THe GS BOYZ "Stanky Legg". Hailing from Dallas, the GS BOYZ are the first signees to Yung Joc's Swagg Team Entertainment. Souf Side is a cutie pie!

Heyyyy now get jiggy with it now get jiggy with it

http://en.sevenload.com/videos/yWnkwtp-GS-BOYZ-do-the-Stanky-Legg-OFFICIAL-video

Projects Gallery announces a call to artists for its June-July 2009 Juried Art Exhibition entitled “Summer in the City”. The steamy summer months often prompt residents to flee; but for the segment that remains, there is a certain magic to the sticky days and long nights. Emerging from their wintry cocoon, Philadelphians take to the streets and stoops, bikes and bars, parks and playgrounds. We want art that captures that unique sensibility of summer in the city with a distinct Philadelphia flavor. Entrants may present work of any media or subject, but artists must be located in the greater Philadelphia and Delaware Valley region. We are looking to discover emerging, established and/or outsider artists with a mixed media approach and urban sensibility. The show will be displayed June 5 – August 1, 2009 at Projects Gallery in Philadelphia.

Eligibility: Open to all artists who reside in the greater Philadelphia and Delaware Valley area. Work must be original and completed within the past 2 years. Works for consideration may be of any media but must be no larger than 36” W. All work must be available for sale. Gallery commission on sales is 50%. An artist statement and resume will be required from all accepted artists. Artist is responsible for transportation of work to and from gallery. Accepted video artists must supply viewing equipment.

Prizes: A “Best In Show” prize of $300 will be awarded by artist Frank Hyder.

To Enter: There is a non-refundable entry fee of $25.00 (U.S.) per artist for up to five entries. Additional detail images are permitted. Digital files of artist statements, resumes and/or bios must be included with image entries. Submissions must be digital 300 dpi at least 8” jpg, gif or tiff format on a CD or DVD. CD/DVD will not be returned. Do not send original artwork. No slides. Please include a list of entries with the following information: artist name, titles of images, media, dimensions, date and retail price of work submitted. All entries must be received no later than April 30, 2009. Make checks payable to: Projects Gallery. If any of these requirements are not met the submission will be deemed ineligible.
Mail entries, list of entries, entry fee to:
Projects Gallery
629 N 2nd St.
Philadelphia, PA 19123

Calendar
• April 30, 2009 deadline for entries
• May 10, 2009 entrants notified
• May 30, 2009 accepted works due to gallery
• June 5, 2009 opening reception
• August 1, 2009 exhibition closes
• August 3-5, 2009 pick-up work or prepaid shipping returned

Work will be juried by Projects Gallery’s Associate Director Sequoia Medley. In addition to the exhibition, press releases and images will be sent out and the exhibition will be highlighted on the gallery’s website. Please forward this to all interested parties. Full prospectus available at http://www.projectsgallery.com/prospectus.html Questions? Contact info@projectsgallery.com.

Things are not always as they seem. This elusive concept haunts the periphery of three distinct artists’ works. For the month of April, Projects Gallery announces three simultaneous solo shows of disparate artists who are united under the umbrella concept of Perception : Reality.

Ross Bonfanti, Puppy (c282), 9”H x 15”W x 6”D, concrete and toy parts
Canadian Ross Bonfanti creates his popular concreatures by rescuing cute, stuffed animals from thrift stores and ripping the stuffing out of ‘em. The empty vessels are then filled with concrete. Once cured, the fur skin is peeled away, leaving a disarming concreature in place. Textured with the underside of the fabric, with fur embedded in the exposed seams, these sculptures retain their plush appearance and original features, including button eyes and noses. The resulting sculpture is a constant juxtaposition between the expected and the actual.

Lauren Lyons, Carolyn, 40”H x 40”W, archival pigment print on photo rag paper
Philadelphian Lauren Lyons is widely regarded for her photography of bands in highly stylized shoots. She has photographed artist portraits and cheeky scenarios for illustrious clients such as Interscope Records, PETA, HBO, and Philadelphia Magazine. Celebrated for her accentuation of the artifice of her subjects, Lyons’ work exemplifies a contraction; she captures the visual evidence of the veneer. Her carefully constructed images provide elusive glimpses at the truth, enough to ‘whet the palette’, ultimately creating a composed stylized truth.

