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  • Owen Tippett is setting the tempo for the Flyers, both on the ice and with the aux cord

    Owen Tippett is setting the tempo for the Flyers, both on the ice and with the aux cord

    Owen Tippett may have had a smile on his face when chatting in the locker room in Voorhees recently. But the big grin hid some of the anxiety he had heading into the Flyers’ home opener on Oct. 13.

    It wasn’t about scoring. At that point, the winger already had his first goal of the season under his belt — a power-play one to boot.

    No, this was a different kind of pressure.

    Tippett is now in charge of setting the tone. He is the new vibes guy. So, after months of preparation, of picking the right songs, of sending them to the Flyers game presentation group for the proper mix, his warmup playlist was making its debut.

    The Flyers’ aux cord now belongs to No. 74.

    The Flyers are in Rick Tocchet’s ‘blood.’ Now he’s tasked with returning the once-proud organization to prominence.

    For years, the playlist had been closely guarded by Scott Laughton, with Joel Farabee assisting. But both were traded last season: Farabee at the end of January to the Calgary Flames, and Laughton in early March to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

    Tippett took charge of the aux afterward, saying last season that he did it because he’s the “closest guy that kind of offered up for the Bluetooth not to cut out.” However, he didn’t really change much from the 105-song playlist he was handed in the group chat.

    Until now.

    “I’m always one who’s kind of looking for new music,” said Tippett, who ran the aux a handful of times playing for Mississauga and Saginaw of the Ontario Hockey League.

    “Obviously, there’s some staples that you can kind of keep in [the playlist] from years past, but I think anything that’s new, you kind of throw it in the playlist and hopefully guys catch on to it.”

    Note: Some songs on the playlist embedded below may be offensive to certain audiences or contain explicit content. Use caution while enjoying this playlist by making sure you’re aware of your surroundings.

    ‘T.N.T.’ – AC/DC

    Tippett hasn’t just set the mood in the locker room — there are several playlists, one has “slower songs” and “more of an easy vibe” for morning skates, and another before they get on the ice — but his on-ice presence has been setting the tone, too.

    During game action, he’s been like song No. 2 in warmups, AC/DC’s “T.N.T.,” and playing “dynamite.” Just six games into the new season, Tippett has collected five goals. Last season, when he finished with 20 tallies, it took him 25 games to hit that mark.

    The dip in production came after two consecutive seasons with at least 27 goals — it took him 15 games in 2023-24 and 13 in 2022-23 to score No. 5 on the season — and expectations that he would crack the 30-goal mark in his third full season with the Flyers.

    Flyers right wing Owen Tippett is really using his speed and strength to get to the middle more. The early results have been promising.

    “I think it’s just getting reset and looking back onto those years and what worked and what made me kind of more successful than I was last year,” he told The Inquirer on Oct. 6. “End of the day, everyone has those years; it’s going to happen and not get too frustrated with the dips and just trying to regroup as quick as you can.”

    And he is using it all as motivation.

    “I think it’s just take that next step,” he said about his ambitions during training camp. “Obviously, a bit older now, and more games played, and I think it’s time that I kind of take that step and take on that bigger role. … That comes with little things within the game, but as a player, just kind of round out my game.”

    Tippett sounds like a grizzled veteran, but the 26-year-old winger has only 353 regular-season games under his belt — 94 with the Florida Panthers and 259 with the Flyers after being acquired in the Claude Giroux trade.

    And this year, he has taken on a bigger role, averaging 16 minutes, 31 seconds a night, while being put into more situations by the new coaching staff led by Rick Tocchet.

    Under new head coach Rick Tocchet, Owen Tippett (left) looks poised for his first 30-goal season.

    ‘Because You Move Me’ – Helsloot & Tinlicker

    Tippett has always played on the power play, but this season he has been moved into a rotating spot between the net-front and the bumper. It’s different than his previous spot on the flank, but he likes that it “gives you more options.”

    His one power-play goal came from being atop the crease — he was screening Carolina Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen — when he pounced on a shot that caromed off the glass behind the net.

    Tippett has become an all-around special teams threat. In his first 253 games with Philly, he was on the ice killing penalties for an average of nine seconds per game (36 minutes, 3 seconds total). This season, he’s up to 24 seconds per game for a total of 2:24. Former coach John Tortorella always said Tippett played better with more ice time, and it’s showing.

    And the additional responsibilities play into what the Flyers wanted to see from Tippett this season. The winger is in Year 2 of an eight-year, $49.6 million extension that he signed in January 2024, and before the season, Flyers general manager Danny Brière said he wanted to see Tippett take the next step and work on “developing his all-around game.”

    “He is becoming even more of a true threat. … We hope he becomes a 30-, 35-goal scorer,” Brière said on Oct. 2. “That’s what we hope from him. I mean, what he brings is more than just goals, too. The size, the speed, the powerful explosiveness that he has is tough to find.

    “So that’s what we want to keep seeing from him. Evolving, finding ways to take advantage of the best time to use those assets that he has that not a lot of players have.”

    The Flyers have high hopes for Owen Tippett and believe he is just scratching the surface of his potential.

