Also this issue:

Too Legit to Quit
Billy Ciancaglini, budding lawyer and a relative of mobsters, is fighting hard to make good.
-Deborah Bolling

Women In Black: No Iraq Attack
Local women plan post-war civil disobedience.
-Daniel Brook

Petitions Filed -- No Fatalities
-Daryl Gale

Independently Wealthy
Philly's quirkiest newspaper may not make a lot of money, but it is rich in quality.
-Deborah Bolling

Bleu Haze
-Mary F. Patel

March 13-19, 2003

the bell curve

City Paper's weekly gauge of Philly's Quality of Life

High school and college students leave classes to march on City Hall to protest impending war. On the way, however, most opt to march on The Gallery instead. Plus 5

City Council delays vote on resolution condemning U.S. Patriot Act. "Wait, who plays Jack Ryan in that one, Harrison Ford or Ben Affleck?" asks Councilman Mariano. Minus 1

City fines Southwest Philly residents who put trash cans in front of their homes to deal with severe litter problem. With the anti-blight initiative mired in setbacks, the administration is reversing field. Minus 3

City to stop paying cell phone bills for most of the 2,700 employees who use them. Employees use their city-owned SUVs to block traffic around City Hall in protest. Plus 1

State agency recommends that city withhold stadium payment to Eagles until team pays the $8 million it owes from luxury box rentals. Unless they promise to apply it to re-signing Hugh Douglas. Plus 3

Please Touch Museum and proposed Civil War museum competing to move into Memorial Hall. How about a museum where kids re-enact the Battle of Gettysburg? Minus 1

Restaurateur Neil Stein files for bankruptcy. Papers filed atop a raft of phyllo dough, floating in a shimmering pond of raspberry coulis. Minus 4

Woman who used duct tape to fashion homemade strapless bra wins Daily News' Duct Tape Contest. That'll raise your terror alert. Plus 1

Liberty Bell may be off-limits to visitors in event of war with Iraq. Yeah, like any terrorist would stand in that fuckin' line. Minus 5

Total pluses: 10

Total minuses: 14

Score for the week: -4

Last week’s score: -13