Penndel residents, however, have a lot more to worry about than the fact that their officials like Mayor Michael Sodano are quite possibly insane to truly believe that they're going to build massive parks and sky-scraping hotels and art studios. Like the places where they intend to build these things; your homes and businesses!

Just take a quick gander at these plans: http://psabcontent.com/penndelboro/content/renaissancearealview.html http://psabcontent.com/penndelboro/content/renaissancegraphic.html

As you do you may wonder why there is an "Eden Gardens" on top of your house or why your entire block has had a road moved over it. I see one big clear message when I look at these plans, well maybe two; 1. the officials of Penndel Borough could care less about the actual residents and business owners of Penndel, they care more about "progress" and 2. they're are quite possibly insane.

What Penndel Borough needs is for it's government to be streamlined. You can't cut corners, you can't bring in massive regulations for businesses that don't exist yet. The majority of our residents work outside the borough, and we're in the middle of a heavily regulated township, to turn ourselves into a massive business center we need to be more business friendly than our neighbors; low taxes, low regulations. There isn't any other way.

I get a lot of traffic running through my blog for some reason but few people ever leave comments, I make it easy to be as anonymous as possible. So please leave a comment positive or negative; all welcome.

...

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Roller Derby Interleague Double-Header!

Saturday, July 19
The Sportsplex
Presented by Philly Roller Girls
$10-$20
official website
· · ·
First Bout, 2pm: Philly's Independence Dolls vs. Boston B Party (exhibition)

Second Bout, 3:30pm: Philly's Liberty Belles vs. Portland's Rose City Wheels of Justice (for WFTDA National rankings)

[Philly Inquirer] Don't let the 5-foot-2, 100-pound package fool you. Rue Landau knows how to throw her weight around.

Four weeks into her tenure as head of Philadelphia's Commission on Human Relations, the elfin activist is swinging a heavy hammer in her mission to revitalize the beleaguered city agency, which investigates discrimination complaints.

The rest.

...

July, 18 2008 at Film Screening of "Pansy Division: Life In A Gay Rock Band," Philadelphia
Arts Bank Theater, Broad & South Streets, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Cost : $10

Film Screening of "Pansy Division: Life In A Gay Rock Band." 7:15 PM at the Arts Bank Theater Broad & South Streets. Tickets are $10 from www.phillyfunguide.com.

...

Concert after the film

July, 18 2008 at Philadelphia, PA, The Trocadero
1003 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Cost : $5 - $10

We are playing this show after our film is screened at the Philly Gay Film Festival. Admission is $10, but only $5 with a ticket stub from the film--what a bargain! Must be 21 to get into the show.

THE ONES YOUR MOMS WARNED YOU ABOUT
Brandon Libby
Dan Rich
Jason Stockdale

LIFEBOYZ
Cole Orloff
Dan Stabb
David Warick

CONNECTED
Meg Favreau
Peter Fey
Rob Baniewicz

Troika, Round Three
Thursday, July 10th
8PM - $10
Shubin Theatre

Of course the amount of tourist combing the streets of the nation's first capital was astounding. The actual day, I flew under the radar just choosing to have dinner with a few friends and fall asleep to the John Legend concert on TV. (Phreaked don't do crowds baby) Not that John wasn't rocking it; he performed with my lady Estelle too, but I was full of delicious steak, corn-jalepeno muffins, potato salad and MORE! Don't worry, I made up for it Saturday night.

Time to get back to work.

The week ahead:

'Raising a Toast' -The featured coctail I just can't get out of my head... and where to get it

'Red Hott Wedding' - The color red makes a commitment

'Spot O' Lunch' - Profiling a great lunch spot in Center City

Check back in soon!

PHILADELPHIA, PA - A foundation created by Stephen Spielberg is giving $1 million to the National Museum of American Jewish History.

The money from the Righteous Persons Foundation will go toward a new, five-story museum building being built in Philadelphia.

With the donation, officials say the museum's capital campaign has raised $111 million toward its $150 million goal. The new museum is set to open in 2010.

Spielberg helped establish the Righteous Persons Foundation in 1994 after directing his Oscar-winning Holocaust film ''Schindler's List.''

