Paul G. Harlen
I am a Pittsburgh resident, Educator, Mathematician, Outdoors Lover, and Power Learner. At any given time, I could be researching any number of things just for fun, ranging from music and sports to religion and wild edibles. There is very little I know nothing about, and when I find something new to know nothing about, the research begins.
I live in Pittsburgh and love it and the city itself.
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I live in Pittsburgh and love it and the city itself.
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saxophone, fishing, mandolin, mandocello, woodwinds, music, technology, finance, frugal, foraging, wild edibles, Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Culture, Pittsburgh DiningMotto
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How to Pass College Math ClassesHigh School mathematics is much easier than college, and you might need a few tips and pointers to get your math skills up in college from a High School teacher and Mathematics Major. -
Selling Musical Instruments: How to Get Your Money BackSelling an instrument can be painful, but knowing a few simple tips will differentiate your instrument from the rest and help you get the most from your sale. -
The Bees Next Door: Is Urban Beekeeping Safe?Don't be afraid of the bees next door. Having a buzzing hive only 20 feet from your bedroom takes some getting used to, but it is very safe and helpful to have. -
Styles of Banjo DesignThe Banjo sound has been made into many shapes, from tiny ukuleles to the banjo bass. Choose the right banjo for your style and sound and have a better banjo experience. -
Folk Music: The Many Ways to Play a BanjoBanjos have many different styles of picking and plucking, strumming and slapping. Different Banjo styles require different strokes, literally. -
Instrument Anatomy: The Parts of a BanjoThe banjo is a simple instrument, but parts matter. Know your banjo anatomy so you don't spend money on things you don't need or want.
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The American Instrument: A History of the BanjoThe banjo is a truly American instrument. From African origins, the banjo has come to define many styles of music and has a rich history to offer interested musicians. -
Higher Mathematics Concepts: The Goldbach ConjectureThe Goldbach Conjecture is the prototype problem for math that is easy to disprove, hard to prove, and maybe impossible to decide.
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Advanced Math Skills: Numerical MethodsIf you have a problem too hard to do on paper, you may need to resort to numerical methods. These approximation tricks are as old as math, but are far easier today due to computers and calculators. -
Mathematical Mysteries: Transcendental NumbersHidden between the numbers we use everyday are transcendental numbers. These numbers are hard to find, but they are actually the most numerous class of numbers we have. From pi to the exponential number e, you use them every day. -
Saxophone Repair: Recognizing a Leaky SaxIf your sax isn't playing right, chances are you have a leak somewhere. Leaks are problems in any woodwind, and saxophones are prone to developing tiny leaks that make for huge problems. -
Mathematical Mysteries: Transfinite NumbersTransfinite numbers are bigger than infinity, or at least, some infinities. These odd numbers are actually a group of fascinating infinities, each larger than the last. -
Saxophone Technique: The GrowlIf you want that rock and roll sound on your saxophone, knowing how to growl is key. This simple trick can add accents to your playing, helping you cut through the noise of an electric guitar without too much effort. -
Pittsburgh Greek Food: Salonika's GyroSalonika's is a popular Greek restaurant in Downtown Pittsburgh. While nothing fancy, it does have a great menu and easy, affordable options for a fast lunch or dinner.
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Rare Musical Instruments: The ContinuumAmong the most versatile of electric instruments, the continuum fingerboard allows the musician full control of nearly every possible dimension of MIDI sound available. This is a rare, yet awesome instrument. -
Metal and Art: Creating a Patina on Copper, Brass, or BronzeYour metal art might not be complete without the right patina. By pre-aging your metal, you get an antique look in minutes or hours instead of decades. -
Rare Musical Instruments: The Keyed BugleThe Keyed Bugle was an antique instrument with a novel solution to the incomplete harmonic series of a regular bugle: tone holes and keys. The hybrid bugle eventually lost ground to the trumpet and valves, disappearing almost entirely. -
Rare Musical Instruments: The Glass ArmonicaFew instruments are as haunting and ethereal as the glass armonica. Invented by Benjamin Franklin, this mechanized glass harp was a popular instrument in its day.
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Adding Storage: Installing a New Hard DriveHard disk space is cheap and easy to install into a Windows desktop. In less than half an hour, I was humming along better than ever with years worth of storage space added to my machine.
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Home Repair Horror: My Plumbing ExperienceA simple clogged pipe became an expensive and absurd problem when I failed to really pay attention to what could (and would) go wrong.
