tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32608374213204657662024-02-18T20:56:52.994-08:00Groundhogs & Squirrelsmarvinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15624304580453783029noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260837421320465766.post-67623609496904431922008-07-19T19:50:00.001-07:002008-07-19T19:54:44.918-07:00Pittsburgh on a sunny Saturday<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb9rTaDtuHDOjhg7NhcUKM1Lxe8sQmRZ787nnE9wcPDlj0RIpztK2KBq_hVbs89TbJXkklBn5fgK_J31QMKGoW5VFv-jFhVPaMazdOEQjO4rcUqrHaHNJlJtvip98NuWP2HwHOV1mPa8qv/s1600-h/pict1133.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb9rTaDtuHDOjhg7NhcUKM1Lxe8sQmRZ787nnE9wcPDlj0RIpztK2KBq_hVbs89TbJXkklBn5fgK_J31QMKGoW5VFv-jFhVPaMazdOEQjO4rcUqrHaHNJlJtvip98NuWP2HwHOV1mPa8qv/s320/pict1133.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224923495875379922" /></a><br /><br />The skyline of Downtown Pittsburgh.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMa9-STPi4WIb_vfw6KBFh20jzWiMLd4S-f_hpcBdpufMJB2dH9IcSEVnGb5783mnleS3VB6vdrzIZ8ogXIZEyiCK-efMPhen2tTxtEtTOc9VLcfBOht-RF6e5c1sGZLJ4PcBn8xnPDP7U/s1600-h/pict1137.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMa9-STPi4WIb_vfw6KBFh20jzWiMLd4S-f_hpcBdpufMJB2dH9IcSEVnGb5783mnleS3VB6vdrzIZ8ogXIZEyiCK-efMPhen2tTxtEtTOc9VLcfBOht-RF6e5c1sGZLJ4PcBn8xnPDP7U/s320/pict1137.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224923336853234674" /></a><br /><br />Smithfield bridge in the evening sun.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOIf3tqiMv4i60yc8LpDvQoY4361JA1O4irhA7nkYDCYICpzu5DIhEg3D4O2tRommMy1Ssp0Gmn_UsSDU2nvkb_x3Pm1kPgZtlfUsyB-OPwFixOi9wXReCjXexlOhMNsQZJET9OmjO2Wku/s1600-h/pict1136.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOIf3tqiMv4i60yc8LpDvQoY4361JA1O4irhA7nkYDCYICpzu5DIhEg3D4O2tRommMy1Ssp0Gmn_UsSDU2nvkb_x3Pm1kPgZtlfUsyB-OPwFixOi9wXReCjXexlOhMNsQZJET9OmjO2Wku/s320/pict1136.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224923222051799730" /></a><br /><br />Station Square, with fountains and the Clinton furnace on display.marvinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15624304580453783029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260837421320465766.post-89265908381593032302008-07-19T19:35:00.001-07:002008-07-19T19:48:46.999-07:00Duquesne InclineToday I have been on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duquesne_Incline"> duquesne incline </a>. This is a vintage funicular going up Mount Washington in Pittsburgh. One ride is 2$, and a return trip is 4$ (I have read something else on some websites, therefore I want to get this straight).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy14uR8Gv8QZAY2w9-namFfNzG17ReE-kkguiAyKcX500bZOpDH5KPMx4Qym5Is3oj1CvSKq9t3kG3lvcy8zq7QouPbveJXuTWqPMnwYr8e0GSG6HlDLS3le9Nfm6KY9_06TCJK06EY04I/s1600-h/pict1127.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy14uR8Gv8QZAY2w9-namFfNzG17ReE-kkguiAyKcX500bZOpDH5KPMx4Qym5Is3oj1CvSKq9t3kG3lvcy8zq7QouPbveJXuTWqPMnwYr8e0GSG6HlDLS3le9Nfm6KY9_06TCJK06EY04I/s320/pict1127.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224920538532863810" /></a><br /><br />This is the lower station, next to the river and close to downtown Pittsburgh.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4AnvQt8Rxn7BrjYSM2kL0n8wV0f18Lo4MHrmFPma4RgEtYkOCZr1jFslt8S1hsBL_LQ5CwKFWNu79Z1E6OXsyaFV-3m6suIbZRhrohIsTUvsdc9gEzBFQINPAXBndK_T3ssOfFHyev4cS/s1600-h/pict1120.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4AnvQt8Rxn7BrjYSM2kL0n8wV0f18Lo4MHrmFPma4RgEtYkOCZr1jFslt8S1hsBL_LQ5CwKFWNu79Z1E6OXsyaFV-3m6suIbZRhrohIsTUvsdc9gEzBFQINPAXBndK_T3ssOfFHyev4cS/s320/pict1120.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224920397672769426" /></a><br /><br />Running the incline plane.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifG1W7tQQpf1n_1xxAEbBUU3KQQHDGuS1iszBnMYWlWfFPC44fgWJAkEVmauNwo_NDkLqDp8MqIRcccT-6o_G5GliafhPEVwY03fYM7szUiMzk8GqNJt1SWh48hIgl6g40cKthouUC0jEh/s1600-h/pict1095.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifG1W7tQQpf1n_1xxAEbBUU3KQQHDGuS1iszBnMYWlWfFPC44fgWJAkEVmauNwo_NDkLqDp8MqIRcccT-6o_G5GliafhPEVwY03fYM7szUiMzk8GqNJt1SWh48hIgl6g40cKthouUC0jEh/s320/pict1095.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224920177611440706" /></a><br /><br />Touristy folks inside the car.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjt57tyHBA1p3CErAX-qXKhvEHOYwVJaExB4tqhouv2vHuN1dJj0uOCsM_i66LoAegNfzmle2HrJV1ekgNu7e8jtVfjkDJOAJfo5-ygvmt8nYBW-LZoaD6nI1GRcciQ_8dWshCCPIcbbmY/s1600-h/duquesne.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjt57tyHBA1p3CErAX-qXKhvEHOYwVJaExB4tqhouv2vHuN1dJj0uOCsM_i66LoAegNfzmle2HrJV1ekgNu7e8jtVfjkDJOAJfo5-ygvmt8nYBW-LZoaD6nI1GRcciQ_8dWshCCPIcbbmY/s320/duquesne.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224920026751379202" /></a><br /><br />Here we go up (well, I am cheating, I have already arrived at the top when I took this picture!).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6xRBO-rhiyutlxo-dJdJuU7KVWoqx3a7wYBIkIsDDJFeKdrO0kq8A62DC0MIreEeTf0HaxmNewbFzDscR-uUWwU1xzIw9XNYratXCXmiJ0zLEN014cydjI71dRZecVNXmprI4uJqmOfR-/s1600-h/pict1116.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6xRBO-rhiyutlxo-dJdJuU7KVWoqx3a7wYBIkIsDDJFeKdrO0kq8A62DC0MIreEeTf0HaxmNewbFzDscR-uUWwU1xzIw9XNYratXCXmiJ0zLEN014cydjI71dRZecVNXmprI4uJqmOfR-/s320/pict1116.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224919465991497074" /></a><br /><br />This is the view from from atop Mount Washington. The incline is run with electricity since 1932, but before that (since 1877) it used steam power. The motor driving both cars at the same time (always one up, and the other one down) has 75 hp. There is a 10 hp backup engine in case the main engine fails. Cars are pulled using steal cords (one acts as a backup).marvinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15624304580453783029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260837421320465766.post-25747384797772959282008-07-19T19:14:00.000-07:002008-07-19T19:33:55.142-07:00Vintage Cars on Squirrel HillThe <a href="http://www.pittsburghvintagegrandprix.com/pvgp/site/default.asp"> Pittsburgh vintage grand prix association </a> has brought a vintage car race to Squirrel Hill this weekend. Of course I had to explore all the fine cars spread out all over Squirrel Hill. