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Philadelphia News and Views YOU Write - Urbi et Orbi

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Top 30 news sites for May -- some biggies stall

Knight Ridder Watch - June 20, 2009 - 12:16pm
Two top news sites grew monthly unique visitors the most in May: Fox News Digital Network, up 49% and the New York Daily News Online, also up 49% year-over-year, according to new data from Nielsen Online.... Read the rest of "Top 30 news sites for May -- some biggies stall"

Star Tribune files plan to exit bankruptcy in fall

Knight Ridder Watch - June 20, 2009 - 12:16pm
The Star Tribune plans to exit bankruptcy in the fall, about 10 months after a sharp decline in advertising and circulation revenue forced it to default on heavy debt payments.... Read the rest of "Star Tribune files plan to exit bankruptcy in fall"

PD unions take furloughs, pay cuts to keep 7-day newspaper delivery

Knight Ridder Watch - June 20, 2009 - 12:16pm
About 500 union employees of The Plain Dealer have agreed to take pay cuts and furloughs as the paper strives to keep the business viable while advertising revenue sags.... Read the rest of "PD unions take furloughs, pay cuts to keep 7-day newspaper delivery"

Boston Globe Guild sets new vote -- even without contract

Knight Ridder Watch - June 20, 2009 - 12:16pm
The Boston Globe’s largest union has scheduled a contract ratification vote, even though it has yet to reach a new tentative agreement with management.... Read the rest of "Boston Globe Guild sets new vote -- even without contract"

Gannett CEO's medical leave raises concerns about company

Knight Ridder Watch - June 20, 2009 - 12:16pm
Concerns about the future of the nation’s largest newspaper publisher, Gannett Inc. have intensified this week after the company said Chief Executive Craig Dubow will go on extended medical.... Read the rest of "Gannett CEO's medical leave raises concerns about company"

Boston Guild leader: Union will 'adapt and change'

Knight Ridder Watch - June 20, 2009 - 12:16pm
Boston Newspaper Guild President Dan Totten says he remains "proud and honored" to serve as the guild’s leader during these difficult times, adding that the union will "adapt and change" to keep The Boston Globe going.... Read the rest of "Boston Guild leader: Union will 'adapt and change'"

Top 30 newspaper Web sites in May

Knight Ridder Watch - June 20, 2009 - 12:16pm
The dog days of summer arrived early for newspaper Web sites, with several leading outlets showing declines in unique visitor in May.... Read the rest of "Top 30 newspaper Web sites in May"

Portland Press Herald sells downtown building

Knight Ridder Watch - June 20, 2009 - 12:16pm
The Portland Press Herald’s new owner says his company has reached an agreement to sell its downtown real estate.... Read the rest of "Portland Press Herald sells downtown building"

Star Tribune, unionized drivers reach tentative agreement

Knight Ridder Watch - June 20, 2009 - 12:16pm
Unionized drivers on Wednesday ratified a tentative agreement with the Star Tribune, marking the last major bargaining unit to agree to concessions with the newspaper that filed for bankruptcy protection in January.... Read the rest of "Star Tribune, unionized drivers reach tentative agreement"

Globe, Guild talks to continue next week

Knight Ridder Watch - June 20, 2009 - 12:16pm
Boston Globe management and the paper’s largest union ended another marathon bargaining session early this morning without resolving their contract dispute. The two sides will continue talking by phone today, but the next scheduled face-to-face meeting is not until Monday.... Read the rest of "Globe, Guild talks to continue next week"

First 100 Feet for Green

River Tyde - June 20, 2009 - 12:13pm
One of Philadelphia's greatest assets is it's Delaware River waterfront. It is a real shame that the city does not seem to know how to use it. The Penn's Landing amphitheater and festival area were steps in the right direction but they come across as rather half-hearted, neglected, and now ...... Read the rest of "First 100 Feet for Green"

Sprouting everywhere like mushrooms – Trash Compactors

River Tyde - June 20, 2009 - 12:13pm
[caption id="attachment_168" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Rittenhouse Square Trash Muncher"][/caption] Last July I blogged about a small test the city of Philadelphia was running with 3 solar-powered trash compactors ( Solar-powered Trashcan Test ). Cool idea, I thought, but I did not hear anything else about them. Then over the last three weeks ...... Read the rest of "Sprouting everywhere like mushrooms – Trash Compactors"

Watch Hubble Repairs on NASA TV

River Tyde - June 20, 2009 - 12:13pm
Follow the arduous and dangerous repair mission to the Hubble Space Telescope on NASA TV. It is not Hulu and not Star Trek, but it is real and you get the added plus of seeing Earth passing underneath the hard-working astronauts. Do you get a view like this from your ...... Read the rest of "Watch Hubble Repairs on NASA TV"

Preparing to go where no two shuttles have gone before

River Tyde - June 20, 2009 - 12:13pm
NBC News space analyst James Oberg's article: NASA set for dramatic shuttle rescue is a clear and interesting report on what plans NASA has for rescuing the crew of STS-125/Atlantis should Atlantis be damaged during its mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope. The article appeared the same day that ...... Read the rest of "Preparing to go where no two shuttles have gone before"

The Franklin Institute’s Red Tail

River Tyde - June 20, 2009 - 12:13pm
(Photo copyrighted by Derek Ram 2007, GNU Free Documentation Lic., posted to Wikipedia) Two red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) set up housekeeping on the side of Philadelphia's science museum - The Franklin Institute. Staff members have installed a web cam so that anyone can follow the pair's efforts to raise their three, ...... Read the rest of "The Franklin Institute’s Red Tail"

Depression in a Café

River Tyde - June 20, 2009 - 12:13pm
[caption id="attachment_145" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Suppenküche Chicago (1931)"][/caption] Financial depression, that is. I'm sitting at LaVa on 21st and South St. reading an issue of the German magazine Der Spiegel from Sept. 29, 2008. The picture above is of a Great Depression food line. On the window are the words 'free ...... Read the rest of "Depression in a Café"

Contemplating Loss of Green Friends

River Tyde - June 20, 2009 - 12:13pm
(Photo by Keith Kanoti, Maine Forest Service, USA) Although it is overcast today the weather is very pleasant. There is the slightest breath of a breeze and the temperature is a comfortable 64F (17.8C). What a great day to be having coffee on the deck! The cats are out too. ...... Read the rest of "Contemplating Loss of Green Friends"

Tandayapa, Ecuador Photos

River Tyde - June 20, 2009 - 12:13pm
Cloud forest Originally uploaded by Michlt I've added an additional set of  Ecuador photos to my Flickr.com account. These are selected photos taken while we were staying at Tandayapa Bird Lodge. While there we birded on the old Nono-Mindo road and we spent the better part of a day at Angel Paz' ...... Read the rest of "Tandayapa, Ecuador Photos"

Cabañas San Isidro and Guango Lodge

River Tyde - June 20, 2009 - 12:13pm
Our recent trip to Ecuador was booked through Carmen Bustamante of Cabañas San Isidro. Carmen was exceptional and the lodges that her family runs were outstanding (esp. the food!). We booked a private tour, and Carmen arranged the driver, the hotel in Quito and three nature lodges (two belonging to ...... Read the rest of "Cabañas San Isidro and Guango Lodge"