November 30, 2006

Strike? No Strike? Tune In Later Tonight!

So... is there going to be a strike tonight or not? Hell, I don't know. All signs pointed to yes this morning, then later in the day the tide seemed to turn the other day, and now it seems like there's going to be a strike again. So why guess? We'll all know in a few hours anyway.

I may have some things up late tonight if there is a strike, but if you're that much of a mediaholic that you really must know immediately, then PW's own Steve Volk will be covering it on (what else) a blog. He will be updating non-stop, I'm sure, so you can head over there for more strike coverage. I'll also continue to keep posting Guild memos, funny management emails and the like.

The blog is called The Daily Strike, etc. etc. The latest Guild memo is after the jump.

How will I know we’re on strike?

Your picket captain or designee will alert you via telephone or private email. If you miss the call or can’t get on the web, check the news; call the Guild at 215-928-xxxx. There will be a Guild hotline operating throughout a strike and frequent updates on our web page: www.local-10.com.

Will I get health insurance?
Yes, the Guild Health and Welfare fund will continue to cover your health insurance.

Will I get strike pay?
Yes. On the eighth day of the strike, you’ll get a check for $150.

On the fifteenth day you’ll get a check for $200.

On the twenty-ninth day you’ll get a check for $300 and again each week until the end of the strike.

How do I get my strike pay?
Your picket captain will hand out the checks on the picket line. Those working in other capacities for the Guild strike will get checks from their team leaders.

What are we doing about scabs?
We’re all in this together and our power is in our numbers. Some bosses are already quietly telling staffers that it would be a bad idea to cross a picket line. In previous strikes, the bosses have done this as well. The problem with scabs is that nobody can trust them – not the union, not the Company. (Editor's Note: Hey, that didn't answer the question!)

What about paying my bills?
Try prepaying some of your bills and call your creditors to tell them you're involved in a labor action. In the 1985 strike, the Credit Union moved its office to the Guild hall so it could service people. We’re hoping to make the same arrangement if we go out this time.

Members should consider signing up with temporary employment agencies or finding part-time work.

And, today would be a great day to put in for that overtime you’ve already earned.

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Leftovers: Albert Pujols, Septuagenarian

• Albert Pujols told reporters in the Dominican Republic that he should have won the MVP -- instead of Ryan Howard -- because he led his team to the playoffs even though the Cardinals won two fewer games than the Phillies. I think we should go easy on Pujols. Look: Sometimes as people get older -- say, in their mid-30s -- they begin to get a little senile and say stupid things. [AP/ESPN.com]

• Oh, and, yes, you guessed it: Albert Pujols is a candidate for Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year. Probably because he always puts the team in front of himself, so much so that he hit .200 in the World Series so his teammates could get all the glory. Yeah. I'm sure that's why he did it. [SI.com]

• I'll just quote the reader who sent this in: "I had to read this about four times before I figured out that he wasn't talking about Amish people in the title." [Craigslist]

• An Annapolis paper on our city's fine mayor, John Street: "Sporting a hairstyle not dissimilar to that of Don King, the flamboyant Philadelphia mayor sounded somewhat like the famous boxing promoter when he declared the city was prepared to make an effort to keep the Army-Navy game 'for all-time.'" Awesome. [The 700 Level]

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'PW' Reading Tonight At Writers House

Hey, time for a little shameless self-promotion. Myself and three other Philadelphia Weekly writers -- Cassidy Hartmann, Steve Volk and Liz Spikol -- will be reading tonight at Kelly Writers House. (If you clicked that link and are wondering, Cassidy Hartmann is indeed a woman.)

I was thinking about going up and just holding up pictures of cute puppies or re-enacting the dancing scene from Charlie Chaplain's The Great Dictator, but since Writers House was nice enough to invite me to speak I'm going to read something from the Weekly instead.

It's at 6 p.m. at Kelly Writers House, 3805 Locust Walk in West Philly. And it's just in two and a half hours! Shit, I need to get ready!

Calendar: November 30 [Writers House]
3805 Locust Walk [Google Maps]

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Nobody Puts Milton Street In A Corner

Last night, Milton Street sat down with NBC 10's Tim Lake for an interview about his recent indictment and all that jazz.

Tim Lake didn't ask the "Are you guilty?" question straight-up, but Street still trotted out with his confusing "If you come to court, all that will be unraveled in court" response he was using on the day of the indictment. It's like he's going to be selling tickets and food at the courthouse. Perhaps he'll be vending popcorn outside the trial!

There were some ridiculous exchanges, though, of course:

Lake: What's the plan tomorrow? It's your understanding that you have turn yourself in.

Milton Street: Tim, you know what the plan is. Why are you asking me this? I'm going down to 6th Street like everyone else, Mariano and everybody else. We'll see what charges are aired. I'm going to do the same thing.

Lake: If your attorney has suggested you not speak out on it, has he recommended you not?

Milton Street: No body tells me what to do.

Lake: I understand that.

Milton Street: Why would you ask me that question?

There's a full transcript at video over at NBC 10. It's good stuff.