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbBQzY9kqYHqcRY0APdLVpoZ_wGYAh2HvBYc6R8IVqWxbMMBzq7pUeo1VaLz5m7bwdp_bhLjz9OKKL38shVtTOtXuEEfoSLxj6N0XQyAr1NnigYLaEjorfqV5iHJa9Lj6NsU0RYtVmepU2/s1600-h/cars1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbBQzY9kqYHqcRY0APdLVpoZ_wGYAh2HvBYc6R8IVqWxbMMBzq7pUeo1VaLz5m7bwdp_bhLjz9OKKL38shVtTOtXuEEfoSLxj6N0XQyAr1NnigYLaEjorfqV5iHJa9Lj6NsU0RYtVmepU2/s320/cars1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224918343433399906" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip2uZE-senA80_ZsAs43rIU3h3ZRvmRTFk2w2oEbEBwKk0pAP3Wf-8VNYUVfAuzEyxMSvdDNgwVvhypY1LBgZtjMOrhcN9H_Yp8gicdeSyxIWIk092Wzgs0CCSndNvZ5cXfUDUTL8S_vly/s1600-h/cars2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip2uZE-senA80_ZsAs43rIU3h3ZRvmRTFk2w2oEbEBwKk0pAP3Wf-8VNYUVfAuzEyxMSvdDNgwVvhypY1LBgZtjMOrhcN9H_Yp8gicdeSyxIWIk092Wzgs0CCSndNvZ5cXfUDUTL8S_vly/s320/cars2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224918289310312322" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuYOS8DRLbNpX6qjOGIOhyCkIIoQr-wR_LuRuSzMqVceF2xHw12zUNUKmP2014pEl3ijHYus5izBYStlpLxLJ7XFwcKxrdLZP7StMEiqHWoP3bS04Bzi7lRbcxc-PW4o_5kjxqw2w2ZpXh/s1600-h/cars3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuYOS8DRLbNpX6qjOGIOhyCkIIoQr-wR_LuRuSzMqVceF2xHw12zUNUKmP2014pEl3ijHYus5izBYStlpLxLJ7XFwcKxrdLZP7StMEiqHWoP3bS04Bzi7lRbcxc-PW4o_5kjxqw2w2ZpXh/s320/cars3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224918226073939954" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5ZVy0li0rtgOjNfkkJp9t2YL1xO4pvtgXkFQwaphyphenhyphenJayRZ2d1Qa1Afb3NXAciNQXuJoFAJvh5wwujalNXemxOnH4ZQTqE3kizfxYQOrn9mZWvcUDP0pax7ryCdhOG01FL08hPwl8LZkD/s1600-h/pict1084.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5ZVy0li0rtgOjNfkkJp9t2YL1xO4pvtgXkFQwaphyphenhyphenJayRZ2d1Qa1Afb3NXAciNQXuJoFAJvh5wwujalNXemxOnH4ZQTqE3kizfxYQOrn9mZWvcUDP0pax7ryCdhOG01FL08hPwl8LZkD/s320/pict1084.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224918144469163122" /></a>marvinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15624304580453783029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260837421320465766.post-77837975390773158502008-07-19T19:04:00.000-07:002008-07-19T19:12:54.527-07:00Lake TahoeOn Saturday July 12th, we went hiking at Lake Tahoe. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyDpp5bh2bo40Lb2AkTxpTZNml5VMikcdGFnvvw4M6I-DcsEbit7I8nj83YXqLXdErVxvUuEMPuATIQUhk4CSorYuItVGx_TIiF1XvxXwY7unZixFzL56k4OusODU8bBWLR1d6f82LSts4/s1600-h/pict0935.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyDpp5bh2bo40Lb2AkTxpTZNml5VMikcdGFnvvw4M6I-DcsEbit7I8nj83YXqLXdErVxvUuEMPuATIQUhk4CSorYuItVGx_TIiF1XvxXwY7unZixFzL56k4OusODU8bBWLR1d6f82LSts4/s320/pict0935.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224911643965273090" /></a><br /><br />We went up the Mt. Tarrac trail. My host Chris, on the right, and I, the Fallen Leaf Lake in the background.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Bt72X7se8OMa-CdJOJBhmPysV8PdYat9M2KZS8dt3YirsQaDuKokvG0XOMUcn73xG2XE80MvL2WG12AE0Cgk56KdQDC71OEviNojRl5MMeOk3FEQhzvY4XNLDui9NdDq3khoiaUoor_H/s1600-h/pict0940.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Bt72X7se8OMa-CdJOJBhmPysV8PdYat9M2KZS8dt3YirsQaDuKokvG0XOMUcn73xG2XE80MvL2WG12AE0Cgk56KdQDC71OEviNojRl5MMeOk3FEQhzvY4XNLDui9NdDq3khoiaUoor_H/s320/pict0940.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224912220550880306" /></a><br /><br />The floating island lake, 1.6 miles from the trailhead.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoaBf2CwvWw04kma9Sv-gNagOWghE_QD-UxrjnVQLYZ8hEkg85kj6LU5saZjWGmUvegSM3yzmU5tg9238b8YY3_749k3FPGpuraVq_Usl4upOR5fARVpZH3L4yXIeeYjQHXXVsT8jdjF5K/s1600-h/pict0967.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoaBf2CwvWw04kma9Sv-gNagOWghE_QD-UxrjnVQLYZ8hEkg85kj6LU5saZjWGmUvegSM3yzmU5tg9238b8YY3_749k3FPGpuraVq_Usl4upOR5fARVpZH3L4yXIeeYjQHXXVsT8jdjF5K/s320/pict0967.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224911847055017506" /></a><br /><br />Cathedral lake, 2.3 miles from the trailhead.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRNFPuahyphenhyphenj1xXnUnJFh3kMJ0gxLhvfUye5HDansojHghgh3bSyHMngkrNVdoTCL6gaF4wFS6qAI1pVzy1a_TC1fagFnB8SKCt_0-HWCjUGjMkM1ISVdJqThSSU_L3VYT_TgpOaFfd-PFPU/s1600-h/pict0954.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRNFPuahyphenhyphenj1xXnUnJFh3kMJ0gxLhvfUye5HDansojHghgh3bSyHMngkrNVdoTCL6gaF4wFS6qAI1pVzy1a_TC1fagFnB8SKCt_0-HWCjUGjMkM1ISVdJqThSSU_L3VYT_TgpOaFfd-PFPU/s320/pict0954.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224912448833015506" /></a><br /><br />Beautiful wildlife at cathedral lake. However, we didn't see the father. When we went back to the trailhead, we spotted a pheasant, but my camera was too slow to capture. Just a mile before we reached the trailhead, it started to rain (and we ran the last bit).marvinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15624304580453783029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260837421320465766.post-13343099948256756942008-07-19T18:59:00.000-07:002008-07-19T19:03:41.850-07:00SacramentoFrom July 10th to 15th I was invited to Sacramento. Here see the beautiful capitol.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV-bci61afebVz9ciSxEDjto8HhtuqDKL9Fi2E1EtkI6x_H3DgIoRbexJl8SLQqilUzH3aIioC7YVpIQWRbiJ3HYdVdwFN5yNl7gm3Y808DxcqG0CfV4I2FGyya0MigHkjHZFpBgsdAxKq/s1600-h/pict0926.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV-bci61afebVz9ciSxEDjto8HhtuqDKL9Fi2E1EtkI6x_H3DgIoRbexJl8SLQqilUzH3aIioC7YVpIQWRbiJ3HYdVdwFN5yNl7gm3Y808DxcqG0CfV4I2FGyya0MigHkjHZFpBgsdAxKq/s320/pict0926.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224910405954390962" /></a><br /><br />In Sacramento, Arnold seems not to be the only one to be in power.