    ‘Walk It Talk It’ – Migos (feat. Drake)

    Recently given the title of “the fastest skater I’ve ever seen” by new teammate Trevor Zegras, Tippett is a dynamic, speedy winger packed into a 6-foot-1, 210-pound power forward’s body. He crunches guys with ease — as noted by his big hit on Seattle Kraken forward Tye Kartye on Monday — and also keeps defenses on their heels because they cannot predict when he will turn on the jets.

    He is known for highlight-reel goals, but when he mixes his speed, shiftiness, and big shot, Tippett can resemble a freight train. According to NHL Edge, Tippett’s max speed last season was 23.89 mph — Miles Wood’s 24.82-mph burst was the NHL’s fastest last season — and he recorded 38 bursts of 22 mph, ranking fourth in the NHL. Two seasons ago, he was clocked as the fastest skater in the NHL — yes, faster than Connor McDavid — by hitting a max of 24.21 mph, and was ranked fourth in the league with 46 trips at 22-plus mph.

    This season, his max speed is 22.89, with Bobby Brink the fastest Flyer at 23.30. But Tippett has hit at least 22 mph seven times already, putting him right behind McDavid’s 11.

    Just because he has dropped a little speed doesn’t mean anything. It’s actually a good sign because, while “it’s obviously exciting when you look up and see no one in front of you … and you start turning the legs,” he also has realized that he doesn’t need to be going 100 miles an hour all the time.

    “I know my speed’s always going to be there,” he said. “So it’s focusing on the other little things and then letting my game take over from there. There’s definitely going to be times where it fits in, and we’re still trying to figure that out. … It’s just a matter of finding times, and then letting the game kind of open up and not force things.”

    Flyers takeaways: Power play finally fires; Nikita Grebenkin announces his presence

    ‘Can’t Stop’ – Red Hot Chili Peppers

    After he was hired as the Flyers’ coach in May, Tocchet told The Inquirer, “I think Owen Tippett is a guy who I feel has another level in him. I think he’s a prototypical big, fast winger. Can we unleash him?”

    Well, it looks like the collar is off.

    The bench boss noticed early on that the winger had a habit of exposing the puck; Tippett has been working on it. Tocchet mentioned his “incredible” speed and how he is a “great off-the-rush guy,” but wanted to see him go to the inside more. One of his two goals Monday came because he positioned himself in the slot, and he combined his newfound inside game with his trademark speed to beat two-time defending Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck on Oct. 16.

    The Flyers’ gifted Matvei Michkov overcame pressure as a rookie. Now he’s out to avoid the sophomore slump.

    “In the short time I’ve been here, [and] this coaching staff, he’s been a pleasure to coach,” Tocchet said. “He’s been in the room. He’s asking questions. He’s in the video room. He’s taking the information. He’s really taken ahold of the game like a leader-type of role. That’s what I see. I don’t know what happened in the past, but he looks like a guy who’s dialed in.”

    Indeed.

    Like the music he listens to — EDM (electronic dance music) to house to rap to remixes — Tippett is adding variety to his game while burying five goals on 19 shots. For someone notoriously criticized for missing the net, Tippet is ranked sixth in the NHL with an eye-popping 26.3% shooting percentage (minimum 15 shots).

    Of course, Tippett’s taste in music isn’t for everyone, but as Cam York said, “It’s been good. If he keeps scoring like that, keep going.”

  • Eagles Week 8 film preview: Key to a big day for Jalen Hurts, stopping Giants’ rookie duo, and more

    Eagles Week 8 film preview: Key to a big day for Jalen Hurts, stopping Giants’ rookie duo, and more

    Breaking tendencies on offense for the Eagles played a big role in their Week 7 win over the Minnesota Vikings. With a rematch looming with the New York Giants on Sunday, that formula will likely be put to good use again.

    Jalen Hurts finished the Vikings game with a perfect passer rating (158.3) and continued his trend of exploiting zone coverage for a second straight game. But the influx of under-center play-action and connecting on his deep shots with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith made all the difference.

    What to expect from Brandon Graham? Here’s how other NFL players who unretired fared.

    Can the offense carry that momentum against the Giants, while figuring out its running-game issues? Here’s what we learned from the film ahead of Sunday’s rematch between the division foes:

    Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts thrived passing from under center against the Vikings in Week 7.

    More under-center play-action

    Of Hurts’ 326 passing yards against Minnesota, 121 of them came on play-action, under-center throws downfield. Entering that game, the Eagles averaged just 0.8 yards from under center, which ranked 30th in the NFL, according to Fantasy Points Data.

    Hurts completed all four of those pass attempts, including the 79-yard touchdown strike to Smith. The play-action also opened up the middle, allowing the Eagles offense to attack an area of the field it has often neglected.

    The Giants, according to Next Gen Stats, are giving up the eighth-highest total of passing yards on throws traveling 10 to 19 air yards, yielding 71.9 yards per game. Hurts has completed four of six passes in that range of the field in each of his last two games.

    There are also examples of the Giants defense giving up explosive plays off play-action passes from under center. New York yielded a 33-yard gain to CeeDee Lamb during a matchup with Dallas in Week 2, and surrendered an 87-yard touchdown connection from Spencer Rattler to Rashid Shaheed in Week 5 against New Orleans.

