In late November, the Republican-controlled Pennsylvania House handed an epic defeat to right-wing forces who want to strip professors of their academic freedom and dignity under the guise of student "rights."

Your name is David Goodis. You grow up in East Oak Lane. You have a kid brother who dies when he's only 3. Another kid brother who is born mentally challenged. His name is Herb. You write pulp stories. Tough men's adventure stories featuring boxers. Airmen. Soldiers. Cops. You name some of these characters after Herb.

In a holiday rush a couple weeks ago, I mistakenly sent out an early draft of this column — which was printed and which contained an error. I wrote, incorrectly, that Janice Woodcock, the mayor's new head of the City Planning Commission, had joined with those asking for a delay in selecting Philadelphia's casino sites. Not so.

Credit should go to Nick Norlen for admitting that he is unsure whether Gerald Ford deserves flags flying at half-mast: "Frankly, I don't know that much about him."

There's bound to be some backlash when a young whippersnapper comes along thinking he can improve on a classic, but even old heads should go for Hillis' remake of the Chili's jingle.

No man dreams his son will grow up to be a convicted felon, particularly if the dreamer is an honored member of the law enforcement community.

Hello, my name's Brian, and while I'm not necessarily an alcoholic, I sure as hell felt like one on New Year's Day.

The new sheriff finally arrived on Jan. 4.

The unforgettable Edward Scissorhands, from Tim Burton's suburban gothic tragicomedy, has found new, lyrical life in a dance version choreographed by maverick choreographer Matthew Bourne.

Matthew Fritch of Magnet, drummer & music/multimedia producer Gary Dann, DJ/producer King Britt

"Jim Christy says I'm the closest thing to working with a dead man."

Lanny Bergner appears to be interested in viewers' notions that his work is inspired by sea creatures, seed pods or other natural things. But when asked, he credits nature in general.

Human beings are "hard-wired" for ecstatic merrymaking, says Barbara Ehrenreich in her recent book, Dancing in the Streets: A History of Collective Joy.

Back in college, my photography teacher detailed the process of photogravure printmaking. The deep cleaning of the copper printing plate. The beveling of a paper's outermost edges. The asphaltum dusting process.

Way to start the new year with a trip or two down memory lane! In the early 1970s, all the cool theater kids were crazy for Pippin.

Pig Feat Benefit Cabaret and Auction Fri., Jan. 12, 8 p.m., The Trocadero, 1003 Arch St.

Thu., Jan. 11, 7-9 p.m., free, Robin's Bookstore, 108 S. 13th St.

Runs Jan. 16-Feb. 11, George Street Playhouse, 9 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick, N.J.,

Classical music performers must compete in a huge field of accomplished artists, and so it is always a challenge to make a sound that will stand out from the pack.

With its distant vocal twitch and distaff soulful swing, "My Sword Hand's Anger" really does come off like the National Anthem of Nowhere (which is

classical A Marc-André Hamelin recital almost invariably includes some remarkable discovery, usually delivered in the pianist's inimitably astonishing way. For his Philadelphia Chamber Music Society

Rock/pop If the gentle dream poppers in Mahogany have been unwittingly testing our patience these past few years, now must be the point where we

jazz Like Sean Penn's character in Sweet and Lowdown, Frank Vignola emulates a certain two-fingered Gypsy guitarist. But Vignola swings with a wry sense of

If a young man in gaucho pants and a neckerchief ran up to you with a skewer full of hot meat, you'd laugh and say, "I saw that at Pure, honey."

1 Cereality; 2 Pita Pit; 3 Johnny Brenda's; 4 Tiffin Store; 5 2Potatoes Vegan Fare

Marlinspikes, rigging and staysails are not typical topics of conversation at your average Philly rock and roll bar.

If you were fighting in a war zone or languishing in a POW camp, how would you make it through the day?

Day of Service: Mural Arts Project; Peter Whitehead's The Fall; 21st Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Dinner; Anti-Violence Heroes

Unitarian Universalists' credo is pure and simple—every human life is valuable.

Jack and the Beanstalk; Healthy Kids Fest; Animal Heroes Weekend; AAMP Art; Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Every winter, the great horned owl kicks off breeding season and goes calling upon territory across the woodlands of Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Allstar Collective is putting a fresh twist on the bohemian flea market.

What makes a Phila-delphian sexy? Is it power? Money? Fame? Heroin-boy-skinny, razor-blade hip bones?