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Rare Musical Instruments: The OphicleideThe Ophicleide was an uncommon hybrid of a large saxophone and a bugle. The biggest of the outdated keyed-bugles, the ophicleide was a fascinating instrument
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Pittsburgh History: Forbes Road and ExpeditionForbes Avenue and his road were instrumental in taming the "frontier" of Pittsburgh. He carved a road for his military expedition that joined Pittsburgh into Pennsylvania and kicked the French from the Ohio river.
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Pittsburgh Groceries: Wholey's MarketWholey's Fish Market is a full grocery store, complete with bizarre animatronic animals, a ton of ice, and a lot of cheap, quality food.
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Pittsburgh History: The Braddock ExpeditionBefore the United States existed, Pittsburgh was contested territory in the French & Indian War. Two expeditions tried to take it, and the first expedition, led by Braddock, was a disaster.
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Rare Musical Instruments: Sopranissimo SaxophoneThe Soprillo saxophone by Benedikt Eppelsheim is technically a sopranissimo, the smallest saxophone ever made. This tiny saxophone is so small, Adolph Sax didn't even cover it in his original patent.
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Rare Musical Instruments: The SerpentBefore valves revolutionized brass instruments, tiny vent holes were the norm. The resulting instruments were a wonder to behold, and had some very odd shapes. The serpent is probably the strangest.
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Saxophone Technology: Saxophone LigaturesThe saxophone ligature helps shape your sound through removing or adding vibrations to the reed. Depending on what you want, there are plenty of options available and they won't break the bank!
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Beginner Mouthpieces for the SaxophoneIf you are a beginner on the saxophone, don't be caught with too much or too little mouthpiece. There are many inexpensive but great mouthpieces for the new player.
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Home Bike Repair: Cleaning a Bicycle ChainEventually, you are going to have to clean the grit, grease, and grime from your bike chain. Doing so helps the chain (and your gears) last for much longer, and prevents those awful squeaks.
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Alternative Tunings for the MandocelloYour mandocello can stick with the traditional tunings, or you can experiment with so many more. From new notes to easier chords, alternate tunings have many advantages and disadvantages.
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CyberSecurity: Encrypting Your Disks or DataKeeping your data safe from theft is vital, and if your data is unencrypted, a thief could steal your laptop and your identity in one easy step. Encryption-at-rest is critical to your safety.
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Invasive Wild Edibles: Japanese KnotweedJapanese knotweed is an invasive, horrible pest of a plant. That means that nobody will complain when you harvest some for dinner! It tastes great, and if you like rhubarb, this is another free, edible plant.
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Pittsburgh Bridges: The Birmingham BridgeThe Birmingham Bridge is a big, helpful mistake of a bridge in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is too big for the use, but it connects vital areas for students and residents.
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Pittsburgh Bridges: Homestead Grays (High Level) BridgeThe High Level Bridge, now known as the Homestead Grays Bridge, once connected Squirrel Hill to the steel mills on the waterfront. Renovated, widened, renamed, and ready to connect a new generation to Homestead's shopping and housing opportunities.
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Pittsburgh Icons: Stephen FosterStephen Foster wrote many classic American songs. Though by today's standards, they are extremely controversial, they remain in our culture due to their clever writing and aggressive rewriting of the original, quite racist lyrics.
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Pittsburgh Instrument Shops: Hollis & GermannHollis & Germann is a helpful woodwind and brass instrument shop with excellent repair technicians and knowledgeable staff.
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Non-Western Music: Other ScalesNot all music has the same 12 notes that we do in the U.S. Some have less, and many have more. Learning more about world music requires learning to appreciate odd scales and harmonies.
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Math, Trigonometry, and Acoustics: Destructive InterferenceHow does sound cancellation work? Why does an out-of-tune piano have a "beat" to it? Sound works in waves, and waves can add together or subtract to become bigger or disappear.
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Using Natural Meat Tenderizing ChemicalsEnzymes in fruit can tenderize meats more effectively than acids and impart a nicer flavor to many meats and marinades.
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Pittsburgh Eats: India PalaceIndia Palace is an affordable Indian restaurant with great access to Downtown Pittsburgh and the stadiums across the river.
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Computation and Imagination: Turing MachinesTuring machines are vital computers that computer scientists use to understand operations... and they don't really exist!
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Calculus Questions: What is a LimitEpsilons and deltas can really confuse a simple concept. The limit is all that separates algebra from calculus, and it lets you cheat in a few, select spots dealing with infinity, zero, and the things in between.
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Pittsburgh Shopping: Walnut StreetIf you want fashion but don't want to drive out into Pittsburgh's suburbs, Walnut Street in Shadyside is your best bet. Part mall, part boutique stores, and an easy walk to the universities.
