The City of Philadelphia's decision in 2004 to become the nation's first wireless city was met with excitement and anticipation. But since then, excitement has dwindled and been replaced by frustration, anger and ambivalence toward a system that doesn't seem to work as well as it should. If it works at all.

I have Tourette's. Most people are surprised to learn this. The general perception of Tourette's syndrome, thanks to exploitative news magazines and misinformed entertainment, is that of bursts of foul language or of involuntary herky-jerky motions. That's not entirely incorrect, but it's not exactly accurate, either.

The law, the first to protect high school journalists since 1995 and the only one to lump high schools and colleges together, makes students entirely responsible for their media.

In those 30 years I can't remember a single, uh, spirited discussion that didn't end with my delivering unto to Carol, author of Good Food Tastes Good: An Argument for Trusting Your Senses and Ignoring the Nutritionists — aka, Miss Smarty Pants — what she calls the Three Most Beautiful Words: "You were right."

I will reread the same issue front to back at least twice. I don't read B.S. twice. | Britain's public services may never have been particularly efficient or luxurious but at least they used to work! | If Faulkner happened to be an African-American mother of one of the 300-plus people murdered in Philadelphia this year, I don't have to wonder if there would be jokes made at her expense. | If you did even a little research about the Boy Scouts, you would find that the majority of their programs are run by unpaid volunteers. | Hi, my name is Norman Christian Hoffman — the man who saved the planet Earth! | Your overused term and theme of war between the two companies was over the top. | Faris should rectify the balance between bombast and (his lack of) credibility.

Susannah Mandel was born in San Francisco but now makes her home in Philadelphia. She has a piece of creative nonfiction in the recent anthology Evocative Objects: Things We Think With, edited by Sherry Turkle, which appeared in September 2007 from the MIT Press. This essay, "Klaudia's Bracelet," was the winner of the 2007 First Person Memoir Writing Competition in the short-short category.

Seventeen-year-old Monique Fortune submitted this poem to First Person Arts for review by Amy Goldwasser, editor of the newly published Red: The Next Generation of American Writers — Teenage Girls — On What Fires Up Their Lives Today. Amy will join Monique and several other local teen writers on the stage during "Having Her Say: Teen Girls Speak Up," Sat., Nov. 10.

My grandfather's lips quiver. He is obstinate in refusing to wear dentures, and cannot nibble through even these thin-skinned mangos. I bite off a little piece from one mango and hand it to him.

As Veterans Day approaches next week, and the war in Iraq shambles bloodily along, we sat down with Kelly Dougherty, founding member of Iraq Veterans Against the War.

For a big guy, U.S. Rep. Bob Brady moves fast.

It's the final morning of their pre-"First Family of Philadelphia" existence, and the sun has yet to shine on the Nutters' block in Wynnefield.

The crowd total didn't top 150 people, but there was plenty of food and an open bar to keep them occupied. News stations called the race for Democrat Michael Nutter almost immediately after the polls closed, but Taubenberger waited a full hour before he gave his concession speech.

I wouldn't normally begin with the restrooms, but this is a special situation, so let's just say it. They are a dream come true: stall after stall, sink after sink of elegant fixtures, all housed in roomy, bright, accessible quarters. (OK, I only saw the men's rooms, but I have it on good authority that the ladies' — shall we say — lounges are just as swanky.)

As a teen, she paraded around London in frisky fetish clothing and dramatic makeup, setting a standard for rebellious teenage girls (and boys) worldwide.

Even before anybody danced a step, the atmosphere bristled at BalletX's opening night show.

What's this? A version of Edward Albee's landmark play — in sign language?

While it's impossible to know what modern dance would be like had Martha Graham never entered the scene, one thing's certain: It would be different.

Thu., Nov. 8, 8 p.m., $15, First Person Stage, 2111 Sansom St., 800-838-3006, firstpersonarts.org

Shalom Auslander Thu., Nov. 8, 7 p.m., free, Free Library, Central Branch, 1901 Vine St., 215-567-4341 Patrik Andersson (

Mon., Nov. 12, 7 p.m., $6-$15, National Constitution Center, 525 Arch St., 215-409-6700, constitutioncenter.org Cable Risdon

National identity has always been something of an obsession in classical music circles. Is a certain pianist of the Russian school (fiery, virtuosic), or the German (probing, precise)? Does the soprano deliver her words with a Gallic coolness or an Italianate verve?

"I grew up speaking both languages. I started writing in Welsh after going to gigs in Wales and listening to bands such as Ffa Coffi Pawb [led by future Super Furry Animals frontman Gruff Rhys] and Datblygu. It was also a good way to get on Welsh television and radio."

On the group's debut, Places (Saddle Creek), we hear the propulsive drums Davis rocked in Q, but we also hear him singing, harmonizing Mates of State-style with Burhenn.

When the independent hip-hop crew won the PhillyCarShare Sound Clash competition in February, they took home money and free pressing and increased promotion to complete their 12-track debut, Culture Industry.

There will be solid representation from the excellent Philadelphia composer community, writing specifically for the performers, as well as works from new music standouts Osvaldo Golijov, Roberto Sierra and David Rakowski.

Robert Irvine at Lacroix | Dollar Dog Night: Flyers vs. Islanders | Bourbon Blue Fifth Anniversary Party | Cooking for Couples: Make Dinner, Not War | The Year of the Goat

1 Candy Sushi | 2 Heath Bar Crunch Cookie | 3 Candy-Topped Petit Fours | 4 Hershey's S'mores | 5 Deep-Fried Candy Bars

853 E. Allegheny Ave., 215-634-6616 "The older a liquor is, the better it is," my grandpa always said. (It was how he justified calling Old

Örvar óreyjarson Smárason: It seems that most people have some sort of memory of torturing animals in one way or another when they were children, just pulling the legs off flies or running over worms on a bike.

These tri-ped stacking tables by Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show exhibitor David Kiernan are so attractive you'll want to make them a permanent part of your living room decor.

For his Comedy Central-produced My Secret Public Journal tour, Mike Birbiglia bought himself a van. But not just any van. The 29-year-old comic painted it black with a red stripe on the side in a tribute to the A-Team's vehicle.

One minute you could be watching a bank heist led by a pack of Crayola-wielding preschoolers, the next a chimp could be climbing Everest.

Video game tournaments, trading card duels, fan parodies: It's easy to write off TandokuCon as just another ComicCon spawn. But the first full-scale anime gathering to come through Philly has a greater mission.

Bulb, a new lighting showroom just outside Rittenhouse, has enough innovative pieces to transform the dimmest, most design-challenged of apartments. 2056 Locust St., 215-732-2224, bulblighting.net