At 11.30a today a fire broke out at a University of the Arts metal foundry studio at the northeast corner of 15th and Pine Sts. According to UArts Chief Communications Officer, Paul Healy, artists in the studio use wax to create bronze sculptures. The casts are placed in a kiln where the wax melts off (lost wax casting). Normally, the wax is burned in the fire of the kiln, but in this case, wax accumulated underneath the kiln, overheated, and caught fire. One person was in the studio at the time of the fire, but got out safely. Onlookers said he ran back inside, twice, after realizing there were several liters of highly flammable liquids still in the studio as the fire department had not made it to the scene at the time.

Approximately 4 ladder companies, 1 snorkel company, 1 SQRT company and loads of EMS crews were on hand to put out the blaze and help anyone in need. Above are firefighters opening up the roof of the building.

By 12.10p, most of the blaze was out after the roof was opened up, but additional water was poured in to cool everything off.

By 12.30p, the fire crews were packing up while the last of the water was poured onto the roof.

There was no word as to how much of the foundry was burned or if it would be reopened anytime soon.

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.

Hi folks,

I haven't been around all that much since I've needed to concentrate on a number of personal concerns. Normally, I would be posting about the talk occurring from Philadelphians online. I'm not going to get the chance to do that today. But that doesn't mean that Philly Future can't help you explore and take part. Here's how:

Keep an eye on the Philly Wire. Philly Future surfaces conversations and headlines from across the region. Click and take part.

Search the Philly Wire for endorsements of fellow online travelers and local mass media.

Post here or on your favorite blogs your thoughts, your feelings, your concerns. Talk. Speak out.

And more than anything else - get out and vote.

Have a great day everyone,

Karl

Ok, I wasn't going to say any more after I suggested semi tongue in cheek that she should pick her your Barbies and go home. Now I am feeling not so tongue in cheek.

Lisa Paolino is NO Anne Dicker. And we should demand better in female candidates for elected office. Voters in this area in the appropriate districts should say YES to female candidates like Philadelphian Anne Dicker, and NO to female candidates like Lisa Paolino from Delaware County. And it is my legal right under the First Amendment to say that.

Lisa, I have seen your faux ballot, and I have seen your ethically challenged car wash coupons. I have read the comments posted by your enthusiasts posted on other blogs around the area/region...does like attract like?

Everyone in the greater Philadelphia area has seen where you feel the need to bully a blogger over First Amendment Rights with one lawyer, and then turn around and claim your phony ballots are you exercising your First Amendment Rights?

I generally don't curse, it goes against my grain, but may I slip in a simple WTF?

Why? Because of the sheer contemplation of it all. Lisa Paolino, do you seriously believe you can play by a different set of rules? Do you NOT see what you are doing is wrong? Do you NOT see how you are giving female candidates for public office a really bad name? How can you describe yourself as a strong, independent female candidate? Whining and dirty tricks make you strong?

And then you write a new press release/blog post on your blog claiming that the boys are being "mean" to you? That you are being "bullied"? Honey, get yourself to a spa for a little rest cure. You have lost it. And can it be said you should just stop this garbage before people start calling you "Almost PMS Nutty" instead of Almost Famous?

And here is an excerpt of this post that just sounds like more whining:

Lisa Paolino For State Senate: Lisa Paolino Victim of Lance Rogers and Montco GOP Machine Continued Bullying and School Boy Harassment

Taking my campaign to court is just another example of the campaign of “harassment” Lance Rogers has run against me...shame on Lance for running a totally negative campaign. Both he and his handlers like to use school boy bullying techniques against women.I am a strong Independent female candidate who will stand up for what is honorable.....And the bottom line is no candidate was ever endorsed by the Delaware County Republican Party – no endorsement meeting was ever held. Meeting separately, the Radnor Republican Committee unanimously endorsed me.....My entire campaign has been about my record of achievement as Radnor Commissioner and about the new look I will bring to Harrisburg as our next State Senator.

On Election Day, my supporters and I will be out in force telling voters about my campaign for change....I want to thank my many supporters and volunteers, and now it's on to victory on Tuesday!

Honey, you need to stop. And the voters of the 17th Senate District should be smart enough to see that you are NOT the best choice. As I took a stand for cutie Gerlach against PMS Lois Murphy, I am suggesting the same course of action here. Pennsylvania Deserves Better. Lisa Isn't It. Of course, now that I have said my piece so to speak, I will reserve the right to revisit my opnions in the general election. I plan on observing this 17th Senate race all the way through, no matter who the candidates end up being.

