Bob Ziller Blooms Birmingham Bridge

I was surprised early Sunday morning to get a call from my friend Bob Ziller, as virtually everyone I know would expect to hear back from me late in the afternoon rather than actually get me on the phone at that time. For some reason I was awake, and that was fortunate. I don't really enjoy documenting other folks' projects, but for Bob I'm usually willing to see what he's up to. So I pulled myself together and drove down to the Hive to find out what he had in mind. I quickly learned that it involved ladders, and secretly began to regret my decision. But when I found out what we were going to do, I got excited.

Bordering Fitzpatrick Street in the Hill District (a stone's throw from the house where Andy Warhol was born), there is this abandoned building that greets everyone at the end of the Birmingham Bridge. Bob decided to make some neighborhood improvements, and he wanted me along for the ride.

While I helped schlep some stuff back and forth (and manipulate some ridiculously unwieldy ladders), I discovered that Bob was perfectly capable of installing his work himself. That left me free to shoot a series of shots that ended up being pretty fun. Here I've included the before and after shots of the property. I can't imagine anyone would have any serious objection to this particular brand of public art. Bob plans to continue this activity, so please keep a look out for the next entry in the series.

In the meantime make it a point to travel northward over the Birmingham Bridge (from the South Side) sometime soon, because there is no guarantee this is going to last and it is really best experienced in person.

PHOTO CREDIT: David Grim

When I Was No More Than a Child.

Perhaps I'm a wee bit obsessive-compulsive. Or maybe it's more proper to say that at least one of my multiple personalities is. I think that is one of the great joys of keeping the parts of myself ambivalently integrated. I can indulge the little idiosyncrasies that are aching to find their expression. If I repress them, they are going to show their faces anyway. So I might as well allow them conscious revelation, so to speak. That way I don't get anxious about their appearance. They don't blindside me. But I'm getting off on a tangent, and I know that I have something specific to talk about today. For those of you looking for a point, I want to assure you that there is one. Just be patient, and happy that I enjoy a bit of symmetry in my structure.

Not too long ago, my good friend R. and I were hanging out and talking in a nonlinear fashion and he made an interesting offhand(?) comment pertaining to whatever the momentary subject was and it resonated in waves like the proverbial butterfly wings. He said that there really wasn't much difference between a training in art and one in psychology. I found that particularly insightful and specifically relevant to my life. When I was an undergraduate in college, I ended up being a psychology major around the time I was starting junior year. I had one of those epiphanies that seen to quite commonly occur in youth. I realized that I didn't know what the fuck I was going to do upon graduation.

You see, when I left my hometown and my family I came as far away as I dared... all the way across this great commonwealth. My parents had told me that I could attend any in-state school with public funding, and when I looked at the map... the University of Pittsburgh really stood out. So we planned a visit- my first to this fine city. It was one of those gray days that seems to shadow the region's reputation... especially among those that have never been here. I can't say I was particularly trained in the art of observance at the time, and this deficit marked my experience. I decided that I would never come to a place like that for college. It was industrial and Gothic, and I had no idea what that meant.

Months later I failed to get into the main campus of Penn State University. At the time I didn't realize it, but this was incredibly fortuitous. Because Pitt was the rival of that Sunday Blue Law school. I was westbound and running with the sun. In retrospect I mark that as one of the very first substantial crossroads of my life I ever arrived at. And I've been thankful for the path I chose. For a few years I couldn't shake the stink of the East, but one summer I discovered the magic of the 'Burgh, and merged into its rivers. Getting back to the main thread, I'm grateful that I didn't have a fuckin' clue that fateful junior year at Pitt. Because I added up all my credits to see what I would major in (I had been promised a four-year sponsorship), and Psychology won out.

I suppose that I could look back at that time and believe that my spirit and/or intuition was guiding me. When I was completing my fourth year (yes, I finished my B.S. right on time), I knew I had nowhere clear to go. And I stayed and entered graduate school for psychology in education (that was the only seemingly functional masters degree offered for my chosen content). It was there that I really began thinking about individual personalities. For quite some time I matched them with the characters I knew... always externalizing those templates. It's only now (over a decade later) that I'm beginning to truly understand that they were always part of my self. It's a refreshing awakening.

Pog Mi Hone, Shilaeli Huggers.

Woo-hoo... it's St. Patrick's Day, and I don't give a good goddamn. It's not like I have anything specifically against the Irish, whether or not they are flame-topped or raven-haired. I've known some fun ones, and had an evening or two tippling with the leprechauns. So sure... why not? Erin-freakin'-go-braugh. If you need an easy excuse to get pissed, then have at it. Just don't forget to eat your taters before you do. I don't want to be plagued by the smell of vomit wherever you choose to do your reveling. And keep your little fists by your side, because when I go out I like to kick back and relax. I'm not looking to get inadvertently spat upon, or wet down by the whiskey-soaked sweat flying off of your reddened face.

But while we are on the subject of this all-important day, why don't you help me figure out why I should care about your tribal ceremonies? Why don't you explain why people here in the 'Burgh act as if it is some type of national holiday? You're the only white clan that tries to make a big deal of your special day. Inevitably some mick is going to ask me why I'm not wearing green, as if I've committed some type of Lenten slur. When I respond that I'm not Irish, I almost unfailingly hear the retort- "No, you know that everyone is Irish today". What gives? Is it like being birthed from a Hebrew pussy? Do I not have a choice in my affiliations? Do I have to do a riverdance once a year during March?

Here in Pittsburgh we don't get a hard-on for Black History Month, or Columbus, or even Fasnacht Day (look it the hell up, ignoramus). Yet we have to close downtown on a perfectly nice Saturday just to let drunks parade through the streets. And as if that wasn't enough, our favorite bars are jam-packed with idiots and airheads with ridiculous hats for at least twenty minutes during the evening, as they make their way through their insane bar-crawls. Can't we simply merge this nonsense with some Steeler Sunday? That way we don't have to waste a prime time night on a bunch of irritatingly exuberant weekend warriors. Actually, there are plenty of pubs where they like this sort of thing- drink your crappy green beer and cheap blended bracken water elsewhere.

Alas, maybe I am being a bit unfair. After all they aren't a universally bad-looking bunch. One-in-ten might actually serve as a crude sort of eye candy. And they've certainly had a big impact on the region. David Lawrence, Frank J. Gallagher, Tom Murphy, Bob O'Connor, Dan Rooney (Obama's Ambassador to Ireland, fer Christ's-sake!), Luke Ravenstahl- the list of prominent Irish local politicos is seemingly never ending. Hell, the Scots-Irish made Appalachia what it is today, in all it's four-leafed clover glory. Of course that becomes a dubious honor when one has a close look at the back roads of West Virginia and Kentucky... but what the hell. Let your freak flag fly high today.

Never mind that they've already despoiled downtown (in what has been reported as the nation's second-largest annual celebration of the homeland). Most of the drunk drivers have already been released from county by now. But I imagine they still have something left in their tank. They've gotten their fortification through their fried fish sandwiches, deviled crabs, and hardboiled eggs. Tonight you are sure to hear, "let's do a freakin' Car Bomb!!!" That's a cry that is rather appropriately uttered by this class of folk, especially those from the Northern part of the island across the sea. The rock-bottom truth is that I like all of you fine. And at least the stench of garlic is absent until St. Joseph's Day.

Opening the Sixth Seal.

Perhaps you are aware that I am not a big football fan. This is a longstanding condition for me, and one that puts me at odds with the majority of Americans. Still it is not an essential discordance because (subjectively) I have a lot of opinions and preferences that nudge me well outside of the mainstream. So I likely wouldn't fixate on my avoidance of watching the NFL (and the college and high school equivalents) if I didn't live in Pittsburgh. Admitting that you don't care about the Steelers is like claiming you don't care about the availability of clean water. It's the kind of statement that invites a combination of disdain, disbelief, and/or outright confusion. I'm well used to it.

