Philadelphia, PA

Jury selection starts today in the trial of one Vincent J. Fumo, one should bring us months and months of free entertainment.

It turns out that Vince could end up spending the rest of his life in prison, because he is such a threat to go shoot up a school yard or something of sorts. Jury selection will take all this week, with a pool of 200 from places you only hear about when the local TV news wants to report some bad weather there, like Berks County.

But, then, there’s this:

And the consensus among experienced criminal defense lawyers is that Fumo is likely to testify in his defense.

Oh my god yes! It’s like an early Christmas present. This is going to be a good couple of months.

Click here to find out who is McCain’s REAL Vice Presidential pick! Wikipedia and I were completely wrong!

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When I came on board at 451 Press I brought my love of Redlasso with me. As of right now, none of my archived Redlasso videos on this blog work, and there’s pretty much nothing I can do about it. The reason I haven’t been using Redlasso lately is because they suspended the service for the immediate future. Two networks took legal actions against Redlasso, which is why the service has temporarily been suspended. Here is Redlasso’s original statement:

To Our Loyal Users:

We would like to thank you for your continued support of Redlasso. You have been essential to making Redlasso a household name online. Unfortunately, due to the legal actions taken against Redlasso by two networks, we are left with no alternative but to suspend access to our video search and clipping Beta site FOR THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE. The networks have provided a big blow to the blogger community’s right to exercise the first amendment and comment on newsworthy events. It is anti-Web. During this service suspension, we will continue our conversations with content providers, with the goal of establishing formal partnerships that will quickly help us restore access to the Beta site.

For our business and Radio To Web clients, Redlasso will continue to operate and provide those services to you without interruption.

Again, thank you.

REDLASSO

Yesterday, officials in Milford Township, Bucks County, finally approved a drive-through Dunkin’ Donuts just off the Quakertown Exit of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The doughnut shop was approved after changing the design to a “colonial architectural style that would fit in with the Upper Bucks township.”

What was the problem with the original Dunkin’ Donuts? Read for yourself:

“You drive around our state and others and the villages and towns are a hodgepodge and are ugly. This keeps us neat,” said Supervisor Tim Damiani.
It also means the store will be designed with more muted, earth-tone colors, and not the bright orange familiarly associated with the chain.

Original plans for the location called for a flat 1950s-style roof with “shocking, startling colors,” said township manager Jeff Vey, so township officials requested the developer rework the design.

There really is nothing more frightening than the orange and hot pink.

Even though Mendte is a huge fail, he will still be permitted to be nominated/or win the regional Emmy Awards this year.

Susan Buehler, president of the mid-Atlantic chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, announced on July 28th.

If you don’t know what Mendte did, than check out our original post here.

I’ve been so busy this weekend that I haven’t had the opportunity to right anything, but I didn’t want to leave you with nothing. I was given a screener of The Dark Knight and was able to give it a review over at omigod.net, so go check it out.

I’ll be back Monday.

I don’t think there’s anything I can say…

It’s your move, Philly.com. Phillies.com has placed Indiana Jones into it’s schedule page. What’s best is it’s there with no explanation at all. Maybe the Phillies will wear Indiana Jones hats that day?

Now, I’m sure I’ll see the new Indiana Jones movie. I’m also sure that the movie is going to be heavily advertised. I fully expect ads for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull to be broadcast directly into my brain by George Lucas. But do you really need to sponsor the Phillies schedule?

Something like Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay would be a much better choice to advertise the schedule. It needs to be something you forget you want to see.

I could be wrong, though. Maybe Harrison Ford is entering the starting rotation on May 22nd, 2008. Shape up, Kyle Kendrick!

Check out the Phillies schedule here.

The “Mosquito” acts as a teen repellent, and shops and theatre’s in Philadelphia are starting to use it. The “Mosquito’s” slogan is, “Teenage loiterers affecting your business? Get your business back on track with the Mosquito™ Utrasonic Teen Repellent!” Still not quite sure what the “Mosquito” is? The Mosquito™ ultrasonic teenage deterrent is the solution to the eternal problem of unwanted gatherings of teenagers in shopping malls, around shops, in parks and schools afterhours and anywhere else they are causing problems. The presence of anti-social teenagers discourages genuine customers from coming into stores, affecting your turnover and profits. With loitering comes vandalism. Anti-social behaviour has become the biggest threat to private and public property over the last decade and there has been no effective deterrent until now. It is also proven to reduce vandalism by 90%.

With an effective range of between forty and sixty feet, customers all over the world have shown that teenagers are acutely aware of the Mosquito and usually move away from an “infested” area within a few minutes. The system does not cause hearing loss or other ill effects. You can only hear the “Mosquito’s” noise if you are under the age of 25 years old.

Personally, I believe this is a great idea, even though I am under the age of 25. I haven’t been the “type” of “teenager” to loiter malls, stores, etc., and I find it somewhat annoying when teenagers do. Every time I go to the mall I’m lucky if I can actually get inside the mall because of all the teenagers loitering outside.