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Mathematical Concepts: Inductive ProofsInduction is a common process in mathematics which builds an infinite list out of a basic example and a proof of the "next step."
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Pittsburgh Bars: Doubleday's Famous BurgersIf you just want a cheap, simple burger, Doubleday's Famous Burgers is in a great location for a simple meal at a great price. It is also a great pre-game stop.
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Science & Gastronomy: Thickening with PectinPectin is a natural thickener for many dishes, especially fruit based ones. From jelly to medicine, pectin shows up to stabilize and add texture to things we eat.
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Rare Musical Instruments: The Hurdy GurdyThe hurdy gurdy is a comically named violin-bagpipe hybrid with a unique sound and a diverse heritage. One of the few truly European instruments, it has yet to catch on in the United States.
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Woodwind Mechanics: What is an Octave (or Register) Key?Music, science, and a little lever action combine to make woodwinds far more versatile. By "venting" a note, register keys make instruments jump into higher octaves, and let woodwind players use more range in an instrument.
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Classroom Mathematics Lessons: Multi-Level Classroom GamesIf you are a Math teacher, having a few games appropriate for ALL levels beats having tons of games appropriate to only one. A multi-level game offers advanced learning to students who can handle it while being fun for everyone.
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Zoonosis and Flu PandemicsZoonosis is when a disease jumps from animals to people. Many of our worst diseases and pandemics were zoonotic. Swine Flu, Avian Flu, and the Spanish Flu all jumped from animals to us.
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Saxophone Technology: Artificial ReedsCane Reeds are the standard technology for Saxophones, but other artificial reeds are making waves. Innovators continue to refine advanced artificial sax reeds with advantages (and disadvantages) over cane.
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Ancient Technology: The PulleyPulleys are hardly thought of as critical technology, until you don't have one. With just a few pulleys, you can magnify your strength enough to lift cars, and they were understood as far back as the ancient Greeks.
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Mathematical Mysteries: Uncountable InfinityWhat is bigger than infinity? According to some math, there are even bigger infinities than the ones you might imagine. Some can be counted, and others cannot.
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Survival Skills: Avoid Rabbit StarvationRabbit starvation is a form of protein poisoning and malnutrition found in people who try to survive lean months on plentiful rabbits alone. Learning to eat diverse foods, as well as lean meat is important in survival.
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Mathematics and Computers: Parallel ProcessingFrom your brain to state of the art computing, parallel processing is a completely necessary step for many complicated operations. It isn't easy to program for, but it helps to know what it means to process in parallel.
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Pittsburgh Bridges & Tunnels: The Liberty Bridge and TunnelIf you live in the southern suburbs of Pittsburgh, or you need to get there, chances are you will be headed through the Liberty Bridge and Tunnel. These important crossings connect Pittsburgh to the South.
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Woodwind Technique: Your Body as a ResonatorYou are an important part of the sound you make in a woodwind. Chances are, you shape the sound more than even your instrument does, all subconsciously until you get enough practice.
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Musical Home Improvement: Build Your Own Practice StudioCreating a practice space can be affordable, and with some effort, you can insulate the inside sounds from the outside and soften the volume inside the room as well.
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Zoology and Preservation: The Species Survival Plan ProgramKeeping threatened animals alive is tough work, and zoos are doing it every day. Find out how tough it is to run a species survival plan, and how you can help.
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Mathematics Questions: What is an AxiomAxioms are at the heart of mathematics, but most people can't tell you why. This is a deep subject in math and philosophy, but most people never scratch the surface of postulates and axioms in geometry.
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Pittsburgh History: The CIOThe CIO, or Congress of Industrial Organizations, is now part of the AFL-CIO, but it started and achieved many great things within the city of PIttsburgh.
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Music Theory: How to Build a ChordChords get at the root of our concept of harmony. They allow single instruments or entire bands to sound harmonious, but you must be able to follow how they are made and what they mean.
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D.C. Eats: Ollie's TrolleyOllie's Trolley is a treat for everyone. With a secret blend of herbs on the fries and excellent burgers for the lover of a real, classic burger.
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Computers and Mathematics: Boolean AlgebraGeorge Boole invented a mathematics with just two numbers: true (1) and false (0). The simplicity of mechanizing that "boolean algebra" gave rise to computers today.
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Pittsburgh History: The Pittsburgh AgreementThe Pittsburgh Agreement was the equivalent of the Declaration of Independence for the Czech and Slovak peoples, and it was signed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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Pittsburgh History: The Lewis and Clark LaunchMeriwether Lewis launched the keelboat that would take the Lewis and Clark Expedition up the Missouri River from right here in Pittsburgh, but this fact is almost forgotten.