Alex Queral, Ed, 11”H x 9”W, acrylic on carved phonebook
Cuban Alex Queral’s carved phonebooks receive “how’d-he-do-that?” attention wherever they travel. From local Philadelphians to citizens of Beruit to the millions in Europe who have discovered his work online and in the press, his lushly detailed carvings are created from the soft material of phonebooks. Utilizing classical carving techniques on an unexpected material, Queral brings forth the individual from the faceless masses. Queral crafts recognizable visages, vaguely familiar but elusively foreign, as well as evoking his own cast of characters from the bound sheets of paper.

Projects Gallery is pleased to present these three divergent artists from different regions of the continent. Each will be given their own exhibition space to focus on the individual artist, but the thematic thread connects them all. Popular in their own right, Perception : Reality invites the viewer to discover what lays beyond the first impression of these three artists’ works.

Perception : Reality will be on display April 6 - 25, 2009. There will also be an artist reception First Friday April 6th from 6 - 9 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public. Projects Gallery is located at 629 N. 2nd St. in Philadelphia’s Northern Liberties section. Gallery hours are Wednesday & Thursday 4 -7 p.m. and Friday & Saturday noon to 7 p.m. A preview of works may be viewed on the gallery’s website at www.projectsgallery.com. For more information and images, please contact Projects Gallery at 267-303-9652 or info@projectsgallery.com

Philadelphia based Music & Motion Dance has been chosen to perform at Pennsylvania Arts in Education Day at the State Capitol Building in Harrisburg on April 1, 2009. The day celebrates the outstanding artistic achievements made by students and teachers in Pennsylvania schools.

2009 Arts in Education Day at the State Capitol is sponsored by Pennsylvania Speaker of the House Keith R. McCall; the Pennsylvania Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance; the Pennsylvania Art Education Association; the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts/Arts in Education (AIE) Partnership; the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts; the Pennsylvania Department of Education; the Pennsylvania Department of General Services; the Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Arts, and the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association.

Music & Motion Dance will be presenting excerpts from their upcoming premiere of the 9 muses. This new dance work examines the concept of inspiration and is based on ancient Greek mythology, in which there were nine muses who ruled over the arts and sciences. Artistic Director, Steven Weisz goes on to add, “For dancers it is a sacred space, where you can find yourself again and again. A place where one can retreat, nourish the muse and ultimately find oneself. It is a playground that has the power to transport us and help us to resuscitate our imagination. Muses have the potential to inspire, motivate, uplift, create solace, fill us with joy and allow us to reveal ourselves in new and undiscovered ways. What they ultimately do is allow us to create.” To that end, each dancer in Music & Motion has sought their own muse in creating and choreographing the works to be presented. These vignettes offer a brief insight in to a range of feelings and emotions which drive the movement on stage and offer a glimpse of each dancer’s own muse.

Founded in 2000, Music & Motion is a fresh, innovative, performance-oriented, youth dance company. Rather than relying on a single dance style or technique, Music & Motion has developed its own unique movement for each new dance work created. The variety of eclectic styles incorporated into its’ programs include ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, modern, funk, hip hop and acrobatic styles.

Music & Motion Dance has performed throughout the tri-state area as well as internationally to a range of audiences in its short yet diverse history. With a deep commitment to group collaboration and exposing new audiences to dance and the performing arts, the company has won both critical acclaim as well as many new fans.

The collaborative effort of this group is rich in synergy, imagination, celebration and spirit. Audiences have responded with enthusiasm, finding themselves caught up in a world of exhilarating rhythm, movement and music created by this multi-talented group.

Music & Motion Dance fulfills the need of providing young dancers with performing experience in a nurturing environment with professional guidance, while continually exciting audiences wherever they perform.

