A bunch of activists within the Occupy Wall Street movement are attempting to create their own version of Facebook to redesign social networking in the era of global protest. Being that you’ve got the whole ‘Anonymous’ thing going on, as well as the hashtags and the Twitter and blogs like this one, seems like a sweet idea, right? The weird part: In spite of #OWS’s general “everyone is invited” mantra, not everyone will be invited to join Occupy’s social networking site. Long story short, you will need a digital “invitation” a la Gmail circa 2007. That’s how cool this is going to be.

No word on whether the Philadelphia government will attempt to bring a lawsuit against the OccuBook for not being invited and/or when the tubular network incites camp-ins. But it should be noted that during the year of protests across the globe, dictators were so afraid of Twitter and Facebook, they often shut down their country’s Internet.

So! There’s some sort of website called GovFresh, which bills itself as inspiring “government-citizen collaboration” with “the ideas and technology that are changing how government works.” Sounds good enough for me! Especially since they gave OpenDataPhilly first place in some Geek Chic award show in Best Government/Citizen Collaboration and Best Open Data Platform.

The new Rick Santorum campaign email is out! And here’s what it says: “A new CNN poll in Iowa released today shows a surge for Rick Santorum. This new polling confirms that Mike Huckabee is right — Rick Santorum will be the “surprise candidate” in Iowa next week. This new poll confirms that Rick Santorum has leapfrogged into 3rd place — more than tripling his support from the beginning of the month. Rick is now polling ahead of Newt Gingrich, who was considered to be the frontrunner.” The weird part: it’s all true.

Just when you thought DROP was all said and done: Tomorrow Councilwoman Marian Tasco will retire from City Council, collect her $478,057, then get sworn back in, since she was re-elected. Democracy!

There’s a small movement – but a movement nonetheless — to allow party bosses in both parties to pick the general election candidate in Pennsylvania politics, instead of, you know, voter primaries, with votes. Democracy!

Eight cars were torched yesterday morning in the Olney and Feltonville sections of the city between 4 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. Just goes to show you: Pennsylvania loves arson. (Note: We literally are the arson capital of the country.)

A 67-year-old man was shot once in each arm and once in the chest by two masked men last night in West Oak Lane.

Sonia Sanchez will be named Philadelphia’s first poet laureate today. The West Philadelphian is the author of “at least” 18 books of poetry, plays and children’s books.