To my loyal readers

Yes, I'm back -- with a new layout and new resolve to have this blog read by someone whose name does not appear on my 1040. Admittedly, it's been a while. There's been an election and a new president, two World Series and some named storms, not to mention the stinkbugs (my Pa. brethren will understand). Oh, and the economy.

For now, there's lots of old posts to browse (!!), but I'll leave you with my favorite-ever quote on Philadelphia politics, courtesy of Inquirer columnist Karen Heller and published during the D.A.'s race this past April (copied from yellowed parchment on my desk):

Politicians are among my favorite fictional characters. They create strong, driving narratives to charm voters, while speaking in absolutes that approximate conversational English yet defy linear thought. And they're prone to marketing themselves like products, which in a sense they are.

Heller's probably the best "finger on the pulse" scribe the paper's got since Tom Ferrick left last year.