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Baritone Saxophone Questions: Low a or Low B-flatIf you want to buy a baritone, how much is one note worth to you? This details the advantages and disadvantages of a Low A Baritone Saxophone.
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What is the Saxello? A Soprano Sax GuideSoprano saxophones have more shapes than most saxes. This guide helps you know a saxello from a "baby alto" and pick the one you like most.
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Antique Instruments: The C Melody SaxophoneThe C Melody Saxophone was a sax designed for orchestral or parlor use. Today, almost all are antiques, since they haven't been made in large numbers since the 1930s.
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What is a Transposing Instrument?Many instruments in an orchestra or band are transposing instruments. While it may make them tougher to learn, it also makes them easier to play. Find out why in this article.
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Washington D.C. Cultural Hot Spots: Ben's Chili BowlBen's Chili Bowl is more than a restaurant. It is a cultural experience highlighting the African-American experience in our nation's capital in the past fifty years. From fine arts to political upheaval, this place has seen it all
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Survival Skills: Acorn WhistlesImprovisation is critical for survival, and improvised signaling devices are very helpful for being rescued. An acorn whistle can be made from acorns (or anything shaped like a small cup), and can signal help for miles.
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Saxophone Repair: Leak LightingA leak light can save you a real headache when repairing your saxophone. It highlights any areas where pads may not be sealing correctly.
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How To Make Your Own SodaMaking your own soda pop is a fun and interesting way to play with drink flavors. Kids love it too.
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Wild Edibles: Ginko NutsFemale ginko trees make a huge mess, but the nasty, smelly fruits have palatable nuts that are a food tradition in some places. Find out how to process the seeds to get rid of the stink and keep the food.
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Music and Mathematics: OvertonesOvertones are the difference between a tone generator and an instrument. They make instruments sound musical, and they are important to our mathematic and aesthetic study of music.
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Technical Career Paths: Computer-Aided Drafting and Design (CADD)Computer-Aided Design is a great career for technical people who don't want to pursue a 4 year degree. It is fun and challenging, and requires only a couple of years of practice.
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Ancient Technology: VellumVellum, the oldest and highest quality writing medium, is actually very fine animal skin. These thin, strong pages required effort to make, and effort to preserve today.
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Canning Fruit JuicesMaking juice is a great way to get rid of excess fruits, and canning is a great way to store your juices for the off season.
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Classic Baritone Saxophone RepertoireThe least common of the "common" saxophones, finding solo music for the baritone can be tough. Look to other instruments to find music for your bari.
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Mathematical Mysteries: The Banach-Tarski ParadoxWith six mathematically-precise cuts, can you take a ball apart and then make it into two? According to modern mathematics, you can, but according to physics, you can't. This is the Banach-Tarski Paradox.
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Pittsburgh History: The Pittsburgh PlatformThe Pittsburgh Platform marked the breaking point between reform and orthodox Judaism. This important agreement was signed on Pittsburgh's North Side.
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Survival Skills: Avoiding Wound InfectionsSmall wounds can be fatal if they get infected. Learn to avoid infections to maximize your chance of getting out alive.
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Preparing for College MathematicsThe hardest classes for most people in college are math classes. Be prepared before you get to college, and learn to adjust when you get there!
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Pittsburgh Icons: Charles Taze RussellThe Watch Tower Bible and Tract Group was founded on Pittsburgh's North Side. This evolved into the group known today as the Jehovah's Witnesses, and are an important Pittsburgh contribution to our nation's religions.
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Medieval Instruments: The RecorderThe recorder isn't just a squeaky plastic instrument for kids. It was once a state of the art woodwind, and even today has a following amongst musical historians and musicians.
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Pittsburgh Tobacco: Puffs-n-StuffIf you are a tobacco enthusiast, Pittsburgh serves up a real tobacconist in the form of Puffs-n-Stuff, a location for both social smoking and smoking supplies.
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Debt Management Strategies: Roll it OverPersonal debt can be hard to deal with. If you prioritize and plan, it gets easier and you can learn to pay off the worst bills first.
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Chemistry of Good Food: LecithinLecithin is in nearly everything. From making your medicines work to making your chocolate smooth, lecithin is a cheap, natural emulsifier for your cooking needs.
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Pittsburgh's Hispanic Grocer: Reyna's Foods and Taco ShackReyna's is a great little Hispanic grocer and taco shack, conveniently located in Pittsburgh's Strip District.
