9/12 and G20: A Comparison

Well, the city of Pittsburgh has officially kicked off the G20 Summit much to the dismay of this blogger. The agenda set for this summit reads like something out of Orwell's 1984. Changes to the world banking system and the ever-present, bogus non-issue of climate change are among the topics set for discussion during this meeting of mushheads.

During the 9/12 patriot march on Washington, nearly two million people from all walks of life came together to protest the growing intrusion into our lives by government. By all accounts, not one arrest was made in connection with the protesters. People were vocal, but respectful.

Police here have made numerous arrests of snarky little anarchists hell-bent on disrupting the summit by any means necessary. They used tear gas on the little socialists when things got ugly.

Yesterday, it was reported here that PNC Bank headquarters had windows broken by those Michael Moore supporters who wish to see the death of capitalism. I'd think it's safe to say that they'll be glad to see the summit end so they don't have to miss the opening weekend of His Royal Fatness' movie.

Ahead of the summit, local television stations showed footage of local businesses who, knowing what to expect, had decided to board up their storefronts and close shop during the summit. These businesses are, for the most part, small businesses who really can't afford to close for one day let alone two. But knowing this crowd, they decided to take the loss.

The West End Bridge was the site of a protest by some climate-change alarmist group (Greenpeace would be my guess). A banner was hung from the side warning of "Climate Destruction Ahead." How nice.

Compare all this crap to what we witnessed on 9/12 in Washington. To the best of my knowledge, there was no fear by business owners of having their storefronts defaced. Did the DC mayor have to ask for 4,000 federal troops to help local law enforcement? Well, The Boy Mayor here (Ravenstahl is 29.) did so in anticipation of protests and riots. Why? I thought this was the peace-loving crowd the left is always touting themselves as.

After the summit ends today, traffic will return to its normal nightmare, and businesses will once again open their doors to customers. The tent cities erected in various sections of the city will come down, and the city will once again return to its former state of routine chaos. World leaders will return to their countries, and the media spin machine will start the task of assuring us that any egregious policies that have come out of this are for our own good.

I'm going to be watching for any word on the clean-up efforts when everyone goes home. We saw a stark contrast between the inauguration crowd and the 9/12 marchers.

I hope the city of Pittsburgh has alloted for extra manpower to help clean up. They should've started on Wednesday by removing the trash staying in tents.

For Yinz Comin' to da 'burgh for G20

Yesterday, the local stations here in Pittsburgh announced where Obamarx and posse would be visiting while in town for the G20 summit next month. Phipps Conservatory was first on the list. I've never been there. Just not my thing.

I did, in the past, post a list of things that are a must-do while in town. These are the things we Pittsburghers usually do many times during our lives.

• Take in a Steeler game (if you can get tickets). This is an experience like no other. Steeler fans share a certain comraderie. I have high-fived and hugged many strangers after a TD.
• Go to a concert by either one of two acts (both if possible): The Clarks or Donnie Iris and the Cruisers.
• Go out on the observation deck on Mount Washington on a warm summer night. Breathtaking.
• Ride the incline
• Drive into the city on either the Parkway West, East, or North. The way the city skyline just appears from around the hillsides is still one of the things I look forward to when I travel into the heart of the city.
• Take a ride on the Gateway Clipper river fleet.
• Visit Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium. Open all year except for Christmas.
• Go to Primanti Bros. in the Strip District for a sammich with coleslaw and fries...ON THE SANDWICH. Wash it down with a yard of Iron City beer.
• Park your car on Carson Street and walk. This section of the city has undergone a revitalization and is lined with clubs, cafes, and various stores. Should you decide to visit a tattoo parlor while on Carson Street, I recommend Southside Tattoo. I've had two there, and they are tops.

Enjoy your stay!!!

For the G20 Summit

The G20 Summit is slated to be held in my beloved city, Pittsburgh, next month. People from all over the world will be here.

