The Daily News proposes bringing in the National Guard to deal with Philly's rising murder rate. 'Cause they're not busy or anything. Plus 1

Scammers posing as money-lenders use Center City address. And just like that, the Wachovia Center needed a new name. Minus 1

Mayor Street defends tech czar Dianah Neff being his highest paid cabinet member and getting flown to 56 conferences since 2001. "Well," says Street, "we tried to cut costs by sending her in a truck. But then she told us the Internets are not a big truck. It's tubes!" Minus 3

A robbery in an East Germantown convenience store is thwarted when the owner and a customer grab the gunman, who accidentally shoots himself in the process, and then beat on him with a jar of applesauce. Bell Curve is torn. On one hand, we're thinking right on to our improv applesauce vigilantes. But also we appreciate that this guy got shot in the head, it was in the freakin' head, and still wouldn't quit. Were it not for the Mott's we think he'd still be out there kickin' ass. Plus 9

According to a Rutgers University-sponsored forum that met in Cherry Hill, the region's economic outlook is bleak. "But enough about Rutgers," says forum chair. Minus 2

The city may use former Councilman Mariano's pension to pay the legal fees incurred during his corruption trial. "Ah, just put it on my card," says Mariano. Even

Russ Diamond, who started the PACleanSweep campaign, is still tens of thousands of signatures short in his petition to run for governor. "Makes sense," says Diamond. "I'm also one sandwich short of a picnic, a beer shy of a six-pack and a couple cards away from a full deck." Minus 2

Total pluses: 10

Total minuses: 8

This week's total: 2

Last week's total: -12