Cliche’s become cliche’s because they are true, so if a picture paints a thousand words, the photo here tells you that Occupy Wall Street in Pittsburgh was comprised of people who felt the need to be heard. From diverse ages and backgrounds they came, and they all had something to say. This crossed Party lines and went straight to the hearts and minds of those who are feeling disheartened and disenfranchised.

There were men dressed in business suits, possibly now worn only to a rally because their jobs have been lost. There were students who made themselves heard through the frightening thoughts about their future. One eighteen year old college student held a sign that read, “My Future is Fucked!” There were union people asking where their jobs had gone. There were elderly who were righteously concerned about their health care and Social Security. And there were people with dire concerns about our environment and the lack of EPA regulations. There was more, so much more, but the ache of hearts was palpable.

This is Pittsburgh, the city of the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, Duquesne University, and many other campuses. This is Pittsburgh, a city of proud, hard-working people who want more, not just for themselves but for their children. We stood in Market Square with PPG Place and UPMC towering…looming above us as we all protested in peace that this is not what we signed up for. Two thousand people raised their voices, and drums beat slowly in the background as though syncopated with our sinking hearts. But there was a peace, even Peace signs, and there were those who held the microphone and said, “Love one another, even if you disagree. We are one!”

The presence of Pittsburgh Police was visible, but it was not intrusive or threatening. I saw no body armor. After all, in the past several years we have lost police officers who had answered many domestic violence calls and were killed in the process. The city mourned. There has been too much tragedy on too many levels. We have this innate knowledge that as the economy plunders, domestic violence rises exponentially. Our police have paid a high price, and we honored them as they simply stood in the background, knowing these are their people too.

Absent were any notable speakers and perhaps this was for the best. This rally was about us. It was about We, The People. It was not about politicians who have caused such a groundswell that it can be felt ’round the world. In fact, it is the absenteeism of politicians and their dereliction of duty that has brought us to this point.

We stood in Market Square, and I shivered in the cold autumn wind, chilling from Three Rivers converging with power. Then those who had marched in the Uptown region appeared in the Square. We became huddled masses yearning. To be. To be free of corporate greed; to be free from the stranglehold of a greedy, heartless banking industry, and to be free enough to live the lives we had worked for and had envisioned for ourselves, our children, our environment, and our nation.

As you read and hear disparaging remarks about OWS, think about the sources from which they come. And if you are able, attend a rally in your area. Embrace your brothers and sisters; share your pain, and let the world know that We, The People are not satisfied eating the cakes of muddied political batter.

—cher

Image by Tony Crider via Flickr

Inspired by the groundswell of Occupy Wall Street, the cause now comes to our own city of  Pittsburgh on October 15th. While our city has been like a phoenix rising from the ashes over the past two decades, there is no denying that many problems which effect the country also impact Pittsburgh. People have lost jobs; unemployment benefits have expired; lay-offs continue; foreclosures still happen, yet the banks go on and Congress has been bought and paid for.

Not only do those seeking re-election need to raise funds for their campaigns, they must also ante up for their respective Party. This leaves little time for consideration of their constituents and for the resolution of problems which plague our country. It is an appalling reality. And while millions are homeless, poor, and despairing, the people of this nation are rising together saying, “We are the 99%!” And one way or another, the people will be heard.

It is so reminiscent of the 60′s and 70′s. It took the rise of anti-war demonstrators to finally bring the war in Viet Nam to a close. I have wondered for some time when the youth of this country would realize that they are going to be severely impacted by the lack of Congressional and all-round political momentum in addressing their loss of education loans and grants, their loss of pension guarantees, and the quagmire of Social Security before they began to say, Enough! But this movement is not only building within our youth. People of all ages are sick and tired of being sick and tired because no one listening. This truly is about PEOPLE BEFORE POLITICS!

We are guaranteed the right to peaceful assembly. To those in the Pittsburgh region I say to you, assemble on October 15th in our city and make your voices heard. Do so peacefully, but let your voices be strong. This is about We The People. Our lives can no longer be dictated by the banking industry. And those whom we have elected to serve us, must do so before serving themselves in political camaraderie and agendas. So raise your voices, Pittsburgh! This is your time; this is your country. And we are the 99%.

—cher

**Thank you to Mind Over Matter on Facebook for sharing this video. It sums everything up so well.

In an article of Psychology Today they discussed the word “fuggedaboutit.” Though they described the word as “Alpha Male Linguistics,” I am telling you today as a female, Fuggedaboutit! The Stock Market is tanking. So what else is new? I could go on and on about all the problems many of us face, but this is Take a Break Day. That’s right; I declare that we all take a break from politics and news. Find something fun to do and savor the moment, or in my case…the food!

There is a great place in our hometown of Pittsburgh called the Strip District. It is a strip of city blocks filled with Old World aromas, flavors, shops, and trinkets. As soon as the car was parked, I began walking in the fresh 68 degree air, and felt a calm sweep over me. The Strip was bustling and there was something absolutely reassuring about it. The world was still turning and people were smiling at one another. I stood on the sidewalk for a moment, took off my sunglasses and soaked it all in. Life is mmm, so good.

Since Fall has arrived, I wanted some eucalyptus to fill vases in the house with that lovely scent. My first stop was a flower warehouse and just inside the door, they had all the eucalyptus a person could ever want. I lifted one gigantic bouquet close to my face and inhaled deeply. It was a natural high! “I’ll take two,” I said to the cherubic-faced saleswoman. And then I spotted a small crystal candle holder, looked at the price, and calculated that I could afford this little treasure. “Oh, and add this too, please.” Now it was time to follow the aromas.

As you might have guessed from the title of this post, I was in a very Italian mood. Off to the Pennsylvania Macaroni Company! Oh Lord, as I entered the doors my senses were on alert! Fresh cheese by the score, and just the deli-meat I was looking for—capacola! “I’ll take one half pound, sweet and lean, ” I said with glee.  “Okay, Honey,” said the man with the Italian accent behind the counter smiling.