2009 Cast Members

Emily Alexander
Breanna Dancy
Jennifer Durham
Jessica Lynn DiFrancesco
Brooke Fiorito
Stacey Folks
Melissa Hunt
Andrea Piovane
Tasha Saleh
Courtney Schiff
Morgan Woroniecki

More on the web at www.Music-And-Motion.com

Friday, April 17 to Sunday, April 19,2009, all weekend.
Mt. Airy Kids' Literary Festival! Big Blue Marble Bookstore's third annual kids' literary festival--a weekend of kids' literature, music, crafts, and activities. Featuring popular Baby Loves Jazz author Andy Blackman Hurwitz and special musical guests, a hands-on kids' cooking experience with Atsuko Quirk, young adult author Tonya Cherie Hegamin, storytellers Milt Cohen and Debra Johnson, and more guests to be announced.

Check out our regularly scheduled kids' events and reading/book signings, workshops, writing classes, and more on our website: www.bigbluemarblebooks.com!

Wondering how you can affordably and easily incorporate “green” practices into your everday life? Join us at Cliveden, a National Trust Historic Site, on Friday April 3rd and Satruday April 4th for Going Green: Environmental Stewardship for Preservation and Profit.

Located in our historic Carriage House, visitors will hear a variety of perspectives on local “green” issues from renowned scholars and environmental leaders. Topics will include an assortment of subjects including: “green” lawn care, protection of local wildlife, historical environmental issues and the true characteristics of eco-living.

The Going Green forum will begin on Friday evening, April 3rd, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm with a wine and cheese conversation about Cliveden’s climate control project. Learn about the special challenges historic sites face when balancing sustainability and historic accuracy. A presentation and panel discussion with local museum leaders will be followed by a behind-the-scenes architectural tour of the historic Chew House.

On Saturday April 4th, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, a full-day of scholarly speakers will address a variety of local environmental issues. Mike McGrath, host of WHYY’s You Bet Your Garden show, will bring his nationally syndicated radio antics to Cliveden. His keynote speech, Get Your Lawn and Landscape off Drugs, will reveal money-and-time saving tips that will help to achieve a lush, green lawn free of chemicals.

Dr. Andrew Isenberg, Chair of Temple University’s History Department, will begin Saturday’s program with a discussion of historical environmental issues. His talk Environment and History: The Historical Context of Environmental Challenges, will focus on how past cultures have attempted to confront environmental problems.
Defenders of Wildlife Outreach representative Richard Whiteford will follow with a discussion about Climate Change: Things Each of Us Can Do About It. An environmental activist, lobbyist and winner of the Sierra Club’s 2006 Environmental Hero Award, Whiteford will provide tips on how to protect natural habitats in the Greater Philadelphia region.

Exploring myths about “going green” will be Barton Partners Architects Planners’ Director of Planning and Urban Design, Seth Shapiro. Mr. Shapiro will question the myths about green design and focus on the chracteristics of what makes homes and neighborhoods truly “green.”

During the lunch break on Saturday April 4th, visitors will be treated to a natural history tour of Cliveden. Phillyist.com Green Scene Columnist Lori Litchman will explain what Cliveden’s 6 acre property would have looked like in 1777 as well as the variety of plant and wildlife at the site.

Farmers from Weavers Way, a food cooperative in Northwest Philadelphia, will provide eco-friendly appetizers for lunchtime and discuss the economic and health benefits of eating locally and organically.

Concluding the Going Green forum will be a brief local field trip to Weavers Way farms at Awbury Arboretum and Martin Luther King High School. Hop on the yellow bus to see a food co-op’s urban gardens and nutrition programs in action.

Admission to both days of the program, April 3rd and April 4th, is $30. Price of admission includes speakers, demonstrations, eco-friendly appetizers, local bus trip as well as a reusable Cliveden coffee mug and shopping bag. A reduced rate is available for one-day admissions and members of Cliveden.

For further information about this program and to RSVP, please contact by email at: rfink@cliveden.org or by calling 215-848-1777. A detailed program for this event can be found at www.cliveden.org.

The country’s unemployment rate stands at 7.6 percent, meaning that more than 11 million Americans are now without jobs. However, while the employment rate among high school graduates with no college education hovers at eight percent, those with bachelor’s degrees or higher are seeing the unemployment rate drop by more than half, to 3.8 percent, according to the U.S. Labor Department.