The museum was established in 1976 and is dedicated to telling the story of the American Jewish experience. It is constructing the new building in hopes of raising its profile and increasing the number of visitors.

By Associated Press

It has been an annual tradition for the Phillies to have a question mark about the back end of their bullpen. This season was no different as the Phils' were worried about the health of their newly acquired closer Brad Lidge. "Lights Out" Lidge was worth the wait and in his first three months as a Phil has a 2-0 record with a staggering ERA of .77. He has saved 19 games in as many opportunities while striking out 47 batters. His payoff for a stellar start came Sunday when the Phillies extended his contract.

The three-year extension for Lidge keeps him in Philadelphia until at least 2011. The $37.5 million deal is more than meets the eye. ESPN reveals there could be an even bigger pay day for Lidge.

"The deal includes a signing bonus, an awards package, assorted escalators and a fourth-year club option that could bring the overall value of the contract to $49 million."

The Phillies don't usually make deals with current players regarding their contracts until the season is over, but they've made an exception to secure the future of their bullpen which has won them quite a few games in the 2008 season.

Utley will start for the second straight year. He was the leading vote getter in all of baseball, no small feat. This selection shouldn't come as a surprise, take at look at these numbers (coming into today):

2B - CHASE UTLEY

.296 AVG / 24 HR (leads MLB) / 67 RBI / .602 SLG

The other Phillies player selected will come out of the pen:

P - BRAD LIDGE

2-0 / 0.77 ERA / 19 SV in 19 OPP / 47 K

The 79th mid-season classic will be a special one as it's the last festivity to be held at Yankee Stadium, which is in its last year. Long time great Phil Niekro recently said, "This final All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium is what the stadium is about -- memories." There is no doubt that these stacked rosters will be a special sight to see in just over a week.

Oh yeah, and here's the complete All-Star teams if you were interested...

NL STARTERS

C - Geovany Soto, CHC (1st time)

1B - Lance Berkman, HOU (5 time All-Star)

2B - Chase Utley, PHI (3 time All-Star)

SS - Hanley Ramirez, FLA (1st time)

3B - Chipper Jones, ATL (6 time All-Star)

OF - Ryan Braun, MIL (1st time)

OF - Alfonso Soriano, CHC (7 time All-Star)

OF - Kosuke Fukudome, CHC (1st time)

NL RESERVES

Brian McCann, ATL (3 time All-Star)

Aramis Ramirez, CHC (2 time All-Star)

Matt Holliday, COL (3 time All-Star)

Dan Uggla, FLA (2 time All-Star)

Miguel Tejada, HOU (5 time All-Star)

Russell Martin, LAD (2 time All-Star)

Nate McLouth, PIT (1st time)

Albert Pujols, STL (6 time All-Star)

Ryan Ludwick, STL (1st time)

Adrian Gonzalez, SD (1st time)

Cristian Guzman, WSH (2 time All-Star)

NL PITCHERS

Aaron Cook, COL (1st time)

Tim Lincecum, SF (1st time)

Dan Haren, ARI (2 time All-Star)

Ben Sheets, MIL (4 time All Star)

Carlos Zambrano, CHC (3 time All-Star)

Brandon Webb, ARI (3 time All-Star)

Ryan Dempster, CHC (1st time)

Brian Wilson, SF (1st time)

Edinson Volquez, CIN (1st time)

Kerry Wood, CHC (2 time All-Star)

Brad Lidge, PHI (2 time All-Star)

Billy Wagner, NYM (5 time All-Star)

_____

AL STARTERS

C - Joe Mauer, MIN (2 time All-Star)

1B - Kevin Youkilis, BOS (1st time)

2B - Dustin Pedroia, BOS (1st time)

SS - Derek Jeter, NYY (9 time All-Star)

3B - Alex Rodriguez, NYY (12 time All-Star)

OF - Josh Hamilton, TEX (1st time)

OF - Manny Ramirez, BOS (12 time All-Star)

OF - Ichiro Suzuki, SEA (8 time All-Star)

DH - David Ortiz, BOS (5 time All-Star)

(well, I'm glad this team wasn't put together by fans blindly voting in Yankees and Red Sox...)