One might assume that such a position would be wholly inconvenient. But actually I have found it quite useful as a convenient excuse to screen people completely from my personal life. Whether or not there is common ground to be found elsewhere, our incompatibility is made quite obvious by my almost total lack of concern for the outcome of the preeminent Sunday sporting event. I use this like a defensive barrier, the way that others employ religion (or the lack of it) for similar reasons. I have become quite satisfied over the years with my lack of alignment with this group. It is only occasionally that it becomes any sort of social problem for me, and even in these cases a negotiation is quickly struck.

When the Steelers won the Super Bowl a few years ago, I was overwhelmed by a sense of disgust in humanity. I considered it personally offensive that Burghers would prioritize something that had so little real significance (at least to me). I didn't understand yet how indelibly the team's success was wrapped into the self-identity of its fan base, and (as an extension) the region. Like virtually everyone I have ever met, I'm sometimes willfully ignorant of others, and consumed with myself. I put myself above such "irrational" loyalties, and I suppose I even adopted a condescending attitude toward those that (to borrow a term from a good friend) bought into "the construct".

The truth is that I've come to reconsider my views. I haven't yet decided to actively participate in following this team... but I will admit to having rooted for the Steelers for the first time in my entire life. They represent something to many of my closest friends, and to shit on their love for the team seems flagrantly disrespectful. I want to see my city happy, and if this is what it takes... well then so be it. It doesn't hurt that I have a newfound esteem for individual members of the Rooney family, who unaccountably turned out to share my political leanings. I'll happily disclose that their relationship with Barack Obama over the past year has been something I've appreciated substantially.

When I told one Terrible Towel-wielding fanatic about my change-of heart vis-a-vis the Steeler Nation, he responded that my reason was perhaps the worst he had ever heard. Although I stand by the original justification, I decided that it might be time to expand my rationalizations. Here's what I came up with: each Super Bowl victory the Pittsburgh Steelers win earns them one ring. Each ring opens up another seal. I'm sure you can follow the logic from there. In the mythology of this region, one more victory (by the year 2012) will allow a transmutation of the consciousness along the Three Rivers. I see this in something other than apocalyptic terms. The playing field has been expanded infinitely.

The Pittsburgh Media's Trial of Christine Korbe.

About a month ago, an FBI agent named Samuel Hicks was shot and killed during a raid on a house in the Pittsburgh area. On November 19th, Hicks and seven other agents staged an operation to roust Robert Korbe at his house in Glenshaw. Mr. Korbe was alleged to be participating in a drug trafficking ring, and warrants had been issued for his arrest. It was early in the morning when Hicks and his colleagues apparently banged loudly on Korbe's front door, announcing their presence and intentions to take custody of Robert. Reportedly, the wanted man decided to turn fugitive, rushing to dispose of drugs located within the house before attempting a stealthy getaway through his back door.

While her husband was trying to escape, bullets were fired somewhere in the front interior of the house, and Agent Hicks was struck with what turned out to be a fatal wound. He had a protective vest on, but the slug glanced off his collarbone and caused irrevocable damage to his internal organs. The shot had been delivered by Christine Korbe, Robert's wife. According to her testimony, she believed she was protecting her two young children from a home invasion. Despite the FBI's account of the incident which had its agents loudly proclaiming their presence, Mrs. Korbe says that she had no idea who they were. Still she has been charged with murder. Hicks died shortly after being taken to the hospital.

We'll never know for sure what happened in the Korbe household on that November day. Chrissy Korbe claims that she fired her 38-caliber revolver blindly around a corner and down the steps leading to the second floor. She then ran back to her bedroom and dialed 9-11, while the agents tried to administer emergency medical attention to Hicks. Robert Korbe was apprehended trying to exit through the back door. Instead of celebrating the successful capture of a drug dealer, Western Pennsylvania authorities now prepared themselves for a trial concerning the shooting death of a federal employee. Christine Korbe, who had no criminal record before the incident, now faces the death penalty.

Local media reaction to the story was immediately polarized. The hack talk-show hosts on radio station KDKA 1020 proclaimed Christine Korbe guilty of intentionally killing Agent Hicks. Her husband's reported involvement in the illicit trade of narcotics was used as circumstantial evidence to condemn her in the court of public opinion. Eager listeners called in to voice their own opinions, many of which were delivered with unjustified confidence and the presumption of guilt. It was amazing just how many folks seemed to think they had infallible insight into the circumstances of Hick's death. Agent Hicks became an instant martyr struck down in the crusade against the evils of drugs.

Samuel Hicks was a young man with a promising career, a wife, and a two-year-old child. The fact that he died while attempting to serve the public in the capacity of law enforcement is an undeniable tragedy. Still, society's best interests cannot be served with assumptions and unqualified judgements. Whether or not the Korbes are a couple of "scumbags" has no bearing on the case that is about to appear before the bench. Pittsburgh hasn't been the frontier for well over 175 years, and there is no reason why its citizens should resort to a vigilante mentality aimed at swift and unquestioning justice. There will be plenty of time and opportunity to establish the details of this incident... so why are so many impatiently insisting on blood-for-blood?

December 2008 Unblurred.

The first Friday of the month is just about here, and you know what that means... free drinks! Actually, there are quite a lot of folks that exert great effort to put together local art events, and they deserve more than for you to just show up and cadge their alcohol. Remember- someone had to pay for it. Take the time and enjoy the work while you're stuffing your face.

Friday:

December Unblurred is upon us, and it looks like just about every available venue is planning something. As always I'm just going to hit upon the highlights as I see them, but I encourage you to check out everything. Personal aesthetics differ wildly, and you may find a favorite that I don't even mention.

I'm personally excited to see that Laura Jean McLaughlin is returning with a group show at Clay Penn (5111 PENN AVE). She's been busy the last several months, and I've missed using her gallery/work space as a home base for these events. I'm not sure who will be involved (besides the very talented painter Victoria Cessna), but I like a lot of the artists she shows. At the other side of the street Carolyn Wenning is opening her SPACE (4823 PENN AVE) after a stint of public inactivity. She's billing the evening as an "open studio", and promising "music, food, and fun".

Garfield Artworks (4931 PENN AVE) is featuring two old hands- figurative painter Evan Knauer, and post-hippie photographer David Harris. To say that these vets are seasoned is an understatement. This is a must-see exhibit for the night. Together these artists represent decades of experience in the local arts scene. As they are both rather "old school", neither of them have much of an internet presence, so you have to come and see the work in person.

Meanwhile Modern Formations (4919 PENN AVE) is offering up Kathryn Cole's “Bits and Pieces of a Place”. Cole was the winner of the gallery's annual juried salon show, during which scenesters got to choose a contributor that should be offered a solo. Over the years a lot of quality artists have been introduced through these exhibitions, and I have no reason to suspect this will be any exception. Cole uses found scraps of metal to construct unique assemblages.

Finally I want to highlight this excerpt from Grace Morrow and Ronn Akins' joint statement about their show at Imagebox (4933 PENN AVE) : "Through various mediums, simple and complex patterning, they search for that connection, that spark that holds us one to another and tells us: we are not alone; we are part of each other; we are part of everything that is; WE ARE!" Can you really afford to miss that?

Saturday:

You can get a jump on your holiday shopping by making a visit to Moxie Dada on the North Side (1416 Arch Street). The Firehouse Studios (the group of artists who do their work above the gallery itself) have a wide assortment of ceramics and jewelry for sale. The reception for "We've been Good" runs from 6-9PM.