Back at the cheese counter, they had samples of the freshest Baby Swiss cheese for customers to dip into a  Riesling Wine Jelly. That jelly was so good I wondered if I could bathe in it! At Wholey’s, THE place for fresh seafood, I grabbed some stuffed scallops, two packages of clam strips and the store’s very own brand of cocktail sauce. Even the check-out girl was pleasant!

Walking jauntily back to the car, I thought, “Oh no! I forgot the cannoli!” That famous line from The Godfather came to me immediately, “Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.” I laughed and thought, Fuggedaboutit! I’ll get some next week. This, I promise you.

—cher

Excitement builds in our hometown of Pittsburgh as Christopher Nolan‘s Batman‘s  series begins filming “The Dark Knight Rises” here. In praising Pittsburgh’s downtown architecture Nolan stated, “It’s a very beautiful city, on a very impressive scale,” and called it “incredibly valuable” to the look of the film. And Pittsburgh rolled out its version of the Red Carpet in welcoming cast and crew.

photo by brdonovan of Flickr

As they drove through the Fort Pitt Tunnel Wednesday and Thursday nights this week, Lightwave International Inc., a Pittsburgh-based production company that specializes in laser light shows and special effects for films and events, displayed the emblem of the caped crusader on Fifth Avenue Place. It was certain to be eye-catching and a wonderful welcome to those involved in the film.

Emma Thomas stated at a news conference, “We feel very welcome, even down to the bat symbol that was displayed last night. We’re really excited to be here, quite apart from the incredible reception that we’ve gotten and the excitement that we feel in shooting here, I think we’re all really looking forward to just spending a month in Pittsburgh and enjoying our summer.”

The film stars include  Christian Bale and Anne Hathaway, two actors of great renown whom we welcome to our city of Pittsburgh. As the summer goes on, and the cameras roll, the people of Pittsburgh will surely be anxious to catch glimpses of scenes being shot in our city for a series that has captured audiences world-wide. Summer is always amazing in Pittsburgh. This summer brings even more excitement as  “The Dark Knight Rises.”

**see related article

http://askcherlock.com/2008/12/heath-ledger-long-days-journey-into-knight/

—cher

Image via Wikipedia

About five years ago I was Investigating for an agency approximately sixty miles north of Pittsburgh. One of the women who worked in that office came in one Monday morning looking fired up, but shaken. She and her husband had planned a camping trip in that county, where they had lived for years. They had their two young teens packed, the car loaded with a tent and supplies, and drove off to find a nestled area where they would set up camp for the weekend. “Susan” (not her real name) and her husband had just finished putting up the tent. The kids were unpacking, and her husband went off to find some fire wood for the evening campfire. It seemed an idyllic setting for a weekend of family, fun, and making memories.

After Susan’s husband had left the tent area to look for wood, a group of men who were average looking, according to Susan, approached her and told her in no uncertain terms to take down the tent and the camp. Feisty gal that she is, Susan told them to leave and that no, she would not take down the tent and the camp! Their response, Susan later told me was, “Lady, you and your kids don’t want to be here tonight. There’s gonna be a meetin’.” Susan quickly grasped what they meant. The Klan was going to be there.

She had heard that the Klan was in the area, she said, but she had never encountered any before, that she knew of.  When her husband got back to the camp, Susan and the kids had the tent down. She recounted the story to her husband, and they left. There would be no camping that weekend. But the timing of the incident is important here. It happened just prior to Barack Obama being elected to the presidency. His campaign had begun.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, since the 2008 election right-wing extremists “have capitalized on related racial and political prejudices in in expanded propaganda campaigns, thereby reaching out to a wider audience of potential sympathizers.”

Ann Van Dyke of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission said of Keystone United: “It appears they are tapping into and fanning the flames of mainstream America‘s fear of immigrants. They are increasingly using the language of Main Street, things like, “We want safe communities to raise our children.’”

“Many white supremacist groups are going more mainstream,” said Jack Levin, a Northeastern University criminologist who studies hate crime. “They are eliminating the sheets and armbands. … The groups realize if they want to be attractive to middle-class types, they need to look middle-class.” Levin estimated fewer than 50,000 people are members of white supremacist groups, but he says their influence is growing with a more sophisticated approach.^”

The KKK has gone contemporary. They may look like your next door neighbor, and may not espouse their views to you if they believe you are not a sympathizer. But no matter what they are calling themselves these days, or how they look, be certain of one thing. White supremacists do exist and they may be coming to a town near you. These are heated times politically in our country. Most of us do not want to believe that these people still have heinous agendas. But they do. Be careful whom you elect to public office. Sometimes even those in suits can be hiding the most vicious of White nationalism, all in the name of “taking back our country”.

For a state-by-state look at where some of these groups are prolific, check this link by the Southern Poverty Law Center:

http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-files/ideology/ku-klux-klan/active_hate_groups

“Pack up the babies and grab the old ladies…”

—cher

**Video clip is from the film “O Brother Where Art Thou.”

The crusties have arrived in Pittsburgh. They like it here in the warmth of summer, sleeping under bridges or wherever they can find that is suitable, perhaps renting a room and getting a shower. Back in the day, they were referred to as hobos, these people who ride the rails or hitchhike as a way of life. For many of them, this is their chosen path. Who am I to judge?

Bill Toland of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette did a truly interesting article about this group and interviewed several.  Toland writes, “They have adopted an ‘anarchist lifestyle’, generally disengaging from normal society.”  One of those Toland interviewed stated, “We travel because we are seeking life. Others are running from it or have given up on it. We try to be as non-parasitic as possible.” And that is true. They go dumpster-diving near grocery stores or markets and seem to sustain themselves well. Some panhandle; some will sing songs, but all seem to find comfort in what the rest of us may see as an itinerant lifestyle. As in the old days, some arrive, not only in this city but in others around the country, on freight cars. It is a nomadic way of life, but in some part of the hippy that still resides in me, I can understand it.

