OUTLOOK: Between June 3 and June 9, in interviews spread over 34 hours, David Coleman Headley, a former Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) member and a key architect of the 26/11 attack on Mumbai, opened up to investigators from India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA), sent specially to the US to grill him. This was a key moment in India’s war against terrorism. Here was a man who had served at close quarters with the LeT, Al Qaeda and the newly-formed ‘Karachi Set-up’ for almost a decade. His revelations gave Indian security officials major insights into a terror network that has become virtually an […]

INQUIRER: Two Philadelphia police officers have been arrested and charged with robbing an undercover investigator posing as a drug dealer, authorities said today. Officers Sean Alivera, 31, and Christopher Luciano, 23, allegedly stole 20 pounds of marijuana and $3,000 in cash. MORE

BY MATTHEW HENGEVELD As a huge hip-hopper, I know Bilal best from his guest MC appearances on other people’s albums. Perhaps his most proflic guest appearance was on the Jigga man’s American Gangster, on the track “Fallin’.” He has been a frequent guest on Common’s albums, during J Dilla & ?uestlove’s short-lived fascination with neo-soul at the turn of the millennium (See: The Soulquarians).  But Bilal is so much more than a guy rappers call when they need a hook. It took me a long-ass time to understand neo-soul. If it weren’t for Bilal being a Philly-native, I probably wouldn’t […]

THE PHILADELPHIA INITIATIVE FOR JOURNALISTIC INNOVATION: Got multimedia? A cottage industry has emerged around the understanding that journalists need to diversify their skills. Journalism schools are racing to prepare students to report across platforms. But then what? Where are the jobs? Where is the love? Who is producing web-first content in Philadelphia? Is there a shortage of web-first multimedia reporting? And does that represent hopelessness, or opportunity? We will address these questions at Temple University next Tuesday as we convene the Philadelphia Initiative for Journalistic Innovation, or PhiJI. First, PhIJI program coordinator Jim MacMillan will take a look at the […]

This is the song playing during those new iPod Touch ads. More on them HERE.

PHILADELPHIA BUSINESS JOURNAL: SugarHouse Casino had $4.7 million in slots revenue in its first week of operation, state gaming regulators said Monday. SugarHouse, which opened on the Philadelphia waterfront on Sept. 23, has 1,600 slot machines and 40 live table games. MORE PHAWKER: We can’t help but wonder what would happen if those slot jockeys pumped $5 million dollars a week into the local economy.

WALLET POP: For the second year in a row, using exclusive data developed by Dr. Andrew Schiller’s team at NeighborhoodScout.com, and based on FBI data from all 17,000 local law enforcement agencies, WalletPop reveals the top 25 most dangerous neighborhoods with the highest predicted rates of violent crime in America. This year, Chicago took the not-so coveted top spot from Cincinnati for the most dangerous neighborhood, while Atlanta has the highest number of neighborhoods making the list (four). You may ask, why neighborhoods and not cities? Schiller explains that even the cities with the highest crime rates can have relatively […]

BY JAMES DOOLITTLE SATURDAY 10:00 AM / There is obviously a great deal of non-early risers around these parts – at least in regards to the hoards of the unshaven. If not for the giant billboard exclaiming a humongous welcome to Matador 21, the scene looks as I’d guess it does every Saturday morning; sad faced gamblers, the escalating din of spinning wheels and button mashing, and cigarette smoke. Lots of cigarette smoke. For someone who lives in a city were smoking ordinances were enacted years ago, the omnipresent scent – indoors of all things – is nearly as nostalgic as […]

BY JAMES DOOLITTLE FRIDAY 5:20 AM / Next to my toilet sits Rolling Stone‘s “State of Rock” issue. Dated from April, it has stared back at me for nearly half-a-year, it’s exclamatory font side-saddled with the Black Eyed Peas. Fergie looks frighteningly intense, perhaps from the weight of being factored into the equation. The state of rock? Daily, the juxtaposition brings snarky joy. I’ve perused the issue perhaps once, with MGMT and Animal Collective the only other inclusions that leap immediately to mind. Perhaps there are additional worthies inside, a roadmap to rock’s salvation in the year of our lord, 2010. […]