Whatsamotto U?

My brother came to Pittsburgh last week for a visit -- his first ever -- and within minutes of deplaning and listening to the briefest of recitals on Pittsburgh's recent history, he came up with a motto for the region that's better (not to mention thousands of dollars cheaper) than any local branding initiative of the last decade. Ready?

It's steel good in Pittsburgh.

This doesn't work as a visual. It only works if you say it aloud, it only works if you say it aloud with your best Pittsburgh accent, and it works best if you say it aloud with your best Pittsburgh accent while wearing a Pens retro jersey and waving a Terrible Towel. Go ahead. Try it. Write a song to it; make a video about it; tell your friends. It's going to be the unofficial motto of Pittsblog (look to the right of the blog), and if someone actually takes me up on my invitation, you'll see links to YouTube galore.

Maintain Speed Through Tunnels

I'm trying to keep my annoyance over "The Pittsblog" in check while not giving the guy -- clearly a guy -- too much unneeded publicity. On top of everything else, "The Pittsblog" can't spell.

Much better for my psyche tonight is this site that aggregates views from PennDOT cams along Pittsburgh's parkways.

Spotted via a Pittsburgh-based Facebook group aptly titled "Maintain Speed Through Tunnels."

Vanity Plate of the Month

Spotted on a minivan on the Parkway East at lunchtime:

MUGL MVR