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For as long as I've lived in Pittsburgh, the downtown Hilton has been under some sort of construction. It is right next to Point Park, and it looks horrible. They have the sidewalk and part of the street closed in front of the building, so you take your life in your hands trying to walk through that part of downtown. I found it rather amusing that, instead of finally finishing the construction, they are going to "spruce it up" for the G-20 in September.

...spruce up the partially completed steel frame at the Hilton entrance in advance of the G-20 economic summit in September. Among the remedies discussed were to cover the steel frame with some type of canvas or canopy...

Some type of canvas? Classy! Maybe they could Bedazzle it first?!

The turd shining doesn't stop there! Today we're getting "graphic makeovers" for a bunch of vacant buildings. Score. Welcome, world leaders to Potemkin Pittsburgh!

The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership today will begin installing the first of more than 30 graphic "makeovers" to vacant Downtown storefronts to improve their appearance for the G-20 economic summit.

Posted by Dan at 11:05 AM | Permalink |

Also published at Only In Pittsburgh.

Greenfield, Pittsburgh, PA

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It has been an uneventful gardening week. The plants seem to like all the rain we've been having.

Nasturtiums

Basil

Cucumbers

Pepper

Tomato Blossoms

Eggplant

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Everything is transplanted in the garden now. The wire on top of the dirt is to keep the cats from using it as a litter box. Everything except the one big tomato plant, the eggplant, and the lavender was grown at home from seed.

The rhubarb is also doing quite well. I had some trouble when I first transplanted it, but I think there may have been air pockets in the soil, and it didn't receive sufficient water. The plant sent up 5-6 flower stalks, and after I cut those down to the base, it took off like crazy. Maybe I'll have pie this year after all!

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So May is open enrollment time in insurance land, and my timely human resources department mailed me my information today. This is the time of year you can change plans without gaining or losing a family member. It is also the time of year they can jack up your premiums. My lovely human resources department sent me this very well crafted letter outlining these increases, hemming and hawing about how times are tough and costs are going up. Here is one gem:

After hours of working with the Committee and the insurance companies, with a few meaningful changes in the plan's co-payments, we were able to reduce the overall increase to 6.6%.

I first read that and thought, "wow, they worked so hard and reduced my costs! That is great!". Not believing that they reduced something, I read it again...

Posted by Dan at 11:58 AM | Permalink |

I finished my raised bed garden today. It looks more like an engineering project than an beautiful organic garden, but I bet the food tastes the same. My seedlings are all grown up too. I'll post some photos of them later this week.

Posted by Dan at 08:22 PM | Permalink |

I've lived in apartments for the past 10 years and now I finally have a small plot of Earth to call my own (at least until my lease is up). To take full advantage of this dirt, I am planning a garden for this summer.

So far, it hasn't gone as smooth as I had imagined. I purchased a bunch of seeds, soils, pots, etc. and thought I knew more than the directions on the packets. I just tossed the little suckers in dirt, kept them watered, put them in my window sill and figured it would all work out just fine. No such luck.

My lettuce came up right away, and died just as quick. It turns out the few hours of direct sun they get through the window is no good. I tried again with CFLs shining down on the tops of the seedlings. This worked much better, and after thinning the extra seedlings last night, I had enough for a small salad.

The tomatoes came up after only a day in the dirt, and I immediately stuck them under a fluorescent grow light (see the photo above). My peppers (bell and jalapeño) are very stubborn. Not only do they want water, dirt, and light, but they also need to be warm. I ended up setting them on top of the hot water heater to get the seeds to the proper germination temperature. A few have sprouted, but so far they aren't looking as healthy as the tomatoes.

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Pittsburgh, PA

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Pittsburgh, PA

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In a room full of orchids, I was drawn to these weathered stone heads.

Pittsburgh, PA

Posted by Dan at 12:00 AM | Permalink |

I'm realistic and pragmatic to a fault, but I don't think I'm as hardheaded as this guy.

Pittsburgh, PA

Posted by Dan at 12:00 AM | Permalink |

This thing is called a rain chain. The idea is you hang it from your gutter instead of a downspout. The rain fills up the little flowers and trickles down. Seems like a neat idea.

I love back and white photos from other photographers, but never seem to like my own after I remove the color. I felt this one worked without color.

Pittsburgh, PA

Posted by Dan at 12:00 AM | Permalink |

Orchid show going on now at Phipps Conservatory. I can't wait for the spring show!

Pittsburgh, PA

Posted by Dan at 12:32 PM | Permalink |

There are quite a few rabbits hidden throughout this scene. There is also some scary looking monster on the right. I'm not sure what it is, but it seems like something that was leftover from Halloween rather than created for the holidays.

Pittsburgh, PA

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Pittsburgh, PA

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Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

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Minneapolis Skyline in the background, new Twins ballpark in the foreground.

Minneapolis, MN

Posted by Dan at 08:15 PM | Permalink |

Customized birthday M&Ms, with the birthday girl's face on them.

Here is a better photo of what they looked like:

Posted by Dan at 01:41 AM | Permalink |

Los Angeles, CA

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