INQUIRER: Mayor-elect Michael Nutter, ever aware of the finest political detail, plans to celebrate the first full day of his administration by having a flood of regular Philadelphians walk through City Hall, winding up marble and granite stairwells to shake hands with the man who promised “a new day, a new way.” On Jan. 8 — Nutter’s first full day as mayor — he wants the public to come to City Hall and shake his hand. There will be free refreshments in an event tent in the courtyard. “We’re hoping people will get a feel for the new feel of […]
THE SCIENCE OF SLEEP: Meet The New Meth
WIRED: A nasal spray containing a naturally occurring brain hormone called orexin A reversed the effects of sleep deprivation in monkeys, allowing them to perform like well-rested monkeys on cognitive tests. The discovery’s first application will probably be in treatment of the severe sleep disorder narcolepsy. Orexin A is a promising candidate to become a “sleep replacement” drug. For decades, stimulants have been used to combat sleepiness, but they can be addictive and often have side effects, including raising blood pressure or causing mood swings. The military, for example, administers amphetamines to pilots flying long distances, and has funded research […]
RECONSIDER THIS: Barbarella Turns 40
BY MATTHEW DADDONA When director Robert Rodriguez announced in May of 2007 that he would take on Roger Vadim’s 1963 cult sci-fi classic Barbarella, the rumors about who would play the title role circled the globe faster than an orbiting satellite. Jessica Biel, Rose McGowan, Lindsay Lohan and even Beyonce Knowles were all attached, or rumored to be attached, at some point. Barbarella turns 40 in 2008, and since 40 is the new 30, she’s holding up pretty well, not that anyone ever expected more from her than a few stoned laughs and a half-dozen hard-ons. Luckily for us, Rodriguez […]
KILLADELPHIA: Shots To The Dome
INQUIRER: A man was shot in the forehead and shoulder just before midnight last night in the 5200 block of Spruce Street, a police spokesman said. Police said the shooting took place at about 11:50 p.m. The 27-year-old male is in critical condition at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. No arrests have been made.
EARLY WORD: The Exploding Plastic Inevitable
Fastic Plantastic/Plastic Fantastic is a portable, evolving environment made of conduit, plastic bottles, mylar and bubble wrap. Through play and escape in this immersive environment one may return to daily life renewed and with greater clarity on how to live a life that is more caring for our environment, our community, ourselves and with consideration for future generations. Influential inspirations include Buckminster Fuller, fluxus and contemporary activist driven art collectives. MORE
TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN: iMAYOR Changes Mind, Takes Pay Raise He Turned Down For 3 Years In A Row
INQUIRER: The fuss, critics said, is about political deceit and the stoking of citizen cynicism. “The mayor got credit from the public for turning down a big pay raise. Then, by the end of the term, he took it,” said City Controller Alan Butkovitz. “It undermines the credibility of the government.” For some of those who have long been frustrated with Street, news of the retroactive raises was a fitting capstone for an administration that is seen to have struggled in its final years. “This guy just doesn’t seem to have a shame bone in his body,” said Brett Mandel, […]
THERE WILL BE BLOOD: Benazir Bhutto 1953-2007
NPR: Charred vehicles burned in overnight rioting lay at the roadside in the town. A mob in Karachi looted three banks and set them on fire, police said. About 7,000 people in the central city of Molten ransacked banks and a gas station and threw stones at police, who responded by firing tear gas. In the capital, Islamabad, about 100 protesters burned tires in a commercial quarter of the city. Paramilitary rangers were given the authority to use live fire to stop rioters from damaging property in southern Pakistan, said Maj. Asad Ali, the rangers’ spokesman. Violent mobs burned 10 […]
HEAR YE: The Magnetic Fields Distortion
NOW PLAYING ON PHAWKER RADIO! CLICK HERE FOR TOUR DATES
FANTASTIC PLASTIC MACHINE: You Don’t Know
Cool vid and the song is, um, fun enough.
Arlen Specter Was Scheduled To Meet Bhutto Tonight
Islamabad, Pakistan (Dec. 27) – Senator Arlen Specter lays flowers for former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto after her assassination. Senator Specter visited Bhutto’s local party headquarters in the wake of the assassination with Representative Patrick Kennedy (left) and U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Anne Patterson UPDATE: Bhutto had been scheduled to meet hours later with US Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania and Representative Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island. Senator Latif Khosa, a lawmaker from Bhutto’s Pakistan Peoples Party, said she had planned to give the lawmakers a report outlining complaints on “pre-poll rigging” by Musharraf’s government and the military-run Inter-Services […]
EARLY WORD: Free Speech Ain’t Free
Philadelphia, PA (December 27, 2007) — The National Constitution Center, in partnership with the Freedom to Read Foundation, welcomes two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Anthony Lewis, one of the country’s most esteemed experts on the First Amendment and the author of the classic, Gideon’s Trumpet, to share his latest work, Freedom for the Thought That We Hate, on the importance of freedom of expression. Lewis’s new book tells the story of how the right of free expression evolved along with our nation and makes a compelling case for the adaptability of our Constitution. Lewis will discuss how our First Amendment rights […]
THIS JUST IN: The Piano Man Is Comin’ To Town
Philadelphia, December 27, 2007 — The Philadelphia Orchestra and Music Director Christoph Eschenbach will host an evening of eclectic performances on Saturday, January 26, 2008, to celebrate the 151st anniversary of the Academy of Music. Quintessential American singer, songwriter, composer and performer Billy Joel headlines in his first appearance with a major orchestra. Emerging artists Dísella Làrusdóttir, soprano, and Conrad Tao, piano, showcase stellar classical repertoire, and Blue Man Group show their colors in an original work with the Orchestra. MSNBC’s Chris Matthews hosts this special night, supported by main underwriter Blank Rome LLP. The Academy Ball immediately follows at […]