While I think it is about time that, as a country, we begin to seriously consider our consumption and its impact on the Earth, part of the problem I have with the environmental movement as a whole is that some supporters have surpassed a moderate interest and are hovering around in fanatic territory. (You should see some of the outlandish emails I get being on PETA's email list!) When extreme attitudes are expressed in an......

The current Facebook Status of our nation’s prominent political figures: Barack Obama is not agreeing with the comments of his Facebook Friends but he cannot block them either. Hillary Clinton is dodging sniper fire while she writes this. Bill Clinton is on the road again! Yeee-hawww! John McCain is committed to staying on MySpace and Facebook as long as is necessary. George W. Bush is sleepy. Dick Cheney is listening to Peter Gabriel’s So.......

Holy smokes! Giant fish on the MTA, Paris Hilton in jail, then out, then in again, Al Gore, goatses, blumpkins, Matt Damon, and baby art critics! It's been a busy week across the Ist-A-Verse, and here's a smattering of what's been going on. In Gothamist's neck of the woods, they found out that many things are possible: A man caught a 40+ pound fish off the Rockaways and took it home on the subway. Graffiti......

...Obsession: We love Hugh Grant, but clearly, we don't love Hugh Grant. (Via Editor Jim, via Cinematical.) ...Schadenfreude: And now, a moment of silence for the poor Bentley that had to be driven by... her. (Via The Superficial.) ...Infection: Here's a happy story about how everyone in Hollywood may very well have the Hep. If not yet, then soon. (Via What Would Tyler Durden Do?) ...Weird: Isn't this what everyone does before rehab? (Via Us......

Austinist gets arty with an interactive guide to SXSW, loved some local art galleries and a new art exhibit and lamented the possible loss of "Friday Night Lights" production to New Mexico. Bostonist was happy they finally found an Anna Nicole Smith connection to their fair city and that an Apple Store was opening up. They were less happy that new rules have been established limiting underage shows and that their Governor is spending......

We'd like to start this week's run-down by wishing a very happy birthday to parent blog Gothamist, which turned four on Friday. If it wasn't for them, the rest of us wouldn't be here. They celebrated their birthday by nabbing an interview with Entourage star Adrian Grenier, who misses NYC public transportation when he's working in LA. They also reported on NYU students protesting a band whose name is also known as a slur,......

As if the School District of Philadelphia wasn't having enough money troubles, the former principal and chief administrative officer of a small Center City charter school has been found guilty of defrauding them of over $200,000. He's been ordered to pay the money back, and to serve 33 months in federal prison. US Department of Justice lawyers had requested that federal observers be stationed in polling places in Philly's Latino neighborhoods on Tuesday, but......

Al Gore picked the right time to come to the city to promote his global warming book; if anything could make us believe in, and want to fight back against, global warming, it's this horrible heat!! Joseph White, the drummer for Philly soul band The Stylistics, was sentenced on Tuesday to 4 1/2 to 10 years in prison for "offering to pay a woman $5,000 to slit the throat of his girlfriend." Say it......

Based on conversations we've overheard and/or have been involved in lately, this Phillyist is convinced that we're the only person left in Philly who hasn't seen An Inconvenient Truth (or as it's more commonly called, "that Al Gore movie").  It's not that we're not concerned about the environment and the management of our resources - it's just we're already bummed enough about this insane heatwave; we have no desire to be depressed any further. Even......

The shapeless dough of the internet, formed into tasty pellets and baked to perfection, just for you. Here's another fun Flickr group (you know, besides this one): The Secret Life of Toys. (Via) Today's list is from Entertainment Weekly and it's the 25 Most Controversial Movies Ever. It's hard to disagree with most of their choices (and believe us, we were ready to!); these are all indeed quite controversial movies. The coveted (?) top spot......

What's new and/or interesting in Philly theaters this weekend. Twelve and Holding - A coming-of-age film with what looks like equal parts goofy adolescent comedy and dark, intense drama. Basically it's a handful of twelve-year-olds coming to terms with the fact that their parents are human and life sucks sometimes, these discoveries being brought on by the sudden and tragic death of the main character's twin brother. Sounds like it could be rewarding, but tough......

The shapeless dough of the internet, formed into tasty pellets and baked to perfection, just for you. Saturday Night Live helpfully shows us what life would be like if Al Gore had become President. That's funny stuff. But it also makes us kind of wistful and sad. (Via) Already mastered Klingon and looking for a new geeky linguistic challenge? Well, check out this comprehensive guide to all of J. R. R. Tolkien's invented languages. It's......

Shanghaiist probably knows a little more about China than the Chicago Sun-Times. Giving them the benefit of the doubt on that one. The city does to have a music scene. Don't even front like they don't. They also have Dorito bananas and white guys shopping for wives. What they don't have is any more tolerance for jaywalkers. Bostonist sees Boston and Somerville each whip out their art and face off. A plagiarized novel is the......

John Street is talking down men from ledges. Al Gore is visiting the city and people aren't making a billion Al Gore/Internet jokes. There were no posts on the Sixers/Knicks preseason tilt. It's been a bizarre week for Philadelphia and the blogosphere. And yet, we're still doing our weekly round-up. Comforting? No. Worth a few lines for a rushed intro? Definitely. >>> It must be "Defeated Politicians" week here in Philadelphia, as Albert Yee checks......