There must be a freedom in “disengaging from society.” After all, much of our society demands that we be placed in niches deemed correct and abiding by someone. The majority? When we look at our political realm today, I often wonder whether this majority rule is detrimental to life fulfillment. We must seek success which is determined by a career, a house, 2.5 children, Eco-friendly vehicles, and being law-abiding. With so many citizens still having homes going into foreclosure, losing jobs, pensions and health care, is this such a terrible way of life? Perhaps they have found a viable alternative.

I will admit that I do not know much about the crusties. Are they anarchists poised to take over our country as we know it? That does not strike me as having a true ring, though I am certain many of them have ideas regarding who is in charge. Then again, perhaps they do not care. The crusties are young and old. Some come from solid backgrounds; some were abandoned at an early age, and some are probably very much like you and me. When I was a child my parents spoke in derogatory terms about hobos. I never saw any, let alone knew any. But after reading Toland’s article today, I commend the crusties for following a simplistic, if difficult lifestyle. Rainbows come in many different colors.

—cher

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Steeler Nation celebrates the win of Hines Ward on this season’s Dancing With The Stars! He was masculine grace. He was ultimate sex appeal. He toughed it out and had all the right moves. Pittsburgh has adored Hines Ward for years as the Steeler with the most winning smile and as a player who has helped lead the Steelers to NFL Championships. Now his star power shines even brighter. Most of all, Hines just has a great heart and glows with good character, as well as athletic prowess. One smaller accomplishment is that because of Hines Ward, I watched Dancing With The Stars for the first time this season.

I sat in the living room cheering for him these past weeks, and okay, I did cheer for Kirstie Alley too, but I wanted Hines to win. Hines Ward belongs to our hometown of Pittsburgh and when those Terrible Towels were waving in the audience by Franco Harris and Jerome Bettis, I just yelled a woohoo! Last night as well as these past weeks, I even called that magic number to cast my vote. I swear I have never done that before! And all that black and gold of the costumes was not lost on us. Hines even had a silk gold cloth hanging from his pocket that he waved at the end of tonight’s dance. And Pittsburgh cheered.

Congratulations to you Hines Ward. Once again you had us on our feet cheering and you made all of us proud. This is your moment, but you know, you just know, that we have to celebrate this one with you.

—cher

“Follow your dreams of a better world, and keep on trying, even when there seems to be little hope, because it is the right thing to do. We may never know how the seeds of kindness that we plant may help others on their journey, today, or even sometime far in the future. But every act of compassion makes a difference
– Robert Alan

Tony: Cher I know you attribute a ton of value to the benefits you receive from BlogCatalog. So thank you in advance. I want to also thank you for your continued and increased involvement on BloggersUnite.org, where you have been responsible in large part for organizing the first ever International Day of Compassion, as well as your work on BrooWaha, where you have recently became the Editor-in-Chief. With all this going on plus a busy family life, I am curious how do you stay so extremely motivated to blog on your own blog AskCherlock and remain active in these and other communities?               

Cher: As a blogger, it is really an imperative to be involved in blogging communities. If you do not have a venue in which to find fellow bloggers, you can easily get lost in the blogosphere where thousands enter the arena every month. Joining BlogCatalog four years ago, as you know, really got our blog jump-started. I found blogs that I wanted to follow, and subsequently people stared following us.

Through BlogCatalog I found BloggersUnite, which I dearly love because it shows how magnanimous people are. The fist article I did for a BloggersUnite cause was on Domestic Violence. I have been a social activist for most of my adult life, so this was a natural fit. It shows the best of human nature as well as bringing out the best in bloggers, who truly do have power.

I joined Broowaha simply as a place where I could join others who love to write for the sake of writing, whether it is on politics, humor, poetry, or reviews. It is a writer’s haven.

My motivation for being active in these communities is primarily a sense of belonging. Yes, it brings hits to the blog, but the spirit of each of these communities has its own draw. I have found enduring friendships with people I otherwise would never have met. They are like a support system. We encourage each other in a positive way and that was an unexpected bonus in blogging.

Tony: What advice would you give to someone who is starting out blogging?

Cher: Bloggers should have purpose and tenacity. We began blogging during the last presidential campaign. We had opinions and wanted to get them out there. We were hungry! Whether one has a blog about health and nutrition, fashion, relationships, whatever, you need that “fire in the belly,” which may have been a Norman Mailer quote, I’m not sure. When I taught Public Speaking to high school students, I told them that if they were going to be persuasive, they needed to believe in what they were saying and had to stay focused. As long as you believe in what you are writing, then write. But more importantly, comment on other blogs. Feed them and they will, in turn, feed you. It is reciprocal, and it is fun.

Tony: That’s sage advice. Your blog is written by you and your husband Richard. How do you decide who gets to blog and about what?

Cher: That has been a natural evolution over time. After the presidential elections were over, I became more interested in posting articles about issues of social import, whether it was on Domestic Violence, crime, women’s issues or just slipping back into my activist role.

Richard, on the other hand, remains interested and well-informed on political issues globally. He reads incessantly. His background was in Economics and I have learned more about the DOW than I ever knew existed!

Tony: Is there an active blogging community in Pittsburgh, you home-town? Do the Pittsburgh bloggers have meet-ups?

Cher: Actually, there is a group of us from Pittsburgh who found each others blogs. Last Spring we had out first Bluz (blues) fest, hosted by Bluzdude and about 20 of us met for dinner and drinks. You can imagine a group of bloggers getting together! There was no shortage of great conversation and lots of laughs. We had been commenting on each others blogs, so it was grand to put faces and personalities to the names. We are having another fest on Memorial Day, and we all want it to be a tradition. This year the list of those who will be attending has grown, so it will be amazing! I highly recommend it for bloggers. The bonding is wonderful.

