I wanted to let you know about a benefit I've organized for Project Home.

On Tuesday, October 17th from 6-8:30pm at World Cafe Live there will be a Dance Party featuring a staffer from YRock on WXPN playing the greatest alternative music that you will never hear on Clearchannelcbsbeaselygreatermedia radio in Philadelphia. There will be great drink specials and free appetizers at the event. There will also be a raffle with ticket giveaways and assorted swag.

If you don't know, Project HOME is an organization that provides outreach to homeless people in Philadelphia with a variety of services including transitional & permanent housing, education and community development.

I will be asking for a $10 donation at the door that will go directly to Project HOME. My goal is to raise $10,000 for this organization through donations and matching corporate grants.

If you've always wanted to meet me, this is your chance. If you have no idea who I am or have no desire to meet me this is still a chance to tilt a pint and listen to good music for a great cause.

A welcome relief to those of us in Philadelphia who enjoy real alternative music and despise the "clearchannelification" of radio airplay.

Here is the press release...

Philadelphia (July 11, 2006) – Alternative Rock fans in Philadelphia now have a place to find their music on air. WXPN General Manager Roger LaMay and Y100Rocks.com Program Director Jim McGuinn announced today the two organizations’ partnership to create YRock On XPN, bringing alternative music back to the airwaves as well as a 24/7 online web stream.

The YRock On XPN online service launches August 1 as part of a new Web initiative created by WXPN called XPoNential Music On Demand. Beginning at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, August 30, and continuing every Wednesday and Thursday at that time and Fridays at 7 p.m., the alternative rock show called YRock On XPN, hosted by McGuinn, will be heard on WXPN. The on-air show will be broadcast on 88.5 FM to listeners in the station’s Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware markets, as well as throughout the world via online streaming. The 24/7 on demand YRock On XPN stream will be accessible to Alternative Music fans worldwide at www.xponentialmusic.org, www.xpn.org, and www.yrockonxpn.org.

I liked an idea that was floated on the airwaves of WIP Sports Radio this week and repeated in a article by the Sports Guy today. What if, after the New Orleans Superdome is re-built, the NFL makes it the permanent home of the Super Bowl?

It would provide a massive influx of cash for a city who will need it for decades to come. And it will give the opportunity for millionaires to break curfew and get in trouble on Bourbon Street, which is one of the things I look forward to most when the Big Game is in the Crescent City.

Crossposted.

Now for something completely different...

Last night my wife (Mrs. Horns for those who frequent my blog) was laid up in bed with a bad back and asked for, "something salady" for our evening repast. With two older boys I had to come up with something, "un-crappy" so I came up with the following to tremendous acclaim:

Modified Chef Salad

One Cuke
One Green Pepper
One Red Sweet Pepper
One Small Vidalia Onion
One Container Grape Tomatoes
One pre-packaged low-fat Ham-Turkey Combo Pack
1/4 pound provolone cheese
One Bag Pre-Made Salad (Double carrots, to add another veggie)
One Head Romaine Hearts (Come in bags of three hearts)
Bottle of Paul Newman - Italian Dressing

(I think adding mushrooms, green beans or snap peas would be good, but my kids would consider it "crappy." Don't let that sway you.)

Combine the lettuce in one bowl. Slice all of the other fixins (except the tomatoes) and put combine in another bowl. Put a 1.5 tbsp into each bowl and toss vigorously.

Serve the fixins on a bed lettuce. Enjoy!

Anyone else have a good summertime recipe they could share?

(Besides 1-800-PAPAJOHN)

Crossposted.

Last night I had my first Rita's gelati of the season (layered: vanilla custard, cherry water ice & vanilla custard). There's a store less than a mile from my house and we usually go three or four times a week. When we're not doing the water ice we're stopping the ice cream truck in our neighborhood. My all-time favorite is the Choco-Taco. My kids usually get the Pokemon Bomb Pop that is guaranteed to hit the floor within six minutes of the transaction.

From a libation standpoint, I really enjoy the Shiner Bock. My wife turned me onto it when we were in Texas and they've just become available here. Not too heavy and not too light. A perfect summer beer.

So, as we enter summmer in the region, what do you and your family eat or drink to keep cool?

Not that this is a big surprise after his mouth got him into trouble in the lead-up to the Super Bowl.

What I liked was the quote from Andy Reid before the recent mini camp:

"I told him I did not want him here."

Well said, Coach Reid.

Good riddance Fred-Ex.

Next Stop, Saskatchewan.

I originally had this as a comment under Karl's post about the Philly sports weekend, but after barely any prodding I put it under my own entry.

The annual Penn State Blue/White spring intra-squad scrimmage was this weekend. And to show the way things have gone for the blue & white, Penn State wasn't able to get the victory. (The game was called because of lightning with 3 minutes to go in the third quarter.)

Before the game was called there was some action which I can report first-hand:

-Our two best recruits were involved on the first two plays of the game. Both Derrick Williams & Justin King caught passes from Michael Robinson for big plays. (I think those two calls came from AD Tim Curley because we have about three weeks until the season ticket application deadline.)

-King was recruited as a DB but he looked like one of the best athletes on the field. His closing speed is scary quick. No one caught a pass on him. He'll go both ways. (Not that way, sicky)

-Williams lined up at QB once and ran the draw play that PSU fans have come to hate. But he did hit the hole quicker. He'll play mainly WR (in the slot) and will have an immediate impact.

-Michael Robinson lost 10-15 lbs in the offseason and looks sleeker, though he still ran over some people. Accurate throws with zip too.

-I'm convinced Joe Morelli will never play meaningful games for PSU. His throws are two steps late, inaccurate or both, messing up the play timing. He gets happy feet when his first option is covered. And finally, I saw the replay on Sat night and after he called a time out, QB coach Jay Paterno was pointing to his wristband explaining the play that should've been run. Morelli looked befuddled. This is scary. I hope I'm wrong, but he's a bust.

-Nike CEO Phil Knight was at Beaver Stadium for the game. Someone said he was calling plays for the white, but I couldn't confirm. Joe Paterno called Knight a, "good friend" from the radio booth where he watched the game. I'm sure it doesn't have anything to do with the six figures JoePa gets.

-For the record, I think Joe should've left five years ago. To the coach, denial isn't just a river in Egypt.

-JoePa seconded Ronald Reagan at the 1984 GOP Convention.

-Rusted Root played on the HUB lawn Saturday night in temps around 40. They always rock.

-Little in the way of tailgating/partying as I had to get home after breakfast with me mum on Sunday morning to work around the house. I'm also getting old.

The Lions return almost all of their starters. If the OL can protect Robinson and we steal one against Ohio State or Michigan, we could challenge for the Big Ten title.

Let me know in the comments if this type of thing interests you at all. I'm a PSU alum & football season ticket holder and enjoy writing about the games, tailgating, football/media/bartender personalities, the GOP stronghold of Central PA, tailgating etc. The Philadelphia region has the largest concentration of Penn State alumni in the country, so I thought there might be some fellow "Nits" out there.

Feel free to comment if you have a healthy dislike for Penn State too. Just remember we have to live with the fact that Santorum is a PSU grad.

If there ever was a doubt, it was answered today when Terrell Owens was on the cover of the Philadelphia Daily News to accompany a "he said, he said" story Philadelphia writers and sportscasters are famous for.

The Sixers are fighting for a playoff spot, the Phillies are scoring a ton of runs and the Flyers are working on their handicaps.

Doesn't matter.

Philadelphia is and always will be an Eagles town.

Some good information here, including how to get on a conference call and lots of informative links.