Reason #58 To Love Philadelphia New Jersey: Gay Civil Unions

Yesterday was the first day gay people in New Jersey could file for civil unions, six months after Jon Corzine signed the law. The civil union law stemmed from a court decision that ruled the state could not deny the same rights to gay couples it gave to straight couples.

So the legislature passed a bill for civil unions because if they had used the word “marriage” people would have been angry, or something. And, after a 72-hour waiting period, New Jersey’s gay couples who registered are going to be, ah, unionized.

Hey, it’s something. And now gay couples can get spousal privileges and can also be just as depressed in a marriage — or a civil union, rather — as straight people. But only until the first gay civil divorce will this law be fully realized. Now that will be a great day in New Jersey history.

Across N.J., gays register for civil unions [Daily News]

Reason #57 To Love Philadelphia: Milton Street

As you probably know, yesterday Milton Street decided he was going to run for mayor. This seemed problematic, since Street was indicted late last year. Also, he lives in New Jersey.

But that didn’t stop him. (Of course not.) As the Daily News‘ Mark McDonald points out, he’s slated to stand trial for tax evasion and other charges on May 14. The primary is the next day.

And his confusing “Vote for Watermelon Man” line from yesterday was actually an attack on Michael Nutter. (Watermelon Man is a 1970s movie where a bigoted white man suddenly becomes black. Its tagline is “The Uppity Movie.”)

Street also said he doesn’t live in Moorestown, N.J., he just stays there sometimes with a lady friend. Asked where he sleeps, he said: “Wherever I am when I get tired. I lay down and sleep.” So that’s why I saw him on a park bench the other day!

Oh, yeah, and the first place Milton went after he announced his candidacy was the McDonald’s at 10th and Market.

I don’t know if this Milton Street candidacy is a joke, if it’s real or if there’s any shot he can even get on the ballot. But who cares? Milton Street just made the mayor’s race 10 times as fun.

Milt (yep, that Milt) eyes mayoral tilt [Daily News]
Milton’s first stop [The Next Mayor]

Reason #56 To Love Philadelphia: Jon Lieber’s Truck

Last year, Aaron Rowand showed up at Spring Training with a jacked up Ford F-250. Jon Lieber couldn’t let that stand. So he bought a house and converted it into a truck.

Well, okay, he special ordered it from Ford. And yesterday, Jon Lieber showed up at Spring Training (hooray!) in a giant Ford F-650. It cost him $211,000, which is cheaper than the same truck models owned by Shaquille O’Neal, the King of Jordan and Sheik Mohammed of Dubai. So he got a great deal!

(I know, I suppose we should hate that truck, since I’m sure it’s responsible for roughly 5 percent of recent global warming, but let’s pretend it runs on rainbows instead of diesel.)

Some fun facts: Passengers must go up two steps to enter the vehicle. It costs $500 to fill up (four 50-gallon tanks) and gets 12 miles to the gallon. The satellite service on the truck costs $4.99 a month. Ford apparently sold 60 of these things to people.

And, yes, it’s owned by a pitcher who went 9-11 with a 4.93 ERA last year yet makes more money than you or I will ever see. Wait, why is this a reason to love the city again?

Lieber’s camp arrival wheely amazing [Daily News]
[Photo via DN, by Jim Stem]

Reason #55 To Love Philadelphia: Sixers Jerseys

There’s not really all that much to love about the 76ers this year. They traded away their best player, slumped to the worst record in the league out of the gate and now are mired in this mediocrity where they’re not the worst team in the league (and so are less likely to get the first pick) but still manage to have frustrating losses more nights than not.

But here’s something they did well: New Sixers road jerseys debut tonight! (Aww, and they’re red for Valentine’s Day.) I’ve never been a big fan of the 76ers current logo and jersey — too much black and gold and mid-1990s — but these new ones are a step in the right direction. They’re, ah, just simply better looking.

Here’s a history of 76ers jerseys. The ones from 1991-94 are, by far, the worst jerseys in professional sports history. They should totally bring those ones back; it’d fit this season pretty well.

History of the Uniform [Sixers.com]
Return of the Red [Sixers.com]
Related: A Prefect 9 [PW]

Reason #54 To Love Philadelphia: Freddie Mitchell

Yes, Freddie Mitchell hasn’t lived in Philadelphia for a while now. (He’s been out of football since the Eagles’ 2004 Super Bowl season.) But Philadelphia made Freddie Mitchell.