Tony: Would you mind describing what you love most about blogging?

Cher: I love being exposed to new people with diverse viewpoints. I have learned so much. I also just love to write, and I write best in the middle of the night (Billy Joel is singing somewhere) when there are no distractions. I have inadvertently become a night owl.

Tony: As a former PI what sort of effect do you believe it has on your blogging style?

Cher: Being a P.I. made me more discerning, or perhaps I had that ability before I was initially hired in the business. I always thought they hired me because I was blonde at the time, and was the first female Investigator in that office. I played the blonde role to the hilt, wearing berets and acting, well…like the caricature. It was theater. But when blogging, I can usually tell if someone is running a game, but not always. I left the beret and the blonde hair behind. I do think it has helped me in doing interviews. I like asking probing questions.

Tony: Was AskCherlock the first name that you came up with for your blog?

Cher: Oh gosh, if I could change anything about our blog it would be the name. When I was an Investigator, the guys for whom I worked gave me the nickname Cherlock. And it stuck! Even when the kids call they want to know how the Cherlocks are doing. I broached the idea of starting a blog with Richard one night. Actually I woke him from a dead sleep and said, “Let’s start a blog!” He asked, “Wuz a blog,” and I took that as a yes! Naturally I wanted his opinion about a name and he said, “AskCherlock.” We knew nothing about blogging when we started. Now four years later, it’s kind of our brand, so we will keep it.

Tony: What person has inspired you the most?

Cher: My mom was a huge influence on me. She was super intelligent and sophisticated, but had a raucous sense of humor. She also made certain that current events were discussed each night during dinner. She and my father would volley opinions back and forth, and then Mom would toss questions to my brother and me. It was expected that we knew some answers. She was a social advocate long before it became sort of in vogue, and she was genuine about it. I also had a high school English teacher who became my first mentor. I was quite shy, but at her urging I became involved in theater, Forensic tournaments across the state, and she said I had Celtic writing style. I had to go to the library to look that up, and I’m Irish! The fact that this woman, whom I so respected believed in me, gave me courage. The power of teachers should never be underestimated.

Tony: You have run a number of businesses in the past and have a great deal of professional experience and knowledge about different fields of life. Would you mind sharing your views on where blogging has come from and where you see it going?

Cher: I believe the need for social change really was the burgeoning of blogging. Through the power of high tech, suddenly people of all stripes were able to connect, share opinions, make friends, and be a force to be reckoned with, as witness the election of Obama. I had a website when I owned my Antique business in the ‘90’s, and it was a powerful tool for doing business globally even then. Bloggers are doing restaurant reviews, book reviews and even have seats with the White House Press Corps. Bloggers have a power and are not only gaining momentum, but recognition. It is an exciting time!

Tony: If you had a magic wand where would you like to be in a years time both in your professional blogging life and in your personal life and why?

Cher: I love my life as it is. With any good fortune, I will keep blogging and enjoying it. I really don’t foresee that changing. In my personal life, I would like to spend a few more weeks in Florida or Arizona during the winter. While I love Pennsylvania, I do not like winter. I have slight build, so I am cold from October through April. When I am not at the computer, I am in front of the fireplace, wrapped in my cozy blue blanket with a cup of coffee in my hand. A few days a month for a getaway, that’s all I ask. I wonder how Tuscany is during the winter.

Tony: You have been such a positive force behind BrooWaha, a writer’s community. I believe BrooWaha has some of the most interesting and highly intelligent writers on the web. Why is it that more bloggers don’t take advantage of writing resource like BrooWaha?

Cher: Some of the best writers I have ever read are on Broo. As a community, it would serve us well to invite bloggers we read who are good writers. It would enhance us all. Perhaps the name could be changed to something more of a draw, like Broo, A Writer’s Den for Online Citizen Journalists. Just a thought….

Tony: I like that idea. If it’s alright I’d like to change the focus to BloggersUnite and the upcoming event. You recently had the opportunity to do a phone interview with the “real” Dr. Patch Adams for the first International Day of Compassion that was inspired by him and you have organized in his honor to enable him to build the hospital of “our dreams.”

You shared with me how wonderful it was to talk to Dr. Adams. Would you mind describing why you found speaking to him such an unbelievable experience?

Cher: You know, Tony, I had prepped for two weeks before the interview with Patch Adams. I read a book he had written entitled House Calls. I read Patch Adams.org over and over again. I read every article on the Net I could find about him. I had an entire list of questions for him. But from the moment we began the interview and he called me “Cher,” everything on my desk was set aside and we just had a conversation like two friends. There is something in the tenor of his voice, in his laugh, in his inflections, that just speak straight to the heart.

He is real. He is genuine. I actually choked back tears at one point in the interview. As the professional as I had hoped I would be, I was just me and Patch was our beloved Patch. I believe in him and in all he stands for, which is kindness, compassion, joy, and love. I spoke earlier about discernment. I knew, just knew that Dr. Patch Adams is everything he projects. We spoke for about 35 minutes, and I didn’t want to let him go. But if we tend to his message and carry it forth, he will be there smiling and hugging us all across the miles. Now let’s build that hospital!

Tony: I am with you. Thank you Cher. I appreciate your time, energy and the gift your are to all of the BC communities and the people that you connect.

Cher: You are welcome. Thank you, Tony.