Milton Street Denies Charges In Exclusive Interview [NBC 10]

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Llama Doctors Are Known For Being Great Athletes

We're rapidly approaching the end of 2006, and all the magazines, newspapers and blogs are getting ready for their year-end awards or something like it. (I'm going to have something here, too. More on that later.)

One of the major magazine "awards" handed out annually is the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year, and a bunch of SI writers have listed their own personal choices for the award. Grant Wahl is the only one with a good choice, going with Zinédine Zidane -- that'd be awesome -- and most of the other choices are so banal it's not even worth making fun of. (The BALCO reporters? Phil Mickelson? Lamar Odom? Some blind dude who ran a marathon? Daisuke Matsuzaka? What drugs are you on, Tom Verducci, because I'd like to get some of that!)

But, hands down, the best choice is longtime SI writer Franz Lidz, who chose Dr. Dean Richardson as his Sportsman of the Year. Dr. Dean Richardson! As you may remember, Richardson is the doctor who treated Barbaro, who captured our nation's attention by winning that one horse race and then nearly dying in another one. Whoo!

But Lidz isn't choosing Richardson as his SotY due to Barbaro. No, he's using more personal reasons:

What makes Richardson my Sportsman candidate has less to do with a horse named Barbaro than a llama named Ogar. In the interests of full disclosure, I must reveal that Richardson is my neighbor, and Ogar is one of my pet llamas.

With that line of reasoning, I'm nominating the two dudes who clean the hallway in my building for Sportsmen of the Year. They always do a pretty good job and say "Hello" to me when I pass, and while they haven't competed in any sporting events this year that I know of, that didn't stop half of the nominees!

My Sportsman: Dr. Dean Richardson [SI.com]

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We Talkin' 'Bout BOWLING!

Last night, the 76ers held an event for sponsors and premium-seat ticketholders at Lucky Strike Lanes on Chestnut Street. The entire team showed up, chatted with fans, played pool and presumably even bowled a little.

Oh, I'm sorry, one player didn't show up. Was it Steve Smith? Kyle Korver? Another player with double initials? No, Allen Iverson. Oh, now why would the fans want to see him?

Iverson didn't just miss the Lucky Strike charity event, though. Phil Jasner writers in the Daily News:

A source said Iverson was upset when he left practice earlier in the day, less than an hour after the 11 a.m. start at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

After practice, Cheeks said Iverson had left early because he "was a little fatigued.'' Asked whether Iverson had been upset, Cheeks said, "Whatever happened between him and me, I'd like to keep that private.''

Iverson is going to be fined for missing bowling. I prefer to think of his absence as a protest of Lucky Strike's high prices. Yeah, that must be it.

A.I. faces fine for skipping team function; leaves practice early, too [Daily News]

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Papers' Other Unions Extend Talks, To Cross Picket Lines?

Nine of the 10 unions that represent workers at Philadelphia Media Holdings -- the parent company of the Inquirer and Daily News -- have extended talks again, moving the expiration date of contracts back to Saturday, Dec. 9. The Newspaper Guild is right now still planning to walk at midnight.

But here's the real news, from the Associated Press:

"We think a strike is really going to hurt us," said Joe Lyons, president of the Philadelphia Council of Newspaper Unions, which represents nine of 10 unions at The Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News. "Whatever direction they're going, we totally disagree with that."

Asked if that means the unions, including the drivers, would cross picket lines, Lyons said: "If we have to, we will."

Are you ready for a scab Daily News and Inquirer? Either way, it looks like you're going to get it.

9 unions at Philly papers extend talks, prepare to cross lines [AP/Philly.com]

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Exclusive: Last Night's Newspaper Guild Meeting

Yeah, it was closed to anyone but Guild members, but I worked my magic to get some footage from last night's Newspaper Guild meeting:

Okay, maybe not. But this was last night's 6 p.m. Simpsons episode, and I have only this to say: Best. Coincidence. Ever.

Posted by D-Mac at 12:50 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Eagles Make Desparate Attempt To Save Season

Tuesday, the Eagles learned that Mike Bartrum, the team's long-snapper since 2000, was done for the season with a possibly career-ending neck injury he suffered against the Colts Sunday night. (Apparently getting your neck crashed into several times a game for 13 seasons isn't the best thing.)

The Eagles signed a replacement yesterday in Jon Dorenbos, who played parts of two seasons with the Bills and a half-season with the Titans.

Dorenbos' job while he was out of the NFL? A professional magician, of course! Yes, the Eagles -- mired at 5-6 after starting 4-1 -- have turned to a magician to help turn their season around.

Hey, if Dorenbos can pull a rabbit out of a hat or make a deck of cards disappear, I'm sure he can help the Eagles defense learn to tackle again. We can hope, at last.

Eagles Notes | Dorenbos signed to be long snapper [Inquirer]

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Ex-Con With Heart Of Gold Arrested

When we last saw Joseph Mammana, the ex-con-turned-crime fighter was attempting to help Natalee Holloway's family find her killers or her or whatever.

