December 29, 2006

Week In Will Do: Screw You, 2006

• In other big, exciting news, Ed Rendell ate at Taco Bell!

• In other big, exciting news, a coyote attacked this man and this woman.

• Okay, there wasn't much going on this week. So Philly even got in on the Gerald Ford bandwagon and the less crowded Richard Nixon bandwagon.

• A man from upstate pulled over on the side of I-95 and started hunting. He was taken in for questioning by police. On the plus side, he bagged a Prius.

• Need stupider than pulling over on the side of I-95 to hunt? How about this: People wanting Jeff Garcia over Donovan McNabb next year.

• Kate Flannery from The Office guests on the greatest episode of 10! ever, mainly because they added alcohol.

• Stephen A. Smith wrote the best sentence ever.

• Also, a woman in Jersey was arrested for running a speakeasy.

That's it for me. Have a great transition in to 2007, etc. Mainly, though, go Eagles.

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Philadelphia Will Do Person Of The Year

The final announcement is close at hand, but I'm going to hold you in suspense until after the jump. While some favorites -- say, Terrell Owens -- did not make the list, I hope you are happy with the selections. Anyone you thought should have made the list was simply left off because I didn't feel like typing up what he or she had done throughout the year.

Okay, it's time to announce the Person of the Year. This person came to Philadelphia in 2006 with a track record that was a bit less than stellar.

Nonetheless, his 2006 arrival was greeted with cheers. He had devotees! He was beloved perhaps more than he had been in any other city. Then, mid-year, he packed his bags and left for a better job in New York. Is there anything that defines Philadelphia 2006 better?

Your 2006 Person of the Year is...

Yes, it was Sal Fasano -- .221 lifetime hitter, career backup catcher and beloved Philadelphian for nearly half the year. Despite hitting .243 for the Phils and driving in only 10 runs in 140 at bats, Sal had his own fan club! Most of it was due to his fu manchu, but he was a tough player as well, even playing with a swollen testicle!

But, as 33-year-old rookie Chris Coste began to surprise, Fasano was the odd man out, released by the Phils on July 22. It seemed he'd just end up unemployed, but, lo and behold, signed with the Yankees to be their backup.

And so we loved Sal not for his play, but for his hustle, his mustache and his good guy attitude. And we loved him for this play:

That will most certainly never get old. Thanks, Sal, for the memories.

Philadelphia Will Do People of the Year | The Complete List
Sal Fasano [Baseball Reference]
Archives: Sal Fasano

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Atlantic City: It Was A Very Good Year

PW's sister publication -- is that how you introduce it? -- down in Atlantic City did a year in review issue this week and marked on a calendar the biggest events of 2006.

Here are two of the first three:

January

Jan. 26: The new Atlantic City Wind Farm is featured on the cover of AC Weekly.

February

Feb. 27: Jay Leno holds up the Jan. 26 issue of AC Weekly (“Tourism that Blows”) on NBC's Tonight Show during his funny headlines bit.

Real mile a minute at those shore resorts during the winter.

2006: A Roller Coaster Year [AC Weekly]
Mar. 7: 'Atlantic City Weekly' makes the big time

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Yeah, This Seems Like The Best Way To Do It

Nurse quits job to fight disease [Bucks County Courier Times]

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Keystone Cops: Dead Man Walking

Keystone Cops is a look at police, crime, court, drug and public safety news.

• Saddam Hussein will be dead by this time tomorrow. [AP/Yahoo!]

• A man, quite possibly a Barbaro hater, stole a collection can with $200 from a 7-Eleven in Buxco . The money was supposed to go to a group that rehabilitates sick horses. Actual quote: "It's hard enough to steal from anybody but to steal from a charity... the poor defenseless animals can't even speak for themselves." [CBS 3]

• Atlantic City Council is expected to vote today on a smoking ban for the island's casinos that would blah blah blah you know how this works already. No more smoking in casinos. [AP/6 ABC]

• And, from the crime log of the Doylestown Intelligencer: "At 9:37 a.m. Sunday, police received a call from Northampton police who asked them to go to a house on the 2000 block of Jason Drive to question a man about his 2001 Chevy S-10 pickup. No one was home." [Intelligencer]

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PWD People Of The Year: Mark B. Cohen

Mark Cohen first made news this year when the Inquirer revealed he had spent just over $28,000 of taxpayer money on books and magazines the past two years. All legal, of course, but one wondered what exactly The Zen of Gambling and AOL For Dummies were doing for his constituents.

