The Bell Curve

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

Cops caught on tape beating Greek Picnic attendee. Well, at least we know now Commish Timoney is no "Rizzo Redux." Rizzo's cops would've beaten the guy with the camera too.

Minus 5

SEPTA strike ends! Only in Philadelphia could the return of fume-belching behemoths to our streets be seen as a positive development.

Plus 8

And speaking of fume-belching behemoths: State Sen. Vincent Fumo and TWU leader Steve Brookens engage in name-calling during SEPTA negotiations. WWF draws up contracts for a title bout.

Minus 5

City announces plans for $50 million complex in North Philly that includes a 3,000-seat multiplex run by Magic Johnson Theatres. Opponents to the plan will be forced to watch endless repeats of The Magic Hour.

Plus 4

Phillies sweep Brewers and Pirates, continuing their dominance over the NL Central. Maybe that proposed new ballpark should go up in, say, Kalamazoo.

Plus 2

From the "Philly's Looking Better All the Time" File: As many as a quarter-million Greek Picnickers descend on South Street without so much as breaking a window. The next night, 1,500 people riot at an arts festival in bucolic State College.

Plus 1

Promise Keepers gather in Philly; Ozzy Osbourne fans converge on Camden. Three horsemen of the apocalypse spotted on I-95, but region emerges unscathed.

Plus 1

South Philly boy's fall from third-floor window broken by second-floor air conditioner. PECO begins work on TV commercial in which it claims credit for saving the child's life.

Plus 3

In response to 15 calls to 911, police shut down local rock band Sevaris, playing atop a South Philly roof. Bono, Paul McCartney and the B Sharps consider a protest concert at Geno's.

Minus 2

Total Minuses: 12

Total Pluses: 19

Score for the week: Plus 7