To do my part as an American, I'm helping the world community by giving everyone a head start on how to communicate in Pittsburgh. We truly have our own language here. The phrases you will read are God's-honest-truth the way a lot of us talk in da 'burgh, so experiment and see if you can copy the Pittsburgh accent as you read these. If you want to hear the accent or need translation, just go to www.pittsburghese.com.

Yinz have a laugh while reading this!

"Oh Mi-laundry"	Oh my gosh!. Oh mi- laundry, were those fireworks great (n'at)
"Tony's Gawt It!"	"Tony's Got It!" (an annoying local mattress/sleep store sell phrase). Yinz guys getcher best sleep on a Serta!? Tony's Gawt It!"
'Junna	Are you going to. Eh! Yinz 'junna gota Pants N' at? Pick Up some pop on the way home.
'Sup wif u	What's up with you. (singular or plural). Not much, 'sup wif u.
A whole nother	Another. We have to wait a whole nother year for the Pens to win the cup.
Ahnno-dat	I know that. Used as a verbal exclamation point.. Dunno who won da Stillers game... Pens won, ahno-dat!"
Ain'da	Isn't the. That ain'da way I see it.
Airyago	There you go. Hey! Peeg, habaut a couple arns? Airyago.
All Over	Covered with. Gimme a towel, I'm all over rain.
Alla	All the. Yinzer alla time jaggin' on me.
Anedoin'	Ain't doing. Deez streets is fulla potholes and PENDAHT anedoin' nuttin' abaht it!
Anna	And the. Me anna boys went fir a bike ride.
Apost tu	Supposed to. Me and da boys are apost tu go bar hoppin' tonight dahn on da sahside.
Back'air	Back there. I'm never goin' back'air again. Or... "The rag needs worsht, so yinz worsh it, and when yinz er done, throw it back'air, by the arn bawdles."
Bince	Being as. Bince yinz are goin dahntahn, pick me up some Arn.
Bleh shue	Bless you. Bleh shue
Bo fuss	Both of us. The bofuss went to the stiller game
Bowchyins	Both of you. Hey, bowchyins go'n dahn da SLACKS-N-NAT?
Buy Sam a drink and get his dog one too!	Wow what a great goal. Used by Penguins' announcer Mike Lang
Can a corn	Something easy. Comes from longtime Pirate broadcaster Bob Prince describing high fly balls.
Chawt	Watch Out. When yinzer drivin up Erie, chawt for cops. Dayer riten tickets enat.
Cheese and Crackers	WOW!. Cheese and Crackers, dat jag off almost hit my car over der!
Choobinuptoo	What have you been up to.
Close in Proximidy To	Near. As paraphrased from a recent interview with Bill Cahr, the Stillers and the Brownies are rivals because Picksburgh is so 'close in proximidy to' Cleveland.
Cole-daht-dare	Cold out there. Joe Denardo says that if you're going outsidetoday, take a jacket because it's cole-daht-dare!
Come mere	Come here.
Cordada	Quarter to. Pronounced COR-da-da. "Meet yinz at cordada four under Kaufmann's clock!"
Cottan Canda Heer	Cotton Candy Here. Used by cotton candy vendors at Three Rivers Stadium
Cupple Tree	Two or three. So, yinz'll be dahn in Florida for a cupple tree days?
Da-Boat-a-ya	The both of you. Dis gift is for Da-Boat-a-ya. Or"Da-Boat-a-ya are nuts, for buyen dat 'Tickle Me Elm doll' for $500 bucks."
Dabby	That would be. Dabby cool if you'd pick me up a pahnda grahd rahnd at the Jineegle. (Jineegle=Giant Eagle, grocery store)
Dahn nair	Down there. R-r-r yinz gowin' dahn nair?
Dahnahahs	Down to the house. I'm gowin' dahnahahs.
Daht'et	Doubt it. Yinz go dahn to da souside? Daht'et.
Dekkacards	Deck of cards. Why don't yinz guyz get aht the dekkacards so we can play a han 'er two.
Didya	Did you. Did see at?
Does Hornes tell Kaufmann's their business?	None of your business. I aint telling yinz about it, Does Hornes tell Kaumann's their business? (Both dept. stores)