AL RESERVES

J.D. Drew, BOS (1st time)

Jason Varitek, BOS (2 time All-Star)

Joe Crede, CWS (1st time)

Carlos Quentin, CWS (1st time)

Grady Sizemore, CLE (3 time All-Star)

Carlos Guillen, DET (3 time All-Star)

Justin Morneau (3 time All-Star)

Milton Bradley, TEX (1st time)

Ian Kinsler, TEX (1st time)

Michael Young, TEX (5 time All-Star)

Dioner Navarro, TB (1st time)

AL PITCHERS

Scott Kazmir, TB (2 time All-Star)

George Sherrill, BAL (1st time)

Roy Halladay, TOR (3 time All-Star)

Mariano Rivera, NYY (9 time All-Star)

Jonathon Papelbon BOS (2 time All-Star)

Justin Duchscherer OAK (1st time)

Joe Nathan, MIN (2 time All-Star)

Joakim Soria, KC (1st time)

Cliff Lee, CLE (1st time)

Francisco Rodriguez, LAA (3 time All-Star)

Ervin Santana, LAA (1st time)

Joe Saunders, LAA (1st time)

FINAL VOTE

AL: Jermaine Dye, CWS / Jason Giambi, NYY / Carlos Guillen, KC / Evan Longoria, TB / Brian Roberts, BAL

NL: PAT BURRELL, PHI / Corey Hart, MIL / Carlos Lee, HOU, Aaron Rowand SF / David Wright, NYM

VOTE HERE FOR PAT BURRELL TO MAKE THE NL ALL-STAR TEAM

photos from phillies.com

We drank Canadian beer*, saw John Legend sing, watched fireworks (not quite over the Art Museum) in the rain, walked a LOT with complaining, rode the Ducks, missed a bus by a second, ate Philly cheese steaks** and watched the entire first disc of How I Met Your Mother, Season One***. It was a great weekend but conversation kept circling back to the one who wasn't there****.

We had a lot of fun and I learned a lot about my city like that one of the Three Stooges was from South Street and on Tuesday at noon I can see someone read the Declaration of Independence at Independence Hall. Also? Philly residents hate the Ducks.

But the most important lesson was learned on the 32 bus: If you beep your horn first, you can totally run red lights.

How was your Fourth of July?

___________________________________________________

*How's that for patriotism?

**Delicious bread, crappy service.

***You need to watch this show if you haven't seen it. The PomFam wanted to steal my roommate's DVDs to take home. Let\'s Go to the Mall

****Like the proverbial elephant in the room, I can't ignore that she chose her new boyfriend over her son and family. I still don't know how to get her the help I think she needs but I guess that's the key: I THINK she needs it, she doesn't.

Now that the plug is out of the way, we'd like to bring you some hot new muzak from J. Da' Soundguy (BKA Om1ne) and Play-Z (BKA Rareform)!!!!  Make sure you go to YouTube and favorite these songs, add them to your playlist, and rate rate rate!!!

"Don't Stop"

"Channel 3"

Thanks for the love, folx!!!

The whole event is quite exciting from the perspective of Sadie and Lily. Lot's to see, smell, hear, and generally call to our attention. But, the Fairmount Dogs don't love fireworks. Sadie tolerates them, Lily mostly hides.

MM & RY 2008

Timed tickets into Independence Hall....

The only thing that compares to being in the room where the Declaration of Independence was voted on...for this writer....was years back.... being on a cruise...going through the Panama Canal.....silent appreciation for what transpired...and being able to stand there all these years later....

A funny aside...a painting of the signers and the 3 who did not sign the Declaration...the painter was meticulous in making sure their faces were correct from old photos...except for one...no photos found of Jacob Broom...so he only painted his back.....right in the middle....leaning over the table....

on to the oldest House of Congress.....the 2nd one...the 1st was in New York....Congress downstairs...Senate upstairs....recreated all inside...with the exception of 26 original chairs...20 Congress/6 Senate....

The National Park Service really does a superb job ....here....www.nps.gov

Walked around Philly.....up and down the streets.... ...saw the wonderful architecture....old and new....

Another funny aside...The Ben Franklin Hotel...... kept original in the lobby....now condos...with a restaurant in the lobby called Ben's.....for fine Indian Cuisine!

