Weather
Submitted by DelawareEstuary on May 1, 2008 - 4:42pm.
The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, together with The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, will host a large public forum on May 6, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., where a panel of scientists and policy experts will discuss the impacts of “Global Warming in the Delaware Valley.” This free, town hall-style meeting is one of many installments in the Academy’s “Town Square” series, which is taking place at the museum’s headquarters near Logan Square on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
“As scientists, it is critically important to share the latest facts and to hear what people are most concerned about. That is the goal of this forum,” said Dr. Danielle Kreeger, science director at the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary. “We also want to think strategically about needs and actions in the future. For example, what do we do when changes in climate begin to interact with changes in our backyard, like land use and water management? These are just a few of the things we’ll discuss.”
Prior to the evening’s discussion, scientists will be joined by policy makers and resource managers, among others, for a day-long technical workshop on climate change in the Delaware Estuary. The goal of this earlier gathering is to compare data on climate change in a way that allows professionals to move forward in a concerted, regional approach to natural resource restoration and protection. The results of the workshop will be presented during the evening’s Town Square meeting in an effort to gather public input.
“This is a much needed information exchange and discussion for scientists, resource managers and the public on a very important topic,” said Dr. David Velinsky, an environmental biogeochemist and vice president of the Patrick Center for Environmental Research at the Academy. “The outcomes of this forum will be used to advise environmental leaders regarding the ways they can adapt to the local aspects of climate change we expect to see in the next 10 to 30 years.”
The evening’s keynote speaker will be Dr. Thomas Lovejoy, president of the H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics, and the Environment. Panelists will include Carol Collier of the Delaware River Basin Commission, Barry Seymour of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, and Jennifer Adkins of the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, the latter of which will serve as moderator.
“Town Square” is made possible thanks to the financial assistance of the Claneil Foundation and the Environmental Associates of The Academy of Natural Sciences. For more information, please visit www.DelawareEstuary.org or www.ANSP.org/townsquare.
Submitted by Janette Parangan on February 18, 2008 - 12:05am.
This was taken from my previous page...cut and paste...cut and paste...
It has occurred to me that I'm probably acclimating to the cold...kind of. After living here for 2 years, I now own 6 or 7 pairs of boots and heavy coats with hoodies. Whereas back home, I never owned a pair of boots and all of my coats were thin and basically for style. Keep in mind, California has perfect-condition weather, majority of the time. Rain is probably the worse we'll ever have it (besides the nasty shaking of the faults, but that's another topic).
Don't get me wrong, I still find myself with Californian-tendencies. Running for my coat anytime there's a slight gust of wind, hint of flurries, or simply when the sun's not shining. You must realize, "freezing rain, flurry, and wind chill" was once a figment of my imagination, but is now a daily dose to my winter vocabulary. I'm not as bad as before though because I find myself laughing when I hear that when it's "cold" back home - cold to West Coasters is anything BELOW 70 degrees - they literally run for their coats.
You'd be glad to know, I actually feel the difference in warmth when it's anything above 20 degrees. Weird, but cool, literally.
Submitted by aysworld on October 17, 2007 - 11:01am.
Friday, November 9, 2007
8am-5pm
PA Convention Center
The time has come for us to stop talking about the problems in our neighborhoods and start acting. This year’s conference is inspired by the community activists and youth leaders who work hard to make our neighborhoods places of opportunities where people excel, ideas grow and dreams are realized. By bringing together young people ages 14-21 and adults from around the region, we will begin to create real solutions to the many challenges in our communities. Workshops and interactive sessions will empower youth to effectively address the challenges they face everyday and enhance adults’ capacity to nurture the potential of every youth. We invite everyone, both youth and adults, interested in making a positive and lasting impact in their community to “Step Up!” and “Be the Change”.
**This year’s conference will feature an exciting keynote speech by Ephren W. Taylor, CEO of City Capital Corporation and the youngest African-American CEO of a publicly traded company ever!**
*The conference will also feature a lunchtime comedy performance by Philadelphia’s own Keith from Up Da Block!*
For more information, or to register, visit us online at www.greatsettlements.org or call Amanda at 215-925-7875.
Submitted by Philly Koinonia... on August 22, 2007 - 5:21pm.
What Do You Do After You Pray:
The Church's Response to Gun-Violence in Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA, PA – With more than 250 murders after the first half of 2007, the city once known as the City of Brotherly Love has instead quickly become known as Kill-a-delphia, forcing many residents to live and operate in fear as a result of the gun-violence inflicting the city.