Don't cut no ice	Unbelievable. A flimsy excuse. "Yer story don't cut no ice."
Don't go err wit me.	Don't go there with me.. You don't wanna go err with me on this subject.
Dooder Jobs	Do their jobs. Heard frequently on TV news when they're doing "Man on the street" interviews.
Downa	Down to the. Wanna go downa Gardens?
Drip dropin	A light rain. We can go aht now, it's just drip dropin.
Elvis has left the building	Said by (announcer) Mike Lang when the Penguins win.
Fell out.	Meaning that someone lost consciousness. Possibly, but not necessarily, from falling out of a tree.
Fer cryin in da sink	I don't believe this. Fer cryin in da sink, can't kordell throw to da right people er what?
Food Shoppin'	Grocery shopping. Yinz goin' food shoppin'at da gint igl n'at?
Furill	For real. I'm furill is used to imply that something is true.
Gazinta	A mathematical term used in Division. 4 gazinta 12 three times.
Getouttatheroad	Get out of the way. You're in my way and I'm going to run into you if you don't move!!
Gets da steppin'	Hurry up. Gets da steppin', we're gonna be late!
Git atta 'er/Get aht	Get out of here. Exclaimed when someone is in disbelief.
Gitdahellaht!	Get the hell out (of here). Means, "You're kidding!"
Go Ghost	Disappear. Ah'll lend ya da money 'cuz yer blood, but don't go ghost on me, y'hear?
Go by way of Altoona	Take the long way. How's come yunz so late? Didja go by way of Altoona?
Go turn on Bill Burns	Turn on Channel 2 news.
Goin' up	Going up to. I'm goin' up Liggioner
Haaja	How did you. Haaja like at Stillers game?
Hafta	Have to. I hafta go to the baffroom!
Hah ya doone?	How are you doing.
Hainapposa	Shouldn't (ain't supposed to). Yinz hainapposa be aht, yinzer sick.
Hainy	Isn't he. Hainy goin to da Stiller game today?
Half in two	Cut something in half. I cut the sammiches half in two for yinz.
Hammy	Hand me. Hey Dawn, hammy da hammer!
Hauscome	What is the reason. Hauscome yinz guys didn't wacha Stillers Sunday?
Hay Bir Here	Beer Here. Yelled By the Bir venders at 3 Rivers stadium during foutball games. It gives me a hed ake.
Heat ups	Left overs. We are having heat up tonight for supper.
Hit the bricks	Leave. Get lost. From the old cobblestoneroads in Pgh.
How's abaht	How about, with feeling. How's abaht goin aht?
How's come	Why. How's come 'dat arn ain't on ice?
If your friends jumped off the Westinghouse Bridge, would you?	Used by parents to convince their children not to follow the crowd. Child: But mum, evrybuddy's gettin' their tongue pierced! Mother: If your friends jumped off the Westinhaus Bridge, would 'ju?
In regards to...	A wordy expression that attempts to make the speaker articulate.
In-a-baht-a	In about a. When ya be back? inabahta minute
Inna	In the. What's inna bag?
It's A Burgh Thing	Anything that's unique to Pittsburgh. Like putting french fries in a ham sammitch!
Ize	I was. Ize so tired when I got home from work that I missed the Stiller game
Ja Wanna	Do you want to. Ja wanna go withs me?
Jano	Did you know. How jano that answer?
Jeet jet	Did you eat yet.
Jeez-o-man	Expletive. Jeez-o-man, your skirt is so short I can see Picksburg!
Jimminy Chrismas!	Term used by old fogies when something goes wrong. Jimminy Chrismas. I lost my babushka!
Jisabaht	Just about. It's jisabaht time ta go.
Kennywood's Open	Said to men only. Means your zipper on your pants is down. (Kennywood is an amusement park.)
Ki	Can I. Ki help yinz?
Kimm'awn	Come on. A statement of surprise or disbelief. "Aw Kimm'awn, git aht!"
Laid Aht	Refers to the tradition of viewing our deceased loved ones in funeral homes. Sorry to hear abaht your uncle. Where's he being laid aht? Also may be used to refer in the past tense to sunbathing.
