BBC: Afghanistan has a monopoly on illegal opium production that has devastating global consequences, a UN report says. UN findings say an opium market worth $65bn (£39bn) funds global terrorism, caters to 15 million addicts, and kills 100,000 people every year. The UN says corruption, lawlessness and uncontrolled borders result in only 2% of Afghan opiates being seized locally. The UN says more Russians die annually from Afghan drugs than Soviet soldiers were killed during its Afghan conflict. Afghanistan produces 92% of the world’s opium, with the equivalent of 3,500 tonnes leaving the country each year. Most of the opium […]
MEDIA: The Nutcracker Strikes Back!
[Artwork by ALEX FINE] BY JONATHAN VALANIA On Tuesday, Big Government.com, the conservative web site behind the ACORN hooker sting videos, issued a press release that reads in part: After suing Breitbart.com, Mr. O’Keefe and Ms. Giles in Maryland over the release of the Baltimore tapes, ACORN has issued public statements denying any wrongdoing in its Philadelphia office and lying about what happened there. Mr. O’Keefe and Ms. Giles are now prepared to respond.According to Mr. Breitbart, “ACORN representatives claim James and Hannah were kicked out of Philadelphia. They also said publicly that unlike Baltimore, Washington D.C., Brooklyn, San Bernardino […]
HELLO WORLD SERIES: We Are The Champions!
NEW YORK TIMES: The Phillies went 35 years between their first World Series (1915) and their second (1950). Then they went 30 years before their next World Series, in 1980. From a historical perspective, the idea that the Phillies have now won the pennant in consecutive seasons is astounding. As Richie Ashburn would have said, “Hard to believe, Harry.” MORE South Broad Street, 12:37 AM [Photo by TIFFANY YOON]
GREATEST HITS: Today I Saw Revisited
BY JEFF DEENEY TODAY I SAW new black magic marker tags scrawled on the sidewalk outside Mantua Hall. “Tre Six Gangstas,” read one, “36th Street Mafia” read another. There’s a ledge outside the front doors to the housing project tall enough to sit on, and there were seven or eight Tre Six boys kicking back on the ledge and mobbed on the steps leading to the front door. It was early Friday evening, so I assumed they were getting ready to serve the payday party crowd that would start rolling through at any minute. One of the boys had shoulder […]
GAYDAR: Dumpster Diving
“What are doing tonight?” “We’ll, I’m going to see “Octoberfist” down at Bob and Barbara’s. Wanna Come?” “Whoa! What? Bob and Barbara’s does porno viewings now? When did this start?” “No silly Billy: It’s the Dumpster Players—you know, that wacky trash-glitz drag troupe that shoves their prickly stick of parody up society’s bunghole every month?” “Oh yeah! Those dudes!” “Yeah, well, it’s their sixth “Octoberfist” celebration, complete with vivacious drag queens, heinous costumery and flamboyantly flaming back-up dancers flailing in lip-sync to Pan-European techno-balladry, from countries like Norway, Moldovia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, France, Germany and Greece. Also, The Little Italian immigrant girl […]
Tierney & Co. Add $20M To Their Bid For Inky/DN
INQUIRER: Three local investors allied with newspaper publisher Brian P. Tierney are adding more than $20 million to their offer for the Daily News and Inquirer.The three local investors – businessman Bruce Toll, philanthropist David Haas and the Carpenters Union Pension Fund – had previously offered $52 million in cash and credit as part of a reorganization plan to bring the newspapers out of bankruptcy. The plan called for the newspapers’ lenders to receive $37 million in cash and ownership of the newspaper building at Broad and Callowhill streets, valued at $29 million. The original proposal would have paid about […]
HELP WANTED: Dope Fiend With Word Power
[Artwork by JAMES THORTON] GUARDIAN: An alternative newspaper in Denver, Colorado, Westword, is seeking a marijuana critic. More than 120 people have applied for the job to review the drugs legally available in the state’s medical dispensaries. One condition: the critic must have a medical ailment that allows him or her to buy and use marijuana at one of Colorado’s 100 dispensaries. And the pay, unlike the job, is not expected to be high. There are already several online reviewers of cannabis, such as marijuanareviews.com and weedmaps.com. MORE WESTWORD: All those journalistic scoops are just so much smoke compared to […]