In addition to his addictive book habit, Cohen is one of the greatest healers of our time, as he told the Daliy News: "All over the country, people live longer lives because of me."

Although he's a hard-working state representative, Cohen's real role in life is Mayor of the Internet, a position he's used to propose a "World Phillyblog Day" in honor of the local messageboard and announcing how Phillyblog has gotten his 1000th member.

You know how politicians tend to pander to the hip, young Internet crowd with podcasts done by their staffers or favorite songs on iTunes or whatever? Well give Cohen this: He most certainly does not pander in terms of the Internet. He is totally, 100 percent into Phillyblog and the Internet. Whether this is scarier than a politician who panders to the Internet crowd is a question to leave up to the gods.

Despite his taxing job as Internet mayor, Cohen also returned to his legislative position in the fall when he got into a war of words with Brian Tierney, who used his rhetorical skills to achieve literary domination.

For being so into reading, Phillyblog and seniority of newspaper workers, Mark B. Cohen is are one of the People of the Year. Okay, mainly for just being into Phillyblog.

Philadelphia Will Do People of the Year | The List So Far
Archives: Mark B. Cohen

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Ed Rendell Eats At Taco Bell In Exciting Story

Yesterday, in a show of solidarity with the fast food chain, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell ate at the Taco Bell at Franklin Mills. He brought along with him the president of Taco Bell -- of course -- and a bevy of television cameras from Channel 3.

He said he was driving by a Taco Bell and found it rather empty, so he decided to hold this dog and pony show at Franklin Mills with Greg Creed, Taco Bell's prez who was on those ads after the E. coli scare.

There are so many questions stemming from this report, many of them unanswered. Why is this news? Why is the governor doing this? How depressed would you be as a reporter if this were the story you were covering one day? Is Taco Bell's president British or Australian or something? How funny is the footage of Rendell eating his taco salad? (This one has an answer: Very.)

You'll no doubt have tons of your own questions after watching the report.

Rendell Eats Taco Bell To Send A Message [CBS 3]

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PWD People Of The Year: Eddie Dougherty

For this, from Metro on May 1, at the height of the "gas is expensive" news cycle.

He is right, though. Gas prices should go down 18 percent. No, 25 percent.

Philadelphia Will Do People of the Year | The List So Far
Archives: Retired Lumberjacks Demand Lower Gas Prices

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Hurricane Changes 'Winter' Forecast

Schwartz did this in light of the recent weather and because "the NAO has been way too positive." (Oh!) He originally called for 35 to 40 inches of snow but now predicts just 15 to 20, with one big snowstorm in February.

Clearly, Hurricane is hoping that big snowstorm falls on another hated holiday of his, St. Valentine's Day.

Glenn Schwartz Revises Winter Storm Forecast [NBC 10]
Archives: Glenn "Hurricane" Schwartz

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Abridged 'Daily News' Columnists

Uhh... nothing, really. There's Gar Joseph's column, but that's a bunch of stories and is hard to encapsulate in one sentence. But his stuff is usually pretty good, so, ah, maybe you want to read that.

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PWD People Of The Year: Jennaphr Frederick, George Mallet, Dorothy Krysiuk, Kerri-Lee Halkett, Harry The Security Guy, Caitlin The Intern And All The Other Dancers And Mascots On Mascot Monday

It began with this. And somehow it exploded into all of this:

God bless you, Good Day Philadelphia.

Philadelphia Will Do People of the Year | The List So Far
Archives: Mascot Monday

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Coyote Attack News Continues

The coyote, who roamed Lehigh County the day after Christmas, attacked three people and two dogs, making it a Big Important Story™. The animal tested positive for rabies after it was killed, so newly-revealed victim Marie Torquati -- shown above demonstrating how she hit the coyote with a trash bag -- has had eight rabies shots.

