Drudge Pimping Smerconish As Imus Replacement

            This has Smerconish’s fingerprints all over it: A semi-blind item on Drudge with NOTHING to substantiate it but a link to the WPHT site, where there is NO mention of the Imus tryout. Thank god the Supreme Court legalized sodomy, because otherwise all the mutual analingus that goes on in the right-wing echo chamber could land these guys in the pokey. Either way, it would appear we called it first: Does the Inquirer pay you by the word? Because if I was your editor I would tell you that re-printing your resume is NOT […]

SUCKADELPHIA: Phillies Off To Truly Shitastic Start

The Phillies are 3-10 on the season — worst record in the majors, a full game behind a Nationals team that many pundits predicted might challenge baseball’s all-time records for futility. And while Rollins (.305, 6 HR, 11 RBI) has played well… he’s one of very few Phils who can make that claim. –Defending MVP Ryan Howard has been struggling badly, and now may miss time with a knee injury. –Starter Brett Myers and his 9.39 ERA have been banished to the bullpen. –Veteran starter Jon Lieber, the guy everyone thought would be moved for bullpen help now re-joins the […]

Philadelphia Manufacturers Report NO Growth

Activity in the Philadelphia region’s manufacturing sector [NOT pictured] was basically unchanged again this month, according to firms polled for the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia’s Business Outlook Survey. The index for general activity was near zero, and indicators for new orders, shipments and employment were only slightly positive, suggesting little change from March. Regarding future activity, the region’s manufacturing executives were somewhat more optimistic this month than they were in March. Demand for manufactured goods, as represented by the survey’s new orders index, reflects virtually no growth again this month. RELIABLE PLANT: Same As It Ever Was, Same As […]

MILLION DOLLAR BABY: Smokin’ Joe Drops Lawsuit Against Daughter

PHILADELPHIA — Former heavyweight champion Joe Frazier told his lawyer on Thursday to drop a lawsuit against his daughter after she pledged to help him locate his missing business records. The files at the center of the legal dispute never left “Smokin’ Joe’s” North Philadelphia gym, a lawyer for Jacquelyn Frazier-Lyde said Thursday. “I talked to my father today and he asked me how I was doing and I told him that I loved him,” Frazier-Lyde said at a press conference that focused on her campaign for city judge. Frazier’s lawyer said he reluctantly agreed to drop the suit at […]

BOOKS: Reading Is FUNdamental

No, this isn’t another one of Chaka Fattah’s highbrow schemes for ending gridlock. A picture of people floating across the city on giant tomes can only mean one thing: It’s time for Philadelphia’s annual book burning fest! Standby for for our Philadelphia Book Festival preview, including a Q&A with Absurdistan author Gary Shteygnart and more…

Specter Opens A Can Of Congressional Whup-Ass On Alberto Gonzales, Schumer Gets Medieval On His Ass

“Today the Department of Justice is experiencing a crisis of leadership perhaps unrivaled during its 137-year history,” said the Sen. Patrick Leahy, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. “There’s a growing scandal swirling around the dismissal” of prosecutors, he added. Sen. Arlen Specter offered no more comfort in his opening remarks. He said the purpose of the hearing was to determine whether the committee believes that Gonzales should remain in office. “As I see it, you come to this hearing with a very heavy burden of proof,” Specter said as Gonzales listened intently, lips pursed, a few feet away. “This […]

DEPT. OF INJUSTICE: DOJ Falsely Alleged Voter Fraud In Key Battleground States To Suppress Dem Turnout

WASHINGTON – For six years, the Bush administration, aided by Justice Department political appointees, has pursued an aggressive legal effort to restrict voter turnout in key battleground states in ways that favor Republican political candidates. The administration intensified its efforts last year as President Bush’s popularity and Republican support eroded heading into a midterm battle for control of Congress, which the Democrats won. Facing nationwide voter registration drives by Democratic-leaning groups, the administration alleged widespread election fraud and endorsed proposals for tougher state and federal voter identification laws. Presidential political adviser Karl Rove alluded to the strategy in April 2006 […]

THIS JUST IN: Howard Dean Campagin Architect & Current Tom Knox Political Guru JOE TRIPPI Signs On To Edwards Campaign

Obviously somebody feels his work here in Philadelphia is almost done. Here’s the complete text of Joe Trippi’s announcement: I really thought that the 2004 presidential campaign would be the last I would be involved in. I have always wanted to make a difference, but for me I thought those days were over. A few weeks ago, John and Elizabeth Edwards made their decision to continue, not just John Edwards’ campaign for President, but their work together to make a difference for their country. And that made me realize that I wasn’t done trying to make a difference either. Not […]

NPR FOR THE DEAF: We Hear It Even When You Can’t

FRESH AIR Jimmy Wales helped create Wikipedia, the interactive online encyclopedia founded in 2001. Users write and edit Wikipedia entries themselves; the site also has a dedicated corps of editors. Often there are “edit wars” over entries — some, including the one headlined “2006 Lebanon War,” have been edited and then re-edited thousands of times — and Wikipedia’s accuracy has been questioned by some professors and colleges, who forbid students to use it. But Wikipedia, with versions in 250 languages, is one of the top 10 sites on the Internet. ALSO, for many veteran AfroPop performers, the end of the […]

As If The Pumping House Music And Bare-Chested Men Whipping Their Shirts Around Like A Lasso Wasn’t Hint Enough, New Street Signs Spell It Out…

A dedication ceremony was held Wednesday afternoon to unveil street signs to define Philadelphia’s famed “gayborhood.” Singing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” a group of about 100 gathered at the corner of 13th and Locust Streets, in the Washington West neighborhood, where one of 36 discreet rainbow signs were unveiled. The sign is the same size as the Locust Street sign and fastened directly beneath it. Tami Sortman is president of the Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus: “Philadelphia four years ago started a gay-friendly campaign here to bring gay travelers into the city, and we felt that it was really important for […]