Lassnite	Last night. Lassnite we went dahn STRATUS!
Lazyman's load	To carry a large load of groceries in at once because you're too lazy to make two trips. . I could hardly git up the steps 'cause I was carrying a lazyman's load.
Like at	Like that. I can't do it like at.
Like iss	Like this. Hold da ball like iss.
Living Daylights	Referring to a beating. He beat the living daylights out of him.
Mallanar	Miles per hour. That jagoff was drivin' fittee mallanar!
Mandar	Man did our. Last summer was hot, we runned the air every day, and mandar lectric bill go up.
McCaddum Road	Asphalt road. As referred to by older Pittsburghers.
Meechinsdahnair	I will meet you down there. I actually said this to my best friend and he had NO clue as to what I was saying!
Mills on Wills	Meals on Wheels. Mills on Wills don't never bring halupki, haluski, or kolachis.
Mize well	I might as well. Are yinz gonna eat this last sammitch? Mize well.
Mm-ah	Odd phrase uttered by sportscaster Myron Cope. Mm-ah -- dis is Myrn Cope on sports
Molahta	I'm all out of. Jeez, molahta jumbo!
Momanem's	Your mother and her friends. Momanem's dahn at da gian igl shoppin'.
Morrenat	More than that. Yinz musta had at least twenty arns. Response: "Naaa man, morrenat!"
Mummell	Mom will. Mummell do it.
Muppear	I'm up here. Muppear from Picksburgh!
Needs swept	Needs to be swept. Performed with a "sweeper", known in other parts of the country as a vacuum cleaner.
Nothurn	Another one. I don't like thisson, why don't yinz bring me nothurn?
Nuh-uh!!	I can't believe it. Nuh-uh, yinz didn't rilly meet Jaromir Jagr dahn Chauncy's!
Nunya	None of your. It is nunya business.
Oh call Arnold Slick from Turtle Crick!	Another Mike Lange quote. Makes fun of the way we "crickers" say the word "creek."
Oh mah gersh	Oh my gosh. Oh mah gersh, ers a sputzee up air.
One Snawall	Once in a while. I seen him one snawall
Onnat	For that. He give me the price onnat truck, but I said no way.
Open da light	To turn on a lighting fixture in the room. Open da light -- I can't find my arn!
Or not	Hamlet's famous speech, had he been a Pittsburgher. (They don't use "to be" in the Burgh.)
Or whatever ennat, ya know?	The proper ending to a statement. We went dahnna sahside and hadda couple Ahrns or whatever ennat ya know?
Out bacca	Behind. She lives out bacca Eastvail.
Out the road	Far, in no specific direction.. "Where's he live?" "Way out the road somewhere."
Ovaderr	Over there. Take iss box and put it ovaderr.
Ow-No	I don't know. Ow No hah many Ahrns I kin drink in an ahr.
Partly Clah-dy an' Mahld	Partly Cloudy and Mild. As said by Pittsburgh's favoritemeteorologist, Joe DeNardo.
Putemen	Put them in. Gimme a poke ta putemen.
S'muny	Some money. Hey mom can I have s'muny?
S'not	It is not. As in "No it's s'not."
S'up	What's up.
Safternoon	This afternoon. Are you guys coming over the safternoon?
Same difference	Same thing or no difference.
Sappenin	What's happening. It is a substitute for, or a response to (s'up). Example: S'up? Sappenin? Dunno, Sappenin wichew?
Scratch my back with a hacksaw	Said by (announcer) Mike Lang when the Penguins score a goal.
Sees Ya!	Words for goodbye. After yinz leave da Eroler game you tell your friends Sees ya!
Sgo	Let's go.
Sgoinon?	What's going on.
Sheeps leg	Wipe your nose. Hey man, you gotta sheeps leg hanging from your nose.
Shil	She will. Ask mom for da car, shil let you borra it.
Shutda light	Turn off the light. Uhm tahrd, shutda light.
Sick'n tard	Sick and tired. Um sick'n tard uh d'way yinz guys talk.
Sposda	Supposed to. We're sposda go dahntahn for da Stiller game.
