Rest in peace, Al Alberts. You occupy a certain place in our hearts, the one where all the guys have Paulie Walnuts hair, the 4-year-olds already have the Philly accent, and the local Saturday morning talent show is a must-watch.
I love this clip especially because the song with which [...]
This one comes via Kathy O'Connell and Kids Corner.
[...]Here's the latest version of the old "hidden camera busts supposedly disabled people working" story:
Geek.com has a post about a Quebec woman who'd been on a year-plus long leave suffering from depression, yet now finds her benefits cut off after her [...]
I only wish I'd known about Wedinator.com -- where "Trashing your special day is our prime directive" -- in [...]
Today's entry in the white-hot musical subgenre one likes to call Phillies 2009 World Series Rally Tunes is "Parading Down Broad Street," a Phils-centric homage to the 1967 hit "Boogaloo Down Broadway" by The Fantastic Johnny C. The new version is by a West Chester-based band Lost In Paris, [...]
Enough of parents using their kids as foils for their reality-TV moneymaking schemes.
Enough of parents who treat their kids, and their home life, as revenue streams.
It's bad enough that most TV networks are so willing to serve us up the "drama" of reality TV when others are [...]
via www.youtube.com
Jayson Werth + Exercise ball + Porn-tastic soundtrack
Thank you, Internets.
Phils-Dodgers, 8 p.m.
Enjoy the game, ladies.
via www.youtube.com
Look at that jacket. That's class, baby.
Alfred Cini, aka Al Martino, died Tuesday -- just hours after having dinner with the Geator Monday night in South Phils! The hand of God, people.
[...]Before he was ever Johnny Castle in Dirty Dancing, or whatever his name was in Ghost, Patrick Swayze was Darrell, big brother to Ponyboy and Sodapop in The Outsiders. He died Monday at age 57.
[...]Via the Twitter: Morey's Piers will host an independent film crew this weekend and they're looking for extras willing to ride the tram car for food. (Here, twist my arm.) Morey's won't reveal the name of the film yet but "We can tell you that it involves a tram [...]
Let's decode:
BIDEN: Who is that? Wilson? Dumbass. If not for the Botox you could see me making a really ugly face at you right now.
PELOSI: <gasp!> Joseph Wilson, don't make me pull this joint session over and smack the crap out of you! Don't [...]
A little Independence Day tale: Above is my bike, a vintage Schwinn Breeze, half of a matched his-hers set procured a few summers ago from the St. Anthony's Tag Sale shop on Bayshore Road. It is, as they say, a beaut -- great condition, [...]
Oh hello, poopies!
No, Citizen Mom hasn't abandoned you, in fact I'm just back from a few days at the Shore and ready to settle into the summer. Too much news has happened to try to re-cap or snark on it all, but if you've been following my Twitter stream you' [...]
"Afternoon Delight with John Thornton," in which a dude with seriously hairy back doffs his bathrobe and gets cozy with the Sunday Philadelphia Inquirer. Perhaps too cozy.
I'll never hear the words "Trudy Rubin" in quite the same way again.
What, no Santorum?
Hat tip to @ckrewson
As if you even needed one, here's another good reason to spend this coming July 4 in Cape May: As part of celebrations marking the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's sail up the Delaware Bay, the city is holding a beard-growing contest. For [...]
A big tip o' the tam today to Good Day Philadelphia on this one:
Nickelodeon has released this image of Tween Dora to soothe the fears of parents like me, who were worried our beloved Latina explorer girl was being sexed up too much. [...]
Somebody owes the Inquirer's Bob Moran an apology.
No, not somebody: Steve Keeley owes Bob Moran an apology.
For nearly a half-hour, as the verdicts in the Vince Fumo corruption trial rolled in earlier, the Fox29 reporter stood on the street in front of the courthouse reading Moran's liveblog from [...]
No? Perhaps you wisely blocked it out. Seems Bono has, too.
I love U2 and all but I'm pretty sure that when you start talking seriously about wanting to go back and re-work the albums that made you the world's biggest rock band, it means you're officially out of new ideas. [...]
Big Bird might need to start making his own birdseed milkshakes -- Sesame Workshop is cutting back. From the AP:
NEW YORK (AP) — The crisis on Wall Street is plaguing Sesame Street.Sesame Workshop, the non-profit producer of Sesame Street and other kids' programs, is [...]
AP Music Writer
NEW YORK (AP) -- There won't be any awkward Chris Brown moment at the Kids' Choice Awards - the embattled pop star has withdrawn his name from the ballot. Brown had been nominated for favorite male singer and [...]
I'm on deadline today so am going to keep this one short and sweet: Despite being charged with two serious felonies in connection with the beating of his girlfriend, singer Rihanna, Chris Brown remains nominated for two Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards. And he's using his MySpace page to [...]
