Summer Concert of the Year

By Samuel Mattei

In 1994 Elton John and Billy Joel played their first show together in Philadelphia. The event was at the late Veterans Stadium.

In 2009 they are coming back for one of the biggest shows of the year. The piano duo will play two shows at Citizens Bank Park (Phillies Ballpark).

Tickets are ranging from fifty to one hundred and seventy-five dollars.

The first show went on sale on Saturday February 14th 2009. The show sold out in approximately 12 minutes. This inspired a second show which will go on sale Saturday February 21st. Pre-sale's have already started. The second show is expected to sell out as fast as the first one.

The ballpark has 43,647 seats. Along with the seats that will be sold on the field.

This will be the parks first music event. Lincoln Financial Field (Eagles Stadium) across the street has held different shows along the years. This year having Country Music star Kenny Chesney.

The first show will take place on Thursday July 30th. The second show on Saturday April 1st.

The World Champion Philadelphia Phillies will be on a West Coast schedule during the concerts.

Valentines Day Love Triangle

By Samuel Mattei

I found an empty two-chair table by the window at the Borders on Baltimore Pike in Springfield. I hadn't seen her sitting down yet, I assumed she was late due to traffic.

After reading Rolling Stone Magazine for several minutes I heard the door open. A young woman walked in wearing a white sweatshirt and grey sweat pants. She looked nervous and wasn't sure where to go.

I yelled her name and the nervousness seeped away. She walked over and sat down imminently introducing herself.

She knew she was there for information regarding her current Valentines situation. We talked for a few minutes about the weather and The Phillies. Then Valentines day was brought up.

Q: Has Valentines Day ever been a special day for you?
A: No

Q: Why not?
A: Because I never do anything special. I do the same thing every year.

Q: Is this year an exception to that rule?
A: Yes.... No. I'm not going to see who I want to see.

Q: What do you mean by that?
A: The person I want to spend Valentines Day with, I won't be around. It seems pointless. I wont see him

Q: Why is that?
A: This is a difficult situation... I am going to be with someone my heart doesn't belong to.

Q: And who is that?
A: Brian

Q: Who is Brian?
A: My current boyfriend

Q: So you have someone else you would like to be with other then your boyfriend Brian?
A: Yes

Q: Who is this other guy?
A: Jake, he is... (Her phone goes off, she looks at it and says it's Jake, reads the text and laughs while shutting it) the guy that cares about me and never gave up on me when it seemed almost impossible.

Q: So your having a secret relationship with Jake?
A: Yes.

Q: How long has this been happening?
A: Two to three weeks I guess.

Q: Do you plan to break it off with one of them before Valentines Day?
A: Valentines Day came too fast. It may actually happen on Valentines day.

Q: So you plan on cutting Brian lose?
A: Yes.

Q: How do you think Brian will react?
A: I think he is going to be very upset and hurt. But I cant pretend the feeling's mutual anymore.

Q: What do you mean by that?
A: I feel like he cares more about me then I care about him.

Q: How serious has your relationship with Brian been?
A: I wouldn't say real serious but he was planing on proposing.

Q: Proposing?
A: Yeah.

Q: That sounds pretty serious, how do you feel about that?
A: It's scary to think about.

Q: So your not ready to settle down into Marriage?
A: Not even close.

Q: What if Brian proposes before you break it off on Valentines Day?
A: I'd probably break down and cry.

Q: Why would you break down and cry if you already made your decision?
A: Because I know i'll be hurting him but he needs to know the truth.

Q: Do you think this may put a dampter on Valentines day in the future?
A: No. I think it will make them better but the memory will always be there.

Pearl Jam Stinkers

By Samuel Mattei

Pearl Jam is a nineties grunge band who is known for passionate vocals, Jeremy and....Bladder control?

Mike McCready was diagnosed with Crohn's disease when he was 19. For years he kept it a secret due to embarrassment. He has now taken it upon himself to use his celebrity to try to make a difference for people who suffer from this disease.

