May 31, 2006

NB To 'Inquirer': At Least Try And Make It A Little Easier, Please?

Brian Tierney Makes A Pledge [PW]

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Blogicized: H-E-A-D-L-I-N-E-S L-I-K-E T-H-I-S A-R-E N-O-T C-L-E-V-E-R A-N-Y-M-O-R-E

• Over at A List Of Things Thrown Five Minutes Ago, they're liveblogging the preliminary rounds of the spelling bee. One kid actually got to spell Grimace as a word. The definition was, assumedly, "A big giant purple... corporate... spokes... thing... oh, whatever, you know how to effing spell Grimace." [A List Of Things Thrown Five Minutes Ago]

• In America, your vote counts. Except when it doesn't. With Bonus "Press 1 for Spanish" things to anger Joseph Vento! [The West End]

• The Fightin' Phils sure could use a pitcher. Everyone knows that. So why was their big offseason move -- besides the Thome trade -- to send Vicente Padilla (a starting pitcher!) to Texas?! Argh! [Phillies Nation]

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Also, The Mayor Has Not Been Charged With Any Wrongdoing

According to KYW 1060, two of Vince Fumo's aides are charged with widespread destruction of computer records and emails -- whoops! -- dating all the way back to 1999. ("But, officer, everything was wiped out by Y2K!")

Fumo isn't charged with anything, so he isn't named in the indictment, but everyone's kinda-sorta-maybe-okay-yes figured it out.

Aides charged with destroying evidence? Chillin' with bloggers? What's next in Mr. Fumo's Wild Ride?! Only time will tell!

Two Aides of Pa. State Senator Fumo Indicted in Federal Corruption Probe [KYW 1060]

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Abridged 'Daily News' Columnists

Urban Warrior Chris Brennan: Oh, yes, the DA just randomly tried two artists because, hey, it was a "challenging" case. Yes indeedy.

Jill Porter: I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!

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Talking Barbaro Was Better Than This, NBC 10

NBC 10

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With Chuck Pennacchio's Campaign Over, Bloggers Courted By New Politician

Recently, everyone's favorite South Philly state senator decided that, hey, maybe these bloggers have a point after all! Not that he had been rabidly anti-blogger before, but -- of course -- the city's Democratic establishment, which includes Fumo, hadn't been all that supportive of this so-called "grassroots" movement of "regular" people.

Et cetera. You know how this goes.

But Fumo, to his credit, had a private meeting with some local bloggers a few weeks ago. Fumo's son, Vince Jr., was the one who suggested it. And just what happened at this off-the-record meeting? Eh, just some talk, some wine and cheese (maybe) and some Johnny Doc bashing (unconfirmed, but, oh, come awn).

Attendees included Fumo; his son Vince Jr.; City Councilmen Jim Kenney and Frank DiCicco, and bloggers Albert Yee, Howard Hall and Tulin Ozturk.

But wither the bloggers at Young Philly Politics, A Smoke-Filled Room and other local blogs?

"I don't mind getting them all along and getting a bigger room, as long as they're legitimate bloggers and not Johnny Doc's guys," he said.

It's good to see that some things are still politics as usual. Phew.

With Fumo, it's blogitics [Daily News]

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Quickies: Fat Camp Instead Of Summer School?

• City Councilman Michael Nutter knows how to run for mayor: He says he's going to get our kids to stop being fat! This may work with parents, but crotchety old people could be all "How about you show them some manners first!" [KYW 1060]

• Your Anthony DiMeo update, courtesy of Metro DiMeo beat reporter Josh Cornfield: "He said in previously filed court documents that the comments made about him on Max’s site caused him to live 'in constant fear for his safety and the safety of his loved ones.' DiMeo said in the documents that he was forced to seek out psychological counseling, that he suffered a loss of privacy and his business was affected."

• Hey, when he's not bashing those free AOL CDs about five years after people forgot what AOL is, and when he's not playing with his doggy, we can always count on John Grogan for some good old fashioned Philadelphia optimism. Wait. Philadelphia optimism? [Inky]

• We Americans say goodbye to Katie Couric. Only, uh, she's just going to be doing the news on a different station. Is she really leaving? [Gawker]

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Uhh, Jim...?

In last week's Sports Illustrated, the magazine asked some questions of former Phillies slugger Jim Thome, including this one:

Yep! Jim's gonna drive his pick-up all the way from French Lick to Hawaii!

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When TV Learns From Blogs

Uhh... NBC 10? I'm a Philebrity fan, too, but I don't know if you should be using essentially the same headline they are on the story about the Doylestown man who jumped over the side of a cruise ship and died.