To Connect with Cher:

Blog: AskCherlock, a blog about Politics, Opinions, Life Issues, Impact! & Poetry by Cher

BrooWaha: Cher’s Writer Bio

Twitter: @askcherlock

LinkedIn: Poetry by Cher

BlogCatalog: Blogger Bio

BloggersUnite: International Day of Compassion

Those of us who live here, know that Pittsburgh is a great city. As with residents of any city, we may complain from time to time about the weather, but that can happen no matter where you live. In our hearts we know that this city is outstanding, and in the last few years it has gained well-deserved prominence.

fDi Magazine, a division of the London-based Financial Times, describes itself as “firmly established as the world’s premier publication for business globalization. Published on a bi-monthly basis with an ABC-certified, highly targeted circulation of more than 15 ,000, fDi provides corporate decision-makers with an up-to date image of the ever-changing global investment map.” They were also the latest to put Pittsburgh at the top of their North American Cities of the Future survey in the category of cities with a population between 250,000 and 750,000. “This ranking goes out to an international audience whose readers want to know what places are hot, if you will,” said Dewitt Peart, president of Pittsburgh Regional Alliance.

The ranking of Pittsburgh by  fDi Magazine is yet one more to add to the list of plaudits given to this city. Last year Forbes ranked Pittsburgh first as Most Livable City.  Also last year, The Huffington Post ranked Pittsburgh second as Best City for Recent College Graduates. Charity Navigator ranked Pittsburgh first as most Charity-Conscious City in 2010 and American Styles ranked Pittsburgh third in Best Arts Destination in 2009.

We also know that we have some of the most friendly and warm-hearted people anywhere. We are a big city with a small town feel, as the saying goes. Google established a test site here for the company’s high-speed broadband network and draws many graduates from Carnegie Mellon and the University of Pittsburgh, among other local universities.  In addition we have an educated and youthful population, and that leads to a consumer-driven population.  Expensive condos are being built throughout the city and many are bought before construction is even completed.  There has also been major expansion along our three river fronts that now offer casinos, exquisite dining, biking trails, and cosmopolitan living in a green environment. Did I mention that the next “Dark Knight” sequel is being filmed here? The producers stated they loved the beauty of the city.

If you still think of our city as that smokey steel city, please think again. The rejuvenation of Pittsburgh flourished, even as the economy was in recession. So if you are looking for a unique getaway where culture flourishes, beauty abounds, people are friendly, and football and hockey fans are nearly rabid, take a trip to Pittsburgh and see what all the fuss is about!

—cher

It was a cold day in Pittsburgh on November 19, 2008 and it was about to become colder. FBI agent Samuel Hicks and other agents and police officers were about to serve a warrant associated with a drug distribution ring. Agent Hicks had spent five years on the front line of drug wars in Baltimore, crawling through abandoned houses, standing on street corners, and watching anything and everything that happened around him, looking for perpetrators of drug deals. In February of 2007 he transferred to Pittsburgh to continue his efforts in the region where he had grown up.

On this November day,  special agent Samuel Hicks, along with other agents and police officers, went to the home of Robert Korbe to issue a search warrant about 6:00 a.m. They knew Korbe had a long history of being trouble. Korbe had already pleaded guilty to drug or weapons charges twice since 1991. He had been charged and had received probation. Robert Korbe had also been charged with assault, resisting arrest, possession of cocaine, and had allegedly fought with police officers in May 2008, injuring one of the officers. He had been freed on $25,000 bond and was scheduled for arraignment. This warrant being served on November 19, 2008 involved accusations of drug trafficking in a ring with thirty other men and four women. 

Hicks and the other agents were ready for Korbe. According to an affidavit, the officers knocked on the door, announced themselves, and ordered Korbe to give up.  When he did not respond, the agents knocked down the front door with a battering ram. What they were not prepared for was Christina Korbe, Robert Korbe’s wife. Agent Hicks was the first one who burst through the door behind the battering ram, and Christina Korbe, armed with a .38-caliber handgun fired one shot, hitting FBI agent Samuel Hicks in the collar bone just above his bulletproof vest, but the bullet entered his chest cavity. Less than an hour later he was pronounced dead. He was 33 years old and left behind a wife and a three year old son.

Christina Korbe has maintained that she thought burglars were entering her house and was protecting her two children, even though the agents stated they had had announced themselves, per procedures. She stated she was asleep and did not hear the agents announce themselves.  Reports state that Robert Korbe had fled to his basement to destroy evidence but was arrested.

Robert Korbe entered a plea agreement and was sentenced to 25 years in prison for cocaine distribution with no chance of parole. And now the kicker in the story. Christina Korbe, accused of the murder of FBI agent Samuel Hicks, has been proclaiming her innocence. Today we learned that she will “plead guilty to unspecified charges and will be sentenced on Tuesday,” according to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. A plea deal has been struck but as of this writing, it is unknown what the terms are. A family spokesman stated that earlier discussions had included pleas to manslaughter and a gun charge. The family had claimed that she could not have gotten a fair trial, and now say they wanted a trial so “the truth could come out.” The truth is that Samuel Hicks is dead and Christina Korbe has made a deal.

The government contends that Ms. Korbe killed agent Hicks with “malice aforethought” but that there was no premeditation, which is a requirement for a first-degree murder conviction. Just where, then, is the justice for FBI agent Samuel Hicks?

Somehow our society has turned upside down. The drug trafficking will continue due to popular demand. Bullets will continue to fly as they did in Tucson, and Agent Hicks is dead. He was a young man who tried to make this world a better place, a safer place, and pleas abound from “I didn’t hear them” battering down my door and announcing they were FBI to insanity, which I am certain will come into play in Tucson. Our entire society has become a version of Deal or No Deal and there will be more Darkness at Noon, at 6:00 a.m. and on quiet afternoons in supermarkets. So Annie get your guns and preachers say some prayers, because it’s Showtime, folks.

—cher

Most families have their heroes or heroines, those whom the family deems as destined for greatness. In my family, The One was a second cousin named Patricia. She was part of the extended Irish side of my family, and I had adored her when we were growing up. Patricia was ten years older than I. She had beauty and grace, a looming contrast to my adolescent awkwardness, and had already done quite a few prestigious modeling jobs. She was fragile looking, like a porcelain doll. Her large, warm brown eyes gazed at you softly and she spoke with gentility and an openness that quietly glimpsed a loving, tender, and vulnerable heart.