McCready went before a a committee in Washington who are attempting to make it illegal to deny an individual with crohn's disease access to a private bathroom.

McCready has had terrible experiences while suffering from this disease. He states that at one point he soiled himself while playing a guitar solo, knowing that he would disappoint fans if he was to run off stage.

The Pearl Jam guitarist, now 42 years old explains that he is doing fine and has the disease very under control.

What he worries about is the children. McCready told the Daily Express that “I’m 42 years old. I’m doing fine. But when you’re 13 or 14 and you’re going through those years with the shame and indignation - it’s embarrassing."

Blink 182 Is Back

By Samuel Mattei

Mark Tom and Travis are back right where they left off. At least that's what they say on their message section of there website.

It's great that their back, especially if your a 90's child.

For those of you who were living under a rock from 1998 to 2005 here is a brief history of the band.

Formed in 1992 the original members consisted of Tom DeLonge (Vocals/Guitar), Mark Hoppus (Vocals/Bass) and Scott Raynor (Drums). In 1998 Travis Barker took Raynors spot on drums and this was the starting point to the internationally known pop-punk band that would come to be known as Blink 182.

In 1998 Blink came out with their first major record Enema Of The State. This album consisted of hits such as All The Small Things, Whats My Age Again? and Adams Song. The album went on to sell over 5 million records in the States.

The band had become in a way the late 90's version of Green day. They were now the band that was known for it's fun songs.

In 2001 Blink came out with a new album that had $$$ written all over it. Take Off Your Pants and Jacket. The album had it's fair share of radio time with Feeling This and I Miss You.

In 2005 the band had lost their chemistry with each other. A break up was occurring that would end the band for years.

Mark and Travis went on to make a new band Plus 44. The album they put out had more of an emo vibe to it. The only hit song they received in the United States was from shampoo commercial.

DeLonge went on and started the semi-successful Angels and Airways who recently finished opening for Weezer over the summer.

Blink 182 was no more and they planned on keeping it that way. Too much time on the road can make even the happiest guys hate each other.

On September 20, 2009 a terrible plane crash in South Carolina ended four lives injured others. One of the injured was former Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker. Websites flooded with people praying and wishing well the injured drummer who suffered second and third degree burns.

Rumors started circulating that Blink was talking again. Talks of a reunion were in the works, though the key members were denying it.

Then came the 51st annual Grammy awards. For the first time since 2004 the band made their way on stage together. The much rehabilitated Barker stepped up to the mic and said ""We used to play music together, and we decided we're going to play music together again." Followed by the animated Mark Hoppus yelling "BLINK 182 IS BACK."

Blink now states that they are already in the recording studio working on new material. They plan on traveling the world once again.

As long as this new record sounds like Enema Of The State and not Take Off Your Pants and Jacket then you will see me at their 2009 summer tour when they make their stop in Philly.

Show And Tell Philly Style

By Samuel Mattei

When will enough be enough. Will it be when their need for the drug has taken over them mentally and physically? Maybe they will say enough when it's hurting the people around them? Nah. What about this?

On Tuesday February 3rd a second grader in South Philadelphia found a fun looking candy and decided to take it to school with him. What an odd looking piece of candy he must have thought to himself.

Now most likely (not saying definitely) he received this "fun" candy from his house. Left out by parents maybe? Lets give them the shadow of a doubt and say he found it on the curb outside.

Lucky for him his great parents had raised him right. They taught him to share. This little boy thought it would be great to share this new discovery with his friends.

Only one problem. The gym teacher. This gym teacher I'm sure as well as the students know there is no candy allowed during class. You could choke on it while running around! Or in this case take to much and blow up your heart. Either way it would look horrible for the school district.

The gym teacher took away the candy and decided to give it back to the children after class when wait a minute.......it's not candy, it's heroin! Yep, South Philly second graders passing around heroin in class.

Thinking quickly the kids were immidently brought to the nurse to make sure they were alright.