Local Man Goes Way Overboard! [Philebrity]

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We'll Be Starting A Little Late Today

Enjoy this little guy in the meantime.

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May 30, 2006

Dating, But Not For Nerds

NBC 10 recently looked at a question that, surely, many parents must be worried about: When is a good time for your child to start dating?

The gist of the story is that if you don't do something right this instant, your child will die. One parent says kids shouldn't date until after high school. More teenage girls get pregnant at four in the afternoon than any other time. Et cetera.

But the key quotation comes from family counseling expert Lynne Marie Boykin, about when a child should start dating:

"Some kids are hot at 12, and some are nerds and just not ready until they are 16, 17. They're just not ready for dating."

Gee, I'm sure that makes the nerds feel much better, Lynne.

Is Your Child Ready To Start Dating? [NBC 10]

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Press 1 For Asshole

Or, really, only one. The asshole in question here is Joe Vento, owner of Geno's, who has a sign on his window that says "This is America. When Ordering, Speak English." Vento certainly has every right to run his business how he pleases, since this is America! But we (fortunately) all have the right to mock him, call him an asshole and wonder why someone pointing to 'provolone' would get you all riled up?

Vento doesn't limit his assholic behaviors to Geno's, though:

With Geno's Steaks tattooed on his arm, Vento is used to publicizing things, especially what's on his mind. Speak English signs also poster his Hummer. He has driven through South Philadelphia blaring through the SUV's P.A. system denunciations of neighborhood business owners who hire illegal immigrants.

"I say what everybody's thinking but is afraid to say," Vento said. [...]

"They want us to adapt to these people. What do you mean, 'Press 1 for Spanish'? English, period. Case closed. End of discussion. You better make it the official language."

Ahh, yes, the old American tradition of going around a neighborhood and blasting your stereo and telling your neighbors you hate them. And, really, is there anything more American than getting all worked up about having to spend a half-second pressing '1' for English? God Bless America!

Also, how does a deaf person order at Geno's?

Thanks to The 14th Windiest State for the image, although I think Joe Vento only has one mood.

An old struggle to adapt to a new country's ways [Inky]

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Breaking: Brad Pitt Dumps Angelina Jolie...

... for Irresistible Ella! Congratulations!

Archives: Irresistible Ella

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I was saying 'Boo-urns'

A paragraph in a review of Pearl Jam's weekend shows in yesterday's Inquirer:

Their audience certainly has a clear idea of what Pearl Jam is and is not. Just ask the poor auxiliary keyboardist who accompanied Vedder on show opener "Life Wasted," drawing prolonged boos.

I know we're kind of assholes, but even Philadelphians don't boo random band members at concerts, do we?

Oh:

Editor's note: A review of Pearl Jam that appeared in Monday's Inquirer incorrectly characterized the audience's reponse to the keyboardist at Saturday's show. The audience was not booing Kenneth "Boom" Gasper, but cheering him on by chanting his nickname.

Fortunately, Duce Staley, Clarence Weatherspoon and Hugh Douglas didn't suffer the same editorial misjudgement during their time in Philadelphia.

Pearl jam gets refreshingly direct [Inky]
funny review of saturday's philly show [The Sky I Scrape]

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The Wonderful Thing About Veterans, Is Veterans Are Wonderful Things

Today's Evening Bulletin has a full-page photo essay of Memorial Day events. Here's the headline:

And the photo just below it:

I think those two were both at Guadalcanal, actually.

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Goliath vs. Goliath

Metro columnist -- who formerly wrote for the Inquirer -- Clark DeLeon writes whines today about the sale of the Inqurier and Daily News, and reflects on a lawsuit filed by Philadelphia Newspapers, Inc., six-and-a-half years ago to stop Metro from being distributed by SEPTA:

In my first column almost six-and-a-half years ago, in the brand new Philadelphia daily newspaper with the snappy name — Metro — I wrote, “If you are reading this newspaper on your way to work or school, it represents a victory by the little paper that could over the media giants that tried to crush it in its cradle.”

Indeed. That little, plucky company-that-could, Metro, won the right to be distributed behind the turnstile on SEPTA platforms (an agreement that's since been scrapped). Hey, wait, what's that just to the right of DeLeon's column?

Next week, DeLeon will write about a small, unknown start-up known as Wal*Mart, and how evil community members are attempting to keep it out of their neighborhood. And the following week, how those meanies in Nicetown are keeping out a little-known entrepreneur by the name of Donald Trump.

When the bullies become the bugs [Metro]

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It wasn't me...

... but I'd like to think I would have done the same thing.