And now, he's been arrested. Authorities from the FBI and IRS searched Mammana's Yardley residence and North Philly egg factory (ha!) to find tax records when they found a revolver. NBC 10 reports:

Because his previous felony convictions carried more than a year jail sentence, it is illegal for him to possess a firearm in and affecting interstate and foreign commerce. The investigation found that the gun was registered to his father, who died in 1979, and that the gun was manufactured and was operable outside of Pennsylvania, which made it illegal for Mammana to possess it.

I'm not really interested in Mammana's arrest. I'm more excited about this new technology that can render a gun operable in only one state! How cool is that?

Anti-Crime Champion Arrested On Gun Charges [NBC 10]
Nov. 11, 2005: City Council is Aruba'd out

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In The Spirit Of The Holiday Season...

Okay, people. It's time for a good deed. Here's part of a post on Philly Future I spotted earlier in the week:

Anyway, I thought love at first sight was hocus- pocus. That is, until today Saturday November 25, 2005 at 2:45 PM. It goes like this, my son my daughter and I were at Macy’s department store in center city. We were standing in a very long but worthwhile line (for their sake) to see the Dickens Village.

While in line, the most beautiful women I have ever seen began to talk to me. When I turned to look at her and into her beautiful eyes my mind immediately went blank. I thought I was frozen in time and I suppose I was. I couldn’t think of anything to say, not even anything stupid or meaningless. I just stood there, smiled and stared at her. I’m in my mid forty’s now and I felt like a teenager again. For the first time in quite a while I smiled at someone from the bottom of my broken heart. The same heart I thought I had lost. Today, I knew it was still there because it was beating fast, really fast.

“The most beautiful woman in the world” was also there with her son and daughter. As the line grew shorter and we began to approach our destination I began to panic. I thought I would never see her again so I mustard up enough courage to talk to her. We began to talk about Sushi restaurants in Philadelphia. She apparently knows them all and it seems she knows Philly quite well too. Unfortunately, I do not. She told me of a sushi place in the Reading Terminal Market and another in University City called “POD.” As we walked through Dickens Village I felt a connection to her and I know she felt it too. We even liked the same movie as a favorite (George C. Scott in a Christmas Carol).

Unfortunately, with both of us watching both sets of our kids we lost each other in the extreme crowd and we didn’t see each other again. I walked through the store back and forth up and down so many times I thought my son and daughter were going to abandon me. They kept asking me what I was looking for and I said, “hope.” I never did get her name or saw her again and I finally gave up searching.

If on the slightest chance (about 300 million to one) you (the one I met today (November 25) in line at Macy’s Dickens Village) read this, I’ll be at the same place with my daughter in two weeks from now (Saturday) because she really wants to go again. My son said he would sit this one out (he’s 16). Now here comes the pessimist in me. I will probably never see you again. But maybe you read these BLOGS and I guess it’s worth a chance of hope.

Okay. I'm not even going to make fun of the random capitalization of BLOGS. (I'll just point it out.) As such, now that the Christmas tree is lit and it's a day 'til December, I wanted to pass this along.

Here's to finding love at first sight, Dickens Village and, hell, even Macy's for figuring out if they didn't keep that old setup people would be pissed. Now, if you're reading this, oh mysterious "most beautiful woman in the world," the ball's in your court.

Love & Hope, found then lost. At Macy's Dickens Village. Love at first sight. [Philly Future]

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Abridged 'Daily News' Columnists

Ronnie Polaneczky: Mayor Street is supporting his brother too much!

Mark Alan Hughes: Chaka Fattah is needed in Congress!

Michael Smerconish: Hey, let's tell the maniacs who think they're going to heaven for killing people that if they kill people, we're going to destroy their holy cities. What downside could there be except the murder of million of people!

Stu Bykofsky: Could the SPCA return to animal control? Phew, this column makes some sense, at least.

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Continental: The Hotel To Open In NYC?

As you may remember, earlier this year Stephen Starr became yet another Philadelphian to try New York City, opening Morimoto and Buddakhan up in the original five boroughs.

In an interview in the current issue of New York magazine, Starr explains his newest idea for New York: a hotel.

What’s next for you in New York?

We’d like to do one of the Philly restaurants here, Jones or Continental. I’m also thinking of opening a small hotel in New York. I used to just want to do it in Philadelphia, but the more I’m here the more I feel confident I could do one here.

Stephen, how could you? You're supposed to do your cool things in Philly first (for much cheaper, might I add!) and then move them to New York or Atlantic City or wherever you're planning on going next.

Come on, open a hotel near the Convention Center or something. We have hotels here in Philadelphia that were built on top of parking garages. And that hip Aloft hotel is going near the airport instead of in, oh, a good location.

As The Illadelph wrote, "You need to open a boutique hotel in Philadelphia. And you need to do it soon.... Philadelphia wants a fucking original. An independent. Be the man. Think the James, but even a little more urban. You’ll own the market." I can't help but agree.

Time's yours, Stephen.

Mr. Big Box [NY Mag]
Breaking: Stephen Starr’s hotel dreams resurface [The Illadelph]
Jan. 25: Morimoto, Buddakan latest Philly expats

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Reason #10 To Love Philadelphia: O Tannenbaum

Peace on Earth, and good will toward all men.

Posted by D-Mac at 11:09 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Things Will Return To Normal

in a few moments.

