THINKING FELLERS UNION: Thinking Machines, Khyber, Last Night [by JUSTIN ROMANO]
CINEMA: Whip It Good
INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL (2008, directed by Steven Spielberg, 124 minutes, U.S.) BY DAN BUSKIRK FILM CRITICWhen Raiders of the Lost Ark arrived in 1981, it was a 180-degree turn from the epics that the other New Generation Hollywood directors were making; let them have their glowering Colonel Kurtzes and their wife-beating Jake LaMottas. Spielberg and Lucas would reinvent the movie serials of ’30s & ’40s, with their iconic heroes and all the thrills of 13 chapters stuffed into a two-hour feature. Spielberg’s gift with pure action transformed Raiders into something transcendent, and in the […]
NPR FOR THE DEAF: We Hear It Even When You Can’t
FRESH AIR Home Before Dark, the 46th album from singer-songwriter Neil Diamond, is No. 1 on the pop charts. It’s the first time Diamond has had a No. 1 debut in a career that’s spanned nearly five decades. For the new album, he enlisted producer Rick Rubin, who also worked on Diamond’s 2005 album 12 Songs — but who’s known more for his work with groundbreaking rap acts. Diamond’s guilty-pleasure hits include “Sweet Caroline,” “Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon” and “Cherry Cherry.” Writer Michael Chabon won a Pulitzer Prize in 2000 for his novel, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier […]
HOT DOCUMENT: Diagramming The Mind Of Hillary
[via 236.com] THE GREATEST HILLARY IMPERSONATION ON EARTH! This woman is, like, Lucille Ball-talented, somebody give her a show, or the Veep slot. UPDATE: ABC News’ Kate Snow Reports: In an interview with the Argus Leader, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., took the unusual step of invoking the assassination of Sen. Robert Kennedy, D-N.Y., when discussing the continuing Democratic nomination battle.”My husband did not wrap up the nomination in 1992 until he won the California primary somewhere in the middle of June, right? We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California. I don’t understand it.” Clinton said. Obama […]
NEWS CLUES: Like A Plural Marriage To The Truth
Booker Fired From Q-102, Phawker Trying To Give A Damn…Still Trying Chris Booker is out as morning host at Q102 as the Clear Channel station moves to a show that’s more music-intensive. The station also confirmed that producer Blaire Galaton and sidekick Angi Taylor also were let go. Sidekick Diego Ramos will remain at the station, but the show will not carry his name. Booker this morning said he was “surprised. Very, very surprised. It’s very successful show. I’ve been fired before for low ratings, but never for being No. 1.” It’s been a weird year for Booker, who was […]
KILLADELPHIA: Why We Can’t Have Nice Things
INQUIRER: Leaning up against the counter in his second-floor gun shop in South Philadelphia, Gregory J. Isabella just sighed. On Tuesday, his business, Firing Line Inc., and the business of a competitor, Colosimo’s Inc. in Center City, found themselves in the crosshairs of Mayor Nutter, who referred to them as “gun traffickers.” Isabella’s been in the gun business nearly a quarter of a century, and it’s always the same. Politicians are constantly squawking about guns. Lots of squawk, not a lot of real action. “You look at all these politicos and all these bureaucrats,” Isabella said. “They are hypocrites. They […]
LISTEN LIKE THIEVES: New Beck
Chemtrails – Beck
JUNK SCI: The Groove Is In The Heart
BY ELIZABETH FIEND LIVING EDITOR You go to the doctor. First thing, a nurse takes your blood pressure, then makes a face and leaves the room. Most of the time they never tell you the numbers. Infuriating! You should always ask what your numbers are. It’s a pet peeve of mine that you even have to do this — the nurse or doctor should automatically tell you, but mostly they don’t. I’ve found that a lot of people don’t really understand what their blood pressure readings mean or how having high blood pressure might impact your health. So, here’s a […]
MAILBAG: Why Whitey Can’t Hope
Jonathan, This is a belated thanks for your awesome editorial after last week’s West Virginia primary. I forwarded it to many friends around the country, and they all loved it. I’ve sent you a few notes over the years, mostly after reading great stories/interview/reviews you did for Philadelphia Weekly. You are definitely the best writer in Philly. I’ve been reading Phawker since its inception, and I check it out every day. I’m a huge music fan, but the job I had in the early 90’s required heavy travel. So I regret that I never got to see the Psyclone Rangers […]
TODAY I SAW: Jeff Deeney In The Metro
RELATED: The Valley of The Shadow RELATED: Today I Saw
BRIDGES OVER TROUBLED WATER: Rendell Lists 1,100 PA Bridges That Are Not Safe At Any Speed
INQUIRER: Gov. Rendell is expected today to call for repairs on hundreds of aging bridges statewide – including many in the Philadelphia area. Rendell will also list more than 1,100 bridges that are structurally deficient at an 11 a.m. press conference in Harrisburg. The bridge repair program would require legislative approval. Last year, the legislature approved a transportation funding bill to provide about $530 million for Pennsylvania bridges and roads. The state Department of Transportation last year found 6,000 structurally deficient bridges statewide. Of those, 60 heavily traveled bridges were in the Philadelphia region and rated as bad as, or […]