Why We Drive

There are millions of Americans with a less than intimate relationship to the automobile in their daily lives. They work, they eat, they have fun - all without driving every day. In this podcast (click Here), I simply digress on a kind of life that the majority of my fellow countrymen can barely imagine.

We spend too much time in and money on our cars. And it's good to live with them at arm's length.

A Good Day

This election day in Philadelphia was the most important and most joyous I have ever seen. The city streets buzzed with exitement, and everyone greeted everyone else and gave short nods of assent to complete strangers. After eight years of shame, we could walk proudly as citizens again. Click here to hear what happened that day, and to hear the sound of a city firing on all cylinders.
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Our Mob

The 2008 Phillies, and anyone who wasn't old enough or just wasn't here, have had their moment in the sun, their parade. On that gorgeous fall day, they were worshipped on the street with hunger that had been building for 28 years.

Philadelphians live in public space, and are old hands at street celebration. In this podcast recorded yesterday (click here), my thoughts turn toward all of us in the public space with which many Americans have little contact, and our collective mind.

The Philadelphia Phillies are the World Champions

There is much to say about this. Library shelves of things to say about this. I have lived in Philadelphia since 1982, and this is the first time The Fightin' Phils have climbed all the way to the top.

I will undoubtedly post something about what this means, but now isn't the time for palaver. The Philadelphia Phillies are the World Champions of Baseball. Click here to hear what it sounded like as the Phils brought it home to Dirty Franks at 13th and Pine last night.

The View From The Crosswalk

This has been kicking around with me for a while. One of the best things about living in Philadelphia is that it's pretty darn pedestrian friendly. Or at least the layout is. The Philadelphia drivers, as always, are another story (click here). I know it's difficult to pilot tons of speeding deathmetal safely, but some people don't even seem to be trying.

Yes, there are bad pedestrians. But just trying to safely navigate the sidewalks and crosswalks of Philadelphia is getting tougher. And, even if the film Repo Man is right and the more you drive the less intelligent you get, sometimes you've got to repeat the basics. Sarcastically, if need be.

A driver told me on my bike the other night that bicycles belonged on the sidewalks, which we all know is illegal. That exchange didn't go well, but that's a story for another time....

The Non-Sporting Life

You're a little suspect as a man if you aren't passionate about sports. Me? I like myself some baseball, but I can take or leave other sports, mosly the latter. I'm comfortable with it, but (click here) I have some thoughts about not really giving a damn in a sports-obsessed culture.

"Woo-eee! Our city's sports mercenaries have bested your city's sports mercenaries!"

I should care about this?

The Quizzo Underground, Part I

In Philadelphia, a strange subculture exists around a bar pub quiz game called Quizzo. This is my first podcast post (click here) on having a front row seat to those who play for fun, and those who are driven to play. What is an entertaining evening of brain teasers becomes a compulsion for some, and not winning is not an option....