I Read Phillyblog So You Don’t Have To: A Chicken In Every Pot And A Dunkin Donuts On Every Corner

Ahh, Phillyblog. As Mark B. Cohen might write, Phillyblog is “one of the most important media in Philadelphia today.” Oh, wait, he did write that.

Yes, indeedy, the last time I mentioned Phillyblog — and State Rep. Mark B. Cohen’s wish to have a “Phillyblog Day” — the faithful AOL For Dummies reader responded via comment, saying that Phillyblog members “are a major news source that professional journalists ignore at their peril.”

If there’s one thing I absolutely do not want, it is to be put in perilous situation simply by ignoring an Internet messageboard. But I care about you, dear reader, I really do. And I don’t want you — professional journalist or otherwise — to be put in said perilous situation. With that in mind, today Philadelphia Will Do launches “I Read Phillyblog So You Don’t Have To,” a weekly look at one of the most important mediums in Philadelphia today. If you see an excellent Phillyblog thread (excellent for whatever reason) and think it’d fit in IRPSYDHT (prounounced “eye-rock-paper-scissors-why-D-hat”), simply send an email to dmac@philadelphiawilldo.com.

• Reload this Page Check Cashing Store - Wed 9/20, 6:30pm zoning meeting - Do you oppose?: Last night, there was a zoning meeting at 6:30 regarding a new check cashing store at around Broad and South. Blah blah blah who wants a check cashing store in their neighborhood, etc., etc. Normal stuff. But what could go there instead of that type of business?

For example, Dunkin’ Donuts is looking to expand in Philly to get as many stores per city resident as in Boston.

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/15559705.htm

Should we raise our expectations for our side of Broad St. and the Avenue of the Arts? [...]

I’m not shilling for Dunkin’ Donuts (I like some of the coffee), I’m saying look at all the possibilities that are open to us now that weren’t before.

Because, really, nothing says “high expectations” like “more Dunkin Donuts please!”

• Are your posters being investigated?: We’ll just jump right into this one:

In this PM from Chris Brennen, he uses a first name which he seems to believe is mine, in a lame attempt to intimidate me by demanding :”..are you willing to comment for a story using your real name, instead of some semi-anonymous posting nickname?”. I informed Brennen about cyberstalking (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyberstalking) but he persists in trying to pressure me into giving my personal information.

Is anyone else being harassed by Chris Brennen? Is Chris Brennen leaning on me because I oppose Mike McGeehan?

I don’t see Chris Brennen demanding that the editorial writers in the Daily News disclose their name.

My point is: The blog is meant to be a venue for the open and free exchange of ideas without concern of investigation by those who have a different agenda. It appears Chris Brennen, a reporter for the Daily News, has no respect or understanding for the sanctity of free expression in which the blog offers.

To recap:

1. Phillyblog user posts thread on public messageboard bashing State Rep. Mike McGeehan.
2. Daily News reporter Chris Brennan, not wanting to be in a perilous state, sends a message to said user asking if he’d be willing to go on the record with his real name.
3. User claims he’s being cyberstalked because of a private message responding to his post on a public messageboard.
4. Hilarity ensues.

• New High School in SP modeled after Central: New Central-like magnet school in South Philly. Sounds great. After a bit of discussion, it gets on to CEP (Community Education Partners), a company that moves kids with behavioral problems to special schools. And then:

There are various locations though out the city and it stands for Community Educations Partners( the company who runs the school), or as my co-workers and I like to call it ” Correctional Education Program” LOL!!!!!

OMG how funny! IMO there can’t be anything funnier than that! (Please note: The first response to this post is, “That’s funny!”)

• Panhandlers, Beggars and Police on the Beat: Um…

Hate these people [the homeless] so much. I hope Winter kills them off. Is that mean?

I don’t like someone asking me for change or getting in my way when I walk down the street so I hope they die. Am I a total fucking asshole?

• Thread! Of! The! Week!

None of those strong contenders could get the coveted thread of the week prize. The first T!O!T!W! wins based on thread title alone:

What if the Ben Franklin Bridge was made of butter? What if there was a goblin living inside William Penn? What if Comcast was owned by Osama Bin Laden?

This week’s edition of I Read Phillyblog So You Don’t Have To was composed with the help of 14th Windiest State and Tinapopo.