Category Archives: Philadelphia

Have your gear stolen in Philly

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Today I was looking up a band called La Rocca – in Google I noticed a story about their gear being stolen here in Philadelphia. It sounded familiar – but too recent for me to have known about it, so I did a little digging. By my count, since January, eight bands having their equipment stolen in and around the Philadelphia area (one instance happened in Phoenixville).

  1. Film School – January
  2. Rosie Thomas – April
  3. Ambulettes – May
  4. Kyle Riabko – May
  5. Easily Amused – May
  6. Luce - May
  7. Damone - October
  8. La Rocca – November

These are people that make their living going from town to town – and they count on these instruments to make a living. With the spate of this type of crime it’s obvious that there is some sort of ring going on.
Without decent radio here all we need is another reason for bands to avoid the city.

Metro Article on Damone’s equipment theft

Philadelphia Inquirer article on the theft problem

Why did my parents choose Philly

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My parents are not from here – they were born in Jamaica and moved to Philadelphia mere months before I was born. They could have moved anywhere, but chose Philly. That choice is the root of my love affair with Philadelphia sports teams. Eagles, Phillies, Sixers, and Flyers – they’re my teams and I live and die with them. Unfortunately it seems that I do more dying that living.

In my 38 years I’ve seen a grand total of two titles – the 1980 Phillies and the 1982 Sixers. I don’t even count the 1975 Flyers because I was 6 years old and don’t really remember it. Since 1982 nothing. Talk about the Cubs or Red Sox futility streaks mean nothing to us. In Chicago they had Michael Jordan and the Bulls win 6 titles, the Bears, and the White Sox win titles since a Continue reading →

GOOD MORNING PHILADELPHIA!

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My alarm clock can awake me to nature sounds, a CD, any radio station I want.   This morning, a Monday morning at that, I was awoken by the dulcet tones of Rick Santorum and Bob Casey Jr. in a debate on the local all news station KYW.   I know your jealous.   What a pair these two make – first off Casey conteracts the effect of an alarm clock entirely.   Next time you need to sleep, listen to this guy.   Of course you have Santorum – who actually comes off better in the debate.   I’m thinking “this guy doesn’t sound too bad”.   Then I remember, “it’s Rick Santorum”.

Listening to these two I’m reminded of what we have to represent us.   Not the best and brightest, but the choice of the best between two evils.   No questions answered.   Attack after attack.   The people that represent us, I wouldn’t invite into my house.

Tomorrow morning I think I’ll sleep in.

RIP – Paul Richardson

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prichardson.jpg

Growing up in Philadelphia one of my favorite childhood memories is that of my father taking my younger sister and I to Phillies games. The Phillies were great in those days: Steve Carlton pitching, Mike Schmidt and Greg Luzinski hitting, Larry Bowa and Garry Maddox catching. And to top it off the soundtrack was provided by stadium organist Paul Richardson.

I’m certain that Paul Richardson is an integral part of many a Philadelphian’s childhood. Never seen, but the experiences wouldn’t have been the same without him.

Now when you go to a game, it’s pre-recorded songs and special effects, million dollar sound systems and games on the big screen.   Just like so many of today’s experiences, modern advances haven’t improved the experience, just made it modern.

Today Paul Richardson died after a long illness. Just one more time for Paul:

CHARGE!

Gun violence moves a little closer to Harrisburg

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I wanted to write about the Phillies today, but it seemed just a little trite after hearing about the tragedy that occured today in Lancaster County, PA. Four little girls killed by a man armed to fight an army. This just a week after the Pennsylvania state legislature had special meetings to discuss violence especially in the city of Philadelphia.

Gun owners in this state love their guns and refuse any restrictions. Limits on the number of guns they can purchase; closing loopholes in gun show laws; special restrictions for the city of Philadelphia; all dismissed so that gun owners can buy as many guns as they want. What I’ve never understood is why? Why do you need to buy 4 or 5 or 20 guns at a time? And how many people would a gun restriction of one per month affect? This is 12 guns per year. The opponents are opposing these laws based on principle and while they fight to protect their rights while 293 people have been killed in Philadelphia alone. They believe this is a Philadelphia problem and that we need to deal with it ourselves.

That brings me back to what happened today. It isn’t a Philadelphia problem, it’s a Pennsylvania problem, it’s an American problem and our legislature needs to care more about the lives of young children than the beloved rights of gun owners. In an atmosphere where civil liberties are abandoned readily by our government, it seems this is an area where we can afford to give up just a little.

But we will continue to argue and debate and all the while more and more people are dying. But they won’t care until it’s their daughters, sons, neighbors and friends.

Silly me; I thought the government was suppose to protect everyone.

Assorted: Nancy Grace, George Bush, and Philly smoking ban

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A few things to discuss

Nancy dis-Grace

I can’t tell you how much I hate Nancy Grace – from her righteousness to her focus on pretty, white, blonde victims, she is just awful.

This week she’s gone too far in injecting herself into an open investigation, spurring the suicide of a main subject, and then denying that she had any impact. She believes that guilt caused the woman to kill herself. That may well be, but what proof does Grace have? Is it such a stretch to think that she was so distraught that after the grilling by Grace and the police, she couldn’t take it anymore?

She disgusts me.

This week in Dubya

Republicans aren’t backing him. Colin Powell has come out against him. The Bush Terror plan seems like a non-starter. It seems that in response to being shut down by the Supreme Court that instead of playing by the rules that the axis of evil – Bush, Karl Rove, and Dick Cheney want to change the rules. Kudos to Powell who said in response to proposed changes to the Geneva Convention: “The world is beginning to doubt the moral basis of our fight against terrorism. To redefine Common Article Three would add to those doubts.”

Philadelphia enters the 21st century

Finally Philadelphia has enacted a ban on workplace smoking that will extend to most bars and restaurants. While some bars will be exempt, it will make for a much more pleasant experience for those of us that don’t smoke. It will be interesting to see how this new law will be enforced.