Month: December 2009

Back in Business on Tuesday

Just got back in from New Hampshire, where I spent Christmas. Getting back in gear today. Yes, there is a quiz this week, both on Tuesday and Wednesday, and yes, yours truly will be hosting. Also, I’m gonna get crackin on the Year in Review starting tomorrow. In the meantime, I need a little vacation from my vacation. Hope everyone had a great holiday and I’ll be back atcha manana.

The JGT Holiday Spectacular

wonderfulquizAlright gang, you know the deal. It’s time for the annual Holiday Spectacular. I will be hosting tonight at O’Neals, where Ivan the Trivial aims for 7 straight. We then move on to the Bards at 10:15 p.m. I’m heading to sunny New Hampshire tomorrow morning, so Mike Minion will be hosting tomorrow night at the Rendezvous at 6:15 p.m. and Black Sheep at 8 p.m. There will not be a quiz on Thursday night at either location. All questions tonight and tomorrow will be holiday themed. Gonna be a lot of fun. Hope to see ya tonight!

The JGT Power Rankings

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  1. Steak Em Up. Formed a super team and had a perfect score on Tuesday. Much more impressive was their Thursday win with only three players. Last week: #1
  2. Ivan the Trivial. They’ve now won 6 straight. A Christmas bounty on their heads tonight. Last week: #2
  3. The Jams. Three straight wins keep the Jams climbing the charts. Last week: #5
  4. L. Ron Hubbard’s Diabetics. A one point loss at the American ends their impressive streak, but they are still one of the top 5 teams on the circuit. Last week: #4
  5. Why Can’t Us. An impressive win over the Diabetics has this team rocketing up the charts. Last week: #9
  6. Catdog. 2 wins in three weeks at the Black Sheep. One of the streakiest teams in quizzo is on a hot streak right now. Last week: NR
  7. Narcotyzing Dysfunktion. It wasn’t a full contingent this week, but a mini-team keeps them in the top 10 with a 2nd place finish at the Bards. Last week: #6
  8. Quiz on Your Face. A second place finish to the Jams this week and a win over them earlier this month. They continue to be a thorn in the Jams side. Last week: NR
  9. The Savage Ear. Another week, another 2nd place finish. One of the most remarkably consistent streaks I have ever seen. 6 straight weeks Ivan the Trivial has won. 6 straight weeks The Ear has finished 2nd. Oh, the humanity. Last week: #8
  10. Duane’s World. Slip slidin’ away. Slip slidin’ away-yay. You know the nearer your destination, the more you’re slip slidin’ away. This team is one bad Black Sheep finish away from being left off the Power Rankings for the first time since they were created. Last week: #7

Chip Chantry Attack on Christmas Tonight!

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It’s about that time. Time for the Chip Chantry Attack on Christmas, and it’s going down at the Khyber at 8 p.m. tonight. Let me start by saying that the rumors you’ve heard about Chip and I rapping tonight are completely unfounded. So disregard those. (However, those rumors you’ve heard about Chip and the elves are entirely true.) Anyways, a lot of comedy goodness tonight, as numerous local comedy troupes and comedians will be giving their own two cents on the holiday season. Steve O is gonna be playing Chirstmas Carols between acts. And there just might be a return of the beloved but rarely seen Wheel of Terrific: Holiday edition. This is a show you do not want to miss. Tonight. Khyber. 8 p.m. Hope to see ya tonight!

The Blizzard of ’09…1909

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Interesting to note the last time we see near this much snow in December was almost exactly 100 years ago. It was Christmas Day, 1909, that the storm began, and it continued snowing for the next 24 hours. It is kind of funny to think that, as we constantly complain about travel delays, that they are nothing new. Numerous trains got stuck in the snow during this storm, with one train traveling from NY to Washington getting stuck on the tracks nearby for 12 hours while they replaced the engine, which had been damaged in the storm. I bet that was fun. I assume there was no way to keep the car warm with the engine off. Think about that the next time you’re whining about the fact your flight got delayed a half hour as you sit in a warm airport bar. Five people in Philly died due to the blizzard. There could have been a lot more deaths after a roof collapsed at a laundry business on 38th and Lancaster, but a miraculously, everyone survived:

Carrying a companion who had fainted from fright when the roof of the building, 3862-66 Lancaster avenue, collapsed under the weight of accumulated snow above the heads of herself and 12 other young women working in the Fairmont Laundry, Bessie Walker, of 3914 Walker street, stumbled down a wooden stairway and out into the street.

The toal accumulation was 21 inches. It was the December record until Saturday, when we received 23.2 inches. Saturday’s blizzard was the second greatest ever, after the Blizzard of ’96, when the city received an absurd 30.7 inches of snow.

A few last notes before the weekend

Here’s a few things of note before I head out to do Christmas stuff with the folks.

First of all, read about why the Phillies blew a chance to be one of the greatest National League teams of all time.

Secondly, somebody adopt this puppy, please!

Thirdly, I thought this was a great article in Philly Mag about Georges Perrier. I highly recommend it. A very evenhanded article, but you have to wonder if it was Philly Mag’s way of making up for ranking Le Bec Fin 46th best restaurant in the city.

Finally, a quick reminder that the Chip Chantry Attack on Christmas is taking place at the Khyber at 8 p.m. Going to be a great show, with some of Phillies best comedians and sketch troupes participating. And we’re having an ugly Christmas sweater contest.