As often happens with friends and family, time and distance take their separating tolls, and I did not see Patricia for a long time. One day some years ago, I left my office in the city for lunch on a frigidly cold day and fighting against slapping cold winds. The sidewalks were crowded with nooners in their usual hurried manner. Suddenly, I caught sight of a beautiful woman dressed in a stunning fur coat across the street from me. She was stopping people at random trying to communicate with them in a seemingly desperate and urgent manner. I observed the brusque treatment she was receiving.

Since I was a social worker at the time, I knew this was not a safe thing for a woman to do, especially in the city and most especially to hungry people eager to escape the confines of their office. Pondering this and still watching her, a jolt of reality struck. Suddenly I realized that it was Patricia! I dodged traffic and slush in the street and ran to her. She recognized me immediately. We hugged and said the Oh My’s and How Are You’s and It’s Been So Long’s, almost like the Rosary.

On that street corner Patricia began telling me she had received an epiphany from the Blessed Mother that the world was going to end soon. Was I ready? I was befuddled, taken off guard and it was noisy. Where was the model I had known? I couldn’t quite catch what she was rapidly saying, so I suggested we go inside a nearby restaurant for coffee. “Oh no,” she said, “I’m not allowed in there.” A flash of my Irish got the best of me and I responded, “Oh yes you are!”

We entered a restaurant I frequented and a waitress arched her eyebrow at Patricia. I arched an eyebrow back and told her she was with me. It was all so surreal. After all, this was The One! Don’t you know that? Reluctantly and with a hint of “humph,” the waitress seated us. I ordered coffee for me and tea for Patricia. She talked; I listened.

She said the Blessed Mother had told her of a coming apocalypse and that she was to warn people. Though she told me that she was married to an architect and had a beautiful home in the suburbs, she said she rode buses all over the city day and night, committed to heeding the Blessed Mother’s request that she foretell this event. Patricia told me almost casually that she had been beaten several times and once her leg had been broken. I cringed at the thought of anyone hurting this fragile, if tormented soul. I tried to dissuade her from riding these buses and from approaching strangers but she would have none of it. With solemn and quiet resignation, she said that in her epiphany she had been told she was to die the death of a martyr. It was all too much for my psyche to absorb.

That was the last time I saw Patricia. For a while the Pittsburgh Post Gazette did some articles about her and dubbed her “The Sparrow.” The Sparrow Christian Symbol represents and symbolizes the concern of God for the most insignificant living things. I could understand why they did articles about Patricia. She was a fascinating anomaly, lovely, delicate and beautifully dressed but undaunted in what she saw as her spiritual, albeit dangerous, calling. Then she disappeared. To this day no one knows what actually happened to her.

After our meeting near my office, I had contacted some family members. Some tried to label her in terms other than crossed synapses. “She had problems,” they would say euphemistically. But did she? I suppose only God knows. Her family was left in earthly limbo, a sorrowful place to be. My prayer is that Patricia, this sweet and gentle child of God, is at rest in His arms and that His eye is on “The Sparrow.”

—cher

This voice of this beautiful child, Jackie Evancho from our city of Pittsburgh, is thrilling. She must have a God-given talent. I won’t say anymore. Just watch this astonishing video.

—-cher

Recently Pittsburgh was listed by Forbes magazine as one of the best cities in the country in which to live. Having lived here most of my life, I could not agree more. I have watched this city evolve into a cosmopolitan region which has built up its support of the arts, emerged relatively well from the economics crisis, and has some of the best medical facilities and universities in the world. We have a young Mayor in Luke Ravenstahl, sometimes referred to as the “boy mayor,” but his vision for the city is youthful and daring in its expansion for the city’s future. He has a verve which I like. Still, I look back with some nostalgia at times and places in the city which have changed or gone by the wayside in a natural evolutionary process.

I grew up in Sharon Hill Manor, a suburb outside the city but going “into town” was a great adventure for us as children and young adults. People “dressed to the nines,” as they used to say. My mother, always in high heels and wearing gloves; my father always in a suit. Every Christmas it was tradition for us to go into town, have dinner in one of the best restaurants, then walk through the city admiring all the department store window displays, animated with moving santas and elves. It was magical!

My mother had decided that every young woman should attend charm school, learning the most proper etiquette, mannerisms and carriage. She enrolled me in a class in the city to be attended every Saturday, and I enlisted my friend Annie, who reluctantly agreed to do the same.

The first stop we made was the hallowed marble floors of the Jenkins Arcade, one of first indoor malls. It was filled with exclusive shops and one store which sold only buttons. Women sewed in those days. I never did, and still don’t. I always had a distaste for it, so I have learned where all the best tailors are located. But the show windows in the Jenkins Arcade of finery shops made our eyes glisten with dreams of shopping there…someday. Expensive luggage which we would purchase for our many travels; glassware and porcelain statues we would buy to decorate our homes; and furs to be lavishly draped around us when we became women. This was the stuff of which dreams were made.

Next we would walk to the KQV radio station on 7th Avenue, where DJ Chuck Brinkman did his rock ‘n roll show from a studio which faced the street in a large glass pane window. Teens crowded around to actually see the DJ we all listened to from our radios at home. For us he was a celebrity and we loved this vicarious treat.

After our charm school class, Annie and I would go back to the Jenkins Arcade and have lunch at Palmer’s Restaurant. We felt so grown up and full of charm as we ordered. Still, we were a couple of giggling teenage girls, sharing many stories and dreams during those luncheons. After lunch we would go to Joseph Horne’s posh department store and buy a new purse or sweater. Horne’s was lavish in its look. Crystal chandeliers glistened; women at the counters were beautifully dressed; and there was a sense of class above all else. It was our dream store.