Pittsburgh Art Happenings: 11/14-15/08.

It's been several weeks since I gave a shout-out to the local scene, so I feel an entry is overdue. It doesn't hurt that there are a number of compelling events happening around town over the next couple of days. If you are anything like me, you could probably use a break from the national scene. Out-of-town readers... don't despair, as the blog's focus will remain broader than this post may suggest.

Friday:

Five new exhibitions are opening at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts. The one I'm most excited by is Altered States, because it features work by Romanian transplant and friend, Tibi Chelcea. Unfortunately he won't be present at the reception. Chelcea is currently in South America, no doubt having the time of his life. Before he left we exchanged several pieces of art, as we are fans of each other's images. His are mostly byzantine woodcuts evocative of the Kafkaesque existence so many of us find ourselves stumbling through. Despite his absence, I'm sure this will be a lively affair. By all means arrive in person at the PCA to see what other print-makers might be in town for this group show.

Robert Qualters and Charlee Brodsky are luminaries of the Pittsburgh scene, and I'll be looking forward to taking a close look at their collaboration, Autumn. I'm unfamiliar with the remaining stuff listed for the night, but I expect I'll find at least one more pleasant surprise. It can all be seen for a mere $5 (+ cash for the bar), between 5:30 and 8PM.

On the lowbrow tip, Zombo Gallery is having its first show in partnership with the new ToonSeum, This "show and sell" includes Mike Peters ("Mother Goose and Grimm"), Terri Liebenson ("Pajama Diaries"), Rob Rogers (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette), Wayno, Joe Wos, Lee Moder ("Painkiller Jane" and "Wonder Woman"),Tom Richmond (Mad Magazine), and many more. The reception runs from 6-11PM. It's altogether fitting that a collection of cartoonists be gathered here at Zombo's place in Lawrenceville.

If you aren't doing anything right after work, you can check out an appearance by The Yes Men, "activist-artists" who delight in taking on the bureaucratic and corporate interests that keep us down. KEEP IT SLICK: Infiltrating Capitalism with The Yes Men opens at CMU's Regina Gouger Miller Gallery this Friday, from 5-8PM. The event includes the "How To Be A Yes Man Workshop" and a "Business Casual Reception". If you haven't seen these guys, you need to know that they are both hilarious and thought-provoking. Some of their stunts have included a presentation at a prestigious American business school dedicated to explaining the benefits of "recycled meat", and an address to the World Trade Organization that included a tear-away suit hiding a giant inflatable phallus with a surveillance camera on its head.

Saturday:

I've not yet taken the opportunity to visit Lawrenceville's newest art space, the LUKE and ELOY Gallery (5169 Butler Street) - mostly because they hold their opening receptions during Saturday afternoons (11AM-5PM). But this month's show, Laughingstock: Humor in Art & Craft, sounds compelling enough to warrant a look-see. The curators ask, "Can humor and satire stimulate laughter as well as serve as a vehicle to explore serious subjects, such as feminism, the natural environment, the excesses of consumer culture, religion, sexuality, social injustice, and war ?" I guess we'll have to show up to know for sure.

Meanwhile Boxheart Gallery in Bloomfield is featuring the grand-daughter of German Expressionist Hans Groh. Irmaly Brackin employs a loose, colorful style that channels the Cuban and Latin American imagery of her childhood home of Miami. Make the trek to 4523 Liberty Avenue and find out how far the apple falls from the tree.


NOTE: For a comprehensive guide to area art events, please visit the Pittsburgh art and gallery info site. Go there often. Rick puts a lot of effort into collecting all of the relevant information, and he could use your support.

Black and Blue.

I was beginning to think that the presidential candidates had forgotten about my little village on the cusp of Pittsburgh. There has been a conspicuous lack of evident canvassing until quite recently. That observation seemed to run counter to the prevailing media narrative. We have been told repeatedly over the last several weeks that the Keystone State is the pivotal battleground in the 2008 race. Certainly the McCain campaign has made it a big point to identify this state as a "must-win". Time and again we have seen visits from the Arizona senator and the Alaskan governor. In fact Ms. Palin has been nosing about a lot over the last week. She appeared in Penn State, Hershey, York, Erie and Latrobe. Reports tell us that she has managed to attract fairly sizable crowds, even if they have been decidedly lukewarm about her running mate.

But what I haven't noticed very much is political activity immediately outside Pittsburgh. It's true that this is a historically Democratic area. Enthusiasm for Obama is definitely pervasive within the city limits. Travel through just about any neighborhood in the 'Burgh, and you are likely to see tons of Obama/Biden signs on lawns and in front windows. Still, as soon as you cross the rivers, the presence of political advertising decreases dramatically. People have been strangely circumspect about their voting preferences. In my particular neighborhood, it's not been that obvious that we are heading into a very important and contentious election. I've spent a lot of time thinking about why that is, and I've drawn a few conclusions.

Both my intuition and personal experiences have led me to believe that racism has played a large role in dampening spirits in Allegheny County. People here are fond of characterizing this place as "old school". There's a strong union vibe that is balanced by a bedrock of social conservatism. And folks aren't at all shy about telling you that they hold resentments against African-Americans. In the comment thread of a previous post, I told a story about a conversation I had with the neighbors while they were handing out Trick-or-Treat candy. To make a long story short, they have decided to support McCain because they wanted their party to nominate a "white guy" instead of a "stranger" that they are unsure about. They even suspect Obama of being a Muslim.

It certainly doesn't sound good when I say it out loud, but the truth is that the voters around these parts aren't exactly politically sophisticated. Maybe you've wondered over the last few months just exactly who McCain and Palin thought they were fooling with their excessively negative smear campaign. I've got that answer for you- come and meet my neighbors. If you rattled off a checklist of platform items from each of the candidates without identifying who each item belonged to, they would have no problem siding with Obama. Still there's just something about that guy that tells their collective gut that something is "wrong". It's not hard to figure out that it has to do with melanin.

This indeed is what the McCain/Palin ticket has counted on, and why they believe they can be competitive in a state that has consistently voted "blue" whenever it came time to pick the national executive. Perhaps this is that "Bradley Effect" that so many conservative pundits have put their faith in. However, I have to wonder if it will be a winning strategy for the GOP. It seems to me from knowing so many racists that they are more bark than bite. They have no problem letting you in on their feelings about black people, yet few of them will ever act upon those feelings. There is almost always an accompanying awareness of being unfair. I think most of them wish they didn't have the prejudices they have. The big question is how that racism will affect their voting behavior. I suppose we'll find out for sure on Tuesday.


NOTE: I should add that the Rooney Family and the Steeler Nation have been very clear in their whole-hearted and unabashed support for Barack Obama... one more reason to celebrate the Black and Gold.

More Race-Baiting From the GOP?

On the way home from work yesterday I tuned into Sean Hannity on FM 104.7 (mostly because I wasn't interested in the topic on Fresh Air). I remembered that he was going to be in Pittsburgh to cover the most important "battleground state", as identified by the McCain/Palin campaign. Around 3:45PM he interrupted his usual blather with breaking news from Matt Drudge- " MCCAIN VOLUNTEER 'ATTACKED AND MUTILATED' IN PITTSBURGH". Hannity promised to try to get further details. He couldn't believe his luck. After all, he was in town and all-the-way live! More information trickled in, and the blowhard pundit delivered the tale of how a young woman (from Texas) named Ashley Todd (who works at a McCain call center) was mugged at an ATM, and had the letter "B" carved into her face by the hateful perpetrator.

