Jonathan, Beginning at 2:30 p.m. EST today, the Senate resumed debate on the pending FISA bill, by proceeding to vote on a series of amendments, most proposed by Democrats, to improve the bill. Key amendments include one jointly sponsored by Sens. Dodd and Feingold to strip the bill of telecom immunity; an amendment from Sen. Feinstein to transfer the telecom cases to the FISA court; an amendment jointly sponsored by Sens. Specter and Whitehouse to substitute the government for the telecoms as defendants; and an amendment from Sen. Feinstein emphasizing that FISA is the “exclusive means” by which the Government […]
KILLADELPHIA: 2 More Dead Since U Went To Bed
INQUIRER: A 43-year old man was shot and killed this morning in Philadelphia, police said. The unidentified man was found with a gunshot wound to the head in the 2500 block of South 66th Street at about 7:23 a.m. He was pronounced on the scene by medics. Yesterday, police responded to the 3800 block of Parrish Street at 3:13 a.m. and found Anthony Saunders, 39, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Saunders, of 4600 block of Apple Lane in Deptford, had been shot in the face and body, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 3:26 a.m. No […]
NPR FOR THE DEAF: We Hear It Even When You Can’t
FRESH AIR Missed evidence, ignored clues, political considerations—did the 9/11 Commission really issue the definitive report on the September 2001 terror attacks? In his new book, The Commission: The Uncensored History of the 9/11 Investigation, New York Times investigative journalist Philip Shenon scrutinizes those charged with analyzing the terror attacks and uncovers new information about the commission’s complicated relationship with the Bush White House. PLUS, Can there be a middle ground in the debate about the separation of church and state? John DiIulio, Jr, a Democrat who served as the director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community […]
ENDORSEMENT: He Is The One
…To Lead Us Out Of The Matrix Of Our Own Bullshit REUTERS: Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama opened narrow leads on Hillary Clinton in California and Missouri one day before crucial “Super Tuesday” nominating contests in 24 states, according to a Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll released on Monday. Obama and Clinton were deadlocked in New Jersey, and Obama enjoyed a double-digit advantage over Clinton in Georgia in two other Democratic contests on the biggest single day of voting ever in a U.S. presidential nominating campaign. “The momentum is with Obama,” said pollster John Zogby. “If this trend continues it could be a […]
BLACK MIRROR: Heath Ledger’s Fatal Obsession
DAILY MAIL: This haunting image of doomed actor Heath Ledger shows him apparently drowning in a bath – in a bizarre tribute to the tragic British folk singer with whom he was obsessed. The picture comes from a film Ledger made about Nick Drake, the cult singer-songwriter whose death bore disturbing similarities to his own. Ledger made the dark, brooding film to accompany one of the last songs Drake recorded before killing himself with antidepressants in 1974, at the age of 26. Like Drake, Ledger, 28, was found dead in his bed after taking prescription antidepressants. In stills taken from […]
LAWYERED UP: Stephen A. Smith Gets Mad Even
“I put my life and all that I have into the Philadelphia Inquirer first as a reporter and then as a general columnist. I was raised to work hard and play by the rules. That is what I have done. I’ve worked hard and earned every single promotion and accolade that I received while at the Inquirer.No one did me any favors or gave me anything, nor did I expect them to. What’s fair is fair and what’s right is right. What they have done to me is malicious, intentional and vindictive. They want to ruin my reputation and all […]
Q&A: The Horrible Truth About Dan Deacon
[Photo by STEFANI LEVIN] WIKIPEDIA: Dan Deacon (born 1981) is a Baltimore, Maryland-based electronic music composer/performer. He attended the Conservatory of Music at Purchase College in Purchase, New York, where he played in many bands, including tuba for Langhorne Slim and guitar in the improvisational grindcore band Rated R, and completed his graduate studies in electro-acoustic and computer music composition. He studied under composer/conductor Joel Thome. Currently, he lives at Wham City in Baltimore, Maryland. Dan Deacon’s compositional style is best classified in the future shock genre along with Videohippos, Santa Dads, Blood Baby, Ecstatic Sunshine, Ponytail, and other bands […]
All Of This Happened While You Were Sleeping
5 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE TEENAGERS AT MAKING TIME 1. It’s hard not to think that even the guys of The Teenagers can’t take themselves seriously as they perform half smirking, probably thinking ‘Holy shit! How did this even happen?’ Last night at Making Time the trio of French Teenagers were accompanied by two young British ladies under the names of Antonia and Rebecca. Antonia played drums while Rebecca played backing guitar. 2. About halfway through their set they began to experience some technical difficulties. The bass drum pedal on Antonia’s drum set decided to stop working, conveniently […]
FOLLOW THE MONEY: U Can Run But U Can’t Hide
http://fundrace.huffingtonpost.com/ This is an amazing tool for all those who like a little accountability with their democratic process. As you no doubt know, campaign law requires politicians to disclose the names of their contributors. However, there is no law that says it has to be easy to see those names, or compare them with who contributed what, etc. to other campaigns. Until now. Added bonus: All your favorite celebrities will be there! Click map to activate Internets.
SARAH SILVERMAN: I’m F*cking Matt Damon
Hysterical.
TONITE: 5 Things You Should Know About Teenagers
1. Just to be clear: when we say The Teenagers, we are talking about the super-hot French electroclashers, not the age group. Their super Euro-smash single is called “Starlett Johansson,” but it’s not like they are obsessed or anything. “We’re not like really obsessed with her or anything,” says Dorian Dumont of the hirsute Parisian trio, during a phone interview in advance of their appearance tonight at Making Time. “We just like saying her name… Johansson…and we think she’s pretty.” If that is a crime, let them be guilty. 2. The Teenagers are anxiously awaiting the release of Scarlett […]
Top 5 Reasons Why LUPE FIASCO Was Better Than Whatever Hip-Hop Show You Were At Last Night
U GO GO GADGET: Lupe Fiasco, The Fillmore, Last Night 1. Lupe turned the Fillmore into a walk down memory lane, beginning each song with a dream-like “Philly, do you remember that time when…?” No, Lupe, we don’t remember the time that we went grocery shopping with you for food and liquor and were jumping up and down in the aisles… but we’d love for you to refresh our memory. 2. I don’t know about everyone else, but I plan on purchasing a pair of the almost knee-high hi-tops that Mr. Fiasco was sporting as soon as possible. Only […]
CINEMA: A Honey Drippin’ Beehive
HONEYDRIPPER (2007, directed by John Sayles, 123 minutes, U.S.) BY DAN BUSKIRK FILM CRITIC After the recent long-winded political rants Silver City and Sunshine State, it’s a relief to see indie film Godfather John Sayles pursue this more conventional story, of Danny Glover’s struggle to keep his Alabama juke joint open in the year of 1950. At its best, blues fable Honeydripper reminds one of his early 90’s hit Passion Fish; both films transcend their conventional stories with perceptive performances and a smattering of Southern regionalism. Yet even with its de-politicized story, Sayles still winds up stepping in his own […]