[Photos by JUSTIN ROMAN] BY JEFF DEENEY Near the corner off 11th and Tioga is a memorial set up around the base of stop sign for Tim Haines, aka Boosa, a 24 year old who was gunned down here one early Saturday morning late last month during a violent weekend that left five dead citywide. This is a neighborhood I know fairly well; as a social worker I had a client who lived nearby and longtime readers might remember that around this time last year I got caught in the middle of a daytime shoot out around the corner on […]
KILLADELPHA: Mayor Nutter Vs. The Gun Nuts
INQUIRER: New city laws to control the number of guns sold in Philadelphia is meant to stop the illegal flow of guns to criminals and not meant to stop legal sales, Mayor Nutter emphasized in a morning press conference. The conference was scheduled hours before city officials return to court this afternoon battling whether the city can independently pass legislation to limit gun sales here. The mayor has already signed legislation backed by City Council. The National Rifle Association, along with others, including gun dealers, has filed a civil lawsuit to block the laws. With Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey […]
A SILVER MOUNT ZION: Stumble Then Rise On Some Awkward Morning
? Three members of Godspeed You Black Emperor + string section + tape loops + astonishing visuals. They play tomorrow night at First Unitarian.
NEWS CLUES: Like The Enemies List Of The Truth
The Richest Man On Earth Endorses Senator Barack Obama FRANKFURT (AFP) – Warren Buffett, the world’s richest man, is backing Barack Obama for US president and thinks current US economic policy will push the dollar lower against other global currencies. Buffett told a press conference here Monday he had offered support to both Obama and Democratic rival Hillary Clinton but that since it appeared Obama would win the party’s nomination, “I will be very happy if he is elected president. “He is my choice,” Buffett said. Commenting on the US economy, the 77-year-old investor who is known as the “Sage […]
WORTH REPEATING: The New Enemies List OR The Fascist Plot To Take Over The United States, Right Now!
EDITOR’S NOTE: If you only read one article this year about the Fascist plot to take over the United States of America, PLEASE read this one! RADAR: Addressing the nation from the Oval Office in 2005 after the first disclosures of the NSA’s warrantless electronic surveillance became public, Bush insisted that the spying program in question was reviewed “every 45 days” as part of planning to assess threats to “the continuity of our government. “Few Americans — professional journalists included — know anything about so-called Continuity of Government (COG) programs, so it’s no surprise that the president’s passing reference received […]
TEXTING: It’s The End Of The World And IFF, LOL!
BY AMY Z. QUINN Down in D.C. today, the FCC is holding a summit on the state of the country’s emergency alert system, which many of you know as “the annoying beep that interrupts Clifford and makes your toddler cry.” And soon — remember, we’re talking government time here so “soon” means at some uncertain point in the future, if ever — 90-character emergency text messages could come through to your cell phone, alerting you to national disasters, emergency missives from the President, and Amber Alerts.That is, if the government agencies involved can stop dickering over which one will run […]
Q&A: Let’s Talk About Sex, Baby
As promised, sexy time Q&A with sexologist Susana Mayer, host of the Erotic Literary Salon. PHAWKER: So, just to bring the reader up to speed: Your name is Susana Mayer, you are 60-years-young, you live here in Philadelphia, you are the creator and host of The Erotic Literary Salon and you are a sexologist. What exactly is a sexologist? SUSANA MAYER: It is the study of how we give and receive pleasure. PHAWKER: And you were telling me that you are working on your doctoral dissertation… SUSANA MAYER: Yes. The working title is, In Pursuit Of Sexual Pleasure Reframing Obsolagnium: […]
THE BEATDOWN: Ramsey Fires Four Cops
INQUIRER: Four Philadelphia police officers today were fired, with another demoted and three others facing suspension with transfer for taking part in the videotaped beatings of three suspects.The officers were among 19 policemen who were filmed May 5 kicking and pummeling three men on a tape by a Fox29 television news helicopter. Police allege the three men had been involved in an earlier drive-by shooting in Feltonville that resulted in several injuries. The disciplinary actions were announced this afternoon at Police Headquarters by Commissioner Charles Ramsey and Mayor Michael Nutter. Ramsey said a police sergeant who “failed to take action” […]
NPR 4 THE DEF: Giving Public Radio Edge Since 2006
FRESH AIR Reverend Carroll Pickett was the death-house chaplain at the Walls prison unit in Huntsville, Texas for 13 years. During his tenure, he ministered to 95 inmates executed by lethal injection. Because he was employed by the state, Pickett was unable to voice his disapproval of capitol punishment while performing his ministry. But he has become an opponent of the death penalty since leaving the prison system. Pickett co-authored a memoir with Carlton Stowers, titled Within These Walls. He is now the subject of a new documentary, At the Death House Door. RADIO TIMES Hour 1 is our country’s […]
Feds Tighten Noose Around Johnny Doc’s Neck
INQUIRER: Contractor Donald J. “Gus” Dougherty Jr. pleaded guilty today in federal court for providing $115,000 worth of free renovations on the South Philadelphia home of labor leader John Dougherty. With his plea, Gus Dougherty, a close friend but unrelated to John Dougherty, has now pleaded guilty to 99 criminal counts involving his business, Dougherty Electric Inc. He pleaded guilty to a charge of providing illegal payments to a union official. Gus Dougherty is to be sentenced Aug. 15. In the hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Anita Eve said Gus Dougherty “did not intend to invoice” John Dougherty for the work […]
CHANGE: Barack Obama Draws 75,000 In Portland
Sen. Barack Obama addresses the masses in Portland, Oregon, earlier today. [Photo by SYBL09] WASHINGTON POST: PORTLAND, Ore. — Sen. Barack Obama has seen his share of large crowds over the last 15 months, but his campaign said they have not approached the numbers gathered along the waterfront here right now. The campaign, citing figures from Duane Bray, battalion chief of Portland Fire & Rescue, estimated that 75,000 people are watching him speak. The scene suggests this is not an exaggeration. The sea of heads stretches for half a mile along the grassy embankment, while others watch from kayaks and […]