Has anyone here seen these "She's coming home, Philly" advertisements that are floating around the Internet and Chicago? I have no idea who's coming, but it is definitely interesting. Something is coming up and it looks big. It's viral marketing at its finest. Here's what Philebrity.com had to say about it:

"This Moment In Viral Marketing: “She” Is Coming Back To Philly, Whoever The Hell “She” Is

If you’ve been on The Book of Faces or The Google or elsewhere on the web lately — and obviously, you have — you may have seen links for shescominghome.com, with the tagline, “Hey Philadelphia! She’s back… Can you guess who it is?” Go to the site, and it’s a woman’s silhouette against the Philly skyline with a countdown clock to the reveal of who “She” is. (As of this writing, 2 days, 19 hours.) Well, we’ve done a little snooping around, and we’ve got two theories on who “She” might be:

First, the real one: The shescominghome.com domain is registered to concert promoters AEG, so we can safely assume whoever “She” is, she is a musical performer of some kind. We called the AEG Philly office — full disclosure, they’re an advertiser on Philebs — and found that either they really did not know who “She” was, or were feigning ignorance. Fair enough. Without the “viral,” it’s just “marketing” and what fun is that? But upon further Internet snooping, we have developed a hunch, and we think that the “She” in question, could be, maybe, Celine Dion. The weird miniature Jennifer Aniston silhouette would seem to back that up, as would this link, which purports that Dion is “back” in 2010 with a series of concerts booked by - natch - AEG. So, yeah, Celine Dion. Who cares.

Second, the better one: That the “She” in question is the long-standing mysterious subject of every “That’s What She Said” joke, ever. Which would be AMAZING. For years, we have been amazed by both the candor with which the infamous “She” reportedly jokes about her sexual exploits, as well as the fact that, after all that nasty stuff, “She” is even actually still in possession of a working vagina. The identity of “She” has been a mystery through the ages, and the idea that she would be coming “back” to Philly opens up a, pardon the expression, Pandora’s box of other questions. It makes the mind wobble. And then reach for penicillin.

And, if perchance “She” would turn out to be Celine Dion and the woman Who Said That, well, that would work out pretty awesome, too."

Well, what do you guys think? Who do you think this mysterious girl coming home to Philly is???

Young Philly Politics: Why was turnout so low?:

..one reason turnout was low that we all have some control over: Our voting system sucks.

. Read the whole piece for some ideas to move things forward.

Inquirer: True melting pot helped save libraries:

Stirred by Mayor Nutter's proposal to close 11 branch libraries, the opponents came tumbling off the shelves of Philadelphia society - rich, poor, black, white, homeschoolers from the Northeast, young anarchists from West Philly.

With President-elect Barack Obama's campaign as both inspiration and field guide, they organized, demonstrated and sued, then packed the courtroom for hearings and showered the mayor with boos at his own news conference.

Then, astoundingly, they won. At least for now.

A judge's ruling Tuesday forced Nutter to get City Council approval or a court order to implement his plan to save $36 million by 2013 through closing the branches. Nutter called the ruling an assault on the City Charter's strong-mayor form of government and said he would appeal.

Others called it a crucial victory for communities, even a model for civic participation in public policy.

Tom Ferrick at It's Our City wonders if the outrage Mayor Nutter has earned over this issue is worth it and offers an alternative:

Here’s an alternative: Back off on the library issue, Develop a comprehensive plan for meet the economic crisis that involves sacrifice by everyone –taxpayers, vendors, city employees, the mayor and his top staff — and use the upcoming budget address (for fiscal 2010) to begin the process of selling it to the public.

If people feel that everyone is feeling some pain, they won’t resent as much swallowing their piece of it. If people think the administration has really, actually listened to them and their concerns – and taken them into account – then maybe they will go along with the plan.

In other words, admit you made a mistake and go back to the drawing board.

I understand anger. I understand protests. Don’t always agree with the causes, but I respect the First Amendment right that allows Americans to gather peacefully and protest whatever they see fit - be it puppies or people. What I don’t understand is the video of yesterday’s footage of the pro-Palestinian protestors.

Read more at www.phillygrrl.com

Brendan Calling: Saturday Brimstone

Philadelphia Weekly: City on Skwire: A Southwest Philly Blogger lights a fire under Nutter's ass.

