Non-Profit Group Fishing for a Controversy

When Oceana, an international nonprofit group dedicated to preserving ocean life, sought to pressure Giant Eagle grocery stores with a billboard campaign, its ads were rejected. The group suspects the ads -- which sound the alarm over mercury levels in seafood -- were quashed after pressure from the regional supermarket giant. Both Giant Eagle and the ad firms deny the claim.

Awaiting Trial, Anti-war Protesters Experience Hearing Problems

Court delay for POG protester who says he was choked by cop

Teenagers Seek Poetic Justice In Outbreak of Violence

On Aug. 10, JaMay Blackwell joined a score of other Hill District teenagers at Freedom Corner to rally for a stop to the recent outbreak of shootings in Pittsburgh. "Make the violence cease," they chanted. "Put the silence to the violence." The teenagers are participants of a summer program hosted by the Hill House in collaboration with the Carnegie Museums.

Pamela Lawton Trial Delayed -- Again

Pamela Lawton was slated for trial Aug. 7 but it was delayed again, this time by her attorney so he could study the OMI report. That has angered many activists who have been waiting for this matter to come to what they call a just conclusion. "It's hypocrisy," says Minister Jasiri X of Muhammed Mosque No. 22 in Wilkinsburg, an advocate of Lawton's. "If Latinos and African-Americans are being harassed at the same time this is the 'Most Livable City,' that's hypocrisy."

Big Winners In 48-hour Film Festival

From August 3-5, Aloomination Productions was one of 28 teams and more than 280 filmmakers racing against the clock to finish a four-to-seven minute short-film [See City Paper, Against the Clock, Aug. 8]. For the contest, each group had to pick a genre out of a hat, and filmmakers were required to use a given prop, line of dialogue and local landmark in their film. The team that wins "Best Film of Pittsburgh" moves on to compete against 65 other teams and have a chance to have their film screened at Filmapalooza, the official 48-Hour Film Project Awards Weekend. Out of the 28 teams entered in the competition, 20 completed on time, five were late and three didn't finish.

Going Through the Motions: August 7-8

We attend city council so you don't have to.

Acanthus

The Dog Days of Dining

Despite flooding in Millvale, Mr. Small's and Attic Records keep dry

"That morning, it sounded like someone hammering on the roof."

Karate's Geoff Farina returns with Glorytellers

Farina proves himself capable of evolving and telling a good tale with some meaning behind it.

The Phantom Family Halo gets loose at Garfield Artworks

It might come as something of a surprise that The Phantom Family Halo has roots in Louisville's indie rock scene.

Coalesce re-coalesces for reunion tour

Teen-agers who grew up on the Family Values and Ozzfest tours would do well to listen and learn about the quantum physics of hardcore.

Eli Keszler and Ashley Paul improvise at Garfield Artworks

The up-and-coming improv musician sets lofty goals, but that's not surprising given his background

El Cantante

The turbulent life of famed salsa singer Hector Lavoe (Marc Anthony) and his wife, Puchi (Jennifer Lopez), is brought to the big screen in this warts-and-bling-and-bongos spectacle.

Death at a Funeral

Frank Oz's film, set in England, might have been an urbane black comedy like the Ealing Studio classics of the 1950s, That hope disappears in the first 15 minutes

Arctic Tale

This enviro-docu-drama set amid the creatures of the Arctic from Adam Ravetch and Sarah Robertson misses its mark by anthropomorphizing its subjects, rigging a story, and delivering its message ad nauseum with a jivey hammer.

Bamako

Abderrahmane Sissako's deceptively placid yet searing film recalls the political theater of the late 1960s and early '70s -- at once artificial, naturalistic and allegorical.

My Best Friend

Actor Daniel Auteuil finds himself in yet another gentle French farce, this time searching for an instant best friend.

Rush Hour 3

The first two Rush Hour films are guilty pleasures, and so is the third film.

Andy Warhol and Keith Haring's religious works surprise at The Warhol.

Personal Jesus takes two men we thought we knew and shows us sides we may never have anticipated.

Savage Love

Letters to the Editor: August 15 - 22

Feedback from our readers

Pittsburgh n'@

Yinz Keep Bloggin'

Whenever I pass the plaque on Smithfield Street, claiming the University of Pittsburgh was founded there in 1787 (in a log cabin, no less), I see red. I believe that plaque is a big corporate lie. Is it?

Question submitted by: Will Forbes, North Side

A Conversation with Mike Smalley Jr.

Bum-Rushing the Passer

Don't count Roethlisberger out just yet

This Just In: August 15 - 22

Highlights from the local TV news.

In the Flesh

Porn star and pastor hold live debate about pornography

Sextant

A poem by Erik Rosen.

A local writer's take on Pittsburgh for visitors joins the Moon guidebook series.

His first job as a travel writer was to learn about where he already lived.

Eighteen

Eighteen is meant, I think, as a small show about ordinary people who, without realizing it, make a series of tiny choices ultimately leading to big trouble.

Always ... Patsy Cline

According to the script, Cline herself is just a li'l ol' gal who would get shafted by a shady promoter if the more worldly-wise Louise weren't around. Puh-leeze.