* In the literal sense: Bring your old baubles to Verde Salon on Saturday night and cash in on this week's trendiest revenue-enhancer! Myya Pavone from Aurum Strategies will be at the Collingswood salon to buy your unwanted gold, silver and platinum. The event [...]
Say Hola! to 'Tween Dora, Mattel and Viacom's more grown-up version of the preschool favorite. She won't be released until next fall, so visually all we have to go on right now are these silhouettes released by the toymaker, who has apparently never driven behind [...]
* It wasn't even a year ago we first met the boyishly handsome Republican leader of Louisiana, Gov. RickyBobby Jindal. For about five minutes last April, before anybody knew from Sarah Palin, Jindal was talked about as being a potential VP choice for John McCain. For [...]
I'm going to resist the urge to make any chicken-related puns in this post, which concerns urban egg farming and why those of you living in Philadelphia might give a cluck. DAMN! Oh well.
As the economy continues to wither, people continue to look for [...]
Celebrating my Dad's 80th, with love from his Favorite. 'Cause you know I am. And he's the richest man I know.
When TV's cherished Golden Girls can't afford to fix their roof, the ladies must pull out all the stops and enter 2009's world of cheap and easy reality TV! Find out who's The Biggest Loser and what happens
when Rose goes dancing With The Stars' [...]
I love you as the [...]
As I write this, the boy is headed off to school with his collection of Valentines for the kids in his second-grade class. We've finally moved beyond SpongeBob, and this time he's handing out sports-themed foldover cards that come with a little temporary tattoo [...]
Pretenders at the Electric Factory. Give it to me!
UPDATE: I did receive an email response yesterday from the FDA saying that all the products involved in the recall are on the list, but a reminder that the list is updated daily -- in other words, not an answer. TODAY the FDA website update includes news that questionable [...]
So I'm watching Rick Sanchez this afternoon on CNN, and he's doing his whole "participatory journalism" thing. This is where he talks directly to the audience in between news segments and monitors his show's Twitter and Facebook feeds throughout the broadcast.
At one point he [...]
Late last night, it was confirmed Caroline Kennedy is no longer seeking to be Hillary Clinton's replacement in the U.S. Senate, now that Hillz is Secretary of State. Kennedy had formally asked New York Gov. David Paterson to consider her for the appointment, which would have given Sweet Caroline [...]
Yeah, you've seen the video of Barack and Michelle dancing to "At Last" at the Neighborhood Ball, but the party got started after that. Behold as the 44th President of the United States dances with thumbs (at 3:54), and does a righteous hip bump with a big girl (at [...]
Barack Obama takes the Oath of Office on Abraham Lincoln's bible, becoming the 44th President of the United States.
Now get back to work.
Photo by Getty Images/BBC News
[...]People gathered in Washington, D.C.'s Dupont Circle pelt an effigy of George W. Bush with shoes Monday afternoon. Photo, ironically enough, from the TwitPic stream of the Zappos CEO.
[...]
Today I give you three items janked directly out of my Twitter stream and unzipped, as it were, for your perusal:
* The big peanut butter recall of '09 has been a big story, as more items -- including Kellogg and General Mills crackers and Little Debbie [...]
The Associated Press is reporting that actor Ricardo Montalban, who not only battled the devil as Mr. Roarke on Fantasy Island (you know that was your favorite episode, don't front) but forever immortalized the qualities of a certain type of automotive upholstery, has died at age 88.
RELATED: [...]
For the first time since the site debuted in October '06, my name does not appear as Editrix on the masthead at Phawker.com . It's been a while since I've been actively working on Phawker, and the beginning of the year seemed an appropriate [...]
Once again proving the Palin Principle, i.e. that pretending teenagers won't actually have sex is the quickest path to the grandparent 'hood, here's Sandy Bauers in today's Inquirer:
Research has shown that teens who take virginity pledges are just as sexually active as those who do not.Now a [...]
Oh hello, 2009.
I began the year laughing at Kathy Griffin and Anderson Cooper -- and if "I don't go to your job and knock the dicks out of your mouth" wasn't exactly the phrase with which to shuffle 2008 out the door, I don't know what was -- [...]
Because no holiday table is complete without delicious Schweddy Balls. Enjoy!
[...]1.) "Go to the black Macys if you want plus-sized formal gowns," from Consumerist.
The story told by "Amanda" sounds a little bit far-fetched in that I doubt any Macy's employee would run on at the mouth like that. But, as a woman who has bought clothing on both [...]
In 1998, the U.S. Postal Service issued a stamp commemorating the life of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the
pioneering gospel-blues guitarist and singer who lived on Master Street and worshiped at Bright Hope Baptist. She died in 1973, but while Sister Rosetta had a stamp she never [...]
