Fightin’ Back

The Phillies are like a girl you keep going back to even though she keeps cheating on you.

Last night, the Phillies moved into a tie for first in the National League East. The Mets have lost four straight; a sweep of the Washington Nationals will likely get the Phillies into the playoffs. Yeah, it’s not over, and the Phillies could still blow it, but last night was about as excited baseball has gotten in this city since 1993.

in 1993, I was in sixth grade. When the Phillies made it to the playoffs, I didn’t get any text messages that said “w00t phillies!!” as I did last night. The Phils could drop all three, and we could be heartbroken again. A friend’s dad came up with a scenario only a native could anticipate: Mets sweep, Phils win Friday and Saturday and then lose Sunday, as do the Eagles. Season over. Football team is 1-3.

Or maybe this time, it’ll work out with her. Either way, it’s been fun so far; it’d be more fun to keep it going.

Phillies Driving Mets Fans To Brink Of Sanity

A comment on Metsblog:

This really is my first post here. Im 31 and right along with the most of you guys Im a ‘take it way to seriously die-hard’….Since this month has started I have broken up with my GF over this nonsense, and my stomach wont stop churning. Basically the last 2 weeks have been the worst of my life. I realize that Matt probably wont read this, but to whomever does I just wanna say that this site has been cathartic to me and helped me deal with the craziest, wackiest month of my life. It sounds like an AA Meeting, but knowing there are others like me helps. Just like the rest of you I keep going to bed just wanting this to be over, one way or another. Not caring if they lose or win at this point…

And it goes on like that. It’ll be okay, though; the nine strangers you root for not playing so well isn’t the end of the world. Unless the Phillies end up blowing it, in which case it will be.

Let them know [Metsblog]

Liberty Bell To Be Replaced With Copy Of ‘War’

Man, I thought this media blitz was a bit over-the-top, but I didn’t know we were giving him the Liberty Bell.

This is via Johnny Goodtimes, who is now hosting quizzo online, which is sort of so futuristic that he’s not doing it on a Segway is kind of disappointing. Online quizzo hosted by Robot Goodtimes has to be next.

Holy Crap [JGT]

Mayor Street: The Fifth Beatle?

With apologies to, um, everyone.

A recent morning walk by John Street:

We start off at 6:30 in the morning down 13th Street to Spring Garden. Through Community College. Across the Parkway. Along Schuylkill River Park. Past Rittenhouse Square. Up 12th Street back into North Philly.

Seven miles. His short course, he says.

Gotta say, that’s somewhat of an impressive walk.

Annette John-Hall | A long walk shows strides Street has made [Inquirer]
[Street photo by Ron Tarver/Inquirer]

People Continue To Like Animals More Than People

“In many ways, rats and mice get greater protection as research subjects in the United States than do humans,” said Arthur L. Caplan, chairman of the department of medical ethics at the University of Pennsylvania.

And those are animals people don’t like. When it’s an animal people like, such as horses or dogs, people really get into it. Mike Vick and the dogfighting ring? If you held the same thing, but with humans — say, “humanfighting” — people would cheer it on as people battled in rings and cages.

Still, I think horsefighting would be pretty popular.

Report Assails F.D.A. Oversight of Clinical Trials [NYT]

Union Resorting To Underhanded Tactics

The protesters you may have seen marching down 15th Street yesterday dressed entirely in purple — the color of the Minnesota Vikings! — were from the Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ. Ha ha, BJ.

The protest yesterday was for, uhm, fair wages. Seems like a good thing to protest for. The union’s contract with building owners and cleaning companies expires Oct. 16 and a strike will be authorized “if necessary.”

Still, I’m a little disgusted at SEIU’s underhanded, immoral tactics. Some of the union workers yesterday (like the ones in the photo) had Thunderstix, the ridiculously annoying noisemakers sometimes given out at baseball games and other various sporting events.

Those things should be illegal. They’re pretty much the most irritating things on the planet, and if the union wants to keep using them, then the public needs to turn on them. Drop the Thunderstix, get fair wages. Deal?

Phila. office cleaners authorize strike ‘if necessary’ [Philadelphia Business Journal]

Let’s See How They’re Taking It Up In New York

Ugh. Ads on the back page? I’d rather have a giant bee on top of the Inquirer building.

Abridged ‘Daily News’ Columnists

Elmer Smith: Woo-hoo! A whole column about Bono and no puns on U2 songs.

Jill Porter: Yeah, if you call your elected officials or something, things will change?

Whoomp, There It Is!

And who’s the savior? That’s right: A-list lefty blogger Duncan “Atrios” Black!

He’s got the Philly (and Democratic) pessimism down. Hey, this is the only time Atrios and Michael Smerconish will agree on something, probably. The Phillies: Building bridges!

Update: Hahahaha Mitch Williams says the Phillies have “been blithering idiots all year” after Shane Victorino hit him with a pie. Mitch ducked a full on blow, but Michael Barkann got one right in the face from Brett Myers. Then Wild Thing called tomorrow night’s starter for the Nationals “the same guy with the bad beard again.”

MLB Standings [ESPN.com
Off to go be disappointed by the Phillies. [Atrios]

Obligatory Post About Unseasonable Weather

I love this view of the Comcast Center from Dilworth Plaza.

It’s September 27. It’s 85 degrees outside. Go out and eat some ice cream or something. I love fall, but let’s enjoy summer for a bit longer.