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Rare Musical Instruments: The Bass SaxophoneThe bass is a huge saxophone that lost almost all of its appeal by the mid-1900s. Today, the bass sax is making a comeback, and this massive sax can't help but make an impression.
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Mulberries: The Neglected BerryMulberries are a neglected berry. Subtly sweet and wildly abundant, they are an easy summer treat and almost always free.
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Pittsburgh Traditions: The Great Pierogi RacePierogis are a big part of Pittsburgh culture, and for the past 10 years, they have raced around the bases at Pirates games too. This fun tradition can't be missed.
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Pittsburgh Groceries: Stan's MarketIf you want cheap vegetables and fruit in Pittsburgh, Stan's Market is a small, busy landmark.
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Musical Technology: The Cane ReedWoodwinds in any orchestra would be useless without the humble reed. Typically, that reed is little more than a cut piece of cane, carefully treated to sound smooth and perfect.
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Pittsburgh Groceries: Strip District MeatsStrip District Meats gives you great prices and an old time butcher feel in the Strip District of Pittsburgh.
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Hidden Costs of Playing an InstrumentWhen picking an instrument, be careful about the hidden costs. Accessories, repairs, and consumable materials can be easily 60% of the cost of the lifetime of an instrument
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Survival Skills: How to Dry FoodDehydrating food is the oldest method of preservation. Drying in the sun or over a fire will keep your food for weeks and months, and it is practical for almost any situation.
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Advanced Mathematics and Computers: The Base 2 Number SystemCounting is the easiest thing we learn to do, but computers and mathematicians often count in odd ways to make their jobs easier. Base 2, or Binary, is the number system of computers everywhere.
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Math and Music: Trigonometry and SoundTrigonometry, the study of triangles, and music are intertwined incredibly. Dig deep enough in one and you are bound to learn about the other. Why is that?
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History, Math, and Music: Pitch, Temperament, and HistoryHarmony, tone, and scales vary by culture and time period. Today, we use well temperament to settle the debate, but what does that mean for your music?
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Weird Destinations: The Wilhelm Reich Museum in Rangeley, MaineThis workshop for a mad scientist is open to the public. Genius or insane, his works are interesting but generally intended for a mature audience.
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Math and eBay: Second Price AuctionseBay is designed to avoid silly bidding, if and only if you understand how a second price auction works. Avoid stress and conflict with this simple auction concept.
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Bicycle Safety: Riding on SidewalksRiding on sidewalks is controversial and sometimes illegal. If you must, do so carefully and respectfully.
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Wild Edibles: Wild OnionsWild onions are some of the easiest wild edibles to eat, and fortunately, they are also delicious. They are just like any supermarket onion, but free and wild.
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Wild Edibles: Yew BerriesEating yew is risky. They are very poisonous, but the tiny red coverings to the seeds are actually completely edible. This is about the risks and rewards of this survival food.
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Math, Science, and Entertainment: How Do 3-D TV and Movies Work?3D entertainment uses math, biology, physics, and some amazing computer work to create the illusion of 3D space where there is none. This is how it works.
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Make Your Own Home Brewed VinegarVinegar is cheap and fun to make at home, and you get control over the final product. This takes some preparation and months of patience to connect to and foster a bacteria colony.
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Survival Skills: Make Your Own RopeRope is one of the key survival tools, but if you don't have any, you aren't out of luck. Many plant fibers and animal parts can be made into rope with some twisting and some patience.
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Wild Edibles: PurslaneThis little weed is probably right in the sidewalks outside your house, and is actually a nutritious and delicious wild edible.
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Kitchen Organization: Use Your WallsWhen organizing a kitchen, are you using all your space? Walls make great places for all sorts of items, and they can add massive space to a cramped apartment kitchen as well.
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Math and Competition: Game Theory PrimerGame theory is a growing field of mathematics dedicated to games, competition, and coming out on top. It may not predict human nature, but it gives us a foundation for decisions.
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Make Your Own Instruments: Make a PVC HornPVC is a cheap, versatile material, and you can use it to explore sound on the fundamental level. By experimenting with this common material, you can make all kinds of notes.
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Survival Skills: Testing Foods for PoisonsYou have to eat, and sometimes, you have to eat uncertain foods. If you have to eat an unknown food, know how to test it for poisons first.
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Love Mathematics? Be an ActuaryActuaries are some of the happiest workers in the U.S. and have a great job. If you love math, and don't hate tests, this can be a great career for you.
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What If...? A Survival Plan for Societal CollapseIf everything were to break down, would you break down too? Societal collapse is a remote possibility, but preparedness never hurts!
