MetaFilter posts tagged with pittsburgh

Twitter in Tehran, Anarchists in America

acro — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:25:44 -0800

Vic Walczak, legal director for the Pennsylvania ACLU, sees the FBI's action as pure "intimidation," and part of a "much bigger war on demonstrators" in Pittsburgh. Elliot Madison was arrested by police on September 24 and charged with hindering apprehension or prosecution, criminal use of a communication facility and possession of instruments of crime. The Pennsylvania State Police said Madison was found in a hotel room with computers and police scanners while using the social-networking site Twitter to spread information about police movements. He has denied wrongdoing. According to Police who searched his home for more than 16 hours after the arrest, Madison was "directing others, specifically protesters of the G-20 summit, in order to avoid apprehension after a lawful order to disperse.”

The Burgh's Birthday

Knappster — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 22:41:58 -0800

Pittsburgh celebrates its 250th birthday today (warning: audio). It's too late to see the Festival of Lights, but Fort Pitt Museum has a full day of activities scheduled (and cake!). Historic Pittsburgh offers texts, maps, and 10,000+ photographs of the city and its people.

Howling Mob Society

damnthesehumanhands — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 10:41:56 -0800

The Howling Mob Society. Looking out over the burning Strip District from the safety of his office in Pittsburgh's Union Station, Thomas Alexander Scott must have been humbled. Only days before, as president of the Pennsylvania Railroad, Scott famously suggested that impoverished and striking railroad workers be given “a rifle diet for a few days and see how they like that kind of bread.” Now, with the local Pittsburgh militia all but mutinied and the State Militia rapidly retreating, he must have wondered if his hard-line stance had backfired… "The Howling Mob Society (HMS) is a collaboration of artists, activists and historians committed to unearthing stories neglected by mainstream history. HMS brings increased visibility to the radical history of Pittsburgh, PA through grassroots artistic practice. Our current focus is The Great Railroad Strike of 1877, a national uprising that saw some of its most dramatic moments in Pittsburgh." Be sure to check out their signs.

One Cold Hand

exogenous — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 12:57:37 -0800

One Cold Hand seeks to reunite lost gloves with their owners.

The Great Lost Heartland Rockers.

jonmc — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 14:07:55 -0800

The Iron City Houserockers were Pittsburgh's entry in the Heartland Rock Sweepstakes that occured after the success of Bruce Springsteen and Bob Seger. They had literate lyrics, tough rock and roll backing, and clear-eyed vision. Led by Joe Grushecky, a special ed teacher by day, produced by Miami Steve Van Zandt of the E Street Band, and possessed of tunes like "Junior's Bar" (youtube), they seemed poised to hit the big time, but it never quite happened, which is the music audience's loss. He is, however the subject of a loving tribute in the form of "A Good Life: The Joe Grushecky Story" (trailer).

It's not spam, it's BACN.

punkrockrat — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 07:32:19 -0800

It's not spam, it's BACN. A web-term that was influenced by the proliferation of web 2.0 social networks used to describe "notifications you want, just not right now." Twitter requests, facebook notifications, bill-payment receipts, etc. Even though you're expecting the e-mail, *and* you want to read it, now is just not a good time to click the "read" button. You want to; you just don't have time right now. Hopefully the video and numerous blog postings in the last 24 hours will help to bring awareness to this new web-term recently brought to light this past weekend at Podcamp Pittsburgh.

"If you build world class facilities, you will get world class students. If you build prisons, you'll get prisoners."

The Straightener — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 18:24:02 -0800

Genius at work. Bill Strickland is the visionary creator of the Manchester Bidwell Corporation, a combination craftsmen's guild, training center and (completely amazing) school. The school comes complete with a sound stage and record label that has won numerous grammys for the music recorded there as friendly favors from jazz legends to Bill and his students. He has been profiled in major business magazines for being a master educator with the ambition to become a master franchiser by working with Ebay CEO Jeff Skoll (see, "Applying model worldwide") to go global with his approach to education. He won the Macarthur in 1996. You can also watch his famous slide show, or some live footage of his presentation on youtube.

Wayno

njm — Mon, 07 Mar 2005 12:03:22 -0800

The Musical Giants page, which contains portraits of recording artists from var i ous gen res, is my favorite section of Wayno's on-line portfolio. In this interview, Wayno discusses his influences, work routine and collaboration with fellow Pittsburghers The Karl Hendricks Trio.

Lucky Number 666

ALongDecember — Thu, 05 Aug 2004 22:41:03 -0800

The number 666 has been drawn by the Pennsylvania Lottery 12 times. Well, legally that is. On April 24, 1980, Pittsburgh personality Nick Perry, host of local TV shows and the live lottery drawing, fixed the lottery drawings. Perry has since passed away, but the story lived on in a (badly made) film adaptation. [more inside]

Konigsburg is for wimps

tss — Thu, 12 Jun 2003 06:42:09 -0800

Bridges and Tunnels of Allegheny County. They hold bridge conventions here in Pittsburgh because there are around 2000 bridges in and around the city. Take the tours to see some of them. My favorites: Westinghouse, Smithfield St., East St., Panther Hollow.

Recockulous — Wed, 25 Sep 2002 07:38:49 -0800

Mullet Talk, FM morning radio show comedy at it its finest. Of course, in Pittsburgh we appreciate the finer things in life. Sadly, this is the only episode I could find on the web.

RakDaddy — Wed, 24 Jul 2002 10:51:14 -0800

Bikes and cars don't mix. At least, according to the author of this column. As someone who cycles for fun and commuting, I was alternately amused by his anti-bike spewing and terrified that he's a case of road rage waiting to happen. Remind me never to bike in Pittsburgh.

engelr — Wed, 10 Jul 2002 08:21:01 -0800

Big foundations pull funding from city school district. According to my inside source at the Board of Education here, the foundations and the BoE consider the school board's shenanigans to be "marginal." That is, unusual compared to most school boards for districts this size. I would think there are many bad school boards like ours, right?

engelr — Tue, 11 Jun 2002 05:48:12 -0800

City as Loser? Iron City was ranked last out of 40 cities in this year's "Best Cities for Singles" in Forbes magazine. Not that Forbes is the ultimate arbiter of the single life (don't they specialize in male readers over 35 with money?), but your best defense of Pittsburgh or your own medium- or small-sized town would be appreciated.

m@ — Tue, 13 Nov 2001 10:42:13 -0800

I didn't grow up thinking I talked funny... but thanks to the internet, I now know why I was turned down for all those newscaster jobs. Jano yinz talked funny too?

brent — Sun, 11 Feb 2001 07:15:02 -0800

Anyone catch the fall of Three Rivers? The Steelers want some footage of the stadium falling. The Kingdome falling made the headlines here before, but didn't have any contests to my knowldege. So I was wondering does anyone know of any other buildings coming down? Any suggestions on what buildings should come down? And does the destruction or closing of a favorite place in your city or recall any fond memories?

snarkout — Fri, 29 Dec 2000 06:55:26 -0800

Mario's back! I'm a couple days late on this, but I just want to say that as a sports fan, I'm glad to see Pittsburgh Penguins owner Mario Lemiuex has returned to the ice in style. He's a class act and a great player.