Philly.com Columnists http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists RSS Feed for P-com Columnists en-us Sun, 06 Jul 2008 07:01:00 GMT Phil Sheridan: RBI machine: Forget Howard's average. He's still producing big-time. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/20080706_Phil_Sheridan__RBI_machine__Forget_Howard_s_average__He_s_still_producing_big-time_.html Say this about Ryan Howard. He's never boring. In another big game against the rival New York Mets last night, Howard was everything that makes fans wring their hands and clap their hands. Worldview: On talks, Iranians shift tone and tactics http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/20080706_Worldview__On_talks__Iranians_shift_tone_and_tactics.html There has been a flurry of speculation in Washington about whether President Bush will authorize an attack on Iran's nuclear sites before his term ends. Back Channels: He's brave and he's honest http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/20080706_Back_Channels__He_s_brave_and_he_s_honest.html A senior noncommissioned officer at Fort Lewis, Wash., in the late '70s had the unenviable task of guiding soldiers through the discharge process. The American Debate: The Republican veepstakes http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/20080706_The_American_Debate__The_Republican_veepstakes.html Pursuit: Let's try to guess whom John McCain picks as his running mate. It's fun to speculate - even though, if history is any guide, we'll probably all be wrong. Still, we can learn a lot about McCain's candidacy, and the daunting challenges that he faces, simply by playing the veepstakes. Daniel Rubin: Philly? Bad drivers? Gimme that phone! http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/20080706_Daniel_Rubin__Philly__Bad_drivers__Gimme_that_phone_.html Surely the actuaries at Allstate miscalculated last week when they declared Philadelphians the most dangerous big-city drivers. You could check the numbers - we wreck every 6.6 years, they say, which is 50 percent higher than the national average. Sideshow: http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/20080706_Sideshow_.html They'll always have Nice Christian Estrosi, the mayor of Nice, France, is rolling out the red receiving blankets for Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's soon-to-be-born twins, saying the little ones will always be considered honorary citizens of Nice, even if they don't opt to obtain French citizenship. Web Winners: http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/20080706_Web_Winners_.html You could pay a few hundred dollars, or millions, for an existing business or a franchise. These sites could help would-be business owners find their way among the myriad of choices. On Baseball: Rays' rise warms exec here http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/20080706_On_Baseball__Rays__rise_warms_exec_here.html The Fourth of July fireworks were a little brighter for Tampa Bay baseball fans this year. After more than a decade of losing and mostly last-place finishes, the local nine reached the unofficial threshold where contenders are separated from pretenders with the best record in the majors. Head Strong: Make-or-break issue in campaign: Pakistan http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/20080706_Head_Strong__Make-or-break_issue_in_campaign__Pakistan.html John McCain sounded surprised when I recently told him my vote is "in play" and will be determined in large part by who has the best strategy for Pakistan. Dave on Demand: To help you crack 'Lost,' crack open these books http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/20080705_Dave_on_Demand__To_help_you_crack__Lost___crack_open_these_books.html Just because you're not a teenager anymore doesn't mean you don't have a summer reading list. The producers of Lost have just issued the definitive Lost syllabus on ABC.com. Great, now we not only have to watch the shows, there's going to be homework, too?