The Soapbox

Wildlife Science Predicts Eagles - Falcons Winner

Even though Sunday's game is fast approaching, I still can't explain why I found this interesting. Perhaps it has something to do with my fascination with the Discovery Channel.

"There's no way a falcon would mess with an eagle. An eagle [the larger bird] would push them out the way with no trouble at all," said Nate Rice, ornithology collections manager at the Academy of Natural Sciences.

Democracy in Action

One of the things that amaze me about Democracy is the peaceful transfer of power it engenders. This is demonstrated by the congratulations a newly elected president receives from other world leaders such as Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Accept my congratulations and warmest wishes in connection with your election to the post of president . . . ," said Putin.

The truly inspiring thing was that this exchange did not take place in Washington, D.C. but in the Ukraine.

Forecast to Cause French Toast Feast?

The weather forecast is getting worse. At this point, there really is no question that it will snow this weekend. The only real question now is how much? Current forecast models are predicting anything from two inches all the way up to 20 inches.

This being Philadelphia, it is only a matter of time before the local news outlets start their inane, round-the-clock, coverage of the storm. Which, in turn, will prompt panicked citizens to run to their local Acme and buy bread, milk and eggs. Presumably, a lot of people in Philadelphia eat french toast whenever it snows.

Philly Forecast Being Felt in Vegas

The weather channel girl with her perfect weather curl is talking cold, cold, cold . . . and snow for Sunday's Eagles NFC Divisional Chanpionship game. This forecast is starting to move the Vegas betting line.

According to the Philadelphia Daily News:

The over/under total for Sunday's NFC Championship Game opened at 41 ½ and is now down to 40. Conversely, the line is starting to rise. It opened at Eagles by 4 ½, is now at five, and seems headed to 5 ½. The wagering public is starting to get a little antsy about Atlanta, a dome team, having to play in nasty January weather.

NBC 10 Reporter Can't Read a Thermometer

NBC 10 part-time reporter Byron Scott doesn' know how to read a thermometer. This morning, as I was getting ready for work, I turned on NBC 10 to get the morning news. Now, for those of you not from the Philadelphia ADI (Area of Dominant Influence), weather is how the local news outlets compete. All of the local news outlets start yammering like six-year olds a week before Christmas whenever a potential snow storm is brewing.

Anyway, Byron Scott was at the Roxbourough Dunkin' Donuts with a thermometer. He must not realize that NBC 10 puts a bug in the lower right hand corner with the time and temperature. (FYI, this is the same station that sends its reporters out with rulers for the first snow.) So, I'm watching his story and he starts counting hash marks and then tells me that it's 3.5 degrees.

I was confused because the large orange needld was clearly above the larger 10 degree hash and no where near zero. When I saw the thermometer, I read it to be 17 degrees.

I thought maybe I misheard him but I'll be damned if the idiot doesn't finish his piece by again holding up the thermometer and telling me it's only 3.5 degrees when anyone with half a brain and one eye can see that his own thermometer (and the one on the screen) indicate the temperature is somewhere between 14 and 18 degrees.

Brrrrrrr, It's Cold Outside

It's 14 freakin' degrees this morning in the city of brotherly love. More after I thaw out my frozen feet.

NFL Playoff Predictions

Below are my predictions in this weekend's NFL playoff games:

The Steelers will beat the Jets.
The Falcons will beat the Rams.

In Sunday's games:

The Eagles will prevail over Vikings.
The Patriots will beat the Colts.

By the way, in the interest of full disclosure, I was 1-3 last week.

Happy 299th Birthday

Today is Ben Franklin's birthday. Did you know that other than the kite and key stuff taught in elementary school, Ben either invented or discovered the following:

• Founded the first fire company
• Created the first fire insurance company
• Created Pennsylvania Hospital
• Endowed the University of Pennsylvania
• Invented a simple odometer
• Invented America's first flexible catheter
• Credited with drawing the first ever political cartoon
• Among the first to chart the Gulf Stream
• Invented swim fins
• Created the first electrical battery

More Censorship in the Name of Academics

Fox news is reporting that a career day speaker may not be asked back next year for telling eighth-grade students the truth.

William Fried told eighth-graders at Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle School that stripping and exotic dancing could be lucrative career moves for girls, offering as much as $250,000 or more per year, depending on their bust size.

While I'm sure very few parents aspire for their daughters to become exotic dancers, faulting the school or William Fried is misplaced. Fried was simply giving the students facts necessary for making an informed decision.

We can't and shouldn't ignore facts because they don't comport with what our perception of achievement may be. Instead, rather than raising hell and barring a speaker the students demonstrably learn from, the adult way of handling this is to discuss your concerns with your children.

More Women Seeking Vaginal Plastic Surgery

If you were wondering when the cultural phenomenon of plastic surgery would go too far, this story in Thursday's Philadelphia Daily News about vaginoplasties may provide your answer.