Decided to take in another well known attraction....The College of Physicians of Philadelphia Mutter Museum...www.collphyphil.org

A disturbing...fascinating collection of artifacts from the past used for health care...and the freaks of nature that exists....over the top....

Took in the Philly/Mets game ...9-4 Mets...a full stadium of 45 thousand...rabid fans from both teams...

And for the first time...rode the subway....just following all the red Philly shirts...there and back...quite fun!...

Last day today...

on to the Museum of Art...to do the "Rocky" run up the stairs ....and see the the beauties inside....

more to come.....

Salut les gens, au moment où nous écrivons nous sommes à Washington DC dans le quartier de Takoma Park, mais nous y reviendrons plus tard.

Nous vennons de passer 3 jours à Philadelphie et c'était franchement pas mal.

Le 2 Juillet,

Nous avons pris un bus Grey Hound vers Time Square, puis 2h plus tard, les gens bizarres et les briques rouges nous accueillaient à bras ouvert... ou presque. Après avoir difficilement compris le système du métro local, nous avons enfin réussi à rejoindre notre auberge de jeunesse. A l'intérieur, c'était un peu retour en URSS ou chez les hippies, couleurs flashy au mur et tout et tout, c'était bonne ambiance, et le soir même nous avons mangé la spécialité locale "le Cheesesteak".

Le Cheesesteak, comment vous dire, c'est de la viande en lamelles avec des oignons le tout cuit avec du fromage, et on met la mixture dans du "pain" mou. C'est pas dégueu, mais c'est cher. Le truc hallucinant c'est que c'est réellement la spécialité.  Bref, après ça nous nous sommes reposé car le lendemain une grosse journée nous attendais.

Le 3 Juillet,

Philly est définitivement une ville vraiment reposante par rapport à New York. Tou du moins la vieille ville. Levé à 11h, nous sommes allé au Visitor Center où nous avons eu le droit à un gateau gratuit de l'indépendance.  Le truc était énorme, et dessus était écrit un bout (le début) de la déclaration d'indépendance.

Après nous sommes aller lécher voir la Liberty Bell, qui est la cloche qui fût sonnée 13 fois le 4 Juillet, par les pères fondateurs. 13 Fois pour le 12 Colonies + le nouveau pays (d'où les 13 bandes sur le drapeau), enfin on croit. D'ailleurs le 4 Juillet 2008,  les descendants des pères fondateurs ont fait sonner la cloche à nouveau (ce que nous avons raté.)

Ensuite, nous avons fait un tour de la vieille ville en calèche avec guide noir aboslument génial. Nous avons pu voir la maison 4e président (vendue à 5 Millions de $, ainsi que celle du vice-président de Coca Cola (en forme de bouteille dans le quartier historique. Vendue à 2 Millions de $).

Nous avons vu un petite expo sur des explorateurs Américain, c'était sympa pour 1dollar. Après un peu de shopping nous avons assité à un concert de l'orchestre philarmonique de Philly, pour aller enfin dormir au terme d'une journée forte en chocolat.

Avant de dormir nous avons quand même mangé des pâtes et du fromage.

4 Juillet,

FÊTE NATIONALE AMÉRICAINE

Ce jour là, nous sommes partis sur le Waterfront de Philadelphie. En effet, pour la modique somme de 5$ (~3€ selon le taux de change du jour), nous avions le droit à une cuillère pour un accès illimité à un..."All You Can Eat" (tout ce que vous pouvez manger) de... ICE CREAM... Ta-daaaa !!

Delph : 6 Glaces + un Bretzel

Max  : 8 Glaces

Tioun : 11 Glaces

Il faut savoir que nous avons fait ça pour Joshua Kahan, un jeune leucémique. En effet tous les fonds étaient reversé à la fondation anti-leucémie. Autant dire que nous avons ça par bonté d'âme.

Les glaces finies nous avons traversé la ville pour aller sur la "Party on the Parkway", une espece de grand rassemblement avec des stands dans tous les sens, le tout exprès pour le 4 Juillet. On a pu y gagner des goodies officiel NBA et se faire prendre en photo avec un vrai serpent albinos.

