Philles Phans Phlock to Phlorida

I just returned from a visit to Walt Disney World and August must be a popular time for Phillies fans to visit Central Florida.

Everywhere I turned throughout the four theme parks, I noticed an abundance of people donning a Phillies shirt or hat. In Epcot, I walked passed a man in a Phillies shirt who asked me how I was doing, just based on a Phillies batting practice jersey I had on. Moments later, another guy in a Phillies shirt fist-bumped me. Our paths then crossed again in the Rose and Crown Pub in the United Kingdom in the World Showcase.

Based on observations, the Phils were far-and-away the most popular team for Walt Disney World visitors when I visited. The Yankees were a distant second, followed by the Red Sox.

Gus Portokalos was right

Don't know how many are fans of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," but the one thing that I"m reminded of about that movie is how dad Gus Portokalos, played by Reading native Michael Constantine, walked around with a bottle of Windex and squirted it on everything to make it work.

Well, thanks to the hot, humid weather, we've been having some trouble with a 20-year-old French door that leads to our deck. For about a week, the dead bolt lock was stuck and we couldn't use the door to get on the deck. We tried WD-40 and that didn't work.

So the other morning, just for the heck of it, I grabbed a bottle of Windex from the cabinet under the kitchen sink, walked to the back door and squirted a few streams of Windex into the lock. I waited about a minute or two and ... Voila ... THE BACK DOOR OPENED!!!!

I don't know how much of it was because the heat and humidity was a little lower Monday morning or because the Windex actually worked, but....thanks for the tip, Gus!

5 best summertime songs of all time

This isn't my list, but found it interesting any way. It's the top 5 summertime songs of all time.

Frank Sinatra's "Summer Wind" is No. 5 and "California Girls" is No. 1. I'm not too sure about the others. I would have found a way to put "Beach Baby" by First Class on the list and probably Jimmy Buffett's "Margaritaville."

Things are getting worse for Phillies

The Phillies are only 3 1/2 games out of first place, but as the season goes on, you just have a feeling this team isn't going to the postseason.

The latest reason came Tuesday afternoon, when the Phillies placed both second baseman Chase Utley, at right, and third baseman Placido Polanco on the disabled list. Utley injured his thumb sliding into second base Monday night against Cincinnati, while Polanco has been out of the lineup since Friday with an injured elbow that has plagued him all season.

With catcher Carlos Ruiz also on the DL, 3 of the team's regular 8 players are out of the lineup.

Since the start of the season, the Phillies regular lineup has been on the field together for 5 games -- all in the first week of the season. Shortstop Jimmy Rollins spent 5 weeks on the disabled list earlier this season. In addition to Ruiz, Utley and Polanco, pitchers Ryan Madson, J.A. Happ, Antonio Bastardo and Chad Durbin are also on the DL.

Kobayashi won't compete in hot dog-eating contest

The biggest event of July Fourth weekend could be without one of its most prominent players.

It looks like a contact dispute with Major League Eating will keep Takeru Kobayashi, at right, out of Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest on Sunday, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Kobayashi, a six-time winner of the event, is currently No. 3 in the world in the MLE rankings.

Ranked No. 2 in the world is Bob Shoudt of Royersford.

Read more here.

Sixers trade Dalembert

After years of attempting to get rid of overpaid, underperforming center Samuel Dalembert, the Philadelphia 76ers have finally found a taker.

According to The Associated Press, the Sixers have traded Dalembert to the Sacramento Kings for center Spencer Hawes and forward Andres Nocioni.

Dalembert, shown at right, has been with the Sixers since 2001, when he was a first-round draft choice out of Seton Hall. He averaged just over 8 points and 8 rebounds a game for his career.

Calif. man arrested trying to kill bin Laden

A Calfornia man was arrested in northwest Pakistan on Tuesday and told officials he was there to kill Osama bin Laden and fight the Taliban.

Gary Brooks Faulkner was carying a pistol, a sword and a scimitar when he was picked up attmpting to cross into Afghanistan. According to reports, Falukner had visited the region 7 times before his arrest.

He had expressed his intention to fight the Taliban and bin Laden, reports stated.

For more, click here.