Spread some chicken on the hill, Will	Said at the pirate games when Willie Stargell was up to bat. If he hit a home run people would get a free chicken dinner in his restaurant.
Squattna	Let's go out on the. Squattna porch 'n eat sum jumbo.
Squeet	Let's go eat!.
Stan, Guy, love the show	What most callers to Sportsbeat say before they ask a question.
Stoofar	It's too far.
Summina	Something to. Do yinz wanna get summina eat?
Takin' da Brahns to da Super Bowl.	Defecating. "Hey, wucha doin' in dere!?" "I'm takin' da Brahns to da Super Bowl."
That's it, Fort Pitt	That's right or it's all over. This comes from an old advertising slogan for Fort Pitt beer.
The fact of the matter is...	A wordy expression that attempts to make the speaker apppear knowledgable and articulate.
These unz or Those unz	These and Those.
Took a heart attack	Had a heart attack.
Tsgadahntahn	Let's go downtown. Tsgadahntahn en clahnarahn! (clahnarahn=clown around)
Umina	I am going to/I'm gonna. Umina break some fingers da next time I catch you with my woman.
Up Mike's in dahn Jake's	Response to the question "Where ya goone". If you're headed no where in particular or it's none of the person's business (this may be unique to the Clairton/Jefferson area).
Up Under	Where to find something you're looking for. Where are my shoes? Up under the bed.
Up air	Up there. Opposite of down. "The incline goes up air."
Upagin	Against. Where should I put da rake?... Lean it upagin da wall in da graaj.
Usetto be	A phrase used when giving directions. Make a left where the ____ usetto be. This phrase is always followed by a "Yinz can't miss it" even though it is no longer there.
Wach a Stillers	The traditional monday morning greeting asking whether or not you watched the Steelers win.
Wachatice	Watch out for that ice. Wachatice, it's slippy there.
Waidon	Wait for. I waidon you fer an ahr.
Walleye erd	Well I heard. Walleye erd yinz wuz goin dahn nere en pants en at.
Whaddyagittinat?	What are you getting at.
What the cobb	What happened. What the cobb went on in here yinz two?
What-r	What are. What-r yens doin?
Whatchadoind'day	What are you doing today. You call up you friend and say "whatchadoind'day" normal response "I dunno."
Whona	Who in the. Whona world ate my tater chips?
Wir	We are. Wir goin dahnna ragada.
Wir Uh Family	We Are Family. The Pittsburgh rally song by Sister Sledge
Wutzername	What is her name. I jes seen wutzername dahntahn.
Ya Gatta Ragatta!	Go to the Pittsburgh Ragatta.
Ya' gotsta	You have to.
Ya-hunh	Oh, but indeed it is!. Used only as a response. "Nuh-uh!" "Ya-hunh!"
Yabbut	Yes, but. To qualify a statement. "Goin' dahntahn? Yabbut I ain't gonna stay late."
Yabyinat	(Are) you buying that?. When you're with your friends at the store you may ask "Hey donnie, are yabyinat?"
Yagottabekidden	You have got to be kidding. Yagottabekidden, if you think I can learn to talk like you now!
Yagottaseediss	You have to see this. Yagottaseediss web site! Checkitaht!
Yainga bleevis	You aren't going to believe this.
Yan-to	You want to. Yan-to watch dem stillers?
Yel'low	Yeah, hello. Phrase used to answer the tawlfone.
Yer-in-yer-aht!	You are in, and then, you are out.. Phrase made popular by Myron Cope in radio advertisement for convenience store.
Yizzel	You will. Yizzle hafta waid onnat pizza; Dey just turned onny oven.
Yo Ho On	In the 40's-50's, when you called your buddy, you wouldn't dare knock on the door. His mother would hit you with a broom. So, you stood out on the street and yelled, "Yo HO On Joey," until he came out or his mother chased you away.
You kids are driving me to Dixmont	You're making me crazy.
Yoy, yoy, double yoy!	Famous phrase by (Steeler sportscaster) Myron Cope.

