Just so all of you know, I am not under water, though I can’t say the same for much of the surrounding region. A good chunk of Eastern Pennsylvania (as well as parts of New Jersey, New York, Delaware, and Maryland) is has been inundated with flood waters.
How are the rest of you faring?
Further Reading:
-Evacuations begin as rivers rise [Philly.com]
-Officials order massive evacuations [Philly.com]
-Flood [Philly Future]
NBC10 took down their Barbaro site. I guess he needed some time alone to recuperate. Either that, or no one wanted explain horse racing to him.
Previously at the Landslide In My Ego:
-Mr. Ed’s Bastard Son
-More Fun With Barbaro
-All the Pretty Horses
-I Do Not Know What Horse Racing Is
Related:
-You Will Chat With Barbaro No More [NBC10]
Men may rise on stepping-stones
Of their dead selves to higher things
-Alfred Lord Tennyson
I saw this on Philly Future last night, and thought it looked so cool…
Designing for the Dead:
Art & Architecture at Laurel Hill Cemetery
The tour will examine changing tastes and fashions in grave markers over the past two centuries, from the classical obelisks and urns of the Federal period, to the richly decorated crosses of the Gothic Revival, to the massive mausoleums of the Gilded Age.
Then I noticed the date…
Sunday, May 14th, 2006, 2:00-4:00 PM
Now why did they have to go and schedule a nice little walk through the cemetery on Mother’s Day?
Previously at the Landslide in My Ego:
-City of the Dead
Tomorrow is No Pants Day. Can’t say that I’ll be participating, but I thought I’d mention it in case any of you might want to.
Tomorrow is Earth Day (in the US). Go hug a tree.
Further Reading:
-Ecological Footprint Quiz
-Google Earth
-Earth on Wikipedia
-PlanetEarth.org
-International Earth Day
Go Red for Women on Friday, February 3rd.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States.
It kills more women each year than all cancers combined.
While it is also the leading cause of death for men, more women than men die from cardiovascular disease.
This is due to both gender differences and gender bias. Women are harder to diagnose, and as a result are often undertreated.
Women also tend to ignore warning signs. They wait longer to seek medical attention, and often underestimate the severity of their symptoms.
Because cardiovascular disease is both treatable and preventable, raising awareness is the key to winning this battle.
So show your support and wear red tomorrow.
Today is Pearl Harbor Day, probably the defining historical moment for a generation of Americans.
But for me it has a deeper personal meaning, because my grandfather (my mom’s father), passed away seven years ago today. It’s hard to believe how much time has gone by.
I still miss him terribly, but I know I’m lucky to have had him around for as long as I did. I never knew my dad’s father—he died before I was born. Cigarettes killed both of them.
So…
If you know any WWII vets, give them a hug today.
If you’re lucky enough to have living grandparents, and you haven’t talked to them in a while, pick up the phone.
And if you are a smoker, find a way to QUIT.
…It’s Election Day
Mostly small time stuff this year, I know, but that doesn’t mean it’s all unimportant. And if you live and vote in Philadelphia, then listen up.
There is a proposed charter amendment on the ballot today about ethics, and it is arguably more important than any of the people running for office.
Current Pennsylvania law has no limitations on donations to state or local candidates. As a result, Philadelphia has gained notoriety for awarding city contracts to large campaign contributors.
If the amendment passes, the process for awarding contracts would become more transparent, and big political contributors would be barred from receiving big no-bid contracts.
So as far as I’m concerned, this is sort of a no-brainer. Vote yes if you value honest government. Vote no if you like corruption.
I guess I should have mentioned this earlier (I meant to), but I suppose it’s better late than never.
You can get lots more information from The Committee of Seventy.
See also:
–Philly Future
–A Smoke-Filled Room
The city of Philadelphia is preparing to house up to 5,000 Hurricane Katrina evacuees, starting as early as tonight. I volunteered to help, but I imagine they will have more offers of help than they need, so we’ll see.
More info:
-Evacuees: Phila. is ready for 5,000 [philly.com]
-In Philadelphia, residents prepare for evacuees. [philly.com]
-Project Brotherly Love [phila.gov]
A lot of people have been asking me if I’m going to Live 8.
Of course I’m going to Live 8. I may not spend the whole day there, but I will certainly be going.
I’m not thrilled with the lineup. In fact, the Kaiser Chiefs are really the only band I’m interested in seeing. But this is more than just a big ol’ free concert. A lot of people seem to have missed that key point. It’s also the biggest push we’ve ever had toward ending the crisis in Africa. And with the finance ministers agreeing to drop 100% of the debt in the world’s 18 poorest countries, we just might see some progress.
If you think this makes me a bleeding heart, you can suck my big toe.
Here’s why this is so important:
-More than one billion people in the world live on less than one dollar a day.
-Another 2.7 billion people struggle to survive on less than two dollars per day.
-Every year 11 million children, most under the age of five, die. More than six million die from preventable causes like malaria, diarrhea and pneumonia.
-In some deeply impoverished nations less than half of the children are in primary school and under 20 percent go to secondary school.
-Worldwide, a total of 114 million children do not get even a basic education and 584 million women are illiterate.
[UN Millennium Project]
See also:
Live 8
The ONE Campaign
Make Poverty History
DATA
So anyone planning to be in Philly on July 2nd? Let me know.
Well, I’m not exactly the first person to bring this up (Holz, Stan, Philebrity), so I’ll be brief:
If I end up like Terry Schiavo, PULL THE PLUG.
And donate my organs while you’re at it. As many as they will take. I certainly won’t be needing them.
That is all.
Doh! I should have posted this a little earlier, but maybe you will read it before heading to work in the morning.
Friday the 4th is the second national “Wear Red Day,” in support of the fight against heart disease in women.
Cardiovascular disease (including stroke) is the leading killer of women in America.
So wear red on Friday and show your support!