Man Frees Puppy From Gator's Grip [AP/NBC 10]

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Abridged 'Daily News' Columnists

Ronnie Polaneczky: Hey, there's a vaccine for cervical cancer. But some conservative groups are against it, because cervical cancer is sometimes caused by an STD. Then again, the the Pope -- the freakin' Pope -- does things like go to Africa and look at AIDS-ravaged countries and says, "Don't use condoms, the Lord hates it!" Hooray for religion! Here's a link. And fuck you, Focus on the Family.

Elmer Smith: Members of Congress think they're better than everyone else? No way!

John Baer: READER MAIL COLUMN! ALERT THE PULITZER COMMITTEE!

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A Victory For Free Speech, And Hilarity

Most legal decisions don't begin with the words "Tucker Max describes himself as an aspiring celebrity 'drunk' and 'asshole,'" -- well, at least not since Marbury v. Madison's similar opening -- but then again most lawsuits aren't as hilarious as this. On Friday, right about when I packed it in for the long weekend, the lawsuit filed by Anthony DiMeo against Tucker Max was dismissed.

Anthony DiMeo was suing Tucker Max (that's him in the photo, with Morimoto) because of mean things said by forum members about DiMeo on Tucker's eponymous website, and he's now received a legal smackdown from the judge in a fairly entertaining decision that not only contains a reference to a Philadelphia Weekly article -- you'll be possibly read over in law schools for years, Cassidy! -- but has references to names like 'Jerkoff' and 'footinmouth.'

Max, on his website, writes:

The judge's decision is awesome. ... The best part is the last quote, it is fucking awesome:

"Here we do so by protecting the coarse conversation that, it appears, never ends on tuckermax.com"

Well, that or the part where a FEDERAL JUDGE quotes someone from my board using the phrase, "getting fisted by an angry gorilla" and "mold your face to what you think you would look like if a leper were about to take a shit in your mouth." Best. Legal. Decision. Ever.

If I ever become president -- and if I do ever run for office, all anyone needs to do to derail my campaign is quote from any random selected post on this website -- I would propose a law that requires all court decisions to contain the phrase "fisted by an angry gorilla."

This isn't really surprising, though. After all, DiMeo's lawyer for this case was a man who had this on his website:

A true "Lawyer's Lawyer", Matthew is proud and flattered by continuously receiving referrals and praise from unaffiliated attorneys (even suprisingly from those who were once his opposing counsel).

You might think the fun might be over. No more DiMeo randomly threatening to sue any independent blogger who happens to report on a disastrous party he has or says things about him other than "Anthony DiMeo is awesome and throws the best parties!" You might think that this decision has affirmed that the Internet is a place where people who are, say, blueberry heirs can't simply use their money to threaten to squelch any criticism of them. You, of course, would be wrong. According to our buddy Daniel Rubin, DiMeo is planning on appealing:

Tucker Max should not only expect a possible appeal to this one judges decision, but select members of his TuckerMax.com following should expect individual lawsuits to be filed against them for the countless false, inaccurate and misleading statements they have clearly posted on Mr. Max's web site. Without a doubt, these type of legal battles are very, very costly... but, to me, it's most certainly worth it to make people like Tucker Max pay for their wrongful actions. Tucker Max demeans women and promotes character assassinations; and this is something we must not allow in our society.

Apparently, the fun just won't stop. Although I'm glad DiMeo has attempted to jump on the "Tucker Max demeans women" bandwagon, even though that wasn't, exactly, what he was suing him for. I'm not quite sure it'll work. I mean, could there be anything more demeaning than being a model for DiMeo's PR firm?

TUCKER WINS!!! DIMEO LOSES!!! [Tucker Max Blog]
Matthew B. Weisberg [PPWLaw.com]
April 5: DiMeo v. Max, The Lawsuit -- And The Party!

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'Desperate' To Fill A Hole?

Gross writes:

For a cover story in the current American Way magazine, the "Desperate Housewives" star chose Our Town as her favorite place to visit. She gushes about sights, restaurants and nightlife to the magazine, which is found on American Airlines flights and online at americanwaymag.com.

We began to think something was fishy when we read how she replied when asked about dancing in town. Hatcher says, "Philadelphia primarily has a lounge and a hip-hop scene, but there are a couple of great dance scenes too," and called Tommy Up's Mojito parties "the best." Nothing against Tommy's party, but we had to question the level of detail in her description of the event. [...]

Tommy Up, who was in Maui last night when reached by phone, saw the story on a plane and was thrilled, sending out an e-mail to his mailing list that he's going to "go to LA and make out with her and make babies."

Coming later this week, an article about Dean Cain, and how he expressed his love for Philadelphia in Delta Sky.