    In their Week 6 matchup, Hurts, who has typically thrived against man coverage in his career, completed just six of 12 passes against New York’s man looks on defense, according to Next Gen Stats. And he threw his lone interception of the season, which all but ended the game.

    What we know (and don’t) about the Eagles entering Week 8 vs. the Giants

    Hurts’ early touchdown pass to Brown against Minnesota was proof of his improvement as a passer, making plays with his arm rather than taking off and scrambling. According to Next Gen Stats, Hurts had his first game with a positive expected points added (which measures team performance on a play-by-play basis) per drop back on scrambles without actually taking off and running.

    If Hurts can continue that trend, the Eagles should be in for another big passing day — the Giants are giving up the seventh-highest total of passing yards per game in the NFL (245.3) and the second-most passing yards on throws that travel 20 or more air yards (62.9), according to Next Gen Stats.

    Giants rookie running back Cam Skattebo rushed for 98 yards and three touchdowns against the Eagles in Week 6.

    Keeping Dart and Skattebo in check

    In Week 6, rookies Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo ran wild over the Eagles defense, which was without defensive tackle Jalen Carter and cornerback Quinyon Mitchell, who left the game with a hamstring strain. And the pairing hasn’t slowed down after accounting for 156 of the Giants’ 172 rushing yards in that game.

    Skattebo was a little more subdued against Denver, rushing for 60 yards on 3.1 yards per carry. But Dart continued to make plays downfield and on the move, hurting the Broncos defense with his arm. Dart is coming off his best passing day, throwing for 283 yards and three scores.

    His connection with wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson continues to grow. When he escapes the pocket and extends plays, Dart has consistently found Robinson outside the numbers or over the middle of the field for big gains — first against the Eagles in Week 6, then Denver last week.

    Tight ends continue to be among Dart’s favorite targets. He threw two more to that position group Sunday in Denver, finding Daniel Bellinger (44 yards) and Theo Johnson (41 yards) for touchdowns.

    Of Dart’s seven touchdown passes, five have gone to tight ends, and Johnson has four of them. Because of the high tight end usage, the Giants could look to attack downfield and utilize double moves against the Eagles’ secondary to spring Johnson or Bellinger.

    Against Minnesota, a double move from Jordan Addison created a 32-yard completion between Mitchell and Drew Mukuba in zone coverage. The Giants completed a pass on similar action to Bellinger, albeit against man coverage.

    But the most important thing the Eagles need to do to prevent New York from taking shots downfield is to stop the run. The Birds defense has allowed 26 runs of 10 or more yards, tied for the seventh-most in the NFL, and it particularly struggles on outside runs.

    The Giants made the Eagles pay in their previous matchup, with three of the five rushes that went 10 yards or more coming from runs outside the tackles, according to Next Gen Stats. The running-back toss play to Skattebo has been effective over their last two games.

    Although his status for Sunday’s game is in question, defensive end Brandon Graham, now back with the Eagles, could provide a huge boost in the run defending department. Graham’s reps before his first triceps injury last season showed a promising trend of setting a firm edge and knifing through offensive lines.

    He would be a major boost to a run defense that ranks 22nd in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game (127.9).

    Encouraging signs for Barkley

    For the last two games, Eagles opponents entered the game struggling to defend the run but were still able to hold Saquon Barkley to 58 and 44 total rushing yards. Looking beyond the numbers, though, tells a different story.

    The Eagles are trying to get Barkley out in space and last week’s game that featured under-center play-action passing showcased an evolved plan for the running game. After finding some success earlier in the season on Barkley pitch plays to the left side of the offensive line, the Eagles called four outside toss plays against the Vikings that yielded 14 yards. It also provided some new run scheme looks from under center that can be paired with play-action passes.

    Denver ran a similar play that popped a big gain against the Giants’ defense in Week 7, with J.K. Dobbins rumbling for a 32-yard gain. Expect the Eagles to keep the toss play as a run scheme option for Barkley on Sunday.

    In addition to the toss play, the Eagles have found success in getting Barkley some daylight on split-zone runs against the Giants and Vikings that created 18-, 8-, and 9-yard gains. The action allows a backside tight end (Dallas Goedert) or motioning receiver across the formation to keep a defensive end or edge rusher from crashing down the play for a loss.

    Barkley’s rushing numbers could be even worse if not for his elusiveness in the backfield. Twice last week he had to force someone to miss right after he got the handoff to turn a potential negative play into a positive one.

    With center Cam Jurgens’ status for Sunday in question, the Eagles must continue to find ways to give Barkley room to run. Mixing in variations of run schemes should help aid a potential breakout performance.

  • The clash between the federal government and states over vaccine policy is ‘unprecedented,’ Villanova health law professor says

    The clash between the federal government and states over vaccine policy is ‘unprecedented,’ Villanova health law professor says

    Villanova professor Ana Santos Rutschman would describe the current state of vaccine policy as a game of chess.

    When the federal government does something, some states — primarily Democratic-led states including Pennsylvania — respond immediately to counter.

    A prime example followed the federal government’s move, through the Food and Drug Administration, in August to limit eligibility for the updated COVID-19 vaccine. Previously, the annual shot was recommended for all Americans 6 months and older. The new guidance was for people 65 or older and those at high risk of complications from COVID-19.

