Brewers). In 2009, they see four games with attendance below 10,000 (8,790 on 4/20 and 9,917 on 4/21 against the Marlins; and 8,482 on 5/4 and 9,775 on 5/5 against the Brewers). However, attendance is pretty much flat compared to last season (down 0.28 percent compared to last season), which sadly means with Florida and Tampa Bay increasing attendance, the Pirates well sitting deep in the attendance cellar.
Dowd
What gets me curious is the news about how we, the royal we, have made a deal with Delta guaranteeing a certain amount of passenger demand for the new flight. I am curious how that deal is written since it seems to me that there could be a principal-agent problem in there somewhere. Delta ought not to have much incentive to lower fares so low if they have a third party paying them if they don't fill the seats. But I have no idea whatsoever the particulars of that deal... I just can't get out of my head the idea that somebody Downtown is paying for part of my ticket indirectly.
With that I will surrender to the brief spasm of political numerology that is about to take place."Josh Wander is currently serving as the elected Pennsylvania State Constable for the Borough of White Oak, located in the south-western area of the state. My top priorities in office have been protecting the security of our country, defending the public, and ensuring equal justice for all. " (emphasis added, web site as of May 14, 2009)
White Oak is not part of the city of Pittsburgh to begin with. The White Oak web page currently lists Mr. Wander as the Constable. But hey, who updates web pages very often. It's unclear if there is a statutory requirement for a constable to reside in the jurisdiction to which they are elected.. and I am not a legal beagle, but there appears to be a common law requirement that you have to live in the community you serve.
Then it gets odder. While there isn't much paper trail on the whole 'community organizer' thing that he is described as in the news articles. No biggie, but he has certainly been in the news. Per the Trib he is the force behind a website that once once dedicated to sending the Statue of Liberty Back to France. No joke. Don't believe me? check out: Giveitback.org
That site introduces itself with:Well then. If I were this guy, I would start my campaign with a press conference in the French Nationality room in the Cathedral of Learning. He could propose it be converted into the Tajik room or something. Maybe lock himself to a desk or something for some earned media. Not sure he is going to be going on many European junkets or marketing trips if he were to become mayor.Give the Statue of Liberty back to the French!
Located in New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty was a gift of international friendship from the people of France to the people of the United States and is one of the most universal symbols of political freedom and democracy...
Now it is time to give it back!
They can have their damn Statue!
Also: WashPo has some neat video perspective on the two game marathon:
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/capitalsinsider/two-nights-two-cities-two-game.html