Dan Gross | If Teri 's desperate, it's for Philly [DN]
Desperate for a getaway? [American Way]

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May 26, 2006

Enjoy The Weekend

Okay, it's the day before a three-day weekend. (Yeah, I'm taking off Monday, too.) There's nothing going on. Sigh. And the Wi-Fi bill was just signed yesterday. (Seriously, I think Des Moines, Iowa, is going to be bathed in a wireless network before we are.)

But, let's end with this: By my calculations, Johnny Goodtimes has now been mentioned more in Metro than on any other media site, including his own website. (And, amazingly, even more than here.)

Anyway, have a good weekend. Enjoy the holiday. A favor: If you're going to Wildwood, could you let me know if they rebuilt Sam's Pizza yet? Can't believe that place burnt down. (Where else are you going to eat, Mack's? Please.) We'll return you to your regularly scheduled programming Tuesday. We can only hope there are mascots.

Update: Some internet searching has revealed that Sam's might indeed be opening this weekend!

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The Only Part Of Last Year's Eagles Season You Want To Remember

It's a Friday before a long weekend. There's really nobody around and no news going on. Fortunately, there's YouTube.

Yep, that's one of the lone bright spots from the 2005 Philadelphia Eagles. Hey, training camp is starting soon, right?

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Philly's Favorite, Apparently, Is Dumb Enough To Be Tricked By A Stupid Pet

Stupid Pet Tricks Philly Favorite [CBS 3]

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The End Of Illegal Guns

In this week's Citypaper, Brian Hickey comes up with a novel approach to end the tide of gun violence in the city: Set up gun checkpoints just like we do with DUIs and frisk everyone in the car to find illegal weapons.

Whoo! That's quite a bold plan, but he plays the "it's really no different" card, and I suppose it's not really all that different than DUI stops. But the idea of being stopped at a checkpoint and frisked because I happened to be driving around an area where they were looking for a few illegal guns kind of makes me [insert your favorite 1984-esque reference here].

Hickey claims that the stops wouldn't be discriminatory, since they'd be stopping everyone. (In a program in NYC, officers were stopping and frisking -- wait for it -- a disproportionate number of blacks and Latinos.) I tend to think it discriminates against people who own cars, leaving those who walk, run, bicycle or Segway around with illegal guns safe, but that's not really the issue here.

Now, before you say, "This is the silliest thing I've heard since the 76ers offered free tickets if you gave them their illegal guns," let me tell you I've found out a way to make this novel approach even better. You may remember that a last week Hickey wrote that the then-unknown suspect in the murder of Police Officer Gary Skerski "warrants a shoot-first, don't-even-bother-with-questions-later response."

I'm sure you're seeing where I'm going here: We should set up traffic stops, and if the guy has yellow eyes or looks like he might've killed someone, you simply open fire into his chest (with a legal gun, of course!).

Shoot first, don't even bother with questions later! Problem solved. No long trial, no messy appeals and we can all get back to debating the cuteness of puppies.

Lethal Rejection [CP]
Stops, or They'll Shoot [CP]
Hoagie Dip 3/1 [PW]
May 19: A Good Day For Snitchin'

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Quickies: Lose Weight Now, Ask Me How

• Shawn Andrews wants to lose some weight, being that he weighs approximately 750 pounds. That's all well and good, but what if he loses weight, improves his life expectancy but becomes a less effective offensive lineman in the process? Come on, you were thinking it, too. [Daily News]

• Former Eagles coach Jim Trimble died today at the age of 87. He coached in the 50s -- when the team was at one point quarterbacked by Philly the Heroic War Dog -- and actually compiled a winning record, so he must've been doing something right. [AP/ESPN.com]

• There was a fire at West Philadelphia High this morning, which forced classes to be moved to another building. It didn't affect things much, since seniors had an off-school grounds event, juniors were just picking up tickets for the prom and nobody goes to school anymore in this city anyway. [Inquirer]

• For now, double entendre headlines like these aren't going to get old. We'll check back in a few months. [NBC 10]

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'Gay News' Asks The Tough Questions

Metro may get the majority of the person-on-the-street mentions here, but for the best interviews, the Philadelphia Gay News might take the cake. Here's today's.

Coming next week: If you could make one Monty Python character gay, which one would it be and why?

Street Talk: If you could be gay in another era, what would it be?

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Abridged 'Daily News' Columnists

Jill Porter: "For many long years, [the Phila. Library and the LCB] were moribund and faltering in their public mission.¶ But look at them now." Uhhh... okay. Aren't they places that mainly cater to homeless people?

