Woo-Hoo!
EDITORIAL: Who Breaks A Butterfly Upon A Wheel*
EDITORIAL: This is a fool’s errand, we know, but in the name of decency, fairness and The Golden Rule, we are calling on the local media to exercise some measure of restraint in reporting on the drug and criminal justice problems of the brothers Reid. And no, we’re not just talking about the kind of restraint that keeps you from getting sued, but the kind of restraint that comes when editorial decision-making is attached to journalistic ethics — not just ratings aspirations. As we type this, Philly.com has just splashed a top story about the pills allegedly found in Brett […]
CENSUS: Rich Get Richer And The Poor Get Deader
BY JEFF DEENEY A lot of noise erupted in the media yesterday about what the new census poverty numbers mean. I thought it’s was a little soon for a victory lap, though Bush and the Red State regions of the blogosphere were quick to I-Told-You-So. “Poverty Numbers Decrease Substantially” was the headline on Drudge. Bush said, “More of our citizens are doing better in this economy, with continued rising incomes and more Americans pulling themselves out of poverty.” However, the fact is that the numbers mean different things for different regions, all of which are made up of different kinds […]
CYBERPUNK: Flippin’ Sweet Deal For iPhone Hacker
The teenage hacker who found a way to unlock the iPhone so that the device would not be restricted to use solely on AT&T Inc.’s cellular networks will be trading his reworked gadget for a new car. George Hotz, of Glen Rock, N.J., said he had reached the deal with CertiCell, a Louisville, Ky.-based mobile phone repair company. Hotz posted on his blog that he traded his modified iPhone for a “sweet Nissan 350Z and (three) iPhones.” The 17-year-old Hotz said he will be sending the three new iPhones to three of his online collaborators who helped him unlock Apple […]
TROUBLED BRIDGE OVER WATER: 404 PA Bridges Rated ‘Structurally Deficient’ — Same As Minn. Bridge
IN GOD DRPA WE TRUST: Opening of the Walt Whitman Bridge, 1957 BY PAUL NUSSBAUM & DYLAN PURCELL OF THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER Throughout the five-county Pennsylvania region, there are 404 bridges that, like the Minnesota bridge, are designated “structurally deficient” and rated at or below 50 percent on a sufficiency scale. The local bridges are among 25,000 state-owned bridges identified Monday, along with their condition ratings, in a list released by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. PennDot had refused for months to release bridge-safety ratings of state-owned bridges, but agreed to make them public after the Minnesota collapse. The low-rated […]
ANCHORWOMAN: Alycia Lane Needs A Boyfriend
INQLINGS: “Is there a new guy in the life of CBS3 anchor Alycia Lane? Newsies at New York’s CBS2 are linking her to Chris Wragge, that station’s alpha anchormale. I hear that the Jersey-bred Wragge, 37, has been separated from Swedish Playboy model Victoria Silvstedt, whom he married in 2000. (References to their marriage have been excised from his CBS2 bio and from Silvstedt’s Web site.) Lane, 35, twice divorced, would not comment.” [via the INQUIRER] PHAWKLINGS: If THIS is Alycia Lane’s new boyfriend, then we don’t even wanna see those ‘risque’ pix she allegedly sent to you know who. […]
EARLY WORD: The Dawning Of The Age Of Uncertainty
On September 7th, Philadelphia’s Miro Dance Theatre will present the World Premiere of Principles of Uncertainty at the Philadelphia Live Arts Festival. As part of the “Off the Chain” Series, the electrifying production will feature fifty drummers, fifteen dancers, two video artists, and the science of particle acceleration all on Race Street in Old City. Joined by visual artist Nadia Hironaka, sound artist Eugene Lew, and musicians, Miro’s unique performance will expound upon the principles of uncertainty. The outdoor happening is free and will take place for one night only. WHEN: Friday, September 7th, 7:45pm, 8:30pm, 9:30pm — One Night […]
KILLADELPHIA: 2 More While U Were Down The Shore
A 15-year-old is the latest victim of gun violence in Philadelphia. The teen was shot in the back at 13th and Cambria Streets on Sunday night. Paramedics rushed him to the hospital, but he died a short time later. No arrests have been made, but police think the shooting was the result of a fight a few block away.The victim is the second teenager shot to death in the city this weekend. Fifteen-year-old Brandon Suttles was killed in Strawberry Mansion early Saturday morning. His killer has not been caught either. [via 6ABC]
PAYING THE PIPER: The Real Reason Why Danny Devito Does It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia
Danny DeVito & The Contract WARNING: Adult situations, hilarity.
GAYBO: She Sells Sea Shells Down By The Sea Shore
BY TOMMY ZANE GAYDAR EDITOR Nothing screams hetero entitlement and excess like a walk on the Boardwalk in “America’s Favorite Family Resort,” Ocean City, NJ. Never one to deny myself some good laughs at the expense of others, off I ran to the Shore with my Girlfriend, Raven. As we meandered past the miasma of over-priced Curly Fries Stands and petrified pizza outlets, I noticed a sign proclaiming “the crust is full of MEAT!” “And the meat is full of maggots,” I snarkily replied in my own mind. Suddenly, my attention was sideswiped by the shrill shrieks of a young […]
DRAMA: Kathy Bates Is Not Ready For Her Close-Up
Philadelphia Theater Company announced Aug. 27 that Kathy Bates will not be appearing in the previously announced world premiere production of Terrence McNally’s drama Unusual Acts of Devotion. “On the recommendation of her doctor, Kathy Bates has regretfully had to withdraw from Unusual Acts of Devotion due to health reasons,” according to PTC. “Because the world premiere play was written specifically with Ms. Bates in mind, and because the re-casting of a new actress of equal caliber could not be achieved under the time constraints, Philadelphia Theatre Company has decided to postpone the play for a future season.” The Philadelphia […]
HORROR ON THE BEN FRANKLIN: Car Knocks Motorcycle Off Bridge, Onto Delaware Ave.
A motorcyclist died early this morning, when a crash sent the bike hurling off the Ben Franklin Bridge, according to media reports. The accident, involving the motorcycle and a car, happened at 12:46 a.m. in the eastbound lanes, according to Delaware River Port Authority spokesman John Miller. He was unable to confirm whether the rider died. TV and online reports say the bike went over the bridge’s railing and landed on Delaware Avenue, killing the rider. [via PHILLY.COM] *ALSO: Firefighters in Chester stumbled onto a gruesome scene yesterday morning, when they extinguished what they thought was a simple rubbish fire. […]
BEAT THE PRESS: Myers Calls Inky Reporter A ‘Retard’
NEW YORK The Philadelphia Phillies blew another game Saturday, and the chief goat, relief pitcher Brett Myers, then took it out on a Philadelphia Inquirer reporter. Myers had previously earned notoriety for being arrested for allegedly hitting his wife in public last year, leaving her with a bruised face. She later dropped the charges.After giving up two home runs in the ninth innings, Myers got into a shouting match last night with a reporter, Sam Carchidi, and had to be restrained. The two men started pointing and cursing at each other and Myers stood up as if to hit or […]