Trying to Save an American Icon (CBS Sunday Morning)

This once beautiful ship sits rusting in South Philadelphia. I have admired it since I built a model of her as a child. Will it be saved or sold for scrap?

George Washington On Liberty

Photo: Fairmount Park, Philadelphia

In his first inaugural address, President Washington said that the protection of liberty and a Republican form of government are forever entrusted to the American people. These are nice sounding ideas, appropriate for his time. However, we now know that equality is every bit as important as liberty, and that corruption and corporate influence pose a mortal threat to democracy. For our time Washington would need to deliver a much different speech.

Cruise Ship Greed Puts Passengers At Risk

From the New York Times:

...nearly all ships lack backup systems to help them return to port should power fail because to install them would have cost operators more money.

We love cruises but the recent disasters are a concern. Brand new ships must have back up systems by law but that doesn't help passengers on existing ships. Too bad that operators are not forced by law to make some provisions for loss of power at sea.

Toy Train Show

Allentown Spring Thaw

102 Year Old Candy Store In Philadelphia

When we lost Young's candy store in our Fairmount neighborhood about seven years ago, we no longer had a traditional old storefront candy shop to go to. However, I just discovered that another one exists in Philadelphia. Shane's Confectionery has been in business in the same location continuously since 1911. It's a charming old storefront shop with a pressed tin ceiling inside, old original cabinetry, and some of the tastiest hand made chocolates we've had in years.

Model Locomotive At The Philadelphia History Museum

One of the highlights of my recent visit to the Philadelphia History Museum (the former Atwater Kenet Museum) was this beautiful hand made model of a Baldwin steam locomotive. Baldwin headquarters were in Philadelphia.

St. Barths Gustavia Harbor

In a little while we'll be visiting one of my favorite spots to vacation: St. Barths. After the cold winter and a bout of the flu I'm ready!

Life Without/With A Cat - SO TRUE!!!

Nutter's AVI Initiative Unfair!

Philly Mayor Nutter's plan to make real estate taxes more fair through actual value assessments will penalize residents vs. commercial/industrial interests and cause massive increases to some in gentrified neighborhoods. From today's Inquirer:

Most of the average increases are fairly modest in dollar amounts, though zip codes that cover Fairmount, Graduate Hospital, Queen Village, and South Philadelphia east of Broad Street see average increases between $758 and $819.
The administration previously said more than two-thirds of city homeowners would see taxes go down or increase by less than $400.
Council staffers, who are also crunching the data, also said in a briefing Tuesday that nearly $200 million of the property tax burden is likely to shift from commercial and industrial properties to residential under the current formulas.

An Exciting Afternoon At Opera Philadelphia

On Sunday we attended the East coast premier of the opera Silent night, based on the movie Joyeux Noel, the story about soldiers on the front lines during WWI who decided on their own to have a truce for Christmas. It's always a delight to attend a performance in the historic and beautiful Academy Of Music (even if the seats are cramped,) but it was doubly pleasurable on Sunday because the opera is quite good.

Fun.: Carry On [OFFICIAL VIDEO]

Great song from a talented group...and they support GLBT equality!

Congratulations to fun. for winning at the Grammys!

Good Riddance Ratzinger

The former nazi pope is retiring...made my day. Too bad they will replace him with another backward bigot no doubt.

The Philadelphia History Museum

Last Tuesday we visited the former Atwater-Kent museum, now known as the Philadelphia History Museum with our Mornings Out senior gay men's social group. The dog was a hero of WW1 ...a very special Philadelphia pooch!

Nice Short Film "Connected"

Wanamaker Organ Free Noon Concert

At Macy's center city...Gilbert & Sullivan on the Program.

Downtown Day

At Starbucks for a yummy cafe mocha...