Elmer Smith: "He came up one hug short of a happy childhood or his porridge was too hot or too cold or society failed to remove a thorn from his paw." That's the first double fairy tale reference I've seen in one sentence in a long time. Well played, Elmer.

Christine Flowers: "How can we, whole in body and strangers to the hell he experienced, challenge this patriot [John McCain]? To do so indicates a fundamental inhumanity." There's no better way to put it: Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.

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Puppy! Girl! Yay! Et Cetera!

Suburban alt-weekly-ish paper Philly EDGE (get it?) has come up with what could be a smart way to get people to pick up the paper: Putting cute girls on the cover. (Slaps forehead, goes "Ohhhh!")

This week, the cover girl is none other than Real Worlder and Bucks County resident Svetlana Shusterman. Here's one of the photos:

Yes, she's holding a puppy. The only thing that would make me like this photo more is if she had on an Eagles hat, too. And if she was playing Tecmo Bowl or something.

Svetlana Shusterman from The Real World: Key West [Philly EDGE]

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Today's Sign Of The Apocalypse

He told cops that four attackers had spilled out of two cars and ordered him to hand over $75,000 worth of spoils from the music industry - Jacob the Jeweler watch and a platinum chain complete with a record-shaped pendant - along with about $3,000 in cash, police sources said. [...]

His car, a white Chevy Impala, remained parked for hours in the valet lane of the hospital's 34th Street entrance, surrounded by yellow crime-scene tape and flanked by no-parking signs.

Beanie Sigel's jewelry is worth more than his car (unless it's a gold-plated Chevy Impala that runs on diamonds).

Beanie Sigel: I was robbed, shot [Daily News]

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May 25, 2006

Leftovers: Beerleaguer, International Megastar

• Congratulations to Jason Weitzel, who's featured in Metro today -- talking about his Beerleaguer blog -- and about 'Phlogs' (sigh) in general. And his modeling headshot was way better than a photo of a fat guy in a Love Park t-shirt, which was a photo of some local blogger a few weeks back. [Metro]

• Hey, the Phillies won, too! [AP/Yahoo!]

• The best part of this anti-Barnes Tower website is not the design, not the fact that words like GHASTLY MONSTROSITY are used (yes, in all caps and bold) but the fact that something actually topped StopWoodhavenRoad.com in terms of overstatement and poor design. [Fight The Tower]

• Phillyist jumps in on the photos of doggies action. But of course. [Phillyist]

• The biggest question half the city is asking about the mail carrier who dealt drugs while on his route: Damn, why don't I live on his route? [Metro]

• Yesterday, President Bush pledged support for nuclear power. Or, of course, as he calls it, nucular power. Ba-dum-pum. [Bucks County Courier Times]

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Your Guide To Everything Philly Construction

With all the new construction going on in our fair city, it's a little hard to get your head about everything. Is it the Comcast Center or the Comcast Tower? How tall is that building going to be at 15th and Market? Are they really turning Liberty Two into condos?

Fear not. Brad Maule at phillyskyline.com has broken it all down for you in helpful charts that explain all the ins and outs of our city's booming construction biz.

Pretty much, this should answer all your questions except for the whole "who the hell is going to live in all these condos" one. That inquiry, sadly, will not be answered until they're all done. Which, at this rate, should be about 2542.

The Skinny [phillyskyline.com]

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Blogicized: Kill Curt Schilling For Charity

• Not content to simply opine on every subject in the real world, ex-Phils and current Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling is now moving to the virtual world. The makers of the video game Everquest have created a Schilling character which probably weighs about 400 pounds and whose best move is talking to the media. Still, it's hard to say this is a bad thing, since (1) Each time he's defeated in one weekend, $5 goes to ALS and (2) you get a chance to finally shut up Curt Schilling. [The 700 Level]

• Go for the recap of last night's casino forum. Stay for the photo of DN scribe Sandra Shea and Mayor Street. [dragonballyee]

• Judges want their addresses and such out of the public record, citing safety concerns. I want a sandwich, citing hunger concerns. [Daily Rant]

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NB To Stranded Workers: Probably Not The Best Idea To Bash Your Boss In The Newspaper

This morning, commuters up and down the East Coast were stranded due to a power outage. AMTRAK, SEPTA, NJ Transit, etc. were all out. People were stuck in tunnels under rivers. It was a mess. (Thanks to Flickr, there are already photos up of the incident. God Bless the Internet.)

The Inquirer sent three reporters to ask people if they were annoyed at being stranded -- in a shocker, the commuters said "Yes!" -- and did find a story of a SEPTA worker who was driving people to a bus stop.