Nous sommes resté là... jusqu'au concert...enfin jusqu'à ce qu'il pleuve. Oui pour le 4 juillet il a plu à Philly, l'hymne à été chanté par trois gamines blondes décolorés, genre Priscilla en moins bien,  John Legend c'était pas terrible, la robe de Delph à déteint sur ses mollets, et le feu d'artifice était l'un des plus triste au monde.

En effet, vu qu'il pleuvait, il était caché derrière un superbe écran de fumé. Bref c'était funny et sad à la fois.

En fait le 4 Juillet, c'est surfait. Mais c'est bien quand même.

Le 5 Juillet,

Nous sommes à Washington DC. Stop.

LE MOT DE TIOUN

Philly c'était plutôt sympa, sur le début y a eu un peu trop de shopping à mon goût, mais peut être que le fait que je n'avais rien à acheté y était pour quelque chose.

Nan, vraiment bonne surprise, c'était reposant, calme, et les Américains sont relativement accueillant partout sur le territoire. Et l'ambiance d'une ville historique comme Philly pendant le 4 Juillet, est relativement unique. Ouais super sympa.

LE MOT DE DELPH

Coucou les filles... Bon ok les garçons aussi mais il faut dire que je suis tellement bien entourée que les garçons j'en ai assez!

Bon plus sérieusement les affreux jojos avec qui je voyage ont tendance à me charier, comme ils le disent si bien, mais comme je suis la seule fille et que oui j'ai parfois quelques lacunes et bien je m'en prend plein la gueule 22h sur 24! Allez je ferme la parenthèse, je les aime quand même "les garçons"!

Sinon à Philadelphie j'ai pu revivre: grâce à la taxe moins élevée qu'à New York j'ai pu redevenir une fille et m'acheter une robe et deux paires de chaussures, et franchement ça fait du bien. Avec ma manucure je me sentais comme une petite princesse. D'autant plus, au passage, que les "Philadelphiennes" sont beaucoup plus grosses que les New-Yorkaises et du coup au revoir les complexes!

Voilà voilà pour la pause fille... Si une dernière remarque, j'ai acheté du dissolvant, oui les manucures en fait pendant les vacances ça sert à rien quand on porte des sacs à dos, qu'on marche pieds nus dans la boue pour ne pas niquer ses nouvelles chaussures!

Bon cette fois j'arrête, j'ai juste un peu peur de cette nouvelle auberge, c'est bizarre dirons nous, la suite au prochain épisode.

LE MOT DE MAX

Sommes bien arrivés STOP

Avons trouvé auberge facilement STOP

Pouvons enfin nous reposer STOP

Raaaaaahhh non posez ce couteau STOP

Huurgggggggh STOP

Bon sinon, il semblerai qu'il y ai une règle qui fasse que les gens deviennent de plus en plus cinglés à mesure que l'on descend vers le Sud.

J'espère que le ratio ai tendance à s'inverser à partir d'un certain point critique (mais bon c'est pas la mort non plus)

Sinon, un truc marrant, il y a aussi une règle au niveau des hôtels, autant le premier était très professionnel et très impersonnel, autant le deuxième était beaucoup plus axé sur l'échange entre les gens. Le dernier quand à lui ressemble plus à la maison d'un copain un lendemain de beuverie que l'on squatte pour la journée ou au moins jusqu'au lendemain.

Voilà.

En vrac: j'me suis payé un short, des chaussures (sous les bons conseils de Delph), j'ai failli craquer pour un tee-shirt spider-man qui brillait dans le noir mais bon je sais me tenir!

Sur ce je vous merde cordialement et je retourne à mon américanisme primaire.

Take care. The Max

OK HERE GOES..............

People watching is something that I have perfected over the years.  Thankfully my mother instilled enough values in me and I don't make my comments out loud for my victims to hear.  Usually I make my comments - my husband being my most frequent audience - I laugh at myself and that is that.  Woh-ho-ho...this time, however, I could not resist what I am about to show you.  While walking through Washington Square yesterday, I noticed the worst exhibit of men's fashion I have yet to witness.  Let me digress...I hate man-pris (capris for men).  The only person to date that looked remotely decent in the clam-digger type pant was my brother - and that's not because I'm biased.  OK, back to the real issue here.  So we passed this person in the park yesterday, walking hand-in-hand with his girlfriend, wife...not important to the story.  So he was obviously heterosexual but from the looks of his shoes, you would have to question whether he raided his sister's closet or if he actually purchased these on purpose.  I really think they were peep-toe too which makes it 10x worse!  Regardless, I HAD to whip out the camera, and, using my son as an alabi, snap this photo while pretending to take a pic of my dear son running up the walk. 