PENN STUDY: Gunslingers Are 4.5 Times More Likely To Become Gunshot Victims Than Non-Gunslingers
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOL OF MEDICINE: In a first-of its-kind study, epidemiologists at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine found that, on average, guns did not protect those who possessed them from being shot in an assault. The study estimated that people with a gun were 4.5 times more likely to be shot in an assault than those not possessing a gun. The study was released online this month in the American Journal of Public Health, in advance of print publication in November 2009. “This study helps resolve the long-standing debate about whether guns are protective or perilous,” notes […]
INTERNET KILLED THE VIDEO STORE: TLA Video Store On South Street Is Closing Its Doors Forever
TLA Video on Fourth and South streets is closing its doors. Actually, it’s already closed for inventory and will re-open on Friday for sales only. The South Street institution, long a prized destination for the kind of quirky indie fare not easily found in big box retailers like Blockbuster and Hollywood video, will remain open through Thanksgiving or until it sells through its inventory. The TLA Video location at 1520 Locust St. will remain open. “It was an amazing 24-year run for our South Street store,” said TLA president Ray Murray, “but changing viewing habits of our customers (internet, cable, […]
TONITE: Get Cross
[Photo by Rollogrady] PHILLYBURBS: His comedy, which doesn’t hide his left-leaning views, is satiric and visceral. Cross, who often appears on HBO’s free-wheeling “Real Time With Bill Maher,” pulls no punches. Unlike many of his comedic peers, he isn’t afraid to offend anyone. The independent rock-loving Cross has verbally drubbed Creed frontman Scott Stapp for creating aesthetically unpleasing post-grunge albums. “I say what I believe,” says Cross. “I don’t believe in holding back whether I’m performing in front of an audience or during an interview.” Cross’ wars of words have yet to get him in trouble. Last year, he played […]
GAMBLOR: Foxwoods Considering ‘Temporary Casino’
INQUIRER: The tight state-imposed deadline for opening Foxwoods Casino by May 29, 2011, has made raising money “more problematic” and prompted the project’s partners to consider putting up a temporary structure before building a permanent gaming hall, an attorney for Foxwoods said yesterday. In a letter to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board on Friday, Foxwoods had disclosed the possibility of a temporary casino along the Delaware River in South Philadelphia, citing “unanticipated issues.” It did not elaborate. But attorney Stephen A. Cozen, in a telephone interview yesterday, explained that potential lenders have been concerned about the time constraints on the […]
HOT DOC: The Vast Right Wing Conspiracy Flow Chart
MEDIA MATTERS: Glenn Beck’s affinity for chalkboard diagrams charting out the frequently illusory “connections” in the growing liberal conspiracy to undermine America is well-documented. In that spirit, Media Matters for America has explored Beck’s links to the extremist, unhinged, and sometimes paranoid people and groups that inhabit the world of right-wing political activism and laid them out in a Beck-style chart, but with two key differences: these connections actually exist, and they were spell-checked. MORE [Click chart to enlarge] EDITOR’S NOTE: We strongly urge you to click thru and read all about it RELATED: In recent days, Glenn Beck has […]
Jimmy Rollins’ Mighty Bat Puts Phils Over Dodgers 5-4
NEW YORK TIMES: Wow. With the Phillies down to their last out, Jimmy Rollins rips a 1-1 pitch from Broxton into the gap in right center, and Eric Bruntlett (who had run for Matt Stairs, who walked) and Carlos Ruiz (HBP) race around to score. Just like that, the Phillies win, 5-4! Instead of tying the series, the Dodgers now trail by 3-1. MORE