They also found this woman, who is totally getting a talking-to from her boss now that she's in the office:

"It's been good for a while -- for a few months," said another stranded passenger, Jennifer McCarrick, also of Malvern. "I think, mostly, things have been getting a little better."

But her boss no longer rides the train, said McCarrick, Web site manager for a law firm.

"He has early meetings he has to go to," she said, "and he was late too many times. So he drives now."

Ahh, yes, telling the paper of record that your boss used to be late is surely a way to move up on the career ladder! But, well, stranger things have happened.

Stranded commuters navigate the stress [Inky]
Photo by rklau
Oct 10, 2005: If you're on the DL, be sure to tell the gay newspaper

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Monica Yant Kinney Goes Does Her Best Stephen Colbert Impression

Monica Yant Kinney -- the Inquirer columnist for the Dirty Jerz -- goes nuts today on Brian Tierney, who just happens to be the guy who just agreed to buy the paper.

Seems that Tierney, a local PR whiz, didn't like some columns that Kinney wrote about his buddy Vernon Hill, the owner of Commerce Bank. Kinney begins:

You probably heard I have a new boss. I wonder whether we'll have lunch soon. Our last meal was so much fun.

The time: late 2002. The place: Ponzio's. The topic of conversation: my professional interest in Commerce Bank founder Vernon Hill.

I had written a few columns about the man, his Moorestown mansion and business practices, as I might any headline-making captain of industry in the area. [...]

Hill disliked the columns. Only he didn't tell me to knock it off, personally. Neither did his paid spokesman.

The job of shutting me up fell to Brian Tierney, the local ad man and public-relations whiz who happens to be one of Hill's dear friends.

At lunch, Tierney made it clear he wasn't being paid to bully me. This one, he was doing for free.

Oh, but it gets better:

It's encouraging that the local owners are vowing to invest in the newspaper and promote it, I said. It's reassuring they've publicly pledged not to meddle in editorial matters.

I just hope they realize they bought a newspaper, not a tech stock.

If we do our jobs correctly, we will inevitably aggravate and outrage Tierney, his friends and fellow investors.

Some VIP they know is bound to get caught in a scandal. Someone will get indicted.

Back then, the man complaining about coverage wasn't also an owner of the paper. We stood up to him.

What will Tierney say the next time one of his friends asks him to have lunch with me? Where will he stand?

Fantastic. Looks like Tierney's going to get a chance to test that "staying out of the editorial side" pledge right away.

Monica Yant Kinney | Brian Tierney, before the pledge [Inquirer]
Archives: Future of Inquirer/Daliy News

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Heroic Dog Who Evaded German Hit Immortalized At Atwater Kent Museum

Apparently hoping to capitalize on the success of the shrine of St. John Neumann, Philadelphia's underrated Atwater Kent Museum has brought in its own preserved body for watchers to gawk at: Philly The Doggy.

The museum's website explains (emphasis, underlining and bolding all mine):

Philly, World War I mascot of "Philadelphia's own," 315th Infantry Regiment, U.S. Army, 1932. See Philly in the exhibition, Wartime: Illustrations by Norman Rockwell, May 24-October 6, 2006. The dog Philly was a good luck charm and decorated veteran with the 315th Infantry Regiment, known as "Philadelphia's own," when it fought in France during World War I. Philly was enlisted as a stray when a member of the 315th picked her up while the troops were training in Maryland, named her Philly, and smuggled her on a troop transport to France. Philly lived in the trenches and on sentinel duty barked at night whenever German troops began their attacks. A German commander went so far as to place a bounty on her head. Philly received two honorary Bronze stars, one for a mustard gas attack and one for a shrapnel wound. At war's end she returned to the United States with the troops and marched in the victory parade in Washington, D.C., in front of President Woodrow Wilson. Philly lived until 1932 in Philadelphia and attended annual regimental reunions, where her favorite foods were liver and cake. In 1998, when the 315th was eliminated in military downsizing, Philly was donated by the regiment to the Philadelphia City History Collection at AKMP.

Move over, Snoopy: This guy is the coolest effing dog ever. Could you see any of today's prissy, yip-yip dogs getting Bronze stars or warning the troops of oncoming Germans insurgents? I think not. You're our hero, Philly.

Featured Philadelphians [Atwater Kent Museum]
Saint's Body/Relics [Shine of St. John Neumann]

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Bush Raises $350K Via Photography

He raised just under a half-million dollars for U.S. Reps Mike Fitzpatrick (he of the anti-Myspace bill) and Jim Gerlach, some of it coming by photo opportunities with the prez that cost $5,000 each. Writes the Inquirer's Tom Fitzgerald:

At the reception before the rally, about 70 attendees lined up to have pictures taken with the president at $5,000 a head, exchanging small talk with the leader of the free world.