Supposedly the 6'4" black man, who used a knife at her throat to take $60, was walking away when he saw "McCain for President" stickers on her car. He came back and said he was going to "teach (her) a lesson!". Then he mutilated her. It sounds absolutely horrid. And of course the Far Right echo chamber was sent into a frenzy of melodrama and race-baiting. Obama hasn't even lost yet and already black people are rioting! What is society going to be like under an authoritarian, with his jack-booted thugs beating and mutilating dissenters? One blog I visited even compared the incident to what the Nazis did to the Jews. And then the picture was released of the victim. My bullshit meter started to vacillate wildly.

I decided I'd hit some of the blogs and join the dialog. I chipped in with this response: "Call me a cynic… but if I’m going to rob a woman at knife-point in front of an ATM on the busiest street in Bloomfield (which happens to be the almost-entirely-white Little Italy section of town), I’m not going to stick around afterwards to see what bumper stickers she has on her car, and then double-back to carefully scratch (it was certainly not “carved” as some would have it) a very neat backwards (or upside-down) “B” into her cheek (therefore making a political statement), and tell her I’m “teaching her a lesson”. Especially if I know that Sean Hannity just happens to be in town the next day."

As the hours passed more information became available that cast serious doubt on her story. The independent media began to ask questions. We started learning about some contextual information about Ashley Todd. Her profile quote on her MySpace page (now removed, but cached before she had the chance) was especially telling, grammatical errors and all- "Lying is the most fun a girl can have without taking her cloths off, but its better if you do." Then we found out that Ashley had a twitter page (also removed but cached), and it sure seemed like she was laying the foundations for the story ahead of time. Apparently she had a blackberry (not stolen) in her car (not stolen)... and she thought everyone should know ahead of time that she was looking for an ATM and that she was "pretty sure she (was) on the wrong side of town" (only an outsider could think Bloomfield meets that qualification).

The Pittsburgh Police are evidently suspicious of Todd's account of the "incident". The Pittsburgh Tribune Review is reporting this morning that "her statements about the attack conflict with evidence from the Citizens Bank ATM where she claims the incident occurred". Considering that this is the Richard Scaife-owned conservative rag that originally presented the story in town, this is a substantial development. While any allegations of supposed "hate-crimes" must be taken seriously, investigations by the proper authorities must precede judgment. I'm really not concerned about how this might affect the election (I don't think it will either way), but I am very protective of my hometown. This entire incident could give a "black eye" to a region that has already become a focal point in the last days before the election... and I resent that.


UPDATE: Apparently local talk radio host Marty Griffin (KDKA 1020) isn't buying it either. He's reporting that Ms. Todd called the McCain campaign office before reporting this incident to the police.

UPDATE: Ashley Todd has changed her story. She's now claiming that she was sexually assaulted as well.

UPDATE: Ashley Todd has confessed to making up the whole thing. Police are trying to figure out what charges she will face (Thanks to Ian for the heads-up).

Chris Bradley and Kyle LaBrache "Pittsburgh" (2006).

Not many smaller cities get a film titled after them. It's mostly for that reason that I picked up Pittsburgh, starring Jeff Goldblum. Actually I needed a fourth DVD to qualify for the special, and I had mild interest in the film. I thought it would be a good opportunity to see an informed yet distant perspective of the 'Burgh. Ultimately it turned out to be about the lot of a professional actor who has "outgrown" his hometown, and decides on a lark to come back and make a summer stock production of The Music Man. While Goldblum had been casting about for an interesting project that would merge the documentary approach with fictional elements, the directorial voices (Bradley and LaBrache) are just as significant in the film's production.

For those not familiar with Goldblum's ties to Pittsburgh, it should be pointed out that he was born (1952) in West Homestead. His parents were Orthodox Jews who had an interest in show business. When Jeff turned 17 he split town and never really came back. He studied acting with Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse in NYC. His first roles were bit parts in movies as diverse as Death Wish, Nashville, The Sentinel, and Annie Hall. He seemed to peak creatively in David Cronenberg's 1986 re-make of The Fly. After that he attained financial success in inane blockbusters like Independence Day and Jurassic Park. Presumably his interests have recently returned to smaller idiosyncratic projects.

Pittsburgh gets going with Goldblum's decision, against the strident opposition of his agent, to play the starring role in the Pittsburgh CLO's production of The Music Man. It's fairly clear that his infatuation with a 23-year old Canadian dancer named Catherine Wreford is the impetus for this unconventional career move. Apparently she is having problems retaining her visa, and needs to either get married to Goldblum or find a job in-country. So they present themselves as a package deal to the CLO. What's particularly amusing is that the The Music Man's Pittsburgh producers seem to smell a rat almost immediately. They fear that Goldblum will flake out after committing to the project, and get distracted into some big budget film.

So Goldblum and Wreford actually have to audition for the gig. While Goldblum does indeed have musical talent and has some distant experience in musical theater, it turns out that he has to strenuously prepare for the job. It also seems he must bribe his way on board with the inclusion of his friends Ed Begley, Jr and Illeana Douglas. What originally started as a lark transforms itself into a bit of an ordeal. The play's director accuses Goldblum of being smarmy and over-acting, and even says he thought about shooting the actor to avert an impending failure. The biggest surprise is that all of this is really happening, and what is marketed as a "mockumentary" is really an lot more real than the joke it was intended to be.

Basically everyone in the film plays themselves. There are a couple entirely-contrived subplots including Begley's scheme to involve Goldblum in the marketing of portable solar generators, and a completely fictional (but hilarious) romance between Douglas and rock star Moby. But by and large the narrative traces Goldblum's realization that Pittsburgh musical theater is no joke. While the city itself takes a back seat to the main plot thread, there is a smattering of scenes featuring the Golden Triangle and the end credits depict a visit to Kennywood. However, in the end Pittsburgh is more concerned with portraying Goldblum's self-identity as a "serious actor". It has very little to do with the culture or character of this city.


Extra Special Trivia: The directors state on the commentary that Goldblum originally wanted to title this film Two Pickets to Tits-burgh, which is apparently the punchline to some joke.

A Day at the Pool.

My birthday celebration was a long one, but I managed to get through the whole day without flagging. I set a very deliberate pace, and was able to remain lucid and conversational. Before we went down to the Pub, we stopped off for a couple of bottled frappuccinos which provided the needed boost to keep us moving. The show could have been better attended, but I felt I did my part by bringing 17 people who would not have likely been there without my invitation. Anyway, we had plenty of room on the dance floor, and we used it. At some point it just didn't matter if we looked like fools, flailing about to another Slim jam. To this day there aren't many among the initiated that would dispute the assertion that Cessna is an unparalleled performer.

This morning I was surprisingly sprightly as I sprung out of bed and went out for breakfast. My energy flagged just a bit around noon, but I managed to stay out-and-about with the assistance of four shots of espresso. What's the best way to enjoy a hot afternoon after a full day of revelry? Well, it should be obvious... go to the pool. Admittedly I'm not much for lounging about poolside. I just don't have a whole lot of patience to be still unless I'm reading or watching a movie. And I like to read in silence, so it's inevitable that I'm going to get wet if I'm at the pool. I also get protective about my space, and don't like to be around strangers in my trunks- but that didn't stop me today.

In fact it was a bit uncharacteristic for me to be where I was. A nearby borough has a Yacht Club that allows folks to buy season memberships. You don't need to own a boat to gain entrance. M.'s family turned her on to the place last summer, and they signed up for a group plan. Although the area it's located in is quite swanky, this Yacht Club is not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. Initially I refused outright to go to any such thing. I figured it would be a lot of stuffy, pasty, rich white folks, sipping Chardonnay and looking down their noses. I certainly don't know anyone that owns a yacht. But I was told time and time again that it wasn't what I thought it was. One after another of my friends infiltrated the Club.

