’Tis the season to
hop onto the Soul train

Kids Stuff
By William Feldman

Welcome to Kids Stuff. Today’s column includes a look at the 2007 AFL season; a letter twister; a summer camp idea; and a cryptogram.
SOUL TIME
The Philadelphia Soul have stormed out of the golden gate for the 2007 AFL season. Psyched and energized by the team’s first postseason appearance in 2006, the Soul management went out and improved the team in several areas.
First, they knew that a major priority was protecting their star quarterback, Tony Graziani. To accomplish this task, they have greatly improved their offensive line.
They have added two mammoth, offensive linemen — Phil Bogle from New Haven College and Martin Bibla from the University of Miami. Both players spent some time in the NFL, Bogle with the San Diego Chargers and Bibla with the Atlanta Falcons.
Second, another key area where the Soul has improved the team is at wide receiver. To add to the excellent play of iron man Sean Scott and J.J. McKelvey, the Soul acquired Charles Pauley and Larry Brackins to add speed and depth to the offense. All of these ingredients will give the Soul an incredibly dynamic offense.
Third, a real notable rule change this year is on the substitution rules. Previously, there were a limited number of substitutions allowed during the game. This forced several players to play on both offense and defense. This was a challenge to the coaches as well as the players, who had to become proficient at both offense and defense, something unique to the AFL.
While some features could be missed, the new rules allow the team to have the best players at each position to be on the field at any given time. This should improve the overall quality of the game. In addition, I suspect excellent iron men like Sean Scott will continue to play both offense and defense.
The improvements that I described above have led to a phenomenal start this season for the Soul. They have started out a franchise best 3-0 this year. Not only are they unbeaten, their victories have been unbelievable.
Included in their victories was a dominating win over their nemesis, the Colorado Crush, a team that they had not previously beaten.
This year’s team consists of Larry Brackins; Idris Price; Todd France; J.J. McKelvey; Eddie Moten; Tony Graziani; Steve Gonzalez; Brian Mance; Mike Brown; Justin Wood; Charles Pauley; Raheem Orr; Johnnie Harris; Wes Ours; Martin Bibla; Mike Mabry; Phil Bogle; Sean Scott; Felipe Claybrooks; Jason Davis; Dwayne Missouri; and Bryan Save.
Due to this impressive start, hopes are high for a championship-type year.

A TWISTED PROJECT
This was sent to me. I thought this was fascinating and want to pass this onto you.

I can read this — can you??? Don’t even think about using spell check!
fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too. Cna yuo raed tihs?
Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can.
I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg.
The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno’t mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are,
The olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! If you can raed tihs forwrad it.

I can read this, can you???
CAMP TIME
Here is a summer camp idea for all budding actors and actresses.
Enchantment Theater Company will hold three two-week sessions of Camp Enchantment. Enchantment Theatre Company is known for its classical original versions of some of the most famous children’s stories, which always have a moral to the plot. This summer camp is for 8 to 13-year-olds. The campers will put on a mask and magically become someone else. They will also learn magic, masks, puppetry, acting, movement and clowning with Enchantment’s lead teaching artists and performers! The camp will be held at the Meadowbrook School.
For more information, call 215-881-9899 or visit www.enchantmenttheatre.org

CRYPTOGRAM

ABZ PFAW PNZ KPNSBGFL MFZ JC MFZ, BXNNPB, BXNNPB

Hints: B is H; K is M; C is Y; L is G
Answer to last week’s cryptogram:
ALWAYS REMEMBER THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE OVERSEAS FIGHTING FOR LIBERTY
Columnist William Feldman can be contacted by e-mail at wmkidscolumn@aol.com