One woman said she told Bush: "Don't believe the polls."

Oh, don't worry, Ms. Bush Supporter. He doesn't believe polls. Or intelligence. Or science.

Bush visit here raises candidates' funds, risks [Inky]

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Ratings War Takes Deadly Turn

In a vicious quest for ratings, NBC 10 has turned to showing snuff films, it seems.

Police: Dad Threw Baby Against Aquarium [NBC 10]

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Quickies: You're Welcome

• Hey, the old Visitors' Center has reopened.... as the Welcome Center! How this is a big change mystifies me, but KYW 1060 has the scoop, of course. [KYW 1060]

• Speaking of our favorite radio station, Phil Neuman has left the station after 21 years, saying that management had its head up its as. As management tends to do. [Inky]

• The question that needs to be asked: What if the Inquirer's new owners -- i.e. not Brian Tierney, but the Royal Bank of Scotland -- decide they're not making enough money? [American Debate]

• Did you get to work on a train this morning? Liar. [Philly.com]

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Abridged 'Daily News' Columnists

Stu Bykofsky: Hey, France, why not name something after Ira Einhorn, bitches?! (Watch out, Stu. They might read your column and think it's a good idea.)

Ronnie Polaneczky: A war vet who lost his legs is going to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Geeze, and I can barely climb a ladder.

Michael Smerconish: Yeah, Buzz Bissinger will be coming back to Philadelphia newspapers any day now.

Posted by D-Mac at 09:47 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

In Beanie Sigel's World, Every Day Is An Adventure

Philadelphia police report that rapper Beanie Sigel was shot and wounded as he was being robbed sometime before 8am on Thursday.

Sigel, a Philadelphia native, was shot once or twice in the arm and drove himself to the hospital, according to police sources. He was reported to be in good condition.

The rap music star, born Dwight Grant, says five men tried to rob him. It was not immediately clear whether the gang got anything during the robbery. Police say they have no one in custody.

Geeze, and after his clothing line helped catch a cop killer, too. If you're wondering, Beanie's Wikipedia page has already been updated with the shooting. Of course.

Rapper Beanie Sigel Wounded During Robbery Attempt [KYW 1060]
Beanie Sigel [Wikipedia]
Beanie Blog [PW]

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Today's Sign Of The Apocalypse

Announcing the results, Ryan Seacrest noted that "an astounding 63.4 million votes" were cast, "more than any President in this country has ever received."

Taylor Hicks Wins American Idol [People]

Posted by D-Mac at 09:04 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

May 24, 2006

Leftovers: Journalism, Redefined

• Whoo! New era of Philadelphia journalism! Local ownership! Somebody go cover that City Hall fire! What, you're all too busy writing a piece on the future of journalism? Oh, just leave it to the AP then. [AP/Philly.com]

• The best comment on the five pages of random accusations of liberal/conservative bias on Philly.com: "brian, just get rid of the popup ads on philly.com and i'll consider your reign a success. they're so 1997, yuck!" Seriously, guys. [Philly.com]

• Hooray for the power of blogging! Or, at least, the power of free Blogspot accounts. [Free Tony Smyrski]

• And, hey, if an organization dedicated to civil liberties can't consider blocking its board from critiquing its work, then who can? [NYT]

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Strangers With Candy

Today brings the Philadelphia launch of Daily Candy, the "popular gal-about-town" daily newsletter, with the new local edition edited by Meredith Lindemon.

Even though it's geared toward people without a y chromosome, I took a look at today's edition, which was about Pure Bliss, the spa on Walnut.

As I said, not really aimed at the demographic of the editor of this site. I did, however, kind of like this note at the bottom of the email:

That's all well and good, but, come on: This is Philadelphia. Pay for play is a way of life.

Quit in a Capsule [Daily Candy]
Putting Phila.'s chic onto a trendy site [Inky]