Posted by D-Mac at 11:06 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

November 29, 2006

Mgmt. Finally Responds To Byko Memo Machine

Yes, it took forever, but Brian Tierney & Co. -- or, more likely, a different PR person -- drafted a memo to respond to the constant barrage of memos sent from the Newspaper Guild in the past weeks.

Although it contains language that is the textual equivalent of Ambien -- for example, "we will consider a lump sum payment that will help offset a portion of the diversions members will need to divert in order to fund an ongoing pension" -- it's also an old fashioned passive-aggressive shot at the union asking them not to strike.

We think a strike would be a mistake, as it would cause long-term damage to our company that would hurt all of our employees, including Guild members.... We are optimistic that we can continue to work with the Guild to resolve all of these issues in the next few of days. Hopefully, the Guild leadership will put a higher priority on resolving the issues than on a strike threat.

Oh snap! Full (pretty boring, though) memo after the jump.

Wednesday, November 29, 2006 – We want to update you on the status of our negotiations. In addition to reaching today’s tentative agreements with Local 628, we continue to make solid progress on non-economic issues with the two unions who do not yet have tentative agreements, including the Guild. Meetings were held Monday and Tuesday, and we met with the Guild today.

We know the Guild has been telling its members and the media that it may be going out on strike this Thursday. We think a strike would be a mistake, as it would cause long-term damage to our company that would hurt all of our employees, including Guild members. We also think it would be a mistake because we have made significant progress with the Guild, having moved in the last week on all of the major issues.

We hope the following summary will help the Guild membership understand where negotiations stand on the major issues still on the table.

• Pension – We modified our pension proposal to give PN and the Guild a year to implement a process that could allow the Guild pension plan to continue. PN is still proposing to terminate contributions to the Plan, but we have told the Guild we will consider a lump sum payment that will help offset a portion of the diversions members will need to divert in order to fund an ongoing pension.

• Sick & Accident – We proposed that S&A would be at 65% for up to 40 weeks, but we again amended our proposal regarding the waiting period. We have reduced the wait from 4 days to 3 days, and have proposed that the first absence each year would not be subject to a waiting period.

• Seniority – PN has modified its seniority proposal for the newsrooms to make seniority the primary criteria for layoff, unless there is a documented basis to establish that an employee’s performance is superior, or the employee has unique skill, unique experience or special importance to the paper. PN’s proposal allows the Guild to grieve/arbitrate those decisions.

• PN has proposed to move the SWP group into the Main Unit. The Guild identified this as their number 1 priority.

On most of the remaining issues, only a few words separate PN and the Guild from tentative agreements.

We are optimistic that we can continue to work with the Guild to resolve all of these issues in the next few of days. Hopefully, the Guild leadership will put a higher priority on resolving the issues than on a strike threat.

Posted by D-Mac at 05:49 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Leftovers: McNabb To Return In Next [x] Months

• Donovan McNabb underwent surgery for his torn ACL yesterday, and here's the Associated Press' lead: "Donovan McNabb could miss as much as a year or could be ready for the 2007 season opener after having surgery yesterday to repair a torn knee ligament." Or, perhaps, he could die from complications, or return tomorrow and lead the Eagles to the Super Bowl. [AP/Toronto Star]

• And another awesome AP lead, from Bethlehem, Pa.: "A man serving life without parole for stabbing his neighbor more than 80 times with a samurai sword and setting the victim's clothes on fire was awarded $1 by a federal jury that ruled five of the officers arresting him used excessive force." [AP/Philly.com]

• Good news: There are lots of flu vaccines this year. Bad news: There are so many, there will probably be a shortage next year. Aye. [Bucks County Courier Times]

• And the Philly Future comment of the century: "Oh... the 'papers' are going on strike? Thank God for the Evening Bulletin!" [Philly Future]

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Paper Execs Attempt To Get Every Last Penny Out Of Staff

Actual memo sent out at our newspaperly neighbors to the north:

From: [redacted]

Sent: Wed 11/29/2006 2:50 PM
To: PNI Weekly Update - All
Subject: BISTRO MUGS

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Union Readies Site Shockingly Not Hosted On Blogger

When I heard that the Daily News and Inquirer were readying their own website in case of a strike, I immediately went out and registered inquireranddailynews.blogspot.com in anticipation of being able to sell it back to the Newspaper Guild for a buck or two.

Shockingly, though, the Guild went out and purchased their own domain and got some free newspaper software and set up PhilaPapers.com. According to a release from the Guild -- Byko is churning them out like a machine! -- some content will immediately be posted online, with news to follow throughout the duration of the strike. Tom Ferrick is coordinating this whole shebang. (There's precedent for this sort of thing. Salon.com was founded due in part to a San Francisco Examiner strike in 1995.)

Once again, midnight Thursday is the deadline. Let's hope they can get this settled. Although, either way, it appears we're going to get our weekly Faye Flam fix.

Full guild release after the jump.

GUILD READIES ONLINE PHILAPAPERS.COM

In the event a strike is forced upon The Newspaper Guild, the union journalists of the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Daily News will provide the Delaware Valley with a source for news and information assembled by professionals.

