Inquirer Columnists

TODAY'S COLUMNS

Dueling "Insider" panelists: (from left) Niecy Nash, Lara Spencer, Chris Jacobs, Samantha Harris.

Dave on Demand: All together now, group: Scream!

Right or wrong doesn't matter. Only volume counts.

By David Hiltbrand, For the Inquirer

Have you seen the new version of The Insider? It calls itself "the breaking news with the opposing view." The infotainment show was due for a format change. For five years, it's served up the tepid celebrity leftovers from its sister show and lead-in, Entertainment Tonight.

Sideshow: France embraces Eastwood again

By Tirdad Derakhshani, Inquirer Staff Writer

Move over, Jerry Lewis. The French have taken another American to their hearts. Clint Eastwood, whose screen characters have been the quintessence of squinty, unsmiling, taciturn, solitary American heroism, is clearly a hit in the land of the Three Musketeers.

Penn comes up short against Penn State
Drexel nearly spoils St. Joe's big night

Phil Sheridan: Owls trying to focus on each day's kill - 11/13/2009: By Phil Sheridan, Inquirer Columnist

The Temple University football program has had its share of problems. No one is complaining about the latest: coping with success.
Changing Skyline: Struggle to make season bright on the square - 11/13/2009: By Inga Saffron, Inquirer Architecture Critic

In this winter of our discontent, when Philadelphia's City Hall is too broke to fund parades, keep libraries open on weekends, or even scoop up curbside piles of raked leaves, you can't help longing for a little brightness during the holiday season. Just don't count on finding that old seasonal twinkle in Rittenhouse Square.
Annette John-Hall: Mix 'n' match with cornrows - 11/13/2009: By Annette John-Hall, Inquirer Columnist

At most, it's a bemusing story that you figure would have a short shelf life. White cop wears cornrows. Suffers reprimand and is relegated to desk duty. Complies and cuts hair. Goes back on the street.
Sideshow: CNN's John King to replace Dobbs - 11/13/2009: By John Timpane, Inquirer Staff Writer

Politico and the Washington Post say CNN anchor John King, the upright, square-jawed good-looker who made his name with the "magic map" - that big-screen thingie where you move your fingers around and it gets bigger or goes over there - is takin
Morning Bytes: Ex-Eagle Runyan asked to tackle political office - 11/13/2009: By Frank Fitzpatrick, Inquirer Columnist

So Jon Runyan may be getting into politics. According to recent reports, the Republican Party in South Jersey would like the longtime Eagles lineman to run against U.S. Rep. John Adler.
Cheat Sheet: Shoveling snow needn't break your back or heart - 11/13/2009: By Alan J. Heavens, Inquirer Real Estate Writer

This is one of my foolish annual exercises. I call it providing information on shoveling snow, from buying shovels to rearranging your snowfall without breaking your back or giving you a heart attack.
PhillyDeals: City Web site making it easier to do business here - 11/13/2009: By Joseph N. DiStefano, Inquirer Staff Writer

Philadelphia has had a reputation as a tough place to comply with all the permits, licenses, taxes, and fees it demands for doing business here.
Garden Q&A - 11/13/2009: By Michael Martin Mills, Inquirer Columnist

Question: If you are trying to be organic and make your lawn soil self-sustainable, do you want to rake your leaves and use the compost from them in your garden or do you want to mow them where they lie on the grass and let them fertilize your lawn for next year?
E. J. Dionne: Abortion shouldn't stall bill - 11/13/2009: Democrats must compromise on the issue. Health care is important enough.

By E. J. Dionne

For some years, Democrats have denounced parodies casting their party as closed to the views of those who oppose abortion. Last weekend, they proved conclusively that they are, indeed, a big tent - and many in the ranks are furious.
Phil Sheridan: Eagles' Hanson snared in NFL drug net - 11/12/2009: By Phil Sheridan, Inquirer Columnist

Like most sports organizations, the NFL has a policy on performance-enhancing drugs that works like a fishnet in reverse. It is set up to let the biggest fish - the stars who can afford state-of-the-art "training regimens" - swim freely while snagging enough tiny fish to feed the public perception that the league is actively policing itself.
Daniel Rubin: Saying goodbye is such a mouthful - 11/12/2009: A city dentist prepares to cap a happy career.

By Daniel Rubin, Inquirer Columnist

Rosemarie Fuges walked out of her dentist's office Monday morning in tears. It wasn't something her dentist had done. It was something he had said.