Friday news bits

A smattering of stories on a number of fronts, with minimal time to give:

• Santorum still in favor of Iraq war. Gravity still holding.
  
  
• Inquirer editorial spanks Philly for dropping the smoking ban, noting that all of our surrounding states have implemented such legislation (as well as minimum wages higher than the federal baseline, and other crazy notions of improving the life of their citizens).
  
  
• For those of you who were paying attention in summer of 2004, there was a big scandal concerning the endemic corruption among plumbing inspectors. Apparently there were also some cases against plumbers who benefitted from bribes and getting discounted permits, etc., and one of the latter was just convicted.
  
  
• The Daily News opinionizers lambast the pettiness that is the Delaware dredging dispute, although I think they made a typo there in "hissing match."
  
  
• Dan at YPP is against renaming 30th St. Station after Ben Franklin, and I agree with his points. However, the (very meritorious) fellow he suggests instead has the unfortunate name of "Higginbotham," which is better suited to a fellowship or civic service award than to a public landmark.
  
  
• Ray Murphy think that expansion of public transit can both improve the health of the region and provide decent-wage jobs. Good discussion ensues.
  
  
• And finally, Above Average Jane notes that it's particularly difficult to run as an independent or third-party candidate in Pennsylvania.