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Understanding probabilities: The Monty Hall ProblemThe Monty Hall problem is a great brainteaser, classroom lesson, and lesson for all of us on how to pay attention to probability in our daily lives. Monty Hall reveals more than just a goat in this classic problem.
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Saxophone History: High Pitch InstrumentsOld saxes aren't all alike. Some are the infamous "High Pitch" models, which provide us insight into how music became standardized across continents in the early 1900s.
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Saxophone Tone: The Mouthpiece Vs. The SaxWhat makes the bigger difference? The sax or the mouthpiece? In terms of sound, playability, and performance, the answer may surprise you.
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Picking a finish when buying a saxophoneWhen buying a new saxophone, you have a lot of finish options. You know you want a sax, but picking the finish for your style isn't always easy.
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Cheap, Safe, Natural Furniture PolishIf you don't want to use harsh chemicals, make a furniture polish yourself for pennies with stuff you already have! It only takes minutes to make a safe, easy furniture polish.
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DIY Outdoor Lighting: Outdoor ChandelierUsing an old chandelier outside gives it new life and gives you a unique backyard environment!
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Pittsburgh's Original Candy: The Clark BarThis candy has been around for over 100 years, but after all that time, it is still a bite of Pittsburgh history!
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Survival Skills: Improvising CamouflageCamouflage is an important way all people adapt to remain hidden. In the wilds, being able to make your own camouflage or blinds is an important skill for finding food or staying hidden.
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Pittsburgh Bed and Breakfast GuideBed & breakfasts are among the best ways to get to know a city. Pittsburgh has a few great ones that I outline here!
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Home Remodeling: Closet DesignClosets are a really important thing. Every day, we rely upon closets to simplify our clutter and save space. Be careful in designing them!
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Urban Agriculture: Raising PigeonsPigeons are fun for sport or food. With limited space requirements, this is a fun hobby for city dwellers to practice.
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Urban Agriculture: Raising Rabbits as FoodRabbits breed fast and grow faster. They are a great source of food that can be raised in even the smallest of yards with many benefits!
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Weird Pittsburgh Destinations: Canton AveCanton Avenue may be the world's steepest public road, and a challenge to drivers and cyclists everywhere.
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Things to Do in Pittsburgh: Station SquareStation Square is a good destination when you just want to have fun along the riverfront.
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Rare Musical Instruments: An Introduction to the Chapman StickThe Chapman Stick is a modern electric guitar descendant, played with two hands and infinite creativity.
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Pittsburgh Home Improvement: Construction JunctionIf you want to save the planet, save money, and save cool architecture, you are in luck. Construction Junction in Pittsburgh is a great architectural salvage shop!
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Organic Gardening Mistakes: Crops that Cause Soil DepletionCrop rotation, even in backyard gardens, can help improve yields and soil quality.
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Bicycle Safety: Light Up Your BikeBeing safe on a bike is more important than looking cool. A few cheap lights can usually keep you save without compromising style or weight.
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Things to Do in Pittsburgh: 5th Avenue PlaceIf you need a food court for your group trip, this one is in the heart of Downtown with a good variety.
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Canoeing Skills: What to Do when CapsizedYou can't always count on someone else to save you. How to rescue yourself or get a hand in a canoe or kayak.
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Pittsburgh Eats: Berry PatchThis stand in the Public Market is a great find, with amazing jams and great berries.
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Outdoors Diseases: Avoiding RabiesRabies is a fatal disease transmitted by contact with wildlife. Know what to look for (and what to avoid) to prevent this terrible disease.
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Pittsburgh Eats: The Pittsburgh Marshmallow FactoryThis place is reinventing marshmallows daily, and making a childish pleasure live up to adult expectations.
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Rare Musical Instruments: Make Your Own Diddley BowThis traditional African-American instrument can be made for pennies and is an instant connection to the history of blues in the United States.
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Pittsburgh Icons: Richard Mellon ScaifeThe owner of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review is also thought of by many as a controversial right-wing activist.
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Pittsburgh Landmarks: The Buhl BuildingThis blue and white landmark building is completely unique in Pittsburgh's Downtown.
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Pittsburgh Eats: Cherries DinerCherries Diner isn't going to do anything but deliver good food, at a good price, quickly and without any trouble.
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Pittsburgh Icons: Henry Buhl, JrHenry Buhl, Jr. is an example of a stand-up citizen who used his wealth to improve Pittsburgh. His enduring legacy continues with the Buhl Foundation.
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What is SQL and How Can I Use It?SQL is a language used to ask questions of (or give commands to) a database. This method allows us to systematically use large amounts of data, and learning it is easy and free.