The site exists already at www.philapapers.com. There is no content at present because Guild members are covering the news for their employer. In the event of a strike -- which Guild negotiators are hoping to avoid -- news, features, sports, entertainment, finance, columnists and more will be posted on PhilaPapers.com.

Material posted there will be reported and written by the local, professional, experienced union staffers of the Daily News and Philadelphia Inquirer.

Should a strike be called, PhilaPaper.com Coordinator Tom Ferrick expects some material to be posed immediately, with a complete rollout of all material taking several days. PhilaPapers.com will be updated throughout the day.

Philly Newspaper Guild Planning Online Strike Paper [E&P]

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Plastic Teens Hoping For Big Break In 'Mannequin 3'

Yesterday evening on NBC 10, Cherie Bank reported on teens who get plastic surgery. Two teens who had gotten plastic surgery were interviewed -- not sure by who -- about why they decided to get the procedure.

First up was Rita Demetriou, who at 18 got (deep breath) new boobs, ass, stomach, thighs and nose. Why, you might ask? Well, it's simple: "I would look in the magazines, especially the... Playboy models, and see how pretty they are and everything, and I want to be like that."

And why did Kyla Broderick get a nose job and a boob job (even though she looked better before, as this side-by-side comparison shows)? Because she wants to be in the fashion and music industries, of course!

I'm not one to judge people based on their looks -- well, no, okay, I just don't feel like doing it today -- so I'll leave it for you to decide. Was it worth it?

Oh, forget it, let's just be mean: Your noses are still big, ladies.

Teen Plastic Surgery Trend Worries Experts [NBC 10]

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'Metro' Debate Style: Of Goggles And V-Necks

Yes, it's time for another edition of Metro Debate Style, where I poke fun at the people interviewed for the Metro debate section, then they Google themselves and write me angry letters. It's fun for the whole family!

Today's topic is a, uh, topical one, with everyone obsessed with shopping as the holiday season quickly approaches. (Or, as some stores would like you to believe, is almost over, since they've had decorations up since Halloween.)

Let's get to today's contestants:

• Margarite Showers: Love the shirt, but not a big fan of the v-neck sweater. If it were a normal sweater, it'd be perfect. The glove-sweater matching is also very impressive. Nice attention to detail. But brown boots with black pants? Even I know not to do that. Er, wait, lemme check. No, nevermind.

• Antonio Harris: Our man Antonio -- a very young-looking 47, might I add -- is wearing the classic hotel employee outfit, complete with nametag and finely-pressed shirt. But, man, those glasses are hot. They're like swim goggles, but, uh, glasses. Awesome. Now we all just have to figure out why he wants all the stores to be closing their doors forever.

• Tara Newman: Ah, the classic layered brown coat-over-white hoodie look. Fantastic.

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'Inquirer' Fails To Attract Dot-Com Superheroes

If you're interested in the possible strike at the Inquirer and Daily News, you should definitely read Steve Volk's piece in PW today about the whole shebang. It's chock full of info, etc., etc. In it, the hiring of Bill Marimow as the Inquirer's new editor is discussed by various parties.

But the key part of the piece is this quote from Attytood blogger Will Bunch:

“There should've been somebody else announced with [Marimow],” he says. “Let's call him ‘Joe Google,' or ‘Joe Yahoo.' Somebody who'd have real power, who'd work with both newspapers to say, ‘Let's really use the Internet and adapt everything we're doing to this new medium because that's our future.' Marimow could've been the guy to make sure we adapt to the new technology in the right way, to keep our values and our mission as journalists intact.”

I believe the man Will Bunch is looking for is Jeeves. Hey, he's retired now, I bet he'd take a cushy job as Internet Superhero at the Inky.

Looks Good on Paper [PW]
Ask Jeeves [Wikipedia]

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Mayor Street: Not Illiterate, Just Bumbling

A correction from Friday's Daily News:

In a Wednesday story about Ryan Howard being honored in City Hall, the Daily News erred in saying Mayor Street was unable to read a statement describing the words to be displayed in honor of Howard atop the Peco building. It was Peco President Dennis O'Brien who became confused.

So the mayor can read. But he still isn't sure what our superstar slugger's name is.

Corrections [Daily News]
Nov. 22: Ron--Er, Ryan--Howard Is Everywhere

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Newspapers Prep For Strike

Another day, another memo from the Newspaper Guild. To recap: The contract between the Newspaper Guild, which represents nearly all the editorial employees of the Daily News and Inquirer, expires tomorrow at midnight. Although negotiations are going on now, it seems the Guild is preparing for a strike, after yesterday's message to take home your personal belongings and this last night:

Your negotiators met through the recent holiday, Monday and yesterday with the mediator. The Company did not have time to meet with us Monday. They did not have time to meet with us Tuesday. As of this writing, we’re hoping to have face-to-face talks tomorrow.

Soon, you will be hearing from the strike team about your picket shifts.

If you have not sent in your strike benefits form, please do so.

Yep. It's strike time. Full memo after the jump.

NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE; STRIKE PREP MEETING 6PM WEDNESDAY

We’re holding a general membership meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday (Nov. 29, 2006) to discuss negotiations and strike preparations.

