‘Robin Hood Strippers’ Made a Business of Drugging and Robbing Wall Street Guys
New York Magazine writer Jessica Pressler spent years reporting this story about a pair of former strippers who made a business of drugging and robbing wealthy New York men of hundreds of thousands of dollars. It’s nuanced and interesting, and Pressler took questions on her reporting on Digg after it was published. [NY Magazine]
Police Killed Around 1,000 People This Year, Less Than 4 Percent Unarmed Black Men
Since news outlets like the Washington Post and the Guardian started tallying police-involved shootings earlier this year, they’ve counted around 1,000 across the country, a number that no federal agency has tracked before.
The Guardian tallied 1,126 police-involved deaths while the Washington Post has tracked 975 deaths this year. Thirty-six police officers have been shot and killed in the line of duty this year. Unarmed black men represented less than 4 percent of fatal shootings this year, the Post’s analysis found. [Washington Post & Guardian]
Has Our Military Taken Cues From 'Star Wars?'
There are some interesting parallels between the “Star Wars” universe and our own military history, according to the Daily Beast. Former President Reagan had come up with a missile defense system that would have used what was called the Mid-Infrared Advanced Chemical Laser. Although it didn’t pan out, it was nicknamed “the Star Wars plan.” Perhaps even more intriguing, the Air Force is planning to have working laser weapons on U.S. warplanes by 2020. [Daily Beast]
Volunteers Are Passing Pads and Tampons Out to the Homeless
VICE’s women’s interest vertical, Broadly, wrote about a woman who started an organization in California distributing pads and tampons to the homeless. She now has volunteers doling them out in New Jersey, Florida and New York as well. Why does this matter to you, a New Yorker? New York is one of the 40 states in the U.S. that taxes tampons (but not other necessities, like groceries or, as TIME notes, “dry cleaning, newspapers, American flags, admissions to live circus performances or ‘wine furnished at a wine tasting’”). [Broadly]
Man Travels from New York to California on a Citi Bike
It took Jeffrey Tanenhaus four-and-a-half months to travel from New York to California — and $1,200 in late fees — all on a Citi Bike. After leaving his job as a corporate planner in August, Tanenhaus went for a 2,700-mile bike ride to the west coast. He plans on returning it to Brooklyn with new tires, new pedals, and a new seat, though he tells NBC he’s unsure how to finance the trip. [WNBC]
‘Three-Quarter Houses’ Continue to Victimize Recovering Addicts
In a blockbuster investigation earlier this year the New York Times blew the lid off a network of so-called “three-quarter houses,” unregulated flophouses that profit from tenants relapsing and attending outpatient rehab programs. Six months later, the problem persists, as this follow-up story recounts in painful and tragic detail. [NYT]
Lemmy, Motorhead Frontman, Dies Two Days After Cancer Diagnosis
Fans are mourning the death of a heavy metal legend Ian “Lemmy” Kilmister. The Motorhead founding member and frontman died Monday, only two days after he was diagnosed with an extremely aggressive cancer. Lemmy formed the influential British band in 1975. The group recorded more than 20 albums and is best known for its classic “Ace of Spades.”
“Play Lemmy’s music LOUD… Have a drink or few. Share stories,” the group posted on its Facebook page. Lemmy turned 70 on Christmas Eve. [Guardian]
The Wealthiest Americans Are Doing Everything They Can to Not Pay Taxes
The New York Times has laid out an esoteric system that the super rich use, many of whom are high campaign contributors, to send their cash to Bermuda, saving them millions, and even hundreds of millions of dollars. [NYT]
Which Restaurants Did Food Writers Love This Year?
Trust the city’s food reporters and editors at Eater to choose some seriously good local eats, as they do in this round-up of favorite “standby” restaurants of the year. The choices aren’t necessarily new; in fact, many of them fall into the “oldie-but-goodie” category, including Momofuku Ssam, Smith & Wollensky and Elephant & Castle. Other local joints include Caribbean spot Glady’s in Crown Heights and brunch favorite Forrest Point in Bushwick. [Eater]
2 Chainz Sold $2 Million in Ugly Christmas Sweaters This Year
The Atlanta-based rapper 2 Chainz has been doing a brisk business this season in ugly Christmas sweaters and baby onesies featuring Santa or Mrs. Claus doing a dance move called “the dab.” The sweaters cost $34.99 or less and hit on a cultural trend at just the right moment.
“This is just timing meets opportunity,” said 2 Chainz.
Part of the proceeds are going to charity. [Quartz]
Giant Squid Makes Rare Appearance in Japan
A giant squid, an elusive creature known to dwell in the deepest parts of the ocean, surprised residents in the Japanese town of Toyama on Christmas Eve when it appeared swimming in a local harbor. A diver captured footage of the 12-foot creature, which can grow up to four times that, according to the BBC. [BBC]
An Underwater Museum in Egypt Could Bring Thousands of Sunken Relics Into View
Egypt is ready to move forward with plans to build an underwater museum in Alexandria’s Abu Qir Bay, which would give visitors a chance to see more than 2,500 relics submerged about 20 feet below the surface. Artifacts include what are thought to be the remains of Cleopatra’s VII’s palace as well as blocks that are believed to have been part of the Pharos lighthouse, which was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World before it fell into the bay in the 13th century A.D., according to Smithsonian magazine. [Smithsonian]
This column was compiled by DNAinfo reporters Lisha Arino, Camille Bautista, Jeanmarie Evelly, Emily Frost, Gwynne Hogan, Noah Hurowitz, Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska, Irene Plagianos, Rachel Holliday Smith, Danielle Tcholakian and Shaye Weaver.