Finally I broke down and agreed to go on a day that some of the husbands I liked were going. Right away my assumptions proved incorrect. First of all, they allow smoking anywhere (except, presumably, the pool itself). There is a rec center with videogames and bubble hockey, alongside a snack bar that serves appropriately unwholesome foods. There is a bar that serves up alcohol at relatively affordable prices. And there are actually NASCAR posters on the walls. Right there that's a tip-off that the management is decidedly against pretension. It's not that I support the sport or anything, but I'm reasonably sure that its followers are not going to think that they are better than me because of the way I dress.

In fact there is a palpable lack of sophistication. There's a pavilion down along the waterfront with a long bar running down its middle. At one end there is a stage, where bands play poseur blues and reggae tunes. It's like being at Sandcastle Waterpark without the ridiculous lines and $30 admission fee. Guest admissions are $5 for the day. It's clean and fairly relaxing, with a mix of little kids and full blown adults. There aren't a whole lot of people between the ages of 12 and 30 there. The portion of the clientele that does own water-craft seems to consist of hard-working middle and upper middle class lovers of the outdoors, who scrape up the scratch to live out their retirement dreams on the river. Pittsburgh never ceases to surprise.

The Good Samaritan.

Today I had the opportunity to consider providing assistance to a complete stranger. M., E., and I were walking home from the new cafe in the neighborhood next to ours, when we came across an old woman who appeared to be perturbed. She began talking out loud before we even reached the proximity necessary to distinguish her words. At first I made the flawed assumption that she was addled in some way, and considered ignoring her. But I soon discovered that she wanted specific information about the patterns of public transit. She wanted to know if the bus stopped on the corner that she was standing on. We advised her to walk down to a nearby corner that was demarcated with a "Bus Stop" sign.

As we slowly accompanied her down the street, she began complaining about the public transportation in Pittsburgh. For anyone in town this should come as no surprise. The city has been flirting with bankruptcy for years, and there has been some obvious mismanagement of the Port Authority. Anyway, they've cut routes and the remaining ones don't seem to fit any obvious logic. This woman was bewildered about the fact that she would have to go all the way downtown to catch a transfer, just to get to the neighborhood right over the bridge from ours. She made the point that it is especially difficult to get around with all the road closings that somehow coincide with the 250th anniversary of the city.

Here was a 91-year old woman who just wanted to get to her home... a mere mile or so from where she was stranded. No one could look her in the face and then complain about having to pay taxes for public transit. After we walked her the block or so to the nearest stop, the entire situation began to gnaw at me. We picked up our pace, as I resolved to come back with my car to see if she still needed a ride. Fortunately she must have been picked up shortly after we parted ways. I just missed out on my chance to play the "Good Samaritan". And then naturally I started to think about the etymology of that term. Was it truly appropriate to characterize today's situation under that term?

The concept itself originated in the New Testament, in the Gospel of Luke (chapter 10 verses 25–37). Some anonymous lawyer wants to justify his behavior, and interrogates Jesus about the way to heaven. He asks what should be expected of him in order to gain entry to paradise. Jesus speaks of "loving thy neighbor", and this puzzled the lawyer, who asks for additional clarification on that point. The Christ relates the "Parable of the Good Samaritan". Some dude gets the beat down by some highway robbers and lies bleeding on the street. A Priest and a Levite pass by without helping, for their own individual reasons. But then a Samaritan stops by, ministers to the victim with "oil and wine", and then drops him off at an inn with funds for further assistance.

So who is this "Samaritan", and what relevance does his ethnicity have in the exchange? Apparently the Samaritans were the first outsider sect of Judaism. They are basically Jews*, except with the important distinction that they believe that God has already revealed himself at Mount Gerizim. Without going into unnecessary detail, this group became despised by conventional Jews because of this theological discrepancy, and because the group was later perceived to be actively collaborating with the Hellenization of the Holy Land. That's the crux of the story right there- this anonymous Samaritan was blessed even though he wasn't one of the "Chosen People" of the Hebraic faith. The guy stepped up and earned himself a place in the afterlife. I think its a revealing tale, given the self-righteousness by a lot of the modern-day faithful.


* As of November of 2007, there were reportedly 712 Samaritans left, primarily living on Mount Gerizim and in the settlement of Holon, near Tel Aviv. Historically they have not allowed intermarriage, which has caused a disproportionate amount of genetic diseases.

A Proposal For the Pittsburgh Arts Scene.

I had a nice long conversation with John M. the other night about the state of Pittsburgh art. John is an artist who has achieved a fair measure of success in the NYC arts scene, and the former owner of a locally-established gallery of high quality. As usual with our conversations, our sentiments were mostly lamentations colored by a faint tinge of hope. For several years we have discussed the potential and possibilities of Pittsburgh as an art market. I think we'd both agree that there is a lot of great art being made in town, but John's experiences here have discouraged his initial belief that the 'Burgh could actually develop into a major arts destination. His thoughts on the matter are compelling, but I won't attempt a synthesis of them here.

Our exchange did however help me focus my own perspective of Pittsburgh's past, present, and future. I've now been an inhabitant of this city for twenty years, and over that time I have seen plenty of change. When I moved here in 1988, there was no Andy Warhol Museum. There was no Sprout Fund... no downtown gallery crawl... no Unblurred along the Penn Avenue Corridor. The Mattress Factory was only a decade old. Hardly anyone seemed to care much about the Carnegie International. Pittsburgh was still trying to get its bearings after the long decline of the steel industry. It seemed to my Northeastern-bred eyes to be a cultural wasteland. Perhaps it was just my lack of familiarity with the scene, but the Steel City appeared barren.

Much has developed since. People who would have had little interest in galleries during the early 90's are now participating in the many events held around town. Granted that many of them are likely involved for the cute girls and beer, but the artwork itself is almost unavoidable. If you would like to show your work in a gallery, it's easy to do it here. Many neighborhoods have a couple of spots to do so, and a few of them have multiple venues. If you simply love making art, this is the place to be. Property is excessively cheap, and there are many interesting alternative spaces serving as platforms. You don't need to work your ass off to make time to do your artwork, as the cost of living is low.

Still the scene has its problems. There aren't many collectors of local art in Western PA. Coordination between galleries and with institutions could be significantly improved. To a large degree, local art is unfairly dismissed as inferior. This is a reflection of the way this city views itself. As John says, there's a certain ghetto mentality. The looming question remains how to garner respect for Pittsburgh artists. One way to do it is to engage out-of-town artists, and display their work alongside that of local folks. But I have an idea that could be complementary- why not build a museum dedicated to the past, present, and future of Pittsburgh art? I'm sure that a physical facility could be procured with relatively little expense.

The way I envision such an institution is in three parts. One section could display a constantly rotating selection of work (drawn from permanent holdings) created throughout Pittsburgh's history. I bet that collectors in town could be convinced to bequeath their collections to such an enterprise (the Carnegie certainly doesn't seem all that interested). The second component could be a sampling of art currently being made in the region. This could draw a lot of interest if it was made into a competitive process. And finally, I would like to see other cities' guilds and organizations invited to display temporary exhibitions of their work. This would give such a museum a national flavor and create a buzz outside of town. The culmination of this enterprise would be increased respect and visibility for Pittsburgh creators, and an enhancement of the local scene in general.

Act as if you wanted to stay forever.

Like most people, I generally find myself socializing with people that are interested in the same things as me. For that reason it's easy to lose perspective on the broader issues around town. I had a chance to sit down with a couple of work colleagues the other night after seeing a great music performance. We got talking about the cultural strengths and weaknesses of Pittsburgh. We all agreed that there's a certain provincialism that prevails in town. Anybody who has lived here for more than a year realizes just how insulated 'Burghers get within their own neighborhoods. You'd think that crossing a bridge was a death-defying act. It's easy to believe that you have the finger on the city's pulse without even leaving your block. But that's a mistake.

