'Grand Theft' delivers more than mayhem

Eight hours into "Grand Theft Auto IV" (Rockstar Games, for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, $59.99;euro39), I've stolen 17 cars, run over 20 people and killed another 15 (some of whom had it coming). I've shaken down a couple of store owners and beaten up an old lady. I've driven while drunk and, perhaps worse, while talking on a cell phone.

I've also bowled and played pool. I've listened to some really cool tunes and watched a surprisingly lame standup routine by Ricky Gervais. I met a nice young lady and took her out to dinner. I bought some new clothes and got my car washed.

I haven't murdered any prostitutes or engaged in any graphic sex acts. …

[ METRO BRIEFS ]

After parade, 200 lost kids found

Thousands of people packing Washington Park after the 74th annualBud Billiken back-to-school parade sparked a wave of injuries andmissing-children cases on Saturday. More than 200 children wereseparated from their parents during a post-parade concert, which hadto be stopped because a fence collapsed and firefighters were calledin to take 45 people to hospitals for heat-related and otherinjuries, including bloody noses, shortness of breath, dehydrationand a fractured ankle. While none of those injuries was life-threatening, as many as 50 children--the youngest being 2 months and8 months old--still were separated from their parents shortly …

THE FUTURE OF WASTE

MUNICIPAL recyclers and solid waste managers often see composting as the feeble step child of resource management. In fact, recycling biodegradable organics was the big recycling success story in the United States during the 1990s.

Understanding the fundamental difference between community-generated organics and manufactured products and packaging is a key to achieving sustainable production and consumption systems. In the future, recycling of community-generated organics will increasingly become the centerpiece of municipal waste management. This is because community-generated organics will be the only material left. Products and packaging will have found their way back to the …

Giants-Steelers Stats

…

N.Y. Giants 3 6 0 12_21

Pittsburgh 7 0 7 0_14

First Quarter

Pit_Moore 32 run (Reed kick), 11:15.

NYG_FG Carney 26, 4:39.

Second Quarter

NYG_FG Carney 35, 10:30.

NYG_FG Carney 25, 3:31.

Third Quarter

Pit_Washington 65 pass from Roethlisberger (Reed kick), 10:00.

Fourth Quarter

NYG_FG Carney 24, 8:18.

A good kick in the Shins; Fruit Bats are no second bananas

FRUIT BATS NATHANIEL BRADDOCK

- 8 tonight

- Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln

- Tickets, $14-$16

- (773) 728-6000; oldtownschool.org

The Fruit Bats return home this weekend for a concert at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music, and that's a good place to start in describing what they're all about. The Fruit Bats are an indie pop band that will sound right at home in the listening room of one of the nation's best folk centers.

Twangy as well as twee, the Fruit Bats are helmed by Kenosha-born banjo instructor Eric D. Johnson. The D. is for differentiate: He's not Eric Johnson the noted guitar wanker, nor is he Eric …

Census push falls short City money fails to get response rate up to par Series: -DATELINE-

America has been taking a snapshot of its population since 1790,but the stakes in the census are higher than ever now.

When people aren't counted, as was the case in the 1990 census, itcosts their cities and states hundreds of millions of dollars infederal and state money.

Among the 10 largest cities in the United States, Chicago is oneof the most lavish spenders on the 2000 census, pouring at least $1.5million into printing barber smocks, posters and door hangers tospread a good word about the census. Cook County has spent another$340,000 on its campaign.

Still, Chicago has a less than impressive 40 percent response ratefor census forms.

"The money has …

Strikes against Iraq security forces kill 19

BAGHDAD (AP) — Three violent strikes against Iraqi security forces on Wednesday killed 19 people and wounded more than 50 across Iraq as the country struggles to protect itself while facing the U.S. military's departure at the end of the year.

Two morning bombings and a drive-by shooting at dawn revealed how vulnerable Iraqi forces remain to attacks after more than eight years of war.

Iraqi soldiers and police are a favorite target for militants, and are branded as traitors because of their training and working with American troops.

In the bloodiest attack Wednesday, a car bomb parked outside a restaurant where local police were having breakfast killed 15 people and …