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.

New South Philly and Old South Philly

Last Friday, the Obama campaign organized a debate watching party at the South Philly Bar & Grill, halfway between Pat's Steaks and Geno's Steaks. The Phillies were trying to clinch their playoff spot, and a bar full of earnest liberals taking the big screens away from the Phils wasn't universally loved. The fact that they took the screens away to support Barack Obama wasn't appreciated by everyone, either.

Here is the debate, just as it was that night at the cheesesteak nexus of the universe.