January 31, 2012
10th and Clinton, Center City

10th and Clinton, Center City

January 19, 2012
This graphic was in the Philadelphia Inquirer yesterday, and Philly.com had this well-done map with every Philadelphia homicide since 1988. The comparison to the Iraq war is supposed to “put that deadly toll in perspective,” and all yesterday people tweeted horrified remarks about this comparison. The problem is that the comparison is nonsense. Philadelphia is only “as deadly as Iraq” if only U.S. troops were killed in Iraq during the war. (Who are our soldiers shooting at? Do they just have horrible aim?) Iraq Body Count currently lists between 104,872 and 114,540 civilian casualties during the Iraq War and other sources are higher. By those numbers, Philadelphia and Camden are much safer than Iraq. The Chicago Tribune made a similar comparison, of Iraq to Chicago, a few years back. I guess it’s supposed to galvanize the population into rethinking our violent ways, but there’s no need to make ridiculous comparisons to prove too many people are murdered in Philadelphia. (Violent crime is down nationally, but unless the murder rate is zero it’s too high, obviously.) It’s easier to deal with the horrors of the Iraq war to pretend only a few thousand people instead of a few hundred thousand people, I guess? If American casualties are the only ones that matter and the Inquirer wanted to really hammer the point home, why not go with this: Philadelphia is deadlier than Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945!

This graphic was in the Philadelphia Inquirer yesterday, and Philly.com had this well-done map with every Philadelphia homicide since 1988. The comparison to the Iraq war is supposed to “put that deadly toll in perspective,” and all yesterday people tweeted horrified remarks about this comparison.

The problem is that the comparison is nonsense. Philadelphia is only “as deadly as Iraq” if only U.S. troops were killed in Iraq during the war. (Who are our soldiers shooting at? Do they just have horrible aim?) Iraq Body Count currently lists between 104,872 and 114,540 civilian casualties during the Iraq War and other sources are higher. By those numbers, Philadelphia and Camden are much safer than Iraq.

The Chicago Tribune made a similar comparison, of Iraq to Chicago, a few years back. I guess it’s supposed to galvanize the population into rethinking our violent ways, but there’s no need to make ridiculous comparisons to prove too many people are murdered in Philadelphia. (Violent crime is down nationally, but unless the murder rate is zero it’s too high, obviously.) It’s easier to deal with the horrors of the Iraq war to pretend only a few thousand people instead of a few hundred thousand people, I guess?

If American casualties are the only ones that matter and the Inquirer wanted to really hammer the point home, why not go with this: Philadelphia is deadlier than Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945!

January 16, 2012

A guy on Jeopardy! tonight guessed donkey punch was the response to a clue. (Please note: Wikipedia says a donkey punch is “potentially lethal.” Don’t try it.)

January 15, 2012
Philly parking, Catherine and Darien, Bella Vista.

Philly parking, Catherine and Darien, Bella Vista.

January 14, 2012
Front and Wolf, South Philly. This is my favorite lazy tag ever.

Front and Wolf, South Philly. This is my favorite lazy tag ever.

Front and Snyder, South Philly.

Front and Snyder, South Philly.

January 9, 2012
A friend and I watched The Net yesterday. Naturally, the Sports Illustrated logo makes a cameo in this, er, fantastic film. (Hey, Roger Ebert liked it!)

A friend and I watched The Net yesterday. Naturally, the Sports Illustrated logo makes a cameo in this, er, fantastic film. (Hey, Roger Ebert liked it!)

January 7, 2012
New at the Piazza: The world’s worst mini-golf course.

New at the Piazza: The world’s worst mini-golf course.

9th and Bainbridge, South Philly.

9th and Bainbridge, South Philly.

January 5, 2012
Early morning snow, Center City.

Early morning snow, Center City.