All these places are gone now. Evolution is inevitable and mostly welcomed. No one can take away our memories though, and those days in the city are some of my fondest. Oh yes, about that charm. I still walk and sit like “a lady” but I have learned a few things along the way. My daughter, for example, whom I did not send to charm school, taught me the word “beoch.” She calls me this endearingly, the bitch! I should have sent her to charm school.

—cher

Big Ben Roethlisberger has become our hometown hero as one of the best Quarterbacks in football. He helped the Steelers win games when it was so close, they may not have had that win in their column. We have held him up high as he himself raised the bar in football and raised the Lombardi Trophy over our city.  Pittsburgh loves its heroes and Ben has been one who helped a city which is re-inventing itself, to promote that positive image. We stand by our own, even when many others give up. Now, however, he has once again brought questions about his character and may have lowered the bar in his personal lifestyle.

In 2006 he nearly lost his life due to not wearing a helmet while riding and crashing his motorcycle. We chalked it up to his youth and rallied for his recovery. Then a hostess in Nevada accused Ben of sexually assaulting her. She had failed to file a police report and Ben denied the accusations. They settled out of court and many chalked this one up to a wanton woman wanting money from a Super (and rich) hero. The latest of Ben’s escapades, however,  has us shaking our heads, talking in coffee shops and wondering whether Big Ben has been off-sides in personal life, thereby casting aspersions not only on himself, but on football, the Rooneys and this city of Pittsburgh.

As a woman I ask myself why a woman would go to the police and file a report of sexual assault, when we know that in courts, many women are re-victimized as every aspect of their personal life is examined and dissected in the search for her as being complicit. It is a humiliating process for women, and one does not take this step lightly. The twenty year old college student who happened to be in the same bar in Milledgeville, Georgia last week as Ben Roethlisberger, has taken the steps of filing a complaint of sexual assault against him with the police, hiring an attorney and thereby subjecting herself to scrutiny which will be denigrating and up-heaving. Ben has hired one of the top attorneys in Atlanta. Another high-profile case has begun, and this time it is not Tiger Woods or one of the Washington politicians. It is Big Ben, hometown hero.

The investigation continues and Ben is innocent until proven guilty. That is the law. What the law does not cover is that this 28 year old man should have better judgment. Whether he likes it or not, with the victories come the spoils and that should not include rotten behavior which denotes lack of character.  Certainly he is no newcomer to fame. Whether on the field or off the field, he has a responsibility to conduct himself properly. He may be innocent. She may be seeking money. But this time, this time, Ben has us all wondering whether he deserves the status he has attained.

—cher

My taste in music is eclectic, from Blues, to Classical, to Big Band and to the Oldies, or Doo Wop. Pittsburgh’s own Porky Chedwick, The “Daddio of the Raddio” and “The Platter Pushin’ Papa” gave Pittsburgh its introduction to some of the greatest music of our youth. He gave us cross-cultural music to which some of our parents forbid us to listen. But we did anyway and it was the wave and the rave here in Pittsburgh. It was years before I realized Porky was White! We fell in love to his music at dances and learned each lyric. There were many of these sounds I didn’t hear until I went to college. The experts of great music were there and taught me the art in Doo Wop. I should have learned that well in classes!

Friday night dances were the only place to be that night on campus and Oldies were what they played. I found Junior Walker and The All Stars who sang “Shotgun” and we were all out on the floor. Some of the songs had been played by Mad Mike on a Pittsburgh radio station, but I didn’t find the Mad One until I went to college. I learned fast and devoured every song like a chocolate bar. Then I landed a gig on the campus radio station and every Tuesday night, Cher played the Oldies from 10:00p.m. to midnight.

I guess we all reminisce about our youth, but those sounds are still some of my favorites. Today I’m taking a break from the dance of politics and giving you some favorite Oldies to enjoy.  Of course I was there and lovin’ the whole show. Since The Skyliners are from Pittsburgh, you know they are included here. I hope this brings back some good memories for you.

—cher

Chicago is burning with violence but the Obamas want the 2016 Olympics there. Can the flames be doused by then?

Debra Winger is one of the Hollywood celebs ranting that Polanski be set free. She is a Hollywood has-been and he is a roman candle that needs to face the law.

General Stanley McChrystal is making the talk show circuit. Is it proper to go over the Commander in Chief and express policy issues on 6o Minutes?

“Bring out ya dead!” Parents are refusing to get basic immunizations as well as flu shots for their children. In this form of parental neglect, they are putting not only their children at risk, but yours and mine. Send those children home and fine their parents. Yes, boys and girls, a pandemic is looming. We need Mr. Rogers back.

In Pittsburgh: Some communities want to impose a $35.00 annual fee for residents and businesses with alarm systems. This strikes me as strangely ironic.

Gun Control? Surely you jest. The only people who don’t have guns are some law-abiding citizens. Well, okay, many law-abiding citizens have guns too. I mean, what’s the point? It’s High Noon. See above mention of Chicago.

WWOD? Translation: What would Oprah do?

—cher

It is mid-morning on this first day of the G-20 Summit, but so far so good. Greenpeace had people rappelling from a bridge in Pittsburgh yesterday. They dangled above a river with a banner that read “Danger: Climate Destruction Ahead; Reduce CO2 Emissions Now.” After two hours, the police successfully talked them into coming up. Greenpeace did so peacefully and 14 were arrested. For the most part, the protest groups seem a bit unfocused, having ideas but no real agenda. The major demonstration is expected at 2:30 this afternoon from a group called The G-20 Resistance Project, an anarchist group.

Security is about as tight as it can be in this circumstance. You cannot drive into the city. Mayor Luke Ravenstahl stated that the number of city police officers, out-of-town officers and state troopers is approaching 4000. There are over 2400 armed National Guard in the city. Yesterday we could see and hear Apache helicopters circling the city.  Somehow that was a comforting sound. It has also been suggested that the economy has impacted the low (up to this point) turn-out of protesters. Perhaps some did not have the resources for travel and lodging. Just passing this thought along.