As much whining as I hear among my artist friends, there's very little understanding of what other folks in Pittsburgh go through. We may lament that there are only 50-100 collectors in the entire city, yet we gloss over the fact that art events are generally well attended. This point was brought home to me in my discussion with my colleagues. One of them is a musician in a band that has been playing around town for years. As he is also involved in the visual arts, he is in a good position to compare and contrast milieus. He estimates that the art community is a full four years ahead of the music community in terms of involvement and promotion. Simply go out to almost any local band's show, and you'll confirm his contention.

It's really a shame that we can't get our act together and build a broader cultural scene. I'm as much to blame as anyone else, as I rarely socialize with musicians (let alone dancers, theater actors, etc.). Hell, I hardly ever go out to see local music anymore. I'm not exempting myself from criticism. But I'd be likely to do so if an event married local artists to musicians. Remember how much fun the FLUX series was? That was the best example of what I'm talking about. What happened to that? Was it only last year that they returned with a FLUX in Braddock, and plans to hold three each year? I haven't heard anything lately from the organizers. If anyone has any information on it, please chime in with a comment.

We still have the Three Rivers Arts Festival. Yet that mostly appeals to mainstream suburban tourists. They want to come downtown, buy a hot dog and a Coors Light draft, look at crafts, and see a national act. How many of them even know that there's a juried show of regional artists? How many of them care? No... I'm talking about more grassroots efforts. As much as I slag the Cultural Trust, I have to give them credit- at least for the SPACE Gallery downtown. Not only do they show Pittsburgh artists, but they often have a local band or deejay playing at their openings. There are also a few bars and venues that make an effort- check out the Garfield Artworks and the Brillo Box along Penn Avenue, for example. These places seem to "get it".

Maybe there aren't a lot of people in Western Pennsylvania that know that culture extends beyond sports. There's no lack of enthusiasm for the Steelers, the Penguins, and the Pirates (well, perhaps I'm stretching the case a bit with the Bucs). Still, what are we supposed to do, as fans of music and the arts? We can continue to sit around and complain about how Pittsburgh is a third rate city. Or we can get involved. You don't have to join a band, or make artwork yourself. It's a good start just to go out and participate in enjoying it. Tell your friends about cool things that are going on. Start a blog to publicize happenings. After awhile you might be inspired to organize something yourself. If you are going to stay in Pittsburgh, you might as well try to make it a place where you'd want to live.

The City of Bridges, Rivers and Irregular Angles.

I've never been particularly sentimental or nostalgic about my relationships with people. That may sound a bit cold, but I don't mean it that way. The thing is that I have always felt fairly free to give myself over to disparate parts of my personality. That means my approach to life has seen radical changes over the years. Although it's hard to be objective about that, I can only imagine that it has caused problems for some folks. There are certainly more than a few friends that I've known who have resisted validating such changes. There's a certain personality type that likes to keep its associates in a generally fixed focus. They are the sort that have a tendency to constantly remind you of who they think you are. That can be an obstacle to personal growth.

If I step back and look at my life, it's easy to understand any confusion others might have about my trajectory. I was a little hot-head right from the start. Being completely willful, I fought against everybody's attempts to define me. Sometimes I would do something extreme just to shake people up. It would be easy to shudder from too much remembrance. I gave hell to several of the closest figures in my life. Then when I anticipated blow-back, I abruptly changed. I pursued the martial arts and JROTC. All of a sudden I was disciplined, controlled, and very conservative. This phase took me through most of high school. It was an effective way against shielding me- both from my wilder instincts, and failure.

I could have easily ended up in the military, such was my embrace of that persona. In retrospect I feel fortunate to have gained acceptance to a large university in a city far from home. That circumstance provided me with a new opportunity to remake myself. I didn't know anybody in the new city, and could take the time to build an identity I could live with. Strangely enough I joined a fraternity. This experience was valuable because it wasn't the typical date-rapin', beer swilling, chest-pounding club that most of these organizations are. In fact, I learned to become tolerant of people who were radically different from me. Some of the brothers were metal-heads, others were hippies, and some were the product of the suburban upper middle class. There were athletes, stoners, Republicans, poets, musicians, and even guys that came out of the closet.

In the circles I ran with in college, you had to be tolerant of young adults who would profoundly shake your perspective. If you weren't comfortable being around individuals that were completely different from you, then you wouldn't stick around very long. Not only did this arrangement serve me well, but it launched me into another decade and a half of wide-ranging exploration. My twenties were a haze of activity, very little of which ever led to my material advantage. On the other hand, I always felt empowered to chase every single repressed aspect of myself out into the open. I tried everything that occurred to me. I'm lucky that there were no long term negative repercussions. And I don't regret anything.

Nowadays I am venturing into what some might see as a conventional path. I've got a house, a decent career, a wife, and a young child. I've been in this place long enough to feel like I belong. Pittsburgh is a small city, and contains the record of a lot of the experiences I've gone through. Still it's also big enough to contain corners where its inhabitants can hide for years. Like ghosts from memory, they can pass by you when you are least prepared for it. I can go to virtually any part of town and run into someone I've spent time with in the past. They reflect back on me the meaning I've taken from the periods I've passed through. They help me form a composite of the varied faces I've worn over the years I have been here. That's pretty extraordinary.

The State of Pittsburgh Cuisine.

Months ago I got in an argument with a suburbanite about his belief that there are no good restaurants in Pittsburgh. Much of my opposition to his stance had to do with my general contempt for people who choose to live outside of the city, and yet miss no opportunity to put it down. I immediately question what these folks really know about life in Pittsburgh. I wonder how often they get out of their strip mall developments and take in some genuine urban culture. While it's not impossible for some "foodie" to make it a point to venture forth from their McMansion and explore an unknown neighborhood, I have a hard time valuing the opinions of outsiders. However at some level I know that this is narrow-minded of me, and that I shouldn't make too many generalizations.

I will concede that the 'Burgh isn't (and shouldn't be) known for its cuisine. What meal can we associate with our town? A sandwich with cole slaw and french fries piled on top of it? That's not very impressive. What about the pierogi or kielbasa? It's certainly true that there is a long tradition of Eastern Europeans in Western Pennsylvania. But this is true of several cities throughout America, and it's hard to make an exclusive connection between Pittsburgh and (for instance) halushki. You can definitely hit up some quality food festivals in the many ethnic churches dotting the area. I'd expect that to be true in any town of significant size. So what else do we crow about here? Heinz Ketchup? Who's going to get that excited over a friggin' condiment?

I'm a transplant from Eastern Pennsylvania, and so I am no stranger to unique dining traditions. The Pennsylvania Dutch have an entire menu of items to boast about (dried corn, pot pie, shoo-fly pie, headcheese, scrapple, etc.). Then there's Lebanon bologna and Taylor Pork Roll sandwiches throughout the area. Philadelphia has its world-renowned cheese steak (which is authentically served with Cheez Whiz), and is also noted for its quality soft pretzels. Of course the City of Brotherly Love is a huge city compared to Pittsburgh. It's got thriving ethnic neighborhoods that specialize in different types of cooking. Chinatown and Little Italy serve up their favorites. It's got multiple Latino sections that offer their own culinary delights. And with its access to the ocean, Philly also promises the prospect of quality seafood. If there's one thing I miss about living on the other side of the state, it's the variety and quality of the food.

