INQUIRER: Philadelphia police are investigating the deaths of six men killed between Saturday morning and last night, all victims of violence. Police have no suspects in custody in a crime spree that Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey had two words for yesterday: “not good.” The job today, Ramsey said, will be to look at “anything that we can do to maybe make the situation less likely” to recur. Among factors that will be explored, he said, is whether the killings occurred in any of the city’s designated high-crime areas and, if so, whether enough officers are assigned there. In the […]
CHARM OFFENSIVE: The Empire Strikes Back
INQUIRER: Under siege for customer-service woes detailed on Comcastmustdie.com and other blogs, the Philadelphia cable giant has gone on the offensive, trawling the Internet for Comcast chatter. Eliason’s assignment is very specific: If someone has a Comcast problem and is talking about it online, he contacts that person and offers help. If Eliason thinks it’s an emergency that could spiral into unpleasantness, like an expletive-loaded blog bomb, he gets on the phone and cuts through the corporate red tape. Eliason’s blog spotting is part public relations and part acknowledgment that the Internet is playing a broader role in defining company […]
TOP FIVE THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT LOU REED LAST NIGHT AT THE ELECTRIC FACTORY
1. For the first time since 1967, Lou has finally gotten his hair ‘right.’ 2. He’s got the face of a broke-in catcher’s mitt and the arms of an Olympic javelin thrower. 3. For the first time since New York, Lou has finally gotten his sound right. Three guitars, an accordion, upright bass, a guy on laptop, a drummer with mallets and Laurie Anderson on occasional violin. 4. Only Lou Reed would play “Sweet Jane” as the SECOND song of the night. And then “I’m Set Free” as the fourth, and then “I’m Sticking With You”, introduced with faux-exasperation that […]
DRUG TEST: The Khat Is Outta The Bag
BY JEFF DEENEY Lord knows Christine Olley at the Daily News has taken enough abuse from the cops on Domelights to last a lifetime (her gaffe at the press conference called in the wake of officer Chuck Cassidy’s death spurred a backlash of legendary proportions), so I hate to pile on an otherwise decent reporter, especially for such a brief piece, but today’s story on a recent seizure of the drug Khat deserves a callout. Olley manages in all of 187 words to score a hat trick in the drug hysteria department by comparing the drug, likened by other reporters […]
LIVE & DIRECT: From The Cradle Of Democracy
[Photos by VIC SUEDE & TIFFANY YOON & JONATHAN VALANIA/CLICK TO ENLARGE]
TONITE: Katie Bar The Door
Also, a reminder that today is… Check local listings for a dealer in your area.
THE EARLY WORD: A Change Is Gonna Come
DAILY NEWS ENDORSES BARACK OBAMA: THE CHOICE in Tuesday’s Democratic presidential primary is not only the one between a white woman and a black man. It’s a choice between the past and the future. Should Democrats choose someone who will employ hard-won — even bitter — experiences gained in a past Democratic administration, or reach beyond political truisms toward a new (and untried) model of governing? Neither choice is obvious. Perhaps that’s why the race has gone on for so long. But the long slog through 44 primaries and caucuses has confirmed for us that Sen. Barack Obama’s vision of […]
HAPPINESS IS A WARM GUN: NRA Gets Court Injunction Against Gun Laws, Tells City To Drop Dead
PHILLY CLOUT: Common Pleas Court Judge Jane Cutler Greenspan this morning ordered the city to stop any enforcement of five local gun control laws passed by City Council last week and signed into law by Mayor Nutter. That includes any drafting of regulations or officer training by the Police Department on how to enforce the laws. The National Rifle Association, acting on behalf of gun groups, owners and shop operators, had asked for the order while it sought a hearing on whether the local laws violate state law and run afoul of the state Constitution. Greenspan found that many of […]
We Know It’s Only Rock N’ Roll But We Like It
MAHOGANY RUSH: Mahogany, Johnny Brendas, Last Night BY TIFFANY YOON Phawker got a bit held up watching the Democratic debate at some dingy dive bar, and missed Andrew Gilligan’s shoegazin’ trio :ravens:and:vultures. Phawker watched Gilligan and the sisters of :ravens:and:vultures: before at Pi Lam, and was sad to miss the band perform at one of our favorite venues. The second band Phawker missed because of the mother&%$& debate missed was Arc in Round, with members of Philadelphia’s own Relay, a great experimental indie band that’s been raved by CMJ and Spin. Phawker curses the 26th Democratic debate and wishes it […]
NPR 4 THE DEF: Giving Public Radio Edge Since 2006
FRESH AIR As the race for the Democratic nomination heats up in Pennsylvania, campaigns are spinning the local press at a pivotal moment. Philadelphia Daily News senior writer and occasional Fresh Air guest host Dave Davies [NOT pictured, left] offers an inside-the-tent view of his state’s primary circus. He’ll tell us what goes on behind the scenes as the campaigns’ staff and surrogates give their talking points and daily spin to the local press. ALSO, During his tenure in the U.S. Senate, Rhode Island’s Lincoln Chafee was often called the body’s most liberal Republican. A determinedly mainstream legislator now registered […]
A LETTER FROM ANNE DICKER: Help Me Help You
Dear Phawker Readers, There’s a war going on in South Philly this Tuesday – it’s Election Day, and the residents of the First District have to find a replacement for Vince Fumo. Hopefully, someone who won’t think stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars is totally kosher. Let’s fight the machine..and have fun! My name is Anne Dicker. I’m a tough broad (but nice, really, I am nice) progressive 34-year-old who lives in Queen Village with my husband. I am the only independent, honest, FBI-free candidate in the race, but I need your help. [EDITOR’S NOTE: As per the request of […]
LIVE & DIRECT: From The 26th Democratic Debate
BY JONATHAN VALANIA They are already calling it The Gotcha Debate. Lucky us! First up, we discuss how Obama is a latte-sipping, Volvo-driving, NPR-listening, America-hatin’ so-and-so and why that is so bad, and don’t you agree Hillary? Stephanopoulos just asked Obama if Reverend Wright loves America as much as he does. What next, loyalty oaths? Dude volunteered to go to Vietnam, George, where were you? * Now for a brief yet pointless detour into vox populi with a coupla questions from embittered Pennsyltuckians. Joe Stupid Sweater from Pittsburgh wants to know why Hillary lied about sniper fire in Bosnia and what […]