Pennsylvania's current open records law is widely regarded as one of the worst in the country. But that may be about to change.

But I wonder if after all these years, he can imagine Kensington and Somerset as something besides junkie row. Kensington dreaming, after all, can puncture your heart.

The governor referred to a "City Council with no guts that can be extorted by community groups." He threatened that Harrisburg would roll over City Council if it didn't comply. But facts is facts, Guv. Accusing council of being extorted is fiction and hypocrisy.

"The Terrorist and the Baby-Killer" is propaganda, not news. What kind of journalist calls an abortion clinic a killing factory? | It's impossible to read this and assume that the author is giving a third-person account in the voice of John Dunkle. One has to question the intent of the City Paper. | Good job; a very good read. | Wow, City Paper has resorted to shock journalism and finally acted on using fear to get people to read your newspaper. | Taussig has reduced the debate to two stereotypes: emotional vs. intellectual, no religion vs. religion, "man of letters" versus "man of action. | Doron Taussig responds

Fatima Haroun's delicate handshake reveals nothing of her tormented life back in Darfur. Today she is a social worker for the City of Philadelphia, a mother, and the vice president of the Darfur Alert Coalition, a nonprofit based in Philadelphia.

There's the temptation to just fall back on the known, do what's easy. Fortunately for us, we battled that demon and said, what the heck? A homestay sounds cool.

D'Elia's been a good friend to the Philly mob for several decades, but Big Billy's been sitting in jail for more than a year while awaiting trial on federal charges of soliciting murder, money laundering, witness tampering and 15 other counts.

In town last month to discuss his work and sign copies of his new book, Creating a World Without Poverty (PublicAffairs), City Paper caught up with Yunus to learn whether his ideas could create a Philadelphia without poverty.

Dicker may or may not be gaining momentum, depending on whom you ask. While she is supported by district "progressives," some Democratic activists do not think she is strong enough to beat Fumo, who will wield his long arm of bounty to his constituents.

Directed by Gregory Scott Campbell, Grace challenges us to ponder the faith — not only in God but in science, in money, in memory, in love, even in happy endings.

"Switcher Sex, is an interaction of art venues, art collections and the human body." / "So I say farewell, my smooth, delicious, not too nutmeg-y Wawa egg nog, until the fall. I'll wait for you!" / "Dry Land haunts my ears long after I hit the stop button." / "I want Lasky on my speed dial when my own life goes to hell."

There's an invigorating energy to the short, punchy vignettes — energy also found in Rozin's lightening-fast direction.

Playwright David Davalos has fun with the clash of religious beliefs, and manages to riff cleverly on Shakespeare, history, pop culture and most of all, life in academia.

Both artists distill what they see into representations that are economical and personally coded in terms of execution.

"My first opera was La Bohème at the Met, my second year as an undergrad. I didn't know what the story was, or even the music, but when I saw the production I fell in love with opera and decided that's what I want to do with my life."

"Beggars and Choosers: Motherhood is Not a Class Privilege in America" raises questions about fair wages, health care, social status and myriad cultural issues inextricably tied to raising children in the United States.

In The Darker Face of the Earth, racial parentage shapes destiny as much as Sophocles' dire portents foretold that Oedipus would kill his father and marry his mother.

Runs Feb. 9-May 4, $9.50-$20.50, Franklin Institute, 222 N. 20th St., 215-448-1200, fi.edu

Runs through Feb. 24, $10-$30, Hedgerow Theatre, 64 Rose Valley Road, Media, 610-565-4211, hedgerowtheatre.org

In many ways, what they had accomplished marked the culmination of the Bach revival that began shortly after the end of World War II.

If Bowie had recorded Low with Odd Nostrum and in Laurel Canyon as opposed to Berlin, it might sound like what crooner/laptop-analog-synth guy Joe "White Williams" let loose upon Smoke.

Do the flowers, of course, but if a fat chunk of jewelry is not in the budget this year, give the gift of music to your sweetie for Valentine's Day.

Older, perhaps wiser, Liars' current self-titled joint eases up on the stalker voices and leaky-faucet percussion, and is more likely to make you dance than anything the trio has done since "Mr. You're on Fire, Mr."

It's impossible not to love Ledisi Young.

Virginia is for Lovers Menu | Matches Made in Heaven at Ansill | Saturday Cooking Demonstrations at Foster's Homeware | Valentine's Day at Rouge | Heart-Shaped Pizza from Bella Luna

1 The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe | 2 Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel | 3 In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust | 4 Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez | 5 The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Greatest Heartbreaks of Ancient Time / Sweet Misery / Puppy Love / Great Pairings

Sat., Feb. 9, 3 p.m., $10, Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St., 215-496-9001, heliumcomedy.com

What: Death Electric Emo Protest (DEEP) Aerobics Who: Miguel Gutierrez When: Sun., Feb. 10, 11 a.m.-noon, $5-$10 Where: The Performance Garage, 1515 Brandywine St., 215-549-2552

Thu., Feb. 14, 11 a.m., 30th Street Station, North Waiting Room, 30th and Market streets, 215-349-3147, outlastchallenge.com

$5-$10, at VIX Emporium, 5009 Baltimore Ave., 215-471-7700, sixsisters.etsy.com

Sat., Feb. 9, 7:30 p.m.-mid, $75-$85, Loews Philadelphia Hotel, 1200 Market St., 215-735-9570, morrisanimalrefuge.org

Open Fri., 6-10 p.m., and Sat., 2-8 p.m., 1026 Arch St., second floor, 215-574-7630, store1026.myshopify.com, space1026.com