There's something unsettling about sitting down to write a post on hunger in my community just as a promo for this year's Wing Bowl comes on the morning TV news show. Competitive eating as a "sport" skeeves me to begin with, but when the stories about how many Buffalo wings [...]
First, a crafty-fab fundraiser for Girls Rock Philly, then some sweaty tunes at the North Star to benefit Philabundance.
Well, 'tis the season!
I'm glad to add my voice to the chorus of New Jersey bloggers planning to write about hunger in our communities on Monday in support of the Community Food Bank of New Jersey. I only wish we didn't have to. -- Citizen Mom
JERSEY BITES: We [...]
Legendary pinup girl, good girl in naughty shoes, originator of the look now used on network TV to denote a punky-possibly-into-freaky-sex female character type, style icon responsible for far too many overplucked eyebrows and unflattering mini-bangs, or as she preferred, "the woman who [...]
Joseph M. Torsella, who has served as CEO of the National Constitution Center during most of its existence, will step down Jan. 31, he said yesterday. A successor has not been named.
Torsella, 45, said he has no immediate plans but will stay in the area. After [...]
What does Ed Rendell's alleged gaffe say about gender double standards?
by Amy Z. Quinn
I remember the exact moment I decided to quit my job and stay home with my son. My husband and I were working for the Asbury Park Press in central Jersey, and there was news [...]
(click image to see full size)
Reports this week say former City Paper editor Brian Hickey, run down by a still at-large driver on Black Friday, is improving. He's said to be responding to some commands, recognizes his wife Angela and, we hear, gave someone the finger. [...]
Great cartoon by Rob Tornoe, for Politicker. I especially like the comments, which suggest reasons why Lois Lane might have kept her job and not ol' Kent. "Lois gets to stay because of what she does for Perry." Cute, right? Actually, if Lois saved [...]
And because, frankly, we've always thought Rudolph was a bit of a stunod, we bring you Nick the Pizza Guy's take on Lou Monte's holiday classic, "Dominic The Donkey."
Surely there's a YouTube version of "Tu Scende Dalle Stelle" . . .
Just in time for Christmas Eve Mass at [...]
Dear Neighbors,
The United States Census Bureau is now recruiting for the following
positions:
Office Clerk
Administrative Assistant
Recruiting Assistant
[...]
The Eagles owe the City of Philadelphia $8 million, about the same amount the city says it will take to keep 11 libraries open. One city, one dream, one buncha deadbeats.
[Video by Scott Colan]
PHILLY.COM: Money Under Stadium Seats?
* File this one under Effed Up And Not In The Good Way: On the local news here in Tampa/St. Pete this week is a story about a local mom who nearly killed her five-month-old by watering down his powdered baby formula. The [...]
Note: I'm down in Florida this week at the Poynter Institute gettin' some journalism learnin', but tide yourself over with my latest City Paper column for now. And please keep former CP editor Brian Hickey in your prayers:
BY AMY Z. QUINN
I've always bristled at [...]
A message from the City Paper:
This Thanksgiving Friday...
Instead of joining the "Dawn of the Dead" patrol
at a soulless suburban corporate buildex, sleep in.
Then, join City Paper for
The Greatest Trunk Show on Earth!10 am to 3 pm
at the TLA
334 South Street
A day of [...]
Back in January, an episode of PBS' "Frontline" series called The Medicated Child focused on the increasing diagnosis of bipolar disorder in children, and a corresponding explosion in the use of serious antipsychotic drugs like Risperdal and Zyprexa to treat them.
Despite little medical [...]
BY AMY Z. QUINN
* Quote of the evening: Madonna, to muscle boy at foot of the stage: "Oh honey, you're gonna have to go to the gym more if you're gonna wear a shirt like that." Madonna's own physique is beyond reproach -- the python arms, [...]
Madonna at the Wachovia Center, 8 p.m., where Laura and I will relive our teenage spectacle. I'm kinda salty that I paid enough for a decent purse for this ticket and I don't see "Don't Tell Me" on the set list. Ah well. Tune in later for a Five [...]
Former 4th District Councilwoman Carol Ann Campbell, who represented the Manayunk-Roxborough area after Mike Nutter and before Curtis Jones, has died. Like the Yeti, she is ageless. To say she was a legend in her own mind is an understatement.
A statement from Jones' office:
For Immediate Release: Wednesday, November 19, [...]
Just got this heads-up on a free community Thanksgiving dinner for those in need. I'm sure there are others, and we know people are struggling this year so it's a good bet these events will be well-attended.
The Manayunk Brewery and Restaurant, located at 4120 Main Street,
Philadelphia, [...]