Will the coyote continue to haunt us from beyond the grave? Since this is a slow news week, I can most certainly say: Yes.

Coyote Tests Positive For Rabies In Attacks [NBC 10]
Wednesday: Wiley Coyote Killed With Anvil Dropped On Head

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If Only We Could Make The City One Big Church

But it hasn't been all bad, according to State Rep. Curt Thomas. While proposing new legislation to restrict guns and make offenders work in prison, etc., he also points out there is one place where there hasn't been any murders. He tells KYW 1060's Steve Tawa:

While there have been more than 400 homicides this year in Philadelphia, State Representative Curt Thomas says there has not been one act of violence inside a house of worship: ”Our places of worship have remained sacred ground.”

And the Spectrum. Nobody's been killed at the Spectrum.

Legislator Wants Faith-Based Help to Make '07 Year of Peace [KYW 1060]

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Reason #30 To Love Philadelphia: Drexel Hoops

But the team usually viewed on a lesser plane than even Penn and La Salle, Drexel, has now won seven straight and is ranked seventh in the country in RPI. The Dragons are 8-2 have beaten St. Joe's, Villanova and Temple and actually sold out their gym last night. (Drexel did somehow lose to Penn by 19.)

Last night, Drexel beat last year's Final Four participant George Mason, and the Dragons also have a win over a ranked Syracuse team.

The Dragons are coached by Bruiser Flint, a St. Joe's grad and the snappiest dresser in the NCAA. Drexel has a bunch of decent players who appear to have been with the program for about six years each.

So, you know, huzzah for usually-overlooked Philly college hoops! How's Holy Family doing this year?

Fired up Dragons win 7th straight [Inquirer]

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December 28, 2006

Leftovers: Paramedic Can't Save Self

• A trainee paramedic says she was hazed because she couldn't put in an IV correctly. The woman alleges she was stuck with a 14-gauge needle and beaten! Ho ho, those wacky paramedics! [Daily News]

• The Flyers have lost 10 straight. That's the joke. The Flyers. See, we can move on now. [Inquirer]

• Les Bowen writes about how Donovan McNabb is feeling about the Eagles' run this season. His teammates say he's supportive. His mom says it's weird. His mom? Sigh. [Daily News]

• Bucks County Playhouse could be sued by New Hope borough. You may remember Buxco Playhouse from its owner Ralph Miller and its foulmouthed plays. [Bucks County Courier Times]

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Keystone Cops: Stein To Roam Rittenhouse Square Again

Keystone Cops is a look at police, crime, drug and public safety news.

• Michael Klein buries the lead here, taking until the final sentence to note: Neil Stein is being released from prison in two weeks! That's big news! Rouge will be buzzing over it, I'm sure. [Inquirer]

• A grocery store clerk was shot in the head at Montesino's Grocery. He's still alive, so our murder total remains ... uh, in the low 400s. [NBC 10]

• An appeals court rejected rabbi and convicted killer Fred Neulander's appeal for a new trial. He remains in prison for life with no chance at parole, etc., etc. [AP/Philly.com]

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Giant 30-Story Parking Garage Nearing Completion

Behold: Symphony House, the jewel of Broad Street.

Photo by Bradley Maule

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Just What A.C. Needs: More Gambling

There's no real legislation he's planning, but he did float the idea to see how "anyone who has an interest" would respond. His model for the $3 billion renovation he's proposing is Union Station in Washington D.C., only he wants to do it with slot machines.

The kicker? A full-scale renovation would pave the way for ex-bitter rivals Wynn and Donald Trump to kiss and make up and operate an expansion of Trump Plaza. The rumor is Trump would sell Trump Plaza to Wynn in exchange for good land in Las Vegas, where Trump doesn't have a casino, oddly enough.

So, basically, what does this mean? More places to gamble in Atlantic City. Yeeha! Oh, and supposedly the developers are supposed to build a new arena to replace Boardwalk Hall if they want to turn it into a gambling mecca.

Boardwalk Hall's extreme makeover [Inquirer]

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PWD People Of The Year: The Toe-Thumb Boy And A Newspaper Headline Writer

He was even pumped about it! "It doesn't look like a toe on a hand -- it looks like a finger on a hand." (You can be your own judge.) Some did think it still looked like a toe, but a little experiment revealed thumbs can indeed look like big toes.