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Turns Out, Al Roker Likes To Hug

dmac: ohmigod are you there

dmac: there's a new teresa masterson blog post!
dmac: we need to discuss!
(Editor's Note: Teresa Masterson has previously been chronicled here due to her articles about the Trenton Thunder and Phil Roy.)
anonymous reader: ok, let me read the post first
reader: this is so far the most uninteresting thing i've EVER read
reader: (and remember, i read about tax law some days, for a living)
dmac: it's amazing
dmac: she really only asks al roker about hugging
dmac: and if other 'today' show members also like to hug
reader: ooh, she got to ride in an NBC 10 news van?!
reader: wow
reader: like, ohmigod
reader: a real news van?
dmac: i thought it was okay, but maybe i just can't hate the writing of non-sylvia plath females.
dmac: although this was a little boring.
dmac: isn't it weird that they keep calling her a "blogger" when she just writes articles for the website
reader: yeah, she is totally not a blogger
dmac: it's as if a news organization is hopping onto a "trend"
dmac: without having any real idea what that trend is
dmac: i mean, at least set her up with wordpress or something
reader: definitely
reader: oh my god, this was so bad i can't even believe it
reader: irresistable ella would have done better
reader: "good afternoon, and good luck?!"
reader: i wish i were illiterate.
dmac: this is still way better than that article in metro yesterday where dan dunn hangs out with paris hilton and perez hilton
reader: indeed

Update: We retract any mean things said, if only because of the photo on the slideshow of a person holding a sign that says "Philly's more fun with Al Roker."

Blogger Unmasks The Real Al Roker [NBC 10]
An American in Cannes: Part trois [Metro]

Posted by D-Mac at 02:50 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Have The Lambs Stopped Screaming?

Ah, so what does an juvenile correction facility/school do if there's a riot of Bloods gang members? That's a hard one, right?

Well, if you're in Trenton, it's actually fairly simple: You strap 'em in to the electric chair!

Now, now, people, just calm down. This is an electric chair with no juice attached to it -- so I guess it's just more of a "chair" -- but it does restrain the kids and include a helmet and face shield.

Alright, that still seems kinda bad. But certainly it's been deemed appropriate by all the right, uh, people who declare these things humane or not. I mean, I'm sure this is just common knowledge and the Trentonian is blowing it out of proportion. Right? Right?

A source in the institution, who asked not to be identified, said, "They’re for the ones that are assaultive. One was banging his head against the wall. They’re kept in a room and they’re checked on.

"It’s better than the old way it used to be done -- they used to just hogtie ‘em right onto a bed. So I guess it’s more compassionate, doing it this way." [...]

In another development, corrections officers and other staffers have been made to sign notices warning them not to talk to the press about the discontent burbling inside the jail/school....

"They (administration) put out these things where everybody has to sign, that they can’t talk to the media, or your public representatives, either -- your senators, your assemblymen," he said. "You can’t divulge any information. Or you could lose your job."

Well, maybe this chair isn't so bad -- another source says the masks are mainly to stop the inmates from spitting -- but that whole second part just makes things a little, erhm, fishy?

Controlling the chaos [Trentonian]

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A Q&A On The Philly Papers' Sale

If you haven't checked out the Philly.com today, you should. Why, there's a story even bigger than Barbaro: The sale of the Inquirer and Daily News (and related businesses, including the Northeast Times!).

Why, you just have to click once to see a full list of stories about the big news!

Jesus, even I don't want to read all of those stories. But, as a service to you, the reader, I did read all 58 stories and have compiled a Q&A about the sale of the papers after the jump.

Q: So I'm just a regular guy who reads one paper or the other almost every day. Will this have any effect on me?
A: Yes and no. Yes, the Daily News isn't going to close now, it seems, so you'll at least have a tabloid source for all your ass and ball needs. There's a chance the news coverage could get better, since maybe the papers will be able to hire new reporters, editors, etc. (Although the Daily News will still probably average 40 billion corrections a week.)

But, naah, things'll be pretty much the same, I suppose.

Q: Wait, but isn't the union's contract up in August?
A: Yeah. New PNI head Brian Tierney talked with union leaders yesterday and said he wants to work on a new long-term deal.

Q: Wouldn't it be funny if the new local guy bought the paper and then the paper's unionized workers went on strike?
A: Yes. Yes it would.

Q: A consortium of business owners joined up to buy the paper, but the main guy is Brian Tierney. Some people are kind of weirded out by him owning the papers. Why?
A: Well, back in 1992 then-Cardinal Bevilacqua praised Tierney for keeping Ralph Cipriano's stories critical of the Archdiocese out of the paper. But it's probably simpler than that: He's a PR guy. Newspapers writers put PR people somewhere between slugs and tomatoes on their chain of people to respect.

Q: Is that it?
A: Well, also, he's a Republican.

Q: So? Wasn't the guy who owned the company pairing with the Newspaper Guild, Ron Burkle, a big Democrat? I mean, he pals around with Bill Clinton! Would it be a big story that Burkle is a Democrat if that bid had won?
A: That's a good question.

Q: I see how this works. Anyway, won't everyone be watching Tierney et al to make sure they don't interfere with newsroom coverage, especialy now that they've pledged to stay out of it?
A: Of course. And hopefully it will work. I think the real ques