brief update, cause i've been slacking.

it's been too long since i've written. how do people do this everyday? numerous times a day?

oh well, a bit of self promotion: another city paper story! this one is important, about the maternity programs in the city, or i should say lack of programs in the city. i couldn't include a lot of information this. like the lack of jobs for midwives if more close, and the lack of birthing options since Chestnut Hill Hospital really is the only one to work with home births. interesting, scary crisis. and one that won't be changed until something drastic happens.

also, btw, the murder rate is still ridiculous. the inky is now reporting them by bulleting them according to where they fall in the number of homocides. great.

this was good news. surprising, actually, though i agree with my friend jenn that it's still anyone's race (though things are looking good for Evans, and I don't think Fattah will win now, great campaigning, btw)... though i'm routing for nutter, i just hope knox doesn't win. for a number of reasons, but mostly because i bet someone $20 he wouldn't win. hmmmm.

more to come later from a weekend o' fun. :)

see!

didn't write much today, but here's an interesting commentary on imus' situation. i don't understand how people have a problem with his latest statement when it's obviously his norm!

bottoms up, independent out

back in college -- a whole four years ago -- i registered to vote as independent, a move that showed i didn't affiliate with any party. i was above that.

flash to 2007, and i can't vote in the primary without being democrat or republican, and there's no point in being republican in this city. so i caved. as of, well i guess today, though it won't be official until the county offices receive my form, i have changed parties, and i'm a democrat. not so much proud of it, but at least my vote isn't thrown away.

april 16 is the deadline to get forms in, so if you aren't registered or you want to change your party -- pick up a form at any post office, public library or state liquor store or go here. Wouldn't be cool if we got a free drink if we went to the liquor store to register ... maybe i'll try that later...

if i hear one more polish joke...

i might get beat up for this, or suspended for two weeks, but i think don imus' comment about 'nappy headed hos' has been blown way out of proportion. yes, it's offensive, but he apparently (from what i have read and heard since i admittedly don't listen to the show, mostly because i wouldn't like it) does it all the time. let it go already. people are crude. have you watched television lately?

and this worries me...

"Here's what I've learned: that you can't make fun of everybody, because some people don't deserve it," he [imus] said. "And because the climate on this program has been what it's been for 30 years doesn't mean that it has to be that way for the next five years or whatever because that has to change, and I understand that."

... seriously? there's a reason his show has lasted 30 years. people like it. now it's going to change? is a 'pc' imus going to last for another 30 years ... looking at shows like family guy, the simpsons and even imus' own running ... i'm going to guess not.

lay off it already.

someone at the inky must hold a vendetta against mayoral candidate bob brady, at least that's my perception. he's received the worst publicity by far... beginning with saidel's dropping from the race (gotta buy the archived article) before brady even aanonced his official candidacy. then came the challenge of his petition, the negative reporting of which is justified because he was in the wrong. but when his intelligence was questioned, it really seemed that they were questioning questioning. while reporting on it, since it was discussed, is expected, what about commentaryon the fact that one candidate was using "heh, he's dumb" comments to put down a candidate. ... what about the dirty politicking side? are these candidates in preschool that they have to question someone's intelligence to win? (apparently, because for knox it seems to be working in his favor).

most recently, he's been hit by the lack of endorsements he's received and then today, his family was exploited because they work in the government, a story that makes assumptions of political influence it can't prove.(hey, if it was proven, good story).

even his brief positive coverage seems to imply a negative twist ... i agree his influence on the community college's strike was a great political move and likely why he orchestrated it ... but that's to be assumed. aren't all the candidates doing that? isn't that, whether you agree with it or not, the nature of politics?

don't get me wrong, i don't even want brady to win. and heck, he's brought most of these things on himself through years of ... well not corrupt, he he's definitely an insider that uses and likely abuses his power. but why is the inky harping on his bad side? i find it hard to believe it's all innocent reporting, when there's little in the way of attack on other candidates.

and fattah, where the heck are you? have you dropped out? oh wait, i'll just watch tv to hear your ideas since you barely comment in the papers...

photo of the week

last april, i was driving home from work bummed about missing out on tgis (our college weekend of soring fun) when heard on the radio there was an xpn concert at 11th and something (i forget now). determined to make my own tgis fun, i picked up two friends and we entered an oasis -- squeezed between old warehouses, kids and dogs were running around while parents sipped $1 pbrs and listened to a number of bands with young'uns like my friends and i sipping beers and leaning on this bikes. these two children were there, and their antics were as adorable as their outfits. i captured this moment just by chance.

cover-to-cover update

i completed hemingway's group of short stories titled "in our time" and thought i'd deliver some thoughts -- a mini book report, if you will -- on the literature.

it was ok. i've never read hemingway thoughtfully ... past readings of hemingway involved quick skims supplemented by pink money notes for school assignments. but this time, i paid attention to his prose which everyone claims is so abrupt and simple -- and it is! it was a simple read, interesting, and had some great stories, some too gory for my taste (it doesn't take a lot to make me queasy) and others that just bored me. i'm sure i missed some important meaning in "big two-hearted river II," but the account of nick fishing bored me, and it didn't stir my curiosity enough to explore its true, deeper meaning.