Some of my other sources of contemplation of the opinion to which I am legally entitled under the First Amendment include:

DelcoTimes:Judge rules in Rogers’ favor in 17th Senate race
Republican candidate gets injunction prohibiting opponent from distributing sample ballots.
By Kathleen Carey kcarey@delcotimes.com

MEDIA — Delaware County Court of Common Pleas President Judge Joseph P. Cronin Jr. granted the Republican candidate for the 17th District Lance Rogers a preliminary injunction prohibiting his contender Lisa Paolino from distributing sample ballots.

Cronin made his decision Saturday after a two-hour, 12-minute hearing into the issue that will impact Paolino’s ability to hand out ballots on the primary election Tuesday.

“The question will come down to the fact whether he’s the endorsed candidate or not,” Cronin said of Rogers.

Rogers, the endorsed Republican candidate, was seeking both a preliminary and mandatory injunction barring Paolino, also a Republican, from distributing ballots and Cronin solely ruled on the preliminary matter, which, in effect, stunted her from distributing sample ballots to voters entering the polls. He said the mandatory ruling would have to be decided at a later unscheduled date.

...At issue was the similarity in the green ballot that Paolino was distributing and the white and blue ballot circulated by the Delaware County Republican Finance Committee.

After the judge made his ruling, Guy Paolino, who was representing Lisa Paolino, said, “We respect what the court says.”

Rogers’ attorney, Robert Kerns, said, “Overall, both in Montgomery County and here, it was an attempt to deceive the voters and to turn attention from the endorsed candidate.”

Rogers said he was disheartened by Lisa Paolino.

“That is the ultimate form of deception,” he said. “We want a level playing field. We just want a fair election.”

Lisa Paolino was not present at the proceedings.

However, her campaign issued a statement that read, “Taking my campaign to court is just another example of a campaign of harassment Lance Rogers has run against me.

Judge blocks a candidate's 'official' GOP sample ballot
By Derrick Nunnally
Inquirer Staff Writer

An acrimonious Republican Senate primary turned litigious yesterday with a fight over endorsement claims on mass-mailed sample ballots.

Pea-green "Official Republican Ballot" forms mailed by Pennsylvania Senate candidate Lisa Paolino list two choices in the 17th District Senate primary: Paolino and "not endorsed."

The ballots, which arrived in Montgomery County mailboxes yesterday, bore a substantial resemblance to the Montgomery County Republican Committee's pea-green "Official Republican Ballot" - which lists Lance Rogers as the endorsed candidate and Paolino not at all.

In the Norristown courthouse yesterday afternoon, Rogers and attorney Robert Kerns - who is unopposed in a May 8 election to lead the county Republican committee - persuaded Common Pleas Court Judge Richard J. Hodgson to block Paolino's campaign from mailing the sample ballots.

He ordered that all unsent ballots be seized and ruled that no more be made. The judge said the ballots looked so much like the Montgomery County Republican endorsement ballot that confusion was inevitable.

"Any voter reading this would think that she's the endorsed Republican in Montgomery County," Hodgson said.

I also have checked out a cute little bulletin board called Haverford Blog

When these news stories surface it makes me get down on my knees and thank god for female candidates like Anne Dicker, who really represents the kind of change voters seek. Why am I so irritated? Because....I never used to follow GrassRootsPA because I thought it was way too conservative. Well, it still is conservative, but you know what? It's rather informative. I found this post titled RELEASE: ROGERS CAMPAIGN CALLS ON STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE TO INVESTIGATE PAOLINO’S ILLEGAL CAMPAIGN TACTICS - well the post has a zillion comments - some funny, some pathetic, some offensive, racist, homophobic, bigoted, etc (not the blog's fault, just the boobs who post)...

But one little comment led to some googling and this story hitting the freaking AP the weekend before the primary:

Posted on Fri, Apr. 18, 2008
Pa. judge tells candidate to stop distributing fliers
The Associated Press

NORRISTOWN, Pa. - A Montgomery County judge has ordered a state Senate candidate to stop distributing a certain flier that allegedly confuses voters....Lisa Paolino has been distributing sample ballots that are the same size and color showing a Paolino endorsement.

A judge ordered the Paolino campaign to turn over the handbills until a full hearing can be held Monday.

Late Friday night, the Rogers campaign said an emergency hearing was scheduled Saturday in Delaware County Court over a similar issue.

The Story appears HERE, HERE, HERE.

Another blog I also don't haunt on a regular basis is PA Watercooler , and they have this story PLUS a copy of this faux ballot.

Tsk, tsk, tsk....this is like buying a fake Prada bag from a street vendor, huh?