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Diagnosing Computer Speed BottlenecksIf your applications aren't running the way they should, figure out the bottleneck before you spend a bunch of money on useless upgrades.
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Water Conservation: Air Conditioner WasteThe drip from your air conditioner is a valuable source of water when you want to preserve the environment or work around local drought restrictions.
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Camping Skills: Avoiding RaccoonsRaccoons are a real pest. They may be cute, but they carry diseases and can eat your entire camping trip's worth of food in one night! Avoid them easily and they won't come back.
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Camping Skills: Build a Cooking FireBuilding a cooking fire takes a bit more effort than a basic campfire. It needs to heat evenly and it takes some patience to get to that point.
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Water Conservation: Using Rain BarrelsWater is a precious resource, even if we have it in abundance. Clean up our rivers and prevent waste by using a rain barrel for your watering needs!
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Debt, Investment and Exponential Growth: What High School Doesn't TeachHigh school doesn't teach you how to get rich, or worse yet, how to avoid becoming bankrupt. A little understanding of Exponential Growth will help you make a fortune in the long run.
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Disease Prevention: Reducing and Preventing MosquitoesMosquitoes are annoying and they spread deadly diseases. Keeping a few things in mind will prevent mosquitoes from being a problem in your area if everyone does their part.
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Statistics in the News: Understanding CausalityAre you terrified by all the medical, economic, and scientific news that you hear each day? Don't be! Understanding the difference between correlation and causality can help you navigate bad reporting of statistics.
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Deep Woods Science: Animal WatchingIf you want to learn a lot about the wilderness, sit very still and wait for it. Animal watching can be educational and fun for everyone involved.
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Survival Skills: Finding ProteinWhile it may be only a small part of your diet, supplementing your diet with protein will help you stay strong and live longer in the wilderness.
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Canning Safety: Avoiding Foodborn BotulismFoodborn Botulism is a serious and possibly fatal poisoning from the same poison that is used for Botox treatments. If ingested, it will possibly kill you.
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Historic Railroad Bridges & Factories: Pittsburgh's Cloud FactoryThe Cloud Factory is a major installation between the Carnegie Museums and Carnegie Mellon University. It provides heat and steam to most of the area.
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Entomophagy: A Quick Guide to Eating InsectsEating bugs seems gross to western audiences, but it is normal elsewhere in the world. It might save your life, or even save the environment.
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Pittsburgh Disasters: The Johnstown Flood of 1889The Johnstown Flood didn't happen in Pittsburgh, but it was caused by Pittsburgh Industrialists who, in the end, barely took any responsibility for it.
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Survival Skills: LashingLashing is the easiest way to build big projects without nails, hammers, or anything other than your wits and some forest debris.
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Mathematical Mysteries: The Collatz ConjectureThis simple problem has stumped mathematicians for over 70 years. What goes up must come down... right?
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Survival Skills: Balancing Risk vs. RewardsIf you want to survive in the wilderness, you must learn to balance your risks versus your rewards. Sometimes you will have to do things that are incredibly risky, and sometimes things that you think of as safe might be too risky in the wilderness.
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Don't Feed the Bears: Keeping Bears Out of Our BackyardsBears are not cute and cuddly when they are trying to get into your house. Keep bears away from humans by making it hard for them to steal your garbage and birdseed.
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Mathematical Mysteries: P Versus NPThis open problem in Computer Science has proven hard to make progress on. If it is true that P = NP, then computer science would dramatically change overnight.
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CyberSecurity: Preventing Physical AccessThe easiest hacking method is also one of the least expected. Just minutes in the same room as a computer is enough to gain full access for even a modest hacker.
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Pittsburgh Icons: Alfred E. HuntAluminum is one of the most important metals we use today. Up until a few Pittsburgh entrepreneurs decided to make it work, it was practically useless. Alfred Hunt was one of those innovators.
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Preventing Disaster: Prevent Falling TreesA falling tree could cost you in property or in physical injury. Know what to look for in case your trees start to give out.
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Survival Skills: Crossing WaterA calm looking river can hide a killer torrent. Crossing water is risky business, especially when help isn't close at hand.
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Pittsburgh Icons: John Baptiste FordJohn Ford started PPG Industries in Pittsburgh. An industrialist with an eye for opportunity, he turned plate glass from a European product to an American standard.
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Mathematical Mysteries: Godel's Incompleteness TheoremOne of the strangest ideas of the 20th century was the Incompleteness Theorem. It proved that formalized math can never know everything, and if it did, then it would be completely useless.