    Pennsylvania’s regulatory body for pharmacists opened up access by allowing pharmacists to follow the broader recommendations of professional medical societies.

    “It’s kind of [like] ‘Harry Potter’ chess. Remember when they climb on the gigantic pieces and then try to kill one another?” Rutschman said, referring to the fictional scene where chess pieces violently smash the opposing side’s pieces.

    “There’s a certain violence to this from a political perspective,” she added.

    States are allowed to diverge from the federal government on vaccine policy because our system of government, known as federalism, divides power between the federal government and the states.

    With vaccines, states historically have chosen to align in large part with the federal government’s recommendations.

    Rutschman says recent actions by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have ushered in a new era of what’s being called “vaccine federalism.” Kennedy is a longtime anti-vaccine activist now serving as President Donald Trump’s top health official.

    CHOP’s Vaccine Education Center experts fear policy changes coming under RFK’s health leadership

    Many states, especially those with Democratic governors, including Pennsylvania and New Jersey, saw recent changes under his leadership as a sign that they “need to do something in direct opposition to the federal government,” Rutschman said.

    Now it’s a “head-on collision,” she added.

    The Inquirer spoke with Rutschman, who researches vaccine federalism as a health law professor and director of the Health Innovation Lab at Villanova University, to learn more about this new era and its possible consequences in a conversation lightly edited for length and clarity.

    What is vaccine federalism?

    For vaccination and everything else, our system is split in two. You have the states and then you have the federal government.

    There is room for tension between the federal level and the state level. Historically, that tension has been, I would argue, limited. It has existed, but it’s not been the defining feature. Now, particularly in the context of vaccines, it has become probably the most salient feature.

    How are states allowed to differ from the federal government as far as vaccine policy?

    States don’t have the power to authorize a new vaccine to come to market.

    But then you have a lot of things that the Centers for Disease Control have done that are more informational. The federal government recommends which shots children or adults should get, and the time frame for most children to get these shots.

    The federal government offers this kind of informational support, and then states set their own policy.

    How has vaccine federalism played out in the past?

    Examples from the past are not as salient or blatant as the ones you’re seeing right now.

    There was a lot of variability around the country, but the overall message was harmonious. Everybody was trying to get, by and large, most of the population vaccinated past herd immunity.

    What is happening now?

    Now it’s a head-on collision.

    States are saying, ‘We’re not going to implement requirements to restrict access to these vaccines.’ The Board of Pharmacy in Pennsylvania decided not to be bound by the CDC’s recommendations. This is a direct clash. We hadn’t had this before between the federal government and the states in the field of vaccines.

    What are examples of this new era of vaccine federalism?

    One example would be the formation of state clusters. These are a lot of neighboring states in agreement. They’re trying to share data and think of best practices, which is almost that informational function that traditionally fell to the [federal health agencies].

    The states are saying, ‘Well, you’re not doing that, so we will.’

    ‘We will pull resources and information to come up with our own advisory role.’ That’s unprecedented.

    You have sort of two speeds in the country. Some states are collaborating and very active in setting regional vaccine policy. And then you have a bunch of states that go completely the other way. You have the, for now, isolated case of Florida saying, ‘We’re going to just basically do away with all vaccination mandates,’ which is going further than the federal government.

    Now it’s a much messier situation, legally, philosophically, politically, etc.

    Shapiro visits CHOP to sign an executive order protecting access to vaccines
    How effective are these regional coalitions?

    They are accomplishing something. You see fewer restrictions in access to vaccines in a place like Pennsylvania than other states.

    Whereas states who are not part of these kinds of coalitions — typically excluding the likes of Florida — a lot of them are waiting to see what happens, because this has never happened in the history of vaccination in the United States.

    In the meantime, there are a lot of people falling through the cracks who would have been indicated for a vaccine last year. Now they’re wondering what to do, and their providers are not entirely sure.

    There’s a lot of confusion about what happens now that federal policy has taken a completely different direction.

    What impacts do you see coming from this new era of vaccine federalism?

    People hearing one thing out of the CDC and another one out of the state of Pennsylvania may think, ‘Who’s correct? Who should I listen to?’ You start aggregating all the people who might forgo vaccination just because they don’t understand what’s going on.

    I think it continues to accelerate the overall phenomenon of vaccine mistrust, and we’re already seeing levels of herd immunity come down for many vaccine-preventable diseases.

    If I were a provider, I would be similarly confused and concerned, because nobody takes lightly the idea that from now on, ‘I’ll be doing something that’s in direct opposition to what the federal regulators are suggesting I should be doing.’ So I think there’s a fear factor and confusion.

    Lastly, I think there’s an overall chilling effect with regard to vaccines. Yes, some vaccines make money, but they don’t make a whole lot of money to begin with. They’ve never been one of the preferred products for manufacturers. These are not the most profitable things they can be doing.

    I think that we will see much less focus on vaccine development in years to come, because that’s the logical position for pharmaceutical companies, and for some funders even to take, which is unfortunate.

    What do you think of Pennsylvania’s response?

