Prince Harry’s (Not So) Private Moment At Ground Zero

Symbolic Freemason and British royal trophy, Prince Harry, has officially arrived in New York City. And judging from his itinerary, he’s doing more charity events than a Red Cross worker. As part of the prince’s two-day public relations blitz, he stopped to solemnly pay his respects at the World Trade Center site. |Gothamist|

Department of Buildings Takes Down First Illegal Billboard

For the first time ever, the Department of Buildings has physically removed an illegal billboard. City Room reports that contractors for the agency tore down a 3-story illegal ad wrapping the historic building at 174 Broadway yesterday. This forcible action comes after more than 100 violations against the building’s owner, 1 Maiden Lane Realty, and the illegal ad installer, OTR Media Group, failed to produce any results. Hopefully this isn’t a one-off attack, but the beginning of a long term assault on advertising companies, including NPA Outdoors, that openly flout the law and litter New York City with unlawful ads.

Photo by Carly Sullivan/NYCDOB

‘Giant’ Folding?

A very reliable source in the magazine industry tells ANIMAL that Giant is folding after its July issue, citing abysmal ad sales. If true, this would be the second magazine that Smokey Fontaine* ruined—he was the Editor-in-Chief of America back when Dame Dash could still afford a Range Rover and helped drive that book into the ground too. This would also indicate that the attack letters allegedly sent out by rival rag XXL were either really effective or highly predictive. Either way, maybe that explains putting this funeral-home-ready shot of Nick Cannon mourning on the cover of what could be the last issue.

*Although Smokey is not the current Editor-in-Chief—he’s the Content Editor for its parent company Radio One—the dude was responsible for dramatically changing the face of the magazine (for the worse).

16th Century Torturers Held Same Rationale As Bush Administration

Waterboarding is still all the rage. You’ve got Dick Cheney pushing it on his torture-promoting circuit, right wing propagandists doing it for publicity, and in Lima, Peru there’s this frightening exhibit at the Museum of the Inquisition. The life-sized diorama depicts the brutal method “16th century style.” While this drowning-induced torture was used over 500 years ago, their defense of it was synonymous with the modern day positions held by Bush Cheney administration, with one wall text simply describing it as a way to: “cause pain without creating wounds or considerable bodily harm.” Yeah, unless you’re the one being tortured. Of course, back then, they also thought the Sun revolved around the Earth and practiced trial by drowning for so called witches. |C-Monster|