Who knew the Russian Orthodox Church could be such an asshole? Following the arrest of three members of the feminist punk group Pussy Riot, one of the church’s patriarchs referred to them as “Deranged Vaginas.” I’ve followed the story of Pussy Riot since the arrest following their “Punk Prayer” inside a Moscow cathedral in March of 2012. Three were arrested – Nadia, Masha, and Katia. Nadia and Masha remain imprisoned to complete their two-year sentence in a penal colony (!), having recently lost their chance at parole. Katia has since been released. I just watched the HBO documentary, Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer. There’s a lot of interesting verbiage in it. In addition to the “deranged vaginas” comment, members of the church’s Carriers of…
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Gary, Indiana, is right next to Chicago. It’s known for Michael Jackson and as one of the most burned up, blighted cities in the country. It’s held the title as the Murder Capitol of the U.S. in the past, and although its population has dwindled, I believe it still ranks right up there, as that figure is determined by murders per number of residents. So far this year there have been 31 murders in Gary. And it’s only about 23 miles from Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood, where most of the city’s murder and violence take place.
I drove through Gary this past Saturday afternoon, down its main street, Broadway. I had my camera with me and decided to take some pictures on and around Broadway. I took about 30 minutes and for these photos didn’t leave my Jeep. By no means am I a professional photographer, and I missed some great opportunities, including a large pit bull in the back of a pick-up next to me that, to keep it from lunging at other drivers, was connected to a series of chains that resembled something from the Thunderdome in that Mad Max film. But here they are.
53rd and Broadway
Garage near 6th and Broadway
6th and Broadway. Gary Housing Authority.
Around 7th and Broadway
Old cars in a lot around 51st and Broadway
The re-opening of the famous Roy Boy’s tattoo shop at 3844 Broadway
Area of 21st and Broadway – Abandoned Home
53rd and Broadway. Earlier in July Gary’s 29th murder took place outside here where the manager of the place was shot in the head.
6th and Broadway. Folks chilling across the street from the GHA.
“It could have been worse. She could have claimed she was raped by a bottle of alcohol” – United Arab Emirates Foreign Affairs Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed al-Nahyan The United Arab Emirates has changed its rape law in the wake of a high profile case involving a Norwegian woman’s sexual assault claim in a Dubai hotel. Previously, the law stated rapists can only be convicted if either the perpetrator confesses or if four adult Muslim males witnessed the crime. Under the new law a rapist can be convicted if he confesses or the crime is witnessed by two adult Muslim males, a monkey, and “a guy in a wizard’s hat.” Marte Deborah Dalelv was recently pardoned after being sentenced to 16 months in…
The Dodgy 