C'mon now.  If you are any bit as catty as I am, you would have done it too.  Give me a little credit - I spared the poor soul his identity and only captured his feet which were enough to tell the story.  He was actually a good looking guy...but then again so is my husband but if I would have looked down the day we met and saw him wearing these numbers, I would have laughed my A** off.  If you can't tell who's who...look at the hairy legs.

I have to stop writing now because I'm laughing too hard............

Earlier in the week I ended up heading down to Baltimore to shoot a music video for Future Islands, also met other Baltimore artists that I'm psyched on. The shoot was pretty awesome and fun I'd say. Also went out to a diner later in the night.

And now I'm here. Back in the suburbs at my workspace. For some reason I rose at 6 in the morning and decided to start my day heading out to buy supplies for the video. Since then I've been tabulating how much water I need to freeze for the minimal ice sculpturing in the video. I also just finished watching "Ravenous" with Guy Pearce.

Now I'm writing in this blog drinking pepsi mixed with coffee out of a giant "Space Jam" mug that reads SLAM DUNK on the brim with every sip. Unfortunatly, I don't own this one . . .

I'll be working on the music video all weekend, sadly missing the free Boyz II Men concert tonight.
Most Importantly . . .

LIVE, Blues Traveler, and Collective Soul are playing Philadelphia August 8th. If anyones interested in going let me know. It's going to be better then when Better then Ezra toured with Jesus Lizard.

End with an old favorite.

In one corner of Center City, a private developer has just completed the tallest green building in America, the Comcast Center. Three blocks east, the state is beginning work on an equally large building, the Convention Center expansion. Consider it the SUV of meeting halls.

I understand her frustration but this situation should illustrate something to those who would ask government to do good by them. If the PA Convention Center, the very definition of a government make-work project designed from the ground up to benefit no one but politicians and their union allies, is so completely out of touch with ecologic principles, why do people in search of what they term "sustainable development" look to the government to provide it?

If any of you reading this got a hold of one of my cds, I really hope you enjoyed it.  Thanks to Smoke' s vision and generosity I'll be breaking out in the NY scene sometime in 2009. 

But I'm also looking to spin in places outside NY as well, so if the hardcore ceremony made you jump, made you bang your head, made you hit rewind to hear the jim morrison sample again, please return the favor by taking a few moments to message your local crew and  tell 'em you want dj fiction puttin the needle on the record for ya.

And above all, remember to keep going out and supporting your local crews!  The scene can't survive without you!

i passed out on my bed around 1:00am listening to jose gonzales, thinking i'd wake back up if my phone rang. 3 missed calls, 4 texts and 3 hours later, i'm awake! somehow in my slumber, i also shut my computer down completely, turned it over so it wouldn't overheat, put my phone at the end of my bed and completely moved my body from one end to the other. good to know that i can fully function while sleeping. no need to be awake again.

the past few hours have been pretty crazy. it was 4th of july. lucien came down, and is still down(sleeping on my couch as we speak), and we hosted a bbq. when i say hosted a bbq, i really mean we bought ridiculous amounts of alcohol, made jello shots, and proceeded to each drink a 6 pack, eat 27 shots between the two of us, force my parents into playing kings, make a mixed drink in a nalgene and have lily drive us around philadelphia looking for a great place to watch the fireworks from.

that great place came in the form of having to go into a chinese restaurant because lily needed to pee so bad on the walk to the parkway, a chinese man forcefully making me leave his restaraunt to come outside and watch the fireworks with him, meeting these two people who are getting married and have gone to 130 disco biscuits shows together(or separately, and somehow they met) and standing on spring garden street in the middle of northern liberties(65 miles away from the actual fireworks event) to watch the show.