The nurse checked them out and made sure they were not sick, all was well except for one child.

Remember the kid in your class who would eat anything for a dollar. Well he was in this class. He told the nurse he tasted it.

The medics were called right away and the children were taken to The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. All was well.

Philadelphia Police have already obtained search warrants for where they believe the Heroin may have came from.

This was my first local story!.......kinda

Pot Smoking Olympic Swimming United States Phenomenon

By Samuel Mattei

Usually in early February only one sports story makes the front and back page of every newspaper in the country, but this year is different. And for a VERY different reason.

The news of the week is about American Olympian Michael Phelps. Everyone knows who he is still, he hasn't faded from our memories too much yet. The eight gold medals, the commercials, the sponsorships and the fact that instead of the Olympics it was being referred to as the Michael Phelps show.

Pictures have surfaced of Phelps smoking out of what has been called a tobacco using pipe, marijuana pipe, etc.. In other words, he was smoking pot out of a bong.

Phelps biggest mistake wasn't being at a party where people were smoking pot, nor was it himself smoking pot. His biggest mistake was smoking in PUBLIC.

A man of that stature should realize that people will do anything for a snapshot like the photo above.

Michael Phelps hasn't broken any Olympic rules, he tested negative to any illegal substances during the Olympics.

I applaud Phelps for his honesty.

He could have easily said the picture wasn't me. He could have said there was no illegal drugs in the photo, just tobacco. But he didn't.

He came out and apologized to his fans saying that he he is sorry and it will never happen again.

Rumors have been circulating over the weekend that Phelps lawyers have been trying to do whatever they could to keep the photo hidden. Most recent being that Michael Phelps would write a column free for the next three years to the British Post that released the photo.

The big questions in this whole case concerns Phelps financial situation. Will the sponsors stick by the 23 year old after his mistake.

So far the answer is a resounding yes. So far Speedo and Omega (watch company) have stuck by him. Other companies such as Subway and Kellogs have not made any statements regarding the situation.

This is not the first time Phelps has gotten himself into trouble with the law for mistakes that could have easily been avoided.

The 19 year old swimmer was arrested for a DUI (Driving Under the Influence) months after receiving gold and bronze medals in the 2004 Olympics. He pleaded not guilty and apologized for his mistake.

Michael Phelps made a mistake that he regrets now that the pictures have surfaced. He is a young man in the spotlight and these situations will come up.

He stepped up and apologized for his actions. Time will tell how truthful the apology was. At this moment in time Phelps is still one of the greatest athletes on Earth. The questions now is what will he be remembered for most?

The Shoe That Shocked The World

By Samuel Mattei

We all remember the journalist from Iraq named Al-Zeidi. The one who threw his shoe at President Bush. It was a day for comedians to make money, newscasters to have something fun to talk about and for the citizens of Iraq to feel like they were able to get their voices out just a little more through an act of hatred.

This moment gave the people of Iraq pride. So much so that a tribute has been made in honor of the incident.

On January 29, 2009 a monument the size of a couch was put on display in Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit. The monument was a shoe made from copper and fiberglass.

It is made by artist Laith Al-Amari who claims that the giant shoe is not political but "a homage to the pride of the Iraqi people."

The shoe was put up one month and fifteen days after Al-Zeidi threw his shoes at Bush. Screaming "This is a goodbye kiss from the Iraqi people, dog."

Think back to April 9th 2003. A huge day in history. America had invaded Iraq already and to make a statement, they tore down a giant statue of Saddam Hussein in the center of Baghdad. What were the Iraqi people doing then? Throwing shoes at the statue!

Throwing shoes at people in the middle east is well known as a sign of true hatred. Putting this giant shoe up in the middle of Iraq is the equivalent of The United States putting up a statue of a giant hand with the middle finger up on the White House lawn.

Bush dodges two shoes link http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/chain-of-fools-escapees-poleaxed/2009/01/29/1232818622434.html