Additionally, the average annual salary for individuals with graduate or doctoral degrees is $75,000, while bachelor’s degrees command an average salary of $51,000. For those relying on a high school diploma alone, their average salary drops significantly to $28,000.

Therefore, for anyone seeking increased career stability in this shaky economy, higher education is the answer. Now is the best time to pursue an advanced degree to further a career, as demonstrated in a newly released video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDfew0YcDTo) by EducationDynamics.

Fortunately, finding the best program to match a prospective student’s interests and goals has become much easier due to recent technological innovations and expanded access. With 4,146 colleges and universities in the United States, both on-campus and online, never have there been more educational options from which to choose.

Expanded Educational Options
Interest in online education has surged as a result of the convenience and flexibility it affords. Online learners can complete their coursework when it is most convenient―after the kids go to bed at night or even during a lunch break at work. Web-based courses also allow students to take classes at home, in effect eliminating time and money spent driving to class.

For others, a traditional campus setting is the preferred environment. Traditional classes allow students to interact face-to-face with professors and fellow students alike, and generally offer more structure than their online counterparts.

The choice between online learning and traditional on-campus programs is simply a matter of personal preference, and there are comprehensive resources, including eLearners.com and EarnMyDegree.com, that help prospective students find their ideal degree program.

Additionally, the eLearners Advisor (http://www.elearners.com/advisor/) is designed to help prospective students determine whether online learning or a traditional educational format best suits their needs and preferences. For those unsure about which academic program to pursue, eLearners.com offers the Career Interest Test (http://www.livecareer.com/default.asp?lp=TG6A&cobrand=ELRN) to help people determine the career that best matches their personality.

Important Questions to Ask
In addition to deciding which format and degree to pursue, it is also important to note that returning to school will affect a student’s personal life. Some important questions to consider when determining whether now is the best time to enroll in a higher education program include:

1. Do you have support from loved ones? To reach optimal academic performance, it is helpful to have the support of close friends and family.

2. Do you have employer “buy-in”? Ask your boss whether he or she supports you completing coursework during lunch hour and whether it is appropriate for you to use a work computer for such activities.

3. What is your plan or timeline? A three credit college course will require, on average, 10 to 12 hours per week.

4. Do you have a home classroom or study area? A separate space for studying will help you concentrate and stay organized.

5. Do you plan to seek financial assistance? Research scholarship and grant opportunities, and tax credits and deductions to help offset costs. The Debt-Free College Guide (http://debtfree-elearners.com/) is a comprehensive resource providing a state-by-state listing of options to help make college more affordable.

Knowledge opens new doors and changes things for the better. Among the millions of people who will enroll in higher education this year, several will be the first in their families to receive a college diploma. Millions more will finish their degrees online. Many single parents will pursue continuing education to improve their earning potential. A newly-released EducationDynamics video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDfew0YcDTo) provides fresh inspiration to positively change lives and the world through a commitment to life-long learning.

Cartoon from Sid in the City
The news of the day, with a twist, or a tweak, or a groan.

Across the nation there is a palpable excitement rippling through the art community. An artist-initiated outpouring has resulted in the simultaneous gallery showings throughout the country of Obama-themed artwork. Projects Gallery in Philadelphia is one such gallery. Although conceived in a vacuum of local artistic energy, their exhibition, entitled “Obama-rama”, appears to be very much in tune with the zeitgeist. Already the subject of several laudatory critical reviews, Projects Gallery has responded to audience demand to extend the exhibition through the end of March.

Frank Hyder, Fifty States of Obama, 100”H x 40”W, ink paint on canvas

Even as the reality of current economic, geopolitical and environmental challenges begin to sink in, this president, unlike any other in history, is a canvas on which is projected the hopes and fears of a nation. Through word of mouth and passing conversations, a wide range of artistic talent and media has enthusiastically embraced the idea of celebrating this historic and “bigger-than-life figure”. Conceived as a truly democratic exhibition, the works were not juried in; if an artist provided a work by the deadline, it went on display. The result is an unusually wide range of works.

