June 2008

Wireless Philadelphia has been saved by a group of local investors, according to an article on Philly.com.

The group has formed a new for-profit company that will replace Earthlink as the network’s operator, saving it from imminent shutdown.

Although details are still unclear, the new company will consider an advertising-based business model that would provide free Internet access wherever the network is available. Earthlink had charged $20 per month.

Little if any tax dollars were used in the deal. The investment group includes local businessmen Derek Pew and Mark Rupp. Pew served briefly as interim CEO of Wireless Philadelphia, the non-profit created by former Mayor John Street while the network was under Earthlink.

Photo courtesy of EHow.com.

An advertisement for the Philadelphia Soul arena football team inside of a store inside suburban station will have a camera, according to an article on KYW1060.com.

The camera, installed by Moto Media, will be able to measure points on people’s face determining if people looking are male or female, their approximate age, and for how long they are looking at the ad.

This kind of technology is already used in Europe, but this ad will make Philadelphia one of the first U.S. cities to use it. The camera, which will not actually record anything, is drawing a lot of criticism and many are calling for a disclaimer to be placed on the advertisement.

Photo courtesy of KYW1060.com.

Beau Zabel, a 23 year old teacher who came to Philadelphia six weeks ago, was fatally shot at 1:30 a.m. today, according to an article in The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Zabel’s plan was to come to Philadelphia from Minnesota to experience urban East Coast life and to become a math teacher in the city school system. Zabel had found an apartment in South Philadelphia near the Italian Market and was temporarily working at Starbucks.

Zabel was ambushed as he was walking home from his midnight shift at the coffee shop. He was shot once in the neck. The motive was robbery.

Zabel graduated from Augustana College, a liberal arts school in Rock Island, Ill., where he studied mathematics, Spanish, philosophy, and computer science, the Inquirer said.

He was attracted to teaching, but did not yet have a degree. He was attracted to the Philadelphia Teaching Fellows program because he could teach in the city public schools while getting certified through Drexel at the same time.

The Pennsylvania state legislature has approved a compromise bill to outlaw smoking in most workplaces and public spaces in Pennsylvania, according to an article on KYW1060.com.

The Senate voted 41-9 to pass it and it just needs to be signed by Governor Rendell, who supports the bill. The original compromise was to allow Philadelphia to keep almost two year old ban on smoking, while the new laws would affect the rest of the state. However, in the Senate, many were upset that the law would not also allow Allegheny County (including Pittsburgh) and Scranton to keep their local smoking restrictions.

However, the Senate chose to go ahead with the statewide anti-smoking law, saying they received a pledge from state Republican leaders to work on subsequent legislation to address the Allegheny County and Scranton laws.

The law will take effect 90 days after being signed by Rendell and will ban cigarette, cigar, and pipe smoking in restaurants, office buildings, schools, sports arenas, theaters, and bus and train stations. There are a dozen exceptions (more than there are in Philadelphia’s current law) and they include some bars and taverns, portions of casino floors (Philadlephia’s eventual casinos will be smoke-free)), private clubs, and others. More than 30 other states have similar bans.

Photo courtesy of MichiganSafe.org.

The wireless network in Philadelphia could still become a reality, as the city resumes negotiations with a group to take over the network from Earthlink, according to an article on KYW1060.com.

The city got word last month from Earthlink that it was backing out of the project and shutting down and tearing down the partially built network on June 12th due to internal problems, leaving the WiFi future of Philly unclear.

According to Mayor Nutter’s spokesman Doug Oliver, negotiations for underway: “There was a network that was about 75 percent complete, and the question became what do you do with that network, and under what circumstances?  So there’s been a series of discussions to find out exactly what can be done to preserve the work that’s already been done and to finish the project.  That process has proven to be challenging but the city has always represented that the city is willing to consider any reasonable proposal that’s out on the table.”

The city is looking for ways to make the network work, but will not use taxpayer money in order to do so.

Photo courtesy of KYW1060.com.

Apple is set to announce the second generation of the iPhone, to replace the the less than one year old original, at an event in San Francisco, according to an article on KYW1060.com.

Apple has kept quiet about new features of teh device, but that hasn’t stopped bloggers and speculators from guessing, and some details have been discovered.

The next iPhone will use AT&T’s 3G network, giving users high-speed access. There is also expected to be a built-in GPS system. Beyond that, other speculated features include two-way video chat capability and lower prices via AT&T subsidies.

Apple will also announce an upgrade for existing iPhones at the event. Users will now be able to buy and install third-party software on to their phone.

Photo courtesy of CNET.co.uk.

As the weather heats up, people turn to shorts, t-shirts, and flip-flops, but this may not be good for your feet, according to an article on KYW1060.com.

The flat rubber shoes may be good for they are not the best choice for long periods of time, according to Dr. Tracey Vlahovic, associate professor at Temple University’s School Podiatric Medicine:

“Most people, their feet just don’t match up with a flip-flop. Most people have a bit of a flat foot and sometimes wearing a flip-flop can exacerbate any problems they have or may have.”

If foot pain develops, she recommends trading the flip-flops for some good running shoe or other footwear that has arch support. Furthermore, stretching leg muscles before and after wearing flat shoes can help.

Photo courtesy of Dailymail.co.uk.

Governor Ed Rendell, one of Hillary Clinton’s key supporters, is strongly suggesting that Clinton should be Obama’s choice for Vice President, according to an article on KYW1060.com.

Rendell quickly states that he should be a number two on the national ticket, but believes that Clinton would be a nice fit, according to two things that Rendell believes is important for Obama to win:

“One is that someone who will help you win. I have no doubt Senator Clinton would help Senator Obama win the most, clearly. And number two is that person is ready to be President, and I don’t think anyone who watched Hillary Clinton over the last 6 months can think that she’s anything but ready.”

However, Rendell has also made it clear that it is Obama’s, and only Obama’s, choice to decide who is Vice President, and even recently delivered what he called “my first Obama speech,” a gathering to challenge fellow Clinton supporters to work to elect Obama in November.

Photo courtesy of Time.com.

Drexelina II, the sea turtle sponsored in this year’s Great Turtle Race by the university, is performing very well. At almost the end of the 7th day, Drexelina II is in 3rd place out of 11 turtles, about 1170 miles from finishing.

In first place is Saphira II, sponsored by Bullis Charter School and is only 938 miles from finishing. Second is J.K. Turtling, sponsored by Hillside Elementary School, who is only 1092 miles away from finishing.

The race begins on either the western coast of North America or the eastern cost of Asia for the turtles and the finish line is in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The race follows the turtles, who are swimming to lay eggs, and its purpose is to raise awareness for the breed.

For up to date results of the race, check out GreatTurtleRace.com.

Photo courtesy of Drexel.edu.

A new restaurant, Distrito, will open this July in the University City Hub, located at 3945 Chestnut Street, according to an article in the Daily Pennsylvanian.

The restaurant will be opened by Jose Garces, the chef behind the tapas restaurants Amada and Tinto in Center City. The restaurant was originally intended to be named Chilango. It will have a green and pink Mexico City theme and will have booths shaped out of Volkswagen Beetle’s, the typical taxi type of the Mexican capital.

The menu will have modern interpretations of traditional Mexican food and the drink menu will feature over 60 types of tequila and a rotating menu of margaritas.

Stephen Starr, who also owns many restaurants in Center City, plans to open a Mexican restaurant in University City soon, but the location is yet to be determined.

Photo courtesy of Photobucket.com.