    I think it’s to Pennsylvania’s credit, and I think it’s to some degree reassuring for Pennsylvanians. Although it obviously makes me sad that we have sort of this two-speed mode in the country. Some part of this national fabric has ruptured.

    For now, Pennsylvania has protected itself as it can, but states alone don’t control everything. You have Pennsylvanians going to other states where you may have an outbreak of a vaccine-preventable disease. We don’t have real borders. We cross them all the time.

  • Google unveils quantum computing breakthrough on Willow chip

    Google unveils quantum computing breakthrough on Willow chip

    Alphabet Inc.’s Google ran an algorithm on its “Willow” quantum-computing chip that can be repeated on similar platforms and outperform classical supercomputers, a breakthrough it said clears a path for useful applications of quantum technology within five years.

    The “Quantum Echoes” algorithm, detailed in a paper published Wednesday in the science journal Nature, is verifiable, meaning it can be repeated on another quantum computer. It also ran 13,000 times faster than previously possible on the world’s best supercomputer, Google said. Taken together, the advances point to a broad range of potential uses in medicine and materials science, Google said.

    “The key thing about verifiability is it’s a huge step in the path toward a real world application,” said Tom O’Brien, a staff research scientist at Google Quantum AI who oversaw the completion of this work. “In achieving this result we’re really pushing us toward finding mainstream.”

    Alphabet shares rose as much as 2.4% Wednesday in New York trading before closing up 0.5%.

    The breakthrough brings Google a step closer to harnessing the processing power promised by quantum computing, also being pursued by rivals Microsoft Corp., International Business Machines Corp., and numerous start-ups. It follows Google’s announcement in December that Willow had solved a problem in five minutes that would have taken a supercomputer 10 septillion years.

    Quantum computers use tiny circuits to perform calculations, like traditional computers do, but they make these calculations in parallel, rather than sequentially, making them much faster. While firms have boasted of building quantum platforms that surpass classical computers, their challenge has been to find a useful application.

    Computer scientist Scott Aaronson, who wasn’t involved in the study, wrote in an email that he was “thrilled” by Google’s progress toward outperforming supercomputers in a way which could be efficiently repeated, and thus proved, on a second quantum computer — which had been “one of the biggest challenges of the field for the past several years.” Still, he warned that there was a lot of work ahead.

    “Getting from here to anything commercially useful, and/or to scalable fault-tolerance (which wasn’t used for this demonstration), will be additional big challenges,” wrote Aaronson, who serves as the Schlumberger Centennial Chair of computer science at the University of Texas at Austin.

    The Google team, which includes 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics winner Michel H. Devoret, said it plans to continue to move toward real-world applications by scaling up and improving the accuracy of its machines.

  • In ‘Fire!!,’ Quintessence Theatre brings 1920s Harlem to Mount Airy

    In ‘Fire!!,’ Quintessence Theatre brings 1920s Harlem to Mount Airy

    After the success of its world premiere adaptation of James Baldwin’s Giovanni’s Room, Quintessence Theatre Company is back. In collaboration with the New Classics Collective, it’s now presenting the world premiere of Fire!! by Paul Oakley Stovall and Marilyn Campbell-Lowe.

    The play seeks to reimagine the 1927 quarterly publication Fire!!, the first all-Black magazine in the country, as a stage production. Throughout the show, audiences are treated to staged performances of plays, stories, and poems by some of the great writers of the Harlem Renaissance, including Zora Neale Hurston and Langston Hughes.

    Seeking to offer audiences a more immersive experience, director Raelle Myrick-Hodges begins the play in the historic Sedgwick Theater’s lobby, with performers in suits and flapper dresses. The 1928-built lobby throbs with life, making you believe you are in 1920s Harlem. Wallace Thurman (Kaisheem Fowler-Bryant), one of the editors of Fire!!, introduces himself and his fellow editors and explains that the night’s performances are part of a fundraiser to raise money for the magazine.

    From left: Taylor J. Mitchell (as Gwendolyn Bennett) and Alicia Thomas (as Zora Neale Hurston) in Quintessence Theatre’s “Fire!!”

    Zora Neale Hurston (Alicia Thomas) introduces herself soon after, but it’s hard to hear her over the rumbling of a wheeled platform stage being ushered into the lobby. This later serves as the train for the first scene of Hurston’s play Color Struck.

    While it is admirable for Quintessence to use the Sedgwick in new and different ways, the echoing sound quality of the lobby leaves things feeling under-produced.

    The audience eventually makes its way into the house. The theater’s arching pillars remain visible as a “backstage” space throughout the play — without the black curtains, this adds to the echo in the lobby.

    Charlie Bay (as Richard Bruce Nugent) and Imani Lee Williams (as Melva) in Quintessence Theatre’s “Fire!!”

    Inside, the play continues, flipping between staged presentations of pieces that were published in Fire!! and the imagined drama of the editors hoping to appeal to patrons and fund the publication.

    This invented drama is interesting but feels under-realized. For one thing, this is the actual conflict of the play, but all the action happens upstage of the “stage” and presents a myriad of sight line issues depending on where audiences are seated in relation to the pillars on stage. The audibility issues persist, making it difficult to hear actors, especially when they are fighting over any sound cues or underscoring.

