Marietta bar owner Mike Norman says the T-shirts he’s peddling, featuring a look-a-like of cartoon chimp Curious George peeling a banana, with “Obama in ‘08″ underneath, are not meant to offend. Norman acknowledged the imagery’s Jim Crow roots but said he sees nothing wrong with depicting a prominent African-American as a monkey, “We’re not living in the (19)40’s,” he said. “Look at him . . . the hairline, the ears — he looks just like Curious George.”

In the third attack on or near SEPTA in Center City in 10 days, three men wearing black wigs assaulted and robbed a 30-year-old Southwest Philadelphia man riding the Market-Frankford El late Friday.

SEPTA police couldn't catch the suspects in the 11:35 p.m. incident as quickly as they nabbed those in an 8 p.m. attack Wednesday, just two days earlier.

Friday night's victim, whose name is being withheld by police, had to climb two flights of steps to report the assault and robbery of $20 to a cashier at the stop on 15th and Market streets, according to Richard Maloney, SEPTA spokesman.

By the time the cashier reported it to SEPTA police, the Market-Frankford train had traveled to 30th Street and the wig-wearing trio were nowhere to be found, Maloney said. (source)

Yet again another innocent bystander is beaten and robbed near a SEPTA platform. Seriously? What is going on in my adoptive city? Millions of people trust SEPTA to get them home safely everyday but now these attacks are going to cause a major stir in thee city and probably down-right panic. Mayor Nutsack (excuse me, Nutter) needs to get on his JOB and get some whips cracking around town.

What was the craziest thing you ever saw at Can Am?
We walked in one day and Faith was sitting on Pac’s lap while Pac was writing a verse. It was like, “What the f*ck is going on?” That was one of the craziest sights, dog. Faith was in Pac’s lap. I was like, “What the f*ck? I know I’m not? Is that? It can’t?” Three weeks later, “Hit ‘Em Up” came out. There’s a couple of people that came up out of that camp. Bow Wow was in Snoop’s camp. Keyshia Cole was always through Death Row in her younger days. I used to see Keyshia all the time in there with Pac. I’m not hating on nobody. I got love for Faith. That was unbelievable, during the time of the East Coast-West Coast beef.

What was your favorite memory of Pac?
I always just hung out with Pac and smoked and chilled. He always used to give young n*gg*s advice to just work hard and never give up on your dreams.

Pac was smoking with you when you were 15?
God damn right. He didn’t know. It was going down in Can Am. You didn’t need an ID in that m*th*rf*ck*r.

What’s a funny story you had with Pac?
He was just a funny dude. He always cracked jokes on whoever had bad breath or nappy hair. I used to spend more time with Snoop and Suge. [Snoop] used to come pick me up and I’d tell my dad I’m going down the street to do my homework. I would just come back later and pass out.

How did you find out Pac was shot?
I seen Pac the day before they left. Suge bought Snoop, Pac, and Dr. Dre Rolls Royces. I think they all caravanned. The last thing Pac said was, “Aright, little homey, we out.” A day later I found out he got shot.

Were you around when Biggie got shot?
I was with Big two days before he died. I smoked two or three blunts with Big. We watched a Lil Kim video. He talked to me about some real sh*t. He was gonna get on the remix for “Everything That You Want” off my album and then two days later he was dead. He invited me to his hotel. Cease picked me up.

So Big was real cool?
Big was hella-cool. He was talking about how big Lil Kim was gonna be. And that was right when that video came out for “Crush On You.” He showed me the first version of that. I walked in [his room at at the Four Seasons] and the n*gg* had some shorts on and a tank top getting his hair cut. He was just a real n*gg*.He did some sh*t on [Brandy’s TV show] Moesha. So [his crew] came up like, “Biggie wanna get you high.” We sat back and smoked. I got his number. The n*gg* hit me the next day to come to the hotel. So me and my homey went up there and chilled. I was about 16. The day he died I seen him with Puff. I tried to say what’s up to Puff, but Puff didn’t see me. Then I seen Big and he was like, “What’s up, my n*gg*.” I hugged Big and the n*gg* smelled like soap. That’s all I remember. He just smelled fresh like, “Damn, he a big n*gg* but he smell like soap.”