Cuban to Fund Grokster Appeal

My two blogs collide, as Mt. Lebanon native Mark Cuban announces his financial support for Grokster, the file sharing company that's in front of the Supreme Court tomorrow defending itself against claims of copyright infringement.

The New Detroit

If Silicon Valley is the new Detroit, then what does that make the old Detroit?

Theater People

I don't go to a lot of shows, but this weekend I happened to see both Lebensraum at the Jewish Theater and the Public Theater's production of The Tempest. Much fun. Have to do this more often.

Ignorance at the P-G

Unfortunately, the online version of this story about Live Journal blogs doesn't include the priceless print-version "glossary" titled "Navigating the Blogosphere." Says the paper: "Live Journal -- Used generically as another term for blog." Does anyone at the Post-Gazette actually read the paper? Try this or even this.

As long as I'm at it, how about some free publicity for the sites mentioned in the article:

"AntiCrAPA" and NA (North Allegheny) Sucks.

If there are other Pittsburgh high school blogs out there (and I assume that there are), post links in the comments.

UPDATE (Monday 3/28): Dennis, in the comments, rightly points out that the glossary is up on the P-G site. For some reason, it wasn't there when I looked yesterday morning.

Print Making in Pittsburgh

Looks cool to me: Artists Image Resource.

More Harold & Maude Hearse

Anne, for one, was so wowed by my memory of riding in the Harold & Maude hearse that I went out and found a Harold & Maude hearse tribute site. Will the wonders of the Internet never cease?

Point Brugge Cafe

It's not often that I hear about a new restaurant in Pittsburgh by word of mouth, so the Point Brugge Cafe in Point Breeze must be pretty good. I haven't been there yet, but it turns out that the Post-Gazette gave it three stars. Sounds like you should check it out.

Why I'm Not Moving Back to the San Francisco Bay Area

Reason One, among many: I can't afford my old house.

Keeping a City Young

Interesting story in this morning's New York Times: The hip and vibrant cities of the Left Coast are worried about declining numbers of children in their communities.

And it was just the other day that the PG's op-ed page was urging Steeler Nation to come to Pittsburgh to retire.

Portland has wants the next generation to grow up there. Pittsburgh wants the last generation to die here. Am I being unfair?

Tech Jobs in Pgh

The Pittsburgh Technology Council hosts the @pgh.cafe, billed as a social/networking event, on Thursday afternoon at the Carnegie Music Hall. Info at the @pgh.cafe site.

Botanic Garden of Western PA

The Horticultural Society of Western Pennsylvania is holding a plant sale now to benefit the planned Botanic Garden of Western Pennsylvania. Order online; plants will be available for pickup on May 21.

Is Pittsburgh a "Masculine" City?

On the radio this morning, Rick Sebak suggested that Pittsburgh is a "masculine" city. Is that right? Do cities have gender? What does it mean for Pittsburgh to be a masculine city? Are there feminine cities? If Pittsburgh is a guy, can it be a sister city?

Three Rivers Arts Festival

The festival has a home page up (please - make it stop blinking!), but no content yet. Festival dates this year are June 3 - 19.

I Have a Troll

And I thought that only big time blogs got trolls. My evil "Michael Madison" twin posted another "he's leaving!" comment this morning, under the "No Optimism Today" post. I deleted the comment, and I banned (his? her?) IP address.

No Optimism Today

I've been all ready to get back into the swing of Pittsblog, but it's difficult to be optimistic about Pittsburgh just now. Brian O'Neill explains why.

Comics Coming to Pittsburgh

Thanks to Lee for the pointer to Pittsburgh Comicon.

Pittsblog Update

I've been working, and traveling, and writing, and not posting here. I'll try to do better soon.

Meanwhile: Houston, as they say, we have a problem. In the comments to my last post (on the current production at the Jewish Theatre of Pittsburh, which you all really should go see), someone posted a couple of comments under what purports to be my name. Allegedly, I'm moving back to California; I never really liked it here; sorry to the people I misled, etc.

Sorry to disappoint you, whoever you are, but I'm not moving back to California. I still do like Pittsburgh. And I intend to continue to do so, and say so, here.

The question remains -- what to do about the fictitious "Michael Madison"? I'll leave the comments up, because (among other things) they show how *not* to impersonate someone. If you're going to be an impersonator, then use the name that the person usually uses to introduce himself or herself. Also, be sure to use the writing style that the person typically uses. And don't make uncharacteristic grammatical or syntactical errors.

Should I close comments? I would prefer not to. I like reading them. But I do, reluctantly, have to impose a new rule: No anonymous or pseudonymous comments. Real names only. Nicknames that I know (Cope) are OK. Everything else is subject to being deleted.

Jewish Theatre of Pittsburgh -- New Production

The Jewish Theatre of Pittsburgh is hosting a new production: Lebensraum, which goes up Thursday, March 10 and runs for several performances through the end of March. Tickets are available via ProArts. I'll post a website link when it's available.

Mt. Lebanon Schools Update

The race is on: Josephine Posti has thrown her hat into the ring, as a challenger in the upcoming School Board election. She's got a nice looking website.