"cat in the rain," however, did ignite my curiosity. most of the reviews i looked at talked about the couples struggling, isolated relationship, which i felt while reading it. my question is: why was he looking at her after she came in from the rain? he seemed semi-enamored with her, or at least interested, and called her good looking. then suddenly he was disinterested. it seemed too late in the story to represent the beginning of their relationship and too sudden to represent its gradual deterioration ... any ideas?

"mr. and mrs. elliot" is, without analyzing, an interesting story about how relationships can work ... relationships of convenience, that were originally disguised by love and lust. and they don't turn out as expected and how they mold into something completely different unexpected. happens all the time. i think "indian camp" is my favorite, as demented as that sounds. "my old man" was another favorite. chilling and sad. the title of "my old man" short story was perfect.

i always wanted to learn more about nick, too.

in general, the book was an exploration of relationships, specifically their difficulty and problems that tear them apart. hemingway seems to present each situation to the reader, aware that the reader will see what's going on between the characters clearer than the characters themselves. while reading some of the stories, the reader feels the inclination to yell at the characters -- tell them what they are doing wrong and point out how easy it is to fix it. don't horse race, tell her you love her, don't fight that bull, etc., but interestingly, if we were in that situation ourselves, we would likely be as narrow minded to our own problem and its solution as those characters are.

i was a bit confused by the bull-fighting and war intervals. i know hemingway was interested in and wrote about both, but how they worked into the short stories didn't always connect.

next up is a kurt vonnegut book, because i never read him. but it's short and less of a story and more commentary on life from him, it seems. looks interesting. i'll let you know.

we're not alone!

ah, chestnut hill... though in your oftentimes near sightedness, you often think you are the only one with important problems such as too many bank branches, turns out you're just fitting in with the national trend [slate.com]. banks popping up along the main streets of well-off suburbs and city neighborhoods is occurring all over the U.S., not that it makes it ok. slate.com points out the black holes it creates with its short hours and the retail space it inevitably takes up.

but hey, if chestnut hill wants to look at it positively, of it's nine-or-so bank branches at least valley green bank gives away coffee and it's hard to look at commerce bank's location as a "black hole" considering the neon that radiates from the large, brick lined windows. sigh. i want another mangos.

and it's still cold out.

happy easter?
how are we still sitting on this and waiting for the mayor to get the ball rolling on this death toll? it's like in the two-week period you still have to work after you handed in your quitting notice. you are less likely to give 100% ... not that mayor street has been giving 100% since the beginning anyway. now he just has the excuse not to do so, i guess.

the one guy was in his bedroom, shot by a assumed stray bullet. and of course, no one knows anything. no snitching, right? i'm so afraid to see what will happen when it gets warm. maybe this colder weather is a blessing in disguise.

summer in a song

looking for a fun summery soundtrack?
fountains of wayne's new cd has a lot of happy songs, both fast for the summer drive and slow for lying by the pool or on the beach.
.... now only if it would get warm!

i'm dreaming of a white ... easter?

all the radio stations and newspapers keep saying there will be a bit of snow all weekend, unlanding but still flurries. but yet, online i haven't found evidence yet. are they just trying to justify for the unseasonably cold chill, or compensate for the short-sleeved christmas by hoping for a white easter?

i guess that'll make it easier for the white easter bunny to sneak around ... look for footprints in the frontyard!

i've been away!

i got to watch the office tonight, it's been months! what happened? no more roy? jim's girl is still in the picture? michael and jan lovers? where was i? can't wait til thurs. class is over so i can be a the office junkie. : )

yay concert!

listening to the breaks on xpn right now.... they are great! and will be at milkboy every thursday night apparently. awesome. wish i had time tonight .... enjoy, you lucky peeps that get to attend! let me know how it is. maybe in may i'll get there ....

i heart my coffee

information for all you green tea sippers that glare at me over your green tea frapaccinos and seeped 20-ounce, as if my drinking a latte or 12-ounce coffee is an evil doing that will shorten my life and make me fat. ok, i might have imagined those glares in the guilt over saying "yes" to the delish homemade whipped cream and the chestnut hill coffee company, but still, an interesting semi-anti-green tea read.

oh, and there's a beautiful art exhibit dons the wall behind the head of that green tea glarer in the coffee company. up until april 22.

moneymoneymoney mon-nay!

find a penny pick it up, all the day you'll have good luck! or, ya know, $1,700,000 pennies.

the atlantic city version of sinatra's hang closes it's doors... but leaves NJ $1375ish richer, and Pinnacle even more so. nice. so maybe if our iladelph riverfront casinos go ka-put because phila folks has no mu-lah to spend, we can find some $1300-some under our machines for the city and roll in the riches.

but goodness, i love their fries

do you have nightmares about the burger king guy? me too, and contrary to this article, which says everyone is talking about him ... i haven't heard the buzz so i thought maybe i was the only one! but good news, i am not! and i'm relieved to know that others are chilled by the enlarged head and wide cape of this ever-smiling burger eater.