Bookmark Brendan Calling

My life has been like a general, can not be good, the bad of it, so much in love once, after the end of the no longer, nor is no one to pursue, he also came close to being moved, I still can not forget The playground-body center of the candle, Rose pile, but I can not forget how the whole front of the company's side of the injured boy's heart, to make his next morning's news has become. The boy also will be the night to escape the city. I think the feeling is very important, I can not fool ourselves into feeling. Do not want any injuries, do not want to hurt anyone. Now do not hold any hope that everything you Suiyuan. In the eyes of others, that I should be more independent, more strong, but also a bit ambitious woman, but in fact, I feel this is not the case, it seems that I will not be able to Dudangyimian, but the crying woman, A tragic drama, I always like a peach-like eyes became swollen. Happy and unhappy will be written on his face. Luluwuwei really do not want to go on this way, both sides have ideas, or the ups and downs of Health or the calm, do not know the idea is good or bad, or so calm now, after what would happen?
My life is how will it end? The end is not the best of both worlds, is not it?
There are many views have not changed, until his mother was sick, have a new idea, only living person to know the most important thing is what do they know that what I can not be lost. His mother was sick all of a sudden, I was not psychologically prepared for any family there are a few family members are doctors, called the aunt, the aunt said: because the county has not advanced equipment, can not be a comprehensive inspection, suspected to be problematic The disease, but for the time being not to tell anyone, but as the eldest daughter should have a psychological preparation. This time I realized that I was no longer a child, I have to go to the face, but also courage to bear this responsibility.
We had a good sleep, but the strange thing is I did not cry, is full of how I want to do, or the mother will not let me go back, go back and say that a return would have to spend a lot of money, but I know she wanted me to go back The daughter should be at this point in time to accompany his mother, daughter, after all, close to a lot, I go back, and I help her with her hair every day, hair, the mother has a lot of long hair, I help her with her hair, she Said to me: I would like such a good hair should not fall ill, but I knew I had an incurable disease may be a. I deny the busy side, but not confirmed, no one can do under the brutal conclusion that for us there is hope, we pray: so kind-hearted mother, God would not be so hard-hearted, and her three Children do not get married, she can not do without it. The father said: If this is so unfortunate, I really do not know the future of life how to live longer. Feelings of the parents has been very good, in the face of his mother's sudden illness, the father suddenly has a lot of the old. I really can not wait, so to accompany his mother went to Guilin

It started at the Ivy League level. So my high school friend at Harvard asked me to be his friend. Naturally I said yes. (How can a Harvard friend lead you wrong?) And before I knew it, I had 300+ Temple classmates who were ‘facebook friends,’ and hundreds more from high school. No problem. We all shared (relatively) the same taste for poking, posting updates and posing for scandalous pictures. Facebook was privy to fond college memories, triumphs and extreme failures. It helped me get my homework done. Learn about jobs. Interview men. It made my world inexorably smaller and easier to navigate. That was college.

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Hey business majors! Listen up! Have I got a pitch for you…

Okay, here’s the deal. I like Indian/Pakistani food. To eat this food on a daily basis requires buying from an Indian/Pakistani grocer. I’m imagining aisles upon aisles of basmati rice, fresh produce, pickled mango. Where is such a grocery located? Not here in Philly.

That’s a lie.

We do have a couple of “Indo-Pak” stores, as they were once called. (Until the late 90’s when all of a sudden Philly had enough of each population that there was no need to draw customers from the other side.)

International Foods and Spices, 4203 Walnut St, 215-222-4480
I grew up going to this store. Owned by a family of Sikhs, it is truly one of the great Indian stores of our time. After his father retired, the son (who got his degree in business from nearby Drexel), took over the place, tearing down walls and transforming it into a large, airy mecca for Indian cooks in University City. Unfortunately, with that business acumen came a sharp increase in prices. So all of us Northeastish kids can’t really afford this place anymore.

Subzi Mandi, 3300 State Rd,Bensalem, PA 19020, (215) 244-7824
Subzi Mandi is well known to anyone who shops in the Indianized towns of Edison, NJ or Jackson Heights, NY. Subzi Mandi is the Walmart of all Indian stores. This store is massive and usually has 3-4 shops inside as well, generally a jewelry store (24 carat gold!), a music store and of course the sweets shop. After Subzi Mandi recently relocated their store to a giant warehouse, however, prices have gone up (most likely reflecting their new lease payment). Also, the store is about half an hour outside of PA, inconvenient for those who need their rasgullahs right now, right here.

Patel’s Grocery Store 2825 Tyson Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19149, (215) 335-4974
The Northeast often has a slew of ethnic stores that open, then close on a regular basis. Patel’s Grocery has managed to stay open for the past few years. They have killer produce and killer prices. The store is (like most Indo-Pak stores) divided into a video store/grocery store. The only problem with Patel’s is their small selection of items. They have yet to order my favorite pickled mango brand.

So. Can someone please do me a favor? Gather a couple of investors. Pool some community money. Open up a nice, sprawling Indian store. And keep it neat. I hate me a dirty grocery store. ‘K, thanks.

What exactly is the city of Philadephia doing when they talk about cutting the budget and closing libraries yet they host holiday shenanigans like the one I saw at Dilworth Plaza tonight?

Time: 7PM

Place: Dilworth Plaza

Temperature: 25 Degrees F and freezing!

