Upstairs:
Andy James [ tek-know? | Cleveland ]
Jason Cuban
Rob Dunn
Paul Alexander
Aaron Clark

Downstairs:
Edgar Um
Bangers & Smash [Rezon8+Peterlee]
James Christopher
Jose Bec & Underground

High-performance audio system provided by Impact Audio

As always, there will be the usual costume contest with cash prizes as well as hor’dourves on the lower level. Please think twice when creating your costume as security will confiscate all dangerous and weapon-like props.

Chinatown Inn (Upper floors)
520 3rd Ave
Downtown Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Doors open @ 9pm
$15 Cover – 21+ w/ ID
Info line: 412.248.BOOO / 412-248-2666
www.humanaut.net

Promotion by S. Simpson, Humanaut

The reception kicks off on October 7th, 7:00PM at Zen Social Club in Station Square – with music by our one and only Adam Oliveri, hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and auction.

This year our auction features DESIGNER HAND BAGS (including Louis Vuitton, Juicy Couture, BCBG and MORE) and PITTSBURGH SPORTS MEMORABILIA (including a genuine Pens Hockey Stick autographed by Maxime Talbot and a football signed by Jeff Reed).

The fashion show premieres at 8:30PM, revealing the latest styles in hair and makeup by the renowned Philip Pelusi International Design Team and the hottest fall fashions.

This year we are offering Sponsorship packages as well as VIP tables, and general admission tickets. If interested in a Sponsorship package please contact Sara at 412.488.8951 x205

General Admission $30 presale, $40 at the door

Please come out and support a great cause at a great night in Pittsburgh! For questions please email me at sruth@philippelusi.com or call 412.488.8951 x205

If you are unable to attend the event, but wish to donate, please contact me. Any and all donations are appreciated, no donation is too small!

For online ticket, VIP, & sponsor reservations as well as absentee donations, please visit http://neoromance2009.yolasite.com/

Assholes who came to wreck the city: Thankfully there were only a handful of you, one in particular who came all the way from California just to smash some windows.  Other than that, I was fearing the worst from you and was surprised it wasn’t too bad.

Police who abused power on Thursday, Friday and Saturday: kindly fuck off. You’re supposed to be here to protect and serve. Remember: Mob Mentality works both ways.  I was fearing the worst from you and got it.

I’ll be the first to admit that I was in denial that Pittsburgh might have been able to handle things better than other cities in regards to the G20, WTO, etc.  Instead what we gave the world was not an ground-breaking platform for worldwide economic or health care reform… What we gave the world was a terrifying new way to quell dissent; one of sheer force against an unruly few.

We were touted as leaders in the Steel industry, then health care, technology and “green” technology.  Now we can add “how to create and run a Police-state” to that list.

And to think that during the day things were handled relatively well; except for using the LRAD device in neighborhoods with families who wanted nothing to do with the day’s “action”.  At night, however, it was like the police-state switch was turned on by the city. With directives from Mayor Luke Ravenstahl’s “Intelligence Apparatus”, you descended upon Oakland with something not seen in the streets of Pittsburgh in recent memory against a few and those unfortunate to be in the area who were simply curious.  Reading live feeds from Twitter and sites like G20Buzz.com, made me sick and fearful.   Videos on Youtube showed bad judgment by both sides in Oakland.  It showed that freedom in America may truly be dead.

Police want sympathy for what they go through (perhaps deservedly so) when their fellow officers are hurt or killed in the line of duty. But, they can’t have it both ways and terrorize innocent civilians and students who are far less of a threat to them – or the peace – than some crazed gunman with an assault rifle in Stanton Heights.  Students are ignorant, curious and confused, but storming Towers lobby with M-16s (were M-16s necessary?) and pointing them in students faces; herding everyone in Schenley Plaza like cattle, while telling everyone to disperse, then refusing the ability for anyone to leave; mocking arrested students by forcing them to pose as a trophy with 10-15 officers (Abu Ghraib, anyone?); bragging to others by taking pictures with women you arrested – it’s all sickening.

She said one of the officers was “taking a lot of pride” in taking mug shots next to female detainees, and that other officers frequently used profanities specifically derogatory to women.

“Some of them were making jokes when they were moving around from paddy wagon to paddy wagon about ‘getting the hot ones out,’” she said. – Post Gazette

Pittsburgh Police: I realize this wasn’t entirely in your hands and that there were many others from out of town who were involved. Just like the few protesters who come from out-of-town specifically to wreak havoc, I’m sure there are a few bad officers on the police-side of things that wanted to be here to bash heads. But this just further destroys the notion that you are here “to protect and serve”. You’ve allowed your reputation to be damaged locally and most likely globally; that even in the wake of what happened in April, people will no longer sympathize and instead think that what they see on TV is how Pittsburgh Police act and that how police-state / martial law in America is no longer hyperbole, but reality.   Great job, you may have now sewn more anger, dissent and confusion with which you need to deal.

I don’t know which way the fallout will drift, but we’ll see and what, if anything, will be overlooked on purpose or hushed up as not to further embarrass the city.

Unfortunately, the actions by police over these two days will not be scene by law enforcement as “we may have stepped over the line,” but as “so that’s how you get people to do what you want!”

We were somewhere around Lawrenceville, on the edge of the Strip District when the tear gas began to flow.   Riding down just ahead of the protesters when a group of police on bicycles flew by me and I remember saying, “I feel a bit queasy, I think  I should pull over.”  All I knew was I needed water and quickly.

I hadn’t eaten much since breakfast and felt like I would be sick.  I stopped at 37th and Penn and watched another group bike cops coast down the hill toward the Strip District.  Terribly out of shape, I panted, “I’m not equipped for this. I need fuel.”  I continued down Penn and found myself in front of a quiet dive bar guarded by a monster of a biker with  long hair and wearing a Harley Davidson cap.  The physical exertion of riding up Main, then 39th then 38th had exhausted me and I was close to emptying the contents of my stomach all over the place.

I began to lock up my bike with the stop sign when the behemoth spoke, “You shouldn’t leave your bike there – the brothers will be all over it.”

“I’m not staying too long, just waiting this madness out.”

“You one of them pussy protesters who whine about taxes and don’t do shit with their life, but make mine hell?”

“Absolutely not, I’m a God-fearing patriot much like yourself, mind if I get some water inside? Your next beer is on me.” He smiled and opened the door for me.  What I found inside was a caricature of the Pittsburgh of lore, rugged old iron workers drinking Miller High Life and pounders of Miller Lite.  What was surprising was the cute barmaid behind the counter, inked to high heaven; she had a cute, but carnal look to her.

“I’d just like some water and a beer for the monster-man outside protecting you from all the chaos.”  She brought me the water and told me not to worry about him that he was harmless.

“Man, I heard the police are all lined up with nightsticks and helmets down on Penn. I should get my bike helmet and my anti-protester stick and go help them bash some heads.”  Harmless, I’m sure.

Just then, we watched 3 school buses full of riot police rumble down Penn avenue toward the Strip.  The monster-man came inside, thanked me for the beer when we were interrupted by a loud rumbling sound.  A lanky man strolled in, “they just rolled dumpsters down 37th street to block police and they’re headed this way.”

The Area Monster-man leapt up more quickly that I ever imagined it possible and ran out the door.

Continued soon.

note: Yes, I did just recently watch Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas for the umpteenth time.

Part 2