photo courtesy of www.caffeinemarketing.com

oh zoning.

i'm fascinated by this city's zoning system. i am still admittedly learning, but the issues and politics of how developments and such are decided just fascinate me. it's admirable how community associations protect their neighborhoods through the zoning process, yet the state seems to be stripping away that power, which is ... um... about 75% of what these organizations do! they live, breath and poo zoning.

the commonwealth court, today, upheld a court of common pleas interpretation of the home rule charter, which states that "aggrieved persons" can appeal zba decisions, but that the terms does not include community associations. if they aren't able to appeal, they lose their clout in the zba meetings too. i don't think a community association has been turned away from an appeal involving building development yet -- just billboards -- and i think community associations are still being listened to in zba hearings, but that could soon end if the language isn't changed back to all tax payers.

this applies to the individual, too. if you live down the street or around a corner from a building about to be tore down for a hotel or casino (oh, sore spot) then you could legitimately be denied standing in an appeal because you aren't a direct neighbor. could be, it's not definite, but still, we all had the right to appeal just three years back, before this legislation was snuck in under the radar, as mary tracy, scrub's exec director, points out. scrub was one of the organizations denied standing.

even i admit and see that community associations and neighbors can be ridiculously unfair when it comes to appealing and fighting zoning and developing, but that doesn't mean the control should be stripped. i mean, in the case that was just decided today, it was already an illegal billboard -- so if that neighbor had work that day and hadn't fought at the appeal, the illegal billboard would have remained? is that ok?

zoning gets me fired up. as it does others.

Fab 4 said "not a second time," but here it is!

i'm not sure if i agree that it sounds new, but i do think the new smithereens' album is pretty cool. on mgk morning show, dj john deBella said the songs are able to sound like both the smithereens and the beatles... i'm not familiar enough with smith's to say whether that's true or not. to me, the songs strongly sound like the fab 4 ... but i do agree that i like the effort to bring the music back in a new way, for another generation inundated with new music. plus, in an xpn interview, smithereens said the reason for the cover album was because the beatles were such an influence on all the members of the band, which makes this, in my humble opinion, a meaningful tribute.

photo courtesy of www.rollingstone.com

pulling the lever isn't the solution

driving through north philly last week, i couldn't help but have the soaring murder rate running constantly through my head. i drove past streets and store fronts filled with people. this is a big city, and i'm not involved with anything that could lead to someone wanting to murder me (i don't think) ... yet some people are involved directly with this violence. they tote weapons because they need to. just in case.

i feel the same way walking to my car in the dark in chestnut hill. i grab my cell phone, talking to no one in hopes that my faux phone call will deter someone possibly lurking in the dark.

i know i'm paranoid, but how can i not be when every time i open my paper, i see another death report. and the thing is, very few people are doing anything about it. i look around me, i read the news, and everyone is silently sitting, watching out their front windows as young boys, mothers, little girls are shot purposefully or by stray bullets. a peace rally here, a church service there, that's helping. add a few cops. what has that done?

a lot of people seem content to sit on their hands and waiting for the mayor to be elected. each mayor has a plan to end crime, and come election day you are likely to vote for one you think is strong. but the real election isn't until november, and even later that the mayor will be in place. what are we going to do until then? reach 600 and assume, oh, knox/evans/nutter/fattah/brady will take care of it? ha.

a few groups give me hope (Laural Hill Cemetery) (Northwest Interfaith Movement). not in that they have the power to single handedly change anything, but they are thinking outside the box. it's gotta start from the ground up, from you up, and i don't think waiting for the mayor's plan is going to do a whole lotta good.

city paper!

i don't often brag, but i have to announce, and it seems fitting to announce something cool on the first day of my new blogging, that i had my first story published in the city paper! i say first because i hope it's not my last. but it was one of the goals i wanted to reach when i moved down here, so i just had to share ....

onto the next!

intro.

i've ditched the blog that costs money for one that fits into my post-college budget. a budget that was severly injured a few weeks back with a $450 car towing from center city. don't ask.

with this new endeavor, i plan to keep you in the know about my life, philly stuff, my writing and whatever pops up.

oh, and my reading challenge. inspired by hugh gilmore, columnist in the chestnut hill local, i challenged myself read 25 books by the end of 2007. the number seems small but when you do the math, that's at least two books a month, and that, my friends, is not easy for a full time reporter dabbling in freelancing and attending class. but, i'm making my way through. i'll only write about when it might be interesting to you ... but a glance to right >> and you can keep up with my list!

why read i got nothing? because i hope to explore the political scene as the mayoral elections come up from the perspective of someone who is just learning to work the scene herself. plus i hope i'll introduce you to some good reads, fun hangouts, and maybe some interesting insights into life along the way. who knows! plus i hope some interesting art work (photography) and jokes and whatnot will be thrown in as well. as the title suggests, i got nothing at the moment, we'll just see what happens.