Here in Pittsburgh, we claim to have our own Little Italy. Yet this is a bit of a sham, as Bloomfield is small and has murals of Polish Revolutionary War heroes to greet visitors. There isn't a hint of a Chinatown, and virtually no Latino presence. It has plenty of bars- each of which offer their own version of deviled crabs, hard bolied eggs, and beef jerky. However, to date there are still no Zagat-rated restaurants in Pittsburgh. How can this be? Doesn't anyone care? There are currently 18 places awaiting review. They include Mallorca, Cafe Allegro, Lidia's, Casbah, and the Chrch Brew Works- all decent restaurants where I have enjoyed myself. But we also find stuff like the Cheesecake Factory and Fat Heads Saloon on the list. Is this really the best we have to offer? No wonder people aren't clamoring to provide reviews and ratings.

The truth is that we do have a mix of decent (if not extraordinary) restaurants and eateries. I've written previously about Bona Terra, a Sharpsburg establishment of fine dining. It's informal, cozy and exquisitely presented. There are ethnic curiosities, including Abay (Ethiopian), Lemon Grass (Thai), Taste of India, and Tram's Kitchen (Vietnamese). And there's Max's Allegheny Tavern on the North Side, which is far and away the best German restaurant I have ever experienced. It's like entering your long lost grandmother's house- it's got a great selection of authentic dishes, it's bountiful, and reasonably priced. If there is one place I'd recommend as a can't-miss, it would be this one. Now all I need is a decent diner or two (God, how I miss the East Coast when I'm in the mood for that), and I'll be fat and happy.

Why no Wi-Fi in the 'burgh?

The other day I heard a disturbing factoid on the radio- Mayor Luke Raventstahl's administration has put city-wide Wi-Fi on ice. In the not-so-distant past, local politicians crowed about a new program that allowed anybody in the downtown area free wireless access to the Internet for two hours a day. This service is indeed still available there, but plans to expand access from the West End to the East Hills have been shelved. Apparently it would cost the city "millions of dollars" for that type of widespread service. So our fearless leaders have resolved to sit back and wait for six months to a year. Perhaps new technology will inspire some company to provide the system at no cost. Or maybe the necessary equipment will become radically cheaper soon. This conjecture comes on the heels of a limited period in which companies were offering it all to cities for free.

Councilman Bill Peduto (who has been active in driving a proposal for citywide Wi-Fi) supports the wait-and-see attitude. Despite the perception that he is among the more progressive politicos in our community, he appears to prefer the conservative approach on this issue. That's a real shame, because we are in the position of having to depend on the few forward-thinkers in town if anything is ever going to get done. It seems that if it has to do with a major sports team, it's a priority. But if it entails widespread benefit to city residents, yet no particular prestige for bureaucratic functionaries, then there is an almost infinite reserve of patience available from the Mayor and City Council.

I'm constantly hearing complaints that Pittsburgh fails to attract and maintain a vibrant population of young people. Now that I am a married homeowner approaching middle age, that's not a particularly imminent concern for me. However, it seems to me that those who embrace such attitudes should be fighting tooth-and-nail for comprehensive Wi-Fi now. Who needs the provision of free Internet services most? What demographic is most active on the World Wide Web? Who would benefit most from being able to go out to the cafe and bar and still get meaningful work done in the prized moments between bouts of socialization? Do we want a dynamic atmosphere to give the impression that we are an 'edgy' city worthy of long term investment? Or is business-as-usual a satisfactory strategy?

Personally I've heard just about enough out of Ravenstahl and Peduto about entertaining new ideas to take us into a bright and shiny future. I'm a hockey fan, so I'm glad the Penguins are getting an arena... but enough already. We give lip service to improving the quality of life for the kids, but then divert all our attention to the exploits of a bunch of grown children playing their silly games. So many people invest so much energy into something they have no control over, and no real stake in. You want to experience a truly dead city? Go out on to the streets of Pittsburgh while the Steelers are on television. Believe me...it's the best time to go to the grocery store or the laundromat. There is an eerie silence, and nothing moves outdoors.

Many will protest that watching their football heroes brings people together. Unfortunately a collective of folks congregating over nonsense is mostly wasted, unless they are actually interacting instead of watching television. Meanwhile the Internet is constantly inspiring real connectivity- not just locally, but internationally. Perhaps true engagement requires occupying a meaningful position on the global grid. Just because the possibilities of the Internet are virtually limitless doesn't mean we should be intimidated by it. We're going to remain an isolated and provincial backwater until we fully embrace fresh sources of information exchange. What better way would there be to demonstrate such a commitment than to ensure that everyone here has unlimited wireless Internet access?

A Look @ City-Data.com Pittsburgh Forum.

Listen. I know that I am often extraordinarily tough on suburban/exurbanites on this blog. I realize that it would probably be better for my mental health if I stopped thinking in such contentious terms about a demographic that makes up a large proportion of our nation. And I want to make it absolutely clear that I don't believe that all of them are evil. In fact I don't really believe in evil, per se- so I guess this last admission is a bit weightless. Still the truth is that I have met and known a number of people in those communities that are well-meaning and rational. Indeed I am even related to some of them. Conversely there is no shortage of "bad apples" in the cities. One only needs to turn on the network evening news to reinforce that point.Now that my disclaimer is out-of-the-way, I'm going to draw a bead on ex/suburbanites once again. I'm going to do this because a lot of them simply piss me off.

Here's what I've been doing a lot of lately- I've been visiting the message board forums of the City-Data Web Site. This is an incredible resource for people all over the nation to learn about cities that they are considering traveling to or relocating in. The concept is democratic, sound and compelling. If you want to know something about a certain place, what better way to find out about it than to ask someone who lives there? I think it's a truly great site. I love that there is a public forum that anybody can contribute to, and air his/her opinions about home-town, USA. Of course there is another side to this accessibility- one doesn't need to be thoughtful, open-minded, fair and/or balanced to add his/her two cents. As long as you stay in the general area of civility, then your posts remain. This can be simultaneously liberating and infuriating.

I think it's important to engage people that have radically different perspectives from our own. If we only ever discuss issues with folks that are like us, we aren't likely to ever broaden or refine our thinking. The opportunity to discuss items with a wide variety of people has kept me frequenting message boards for years. I've learned some useful things and stimulated some extraordinarily heated interchanges. I am sometimes difficult and occasionally adversarial (just as I am in person). But so far I have never been asked to leave, and I am hardly ever censored. Considering how invested I have been in some of these debates, I am proud of my record. At the same time, I am also shocked at what posters are willing to put into public print.

You might think that a site named City-Data.com would have a large proportion of urban dwellers offering their insights. Yet there seems to be a vast majority of ex/suburbanites weighing in with their opinions. This is unfortunate because few of them actually have any depth of experience with the elements of the cities that they are commenting on. It's an odd phenomenon that those who have sought to avoid the problems of the city seem to consider themselves the most qualified to pronounce judgments about them. I have read an avalanche of unfounded assumptions, a plethora of distortion, and an excess of disinformation during the few weeks I have been logging on to City-Data. I am sometimes so overwhelmed by the limited viewpoints that I despair for the future of the entire nation. But on the other hand, I now have a much better handle on general politics.


Here are a few quotes about Pittsburgh that are freely available on the forum (enjoy):

On race: "Stating that people are moving because of race is something that the evidence doesn't support."

"Certainly, not ALL blacks are criminals, nor do all of us white folks believe they are. It might be good to try and not be so sensitive to racial issues. "

"Pittsburgh's suburbs might not be diverse, but they are not full of racist. There are plenty of diverse neighborhoods in Pittsburgh for people who want diversity. And for people who could care less one way or another, there are plenty of less diverse neighborhoods that will welcome anyone regardless of their race."