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztmahf0WoB5fM-NaNG9aMksrOPia6s6OM0AtZSKh72i6SfZT24bi8ASoZcJ7ezpn4xECMfQzQWaQ6d8Pn6rzD9lqXM5AylqNGilmWCDLfr5RJV6P09DiGBkM35LaSgP1rtPTJBTacQ7Z7/s1600-h/pict0927.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztmahf0WoB5fM-NaNG9aMksrOPia6s6OM0AtZSKh72i6SfZT24bi8ASoZcJ7ezpn4xECMfQzQWaQ6d8Pn6rzD9lqXM5AylqNGilmWCDLfr5RJV6P09DiGBkM35LaSgP1rtPTJBTacQ7Z7/s320/pict0927.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224910531598050418" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLOHcx2vOxIPwJbsUBIkEx5s5q7YxW24n8i9mRdyPA54lySS_rAnl-O_LEPXrlVS7mLNdlkaqOw-W14XojofOFA4myPJHNKWzF_ka0AM0W3YfkoLcZfojb1jcfie3Pjhu5oqap6FfnLE1B/s1600-h/pict0994.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLOHcx2vOxIPwJbsUBIkEx5s5q7YxW24n8i9mRdyPA54lySS_rAnl-O_LEPXrlVS7mLNdlkaqOw-W14XojofOFA4myPJHNKWzF_ka0AM0W3YfkoLcZfojb1jcfie3Pjhu5oqap6FfnLE1B/s320/pict0994.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224910748644033698" /></a>marvinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15624304580453783029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260837421320465766.post-34400841457583674262008-07-05T10:30:00.000-07:002008-07-05T10:35:40.857-07:00FirefliesThe Pennsylvania firefly is Pennsylvania's state insect. <br /><br />Fireflies are difficult to photograph; they only flash from time to time, and if one uses the camera's flashlight at them, it is so strong that all the colors are gone.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgICdEY-pF4LXF7jjh-l_IAkV7zzgDTClF3kqxjUkamcN6baFj-xdjI1HedHL0ALvkMutwu9y7ptFqqo5Sc8XG6AwG2a-AG3qbRsiGNbLVsB1gtepsK2QXvySfXsuY3HPnLhEHIvnIchLuu/s1600-h/firefly1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgICdEY-pF4LXF7jjh-l_IAkV7zzgDTClF3kqxjUkamcN6baFj-xdjI1HedHL0ALvkMutwu9y7ptFqqo5Sc8XG6AwG2a-AG3qbRsiGNbLVsB1gtepsK2QXvySfXsuY3HPnLhEHIvnIchLuu/s320/firefly1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219584661275456194" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK2bVdjYi-k1b8jD5zuGakx1m7e2-Snc34uD2l3DJYv9uJteutqxidi-a2HlzodBjG7ar_JijBFRV0bTktuMLTv3H0rLTkl4v4s-dH31VRDNJu32kwiyPzlYqhNn1N0PMMWYWusXJJs0yj/s1600-h/fireflies3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK2bVdjYi-k1b8jD5zuGakx1m7e2-Snc34uD2l3DJYv9uJteutqxidi-a2HlzodBjG7ar_JijBFRV0bTktuMLTv3H0rLTkl4v4s-dH31VRDNJu32kwiyPzlYqhNn1N0PMMWYWusXJJs0yj/s320/fireflies3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219584611259988162" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4uu5XdTYLIQNSohMT4zFBvmsdTumafs_xfFDADswPoPH6nW_RkWyRVyFoNIiAtLTd_eyAtG9p015z8tUpsLONvUtzNcDnWocU_sDPP9pIptpjbjUYwwJUgQVpb9SLPgRTuazY1o9hEO54/s1600-h/firefly2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4uu5XdTYLIQNSohMT4zFBvmsdTumafs_xfFDADswPoPH6nW_RkWyRVyFoNIiAtLTd_eyAtG9p015z8tUpsLONvUtzNcDnWocU_sDPP9pIptpjbjUYwwJUgQVpb9SLPgRTuazY1o9hEO54/s320/firefly2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219584508675133282" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjzrKsEHedbipIz4qfV9dxW6v7BuqNrdgwacDSdJtFkVafxTzPxBBSmydQdLBOvEgHdWqILXXAQ_uRvN8ai-8-k-i9nG-FY2FrptECBWBsHtbj2I44s8Vm-ut0y8BtTyeJzo9r1JDZBDyC/s1600-h/firefly4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjzrKsEHedbipIz4qfV9dxW6v7BuqNrdgwacDSdJtFkVafxTzPxBBSmydQdLBOvEgHdWqILXXAQ_uRvN8ai-8-k-i9nG-FY2FrptECBWBsHtbj2I44s8Vm-ut0y8BtTyeJzo9r1JDZBDyC/s320/firefly4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219584457605661970" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_TdNKahBUtaa6jKzP4Wh6G-RUcFX70Ha_3Q5oVbQ9HC7-ZdwiqYtwQZJRrxkD0PRQKqfzPTKA6LxLR7eurjx4FbGFHZcsjcV8IvvH9oNSz0zhc4TwwxbFMRzhYheFHzKNRVi-gVDcEbD-/s1600-h/firefly5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_TdNKahBUtaa6jKzP4Wh6G-RUcFX70Ha_3Q5oVbQ9HC7-ZdwiqYtwQZJRrxkD0PRQKqfzPTKA6LxLR7eurjx4FbGFHZcsjcV8IvvH9oNSz0zhc4TwwxbFMRzhYheFHzKNRVi-gVDcEbD-/s320/firefly5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219584401501026082" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxmKHWvPbtlkDL_GPkhWM_fL7c9ZgrSTuJ7hO6vogf8gC5BxJoMEkeADi7PKmyNd_QdN47Ni86LUTJTM-_cqhNwYn2vHS_62Dki7l0q2vrnD5jvbMf13m4xQAD4BgXkGBB1jOP6KXEXiIm/s1600-h/firefly6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxmKHWvPbtlkDL_GPkhWM_fL7c9ZgrSTuJ7hO6vogf8gC5BxJoMEkeADi7PKmyNd_QdN47Ni86LUTJTM-_cqhNwYn2vHS_62Dki7l0q2vrnD5jvbMf13m4xQAD4BgXkGBB1jOP6KXEXiIm/s320/firefly6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219584345794669938" /></a><br /><br />This is certainly not a firelfy, what is it?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Iak_F6gXD0V-IWmpqOWnnywkRLpoyXkigC26uhXljx0OXa2FfIAmjudUIH4RfAW6ba1uRGDKdVb8n8JGcgtxOzlitD8Js4w0YpgjpGwa6F0HI6o1MN5E82ZJyfZkBfwB1Oo_ubRHjnny/s1600-h/insect1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Iak_F6gXD0V-IWmpqOWnnywkRLpoyXkigC26uhXljx0OXa2FfIAmjudUIH4RfAW6ba1uRGDKdVb8n8JGcgtxOzlitD8Js4w0YpgjpGwa6F0HI6o1MN5E82ZJyfZkBfwB1Oo_ubRHjnny/s320/insect1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219584958876174738" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaxkpq9i3mOyhiZHHuOtxDjKB_5zch6CTflylGBLHcP4fSnzBreeiEVQZMiNqAqNnkH6OG0ZytJDT18wr3FBBwNcykpdhV2ikuPiDicz22gJf3GaXfzZwj0HiB3j7GBgMzb_0VHb0OBQYO/s1600-h/insect3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaxkpq9i3mOyhiZHHuOtxDjKB_5zch6CTflylGBLHcP4fSnzBreeiEVQZMiNqAqNnkH6OG0ZytJDT18wr3FBBwNcykpdhV2ikuPiDicz22gJf3GaXfzZwj0HiB3j7GBgMzb_0VHb0OBQYO/s320/insect3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219584892117868386" /></a>marvinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15624304580453783029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260837421320465766.post-65569251214987262392008-07-05T10:07:00.000-07:002008-07-05T10:29:23.110-07:00Independence Day EditionOn July 4th, the USA celebrate the "Decalaration of Independence", a document written on July 4th 1776 that explains the "Resolution of Independence" approved by the Second Continental Congress on July 2nd 1776 which legally separated the USA from Great Britain. Even though in legal terms, the separation occured on July 2nd, US americans celebrate Independence Day two days later. <br /><br />I watched a race of the <a href="http://www.champboat.com"> ChampBoat </a> series in Pittsburgh, listened to a concert by Soul Asylum and watched the fireworks "Flashes of Freedom". However, the battery of my camera went flat after the race. Some nice pictures were taken by other people, have a look <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dmcgrew/2638759337/"> here </a>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQlRQYxgak7xvepul5LPpDBiaBOb0aPtcZqFTqlHgBPzqy0GHffvPjXa8372z6hQR_9MgGorqLvrjRu3RQMFs0Qq6va9hFP2kdCjjibXvCEZyfrMhsuUI8-FGyG3ukpobwvQc0Jxqo1vf/s1600-h/pict0885.