Bad enough that Philly has been trying to claim Edgar Allan Poe. Now The City of Brotherly Love seems to be making a play for The Wire.
David Simon, producer of the celebrated HBO series, appears at Princeton University Thursday to discuss "Policy and Politics in America's Urban Crisis."
At his side will be Mayor Michael Nutter of Philadelphia.
Hmmph! Why not Sheila Dixon?
She knows policy, politics, urban crises. And she happens to be mayor of the city where the series was actually set. How come Dixon won't be there?
I asked at Princeton and at the offices of Dixon and Nutter. I heard back only from Dixon spokesman Sterling Clifford. He said Dixon was not invited as far as he knew.
"I assume Mayor Dixon wasn't included because her knowledge of and experience with urban issues is so broad and deep that Mr. Simon's participation would have been unnecessary," he said. "After all, she's been dealing with real issues in Baltimore for 20 years and he had a pretend show about the city for five."
The one that got away
Nothing says family dysfunction like a 4- by 6-foot slab of drywall bearing this handwritten message: "The White Marlin sold in Palisades on 9/20 was sold by mistake. I will pay you three times what you paid for it."
Timothy Johnson posted the sign at the intersection of Herald Harbor and River roads, near the home of his father, who died three months ago.
Dad left the house to Johnson, but the contents - including a 6-foot stuffed, mounted fish - to Johnson's sister. A fixture in the family's basement den, the marlin represented a happy memory for Johnson.
"My father caught that fish when I was 14 years old in 1982," he said. "I was with him."
Johnson, a construction worker who lives in Davidsonville, wanted the fish. Without getting into the particulars of a difficult family situation, let's just say his sister had a yard sale, one that didn't put a premium on sentimental value.
"Sold my fish for $50 in a yard sale," he said, still in disbelief.
He put the sign up soon afterward but hasn't heard from anybody but me and one other busybody, who also called to ask what was up with the missing marlin.
Johnson said he's willing to do more than triple the $50 price tag.
"I'd pay even more," he said. "I'd like to have it back."
Forethought-free speech