On the “Mosquito” website you can download the actual sound and see if you can hear it. They also have video demonstrations of the “Mosquito” in action. Just visit noloitering.ca.

Saturday’s Sudoku competition had an amazing turn out with 857 puzzlers registered - 150 in the advanced category, 442 intermediate solvers, and 265 in the easier beginners’ category. There were contestants of all ages, the youngest being Teresa Martinez, age 6 and the oldest, Milton Schwartz, was 87.

In the end, the winner of the advanced devision was no surprise; it was Thomas Snyder, 27, from Palo Alto, Calif. who had also won the Sudoku world championship in Prague back in March. Snyder solved 19 of 20 puzzles, scoring 350 points and earning the title of the US Sudoku Champion.

Thomas Synder, Sudoku Champion

For more on the Competition, read the article in the Philadelphia Inquirer or visit Philly.com

Sudoku Championship, Philadelphia Inquirer, Thomas Synder

I’ve always been a fan of accents and regional colloquialisms. When ever I meet someone new, I try to determine where they’re from by the verbal clues they may not even realize they are giving. Here’s a short list of Philly colloquialisms, see how many you say/use!
* Youse (guys) You guys, you all. “Youse” is prounounced with “S” (youss)
ah, yes, i use this one sometimes

* Gravy Simple marinara sauce served with Italian food.

* Coffee Regular Coffee with cream and sugar.

* Jimmies Chocolate candy sprinkled onto desserts or ice cream.
yes! chocolate ones are jimmies, rainbow ones are sprinkles. thats just how it is.

* Dis, Dat, Dey, Dees, Doze, Dem, Dough This, That, They, These, Those, Them, Though
yo, i don’t know what youss talkin bout, i don’t do dis one

* Wooder, Warder Water

* Warsh To wash

* Whiz wit / witout When ordering a cheesesteak, a cheesesteak “wit” comes with onions, a cheesesteak “witout” does not. For choice of cheese, Whiz refers to Cheese Whiz. American and Provolone are also commonly available options.

* Jawn Thing.
hahaha, yep.

Finally, i’m connected again. A lot has happened since i last posted, i don’t know where to start. Well…moved into my apartment and it took a little while to set up an internet connection. It still won’t work on my computer yet so thank my roomie for letting me borrow his. Unpacking and getting settled has had me pretty busy. I also just got an 8 week old kitten thats a bit of hand full. (she’s currently behaving and sleeping on my lap…shhh)
IN philly news…
SEPTA fares went up, again. Maybe they have to make up for the money spent in the courts trying to get rid of transfers.

Phillies were doing good, then they started to suck, now they’re doing good again. I don’t really follow sports but hey, GO PHILLS!

There was a big debacle over duck liver.

and um…some other stuff.

sorry this is a terrible post. Life is just a little crazy and stressful at the moment. I’ll write more and better soon. thanks for hanging in there.

Well i moved most of my stuff into the apartment today, I still have a few things left but i should be done by tomorrow night. I’ll probably be without internet for a little bit so here’s a long list of upcoming events that should tide you over for awhile.

Sept 8-9
22nd annual Mushroom Festival

Have fun with Fungi!
10 am-11pm Sat & 10am -5pm Sun, Kennett Square, $2

Sept 8
3rd annual Carnival of the Dogs. Doll up your doggy and join the party. You can even bring home one of the little guys wearing “adopt me” vests. 10 am-2pm Rittenhouse square, 18th and walnut, FREE event

Sept 9th
First Annual Commerce Bank Bike Philly.

This is not a race, its a tour through the city’s historic neighborhoods via bicycle, without interruption from cars. Take you pick of route for 10, 20, 35, or 50 miles. Register by 6:30 am Sunday morning. Starts at 8am, Philadelphia Museum of Art, 26th street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway $35-$60

Sept 9
Green Fest Philly.

Featuring music, local fair trade and organic food, art and more than 100 environmentally sensitive exhibitors. 11 am to 6 pm, 7th and South Streets, FREE Event

Further ahead…

Sept 22-28
Center City Restaurant Week

Participating Center City restaurants will offer a minimum of 3 courses for only $30† per person. And participating parking facilities will offer diners discounted rates.
(†Tax, alcohol and gratuity not included. Dinner only. Cannot be combined with any other offer. No substitutions. For reservations, please call restaurants directly.)

Philly events, mushroom festival, carnival of dogs, bike philly, green fest philly, center city restaurant week

p.s.
I’m thinking about having a Philly photo contest. I’m not sure what the rules are yet or what kind of prizes to have. Feel free to contact me with any suggestions. Thanks!

I happened to be passing through the city one night this weekend and i could resist taking a few shots of the lights reflecting in the river. Who would have thought the Schuylkill could look so pretty. Haha.

30th street station

Pictures of Philadelphia, Schuylkill river, 30th street station

Here’s a few pics from the drive into the city the other night.

I’m contemplating the possibility of a Philly photo contest…so stay tuned.

Photos of Philadelphia, Photos of city hall, Philadelphia skyline