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQlRQYxgak7xvepul5LPpDBiaBOb0aPtcZqFTqlHgBPzqy0GHffvPjXa8372z6hQR_9MgGorqLvrjRu3RQMFs0Qq6va9hFP2kdCjjibXvCEZyfrMhsuUI8-FGyG3ukpobwvQc0Jxqo1vf/s320/pict0885.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219583306972443682" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkH0wRY2QhfcnEgOAis4P4rSwGz1VkSWizhg3dBkW3Li6qvvgYQACSkjdZdEDZazUqpAmoUK9fvbKXnnQQQdNE9ezr8no2B4A_uUrKiSrV3-HcQHMFxr8uPohsn52NE5Nm4ijh-LZI1mD/s1600-h/pict0894.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkH0wRY2QhfcnEgOAis4P4rSwGz1VkSWizhg3dBkW3Li6qvvgYQACSkjdZdEDZazUqpAmoUK9fvbKXnnQQQdNE9ezr8no2B4A_uUrKiSrV3-HcQHMFxr8uPohsn52NE5Nm4ijh-LZI1mD/s320/pict0894.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219583198197474802" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrf81SPPzhMXyn7D8p5PvWKmQAYLSonsHErTS4_idswH1anDCyXwJgUn0SdoNdWEn6OznF5awTfoc5kN7IIvmBTdIt0ZFvLFr3-HQ23uNm4jJ39SQvizqhUy14bMCqw_fjc6YjRFiE2nrO/s1600-h/pict0890.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrf81SPPzhMXyn7D8p5PvWKmQAYLSonsHErTS4_idswH1anDCyXwJgUn0SdoNdWEn6OznF5awTfoc5kN7IIvmBTdIt0ZFvLFr3-HQ23uNm4jJ39SQvizqhUy14bMCqw_fjc6YjRFiE2nrO/s320/pict0890.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219582902153841058" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx7kadwF1zUK1CrcKzV-CdBADGJaRQ6tAESisDncqIXDCPqUKswmSw9fMe4i1zPc9z0eL_VR8SpS1lBJf2YD9GO-dbrSEx49B31hZ8EiIg9e1hWqjBnXncc-TlUJ3WJrZqYzRpqQ0Ar8Op/s1600-h/pict0897.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx7kadwF1zUK1CrcKzV-CdBADGJaRQ6tAESisDncqIXDCPqUKswmSw9fMe4i1zPc9z0eL_VR8SpS1lBJf2YD9GO-dbrSEx49B31hZ8EiIg9e1hWqjBnXncc-TlUJ3WJrZqYzRpqQ0Ar8Op/s320/pict0897.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219582429101396418" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-yIurefifrKSKykwzo3J_Z7MRt6gLHUzvdK4nZjqv7MVc7wneYeE38tQ3AtyyYHScAaV9u_j83zeiYXvX9oPd0uQCzCc1DKCNqK71F-nQNsgY7qqfLwrVhgMpX7vwdplL0P4WeqnD8hhw/s1600-h/pict0881.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-yIurefifrKSKykwzo3J_Z7MRt6gLHUzvdK4nZjqv7MVc7wneYeE38tQ3AtyyYHScAaV9u_j83zeiYXvX9oPd0uQCzCc1DKCNqK71F-nQNsgY7qqfLwrVhgMpX7vwdplL0P4WeqnD8hhw/s320/pict0881.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219582195485793426" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5cnvXb7bQextBNNCbRLXUU73LbZZmEyNnlXsCQRtxZEE5N7GrrxpVPH0wCK_t2uaXPSzTDm1RKqdjYV0g_o-TcHAMIHYlG1oUgL2PzxUXovUyyo7KOWDcpG3L2i25AuIlOJk6JjYyNF_r/s1600-h/pict0910.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5cnvXb7bQextBNNCbRLXUU73LbZZmEyNnlXsCQRtxZEE5N7GrrxpVPH0wCK_t2uaXPSzTDm1RKqdjYV0g_o-TcHAMIHYlG1oUgL2PzxUXovUyyo7KOWDcpG3L2i25AuIlOJk6JjYyNF_r/s320/pict0910.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219582093652630866" /></a><br /><br />The f1 powerboat race was won by Shaun Torrente (in the red boat). Congratulations!marvinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15624304580453783029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260837421320465766.post-7181342702758892082008-06-29T17:43:00.001-07:002008-06-29T17:58:33.982-07:00Pittsburgh National AviaryOn Sunday, I visited the Pittsburgh aviary, which has around 600 birds on display.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLPN8ewU8OVwJGU4IIQLWpfpA8ZKIZe-GzmDmhCoh4hMTwWB232DZAsTrvJ1unfAhCac5LCwZvaNnEgm9jsEyNztJHAy39Fzp_X2DFFa_jmVD9ZigPj-Nzhcpl4OzdBUjA_9wnYeI5e78d/s1600-h/white-headed-wattled-lapwing.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLPN8ewU8OVwJGU4IIQLWpfpA8ZKIZe-GzmDmhCoh4hMTwWB232DZAsTrvJ1unfAhCac5LCwZvaNnEgm9jsEyNztJHAy39Fzp_X2DFFa_jmVD9ZigPj-Nzhcpl4OzdBUjA_9wnYeI5e78d/s320/white-headed-wattled-lapwing.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217467041663475122" /></a><br />The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White-headed_Plover"> white-headed wattled lapwing</a>. <br> <br><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWeZmx1qKrtUexoQ8uEiAV5GE6nkvHFl_dNqtDzZ-lbzziHDPIrWwcepG2IZFN1zToFozSGs5qNYUVVE4gb33Md1PBYx7joRg-ZdMRFnJ_La9X8JRj-KU5xQhc_6Cdxlvb2fNaabBmbOMi/s1600-h/two-inca-terns.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWeZmx1qKrtUexoQ8uEiAV5GE6nkvHFl_dNqtDzZ-lbzziHDPIrWwcepG2IZFN1zToFozSGs5qNYUVVE4gb33Md1PBYx7joRg-ZdMRFnJ_La9X8JRj-KU5xQhc_6Cdxlvb2fNaabBmbOMi/s320/two-inca-terns.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217466975794770354" /></a><br />Two <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inca_tern"> inca terns </a>.<br /><br> <br><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0k6qNovF6ckjM_eR7TemZMoHb6fj68z14-lv1EbVmUMwAaKHBJPrNjKeI6SeHKyzqVCCDG8gv_AAjiwD7ghE5QJRoyhyATTguhoutvxmVlVRR_A1qjPACkOAKFsg7hrSQYW3aUab_CZ9x/s1600-h/three-strange-birds.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0k6qNovF6ckjM_eR7TemZMoHb6fj68z14-lv1EbVmUMwAaKHBJPrNjKeI6SeHKyzqVCCDG8gv_AAjiwD7ghE5QJRoyhyATTguhoutvxmVlVRR_A1qjPACkOAKFsg7hrSQYW3aUab_CZ9x/s320/three-strange-birds.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217466907797986594" /></a><br />Three strange birds. :-)<br /><br> <br><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh-MTTEUjNTk-S_r3HK5TlrWR5aaWgOc7J5m30ms6Gt4XA2Q_Qqgwf7DOD79ACgTTAQZFfQ5W4symjXWx4DY9Dgl-fPyL8cIkzLqBxTBDl069Rg13nhTRAxedwB-Fgz_5zC_d88OetSe6J/s1600-h/taveta-golden-weaver.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh-MTTEUjNTk-S_r3HK5TlrWR5aaWgOc7J5m30ms6Gt4XA2Q_Qqgwf7DOD79ACgTTAQZFfQ5W4symjXWx4DY9Dgl-fPyL8cIkzLqBxTBDl069Rg13nhTRAxedwB-Fgz_5zC_d88OetSe6J/s320/taveta-golden-weaver.