A Million Stories

On July 18, supporters of a public health care option met in front of the William J. Green Jr. Federal Building. They had an appointment in Sen. Arlen Specter's office. But first, the crowd of about 20 shared stories.

Bill Leatherbee, a 71-year-old self-employed architect, has a mentally handicapped 28-year-old stepdaughter who needs constant professional supervision — at a cost of about $50,000 a year. His wife's insurance plan covers only a tiny portion of it. "We don't know when we can retire, because we don't know how we can pay for this."

Matt Stetson is 49 years old and recently became unemployed. Due to a pre-existing heart condition — Stetson has a bicuspid aorta — he hasn't been able to find new coverage. His cardiologist sees no reason for the refusal, but has no say in the matter. "I could keep sending applications, but there's a nonrefundable fee," Stetson says.

Eventually, four demonstrators went to speak to Specter's staff. They left in good spirits, but not confident. —Tom Dreisbach

The Philadelphia chapter of the labor rights group Jobs With Justice has been trying to win higher wages and better benefits for Allied Barton security workers since November 2007. Its campaign for the guards at the Art Museum may be about to get a break. Timothy Rub, the museum's new director and CEO, will start on Sept. 1, after leading the Cleveland Museum of Art for three years. "We know that the security at the Cleveland Museum were organized," says JWJ organizer Fabricio Rodriguez. "So if nothing else, he's used to dealing with unions."

The signs so far have been small but encouraging: In July, JWJ Philly had counterparts in Cleveland deliver a letter to the Cleveland museum on their behalf asking Rub to meet. The response was "receptive," says Rodriguez. A similar letter was delivered to the museum in Philadelphia a few weeks ago. "The people in Philly wouldn't accept [it]," says Rodriguez. —Andrew Thompson

Tonight, National Mechanics (22 S. Third St., 215-701-4883, nationalmechanics.com) is hosting a free première screening of a porno dubbed "the most retarded adult film ever," by its producers. POPPORN: The Guide to Making Fuck was made by two former Philadelphia band scenesters. In March 2008, Brian Bangs, one of those musicians, launched popporn.com. The adult entertainment blog, full of self-aware jokes, has since grown in influence and contributors (some two dozen now, including a host of porn stars). The site caught enough attention that this January, California adult film studio Zero Tolerance contacted Bangs to write and direct the feature premièring tonight. —Chris Wink

Young Remy Kagan ran through the Piazza at Schmidts, chasing a Jack Russell terrier not much smaller than he. The terrier, Madison, had come with owner Tina Blair to the "Dog Day Afternoon" celebration this past Saturday. Madison was in vogue with a spike-studded collar and a neon pink Mohawk down the center of her miniature back. Remy and his sister, Sophie, don't have a dog, and so were happy to pant in the 80-degree heat. It was easy to see why they took to Madison, whom Blair eloquently described as a "lipstick-back hound dog." The kids just smiled and continued their chase. —Laura Paragano