US – Tuesday, February 9
Plant blast under investigation
Federal investigators headed to Connecticut yesterday to determine the cause of an explosion at an unfinished power plant that killed at least five workers and hospitalized dozens of others.
 
Pressure grows for sanctions
International pressure for new sanctions against Iran grew yesterday after Tehran announced plans to make higher-enriched uranium and add 10 nuclear sites in a year, raising Western fears it wants to develop atom bombs.
 
Stern: I’d do ‘Idol’ for $100M
Howard Stern took to his radio show yesterday to address the rumors that he’s a possible replacement for Simon Cowell for the next season of “American Idol.” To sum it up? He’s not going for it.
 
Dancing while the skinny lady sings
You’ve heard of the jukebox musical? David Parsons and singers AnnMarie Milazzo and Tyley Ross of the East Village Opera Co. offer a jukebox opera, playing nightly at the Joyce. Eleven Parsons dancers share the stage with Milazzo and Ross, who clutch microphones cranked to 11 and stroll through the action. On the recorded soundtrack, three drummers create a wall of sound so loud you — well, I — want to hide under the seat. Digital video of abstract patterns, natural landscapes and stunning architecture change for each song.
 
‘Free’ ad leads to fraud suit
NEW YORK. A Wisconsin college student is suing credit firm Experian — the brains behind the ubiquitous FreeCreditReport.com jingles — for fraudulent advertising after she inadvertently signed up for a monthly $14.95 monitoring service.
 
Let me count the ways ...
‘Tis the season for writing love letters. But that can be a daunting endeavor, especially when you’re not sure where to start. Should you put it in verse, use flowery language, get erotic? As with almost anything in life, the simpler you keep it, the easier (and often better) it will be. It doesn’t sound that romantic, but think of your love letter as a laundry list of the reasons why you adore your sweetheart. It’s kinda like Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Sonnet 43: “How do you love your partner? Count the ways!” Here’s how to do it without rhyming or pulling out a thesaurus:
 
Updated 21:53, November the 30th, 2009
 

Anger over bicyclist treatment

 Fletcher
 
Fletcher
 

 June: Mayor Nutter signed an executive order giving equal treatment to bikes on the road.

September: One of two traffic lanes on Spruce and Pine streets in Center City were designated for bicyclists.

October: Two Philadelphia residents died after cyclists hit them: 78-year-old Tom Archie in South Philadelphia and 40-year-old Andre Steed.

Nov. 19: Councilmen Frank DiCicco and Jim Kenney introduced legislation that would increase penalties for sidewalk riding, riding with headphones, riding bikes without a brake, and would mandate registration and bicycle license plates.

Nov. 21: Philadelphia Police announced a bicycle enforcement campaign focused on ticketing cyclists who break existing code, including running stop signs and red lights.

 

PHILADELPHIA. A few days after one of their own suffered serious facial injuries in a hit-and-run crash, city bicycle messengers upset with what one courier describes as "rising anti-cycling sentiment" are rallying at LOVE Park this evening.

Rachel Fletcher, a 30-year-old experienced and well-known Center City courier, was struck at 23rd and Locusts Streets early Thanksgiving morning and remained at Hahnemann Hospital until Saturday after surgery to repair her face and jaw.

Despite the severity of the crash, police did not take a report until 12 hours later Thursday, which some in the bicycling community said yesterday is part of a culture in Philadelphia that treats cyclists as less important on streets than cars. A sergeant at the Ninth District declined to comment on the incident last night, citing an ongoing investigation.
 
Members of the Philadelphia Bicycle Messenger Association are planning to meet at 16th and JFK Boulevard today at 5 p.m. to distribute a statement, group member Jorge Brito said.

"There is a lot of tension out there right now," Brito, 28, said.

Fletcher said she was yelled at by an angry driver near 23rd and Locust and then struck by his silver hatchback at about 2:30 a.m. Brito says police are treating the incident as an accident, not the hit-and-run they said it should be.
 
After months of bicyclists making headlines, alternately labeled as victims and menaces, City Council is now considering increased bicycle violation fines and bike registration and license plates.
 
"We support consistent and equal enforcement of existing laws, but the proposed new fines are going to discourage cycling," Brito said. "We are fighting against a negative image of urban cyclists. We just want people to see our side of the road."

 
 
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MMMpod
The February MMMpod features conversation from Ozzy Osbourne. Michael Emerson from "Lost" tells us about his days enjoying punk rock in Boston. We also dig up an old interview from the late great Howard Zinn. We have a song from Delta Spirit and The Soft Pack, who tell us where they got their name.

 
 
Metro Life Panel