On Saturday, August 25, 2007, Philly Koinonia Ministries (pronounced koy-no-NEE-yah) will organize its initial effort dealing with this problem, the "2007 Gun-drive and City Fellowship". This will be an outdoor effort beginning at 10 a.m. taking place at the Dorothy Emmanuel Recreation Center, located in the Mt. Airy section of Philadelphia. To effectuate a change in our culture, we must not solely rely on the power of prayer, but also take responsibility with our actions to address the stronghold embattling our city; for our actions speak louder than our words. The organization identifies fear as the stronghold that simultaneously creates gun-violence, and results from gun-violence, and therefore will focus using this effort to present an understanding of God’s love to combat the stronghold of fear dwelling in this city as a result of gun violence; for God is love (1John 4:16) and in love there is no fear (1John 4:18).
In addition to the gun-drive (individuals will receive a gift card in exchange for their gun), this effort will also include an appearance by Mayoral Candidate Michael Nutter; messages given by local Pastors, such as: Bishop Keith W. Reed, Pastor Kevin M. Aiken, Pastor Chandra I. Williams, Pastor Daniel Sutton, Pastor Larry Anderson, Pastor Eric Mason, among others; performances by local choirs and other guest artists; and also a nonprofit/vendor area featuring more than 30 tables of advocates, businesses, and non-profit organizations that offer programs and services related to the focus of this effort.
For more information, please visit www.PhillyKoinonia.org.
Submitted by John Pangia on July 5, 2007 - 11:49am.
News Item:
Cancelled display lights up the sky,
after everyone goes home.
The City of Philadelphia celebrated the 4th of July in its usual grand style. Nothing new there. The day started at 10am with events all around town. Historical events, commemorative events, all kinds of good stuff. The parade along the Parkway filled most of the afternoon, toward the end of which the rain started coming down. By the time Philly native Patti LaBelle took the Art Museum stage, festival goers were soaked.
The show still went on, with the vibrant Ms LaBelle at one point stepping out from under the cover of the stage overhang, stating "If you all can stand in the rain to hear me sing, I can sing out here in the rain for you". Other Philly homeboys, Darryl Hall and John Oates, followed in similar style. They and fellow band members were constantly wiping their instruments dry, but never missed a beat, and even came back out for an encore.
By the end of the concert, thunderstorms were moving in, and the decision to cancel the fireworks display was made, for the very logical reason that lightning strikes posed a safety hazard for the thousands who had stayed throughout the night. The announcement was made around 10:30pm, and folks started drifting away. Shortly after 11pm, the Parkway heard its first BOOM, and the fireworks went off without a hitch, to a very appreciative audience of 'none'. Go figure...
News Source: 6 ABC
Cartoon from Sid in the City
Submitted by John Pangia on May 2, 2007 - 11:06am.
News Item:
Hurricane evacuation plan not set in NJ
Legislators at the State House are very concerned that summer is approaching, and hurricane evacuation routes along the Jersey Shore have yet to be updated. They've been trying to get a Task Force in place to tackle the problem, but it seems that the state budget has the Legislature tied up.
It makes one wonder where the priorities lay. Why bother with a budget in a state that is bleeding cash, and has the highest property taxes around, when the hurricane problem isn't settled? What's that? You didn't know there was a hurricane problem in New Jersey? Well according to some in Trenton, apparently there is. Why else would we need a Task Force?
If you're not familiar with the area, the Jersey coast is comprised of barrier islands, long slivers of sand the rise just above high tide. As is typical with this configuration, most of these spits of land have one, maybe two, ways in and out, via either a causeway or a bridge. Atlantic City has three corriders that folks use to get there, which makes sense, because it's the most crowded. How do you evacuate millions of people on a busy summer weekend? More bridges? More causeways? A few thousand helicopters? It will be interesting to see what this Task Force comes up with. We're guessing tax funded highway dollars. In other words, Political Pork.
Back to the hurricanes though... It took a bit of research, all of about 30 seconds worth, to see why this problem needs to be studied. On a fairly regular basis, hurricanes do pass by [got that? pass by] as they make their way up the coast. Some do cross the state as tropical storms or depressions, after blowing themselves out to our south. The last hurricane to actually make landfall here? September 16th, 1903.
Other years that hurricanes actually came on shore?
1804 - 1806 - and 1821.
Full Story: Courier Post
List: New Jersey Hurricanes
Cartoon from Sid in the City
Submitted by John Pangia on December 18, 2006 - 10:12am.
News Item:
Documentary plans to challenge Gore
The icebergs are melting! The ocean is rising! New York will become an aquarium! Let's all step back, and take a breath here. It's not that long ago that an ice age was predicted.
