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]

The Further Adventures Of The Liberty Bell

After last week’s excitement over the new stamp with a picture of the Liberty Bell on it, one might expect that ol’ bell to be a bit disappointed for the next few months. I mean, after being put on a new stamp that’s valid for sending first-class letters until the Earth is destroyed by a rapidly expanding sun, what more is there?

Aww, yeah. Meet
the new U.S. passport. The new passport, apparently designed by a blind 14-year-old in 1991, features new security features as well as pictures of the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, the Declaration of Independence — the what? — Mount Rushmore and eagles still crying over Dale Earnhart or something.

But, yes, it also features our dear Liberty Bell, meaning customs agents all over the world will be able to ask our citizens: “Wait. Your national symbol is a cracked bell? That makes sense, I guess.”

Design of the New U.S. e-Passport [State Department]
Archives: Forever Stamp

Liberty Bell To Receive Nation’s Greatest Honor

Yes, my friends, the rumors are true: The Liberty Bell will finally make an appearance on a stamp. Or possibly will again make an appearance on a stamp. Or possibly will make its umpteenth appearance on a stamp.

But, anyway, yes, the Liberty Bell will join such luminaries as Skinny Elvis, John Muir and possibly Beetle Bailey on a new stamp. It was unveiled today at the National Postal Forum, a gathering of companies in the mailing industry. I mention this because, well, no matter how much you hate your job today, at least you weren’t at the National Postal Forum for the unveiling of a new Liberty Bell stamp.

The stamp will not carry a price, even though it will cost 41 cents when it goes on sale April 12. It will simply say “FOREVER,” and will work to mail a U.S. letter, uh, forever. No more two-cent stamps! I’m going to stockpile these stamps and sell ‘em in 2050 and be rich, I tells ya. Rich!

Philly Site Chosen For Scene Of ‘Forever’ Stamp [AP/NBC 10]

Give Your Bell A Good Wax Twice A Year

This is a full press release that arrived via fax — they still make those things? — to the PW offices:

May 17, 2006

For Immediate Release
For more information contact:
Jane Cowley, 215-597-xxxx

Semi-Annual Protective Waxing of Liberty Bell
On Tuesday, May 23, 2006, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm, Independence National Historical Park preservation technicians and curators will preform the semi-annual protective waxing of the Liberty Bell. The Liberty Bell, cast in 1752 for the original tower of Independence Hall, consists primarily of copper and tin. The Bell’s pitted surface traps airborne pollutants which can further erode the soft metal. The application of a neutral wax to the Bell’s surface protects it from dirt. The event is not open to the public. However, media interested in photographing the process are invited to contact the public affairs office at 215-597-xxxx.

How sad. The public — which has to be clamoring to get into this event — is shut out once again. What do Independence National Historical Park preservation technicians and curators have to hide?

Update: Fixed headline. Duh, semiannual means twice a year. I think.

Surely, They’ll Build Real Hotels On The Liberty Bell One Day, Anyway

Yesterday, I wrote about the awful, awful plan for a new Monopoly board game. You, however, can vote on what landmarks will be on the new “Here & Now Edition” board. I’m not quite sure how you can put houses and hotels on, say, the Empire State Building, but I suppose you could say the same thing about Park Place.

Philadelphia is included among the cities that will have landmarks on the new Monopoly edition, and here are the three that you can vote on:

Independence Hall, the Libery Bell and… the Parkway? That’s it? That’s our third biggest landmark? Wait, what? Why not the Art Museum? Uh, City Hall? The late, great Shibe Park?

Naturally, I voted for the Parkway, though. Gotta root for the underdog.

Monopoly Here & Now [Hasbro]
Leftovers: Leftovers: ‘Free Parking’ To Be Replaced By ‘Parking, $10/Hour’

Leftovers: Demolition derby

• If you ever steal a car, try not to hit the car of a former Philly police commissioner while speeding away from police. [6 ABC]

• From Dan Gross, a real celebrity sighting: “NBC-10’s Tim Lake and Harry Hairston also watched college ball over dinner at Great American Pub (101 N. Narberth) in Narberth a couple nights back.” Actually, I’m just joking about this to avoid thinking about Linda Lovelace pleasuring Harry Jay Katz, also mentioned in Gross’ chock-full column today. [DN]

• Pour a 40 on the curb outside Independence Hall over the death of the old, ugly Liberty Bell pavilion. Actually, don’t. The park rangers there will probably shoot on sight if they see you stopping for more than a second in front of the home of Independence. [Inky]

• The annoyed, young member of the burgeoning slackerati class wants to scoff at this, but the English major in me is amused and impressed: Geoffrey Chaucer has hath a blog. [Geoffrey Chaucer Hath a Blog]

• The Department of Justice v. Google has presented us with a very fine treat, a court order with “teabagging” and “pearlnecklace” in it. Even if it leads to glogging, I love the Internet. [Boing Boing]

• Aaron Spelling and his wife have cut off contact with their talking horse. [New York Post]

Needless to say, CBS 3 has an exclusive report

Shots were fired around the Liberty Bell this morning, clearly by someone who hates liberty. (It was between two cars.) It happened around 2 a.m. Market St. was closed between fourth and sixth until about 8:40 a.m. while police conducted an investigation.

The best recap of the event, by far, is CBS 3’s news story, which contains an eyewitness account from CBS 3 writer Dan Troilo, as interviewed by reporter Stephanie Abrams:

CBS 3 writer Dan Troilo was walking to work at the time: “I’ve never heard gunfire before so it was kind of surprising.”

“I heard some shots. I paused for a minute the shots also paused. I looked around and started walking again and shots fired up again so I took cover behind a brick wall near the Independence Visitor’s Center,” he said.

Hey man, if you hear shots again: Best to take cover the first time you hear them.

Shots Fired Near Liberty Bell [CBS 3]
Photo via 6 ABC