Friday, April 29, 2011

Eubanks - arts programs are a freedom of speech issue.

In town to be honored at the Arts and Business council Luncheon, Kevin Eubanks, former music director of the "Tonight Show," could not get over how good Philadelphia looks these days. He raved about his dinner the night before at Osteria restaurant with his former colleagues at NBC.
Jay Leno does not seem to have hard feelings about Eubanks leaving the "Tonight Show" because he appeared in the filmws tribute to Eubanks.
When Eubanks,who attended the Settlement School of Music, accepted his award, he asked that people look at the cuts to arts programs as a "freedom of speech issue."
"Students are being denied the right to express themselves in the way they feel most comfortable," asserted Eubanks.
Michael Fein, a lawyer at Cozen and Oconnor, was honored for working on 13 pro bono cases on behalf of artist and arts organizations, including a successful case against the Michael Jackson estate. When accepting the award, he said, "It was a thriller to beat it."

Monday, April 25, 2011

Ed Snider talks Atlas Shrugged

Comcast-Spectacor CEO Snider, executive producer of the newly released “Atlas Shrugged,” never thought that he would see his favorite Ayn Rand book on the big screen. A jubilant Snider said, “They tried to make this film for fifty years. Hollywood did not want to make this movie because it did not adhere to its liberal agenda.”

He shrugged off criticism of the movie. “Now they are panning it because it does not have a $50 million budget,” said Snider.

He is most excited that “the movie will keep her work alive.”

The modest Snider claims to have done nothing to earn the title of executive producer of the film. He maintained, “I am almost embarrassed about the title. All I did was introduce John Aglialoro (the CEO of exercise equipment maker Cybex) to some people who helped him make the film. He is the one that is amazing and had the guts. He put up all the money and took time off from his business to go to Los Angeles to make this film.”

Snider has had a love affair with “Atlas Shrugged” for over fifty years because “it is the only book that provides a moral defense of capitalism.” “It explains why capitalism is the greatest system ever developed.”

Snider recalled, “I related to the Hank Reardon character because I was going through the same thing when it was published in 1957. My family and friends were also belittling me because I was working too hard.”

Snider, who has been active in two organizations to celebrate Ayn Rand and her philosophy of Objectivism, feels that the book was very forward for its time. He argued, “Dagney Taggart was a heroine in the book. Not many women were heroines of fiction books back in 1957. She also had affairs with three men in the book. Authors did not write about those subjects back then.”

The book so captured his imagination that he endeavored to meet the author. Snider, the man that dominated Philadelphia sports for a quarter of century as owner of the Philadelphia Seventy Sixers and Flyers, admitted to “being intimidated” when he finally met Ayn Rand in person.

He explained, “She was so sharp that you had to be careful what you said in front of her so she would not catch you in a mistake.”

After the financial crisis of 2008, Rand’s most famous acolyte, former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, slightly backed away from her philosophy. Snider disagrees with his Greenspan’s interpretation of the financial crisis. “The crisis simply verified that she has always been right. The government was passing regulations that were enticing people who could not afford it to buy a home,” asserted Snider.

He maintained, “The crisis was caused by bankers. Bankers are not capitalists. They lend to capitalists.”

Snider bemoans that” the United States is now a mixture of capitalism and socialism.” He still believes in capitalism. He said, “Capitalists build up business so that they can give weaker members of society jobs.”

Snider wanted to clear up one misconception about Objectivism “Rand was not against helping poor people," insisted Snider. She just believed the help should come from private charities not government programs.”

Monday, April 18, 2011

response to Phillies fans about Madson's I hate the fans comment

America is known as the land of second chances. I ask that I be given a second chance like everyone else. My writing should be judged on its merits not the events of 8 years ago.

Martha Stewart and Larry Mendte are still on television after their convictions. Eliot Spitzer won a tv show after consorting with a prostitute.

President Obama praised the Eagles for hiring Michael Vick fresh from prison. Now the fans, who have obviously forgiven him his dog fighting charges, have voted him a finalist in the Madden competition.

Milton Street, an ex-con, is running for Mayor of Philadelphia with endorsements from major unions.

David Carr writes for the New York Times even though he published a memoir about his crack addiction.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Phillies' Madson Response

The Phillies on behalf of Ryan and Sarah Madson have issued a response to my blog post. They did not refute that Sarah Madson said the comments that I reported.

They falsely allege that I did not identify myself as a reporter. That is just not true. I identified myself as a reporter several times and even Ryan and Sarah Madson for a joint interview after my conversation with Sarah.

