Patriotic Ax
A day after Attorney General John Ashcroft denounced as “baseless hysteria” contentions that the USA Patriot Act allows the government untrammeled power to investigate people’s reading habits, one of his employees, Mary Beth Buchanan, sat down to defend the two-year-old act to a Pittsburgh audience. As U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Buchanan…
Dr. Tyson Examines His Books
Under the plastic gaze of cartoon characters, pediatrician Dr. Scott Tyson steps into an exam room in one of his South Hills offices, his tall figure slightly rumpled, his booming voice often audible in the hallway. The 49-year-old pediatrician’s voice is full of questions for the parents — mostly just mothers — waiting with their…
Union Trusting
When Billy Joe Jordan helped lead a janitors’ strike in 1985, he knew all his members weren’t happy — especially the one who called him at home and threatened to “kick my ass.” Jordan’s reply: “At least you’ll be out here on the picket line to kick my ass.” In one way or another, the…
Incomplete
University of Pittsburgh Panthers quarterback Rod Rutherford stands accused of acting like a boor, of forcing his attentions on someone who wanted to be left alone. And thanks to the local press, he probably has a pretty good idea of how that can make someone feel — whether he acted that way or not. What…
Madame Satã
Maybe it’s because this is his first film, but director and screenwriter Karim Aïnouz makes a tactical error in Madame Satã: He doesn’t tell us who Madame Satã is — not until the film is over, and by then, it’s too late to have any appreciation of the rather disjointed story that has come before.…
In view of the move to oust Mayor Tom Murphy, in the history of Pittsburgh has any mayor ever been removed from office?
As a rule, it’s easier to toss a Pittsburgh mayor into jail than it is to toss him out of office. This is the city, after all, that in the 1850s elected Joe Barker, who became mayor while sitting in jail for inciting a riot. Barker was an anti-Catholic bigot who governed so recklessly that…
A Conversation with Jennie Benford
Is this part of some lifelong cemetery obsession?Obsession is such a strong word. I’ve always been interested in cemeteries — we have an interesting one in my hometown, Elyria, Ohio; it was next to my cousin’s house so I kind of grew up around there. When I first moved to Pittsburgh, I didn’t know what…
Burning Spear
It was 30 years ago this year that Winston Rodney finally and completely disappeared from view, a mild-mannered Jamaican with a few Studio One-recorded singles under his belt, and re-emerged from the streets of St. Ann’s in Jamaica as Burning Spear. Adopting the moniker of Jomo Kenyatta, the father of the nation of Kenya, Burning…
Erykah Badu
“Neo-Soul is dead” reads the cover of Erykah Badu’s new CD, which features Lenny Kravitz who once made the same declaration about rock ‘n’ roll. Should that be a good sign or an omen? Kravitz’ Circus, containing his rock ‘n’ roll eulogy, was arguably his best work. But right after declaring it dead, Kravitz dove…
Johnny Cash Live Recordings from the Louisiana HayrideJune Carter Live Recordings from the Louisiana Hayride
It’s already a little odd to hear Johnny Cash’s voice. A few weeks ago, hearing classic recordings of that resonant, somewhat scary baritone boom out of the speakers was like hearing old records by any of your favorite singers: You notice what’s different about them now, and what’s stayed part of their vocal personality. But…
Higher Education
For all of its quirks and shortcomings, the Cathedral of Learning is resolutely successful in making aspiration and inspiration clearly legible in architecture. Sure, the building is hokey and melodramatic — like the Wagner operas that Pitt Chancellor John Bowman, the building’s original client, legendarily listened to while dreaming of the structure. Still, the regal…
Anything Else
They say that famous people die in threes, and it’s true: First Johnny Cash, then John Ritter, and now, Woody Allen. The writer, director, actor and “comic genius” (Time cover story, April 30, 1979) achieves a fascinating personal nadir with Anything Else, in which the once-famous (and now insane) comedy writer David Dobel, portrayed by…
Lost in Translation
Land sharks notwithstanding, Chevy Chase’s greatest gift to popular culture is Bill Murray. When Chase left Saturday Night Live in the middle of its second season, Murray replaced him, and in the 25 years since, in movies like Caddyshack, Ghostbusters, Rushmore, Tootsie and Groundhog Day, Murray has created his own museum of outrageous, sardonic, disgusting,…
Underworld
It seemed like a perfectly good idea. People like action/goth/fantasy/horror/graphic-novel movies. What better than an epic and timeless battle between — screw good and evil — vampires and werewolves! There can be warring clans, astounding feats of strength, dizzying pans across moonlit metropolises, and raven-haired heroines in precision-tailored rubber jumpsuits. A love story. Familial rebellion.…
Suburban Senator Seeks City Subsidy
State senators and big business representatives met Sept. 19 and agreed on one thing: A City of Pittsburgh bankruptcy would be bad. Key business leaders continue to oppose Mayor Tom Murphy’s proposed new taxes (see “Political Footballs,” page 19). “Some in the business community say we need mergers and consolidations” between city and Allegheny County…
Laptops of Luxury
On Jan. 2, 2000, the City of Pittsburgh’s Finance Department bought two Hewlett-Packard Laser Jet 8000 printers — one for $2,500, the other for $4,000, according to city records. In June 2001, the Emergency Medical Services unit and Fire Bureau bought three Compaq Armada E500 laptops in four days — at three different prices, ranging…
Fare Thee Well
Thanks to some quick deal-making between county Chief Executive Jim Roddey and other agency heads, Port Authority riders will very likely be able to avoid threatened fare hikes or evening and weekend service cuts for the rest of the year. Last week, Roddey announced a plan to temporarily shift $10 million from a PennDOT highway…
Unreal Deal
In early August, the New Pittsburgh Courier announced what they called a “historic partnership” with the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Those who subscribe to the Sunday Trib will get a full year of the Courier along with it, and vice versa. The partnership is obviously aimed at a circulation boost for both. But the Courier dating the…
