The Bell Curve

City Paper's Quality-o-Life-o-Meter

0 Paintings and prints from Lehman Brothers are auctioned in Center City. "If only they had listened to its message," says highest bidder on the "Hang In There" kitty poster.

+ 1 The Philadelphia Orchestra dresses up in costume for a Halloween family concert. "We're the cast of Happy Feet," says Charles Dutoit. "It was the cheapest option."

- 1 Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey opposes a new measure saying police officers must wait an hour before towing and impounding stolen cars so the owner has a chance to claim them. "My officers have lots of other places they have to stand around for an hour," says Ramsey.

+ 1 The Nanny Caddy — a vending machine selling diapers, pacifiers and such — debuts in Philadelphia. Please don't overstuff — if the device is already full of babies, come back the next day.

- 3 The Rhythm and Blues Foundation, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit that helps musicians financially, needs money. Hence the creation of The Rhythm and Blues Foundation Foundation.

+ 2 A report from the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority says that eliminating four elected positions could save Philadelphia $13 million to $15 million annually. Yeah, but we'd miss Skeletor, Gargamel, Mumm-Ra and Marge Tartaglione.

0 The Free Library hosts the Borrowers (un)Ball, for which patrons send in donations and host small parties at their homes, rather than one big one. It was (un)successful.

+ 2 City Council looks to legalize and regulate pedicabs. Pedicures are still anything goes.

+ 3 ?uestlove and Jay-Z make a World Series bet. Loser collaborates with Alicia Keys.

+ 1 An As the World Turns storyline has a man dressed as Ben Franklin rob a bank and threaten to jump off City Hall. It's loosely based on John Street's second term.

Total for the week: -3

Last week's total: 7