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217466803055736098" /></a><br />The female taveta golden weaver selects the male depending on the male's ability to build a nice nest.<br /><br> <br><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTp8tGB-p4HEDz0b2RrkrFI1pLUTJ9cY7t2DfZZCqtu8XG4ybsyj4U8JaC7tixUvPtUwKKwMLwQmTKs37pzjs3WC6g4OXO3525thgbyVrC8iPMM6p-Yp51As4Om0KnYZiqP935UzweK3ng/s1600-h/sloth.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTp8tGB-p4HEDz0b2RrkrFI1pLUTJ9cY7t2DfZZCqtu8XG4ybsyj4U8JaC7tixUvPtUwKKwMLwQmTKs37pzjs3WC6g4OXO3525thgbyVrC8iPMM6p-Yp51As4Om0KnYZiqP935UzweK3ng/s320/sloth.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217466737580343746" /></a><br />A sloth, demonstrating the climber's wisdom that hanging straight downwards costs the least energy.<br /><br> <br><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT58wbMk2YTsK5J1drjQbKwy5C9-mCLcYC9a2LBIeba6a1ytV23GhDCIDyB3gFixDouvcxZ8VqzoLqmP0BKcXE-9WDnoLYCSlzGVu3Pet2szdw6NPj75NAx7XYOtFEbIrliS2vTdN9eVOC/s1600-h/shrek.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT58wbMk2YTsK5J1drjQbKwy5C9-mCLcYC9a2LBIeba6a1ytV23GhDCIDyB3gFixDouvcxZ8VqzoLqmP0BKcXE-9WDnoLYCSlzGVu3Pet2szdw6NPj75NAx7XYOtFEbIrliS2vTdN9eVOC/s320/shrek.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217466662370416242" /></a><br />The bird is called "shrek", however I don't know its species.<br /><br> <br><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbb9nUG6Kxbh0fZ6BNjKmU9fzJ4oIjWg8puauVV_vGfb8OtCon86K4Tudnqo-l0JmpZlgGU6RazvFjjU_4Qjcg_noOBE3A_I5Jg6YEN0AP9OEqBASSMoEf7HUpgwEKAP-87xwN1shjuIH3/s1600-h/roseate-spoonbill.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbb9nUG6Kxbh0fZ6BNjKmU9fzJ4oIjWg8puauVV_vGfb8OtCon86K4Tudnqo-l0JmpZlgGU6RazvFjjU_4Qjcg_noOBE3A_I5Jg6YEN0AP9OEqBASSMoEf7HUpgwEKAP-87xwN1shjuIH3/s320/roseate-spoonbill.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217466600931394562" /></a><br />A <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roseate_spoonbill"> roseate spoonbill </a>.<br /><br> <br><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNEnM6Mp47H7e0hAd9R4VaCJdJ0zEve-4z_0wmRsY4JFyzXdhn2PF_Ymz39YPoR1__gJypa8H9lVNRHT2OUfr3Ud2N5vBs09RsF3AUGT2l4lmZ2_pBYRk8_yKxuBjhOUfj2oBfCjCZu9lo/s1600-h/red-crowned-crane.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNEnM6Mp47H7e0hAd9R4VaCJdJ0zEve-4z_0wmRsY4JFyzXdhn2PF_Ymz39YPoR1__gJypa8H9lVNRHT2OUfr3Ud2N5vBs09RsF3AUGT2l4lmZ2_pBYRk8_yKxuBjhOUfj2oBfCjCZu9lo/s320/red-crowned-crane.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217466542409182722" /></a><br />A <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-crowned_crane"> red-crowned crane </a>.<br /><br> <br><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" <br />href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAPCny4CzhvmC_ie4P78IqlDVBnzdHWIDnPp85r4CxT37PB7T7mREwl0orLfSPZDhO1EFmsBwZ1jo6yuhhHbIssGGux0TE8QhecIkVrutwhWqA6mBAftx4n87LDOrJfcx8f382zjgOm7L1/s1600-h/blue-crowned.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAPCny4CzhvmC_ie4P78IqlDVBnzdHWIDnPp85r4CxT37PB7T7mREwl0orLfSPZDhO1EFmsBwZ1jo6yuhhHbIssGGux0TE8QhecIkVrutwhWqA6mBAftx4n87LDOrJfcx8f382zjgOm7L1/s320/blue-crowned.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217466455999021522" /></a><br />A blue-crowned pigeon, the largest kind of pigeons.<br /><br> <br><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZs2rI0fho91XyOOxYyYpBtqDjnuoChmmMCIVlT2HGPyiReVsT6OL-6q3CQ5vSVS-738n_b8eSwtUu9LB7kWVWrpsmRYvktR9aXAiLQt-USP-UeygVGNf9RSW7cCTDACmYPAk1cdUgQt0K/s1600-h/parrot-flying.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZs2rI0fho91XyOOxYyYpBtqDjnuoChmmMCIVlT2HGPyiReVsT6OL-6q3CQ5vSVS-738n_b8eSwtUu9LB7kWVWrpsmRYvktR9aXAiLQt-USP-UeygVGNf9RSW7cCTDACmYPAk1cdUgQt0K/s320/parrot-flying.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217466365709182002" /></a><br />A hyacinth macaw flying.<br /><br> <br><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheBwjIGEJ0XSzazF9or6i-I9k3bfGERk1RCL-HnupiCNyFUgdUFHeGJT-Qs-iV4ucdtZe82SKcauo5IyHipw9o8mp9gAeQc3DMtd4uimA4D2LBypg6tzFsQF__L4RYJSluc99WlevXvEBJ/s1600-h/esther-cormorant.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheBwjIGEJ0XSzazF9or6i-I9k3bfGERk1RCL-HnupiCNyFUgdUFHeGJT-Qs-iV4ucdtZe82SKcauo5IyHipw9o8mp9gAeQc3DMtd4uimA4D2LBypg6tzFsQF__L4RYJSluc99WlevXvEBJ/s320/esther-cormorant.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217466304667906898" /></a><br />Esther, the cormorant.<br /><br> <br><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnIU7Wgq5FptdxH06tZDvp3CYuxuHCR6DnGMvlXyrEl_bCEffszELbW1i_vLWqjWmU3hlFu5JcXRehmoYRKAEnEqxyND1gVwPDAzEdY5fAnkOrI8PP_IX14tPMDfKitwGeZDtlA1nFdkgW/s1600-h/birdfeeding.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnIU7Wgq5FptdxH06tZDvp3CYuxuHCR6DnGMvlXyrEl_bCEffszELbW1i_vLWqjWmU3hlFu5JcXRehmoYRKAEnEqxyND1gVwPDAzEdY5fAnkOrI8PP_IX14tPMDfKitwGeZDtlA1nFdkgW/s320/birdfeeding.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217466240712413170" /></a><br />A visitor feeding a bird during a bird-feeding display.<br /><br> <br><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBWvLUBZ0nbxqBn44P0uWhI9ytldOH1Ac2s-_CRLHj7DrSePPyHqUl_qaqxh7BtIIPtspycZyBjM0x7BuZbDmzyUUpNjtprfAiGY2A_3A2Wa-f2JvvVepjy_ZS94ZkF_GJiY0kTTEne1pc/s1600-h/african-penguin.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBWvLUBZ0nbxqBn44P0uWhI9ytldOH1Ac2s-_CRLHj7DrSePPyHqUl_qaqxh7BtIIPtspycZyBjM0x7BuZbDmzyUUpNjtprfAiGY2A_3A2Wa-f2JvvVepjy_ZS94ZkF_GJiY0kTTEne1pc/s320/african-penguin.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217466165836705378" /></a><br />An african penguin.marvinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15624304580453783029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260837421320465766.post-50139047983240694412008-06-23T18:05:00.000-07:002008-06-23T18:23:17.126-07:00Meet me at the PridefestOn Saturday, I went downtown to see the last day of the <a href="http://www.artsfestival.net/"> Three Rivers Arts Festival</a> in Pittsburgh. However, when I got out of the bus close to Wood station (a train station for the light rail "T"), I saw this: <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL9pRVss0quXB5jMQg4xivIBXTZ1Rs97fuyeIEpc2PB1Gdz-xg8jt7RYYyiTZrTZ_TuE3EpCj1Fgt4xR7ABUjDRFF0On9_nigDdfoWragfmABpc69jq71KWsCg_tQc9W8k8EwyP55THMWF/s1600-h/pict0636.