As you know, our contract extension expires midnight Thursday, Nov. 30, and there are large, outstanding issues still on the negotiating table, including pension and seniority.

Another is sick time. The Company wants to dramatically cut sick time because it says it costs too much money. But it has been unable to give us a breakdown of those costs, saying it doesn’t have such a breakdown. The problem with that is the Company is not showing how much of its costs could be covered by workers’ compensation, disability plans, auto insurance or some other third-party reimbursement. And, it has not presented us any analysis of sick leave, which distinguishes between serious long-term illnesses or even recurring one-day absences.

In essence, the Company is not showing it’s motivated to cut costs other than to insult loyal employees by taking away our hard-earned sick pay.

Your negotiators met through the recent holiday, Monday and yesterday with the mediator. The Company did not have time to meet with us Monday. They did not have time to meet with us Tuesday. As of this writing, we’re hoping to have face-to-face talks tomorrow.

Soon, you will be hearing from the strike team about your picket shifts.

If you have not sent in your strike benefits form, please do so.

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'Action News': Supporting The Terrorists Since 2006

The image at right is currently on the front page of 6 ABC's website. Yes, what a fun game! Boy, what are the area's three most likely places to get blown up? (I also like how it specifies "the area." Yes, none of the targets are likely to be in Philly, that's for sure. Then again, Hitler did plan to attack Andalusia, so who knows.)

But you're probably wondering what the city's -- sorry, area's -- top three targets are. That's easy: The Rocky Statue, Geno's -- see, he's for a wall on the border! -- and Franklin Mills.

Tell Action News What You Think [6 ABC]
April 4: Hitler Planned Attack On Bucks County

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Milton Street Is Funnier Without Sound, Somehow

With apologies to Benny Hill and Boots Randolph:

Just the first of what is sure to be a ton of Milton Street posts over the next few months. Ahh, lovely.

Archives: Milton Street

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Abridged 'Daily News' Columnists

Jill Porter: Arrrrrgh, I'm so angry! Angry at everything! Urban Outfitters, Michael Richards, Borat, protesters, gun violence, squirrels, the letter 'E' and murder! So angry!

John Baer: Just like you, when I think John Perzel, I think of the 1931 film Little Caesar. What?

Posted by D-Mac at 11:05 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Traffic On I-76 Somehow Gets Worse

Hey, are you just getting in? Then you didn't take the Schuylkill this morning, or else you'd probably still be in Bala Cynywd right now. A crash between a tractor-trailer and (what else) and SUV snarled traffic on the Schuylkill, forcing everyone to get off at Route 202 and then into the King of Prussia Mall parking lot (probably).

Fortunately, no injuries were reported. Also fortunately, you weren't on that road. Or you're reading this via Blackberry.

Fiery Crash Slams Traffic On Schuylkill [NBC 10]
Traffic Alert: Overturned Truck, Car Fire on Schuylkill near Valley Forge Tolls [KYW 1060]

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Reason #9 To Love Philadelphia: Our Kindness

The following ad has been airing on local television:

And, yet, as far as I know, not one of the people in this ad have been tracked down and murdered by a mob of angry Philadelphians.

We are too kind, people.

Posted by D-Mac at 10:20 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

November 28, 2006

Leftovers: Best, Philadelphia Will Do

• Apparently, if you sign your email with the sign-off "Best" you are uh, being rude to the person. Me, I like to stick to my normal sign-off: "To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar." [NYT]

• While a third woman of the four found outside Atlantic City was identified, police are investigating if these homicides are connected to another attack on prostitutes earlier this year. Gee, it's good that prostitution is illegal and all, because it really works out for everyone involved, doesn't it? [Inquirer]

• More Western Pennsylvania news: In New Castle, a house explosion injured three. Damn, it's a mile a minute out there! [AP/Philly.com]

• Quakertown's council is flooded with complaints that kids are smoking on a street corner that's been dubbed the "cancer corner." Minors may be banned from smoking throughout the township. Huzzah. [Doylestown Intelligencer]

• Just in time -- well, okay, in advance -- of the Franklin Institute's King Tut exhibit, we learn that the boy king was not bludgeoned to death. Well. That clears that one up. [HealthDayNews/Yahoo!]

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This Time, Your Vote Might Count

There is a tragedy in this year's This Year In Baseball Awards, and it is that Sal Fasano's incredible play of throwing the ball directly into the ground is not up for the award.

But we all know that Sal will win the award in spirit, and there's a chance to turn this baseball award show into something incredible. On a game that started at 11:05 and pretty much knocked the Phillies out of the playoffs, two baseball writers -- Dennis Deitch of the Delco Times and Ken Mandel of Phillies.com -- got to run in the President's Race.

The race features four presidents with giant heads who, uh, race around the baseball field. (Like the sausage race in Milwaukee, if you will.) And Ken Mandel, dressed as Thomas Jefferson, managed to fall, becoming the first person in the short history of the race to fall.

This is up for blooper of the year. I don't usually do much activism here, but this is something you can effect: Your vote might actually count. The other bloopers suck anyway. Vote for Thomas Jefferson's fall. Not doing so would just be un-American.

Full-size videos after the jump.

