IN GOD DRPA WE TRUST: Opening of the Walt Whitman Bridge, 1957 BY PAUL NUSSBAUM & DYLAN PURCELL OF THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER Throughout the five-county Pennsylvania region, there are 404 bridges that, like the Minnesota bridge, are designated “structurally deficient” and rated at or below 50 percent on a sufficiency scale. The local bridges are among 25,000 state-owned bridges identified Monday, along with their condition ratings, in a list released by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. PennDot had refused for months to release bridge-safety ratings of state-owned bridges, but agreed to make them public after the Minnesota collapse. The low-rated […]
ANCHORWOMAN: Alycia Lane Needs A Boyfriend
INQLINGS: “Is there a new guy in the life of CBS3 anchor Alycia Lane? Newsies at New York’s CBS2 are linking her to Chris Wragge, that station’s alpha anchormale. I hear that the Jersey-bred Wragge, 37, has been separated from Swedish Playboy model Victoria Silvstedt, whom he married in 2000. (References to their marriage have been excised from his CBS2 bio and from Silvstedt’s Web site.) Lane, 35, twice divorced, would not comment.” [via the INQUIRER] PHAWKLINGS: If THIS is Alycia Lane’s new boyfriend, then we don’t even wanna see those ‘risque’ pix she allegedly sent to you know who. […]
VIET NOW: General Petraeus’ Right-Hand Woman Is In The Cross-Hairs Of A Major Fed Corruption Probe
BY JAMES GLAN & ERIC SCHMITT OF THE NEW YORK TIMES BAGHDAD, Aug. 27 — Several federal agencies are investigating a widening network of criminal cases involving the purchase and delivery of billions of dollars of weapons, supplies and other materiel to Iraqi and American forces, according to American officials. The officials said it amounted to the largest ring of fraud and kickbacks uncovered in the conflict here. The inquiry has already led to several indictments of Americans, with more expected, the officials said. One of the investigations involves a senior American officer who worked closely with Gen. David H. […]
GAY OLD PARTY: GOP Sen. Snagged In Potty Sex Sting
VIA ROLL CALL: Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) was arrested in June at a Minnesota airport by a plainclothes police officer investigating lewd conduct complaints in a men’s public restroom, according to an arrest report obtained by Roll Call Monday afternoon. Craig’s arrest occurred just after noon on June 11 at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. On Aug. 8, he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor disorderly conduct in the Hennepin County District Court. He paid more than $500 in fines and fees, and a 10-day jail sentence was stayed. He also was given one year of probation with the court that began on […]
EARLY WORD: The Dawning Of The Age Of Uncertainty
On September 7th, Philadelphia’s Miro Dance Theatre will present the World Premiere of Principles of Uncertainty at the Philadelphia Live Arts Festival. As part of the “Off the Chain” Series, the electrifying production will feature fifty drummers, fifteen dancers, two video artists, and the science of particle acceleration all on Race Street in Old City. Joined by visual artist Nadia Hironaka, sound artist Eugene Lew, and musicians, Miro’s unique performance will expound upon the principles of uncertainty. The outdoor happening is free and will take place for one night only. WHEN: Friday, September 7th, 7:45pm, 8:30pm, 9:30pm — One Night […]
KILLADELPHIA: 2 More While U Were Down The Shore
A 15-year-old is the latest victim of gun violence in Philadelphia. The teen was shot in the back at 13th and Cambria Streets on Sunday night. Paramedics rushed him to the hospital, but he died a short time later. No arrests have been made, but police think the shooting was the result of a fight a few block away.The victim is the second teenager shot to death in the city this weekend. Fifteen-year-old Brandon Suttles was killed in Strawberry Mansion early Saturday morning. His killer has not been caught either. [via 6ABC]
PAYING THE PIPER: The Real Reason Why Danny Devito Does It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia
Danny DeVito & The Contract WARNING: Adult situations, hilarity.
ROUGH JUSTICE: Attorney General Gonzales Resigns
CRAWFORD, Texas — Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has resigned, ending a months-long standoff with Republican and Democratic critics who called for his ouster over the Justice Department’s botched handling of FBI terror investigations and the firing of U.S. attorneys, officials said Monday. The likely temporary replacement for Gonzales is Solicitor General Paul Clement, who would take over until a permanent replacement is found, according to a senior administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity. Two administration officials speaking on grounds of anonymity said that Gonzales had submitted a resignation letter last Friday.These officials declined to be identified because the […]
GAYBO: She Sells Sea Shells Down By The Sea Shore
BY TOMMY ZANE GAYDAR EDITOR Nothing screams hetero entitlement and excess like a walk on the Boardwalk in “America’s Favorite Family Resort,” Ocean City, NJ. Never one to deny myself some good laughs at the expense of others, off I ran to the Shore with my Girlfriend, Raven. As we meandered past the miasma of over-priced Curly Fries Stands and petrified pizza outlets, I noticed a sign proclaiming “the crust is full of MEAT!” “And the meat is full of maggots,” I snarkily replied in my own mind. Suddenly, my attention was sideswiped by the shrill shrieks of a young […]
NPR FOR THE DEAF: We Hear It Even When You Can’t
FRESH AIR Canadian journalist Paul Watson won the 1994 Pulitizer Prize for his photograph of a dead American soldier being dragged through the streets of Mogadishu, Somalia. His war-zone work leaves him suffering from chronic post-traumatic stress, and he says the Mogadishu photo still haunts him. RADIO TIMES In his second novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns, writer KHALED HOSSEINI explores the struggles of Afghan women, who he says live in a male-dominated society where they are routinely denied freedom or dignity. Hosseini’s first novel, The Kite Runner, was also about life in his native Afghanistan. This is a rebroadcast, so […]
DRAMA: Kathy Bates Is Not Ready For Her Close-Up
Philadelphia Theater Company announced Aug. 27 that Kathy Bates will not be appearing in the previously announced world premiere production of Terrence McNally’s drama Unusual Acts of Devotion. “On the recommendation of her doctor, Kathy Bates has regretfully had to withdraw from Unusual Acts of Devotion due to health reasons,” according to PTC. “Because the world premiere play was written specifically with Ms. Bates in mind, and because the re-casting of a new actress of equal caliber could not be achieved under the time constraints, Philadelphia Theatre Company has decided to postpone the play for a future season.” The Philadelphia […]
SHADY’S BACK: The Second Cumming Of Jeff Gannon
It’s been more than two years since Jeff Gannon (birth name: James Dale Guckert) resigned from Talon News, a conservative Web site for which Gannon served as White House correspondent. At the time, some theorized that Gannon was liberally granted press access in order to ask softball questions of White House officials. Others were taken aback by nude pictures of Gannon that appeared on male escort service Web pages. A few questioned his lack of journalism education and experience. Well, Gannon’s back, and he has his claws out. Gannon will release his book, “The Great Media War: A Battlefield Report,” […]
HORROR ON THE BEN FRANKLIN: Car Knocks Motorcycle Off Bridge, Onto Delaware Ave.
A motorcyclist died early this morning, when a crash sent the bike hurling off the Ben Franklin Bridge, according to media reports. The accident, involving the motorcycle and a car, happened at 12:46 a.m. in the eastbound lanes, according to Delaware River Port Authority spokesman John Miller. He was unable to confirm whether the rider died. TV and online reports say the bike went over the bridge’s railing and landed on Delaware Avenue, killing the rider. [via PHILLY.COM] *ALSO: Firefighters in Chester stumbled onto a gruesome scene yesterday morning, when they extinguished what they thought was a simple rubbish fire. […]