Philly.com’s Pup-Tastic Front

Philly.com front, right now:

Awww. Look at the little Cavalier! Isn’t he cute! Isn’t her a cute wittle itty bitty puppy…

Erhm. I mean. Hey, here’s the current Philly.com front, shamelessly featuring one of my favorite dog breeds in an attempt to get a link. Nice try, guys, but it’s not going to w–oh, yeah, I guess it did. Aww, cute wittle doggy.

Apple Store In Center City: Not Yet?

And now for some news even bigger than the inauguration!

You can breathe easier, Bundy and Springboard Media! A source close to the negotiations says that the Apple Store, reported late last week to be coming to the old Brasserie Perrier spot on Walnut Street, will not be moving into the spot. Wah-wah.

I’ve been told Apple is still looking; they want to move into Center City but are looking for the perfect space. The Broadcast Building at 1619 Walnut Street isn’t it, apparently. All you Philadelphia Mac Zealots can keep your fingers crossed — you can do that with just the one mouse button — and hope that eventually you’ll be able to more efficiently deliver your money to Apple, but it looks like it’s not happening just yet.

Mac Nerds Making Halo Fans Look Pretty Good

In case you don’t have ears, Friday is the launch of the iPhone, the most hyped product since movable printed type. The iPhone is the successor to the iPod (I guess), and is just like an iPod except you can get on the web, check your email and watch porn. Oh, and you can make calls.

Despite the pitfalls of buying a first generation device — the demo on Apple’s website does pretty much make you want one — many fans are clamoring so much for the new device they’re already waiting in line to make sure they can secure the newest creation of Apple CEO Steve Jobs. (He made it all by himself!)

Five people were in line by Tuesday afternoon outside Apple’s Fifth Avenue store in New York City, three of them having been in line since Monday. “Words can’t express why I want an iPhone,” said Jessica Rodriguez, 24, a college student. “The main reason is Steve Jobs is a genius. He’s a great innovator. It’s going to be the next big thing in cell phones.”

“Hey, why are you putting in that light bulb? Do you enjoy working at night?”

“Hell no. I just think Thomas Edison is a genius!”

IPhone Monthly Plans Start at $59.99 [AP/Philly.com]

Leftovers: Two-Bit Bong Merchants, Unite!

• Thanks to Brad Maule for wading through Phillyblog so I don’t have to and finding this gem about a new smoke shop on South Street. To recap: Smoke shop owner introduces himself, anti-drug advocates go nuts, smoke shop owner goes nuts, somebody posts an article saying this guy and NJ Weedman lit up in front of Liberty Bell, smoke shop owner says, “I must ask the people opposed to my store in any sense, are you against the War in Iraq?” Gold, Brad, Gold. And I’m only on Page 7 of 21! [Phillyblog via Philly Skyline]

• Gee, thanks, Apple and Sony. However, major kudos to KYW 1060 for the graphic (pictured). [KYW 1060]

• A City Paper correction today says that an article on Aug. 3 “contained several inaccuracies. Morjorie Newlin was 71 when she started lifting weights; the trainer who entered her in her first bodybuilding competition was Robert Rivers, the founder of Rivers Gym; Newlin trains four days a week at Bally and did not appear in commercials in Barbados, but rather a television talk show. City Paper regrets the errors.” [CP]

• When he’s not wondering what to tell his son why cartoon characters kiss, J.D. Mullane of the Bucks County Courier Times fights back at a journal that gave him a scathing mention in an editorial. His retort: “Do you know what would happen to this country if we gave up eating beef ? We’d be overrun by cows. They’d be blocking the streets.” Uh, indeed. [BCCT]

• When guns are illegal, only criminals will have guns. Or they’ll kill people by dismembering them. Something like that. [Inquirer]