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL9pRVss0quXB5jMQg4xivIBXTZ1Rs97fuyeIEpc2PB1Gdz-xg8jt7RYYyiTZrTZ_TuE3EpCj1Fgt4xR7ABUjDRFF0On9_nigDdfoWragfmABpc69jq71KWsCg_tQc9W8k8EwyP55THMWF/s320/pict0636.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215248159349186402" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0d4Pb1fRUmhrB3wd83WvZ9Rr6cL79vVl3etqMCpKBfqTCtjhQIqv2MxcLCiQevxvmGTnXjkfgz1N-LiAR4Xq4MFABR4pzfrfRj-Y6Cc-3LoTTO0L828U-cUilQcUK9MPPXOTBpKQEkGTx/s1600-h/pict0637.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0d4Pb1fRUmhrB3wd83WvZ9Rr6cL79vVl3etqMCpKBfqTCtjhQIqv2MxcLCiQevxvmGTnXjkfgz1N-LiAR4Xq4MFABR4pzfrfRj-Y6Cc-3LoTTO0L828U-cUilQcUK9MPPXOTBpKQEkGTx/s320/pict0637.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215248272891224802" /></a><br />Well, it took me a while to realize that this is NOT the arts festival, considering that the first guy I met was a musician fluent at german! It's the <a href="http://www.glccpgh.org/Pride2008/Default.aspx"> pridefest </a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-lAUPPKEoXEPddrSQzUyFKLD-ACMUdFxobDfRxFgiSq2Y7aYKkMpQ2ByA2u73oyrA018bzN0V2PeMF1WwnvMW9TPrS2fVi45C8P_CjBHNAsJGYQ0BiRAXzWGoJmIJElp4goDVWkU2ccxe/s1600-h/pict0659.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-lAUPPKEoXEPddrSQzUyFKLD-ACMUdFxobDfRxFgiSq2Y7aYKkMpQ2ByA2u73oyrA018bzN0V2PeMF1WwnvMW9TPrS2fVi45C8P_CjBHNAsJGYQ0BiRAXzWGoJmIJElp4goDVWkU2ccxe/s320/pict0659.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215248662130191986" /></a><br />After a good hour of pride I finally spent a few minutes at the arts festival (after I went in circles within downtown, it was harder to find than the pridefest).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs-m_ZeAie6wERVb_In20QkI1c2xEoHq07jM5ncWLPdLQ_KSaBNqB5EPLF_hzfVggj2zYWnhrES-27fdXj1p-B6nZJnT0Zk3OzGwhPQJ6AMcedHw9wlx7jPSM6xBi68Y6N5Fq__AE-P7fn/s1600-h/pict0641.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs-m_ZeAie6wERVb_In20QkI1c2xEoHq07jM5ncWLPdLQ_KSaBNqB5EPLF_hzfVggj2zYWnhrES-27fdXj1p-B6nZJnT0Zk3OzGwhPQJ6AMcedHw9wlx7jPSM6xBi68Y6N5Fq__AE-P7fn/s320/pict0641.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215248418071611762" /></a><br /><br />The oldest remaining structure of Fort Pitt in Pittsburgh is the so-called blockhouse. Inside is a souvenir shop.marvinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15624304580453783029noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260837421320465766.post-1218008433015431562008-06-17T21:15:00.001-07:002008-06-17T21:18:35.209-07:00Rabbit!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0oK743en76K3CH2nXDAR4KKP3XHZNQe2Xcu368UxuAwNkrDzJIqCOUKaFNsEjU4q63CQjQ_tbHn4Pd-WyUef7JLaBEOek3A0mpsIUO_F52sovaD0q7K3d5dj_GKQnJGPn1RDb9CRF_M5/s1600-h/rabbit-small.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0oK743en76K3CH2nXDAR4KKP3XHZNQe2Xcu368UxuAwNkrDzJIqCOUKaFNsEjU4q63CQjQ_tbHn4Pd-WyUef7JLaBEOek3A0mpsIUO_F52sovaD0q7K3d5dj_GKQnJGPn1RDb9CRF_M5/s320/rabbit-small.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213070586160124242" /></a><br /><br />That rabbit is tiny! I saw him on Monday evening at the intersection of Darlington Rd and Darlingotn Ct.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioN-h1HfE1imbU2mgzle6Jui6GWckvy-SntR4HTvA9pLAATv-1NV7Qlchyx5yY3I20TLpzFCtk_DyvHFfgWz-LB__AXDEfbaWavn0T6YdW-EvyUvlck3FC32kzuzZbremHOd8-oEj3NuRc/s1600-h/squirrel-sitting.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioN-h1HfE1imbU2mgzle6Jui6GWckvy-SntR4HTvA9pLAATv-1NV7Qlchyx5yY3I20TLpzFCtk_DyvHFfgWz-LB__AXDEfbaWavn0T6YdW-EvyUvlck3FC32kzuzZbremHOd8-oEj3NuRc/s320/squirrel-sitting.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213070467006428754" /></a><br /><br />I had to follow this squirrel a while onto the golf course, after it took me too long to get my camera out.marvinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15624304580453783029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260837421320465766.post-15136374039235225692008-06-15T13:12:00.000-07:002008-06-15T13:25:59.558-07:00Saturday NightOn Saturday, I was shown around Shadyside by a nice japanese PhD student. We saw a pharmacy with a very famous name. :-)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuDuSFwKFqquAyygFFC6WbSE7vTnPkuBwVUCY-dqesaQnXTMdqZVlQI7X4AtopsmfFfkoUhyphenhyphen-oja3SB4H6eSoLyGR9xFbhITBLl0FhdNnIuGoZOMem73xFKYduU0jPEDyoWqYqDbOgDo0-/s1600-h/pict0617.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuDuSFwKFqquAyygFFC6WbSE7vTnPkuBwVUCY-dqesaQnXTMdqZVlQI7X4AtopsmfFfkoUhyphenhyphen-oja3SB4H6eSoLyGR9xFbhITBLl0FhdNnIuGoZOMem73xFKYduU0jPEDyoWqYqDbOgDo0-/s320/pict0617.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212205591340471346" /></a><br /><br />On Chatham campus, we encountered a squirrel hill squirrel.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwN6AZP01u53PcNgzT9reVjyuj9v-Few4MJUs0-fW9K8cZWN9041SxoTU-TSViWwOZtfrm5t5XiKeJ_EX_UUDuYTmh9jBYYx3k6I9LSgVtWVRlvkO9Z0OnX9Gw12CVaSQfkAxUtCXvLgfW/s1600-h/grass-squirrel-small.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwN6AZP01u53PcNgzT9reVjyuj9v-Few4MJUs0-fW9K8cZWN9041SxoTU-TSViWwOZtfrm5t5XiKeJ_EX_UUDuYTmh9jBYYx3k6I9LSgVtWVRlvkO9Z0OnX9Gw12CVaSQfkAxUtCXvLgfW/s320/grass-squirrel-small.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212205882287476914" /></a><br /><br />Finally, we went to a dance event at Chatham university.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwdc0aFUllznwFYRI81VgjGZa6slZ24P618yog9uhpClSuIydAhzVvl9iM_6TjVeDjdz_CGeVFAsgbKJyN2YnfDy5sHAx2nxyxLdPA-8_XCe6EGeug0PE9up6aR2Lwq1EJzglIJq6wXgj4/s1600-h/pict0622.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwdc0aFUllznwFYRI81VgjGZa6slZ24P618yog9uhpClSuIydAhzVvl9iM_6TjVeDjdz_CGeVFAsgbKJyN2YnfDy5sHAx2nxyxLdPA-8_XCe6EGeug0PE9up6aR2Lwq1EJzglIJq6wXgj4/s320/pict0622.