we'll do it for a country, for a people, for a moral vision...

ok, it's officially time for me to do what only a blogger can properly do...rant!

now, i must disclose that i am slightly biased on this topic (it's semi-private, pm or email me if you'd really like to know), but this nonsense with cops getting shot has to fucking stop. two more hit yesterday (thankfully, i believe they went home last night). i think i saw a figure that said 70 some cops have been shot at this year? like everyone is saying, it proves that the criminals are now callous and ballsy enough to actually shoot the po-lice. this is where it gets interesting, though...now, don't get me wrong, i was really hoping that i could see video of the cops dragging this guy out of the house and beating him (mostly) to death, but could we consider that maybe there's more to it than just cops and robbers (or dealers)?

consider the fact that there have been...what...over 300 murders this year, i don't know the actual number offhand, and something like 400 last year? now, alot will argue (often including myself!) that many of the people being killed are "non innocent victims," drug deals gone bad, vindication, and so on. but a criminal's life is worth the same as anyone else's (including the cops'). how many of these murderers have been caught and send to jail? not a whole lot as far as i know, and yet the sons of bitches who shoot cops get caught within a day, if not sooner. now, i'm not by any means saying that the cops shouldn't be looking after their own, or that crooks are worth more than cops, but shouldn't the same amount of effort be put into EVERY murder or shooting? now, like i said, many of the people murdered were drug dealers and such, the associates of the people shooting the cops. you wander why they have such disdain for the cops? even more than normal? because their friends are being shot, and no one cares. and if we can all get away with murder, why not unload on a cop when you're backed into a corner?
(now like i said, i'm not saying this is ok by ANY means...i'm just giving a little opinion about a possible reason).

i really believe that if the 5-0 put the same effort into investigating every murder, this would be the cleanest, safest city around within days. also, did anyone see Sylvester Jonhson's statement when the bastard who shot Cassidy was on the lose? he went on describing the man who DID shoot Cassidy, not the suspect who MAY have. well, this is Street's city, so that's not entirely surprising. i think it's equally comical (but not so much in the funny way) that johnson's whole army of 10,000 men patrolling the streets is actually the same idea MILTON STREET came up with in april during his circus campaign. interesting, isn't it? maybe they could have called up the 10,000 black men to find the kid who shot the two cops yesterday. actually, they were probably all being stopped and questioned about the murder...

but race and such aside, it's come to a point where today, walking downtown, i saw a cop drive by, lights and siren blaring, and i honestly think to myself, wow, i hope they didn't get another one...

so i feel like there's not much more that i can say that hasn't already been said, or that's not completely obvious, so from here, let's switch gears to something else...

halloween brought some fun to the 'boro, at least for the 'Trash crew. we hit up karaoke at murphys, (as is the tuesday night RT tradition) the big costume contest and all of that. the fun part was that we were the only ones there wearing costumes. good times, i recommend it highly, tuesday nights, murphy's at henry and roxborough (quizzo on sunday nights, but don't bother, we'll kick your asses...). picture of halloween to come shortly.

also, looking for things to do this weekend. i know there are some ideas out there, so what's a boy to do in the neighborhood on a friday night?

Something New

Well, after a bit of though, I've finally decided once and for all to quit bitching (as much) to my friends and family and complain in a place where everyone can see, share, and bitch back.

So let's begin by learning a bit about me. I'm 20, soon to be 21, and a lifelong resident of The 'Borough. I went to gradeschool in Manayunk (the now defunct Polish Prison), and highschool in the 'burbs due to the aweful state of our public schools. I currently attend Drexel University (maybe you'll hear some good tidbits about University City and Center City here, but there are already plenty of people who blog about that).

What do I want to come of this blog? I really don't know, to be honest. It's really going to take shape in the coming weeks and months as I write more, and maybe someone reads it. We'll see where it goes. I DO know, however, what I want out of my neighborhood.
I want:
-something to do on a Friday Night
-something to do on a Saturday Night
-something to do AT ALL
-a clean place to hang out outside
-a non-bar concert venue
-a store on Ridge Ave. that ISN'T a seedy pager/cell phone shop or a defunct Farmer's Market turned "development group" headquarters
-local kids/young adults/people who AREN'T total d-bags

So come on, guys, I know you're out there. I know there have to be some people who like it enough here, but are just plain sick of alot of the crap that goes on. Let me know what you think, what you want, why you hate me, whatever. Also, feel free to vent about the city, SEPTA (Lord know's I'll be bitching about that...) or whatever else goes on around here. Talk about places you've eaten (Bob's Diner is aweful. There, I said it), coffee houses (Why the hell isn't the new place on Ridge open late?), events, things to do, anything at all.