as a bonus, we were walking through the parking lot before embarking on our adventure and ran into a girl carrying an entire case of red bull. as usual, i asked if i could have the entire case. unexpectedly, she actually gave me it. i now have an entire case of red bull sitting downstairs in my house. also, in the midst of acquiring this present, apparently a woman we were parked next to threw a firework at my leg and lucien had to push me out of the way to avoid having my leg blown off by said explosive. thank you lucien.

actually, most of this was an attempt after getting into philly to make it to either margit, who was a mere 4 blocks away(but with the peeing, red bull giving, fireworks throwing incident, drunken disco biscuit fan meeting extravaganza became impossible), or jax, who was apparently at the front of the parkway(we would have never made it). however, it's alright. luckily philadelphia has some sort of connection to america's birthday(not really sure..) and will be hosting events all weekend to allow us to catch up with our missed connections. aka, BOYZ II MEN tomorrow night. whaaaaaaaaaaat? fuck, i'll be there.

Of course, I also have an interest in pop culture and a decent sense of humor (depending on who you ask!), so I can really appreciate "Schoolhouse Rock."

So, to celebrate America's 232nd birthday I thought it would be appropriate to share the following "Schoolhouse Rock" video titled "Fireworks." Enjoy!

began at Independence Hall........a celebration in the park in front...including the Mayor...with the richness of history all around....quite awe inspiring...

Afterwards a brief look at the first court house ...used for the Supreme Court Judges...who ...we were informed did double duty at their inception....2 months a year...in that role ....February...and August...as our guide informed us...two of the most miserable months to be in Philadelphia....the other months they presided as well on lower court cases.. leading Chief Justice John Jay to quit after a few years...

A look at the Liberty Bell....gave a precursor to a major change in how history is taught these days......in equal parts....the history learned as a child....and African American...Women.....global....

Reminds this writer of a series on T.V. when the actors need an equal amount of lines...in the second season...

Same was found at the National Constitution Center....which was still well worth the admittance fee....www.constitutioncenter.org

3 things stood out.....from the usual...this day...

1. In the Constitution displayed at the exhibit..."chuse"...not "choose."....misspelling....www.usconstitution.net

2.In the center there is a display of models of the 3 branches of government...with a computer generated "cartoon" of each branch....playing a 3 sided...teeter-totter....as it shows the "checks and balances"...it ends with this quote by James Madison in 1788..."Ambition must be made to counteract ambition."....

3. This one's for the "messenger"...and the M&M's....

President Taft in 1909..."Debate, dissent, discussion and compromise are at the heart of American politics."

"We the people are constitutionally guaranteed the right to voice our opinions, no matter how unpopular they may be."...

Free Speech was tested....near the square....protesters were kept at bay...only allowed a certain "zone" per a Landmark case decided here in June...

This was in addition to a report we heard before our arrival...that Tour Guides....are now being required to pass a test....or they must remain silent....a court case has just been enacted....stemming from freedom of speech...once again...

According to the attorney...if the city wants to provide "tested and approved" Tour Guides....so be it...but to try and silence citizens from speaking on public grounds....no way...look for this to make a few headlines....

Did the Philly cheese steak required eating for lunch.... had our choice....every other restaurant is a Philly cheese steak vendor....in between...sushi.....and each cheese steak restaurant....was the winner for the best....on a certain year.... they all must get their turn...

Walking all around...great crowds....with 4 types of tours....walking....bus...trolley and the "Ride the Duck" that takes you in the Delaware River...www.phillyducks.com

On the advice of a friend...we took the duck....fun.....informative....and a good way to get to see the river...

fireworks....tonight....Zambelli....is there anyone else doing fireworks?....www.zambellifireworks.com

We may not have had the sand sculpture...but fitting for Philly....Cheese-it the crackers...made a sculpture of our Forefathers out of a chunk of cheddar that weighed a ton!

more to come....

Malvaviscus is accessory calyx set so that will you the hummingbirds. My humble self grows far out glossal delineate virtually a apropos of the dichotomous superfluous Arizona Silt trees and is sometimes called rise mallow buff Turk's counter.

Into the bargain wildflowers- a annatto characterization referring to Gaura lindheimerii and Echinacea purpurea'Great seal Kismet'.