This Year in Baseball Awards [MLB.com]
May 3: Sal's Pals Are Surely Misguided
Sept. 29: The Good Things From Last Night's Phillies Game

Posted by D-Mac at 03:23 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Liveblogging Excitement From 'Inquirer'

Another day, another Inquirer blog. Their newest -- and shortest-lived, it seems -- blog is The Count in Chester County, which began yesterday as a way to chronicle, uh, the re-count in Chester County. It's written by political reporter Carrie Budoff.

Please try to contain your excitement.

Beginning Monday, the 156th district was led by Republican Shannon Royer. But with the vote now official -- when something's liveblogged, it's official -- Democrat Barbara McIlvaine is the state's newest elected official. This flips control of the House from red to blue and, as Budoff helpfully noted, "The whole Republican crew immediately bolted from the building."

To recap: The state house is now Democratic (barely) and the Inquirer doesn't have to launch a new blog again for 15 days.

The Count in Chester County [Inky]

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Milton Street, Hardest Worker In Philadelphia

Since he was indicted earlier today, the Milton Street case has already made some predictable, hilarious twists.

For example, this quote from Milton: "I am not going to lose any sleep. Let's face it, they didn't get John, they have to go after somebody."

But the best has to be this photo the Inky pulled from its archives. The photo's caption reads: "Street discusses his no-bid contract for maintenance work at Philadelphia International Airport."

As you can tell from all of the papers on his desk, Milton Street is a workaholic.

Milton Street slideshow [Inky]
Earlier today: Milton Street Indicted, To Announce Mayoral Bid Soon

Posted by D-Mac at 02:49 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

Wal-Mart Lowers Cost Of Happiness To $4

Just weeks after Wal-Mart heiress Alice Walton agreed to in part purchase The Gross Clinic for the new Crystal Bridges Museum in Arkansas, Wal-Mart has brought Pennsylvania cheap drugs.

In a sooner-than-expected expansion of the program, which launched in Florida in September, Pennsylvania residents will be able to purchase 330 different generic prescription drugs for just $4 for a month's supply. The program only affects older generic drugs, according to a spokeswoman for the Generic Pharmaceutical Association, some of which have "sometimes seven" different manufacturers.

So you won't be getting any Viagra for $4. But you can get get generic Paxil (Paroxetine) and a host of other antidepressants! (And you can get loratadine, too, which is really cheap for generic Claritin.) A Wal-Mart spokesman said the company is somehow making money from this program, which probably means the suppliers are pissed.

But, anyway, hey, $4 prescriptions! Wal-Mart may be stealing The Gross Clinic, but at least they're letting us feel better about it by giving us antidepressants on the cheap.

More cheap prescription drugs in Pa. [Bucks County Courier Times]
Wal-Mart's $4 Generics Program Launched in Final 11 States [Wal-Mart Facts]

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On The First Day Of Hunting Season, The Hunter Becomes The Hunted

Yesterday was the first day of hunting season in Pennsylvania, which means schoolchildren all across the state (except for the Philadelphia area) had off to go hunt bucks or whatever. (This is probably how that deer got stuck in the warehouse ended up in there; he was trying to run away from being killed.)

Well, yesterday wasn't all rainbows and dead deer. It turns out that some people didn't want to hunt deer themselves and instead robbed a man of his deer.

Yes, three men walked up to Meadville's Robert Hanna -- still on his tree stand after bagging a deer Monday afternoon -- when three men with rifles came up to him and attacked him for his deer carcass.

"I'm really, really upset about the whole ordeal," Hanna said. "(It's) over a dumb deer. If they wanted it so bad I would have said, 'Take it.'" Police don't have any suspects, but my hunch is it's a bunch of lazy, lazy hunters.

Armed Thieves Steal Deer from Penna. Hunter [KYW 1060]
Earlier today: Wayward Deer Causes Havoc In Western Pa.

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Milton Street Indicted, To Announce Mayoral Bid Soon

The mayor's brother, Milton, has been indicted for tax evasion and corruption charges related to -- what else? -- his contract at PHL.

The Inquirer's John Shiffman and Marcia Gelbart report:

.A federal grand jury alleged that after John F. Street took office in January 2000, Milton Street "began hiring himself out as a highly paid consultant to area businesses who believed that Milton Street could help them obtain business with the city of Philadelphia."

From 2000 to 2004, Milton Street received about $2 million in consulting and other non-vending income, none of which he reported to the Internal Revenue Service, the grand jury charged. He was hired by a company called Philadelphia Airport Services to be a consultant for $30,000 a month, the grand jury said.

Milton Street was also the president of a company named Notlim, which was certified with the city's Minority Business Enterprise Council.

Aw, Milton. What would we do without you?

Update: The Inquirer has a Flash photo gallery up of Milton Street through the years. It's like fucking Christmas here today.

Milton Street indicted on corruption, tax charges [Inquirer]

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Number Of Old Photos Of Daniel McQuade In Track Uniform In 'Daily News' Newsroom To Plummet

We're just under three days away from the contract expiration between the Newspaper Guild and management of the Inquirer and Daily News, and it seems like the possibility of a strike is inching closer.