The opening reception for the G-20 representatives will be hosted by President Obama this evening at Phipps Conservatory. It is to be a working dinner and the spouses will gather at the estate of Theresa Heinz Kerry. Phipps Conservatory is a beautiful place of botanical gardens and has been restructured in the last few years to be a Green building. You can Google this for a well-deserved look.

We will attempt to bring you rolling updates as situations warrant.

—cher

2:45p.m

SWAT Teams have moved into the Strip District of Pittsburgh to remove the unlicensed (by the City) group The G-20 Resistance Project, an anarchist group. Police are making some arrests and searching buildings in the vicinity. The Strip District of Pittsburgh is a market district of wholesalers, retailers, restaurants and cafe’s. It is approximately twenty blocks from the Convention Center where the G-20 will take place tomorrow. It is also within twenty blocks of where some dignitaries are staying. SWAT teams are in full armor. Some sources are calling this group The People’s Uprising. Again, they were not issued a permit to demonstrate. It has been reported that OC vapor had been dispersed into the crowd. It has also been reported that there are now sixty to one hundred of these protesters in a stand-off with the City SWAT Team. Some of the protesters are wearing either full face masks or bandannas which cover their nose and mouth, some are not.  There are police on the tops of buildings of the Convention Center and all other major points in the city. This was a protest which had been anticipated and prepared for.

The Russian dignitaries who were on their way into the city had to be re-routed.

4:45

Protesters are estimated to number about 100 people. SWAT Teams are now beating their shields with their batons and moving toward the protesters,  after giving the protesters much warning to disperse. As police move forward, the protesters are moving slowly back but yelling to police, “Disobey your orders.”

Armored police vehicles are now moving in toward the protesters. They are telling the potesters that this is “an unlawful assembly. If you do not leave you will be in violation.” Police in riot gear are also moving in.

5:00

Armored vehicles of the city police are moving slowly forward using piercing sirens and along with SWAT Teams are slowly pushing the crowd away from the immediacy of the downtown area. To this point there has been no violence on either side.

6:00 p.m.

All is quiet for now on the Pittsburgh front.

Contrasts of Pittsburgh: Old and New. We welcome the G-20 Summit.

The stage is set here in our great city of Pittsburgh and we are ready for the G-20 Summit. We will attempt to give you updates and a bit of our perspective as Pittsburgh residents.  It would seem that this city would have been an unlikely choice for the G-20 Summit. One may have expected Seattle, Chicago or any number of other major metropolitan cities in this country. Why Pittsburgh?

There have been many kudos and nods to Pittsburgh in these past years as it rose from the ashes of a vanishing steel industry and reinvented itself as an expanding and world-recognized health care leader; a city of prominent universities such as Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne University. It has also become a  stalwart for foreign investors, which is a continuing growth sector in our economy. Bayer, for example, has its U.S. headquarters here and it is among 340 firms in Pittsburgh that are foreign-owned enterprises. One might be put off at first by the phrase “foreign-owned enterprises” but in today’s global economy, this plays a critical role in a city that is going forward.

In 2007 Forbes magazine ranked Pittsburgh as the 10th cleanest city. In 2008 Forbes listed Pittsburgh as the 13th best city for young professionals, and in 2009 the British magazine The Economist, named Pittsburgh the most livable city in the United States. We are green in technology and striving for more all the time. Our smokey city had a rebirth and transformed into a service-oriented economy. We have gone from an industrial city to one of biotech and clean energy. Pittsburgh is a good footprint to follow and sets the path for other cities which are currently struggling in an effort to salvage themselves from the economic wrecking ball. Pittsburgh has shown that it can be done.

So follow the events with us which are about to unfold as the G-20 begins. We will offer you insights and be happy to talk about our hometown. As history has shown, much can happen at a G-20 Summit. Let’s watch it unfold together. We look foward to your input.

—cher

This my city. This is the city where my mother forced me to go to charm school at the age of fifteen. This is the city where I learned my love of architecture by gazing at buildings constructed with detailed and elegant design by old-world craftsmen. This is the city where cultures from many countries merged into a flavor of combined aromas in neighborhoods which embrace differences. This is the city of great universities and medical facilities to which people from around the world are drawn. This is the city that transformed itself from a smokey city of steel-makers on life-support to a city of culture, beauty, clean air, gloriously revived Victorian houses, and artsy loft condos. This is my city hosting the G-20 in September. This is my city of Pittsburgh. And my city is buying terrorism insurance for 15 buildings with the highest potential replacement costs in the event worst-case scenarios come to fruition during the Summit.

As I read the article in this morning’s paper, the lines leapt off the page and made my heart sink to a place of despair, fraught with fear. I thought of Dallas. Couldn’t help it. I thought of the Olympics of ’96 in Atlanta. Couldn’t help it. I thought of the ’72 Olypmics in Munich. Couldn’t help it. Pittsburgh is my city. And I cannot help it.

There will be protests, of course, because we are a nation of free speech. Pittsburgh upholds that. There will be Second Amendment people. We believe in the Second Amendment rights. Pittsburgh upholds that. But what will be the cost? Do we have insurance against the loners who are overheated by the obesity of mis-information?

I set the paper down and closed my eyes in prayer. Oh God, will you give us insurance against things which are beyond our control? This is my city and it has served you well. In its many domed Churches, Synagogues, Mosques and Temples, we have sent fervent prayers to you, trusted you in faith, and confessed our most grievous sins. Hear our prayers, oh God, and protect the leaders of the world who come here. Protect our President. Shield our city in a blanket of assurance that you will keep all safe. This is my city, oh God. This is Pittsburgh.

—cher