Lisa, honey, you need a vacation. How can you ask those people in the 17th district to vote for you when you can't even play by the rules?

Honey, pack up your barbies; it's time to go home. You could run as a strong woman and play by the rules. What is that old adage? Or is it a cliché ? Cheaters never win and winners never cheat?

It's bad enough when MALE candidates do this stuff....but when a WOMAN does it, can it be said it makes it all the more difficult for the NEXT woman who comes along?

Will tonight make a difference? NOT!!! This will be over the 20th debate. I guess it will serve some purpose to get into the bitter comment (as if that thing hasn't been hacked to death). THat won't make a difference though. Hillary voters who are offended weren't voting for him anyway. His supporters won't be so easily swayed. It will be interesting to see the exit polls and to see of the late deciders how many were swung by the bitter comments. Stay tuned....

Sigh....I know, I know some days it's just hard to be fabulous. My suggestion? Bubble bath and a nice glass of wine.....

Yes, dear readers, my new favorite election to watch just got more interesting then the many, many, many installments of Jim vs. Lois:

GrassRootsPA: RELEASE: ROGERS CAMPAIGN CALLS ON STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE TO INVESTIGATE PAOLINO’S ILLEGAL CAMPAIGN TACTICS

And the Inquirer has been discussing it:

Infighting among GOP in 17th Senate District
By Derrick Nunnally
Inquirer Staff Writer

and if that isn't curious enough:

Giza: Lisa Paolino's Legal Letter

Why is everyone so bitter? Did Obama say something that was offensive or untrue. The media has made a caricature of what they think he meant by focusing on two words…. cling and bitter. On the face of it, if you easily succomb to others interpretation of events without taking the whole statement in context then I guess I understand. Voters who vote based on guns, religion, culture, traditions…. drumroll please they are called VALUES VOTERS. Isn’t that why in ’04 Rove/Bush were able to get same sex marriage on the ballot because they know there is a certain segment of the demos that does not vote their economic interests but instead votes based on their values. That is all Obama was saying….. that these voters have lost faith in their gov’t so they don’t believe they will do anything to improve their economic status, so they vote Values (aka guns, religion, family traditions, etc.)

The some segments of the media have gotten beaten over having a love affair with Barack. The Rev. Wright thing didn’t stick so Barack’s detractors say it is because the media lets him slide… the media is liberal, Barack is liberal, blah, blah, blah. So now with this little dust-up the networks have to show they are tough and analyze and parse and breakdown to prove they are on the case. GREAT, this will only make Obama stronger. The Clintons are no joke if he can beat them within the party (when conceivably the machine can’t really get involved) then he will whoop McCain!

www.thefutureisus.com

Her Alter Ego Has a "Clear Message" For Harrisburg:

Is Lisa Paolino is Confused?

Honestly, there I was minding my own business having a latte with my CPA (well, have to get those taxes done), and the pink cellie (Come on now would you expect it to be green?) rang. It was a phone call asking me if I was "Almost Famous", and ready for more "change".

(Of course I told the caller, I already was famous, and I was "the pretty blogger")

Apparently, this girl power candidate has a new television ad running on Conservative TV Land (I don't subscribe or watch, sorry)...it says that her opponent, that cutie Lance Rogers is confused.

How so? Well apparently it is very confusing to Ms. Paolino that Mr. Rogers (sans cardigan and puppets) was an Independent for a while? Who cares?

I have to say that I think it is Ms. Paolino who seems to be more confused than not....after all, that endorsement from a group I do watch the PA Women's Campaign Fund? I am pro choice, and this intimates that so is this candidate? Really? Once again, all I say is this, and if there is one thing that bothers me more then a crusty old dude in a judicial or clerical robe trying to tell women what to do with regard to personal choice, it's wondering if a female candidate is really pro-choice or just pretending?

Men are never clear on this topic - and since they don't bear children I pretty much ignore them anyway. But female candidates? Female candidates have to be abundantly clear on their pro-LIFE AND pro-CHOICE positions, because face it, if you aren't a woman, you really don't get this argument do you? And while I have never believed that this personal choice issue belongs in political campaigns, since this candidate opened Pandora's Box and accepted this endorsement, where does she stand? How many pro choice candidates have any of you ever seen to come out of a Catholic College?

I find that more confusing then a mere political party switch....honestly, I have been told she used that tired old logic on her local race last time - apparently the man who ran against her in Radnor Township had a political change of heart and had the nerve to become a Democrat?! Oh how shocking! Stop the presses! That is soooooooooo newsy and sooooo not a reason to vote for someone!!!