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212206267465544642" /></a>marvinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15624304580453783029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260837421320465766.post-4438021066006889512008-06-13T15:33:00.000-07:002008-06-13T15:51:29.276-07:00More Pictures<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4IwtBBCX68FKLW9xKdUJl7731urPWbz5gqeCpyXJ9n-xDsZ9HiTv74xikBs-uxx47-jLz2g-7eJQfYxoQkirGQcvZDP6VKnKRdRI6rOwfrKyul5hRPBspdmh74VnWddU5SDmiX-yUQjst/s1600-h/tree-squirrel.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4IwtBBCX68FKLW9xKdUJl7731urPWbz5gqeCpyXJ9n-xDsZ9HiTv74xikBs-uxx47-jLz2g-7eJQfYxoQkirGQcvZDP6VKnKRdRI6rOwfrKyul5hRPBspdmh74VnWddU5SDmiX-yUQjst/s320/tree-squirrel.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211501645360711650" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfHD8nSOi0NdS22GeaA7yojthV5MSF3Fq7t-bqEh5kC8g1nrQf5vP1MTh1Hxf4TnUvPGwNByyqF160oSGsbK-CE2dXFmzQMTem0EnpDNHxP4XdeCWhYU_Gq2m5VxTyUrZ1mz_tbyJt04D6/s1600-h/hammerschlag-small.jpg"><img style="float:center; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfHD8nSOi0NdS22GeaA7yojthV5MSF3Fq7t-bqEh5kC8g1nrQf5vP1MTh1Hxf4TnUvPGwNByyqF160oSGsbK-CE2dXFmzQMTem0EnpDNHxP4XdeCWhYU_Gq2m5VxTyUrZ1mz_tbyJt04D6/s320/hammerschlag-small.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211499520916149570" /></a><br />After a dance class on Wednesday, I took a nightly shot of Hammerschlag Hall at CMU. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihRMWfJ7HrUQf7HZAnG0RwlWqng4s26BDL_R2dctjvxAmJHRpmNzV6TJV0chfRcIQMvZbbrQz0sj2j01Car4k6FGiba0yWoaZiEj8SDmtYcPqxaliWELUFMPtkXB3mtWe7oUn9xxt-QBOB/s1600-h/pict0608.jpg"><img style="float:center; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihRMWfJ7HrUQf7HZAnG0RwlWqng4s26BDL_R2dctjvxAmJHRpmNzV6TJV0chfRcIQMvZbbrQz0sj2j01Car4k6FGiba0yWoaZiEj8SDmtYcPqxaliWELUFMPtkXB3mtWe7oUn9xxt-QBOB/s320/pict0608.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211499848020128290" /></a> The second picture shows the scenery during the day. The skyscraper in the background is the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral_of_Learning"> cathedral of learning </a>, which belongs to Pittsburgh University. On Thursday, I got a shot of a squirrel while riding back home from CMU.marvinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15624304580453783029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260837421320465766.post-37777458705135151092008-06-09T17:07:00.000-07:002008-06-09T17:08:44.129-07:00My office window<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhRfQWyeGgu1Zs0dhUFJuv35v6fw_eJWTtxrFxbD2SK9LdYDuE8RhkRUhbOyTeADiDh4nTnVeO9sb5azPBeRmpR0oK_h-Ww9DOj3VbIAHLb0jIDPU9eoY0cY_prMzGqfQPkpeHTeSEgTY/s1600-h/pict0607.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhRfQWyeGgu1Zs0dhUFJuv35v6fw_eJWTtxrFxbD2SK9LdYDuE8RhkRUhbOyTeADiDh4nTnVeO9sb5azPBeRmpR0oK_h-Ww9DOj3VbIAHLb0jIDPU9eoY0cY_prMzGqfQPkpeHTeSEgTY/s320/pict0607.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210038059277044834" /></a><br />My office is in the basement, the with the window right in the middle.marvinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15624304580453783029noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260837421320465766.post-83485938578694454192008-06-09T17:02:00.000-07:002008-06-09T17:06:07.230-07:00Got a chain and tires? Here comes your new bike... :-)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCYVASHMm8DQJ9CXRN3xH6F0L9vPd2YEwcu7TOc09c6zh583qsop6VzD4guGHafAnnC4SkiSBxbWbOjqdYEt_CaQievV1_IpbhGaWc9Q6KsLH5QR__0isEkeUeVdrVegmJhOemFBBDZUm8/s1600-h/oldbike-small.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCYVASHMm8DQJ9CXRN3xH6F0L9vPd2YEwcu7TOc09c6zh583qsop6VzD4guGHafAnnC4SkiSBxbWbOjqdYEt_CaQievV1_IpbhGaWc9Q6KsLH5QR__0isEkeUeVdrVegmJhOemFBBDZUm8/s320/oldbike-small.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210037402149168114" /></a><br /><br /><br />I saw this on Sunday June 8th. Unfortunately, I had already bought a used mountainbike. In Pittsburgh, bikes are either mountain bikes or race bikes - other types are completely unheard of :-)marvinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15624304580453783029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260837421320465766.post-72501066155290423012008-06-07T13:06:00.000-07:002008-07-06T10:21:38.831-07:00Delayed Bag with United AirlinesToday my delayed bag arrived from my United Airlines Flight to Pittsburgh on May 29th. Fortunately, nothing has been stolen from it!<br /><br />Here's the short story of what happened:<br /><br />* May 29th, 3pm: Flight UA941 has landed at Chicago O'Hare. I have to go through immigrations (which takes over an hour, since there are clearly too few immigration officers to deal with all the arrivals), and customs. Therefore I have to claim my luggage, bring it through customs, and check it in again. I do get both of the bags I had checked in in Germany, but one is half open. I suspect something might have fallen out, but since immigrations has taken so much time, I decide to check later when I finally arrive in Pittsburgh. I check in my bags again, go through security again and board the flight to Pittsburgh just in time.<br />* May 29th, 7pm: Flight UA5962 lands in Pittsburgh on time. At the baggage claim, I only find one bag. Mrs Holly P. from UA explains to me, my other bag is still in Chicago. I should describe my bag for her in order for her to write a report and leave a phone number (I give her the number of my future roommate), my bag would be delivered with the next flight from Chicago (that is, 10pm the same day). There is a second guy at the counter who is also missing a bag from the same flight.