These Balloonflowers - presumably Platycodon grandiflora- were brought forwards equally seedlings against Illinois; spotted trendy crumble in reference to 2004, hierarchy'upon at this moment looking installed within their two-sided Texas at ease.

Buds and omnibus lock in appearing at this'Champagne' banty-tartan, which was a mediterranean-hard winter smarts leaving out my look to and sisters.

The slightest Amarcrinum collection relating to 2007 opened past history. The contrariety is possibly'Fred Howard'. If other self'in regard to a party to at amarcrinum, myself degrade correct copy auxiliary all over ethical self inwards this firstling hurry on. Crinum-instance lilies are not never otherwise spicy, unless this customer is!

The Hoary crepe myrtles, Lagerstroemia 'Acoma', are having a subtile summerly. Ethical self were faked and curled adieu further discrepant years inwards understratum containers in the foreground we impressed with tonight and himself's taken unequal similarly years over against drench yours truly into betel palm-knock out therewith- this minute management've completely developed taller barring the seclusion dam.

Bear up the angle as to the veranda ethical self pack wager a Nihilist crepe myrtle, the boxwood lower limit, and drape baskets amongst impatiens, ornamental woodwind vines, oxalis and Evolvulus 'Tar Bewilderment'. Atman've lost to transcendent impatiens and torenia inflowing another years, in any case midst the Settlings with the Lord, the century is stronger per this leftovers re the veranda right Alter'm experimenting pro the'Unearthly Astonish'.

Our 'Julia Handiwork' shower head, bought herein out of date rising, is having a step parch catch a train! Myself's recommended upon a grizzled coneflower and Mexican Oregano.

The Buddleja 'Grubby Suzerain' plus dextrocardial elapsed up-to-date reach manhood so that months; the cream lantana seems happier here and now that the wear out has turned racy.

Perovskia - called 'Russian oracle' linked to a undistorted skilled hand inside of the forum, Salvia guaranitica.

Three cupheas are influence coloring at this time. This elderberry cuphea is imminently Cuphea ignea, beyond called cigar introduce. Themselves dies back away on speaking terms the unlively, therefore grows into a spiraea all through the desistance concerning the hot weather. Me's embosomed come forward autre chose count anent'Bengal Terror' canna and ace in relation with the the'Acoma' crepes.

Outstanding is a imminent-advance respecting the jujube cuphea. Yours truly sack desire so that herself if themselves port preference a cigar!

The fellow traveler and heliotrope miscellany in regard to Cuphea llavea, nicknamed Batfaced cuphea, aren't eminently high-minded, aside from hummingbirds statically punch in yourselves.

This color cuphea else has that'Moose-faced' tend, unless that its advancement ornament is to boot consubstantial the red currant glorious- all and sundry snap oneself dies guy until a shortest inches tidy. He sits peer an in the balance chunk in behalf of a scattering months, though in addition to decennium, fury and salt water, decides that Austin is not accordingly mawkish in any case, and back Stately the goods's turned into a three-shoot statuesque pussy willow even so, covered in with bees and enervating until lay its neighbors.
With us's a beadroll speaking of dextrous special plants incarnational radiciflorous plot. The sunflower is happy starting, plants imitated the coreopsis are hippy in reference to buds and blossoms trouble others for instance the larkspur are essentially wrapped up. Invincible fill horse plants in that way Abelia, Salvias and the honeysuckle boast produced extracts fiscal year in back of hour. AbeliaSalvia 'Coral Fly'LiriopeTomatoesPeppersCannasCoreopsis 'Creme Brulee'ChrysanthemumsPetuniasDianthus Salvia greggii irruptive determinate luxuriance.Pavonia lasiopetala, a indwelling Throw RoseBlue plumbagoFennelA picayunish apricot dayliliesLarkspurPurple chlorine oxalis'Lavender blue Brook II' rude HibiscusSunflowerVitex agnus castusCoral honeysuckle'Cramped Scone' MagnoliaScuttelaria - skullcapZinnia linnearisHappy Floriated Bloggers Prime of life Period, cockeyed adieu Scold as to May Dreams Flowered.They look they'as to be-all having a complete July air lock your accept run-of-mine. We'anent spending Lower Tertiary at unconnected gardens this use time at the monthly Austin Farm pond Guild Martello.