Look, I will agree with Ms. Paolino that Harrisburg is a mess, but is she the solution? Could she be just part of what is wrong in politics today?

Female politicians have a tougher go of it then male counterparts, but you have to do more than be petty and overdone to get female voters to pay attention in a positive manner, correct? Can it be said right now that this candidate just looks like another female candidate that can't get along with men? Remember how far that didn't get Perpetual-Bad-Hair-Day-Lois?

And ohhh....that Almost Famous article? Check out the comments....that Chief John Fallon has written a little comment...very telling.

Ok, well, it's too nice to stay inside. I am off for a walk around Rittenhouse Square and a little shoe shopping....at least I can admit I am frivolous, right? (But then again, I also know I'm fabulous!)

Last night at the Compassion Forum, Barack sought to put an end to the recent flap over his "bitter" comments. He explained that he felt that industrial voters have a right to be bitter and in times of ecomomic distress, people "cling" to what they feel they can count on (ie religion, culture, family traditions) which is what he says he does in times of trial. It seems quite desperate on Clinton's part to try and make a mountian out of those statments. McCain.... well that is what should be expected. It seems like Clinton's response has Mark Penn written all over it. She has once again opened herself to questions she doesn't want to answer (when was the last time you were in church?) and makes her seem like she is pandering (to her own base? but I digress) with stories of how she is protecting sportsman and her daddy taught her to shoot. Next she will say she has a skeet shooting range in Chappequa (sp?). We will see if this is it or if the story lives on. One thing I can say though is "The lesson of Kerry" is understood by all Dems now, when hit, you must hit back immediately. Well by most Dems.... Hillary ducked (pun intended) the sniper fire story to long in my opinion.. but again I digress.

www.thefutureisus.com

The story about drugs in our water supply is still in the news.
Philadelphia is at the top of the 24 cities reported.
The trace amounts, however, are being measured in 'parts per billion'.

The Philly Water Department has tried to put it in perspective by stating -
A resident would have to drink 8 glasses of water every day for 40,000 years
to equal the dosage in 1 over the counter pain pill.

Good news for some, maybe not for others...

Story Link: Drugs in the water

Cartoon from Sid in the City

Here is a sample of what young voters are talking about, it is from our Conversations for Solutions series.... check it out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sto-spf3Or0

www.thefutureisus.com

Check this ad out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wHM2eyTAO8 Has anyone else seen this? I thought is was right on point especially considering the latest comments over Barack's Characterization of Industrial State voters by Hillary and McCain.

When it comes to jewelry stores, no store comes close to the brand name reputation and brand image that Tiffany's and Co. has built. The company has made girls across the globe swoon over their jewelry and dream of receiving the little blue box that it comes in.

The company has benefited from this "brand image" and is able to charge astronomical markups because of it. Many people walk into Tiffany's because they figure they are the best. Why settle for anything else, right?

I can't argue that Tiffany's has built a fantastic business. Looking at it strictly as a businessman I love what they have done.

But from a customers viewpoint I cringe at the thought of buying from them. When you shop at Tiffany's, you are buying a name.

The diamonds that Tiffany's carries can be found elsewhere for a fraction of the price. I'm talking 40% off.....even as high as 60-70% less if you know what to look for. It's insane how much money these guys ask for their jewelry.

And to make things worse, Tiffany's now grades all their diamonds in-house. When you buy a Tiffany's engagement ring, the grading report for the diamond is issued by Tiffany's themselves - not an independent lab or appraiser. This makes me very uncomfortable!

Tiffany's claims they are as strict as AGS or GIA(the two grading labs with the strongest reputations), however this has been reported to not be the case when diamonds from Tiffany's have been sent to GIA or AGS for examination. Obviously, they know that the higher grades the diamond receives - the more they can charge.

The jewelry at Tiffany's is beautiful. I rarely see a
Tiffany Engagement Rings that I don't think is stunning. However, what is even more stunning is that they get away with charging the prices they do.

There is a ton of money in the diamond industry and Tiffany's is certainly making the most of it. If you are shopping for an engagement ring, or any diamond for that matter, make sure you take the time to do a little research.

I put together a guide (available at my website) to make it easy. It goes over plenty of ways to save cash and make sure you find her dream diamond. Hopefully it helps.

Tiffany's isn't going anywhere. People will continue to pay inflated prices for their jewelry and to be truthful, many will be happy with their purchase because they don't know any better. However, I suggest you don't fall into this category! You can find far better Tiffany Inspired Jewelry at a fraction of the price
from http://clearblogs.com/tiffanygirl/