Memo just released from the Newspaper Guild:

Please remove personal items that you use or value from the workplace before our current contract expires at midnight Thursday, November 30. If a strike becomes necessary, you will not be allowed to enter the building to retrieve your belongings.

Ruh roh. Full memo after the jump.

Take personal stuff home

Please remove personal items that you use or value from the workplace before our current contract expires at midnight Thursday, November 30. If a strike becomes necessary, you will not be allowed to enter the building to retrieve your belongings.

Your bargaining committee is working hard to avert a strike. If one becomes necessary it will be because the new owners are being too aggressive in seeking to force us to help pay for their purchase of our newspapers.

Keep working until you hear from your union officers that a strike has been called.

We will keep you posted on our progress and give you advance warning if the union is preparing to call a strike. Still it is prudent for many reasons to go ahead and take your stuff home.

Direct any questions to [xxx]@local-10.com or call the Guild office at
215-928-xxxx.

Posted by D-Mac at 12:53 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Urban's 2006 Publicity Tour Heats Up

Last week the Inquirer began the annual Urban Outfitters Controversy™, where Urban Outfitters stocks some stupid item that offends some people and gets a lot of free publicity out of the whole deal.

This time, it was a Christmas ornament in the shape of a glittery plastic handgun. After the Inquirer called all the requisite people -- anti-violence groups, the governor's office, NAMBLA, etc. -- the chain of events was set in motion. A call for a boycott and protests followed, as well as a few more articles in the paper.

And, yet, despite yesterday's protest outside the company's Center City store on Walnut Street, the ornament has sold out and the company is ordering more from China or Taiwan or whereever. (Well, replace "despite" in that previous sentence with "in part due to.")

The Daily News wrote that "Urban Outfitters issued a statement saying the gun was one of a number of 'dark humor items,' including 'devil monkeys' and skulls, providing an 'ironic twist' to holiday tradition." Well, no, that's not true. The only thing being celebrated here is commercialism, and there's nothing ironic about that in America.

Ornament is a sellout [Daily News]
Nov. 22: Newspapers Joining In On Half-Assed Thanksgiving Eve Fun

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Warren Sapp Unveils Local Food Industry's Nefarious Plot To Lose Back-To-Back Home NFC Championship Games

Warren Sapp, the defensive lineman the Eagles passed on for Mike Mamula, doesn't eat out on road trips. Is he trying to slim down from his current approximate weight of seven school buses? Is he just a picky eater?

No, of course not. Sapp doesn't eat out on road trips because he's convinced waiters on the road poison his food to help the local football team win. He even booked two hotel rooms, one under an alias, so he could get his room service without worrying about it.

One of those times he said he was poisoned was, of course, the 2002 NFC Championship Game. (Which, uh, the Buccaneers won, 27-10.) "I know it's real, especially in Philly, come on," Sapp said.

Come on, indeed. And how is he sure of this? Why, an incident a month after the NFC Championship:

For example, Sapp said that about a month after the Bucs won the Super Bowl, he and a friend traveled from Philadelphia to New York to watch Michael Jordan in his retirement tour at Madison Square Garden. First, they had dinner in Philadelphia, trading plates at the restaurant after their orders came. Then, Sapp said, his friend repeatedly threw up all the way to New York.

I haven't been able to find a Warren Sapp sighting in any old stories from the Daily News' Dan Gross, so if anyone knows what restaurant this incident allegedly happened at, send it over.

But I don't really know if I follow his reasoning here. You'd think if local restaurateurs had a plot to poison other teams' food during road trips, the Eagles would have won more than just one of their three straight home NFC Championships. Right?

Sapp insists food was tampered with on road trips [AP/ESPN.com]
Washed-up NFL player accuses Philadelphia of poisoning his food, back when, you know, there was a chance he could actually impact the game [The Illadelph]

Posted by D-Mac at 12:21 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Wayward Deer Causes Havoc In Western Pa.

There is a lot going on in Western Pennsylvania nowadays. While they don't have the excitement of a rising murder rate or a brand new public toilet, it's not like there's nothing going on!

For example, a family in Pittsburgh had its nativity scene stolen. And also in our fair neighbor to the west, a doggy jumped off a bridge and survived.

And then there's the tale of the deer who couldn't get out of the warehouse.

Note: This video apparently also features a cameo from Phillies relief pitcher Rick White.

Nativity Scene Stolen While Couple Decorates [WTAE-TV]
Dog Leaps Off Bridge, Lives [WTAE=TV]
Exclusive Video: Deer Runs Through Warehouse [WTAE-TV]

Posted by D-Mac at 11:37 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Abridged 'Daily News' Columnists

John Baer: Ed Rendell should veto the bill allowing casinos to give out free drinks. Wait, what? Noooooooo.....

Ronnie Polaneczky: There's more we can do for sex-abuse victims than just pass a bill in the state House and Senate.

Elmer Smith: Michael Richards should be more like Trent Lott. No, really.

Debbie Woodell: Wal-Mart: Down with gays. Christian conservatives: Not down with gays. So Wal-Mart: No longer down with gays. It's like some sort of proof.

Posted by D-Mac at 10:55 AM |