And all his antics since — not joining the Philadelphia Soul, being a substitute teacher, etc. — are in part because he made his mark first in Philadelphia.

And what is he up to now? Why, he might go play in the Canadian Football League! (And he might play with Mike McMahon, who was on the Eagles in the awful 2005 season.) This, truly, is a fitting end to Freddie’s football career.

Well, okay, when he gets cut from the CFL, that will be a fitting end to his football career.

FredEx to play in CFL? [Daily News]

Reason #53 To Love Philadelphia: These Headlines

Seriously. What other city could you get a mix of headlines like this:

What other city’s main media outlet gives you all these stories — a very nice set of them, I must say — and only lets you comment on divorce in New Jersey. And doesn’t let you comment on oh my God we’re going to war with Iran soon what the fuck?

Ahh, Philadelphia.

Philly.com

Reason #52 To Love Philadelphia: Montco Commissioners

Short one today. Let’s just give props where props are due to the Montgomery County commissioners, who yesterday announced the HPV vaccine would be given free to those without insurance.

The HPV vaccine prevents the strains of the disease that can cause cervical cancer, but some religious groups are against it because they think it will encourage kids to have sex. Yes, the only reason our 11- and 12-year-olds aren’t screwing in the streets is because they’re afraid of contracting a disease they’ve probably never heard of.

So good for them, etc., etc. You know the drill here.

Montco Officials Urge Use of HPV Vaccine for Pre-Teen Girls [KYW 1060]

Reason #51 To Love Philadelphia: ‘Northeast Times’ Letters Page

It’s been a while since I checked in with the Northeast Times letters page. If you’re unfamiliar with it, there are archives. But it can really just be summed up like this: The Northeast Times letters pages are like Craigslist’s rants and raves, only with less stringent guidelines and better editing.

And, as such, people sometimes use the letters page to thank a good Samaritan, to complain about Section 8 housing, to complain about the state of Mayfair, to complain about Section 8 housing again and, of course, to chastise their neighbors without having to complain to their faces.

Dude, do your duty as a dog owner

This is to the young man that walks his dog (part bulldog, with a dark body white face, you know who you are) down Hellerman Street every day, sometimes in the morning, sometimes in the evening. You allow your dog to defecate on our lawn and our neighbor’s lawns and then walk away without cleaning it up.

Young man, it is the LAW in this city that you must clean up after your dog. You have to pick up, take it with you and put it in a trash can. I am tired of cleaning up after YOUR dog, my sister is tired of cleaning up after YOUR dog, and my mother is tired of cleaning up after YOUR dog. We own a dog and we NEVER go out for a walk without bags in hand. We always clean up after our dog, and I expect you to do the same. So I am asking you politely, please, be a responsible dog owner and clean up after your dog.

I’m asking you politely with a patronizing “young man” and a pointless appeal to authority that wouldn’t convince anyone over the age of 10.

See? Awesome.

Dude, do your duty as a dog owner [Northeast Times]

Reason #50 To Love Philadelphia: The Big 5

Last night was the Holy War, the annual basketball contest between St. Joe’s and Villanova that uses the slaughter of innocents in the name of God as a nickname. But, anyway, it’s usually a game with a decent amount of buildup; the fans are always into it; the two teams sometimes even play a good game.

Last night, though, I watched the entire thing even though it was a terrible game. ‘Nova won, 56-39. But that only scratches it: the two teams combined to shoot 6-for-36 from three-point range, meaning around 30 trips down the court included a long shot that clanked or airballed. (Threes are almost a mid-range jumper in college.)

But, still, the game was exciting and fun to watch. So huzzah for college basketball in Philly, which makes 16 percent three-point shooting somewhat watchable.

Cats romp as Hawks go ice-cold [Inquirer]

Reason #49 To Love Philadelphia: Criminals

Okay, not all criminals. But, really, I just needed an excuse to show you this video from NBC 10 last night:

Ha ha! Right in the head! The robber probably will have horrible brain damage! (Moe: “Next place he robs better have a ramp.”) Ha ha!

Really, watch it about five times and you won’t be able to stop giggling. Okay, that’s all.