As for the owner of New Jersey's most famous thumb, well, he just wants to remember the dead:

[Doctor] Fuller described Buono as an "inspiration" to other patients who have watched his consistently positive attitude. During Monday's appointment, Fuller said the boy even took time to express sadness over Sept. 11 victims.

As I wrote at the time: "Excuse me, doc, but now's the time in the appointment I'd like to set aside for the victims of the 9/11 attacks. Please join me in a moment of silence and then we can get back to my thumb." Although maybe that should have been "toe."

Another one of the People of the Year is whoever wrote the story's headline: He lost a toe, but gained a thumb.

Philadelphia Will Do People of the Year | The List So Far
Sept. 12: Losing 3 Fingers Does Not Make One Forget 9/11

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It's The Party Night Of The Year!

Oh, yes. First I have to rent a tuxedo, then I need to buy flowers! So much to do before Ford's funeral! Oooh, girl, what are you gonna wear?

Nation prepares for Ford's funeral [AP/Camden Courier-Post]

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Abridged 'Daily News' Columnists

John Baer: I make a lot of incorrect predictions and get a few facts wrong.

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Mumia Inspires Eagles-Like Insanity

But ignoring that little piece of evidence wasn't enough for the Times. No, the paper also decided to ignore the Constitution:

A sizable chunk of Philadelphia’s police force calls Northeast Philly home, and for these men and women in blue — and all law-abiding citizens everywhere — the time for Mumia Abu-Jamal to redeem his one-way ticket to hell cannot come too soon. When that great day comes, let’s hope he suffers a torturous death.

Yep. Forget that ban on "cruel and unusual" punishment. He should suffer! I haven't seen somebody this excited about murdering since Bush got us into the Iraq war.

Kill him already! [Northeast Times]
Yesterday: Eagles' Winning Streak Inducing Craziness

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The Mummers Will Let You Play With Only Two Fingers, But They'll Still Curse You Out Pre-Performance

So, of course, Healy joined the Mummers and learned how to play in pain and it made him so much happier, etc. etc. His mentor was the late John "Pop" Pignotti Sr., who offered him this sound advice during his first year as a mummer:

"They put me right next to Pop, figuring he would help me get through it," Healy said. "We get to the judges' stand at City Hall. We are standing with our backs to the judges, ready to turn around and start playing. I said, 'Pop, I just want to thank you for everything you've done for me. I really...' Pop said, 'Shut the fuck up and just do your job.' "

Hey, this is more of a Philadelphia story than I originally thought. Way to get your non-moving fingers to play "Daddy's Little Girl." Now shut the fuck up about your accident and don't screw up.

He got a banjo, and a new life [Daily News]

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Reason #29 To Love Philadelphia: Frank Rizzo (Either)

One of those who did was City Councilman Frank Rizzo, whose dad was mayor from 1972 - 1980. Rizzo addresses his father's relationship with both Ford and Richard Nixon:

"My father had a great relationship with the President Nixon and the Vice President Ford and they were very good to Philadelphia."

Only in Philadelphia could you ask a politician his father's relationship with someone, and he'd go, "Yeah, yeah, he was good buddies with him. But Nixon! Oh man, he was even closer to Nixon!" I wonder if something like this will happen when Tom Delay dies.

The Region Remembers President Gerald Ford [CBS 3]

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December 27, 2006

PWD People Of The Year: Rick Santorum

For many things. But, mainly, for this.

Philadelphia Will Do People of the Year | The List So Far
Archives: Rick Santorum

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Keystone Cops: Drug War Addicts

Keystone Cops is a look at police, crime, drug and public safety news.