On local schools: "We are the #1 state for teacher strikes, so if you'd like to raise a little hell at work and extort tax money from your local community, PA is your place! Unfortunately, if you pay property taxes or have school-age children in public schools, PA isn't so great... "

"Yeah, if you feel like stealing from the poor in order to make too much money, then Pittsburgh is for you. The Union is strong here, so you have no worries. The extra money will help you pay for all high property taxes the strikes have caused."

On local leisure: "There is nothing to do in this city. Unless you want to go to South Side and get drunk with the annoying college crowd, there is nothing to do. And if you decide to go to South Side and go to a decent bar like Fat Heads or Piper's there is no way to get home because there are NO cabs in the city."

On City Planning: "I just wish there was more of a police presence in downtown. Free or MUCH cheaper parking is another biggie. I really hate having to pay 8 bucks to "window shop." "

"Pittsburgh needs to make the city safer by having more of a police presence and then bonds or funds to help tear down and rebuild some of the really gritty, dirty areas. A few things have been done, but it is scattered throughout the city that there is no real "good" side of town. Shadeyside has a street - one street that makes it nice."

" Too much "preservation" and not enough knock downs and rebuilds in the dying (Pittsburgh) cities."

Pittsburgh no longer "Best Kept Secret"?

The accolades for Pittsburgh continue to pour in. On the heels of being identified as the number one "Most Livable City" on Rand McNally's Places Rated Almanac, our fair city has garnered additional attention. Frommer's released their top 13 worldwide 2008 travel destinations, and lo and behold the 'Burgh was on the list. In fact it one of just a few American cities mentioned. Unlike McNally's award this one isn't determined by any objective analysis, but rather relies on the subjective judgments of a team of travel experts. Intriguingly, our hometown is joined on the list by such exotic locales as Denver, Cardiff (Wales), Seoul (South Korea) and Kosrae (Micronesia).

The Frommer's people considered a variety of factors including area attractions, ease of access, opportunities for cultural and physical engagement, and (tellingly) relative obscurity. That last trait was no doubt a major reason for Pittsburgh's inclusion. Despite the wave of nice things reported by the national media, there are still so many folks who remain ignorant of the city's charms. Predictably most of the dismissive comments emanate from people who have never even visited Pittsburgh. Growing up in eastern PA, I was privy to unlimited advice about how I should avoid attending college in the former steel capital. My friends were dumbfounded by my choice. Somehow its reputation was still that of an exceedingly polluted and depressed shadow of its former industrial past. While it's certainly true that the 'Burgh has remade itself since the 70's, there's been plenty of misinformation about that transformation.

Perhaps that's because there are still so many natives living in the distant past. It's a general rule that the area's greatest boosters are to be found among its transplants. The harshest criticism seems to perpetually come from people born and raised in Western PA. It could well be that these negative opinions were formed through listening to parents and grandparents talk incessantly about past glories. Clearly sometimes nostalgia obscures the vista of the present. This accounts for my pet theory about the raving fanaticism displayed by the "Steeler Nation". In the 70's, while the last vestiges of the steel industry were leaving town, the Steelers were winning multiple Super Bowl Championships. There wasn't a whole lot of joy to latch on to. Local pride resided almost exclusively in the 'Black-and-Gold'. Unfortunately many see nothing but this limited legacy.

If you come to Pittsburgh with an open mind, you will quickly observe its substantial assets. There are world-class museums like The Warhol Museum, The Carnegie, The Heinz History Center, The Science Center, The Mattress Factory. There are several top-notch universities, surrounded by vibrant intellectual communities . Pittsburgh has countless neighborhoods with distinctive character that contain all sorts of hidden gems. The hilly topography and the three rivers accentuate the charms of the diverse architecture to be found throughout the city. There are vibrant corridors with a wide selection of restaurants, art galleries, cafes, nightlife and quality shopping. Urban adventure and plenty of outdoor activities await the intrepid traveler. Fallingwater and Ohiopyle are only a short drive away.

I could continue listing Pittsburgh's many amenities, but if you haven't seen the place with your own eyes- you're likely going to hold on to your skepticism. Perhaps more external validation is in order. American Style rated Pitsburgh as the #1 mid-sized arts destination. The 'Burgh is among the Top Ten Cleanest Cities in the World, according to Forbes Magazine. Pittsburgh recently placed #8 in Bizjournals' list of the most fun cities in America. Wired even picked it as a top city for computer geeks (or so I'm told). With all of these notices, is it possible that our city can lose its distinction in the dubiously desirable ranks of the 'Best Kept Secrets'? If so, I have decidely mixed feelings about that.

The New Drink Tax.

A couple of days ago the Allegheny County Council voted on a proposed 10% tax on 'poured alcohol drinks'. Along with a new tax on rental cars, this tariff has officially been incorporated into the 2008 city budget. I wasn't surprised that the measures passed. Council Chief Executive Dan Onorato cited a need for increased funds to support mass transit. These latest actions are expected to generate over $30 million for the beleaguered Port Authority. Onorato considers this a major victory because (he says) he opposes any increase in property taxes that may have been necessary had the measure been voted down. Just as the terminology of the proposal suggested, the levy will only be applied to alcohol drinks served within bars and restaurants.

The PA Restaurant Association (not surprisingly) mustered heavy opposition to the bill. They claim that the tax will merely be passed on directly to the consumer, and result in decreased business. Onorato claims that similar taxes in Boston, New York City, Philadelphia and Atlanta haven't hurt the hospitality industry in those cities. Of course both sides can point to studies that back up their respective positions. But business owners in Pittsburgh are already loudly proclaiming that they will not give in to the new tax. Now they are threatening to sue the council. They are using phrases like "miscarriage of justice" and "stop this travesty". I'm not sure what kind of case they can put together. It's not like this qualifies as "taxation without representation", as some reactionaries would have you believe.

I have a few friends and a family member who own bars and restaurants. It's not as if I don't sympathize with their collective plight. With the generally worrisome trends in the economy, I would imagine that people have already made the decision not to go out as much as they had been. There very well may be a shift toward moderation. And it's not only the proprietors of businesses that serve alcohol that will be hurt if less people drink alcohol- the service industry employees that depend on tips for a living are going to be affected as well. Despite my personal affiliations, I am more apt to feel sympathetic for servers than anyone else in the equation.

However I do find it humorous to see the usual suspects whining about the burden a drink tax will have on the honest and hardworking citizens of the county. It was as if someone was taking away people's health insurance (oh yeah, sure... that's another subject). If we are truly committed to any level of public service, it naturally follows that someone is going to have to pay for it. I have a hard time feeling bad for the raging alcoholics that are going to suffer the high costs of this bill. Pittsburgh seems to have more bars than any comparably-sized city in the nation. Obviously this is a city of drinkers. Granted the whole country tends to overindulge when it comes to alcohol, but we in the 'Burgh seem to transcend the norm. So maybe people can skip that last drink before slipping behind the wheel to go home. If so, we can all expect to be just a little bit safer.

While we are on the subject of drinking and driving- there is an interesting point I haven't heard in this debate. People with cars are anxious to let public transit slip away from Pittsburgh. Hell, they are happy not to have to sit behind another goddamn bus in traffic. They don't use mass transportation, so why should they care? And furthermore, why should they be asked to help pay for it? The answer is simple- many of the folks we rely on to keep an orderly and healthy city rely on buses to get to and from work (and that includes a lot of the staff in restaurants and bars throughout the city). Without such access they would lose their jobs. But another (perhaps more compelling reason) is that many of our fair city's drinkers end up with suspended licenses each year. It makes sense that they should be asked to pay up front for the services they will come to rely on later- when they aren't allowed to drive. Maybe if we actually had a well-funded public transportation system, people would use it to get home from the bars and avoid causing trouble for everyone on the road.