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Pittsburgh Icons: James S. NegleyThe most well known of Pittsburgh's Negley Family, James S. Negley was a general, entrepreneur, and lawmaker.
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The Incredible (and Edible) Linden TreeThe versatile Linden Tree will give you shade, food, and plenty to talk about. They are one of the most useful trees for people where they can be found.
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From Xylophone to Vibraphone: The Struck Idiophone FamilyIf you hit it to make a note, it is probably a struck idiophone. These instruments are diverse and fun, and they are very easy for beginners to learn!
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Camping Skills: Gathering FirewoodGathering firewood should be fun, but it helps to know some basic rules. Most places restrict gathering to only wood on the ground and you may want to bring your own wood into your campsite.
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Consumer Math Guides: Calculating Cost Per UnitAs a Math Teacher, I know that grocery stores are built to confuse you with prices. Sometimes it takes a bit of math to know if you are getting the best deal.
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Bike Skills: Repair a Torn Open TireIf your tire itself is cut, you aren't going anywhere. A few quick fixes may get you rolling just far enough to get a real repair.
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Pittsburgh History: The Monongahela CultureThe Monongahela culture was building forts near Pittsburgh long before Europeans arrived!
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Survival Skills: Build a ShelterShelter is a primitive need. If you have to survive, you will eventually need shelter.
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Survival Skills: Netting FishFish are a great survival meal. Well, they are if you can get them.
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Survival Skills: Beat the HeatSurviving in the warmer months can be really great, or it can be deadly. If you have a limited supply of water for drinking and cooling yourself, it is vital that you conserve your water and not waste it on the heat of the day.
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Music Techniques: Posture for Your InstrumentStanding tall or hunched over, each instrument has a posture, and it has one for a reason. Learn it and follow it for the best sound.
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Camping Skills: Bathing in the OutdoorsI know you are camping, but is that an excuse to smell? Maybe a bit, but you should still bathe in the wilderness.
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Camping Skills: Removing LeechesGetting a leech on you is gross, but not a reason to panic. minimize the risks by knowing how to react and get the ugly thing off of you!
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Public Television History: Pittsburgh's WQEDPublic Broadcasting has a long history in Pittsburgh, where WQED was the first community sponsored station. Today, QED is famous for excellence in programming and original content.
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Camping Skills: Campfire SafetyNothing ruins a night in the woods like a forest fire. Don't be unsafe this Summer in your camping activities.
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Hidden Costs when Buying AntiquesAntiques might look like a great deal, but be ready to avoid "money pit" project work.
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Survival Skills: OrienteeringOrienteering is the time honored traditional method of knowing where you are and where you are going. Batteries not required!
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Urban Gardening: Windowbox GardensA small window sill or planter is all you need to grow delicious vegetables in the city.
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Survival Skills: Moving when LostIf you are lost, you should probably sit still, but if you have to move, learn to move in the right direction.
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Statistics Skills: Presenting Statistics to a Non-Technical AudienceStatisticians can easily get carried away, but most audiences really need only the gist of the discussion.
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Instrument Making 101: The Sound BoxThis is the essential piece of instrument making. A good resonance chamber makes all the difference.
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Pittsburgh Historic Landmarks: The Frick BuildingThe Frick building is one of the nicest office complexes, and it tells a story as well.
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Pittsburgh History: The Great Fire of 1845The Great Fire of 1845 destroyed one third of Pittsburgh in one, massive blaze.
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Pittsburgh Tunnels: Squirrel Hill TunnelThis tunnel has notorious traffic due to psychology and bad design. Getting around Pittsburgh requires it though.
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Pittsburgh Disasters: The Saint Patrick's Day Flood of 1936This flood changed U.S. policy toward flood control, but it had to destroy Pittsburgh first.
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Pittsburgh Bridges & Tunnels: The Fort Pitt Bridge & TunnelThis is the most scenic way to enter the city... if traffic isn't bad. It is one of the most dramatic gateways to any city in the U.S.
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Pittsburgh Icons: George WestinghouseGeorge Westinghouse slowed our trains and sped up our electricity. He invented the technology that powers everything today, and he was a Pittsburgh legend.
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Pittsburgh's Light Rail: The T SystemLight rail isn't as fast as real rail, but it does keep alive some of Pittsburgh's trolley-based past
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Pittsburgh Eats: Khalil's IIKhalil's is a great Middle Eastern restaurant in Pittsburgh's Oakland. The feast is really quite the meal!
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Pittsburgh Navigation: Getting DowntownThe ugly geography of Pittsburgh makes driving Downtown extremely difficult.