• The Daily News has a big drugs package today. There's David Gambacorta's story about how futile the War on Drugs is -- okay, it reads like that unintentionally -- and Simone Weichselbaum's story of Mickey the crack dealer, who made tons o'money selling drugs but ended up getting busted. [Daily News]

• Meanwhile, in Cherry Hill, the war on sex offenders bans one man from living in the township altogether, pretty much, and he's at a low risk of re-offending, etc. It's one of those laws meant to protect the public, and it screws people who were convicted of a crime even if they've served a sentence. C.H.'s response is nice, though: "They should blame themselves and not elected officials who are trying to protect the community." Thanks, Cherry Hill Councilman Frank Falcone! [Camden Courier-Post]

• The number five story of the year from the Doylestown Intelligencer: Doylestown Borough's crackdown on teens. “I'm not declaring victory yet, but it's been pretty good lately,” Police Chief James Donnelly. Another unwinnable war. [Doylestown Intelligencer]

• Murder count climbs at year end: We're at 403 now. [Daily News]

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Eagles' Winning Streak Inducing Craziness

The Eagles are a win away from the division title and a first-round home playoff game thanks to many things, but part of it due to Jeff Garcia's surprisingly good performance. Of course, some people are taking it a little overboard:

The biggest contest in 2007 here won't be the Philly mayor's race: It will be the McNabb-Garcia debate. Jeff Garcia, a 36-year-old castoff from the Detroit Lions, is the newest folk hero in Philadelphia after leading the Eagles to a playoff spot.

No no no! No no no no no. Look, Garcia is playing worlds better than anyone thought he would. But he's not as good as Donovan McNabb. Next year, you sign Garcia to start at the beginning of the season if McNabb isn't ready and then he returns to the backup role. (It's all in this article.)

It's okay; it gets worse in that NBC 10 blog:

All this has led to a huge debate on local sports radio and in homes and pubs about who should lead the Eagles next year: Garcia or McNabb? So far, from what I've heard on the radio, the fans want Garcia. McNabb has his defenders, in particular Howard Eskin.

Don't ever make me agree with Howard Eskin again, NBC 10.

Eagles Blog: Garcia Or McNabb Debate Takes Off [NBC 10]
All Garcia Does Is Win [Football Outsiders Blog]

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Americans Deprived Of Exciting Carter-Ford Debate In Typical Philadelphia Turn Of Events

Now that President Ford has passed away, KYW 1060 reminds us of the famous Gerald Ford-Jimmy Carter debate held at the Walnut Street Theater. In the debate -- at least according to Wikipedia -- Ford cost himself the presidency by saying Eastern Europe was not under domination of the Soviet Union.

Of course, since the debate took place in Philly, it also featured a bit of a glitch. At the end of the broadcast, moderator Edwin Newman apologized:

Ahh - we much regret the technical failure that caused a twenty-eight-minute delay in the broadcast of the debate.

But, really, who needs full coverage of a debate?

Remembering the Ford-Carter Debate in Philadelphia [KYW 1060]
Earlier: Only The Good Presidents Die Young

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Cops Raid Speakeasy; Charleston Hits #1 On Dance Charts

You see, there is news this week!

A month-long investigation (!) led to the arrest of Dilma Regaldo Rios. She was charged with selling alcoholic beverages without a license, warehousing alcoholic beverages and paraphernalia and storing alcoholic beverages with the intent to sell.

It's not known why one would sell alcohol illegally when one can sell it legally, but Rios' court date is Jan. 9, so perhaps we can find out then. Patrons used her house as a speakeasy and as a take-out service. (Secrecy in a speakeasy isn't as important anymore now that alcohol is legal.) On Thursday, officers executed a search warrant and confiscated $650, 14 cases of beer, one bottle of tequila and 18 limes.

It's not known if this is the first time a lime has been identified as drug paraphernalia.

1 charged for alleged illegal alcohol operation [Trenton Times]

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News You Can't Use

Eh, trust me. You don't want to start one of those. It only leads to trouble.

Inform your neighbors with a blog [Camden Courier-Post]

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Wiley Coyote Killed With Anvil Dropped On Head

One of the men who saw the coyote was Joe Gerbino, whose German shepherd dog spotted the wild animal: "[My dog] knew this was not a dog. . . So I kept the garbage can lid on and forced it out of the yard. From there it just took off." Wait, what? He kept the garbage can lid on what? Was the coyote in a garbage can? Did he use a garbage can lid as a shield (no doubt after practicing on the new Zelda game on his Nintendo Wii) and then drive the coyote out with the Master Sword?