There is a climate shift occurring, no doubt about that. It's been another warm, pleasant, December week here in New Jersey, where we should be shivering our way toward the new year. Anyone notice that last week it was -6 in the midwest? Guess it has something to do with wind patterns, etc, arctic air sweeping down from the north, then bumped away by a warmer system moving up from the south, which would explain the nice weather the northeast is having. I did hear something about an early El Nino~ too, which could have something to do with it, but then, what do I know, I don't work for the Weather Channel. I'm just going to take another walk along the river in the sunshine today, and enjoy it.
Speaking of the Weather Channel, what happened to all those dire predictions for this year? After Florida got waffled by I forget how many hurricanes, and Katrina battered most of the Gulf Coast, 2006 was predicted to be the worst hurricane season ever. We were even thinking of moving to Kansas. What's the occassional tornado compared to a dozen back to back hurricanes?
How many did we have?
How many made landfall this year?
My mind must be slipping, because I don't remember any.
Search engine time again.
Let's go look it up.
There it is... none... zip... nada... not one.
Now I'm not saying let's forget about Mother Nature all together. We do need to be responsible global citizens, but let's not fall prey to the Chicken Little syndrome, let's not see that the 'sky is falling' every time we look up. There are other man-made predicaments that can affect warming and cooling, and these are things that we 'can' do something about, like what we've pictured below, for instance.
Full Story: CNS News
Cartoon from Sid in the City
Submitted by John Pangia on November 12, 2006 - 12:48pm.
News Item:
NJ climate to mimic Georgia
More global warming...
There are hundreds of stories around about climate change these days, but none about how it could affect the culture. Hmm...
Full Story: Courier Post
Cartoon from Sid in the City
Submitted by John Pangia on October 12, 2006 - 2:48pm.
Throw some cold water at it
Leave it to a couple of Jersey guys to try and take the wind out of a hurricane's sails. It's a noble idea, no doubt about that, but it may be just a bit impractical. The concept involves cooling the water along our eastern seaboard whenever a hurricane would approach. Professor Alan Blumberg of the Stevens Institute of Technology, and Professor George Mellor of Princeton, think they have hit on the solution. Pumps, lots and lots of water pumps, 1.6 million of them, to be precise.
It's been know for decades now that a hurricane weakens as it passes over cold water, and that's where the pumps come into play. Deep water is always cooler than that closer to the surface, so the obvious answer is to bring that water to the top. The project these fellows have in mind is to stretch those million plus pumps in a line about 200 miles off our coast. Hook up a long tube to each of those pumps, 400 feet long has been calculated as adequate, and let 'em start churning away.
Submitted by Howard on September 29, 2006 - 6:53am.
As PhillyWeather.net reports:
The signs of Fall abound. Cooler temperatures, our first mentions of frost, the Phillies playoff hopes fading, and shorter amounts of daylight. ...
Apparently, it's going to be appropriately autumnal for tomorrow's Farm Aid festivities, which Dan Rubin writes a little more about over at Blinq (also a good place to catch some live-blogging from the show).
Submitted by Howard on September 3, 2006 - 8:56pm.
Philadelphia Weather points out this gimmer of hope that, despite all the damp predictions, this year's Labor Day festivities may not be a wash after all.
Submitted by Karl on July 31, 2006 - 6:53am.
If you have elderly neighbors or friends, check in on them. This week looks to be terrible. According to the article, the city's heat help line - 215-765-9040 - will open at noon today.
Submitted by Matt on June 28, 2006 - 10:39pm.
 Photo: Fen Branklin
Many parts of Pennsylvania are under water tonight. Here's how local bloggers and photographers have covered the floods:
If you have something you'd like to add, please leave a comment, and we'll get you on the list.
Submitted by Matt on February 12, 2006 - 4:50pm.
The world is white, and the Philly blogosphere is all over it. Here's a roundup of snow coverage in our area:
For more snow-related posts, check out the aggregator
Submitted by mdmhvonpa on December 15, 2005 - 9:37pm.
When I first read the headline for this, I though "Isn't there a Law or policy against shutting off the gas in the middle of the winter when children/elderly are involved?". Well, yes, as noted previously.
Since Jan. 10, the Gas Works has sent out more than 5,000 warnings to delinquent customers who could face shutoff. Spokesman Douglas Oliver said that PGW cut off service last week to 16 households - the first winter terminations in decades not to require PUC approval.
Oliver said the Gas Works was setting its initial sights on the worst cases: people who owe large amounts and have income that is at least three times the federal poverty rate.
And for now, PGW is targeting households that have no members 12 or under or 65 or over.
But it is not making any promises.
Well, the other shoe has been dropped apparently.
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