    The conflict of the play boils up when Thurman voices hesitancy toward presenting his lover Richard Bruce Nugent’s novel, which features queer characters. This conflict, while seeming to be the crux of the entire play, easily resolves itself within the performance of Nugent’s story, and is barely addressed later.

    From left: Imani Lee Williams, Taylor J. Mitchell, Nichalas Parker (as Paul Watson), Alicia Thomas, and Ivana R. Thompson in Quintessence Theatre’s “Fire!!”

    The behind-the-scenes tension, which is the through line of the plot, feels almost forgotten by the time the house lights are back up.

    The staged presentations of works from Fire!! are, however, alive and well-executed.

    At a time of extreme political division, it is important to celebrate joy — especially Black joy. It is timely to witness Quintessence recall the Harlem Renaissance and its resistance with fondness.

    The stagings are ripe with music and dance. Xavier Townsend, who plays Aaron Douglas, in particular dazzles the audience with high kicks and spins, and Jordan Fidalgo’s Helene Johnson blows the audience away with her musical rendition of Johnson’s poem “A Southern Road.” The poems of Langston Hughes and Gwendolyn Bennett speak for themselves and are well orated by Nicholas Parker and Taylor J. Mitchell, respectively.

    From left: Xavier Townsend (as Aaron Douglas), Ivana R. Thompson (as Dorothy West), Tyler Bey (as Arthur Huff Fauset), Imani Lee Williams (as Georgia D. Johnston), Kaisheen Fowler-Bryant (as Wallace Thurman), Alicia Thomas (as Zora Neale Hurston), Nichalas Parker (as Langston Hughes), and Taylor J. Mitchell (as Gwendolyn Bennett) in Quintessence Theatre’s “Fire!!!”

    Quintessence and the New Classics Collective are, as usual, impeccable with their selection of source material. The selected works from Fire!! are dynamic and fascinating stories that investigate the issues of the 1920s and today.

    Audiences seeking to hear works of the Harlem Renaissance will be overjoyed by this production, if a bit confused by the subplot.

    ‘Fire!!’

    (Community/Arts)

    The story of the country’s first all-Black magazine, and the fight to keep it afloat, gets told in this 1920s Harlem Renaissance-set play. With Zora Neale Hurston and Langston Hughes making an appearance, Fire!! is a celebration of Black joy and resistance, and a delight to witness.

    ⌚️ Through Nov. 2, 📍 7137 Germantown Ave. (Mount Airy), 🌐quintessencetheatre.org

    Theater reviews are produced independently by The Inquirer without editorial input by their sponsor, Visit Philadelphia.

    The article has been updated with the correct name for the actor who plays Aaron Douglas.

  • Fewer killings, more homicide cases solved is good news for Philadelphia | Editorial

    Fewer killings, more homicide cases solved is good news for Philadelphia | Editorial

    Philadelphia has lost 187 people to homicide this year. With just over two months left in 2025, this represents a marked improvement over the pandemic era, a time when the city experienced more than 500 killings annually.

    This reduction — along with an increase in the number of homicide cases detectives are solving — is worth celebrating. But, as evidenced by the horrific killing of Kada Scott and far too many other calamities, there is still much more to be done. Even if homicides remain under 240 killings this year, which would be the lowest number since the 1960s, it would still leave the city with a homicide rate that is triple that of New York or Boston.

    That’s not to say there hasn’t been important progress.

    In 2020, when gun violence was beginning to surge, City Council authorized the “100 Shooting Review,” which identified weaknesses in the criminal justice system and outlined a series of recommendations to cool the violence.

    In 2021, Philadelphia invested more than $150 million in violence prevention and intervention programs. The disbursement of those funds was marked by instances of disorganization and insufficient oversight. However, according to those who study urban violence, the money served its purpose.

    Lessons must be learned after criminal justice system fails Kada Scott | Editorial

    A report from the Coalition to Save Lives credited community programs, including city-funded initiatives, with helping to reduce gun violence. Community leaders like the Rev. Carl Day, pastor of the Culture Changing Christians Worship Center, also stepped up, even without city support.

    Thanks, in part, to new technology and the installation of high-definition cameras across the city, police are now solving between 85% and 91% of homicide cases, a 40-year high.

    The clearance rate — or the percentage of homicides that have been solved — had dipped as low as 42% in recent years, meaning killers were more likely than not to get away with murder in Philadelphia.

    Beyond providing closure for families and accountability to perpetrators, solving cases and prosecuting offenders can also help deter future acts of violence. According to crime researchers, certainty of punishment is one of the most effective deterrents for those who are likely to kill. This effect is particularly strong for younger offenders, who tend to act impulsively. Given that gun violence among teens continued to rise despite the progress made in other age groups, continuing to improve the clearance rate is essential.

    Environmental and energy concerns are crucial in data center development | Editorial

    Solving cases also helps to prevent cycles of retributive shootings by gang members. These days, experts say, it is song lyrics and social media beefs that drive many conflicts between rival gangs, not territorial clashes. Solving cases, and doing so quickly, can help intervene before these groups become the next Young Bag Chasers.