As far as the false allegation that I took things out of context, Sarah was pretty clear on her hate for the fans. It was not possible to misconstrue.

I hope that this clears up any questions about my credibility.


Here is the Phillies statement.

Thursday, April 14, 2011


The Phillies issue the following statement on behalf of Ryan and Sarah Madson:

Sarah did not consent to an interview, but rather was approached by Ms. Goldman who did not identify herself as a reporter. She began to ask many personal questions about the life of a wife of a professional baseball player. The comments reported by Ms. Goldman were taken completely out of context, and as a result, Sarah is extremely upset and feels violated by the situation.

Sarah says, “For every one fan that may upset us, there are 99 Phillies fans that we love. We have lived here for years, have many friends, neighbors and acquaintances -- who also happen to be Phillies fans -- for whom we have the utmost respect.”

The Madsons would like to dispel this misleading information which indicates that they have anything but admiration for the fans in Philadelphia.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Phillies' Pitcher Madson's Wife Cries Foul

Recently, pitcher Ryan Madson and his wife Sarah hosted a fundraiser for Manna, the organization that provides meals to aids and cancer patients. Eagles offensive tackle Winston Justice and his wife Dania were the other hosts.

Madson humbly called himself “the entertainment.” But he was much more. He raised $750 for Manna by auctioning off an autographed Manna T shirt with his number on it. Both Madsons said they do not have their own foundation but like to “lend their support to a variety of charities.”

Sarah Madson, festooned with a necklace made from the top of a World Series ring that the Phillies gave all the players wives, is five months pregnant with her fourth child. The Madsons are hoping for a girl because their daughter wants a little sister.

Just back from spring training, she complaining that “her house (a mansion on the mainline) looked like a bomb had hit it.” Maybe that is why she decided to unload on the fans.

Sarah Madson declared, “I hate the fans. It is bad enough that they bother us during the season, but they will not leave us alone in December when we go out to eat. We stayed here during the off season last year, but we will be going to California this year. There must be something particularly bad about Phillies fans because all the players leave in the off season.”

She had particular snappish words for the female fans of her husband. “Can you believe that they have the gall to give my husband their number in front of me?”

The Justices were busy that week. The next night, they were hosting a benefit the next night at their coffee shop Elixr for the Japanese Red Cross.

Liz Lemon Comes to Kabletown

Tiny Fey, the creator, writer and star of "30 Rock," appeared at the Central Parkway branch of the Free Library to promote her new book, "BossyPants."
Fey, a graduate of Upper Darby High School, was thrilled to return to her hometown. Her proud parents were in the audience.
Steve Burke from Comcast, with his wife and four of his children in tow, introduced Fey by saying "Welcome to Kabletown." He acknowleged "30 Rock" is one of the few hits on NBC. Burke gave her a compliment by repeating Lorne Michael's comment that she is the most talented person at NBC.
By the way, Lorne Michael refused to meet his new boss for breakfast, but did meet Burke for a dinner after the Thursday night run through of "Saturday Night Live." Lorne said to Burke, "Breakfast is out of the question."
Tina Fey credited her sixth grade teacher in Upper Darby with encouraging to write. She got her start writing a humor column for the school newspaper. A community theater group in Upper Darby gave Fey her first taste of the theater.
When asked about Alec Baldwin's announcement that he was leaving "30 Rock" after next year, Tina Fey said, "Alec is famous for making pronouncements and then changing his mind."
After Al Franken won the Senate without Fey's financial support, she texted him, "I knew that you could do it without my help." The new Senator texted back, "F--k you!"
Fey admitted that he unusual cover, which is a picture of Fey juxtaposed with hairy arms, "creeps people out."
Fey had mixed feelings about her iconic role as Sarah Palin on "Saturday Night Live." It certainly raised my profile, but it also created a group of people that hated me, " explained Fey.
The book and lecture were a little disappointing because Fey revealed very little and did not dish on her colleagues.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Senator Toomey comments today

I spoke to Senator Toomey on Thursday before the government shutdown. He said, "I am discouraged. Both sides are very far apart. The Democrats will not compromise. I expect a government shutdown." While $30, 000 year government workers will not receive their salary during the shutdown, Toomey plans to take his salary of $174,000 during the shutdown.

While Philadelphians are used to their elected officials in Washington bringing home the federal dollars, Toomey said, "I ran on a platform of fiscal restraint and won. I am not planning to bring home the pork for Pennsylvanians. We will just have to wait until my reelection to see how they feel about the lack of dollars."

I will be writing more over the weekend.