Tatyana Fazlalizadeh, Is He Black Enough?, 24”H x 18”, oil on canvas

“Obama-rama” brings together many prominent Philadelphia area artists, as well as others, united in the celebration and critique of our nation’s new commander in chief, including Henry Bermudez, Elizabeth Bisbing, Jim Brossy, Lenny Campello, James Dupree, Allan Edmunds, Roberta Fallon & Libby Rosof, Cheryl Harper, Raymond W. Holman, Jr, Frank Hyder, Tom Judd, Alex Queral, Sarah Roche, Mia Rosenthal, Shelley Spector, Jack Thompson, Ira Upin, and others.

Ira Upin, Hope Not, 36"H x 36"W, oil on panel

“Obama-o-rama” continues through March 28th, 2009 and will feature a First Friday reception March 6th from 6-9 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public. Gallery hours are Wednesday & Thursday 4 - 7 p.m. and Friday & Saturday noon to 7 p.m. A preview of the exhibition is available online at http://www.projectsgallery.com/Shows/Obamarama_PL.html. For more information, please contact Projects Gallery at 267-303-9652 or info@projectsgallery.com

Hello,

Quick update: Due to issues at the previous host that kept me from gaining the access I needed to diagnose the performance issues Philly Future was suffering, I have migrated Philly Future to a new host. This enabled me to determine that the blog aggregator, The Philly Wire, was the root cause of Philly Future's instability.

I will be upgrading Philly Future to the next major Drupal release to see if this resolves the issue. Going from Drupal 5.x to 6.0 involves major work since the templates that Philly Future employs need to be redone to be compatible. Finding uninterrupted to to accomplish this will be a challenge.

It is possible that this will not resolve the issue since it appears it to be one of sheer growth. The aggregator has grown to a size that a Drupal on any under $100 hosting solution cannot satisfy.

Installing memcached should help as a next step, which I will take, however, the smart, cost effective solution is to go distributed - to host Philly Future's aggregator process on Amazon web services or Google's App Engine. Incur the CPU and memory cost there, and consume the results of that processing here. More than likely, that will be the next phase of rebuilding Philly Future. If and when Philly Future goes this route I plan to document the process for others, and to hopefully build a solution that can be used by others who would like to build similar services.

I'd like to apologize for the issues Philly Future has been experiencing. Attempting to resolve them part-time, in fits and starts, the way I have has been largely unsuccessful.

So it is long past time I do this and practice what I preach - please join me at this google group to start an open conversation about Philly Future's management and its future.

Thank you,

Karl

Hello everyone, Philly Future is still here. I am working with our host to try and discern what has triggered the slow site performance these past few days. During this time, Philly Future may go into maintenance mode where no access is possible, do not be alarmed, we will be back.

Thanks for your patience,

Karl

St. Michael’s Lutheran Church will be celebrating Reconciling in Christ Sunday, on January 25, 2009 at 6671 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia Pa 19119 at 11:00 a.m, with Holy Communion, song and scripture.

Reconciling in Christ is a program for Lutheran communities of faith to answer the inclusive call of the Gospel by welcoming people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.

For more information about this event, please call the church office at (215)848-0199.

St. Michael’s Lutheran Church will be celebrating Reconciling in Christ Sunday, on January 25, 2009 at 6671 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia Pa 19119 at 11:00 a.m, with Holy Communion, song and scripture.

Reconciling in Christ is a program for Lutheran communities of faith to answer the inclusive call of the Gospel by welcoming people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.

For more information about this event, please call the church office at (215)848-0199.

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2009/44.president/inauguration/map/

President-elect Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States on January 20. Millions were in Washington D.C. to witness the historic moment.
CNN wants bloggers and writers to upload their footage and photos to ireport@cnn.com.

The best footage is being featured online. The Photosynth is awesome!!!

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2009/44.president/inauguration/themoment/

Cardinals 32 - Eagles 25

'Nuff said...

News Link: The End of the Road

Cartoon from Sid in the City