The Next G20: Not Really Excited About This

I've been meaning to address this, and I finally remembered to. Some days it's hard enough to remember my own name.

Last week, it was announced that the next G20 will be held in my beloved home, Pittsburgh. Obama, in his announcement, said that da 'burgh was chosen because the city has recovered from economic adversity to become a city with world-class industry. Here goes my rant.

Yes, Pittsburgh has gone from a major economic center of industry, fallen, and bounced back. Part of this was due to the hard-working people in this area. This is still an area where hard work is lauded and those who choose to live off the government dole are frowned upon. Children often go into the line of work their parents are in. The great citizens of this city are not afraid to get their hands dirty, including women.

We are a city with one of the very best medical communities in the world, a distinction that began with the creation of the Salk polio vaccine at the University of Pittsburgh. People come from all over the world with their children to have ground-breaking procedures performed at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. I haven't heard of them taking their kids to any country with socialized medicine.

Mr. Messiah seemed to paint the picture that we are what we are in Pittsburgh because of what local government has done. Let me explain what local government has done to this region.

Allegheny County has a 7% sales tax. This is a full point above the state sales tax. And this tax will travel with you on major purchases if you are a resident of the county. Want to buy a new car and think if you go to a neighboring county that you'll escape the 7% tax? Nope. You'll be paying an extra full point in sales tax than the guy who lives in the neighboring county.

Allegheny County recently passed a drink tax. This is a tax levied on EVERY mixed drink and draft served in the county. If it's poured, it's taxed. Some bar owners have bravely fought to get the tax repealed, and some have outright refused to pay it. Guess what? Here comes the strongarm from those at the City and County Building.

Property reassessments are a mess in the county. There seems to be no set standard for reassessment, and this has led to countless number of appeals by citizens who have seen their property taxes skyrocket. When people move out of the county and the properties left behind fall in disrepair, what do you think happens to the property value of those who remain? Yep. I'm sure there are instances of property assessments being more than what the property is truly worth. It's all about the taxes.

Want to attend a concert or sporting event in this city? You'll be paying an entertainment tax. I kid you not. Someone in local government has figured out a way to tax having fun.

While the above issues have caused much debate here, there are some things that are a must-do should you ever visit here. Here's my suggested list:

• Take in a Steeler game (if you can get tickets). This is an experience like no other. Steeler fans share a certain comraderie. I have high-fived and hugged many strangers after a TD.
• Go to a concert by either one of two acts (both if possible): The Clarks or Donnie Iris and the Cruisers.
• Go out on the observation deck on Mount Washington on a warm summer night. Breathtaking.
• Ride the incline
• Drive into the city on either the Parkway West, East, or North. The way the city skyline just appears from around the hillsides is still one of the things I look forward to when I travel into the heart of the city.
• Take a ride on the Gateway Clipper river fleet.
• Visit Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium. Open all year except for Christmas.
• Go to Primanti Bros. in the Strip District for a sammich with coleslaw and fries...ON THE SANDWICH. Wash it down with a yard of Iron City beer.
• Park your car on Carson Street and walk. This section of the city has undergone a revitalization and is lined with clubs, cafes, and various stores. Should you decide to visit a tattoo parlor while on Carson Street, I recommend Southside Tattoo. I've had two there, and they are tops.

If you decide to visit the great city of Pittsburgh, I suggest you avoid the days of September 24-25. We'll be hosting those who would love to tax this country into oblivion. We're about halfway there.