<br />* May 29th, midnight: my bag hasn't arrived<br />* May 30th, morning: www.united.com/bagtrack says that my bag has not been located (huh... it was in Chicago lately...!). I call the customer service. An indian woman explains me that UA does not know where my bag is. I explain I need my bedding equipment. The woman explains that UA can reimburse some of the cost if I have to urgently replace the items in my luggage, but that whatever I buy, I should notify them of before buying. Talking on the phone takes about half an hour. <br />* May 30th, afternoon: I want to buy bedsheets and the like, and call the UA customer service. Since I am right at the shop, there is no public telephone. An agent from Verizon is friendly and allows me to phone from a phone they have on display in their shop. I end up talking more than 20 minutes (in the shop, with everybody listening) to the indian lady from UA customer service. I then go ahead and buy my stuff.<br />* May 31st: no sign from my bag<br />* June 1st: no sign from my bag (and I check www.united.com/bagtrack hourly)<br />* June 2nd: no sign from my bag. I call an indian lady from UA customer service, to no avail (but again, over half an hour of talking).<br />* June 3rd: the information on www.united.com/bagtrack has changed, it now says I should write a more detailed report, listing all items contained in my luggage (including purchase date, where purchased and original price) and give proof of ownership for items over 250$. I am busy doing that the whole afternoon, and contact my mother for the details of some items<br />* June 4th: I am ready to send off my report - however, I have to wait for mail collection on the next day<br />* June 5th: my report has been sent via registered mail. However, the information on www.united.com/bagtrack has changed - it says my bag has been delivered! How comes I don't know about it? I call the UA customer service again. The indian woman says my bag has been delivered via a delivery company, and she will check with them. Then she comes back to me and tells me they are unreachable. I repeat the process a second time (with a different lady), again with the same result. I provide the ladies with my office telephone number, which I have gotten recently. They are located in a callcenter in New Delhi. Apparently, all calls to the customer service directly go to India.<br />* June 6th, 11am: The delivery service (called "Wespax") calls! They want to deliver my bag in the evening, but I should call them before they come.<br />* June 6th, 8pm: As agreed, I call the delivery service. Nobody picks up. I leave a message that I am home and ready to receive the delivery. I call them seven times that evening, nobody picks up.<br />* June 6th, 10pm: The bag is not there, nobody picks up the phone. I decide to wait at home nevertheless.<br />* June 7th, 9am: I call Wespax. For some reason, somebody picks up (Allen). He says he is sorry I didn't reach anybody, and that my bag would be delivered today between 10:30 and 14:00. However, they would call me before delivery to make sure I am there. <br />* June 7th, 11am: Nobody called, even though the delivery guy should be on tour already. I call Wespax. Allen says sorry nobody called me, but my bag would be underway.<br />* June 7th, 12 am: My bag is finally there! After 9 days!<br /><br />Conclusion: Better don't fly United Airlines if your luggage is important to you. If you do, don't take any luggage to the check-in. If you do, make sure your luggage carries enough information, and that you have a telephone number in the U.S. where you are available all the time. Re-check the information/slips on your luggage when you re-check-in: the staff from United Airlines will not check.<br /><br /><b> Update (July 3rd)</b><br /><br />I have received a cheque from united airlines for 47$ (expenses for the bedstuff)! Frankly, I was surprised they'd treat me fairly. I will stop my boycott and probably consider flying united airlines again.marvinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15624304580453783029noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260837421320465766.post-83897367794013576242008-06-07T08:42:00.000-07:002008-06-07T13:04:44.104-07:00Baker Hall - what a historic place to work in<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzVMqz5EqQ5TQd_kjJU2-1S9-XtzjLH7-Y-KnRQPgdHC2vvZj3hrmgPj2-_3Cch3ZbleknUJ5MJAiZxPJp-g5LiSvPsmncvKYLS3vwrj6B9WY0hCltyeAecDBgoFqYGeIYqsmVeKlcWKR7/s1600-h/bakerhall-small.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzVMqz5EqQ5TQd_kjJU2-1S9-XtzjLH7-Y-KnRQPgdHC2vvZj3hrmgPj2-_3Cch3ZbleknUJ5MJAiZxPJp-g5LiSvPsmncvKYLS3vwrj6B9WY0hCltyeAecDBgoFqYGeIYqsmVeKlcWKR7/s320/bakerhall-small.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209168238861362306" /></a><br />For the next two months, I am a visitor of Prof. Sieg at CMU. He assigned me a nice office in Baker Hall (the office number is 139B) on the ground floor. The picture shows the main entrance of Baker Hall, which is one of the oldest buildings of what used to be the Carnegie Institute of Technology. The corridors are reminiscent of train stations in the 19th century, with steel handrails and tiles.marvinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15624304580453783029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260837421320465766.post-49220085430072342842008-06-07T08:23:00.000-07:002008-06-07T08:28:17.260-07:00Introduction<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCNGJarmgJnQU4x_BW0NRtpAHUO57414ySUQ1yj1PR7iY0pf2RCclTTr5ma7W0jdm3IegGvZ_l0UhCHUtFnYNGggmalnk8T_gbWizG7EpJa8xio9CMPZj21aWmq6SXWSJbftk4VC-AltxQ/s1600-h/squirrel-small.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCNGJarmgJnQU4x_BW0NRtpAHUO57414ySUQ1yj1PR7iY0pf2RCclTTr5ma7W0jdm3IegGvZ_l0UhCHUtFnYNGggmalnk8T_gbWizG7EpJa8xio9CMPZj21aWmq6SXWSJbftk4VC-AltxQ/s320/squirrel-small.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209161731985908850" /></a><br />On this blog, I will collect experiences, pictures and other items from my trip to Pittsburgh, Pensylvania. Keeping it with the title, here's a first picture, showing an original Squirrel Hill Squirrel.marvinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15624304580453783029noreply@blogger.com0