Day Without A Gay seeks to bring attention to social injustice against LGBT Americans and show support for gay families by urging people to skip a day of work in favor of community service on Dec. 10, International Human Rights Day.
Between the election and the NJ teachers convention, last week was a blur. I've been laying low for a few days, cleaning houses both literal and metaphorical, tying up loose ends and trying to get ready for the holidays.
It's been an uphill battle to ignore all the Sarah Palin noise [...]
Now say it isn't so.
A music publishing firm is being sued by hit-makers Hall & Oates for allegedly allowing other artists to rip off their 1982 chart-topper "Maneater" - and the hall-of-fame songwriters say they can't go for that.
Daryl Hall and John Oates are going [...]
This just came through ye olde inbox:
As cool as it was to get that email from Barack just before he went onstage, as geeked out as I got over the text message that flashed across my phone just after his speech ended, it's a lot more satisfying somehow [...]
Because my son deserves a better America.
We've taken Jack to the polls nearly every election of his life. Back in Jackson when he was a baby, the ladies at the polls would pass him back and forth while we voted in school board elections. [...]
BY AMY Z. QUINN
Before you vote here in Harrison Township tomorrow and make your choice on the liquor question, know one thing: Your taxes are never, not ever, going to go down because someone can suddenly order a Martini in Richwood.
The only time [...]
Wilco, performing "Wilco The Song" ("Like Joe The Plumber," Tweedy sez) on Thursday night's Colbert Report.
Because there's a super-creepy nightmare at the heart of every Disney fairy tale, enjoy this re-cut of the original Mary Poppins movie trailer. And may your little ghosts, goblins and Cholly Manuels not be too tired after the Phillies parade to go panhandling Trick-or-Treating!
(tip of the witch hat to [...]
An explainer, for all you Phawker interns who weren't born yet: Back in the '88, MTV had this guy Randee of the Redwoods (real name: Jim Turner) as their "official" candidate for president. I know what you're thinking, but remember, this was way before "The Hills." Hell, it was before "The Real [...]
By Amy Z. Quinn
For The Inquirer
In this season of election-related nonsense, know one thing: Bernard Brown is not campaigning to turn you into a vegan.
The founder of the PB&J Campaign isn't a vegan, and so doesn't care if you sprinkle cheese on [...]
Coming to you live from Wendy's couch on the Left Coast, Citizen Mom IMs the debate with Boss Phawker. Check it out!
[...]
Found this piece of mystery metal inside my briefcase/carryon, perhaps it explains the bag's leaden weight? But what is it? A piece of an airplane, or someone's car? The inside corner of it is broken off, but the shape doesn't tell me much -- [...]
Soothe your disappointment at missing some good bands playing Philly tonight, including Fleet Foxes and N.E.R.D. (likely where I'd be were it not for the JoePalin Show) -- by watching a few vids. Enjoy!
Fleet Foxes, "White Winter Hymn"
N.E.R.D. "Everyone Nose"
[...]They Might Be Giants, "James K. Polk"
Yes, there are several worth-seeing bands in town tonight but yes, you should probably stay at home and watch the Vice-Presidential debate anyway. And not just because Citizen Mom and Boss Phawker will be IM'ing and Twittering the proceedings, but that sure helps. [...]
In what could actually be a refreshing change from the cable pundit blabber that fills up the hours before Thursday night's vice presidential debate, a group of soothsayers from "the nation's oldest and most respected psychic service" will gather to give you the lowdown on [...]
For Immediate Release
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
SATURDAY: Springsteen to Join Rally for Obama in Philadelphia
Free concert for Pennsylvanians will be huge opportunity to register voters and sign up volunteers; preferred tickets must be picked up at campaign offices
PHILADELPHIA - Bruce Springsteen is coming to [...]
Photo by Amy Z. Quinn
BY AMY Z. QUINN/Phawker
I was pretty sure I’d made it through Saturday night’s Weezer show without feeling too old when on the way back to the car, niece Jenny turned to me and said “Who is Buddy [...]
From MyFoxPhilly.com:
GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin will arrive today in Philadelphia and make a very limited public appearance, before an extended stay in the Delaware Valley.
Free trees for city streets through the TreeVitalize Philadelphia program! Just think, plant one now when your baby's born and by the time you're ready to move to the suburbs it'll be tall and beautiful enough to add to the curb appeal, thereby [...]
Free trees for city streets through the TreeVitalize Philadelphia program! Just think, plant one now when your baby's born and by the time you're ready to move to the suburbs it'll be tall and beautiful enough to add to the curb appeal, thereby [...]
You might have noticed that the Obama campaign doesn’t spend much face
time in the ‘hood, at least not for cameras. The conspicuous absence
of the 