Anyway, the coyote was killed -- without a trial -- for attacking three people and two dogs, although Gerbino said he was a little choked up at the whole thing: "I feel bad for the coyote, but there are kids in the neighborhood, and at the bus stop."

Yes, the whole "won't someone please think of the children" meme extends to coyotes, too.

Coyote Killed After Attacking Three People [NBC 10]

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Abridged 'Daily News' Columnists

Jill Porter: Heartwarming story about a cool dude. Eh, it's still the Christmas season.

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Only The Good Presidents Die Young

Despite his death, Ford was the second story on the cover of the Daily News. That's okay, though, as all former presidents are honored with 30 days of flags at half-staff, according to U.S. Flag Code. (Even Nixon!)

He was good enough as a center at Michigan in college to be offered contracts by several NFL teams; however, he turned these down for a far less important career in politics.

And, uh, we'll always remember the time he visited Villanova! Or, really, not.

'True gentleman,' ex-President Ford dies at 93 [CNN.com]

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Reason #28 To Love Philadelphia: Out-Of-Town Hunters

Tuesday was the beginning of doe season, and so this Lancaster hunter decided to celebrate it (and Boxing Day, presumably) by pulling his car to the side of I-95 at Island Avenue near the airport and taking some shots.

Not only was he hunting on the side of a highway, but this hunter was dressed in camouflage, had a bow and arrow and was in a tree stand. The cops presumably noticed his car alone on the side of the highway and decided to investigate, eventually taking him in for questioning.

Philly PD spokesman Benjamin Nash: "You are allowed to do bow and arrow hunting within the city if you have the proper license and you have the permission of the owner of the private property you are hunting on. There are probably not a lot of places within the city where that can give a person proper authority to do the bow hunting."

The side of I-95? Not so much. But, hey, what isn't there to love about the hunting culture that permeates the rest of our state. Need dinner? Pull over and bag a deer! Now that's self-sufficiency.

Hunter Takes Unusual Stance [KYW 1060]

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December 26, 2006

Leftovers: What? It's Dec. 26!

• KYW 1060's Hadas Kuznits reminds us that it wasn't Christmas for everyone yesterday. Interviewee: "Well, I do often think that we should start a one-day temp service and offer to work alongside our hindu brothers and sisters." [KYW 1060]

• Tons of people still went to Philadelphia Park's new casino on Christmas. Let's quote again: “I haven’t won a thing and ran out of money. It just feels like any other day in a casino. It doesn’t feel like Christmas.” Good to see that one can escape from Christmas cheer at the casinos. [Bucks County Courier Times]

• Tom Ridge is not going to run for president next year. So we don't have to hate him. [Inquirer]

• Back tomorrow with more People of the Year and a full day. No more slackin' here!

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Keystone Cops: The 400 Blows

Keystone Cops is a look at police, crime, drug and public safety news.

• Over the Christmas weekend the homicide rate surged past 400, hitting 402 by the end of Christmas Day. [Daily News]

• Oh wait: Number 403 this morning. Sigh. [Inquirer]

• New movie: NJ Weedman shows off the "420 Raffle" he held to support his U.S. Senate bid. Alas, Mr. Weedman did not win the election. [YouTube]

• A toll collector on the New Jersey Turnpike was held up by a driver. The car's license plate was covered with a plastic bag, and the man got away with coins and cash. He, unfortunately, spent it all at the next rest stop. [AP/NBC 10]

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Scrooges In North Philly

Almost every house on the 800 block of North 10th Street is decorated in a smiliar fashion, and the neighbors walked around exchanging presents. ("And so you had Joan Adams in her white bathrobe leaning out of 810 and Marva Lazenbury in her turquoise and pink paisley silk bathrobe and pajamas leaning out of 806," as Rosenberg puts it.)

But the Inky also blows the whistle on those who didn't join in the decoration:

Pretty much the only ones who opted out of the decorations were the Jehovah's Witnesses who live in two homes and the Sturgis family at 807 who, for various reasons, just couldn't find the time this year.

Not to mention the undecorated house of Glenn "Hurricane" Schwartz.