    Despite the drop in the murder rate, Philadelphia still often feels beset by misdemeanors and lower-level felonies that contribute to an overall sense of disorder. Reckless driving permeates nearly all corners of the city, many transit stations reek of smoke and urine, illegal dumping plagues communities, blighted buildings like the former Ada H.H. Lewis Middle School attract crime, and police can take hours to respond to calls.

    Many Center City businesses feel the need to employ armed security due to regular incidents involving thieves or emotionally disturbed people. In August, a security guard at a women’s clothing store fired a warning shot at a man who was harassing the staff. Earlier this month, a security guard at an IHOP in Center City was charged with murder after shooting a man who allegedly spat on her. Buying clothes and eating pancakes should not feel like a trip to the Wild West, nor should crossing the street feel like a game of Frogger.

    Philadelphia’s leaders, including Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel, deserve credit for the progress the city has made in providing justice and reducing gun violence. But the job is far from over.

  • Dear Abby | Sister flips out over intended name for unborn nephew

    DEAR ABBY: I am pregnant with the first-born grandson on both sides. My husband and I plan to use my husband’s middle name for our son’s first name and my father’s middle name for his middle name. My father is “the III” but has no sons, so we thought this would be a way to honor him and represent my side of the family.

    My sister is the first person we shared our son’s name with. The following day, she called me to express her displeasure, because she always planned to use our father’s middle name as a first name for a son. I knew this, but I didn’t think using it as a middle name would be an issue. Additionally, she’s younger than I am, unmarried and childless. She was so upset with me that I had to end the phone call because it escalated to yelling.

    During the call, she suggested I forgo using the name but honor our father by changing the baby’s middle name to our father’s first name (which my husband and I don’t think flows well) or use my maiden name for my son’s middle name. Must I change my son’s intended name because my sister wants to be the first to use our father’s middle name for a potential future son?

    — PICKING A NAME IN THE EAST

    DEAR PICKING: How your sister got into the middle of what you and your husband decide about your baby’s name is beyond me. Of course you don’t have to alter your plans to suit your sister. Stop being a people-pleaser, particularly where your offspring is concerned. Name your baby boy what you think is best, and do not look back.

    ** ** **

    DEAR ABBY: I am a 40-year-old woman dating a wonderful man my age. I purchased a house in my 20s, earned several degrees, own my own business and have achieved success. However, I haven’t had the best luck with the last few guys I’ve dated. The man I’m dating now doesn’t seem to grasp some of life’s necessities. He doesn’t shower often, wears the same attire several days in a row, drinks daily and stays out all night every weekend. When we met, he had no job and no car and was living with a friend.

    It’s been three months, and he has secured a job. He has practically moved himself into my home and is helping with the finances, but he still doesn’t shower. (He does do housework, though.) I have had several conversations with him about his hygiene, and he makes promises but doesn’t deliver. My family thinks I’m desperate for love and that I should let this guy go. What do you think?

    — LOSING HOPE IN PENNSYLVANIA

    DEAR LOSING HOPE: More important than what your family thinks about this is what do YOU think? Because your wonderful man’s body odor is offensive, give him an ultimatum. Tell him that as much as you are beginning to care for him, this is a deal-breaker, and if he wants to continue living with you, he’ll have to shower regularly. Then give him a schedule or show him the door. (Whew!)

  • Horoscopes: Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025

    ARIES (March 21-April 19). You can’t solve every problem in the group, nor should you. What you can and will do is bring levity, ideas and perspective. Your originality is a cue to others who will feel freer to be themselves, too.

    TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Not every adventure involves transportation tickets. Trains, planes and automobiles are mind-expanders for sure, but so are walks, conversations and new chapters of a book. Follow your curiosity somewhere new.

    GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Love shows up steadily, not just when it’s convenient. If their attention, kindness or presence is spotty, you feel the gap. You’re putting energy into relationships of reciprocity today — not just with people but with other interests and endeavors, too.

    CANCER (June 22-July 22). People speak in code, rarely saying what they mean, and yet their meaning often reads loud and clear to those who pick up on things like body language, tone, gestures and patterns of behavior. Today you’re a masterful decoder.

    LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Sensitivity doesn’t have to be fragility. Use it as radar. You pick up signals of all kinds today. The key is filtering: not every vibration deserves your full attention. Tune in to the frequencies that give you something positive to work with.

    VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). The way you fold a towel, brew your tea or arrange your desk can become a meditation. These repeated motions, seemingly trivial, remind you that order is possible even when life feels chaotic. Small rituals bring grounding.

    LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Comparison to others is tempting, but it rarely works in your favor. Today, focus on contrasts that have to do with you and you. Your life is different today from yesterday. How? People have grown from knowing you. How? These examinations build self-respect.

    SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You’re unstoppable. Where others might see a dead end or give up, you spot the hidden path if there is one. And if no such path exists, you have the courage to forge ahead and blaze one.

    SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). If the environment itself is toxic, matching your tone to the room makes you complicit in the problem. In that case, authenticity and boundaries are more important than diplomacy. When in doubt, use your feet. Sometimes the best thing to do is leave.

    CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). The most responsible thing you can do is to pause. Rest can be a kind of labor, too, the invisible work of renewal that makes your other efforts sustainable and strong. Trust that much is going on beneath your consciousness.

    AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). People aren’t tasks to be managed. They are complex and best understood with a flexible kind of attention that spans the shallows and the depths. Listen and notice. Your attentiveness is more valuable than any quick fix.

    PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). A small change in environment alters your whole outlook. Take the work on the road. Move the furniture. Call in help from someone you’ve never talked to before. What’s needed is to shake loose those stuck ideas.

    TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Oct. 23). Welcome to your Year of Generous Mischief. Your playful side will get you into situations that end up being extraordinarily beneficial to you and yours. You’ll stumble into the ideal business or mentor and work on projects that bring excellent income. More highlights: a big family celebration, the rediscovery of an old passion you thought was lost and a change in scenery that feels like a whole new life. Cancer and Leo adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 4, 15, 23, 30 and 49.

  • Tyrese Maxey scores 40 points as Sixers rally to beat Boston Celtics, 117-116

    Tyrese Maxey scores 40 points as Sixers rally to beat Boston Celtics, 117-116

    BOSTON — Tyrese Maxey scored 40 points and VJ Edgecombe added 34 in his NBA debut to help the 76ers rally to beat the Boston Celtics 117-116 in their season-opener Wednesday night.

    Edgecombe scored the most points in an NBA debut since Wilt Chamberlain had 43 on Oct. 24, 1959.

    The Sixers led by four with 22 seconds left, but it was down to one when Edgecombe missed a pair of foul shots with 9.1 seconds to play. Payton Pritchard missed two potential game-winning shots.

    Sixers takeaways: VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey dominate, Joel Embiid struggles and more

    Joel Embiid played for the first time since February, scoring four points on 1-of-9 shooting. The 2023 NBA MVP and a two-time league scoring champion had six rebounds in 20 minutes in his return being limited to 19 games during the 2024-25 season because of a sprained left foot, a sinus fracture, and arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.

    Sixers guard VJ Edgecombe (left) drives to the basket against Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown during the second quarter of Wednesday’s game.

    Jaylen Brown returned from a hamstring injury in the preseason finale to score 25 points. The 2024 NBA Finals MVP is expected to carry a heavier load this year with fellow All-Star Jayson Tatum, who watched the game from the bench in street clothes, recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon.

    Derrick White scored 13 points of his 25 points in the third quarter, when the Celtics scored 16 straight points to turn a five-point deficit into an 11-point lead. The Celtics led 94-84 with nine minutes remaining before the Sixers scored eight straight points to make it close.

    Up next

    The Sixers will host the Charlotte Hornets for their home opener on Saturday (7:30 p.m., NBCSP). The Celtics will travel to New York to face the Knicks on Friday night.

  • ‘Inside the NBA’ made its ESPN debut. Here were some of the best moments.

    ‘Inside the NBA’ made its ESPN debut. Here were some of the best moments.

    Inside the NBA made its highly anticipated ESPN debut on Wednesday during the league’s second night of action.

    The hit show was originally televised on TNT before the network ended its NBA coverage following the 2024-25 season. But thanks to a licensing agreement between TNT Sports and ESPN, the show lives on.

    Throughout its years on TNT, the show created plenty of iconic moments, from Charles Barkley’s comments on women from San Antonio to Shaquille O’Neal falling into a Christmas tree — multiple times. Now, it’s still making headlines on ESPN.

    Here are some of the best moments from Wednesday’s show …

    Barkley kissing up to ESPN

    The original cast, featuring Ernie Johnson, O’Neal, Kenny Smith, and Barkley, were excited to make their debut on ESPN. But Barkley may have been a little more excited than others.

    “I was nervous today, I’m not going to lie,” Barkley said. “Every person who has ever touched a ball wanted to be on ESPN. They are the greatest sports network ever and to be working for these guys is an honor and a privilege. It is.”

    Smith responded: “Do you want a napkin for all that kissing up you just did?”

    Barkley for ‘Sexiest Man Alive?’

    Of course, the show wasn’t all about teasing Barkley. In fact, O’Neal gave the 11-time NBA All-Star a few compliments during the show.

    “Chuck was fat last year,” O’Neal said. “Now look at him. He’s a sex symbol.”

    Barkley responded: “He got a point about the sex symbol. … Shout out to my doctors at Ro.co. I’m working out too, now. You’ve got to work out. You can’t just take a shot.”

    The race continues

    We got the very first race to the board between O’Neal and Smith on ESPN — if we can even call it a race.

    “We’re going to do it a little different,” Smith said. “You know how you do the fast walk? So you don’t hurt yourself. So, we’ll do a fast walk to the board.”

    During the halftime show of the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks game, Johnson counted down and the two walked quickly to the board. Within seconds, Smith took the first win of the year.

    Barkley comparisons

    Barkley has created a number of unhinged moments — from comparing O’Neal to Shrek to discussing Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Now, he’s done it again. When discussing the playoff picture, Barkley said the Miami Heat were out of the eighth spot.

    Smith responded: “No, they play too hard.”

    “They play hard,” Barkley said. “That’s like when you go out with a girl and you say she has a great personality. That just means she’s ugly. The Heat play hard. The Heat are not going to be in the top eight.”