Audience: Myself (on the way to the Broad Street subway) and like 10 homeless people

Setting: City Hall is apparently host to a so-called ‘Christmas Village’ which features stands, bands, etc. At this particular time, a group of (terrible) karaoke singers were belting out a tone-deaf version of Chaka Khan’s “I’m Every Woman.” I swear, even the homeless were wincing. And it takes a lot to make a homeless man cry. Now let me ask you, what does this have to do with Christmas/Hanukah/Eid/X-Mas? Nothing. How does this celebrate the holiday season at all? It’s just another case of gross misappropriation of funds. Apparently these festivities go on till 8PM (sometimes 9) every night till the 24th. The city even has a website that explains it all. I’m not a Scrooge. Let a historic, beautiful city like Philly have its wreaths and lights. But sound equipment, security, etc being used till late in the evening when any normal soul is tucked in flannel sheets somewhere with a hot water bottle? Ridiculous. Okay, so it’s sponsored by Lufthansa, the East German airline. And the German American Society of Pennsylvania is involved. But couldn’t they buy a couple of books? Or librarians or something? Hello, Toys for Tots anyone? A recession-ridden city should be tightening its belt, not throwing away dollars on spectacles nobody in their right mind would attend.

As if we didn’t already know:

A coalition of community groups led by the Philadelphia chapter of the NAACP strongly criticized CVS Pharmacies yesterday, accusing the chain of failing to provide customers equal access to stores and services in Philadelphia.

No doubt after this lawsuit, the NAACP will also be filing a lawsuit against Target, Sears, Rite Aid, IHOP, Denny’s, Neiman Marcus, Wawa and every other store they can possibly think of.

Asked why CVS was selected for the study, Mondesire said other pharmacy chains had not drawn as many complaints.

This is surprising. Although Walgreens and Rite Aid are definitely everywhere, which explains why they weren’t targeted. Hmmm, CVS conspiracy.

Well, another Thanksgiving has come & gone, and our family did the traditional Brussel Sprout toast. Well, not everyone. Not even the guy who invented it, actually, but he couldn't eat because of surgery. Other people are just, well, you know... But I digress... For those who don't know, our newish, wierdish, Thanksgiving tradition involves eating 3 Brussels Sprouts each. My brother started it a few years ago, because he doesn't like Brussels Sprouts, and is thankful that he doesn't have to eat them the rest of the year. Not only is this rather amusing, it has forced us to come up with clever ways to prepare the sprouts so that they actually taste good! (Yes, it is possible.) But even this misses the point. There are millions of people who go hungry every day, even in our 1st world industrialized nation. They don't get to choose what to to eat or not. They don't have the option of turning down that less savory side dish out of the 10 or so available. I don't want to give you the old "there are starving children in Africa" line (tho there are), but I would like you to keep it in mind over the holiday season. Food banks have less stock available, even as the need goes up. So, perhaps you will make a donation. Perhaps you can't afford to, but will be more grateful for what you do have. Perhaps when Granny offers you yet another helping of her slimey glazed carrots, limp green beans, or lumpy gravy, you will smile graciously, and make a silent toast to the Brussels Sprouts Gods, thanking them for the food available, the dog under the table who eats scraps, and the fortune that brought you to the position of such a wonderful dilemma.

It's Our City: Tom Ferrick: Fishtown Blues:

To recap: Population growth is good. Reviving neighborhoods is good. Attracting young families is good.
So why is Mayor Nutter picking on Fishtown?

It sure seems that way from the ground level - from the 1200-block of E. Montgomery Ave, in Fishtown. There sits the neighborhood’s library - scheduled to be closed as part of budget cuts ordered by the mayor. Across the street is the neighborhood’s public pool - also scheduled to be shut down. A few blocks up is the fire station for Engine Co. 6, scheduled to be downsized.

“It’s a perfect storm,” said neighborhood activist A.J. Thomson. “Why would you remove something that young families see as an asset from one of the few neighborhoods that is gaining in young family population?”

Good question.

Dear Brian,

When I opened the paper this morning and read the account of your terrible accident, I was shocked. Only the past week, we had made plans to meet after Thanksgiving about articles for your new magazine. As my former editor at Citypaper, you did what you could to help me learn the craft of newspaper writing. You took a shy intern, and with what little time we spent together, inspired at least enough interest that I stayed in touch with you and the industry. I admired your wit, your intelligence, the collection of posters in your office, and most of all your total lack of caring.

As a Philadelphia journalist you knew better than to care about anything other than the people of Philadelphia. Powerful union officials, major politicians, wealthy socialites - no one fazed you when you were doing your job. Haters, fan - who cared? You gave them all hell. And created a legacy as someone who truly cared about the little people.

And that's why Brian, as you lie right now in a medically induced coma, I pray that the strength you showed so many times in the face of overwhelming odds comes though. Because we still need you here. Your young wife, your bride who you bragged about so many times, whose pictures you showed me, she needs you. A city still struggling to define its new identity. New mayor. New championship. Old struggles. Guns. Budget cuts. We need you to get through all of that.

And, in my own most selfish of hearts, I need you too. Because I'm not done learning from you.

All my prayers,

PG