A block reborn, a neighborhood united in sharing [Inky]
Archives: Hurricane Schwartz

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Warning: Rabid Skunks On Loose

Officials say 19 cases of animal rabies were confirmed this year - a sharp increase over last year's six cases.

Seven raccoons, five skunks, three cats, three bats and a dog were found to be rabid.

The number of confirmed rabies cases statewide also was higher than last year. From January 1st to November 30th, 2005, there were 379 cases. In the same eleven months of this year, state Health Department spokesman Richard McGarvey says, there were 469.

Yep, this is news today. Eh.

Bucks County Sees Rise In Rabies Cases [AP/CBS 3]

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Warning: B-West Impersonator In Stock Spam Scam

It's always a watershed moment when a sports figure transcends into the general consciousness. Now that "Brain Westbrook" is sending out spam emails, he's totally in.

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'10!' Adds Alcohol, Gets Interesting

Office actress and UArts grad Kate Flannery was on the 10! show this morning. Clearly, it quickly became the best episode ever, because there was alcohol involved.

Hey, I've known that drinking yourself makes local television easier to digest for a while. But who knew drinking from the people on TV made it a lot better, too?

Archives: 10!

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Abridged 'Daily News' Columnists

Uhh... nothin'. Sorry, guys.

It's the weekend between Christmas and New Year's. Expect this to happen again.

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NBC 10 Begins To Irresistible Ella-ize Anchors

This is Tim Lake and Renee Chenault-Fattah, in, uh, cartoon form. Now Irresistible Ella isn't the only cartoon anchor the station has. I don't know what to think of this. honestly.

Archives: Irresistible Ella

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Local Anchor Almost Bagged James Brown

All the TV stations, even on Christmas, were naturally covering his death extensively. That extended to Action News' Matt O'Donnell, who blogged (!) this morning about his meeting with Brown:

I went to shake James Brown's hand. I guess I got a pretty good grip on it. He winced.

"Ooooh! You're a strong young man!"

"You're not so bad yourself." And then I threw out one of my typical complementary one-liners:

"In fact, you don't look a day older than 25."

In his typical James Brown soul-infused voice, he replied "Oh, you make me feel goooooodddddd!"

It was a wonderful moment. I was jive-talking with James Brown!

Oh, I'm sorry. I meant to write that Matt O'Donnell blogged about the time he and Brown flirted with each other.

Remembering Our Day with James Brown [6 ABC]
Brown had been suffering from cold, cough [CNN]

Posted by D-Mac at 09:48 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Reason #27 To Love Philadelphia: Stephen A. Smith

But, really, the present that all Philadelphians -- nay, all English-speaking humans -- should appreciate most came from Stephen A. Smith in his Christmas Eve column about the Duke rape case. As you may know, rape charges were recently dropped in the case, even though everybody thought those stupid white kids were guilty when the news first broke.

Stephen A. is not really a beloved writer/ESPN host/whatever in this town, but regardless of one's opinion of him, he made his career in journalism worthwhile with his column on Christmas Eve. Not only was it a half-decent column with a point made well, it also contained perhaps the greatest clause ever printed in a newspaper:

Now we've learned that the rape charge was dropped after this stripper told investigators she was no longer certain whether she was penetrated vaginally with penises as she had claimed earlier.

Penetrated vaginally with penises. Stephen A. has found a way to unintentionally make a funny description involving gang rape. (Or, in this case, not gang rape.) Hey, he may write some stupid stuff sometimes -- uh, when he writes -- but he also wrote "penetrated vaginally with penises." Thanks, Stephen A.

Stephen A. Smith | Injustice has spoken in the Duke lacrosse case [Inquirer]

Posted by D-Mac at 08:52 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

December 22, 2006

Leftovers: Don't Meet Me Tonight In Atlantic City

• Tons of new state laws go into effect on January 1 all across the country. In Pennsylvania, there are things like more sex offender regulations and protections from identity theft. And lobbyists finally have to disclose their contributions. Yay! [Stateline.org]

• Everyone's favorite Inquirer columnist, Inga Saffron, destroys the New River City proposal in a column today for reasons other than NIMBYism. [Inquirer]

Posted by D-Mac at 02:44 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack