[UC] Phl Science Fiction Society meeting Friday, I-house, 8 PM
The Philadelphia Science Fiction Society's special January non-business meeting will be held at 8 Pm on Friday, January 29th at International House, 3701 Chestnut St, in Philadelphia, adjacent to the Penn campus Our January guest will be Sheila Williams: Ms. Williams' interest in science fiction came from her father. who read Edgar Rice Burroughs books to her as a child Since 2005 Sheila Williams has edited _Asimov's Science Fiction_ magazine, and also edited or co-edited over twenty anthologies, the most recent of which was the _Asimov's Science Fiction: 30th Anniversary Anthology_. Sheila is also co-founder of the Dell Magazines Award for Undergraduate Excellence in Science Fiction and Fantasy Writing, given out each year by the International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts. She studied at Elmira College, Washington University of St Louis, and the London School of Economics, and lives in New York City with her husband and two daughters. You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
[UC] Fwd: It Ain't Easy Being Green
Salutations, gentlefolk, For those interested in the economic impact of institutions of higher education on their surrounding communities, here's one of the more interesting stories I've seen lately. Yours, John Desmond http://www.slepton.com/slepton/viewcontent.pl?id=865 It Ain't Easy Being Green: Notre Dame and the Economy of Sports by Dave Zirin September 20, 2007 There's an old cliche that the most popular college football team in the United States is whoever plays Notre Dame. Like the Yankees of New York and the Blue Devils of Duke, fans of the Fighting Irish believe winning is their birthright. Some programs see victory as being earned, Notre Dame sees it as being owed. It doesn't help that their head coach Charlie Weis bathes in this arrogance, walking around campus like the love child of Bear Bryant and Norman Schwarzkopf. He seems to believe that people should just genuflect in front of the Golden Dome and call it a day. But this season, Notre Dame is staring at a historic futility that's filling much of the college football world with joy. They are 0-3 for the second time in the 120 year history of the program. But it's not just 0-3, it's the kind of ugly 0-3 that has fans of the Kelly Green reaching for the Prozac and Jack Daniels: an 0-3 that saw them lose 38-0 to a Michigan team that couldn't beat Appalachian State; an 0-3 that has seen them generate zero offensive touchdowns; an 0-3 where they've displayed teamwork worthy of the United Nations. Not surprisingly this has led to an unprecedented agitation among the faithful. Weis has seen his popularity dip from Knute Rockne levels to Newt Gingrich, going from the throne to the hot seat in record time. The man with the 10 year contract probably shouldn't buy any perishable goods this winter. Personally I take no pleasure or pain Notre Dame's fall. When it comes to Touchdown Jesus, I'm an agnostic. But the gut-wrenching, internet hysteria, the fearfulness of - heaven forbid - having a lousy football team at Notre Dame, masks something far more tragic, far more familiar, in far too many cities - great and small. Unlike the Yankees, who play in the most arrogant city since Rome, and Duke, an isolated island in Durham, South Bend's hysteria for the health of Irish football actually takes on a dimension of something rotten far beyond the world of amateur sports. Football at the small, prestigious, Catholic school with a population of a mere 11,000, has become the hub on the wheel for the entire university and beyond. Notre Dame football according to the US Department of Ed, generates over 61 million dollars a year, with operating costs of only 4 million bucks. They also garner nine million dollars a year, every year until 2010 thanks to their exclusive and unprecedented TV deal with NBC, and are in the midst of a 60 million dollar relationship with Adidas. But more than just on campus, Notre Dame football has become the seed of both identity and economic self-sufficiency for the entire community. South Bend, Indiana, used to be one of those towns highlighted in black and white, static-flecked 1950s newsreels as a city on the move. People's identities and sense of worth were solidified proudly by the knowledge that anytime people drove a Studebaker, or used a Singer Sewing Machine, they would have South Bend to thank. But the industrial belt rusted out, and today the only monuments to the glory days of yesteryear reside in the abandoned factories, metallic skeletons that rattle about the past. Now according to the latest census, 16.7% of people in South Bend live below the poverty line, including 24.0% of those under age 1 and the number one employer, not only in South Bend, but all of St. Joseph's County, is the university of Notre Dame. If Notre Dame is the beating heart of the region, football money is the aorta, the muscle, the very pump, that gives the city oxygen. When 80,000 of the faithful that attend home game, $6.3 million dollars is on average generated into the economy of St. Joseph's county supporting an entire network of small businesses and bed breakfasts - not to mention an informal economy of vendors and sales people dependent upon the team's continual allure. The identity of the community begins and ends with the Fighting Irish. The economic is locked in a dance of death with the psychological. Now, as they lose it causes a crisis that has the feel of hysteria. What if the ratings drop - even more - for NBC? What if the BCS doesn't come calling? What if the team actually goes winless? What would that do to the generosity of the big boosters? What would that do to attendance? What would that do to South Bend? What would that do to St. Joseph's county? What would that do to the person selling bottles of cold tap water by the side of the road as tailgaters enter the parking lot? It feels criminal that a city's sense of self is dependent on whether 18 year old Jimmy Clausen can actually take a snap from center
[UC] Glassblowers ?
Salutations, gentlefolk, A friend of mine has 400 pounds of silica - 8 50-pound sacks - sitting on his front porch in Yeadon, and is willing to give it away to anyone who'll give it a good home (He and I can haul it to wherever, though help therewith will be welcomed.) Note - this ain't 'sand', comes labeled with 'don't breath the dust' health warnings. Yours, John Desmond You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
[UC] The bruhaha re Malcolm X Park - a theory on what happened
Salutations, gentlefolk, A hypothesized reconstruction of the events: First: Mr. Fenton gets call from Penn's Prefect of Discipline, saying that 'some student miscreants need to work off theirl community service hours before the end of the semester - got anything for them to do ?'. He sees that there's a community fair happening in MXP, decides to send them to help out with it. Second: These students arrive at 51st St on Sunday morning, find three different events happening in MXP - one church, one political, one community. Undoubtedly someone familiar with the MXP community would immediately discern the differences and the boundaries between them, but to outsiders it seems to be just one big party. Third: Instead of seeking out the person running the 'community' activities, they are latched onto by Mr. Knox's 'advance man', who knows nothing about UCD or their 'community service', and assumes they are Knox campaign volunteers and/or Crusader Bank management trainees - at least, that is, until they ask him to sign their 'timecards'. After an hour or so, they get connected with the person they were sent to, and 'tis straightened out. Fourth: Irritated about being denied the time to rest and recover from the rigors of a Penn Saturday Night, they Go To The Media with their gripes. The crucial questions seem to be: A: Did Mr. Fenton know beforehand what this event had segued into ? B: If he did - or even if he didn't - should he have borrowed a minivzan from the Penn or UCD motor pool, collected these students on campus, and hand-delivered them to their supervisor for the morning. Or was he justified in his assumption that they could find their way to MXP, and get their jobs done there, on their own ? Yours, John Desmond You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
Re: [UC] self storage
Matthew Snyder wrote: Can anyone recommend a clean, safe, affordable (pick 2 of 3 if necessary) self storage facility in the area? It doesn't have to be in West Philadelphia, but somewhere within a few miles would be good. I'm looking for about 75 square feet. Thanks, Matthew Salutations, gentlefolk, I've had a locker at All-City Self Storage, on Sansom between 55th and 56th, for about two years now. I've found the place kept clean, the workers courteous and competent, the prices among the lowest (and I checked most locations in West Philly and eastern Delco), and the security seems solid. Check it out for yourself, tho. Yours, John Desmond You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
[UC] Report on _another_ municipal election
Salutations, gentlefolk, Thought some of thee might be interested in news about another city's government ... Yours, John Desmond Chicago Unions Flex Political Muscle By David Moberg In These Times http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/3194/ Frustrated with city hall's tilt to a business elite, Chicago's labor unions decided to send Mayor Richard M. Daley a message: The 'city that works' doesn't work for working families. In the February and April elections, the labor movement broke with the city's fabled but feeble Democratic machine, and helped oust key Daley allies and elect seven new members to the 50-seat city council. Despite scandals engulfing his top aides, the mayor easily won his sixth term in February against weak opponents. But the Chicago Federation of Labor (CFL) -for decades a pillar of the city's machine politics-did not endorse Daley (although the building trades did). Instead, unions spent roughly $3 million and fielded a political operation stronger than Daley's that backed challengers to the mayor's council allies. They targeted aldermen who had opposed labor objectives, such as a living wage for 'big box' retail workers. Although the council passed the ordinance last year, several aldermen later switched votes, dooming the effort to override Daley's veto. In 2004 the council had also split over Wal-Mart's request, supported by Daley, to build two stores in Chicago, one of which was narrowly approved. In the council debates about Wal-Mart and the living wage standard, black council members split into a pro- labor faction and a faction that attacked unions as racist enemies of the black community. Black council members targeted by labor in this year's elections continued their race-baiting attacks, even though the most politically active unions, such as the Service Employees (SEIU) and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), have a majority black membership in Chicago. Most unions regarded the battle over the big box ordinance as a symptom of the new class-based divide in Chicago politics, but not the crux of their dispute with Daley. 'It became symbolic of the city's relationship to the labor movement,' says John Cameron, political director for AFSCME District Council 31, 'to the extent that it refocused city politics around class, wages and jobs instead of race and ethnicity issues, which have always been the historic conversation, or ‘independent' versus ‘machine' politics, when independent didn't necessarily mean pro- labor. For the first time I can remember, we had a city election about class.' 'The press wants to make it about big box,' says SEIU State Political Director Jerry Morrison, 'but this is about a larger agenda, about SEIU and the rest of the labor movement building independent political power.' Unions began planning their challenge to Daley's allies long before the big box vote, and they have goals far beyond challenging Wal-Mart. Chicago's economy has been relatively strong under Daley, who has promoted the city as a global hub for business services, rather than the city of big shoulders as it once was known. New apartment towers flourish around the downtown, and gentrification has spread into working-class neighborhoods. Daley lavished subsidies on business through tax increment financing districts that were intended to revive blighted neighborhoods but which have mainly benefited already dynamic Loop locations, depriving local government of desperately needed taxes in the process. The mayor-typically with city council support-refused to aid key organizing drives at the city's major hospital chains, failed to support hotel workers now on strike for nearly four years at the Congress Hotel, dragged out city worker contract negotiations, and pushed privatization of city services and properties. 'It will be good to have a more independent council,' says SEIU Illinois Council President Tom Balanoff. 'We sensitized the aldermen to working family issues. Equally important, labor has established its independence from many of the city's political fiefdoms. Now the challenge is to figure out how to use the new-found power, or perception of it, for working families.' A potential new labor/reform council bloc would not have a majority but would roughly double its previous size. Labor and its community allies have no settled agenda but are likely to push for strong affordable housing legislation, reforms of tax increment financing and a new living wage bill. Reformers may also pursue ethics reform and the creation of a civilian police review board. Overall, University of Illinois at Chicago political science professor Dick Simpson says, the new council bloc will be pushing a 'working-class, middle-class agenda, as opposed to the global economy tilt of the Daley administration.' Having broken loose from its self-imposed shackles to the Daley machine, Chicago labor unions say they will escalate their fight in the council
[UC] Happy Yuri's Night !
Salutations, gentlefolk, From the _Good Morning Silicon Valley_ E-newsletter: It's Yuri's Night -- get your geek on: On this day in 1961, 27-year-old Yuri Gagarin lifted off the launch pad in Baikonur, made a single, 108-minute orbit around the Earth, then rode his capsule to a parachute landing on the Russian plains, becoming the first human to venture into space. There is obviously only one truly appropriate way to mark this historic event -- tech rave! In cities around the world tonight and tomorrow night, Yuri's Night '07 will be celebrated in parties that will be mashups of science and art. Hope y'all have a great time! Yours, John Desmond You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
[UC] A cautionary tale
Salutations, gentlefolk, Perhaps, someone you care about, has not yet heard the story of NudeNerdsDating.com, a website that promised, if you passed their online tests of intelligence and technical skill, and sent them a full-length photo of yourself in your birthday suit, that they would e-troduce you to the person of your dreams. Sadly, 'twas all a scam, and they used the info - and pictures - that they gathered, for various nefarious purposes. Tha moral of this story, of course, is... Beware of geeks bare in .GIF's Happy April Fools' Day, Palm Sunday, Passover, Easter, Opening Day, Earth Day, Arbor Day, and all other spring holidays that you celebrate ! Yours, John Desmond You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
[UC] Today's _Wall Street Journal_ article
Salutations, gentlefolk, It's 5:45 PM Monday. Yours truly was perusing the _Wall Street Journal_ over dinner (he got a 'Fill out this Survey of Young Professionals and get a free 4-week subscription' offer), and noticed teh article by Dean Treftz Philadelphia Sales Job / Retaining graduates has been a tall order on p. A-7. And if you want my comments: Didn't tell me much I didn't already know. Mentioned 82 colleges and universities in and around the city - including ... Swarthmore, Bryn Mawr .. but used education and employment statistics from Philadelphia county alone - comparing them to Suffolk Cty, Massachusetts (Boston and, IIRC, a buncha other municipalities) Had a nicely rising graph Percentage of students at Philadelphia area schools who said they are likely to stay in the area, and a comparison While a 2004 report showed the Philadelphia area retained a higher percentage of recent graduates than did the Boston metro area - 64% and 50%, respectively - most of those who stayed were locals to begin with. Only 29% of graduates originally from outside the Philadelphia area stayed on - compared with 42% in Boston Which begs some numerical questions - what percentage of college students ( undergraduates?, graduate students? professional schools? )in metro Philly come from this metropolitan area, v what percentage in greater Boston. And 'twas a general tone to the article of We're not doing as well at keeping the people we educate as Boston or SF. Horrors!. Whether ye average citizen of Philly should be glad or alarmed that the movers and shakers of Campus Philly think their competition is the world's great 'magnet-cities' is an open question. For those interested, 'twas a series of articles in the _Toledo Blade_ last Sept 17th-Oct 1st which went deeply into Ohio's graduate-retention problems. http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060924/NEWS24/609240333 and http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060917/NEWS24/60917002 (later installment, another installment with links-to on these pages) Yours, John Desmond You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
[UC] Maybe things _are_ getting worse
Salutations, gentlefolk, Was talking to a lady I work with, earlier today. Learned her one-year-old-son had been bitten yesterday by another child in the day-care-center, she'd been with him till 1 AM at the hospital getting him inspected, injected ... Yours, John Desmond You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
[UC] Plus ca change...
Salutations, gentlefolk, Was going thru some old stuf, found the April 1976 issue of _Philadelphia Magazine_, iwth article by Mike Mallowe, Fear and Loathing in the Classrooms, on the problem of violence in the schools. Also articles on the decline of the grand old movie palaces, the revitalization of 'Old City' (before it acquired the silent 'e'), the political hacks of City Hall, and an ad from Hewlett-Packard for a desk-top business computer you can afford... Pricing for a complete accounting system starts at $15,000 Yours, John Desmond You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
[UC-Announce] Game Day, Sun, 4-23, at the Rotunda
Salutations, gentlefolk, On Sunday, the 23rd of April, the Philadelphia Area Gaming Enthusiasts will be holding their annual PoliCon Game Day, at the Rotunda, 4014 Walnut Street, in West Philadelphia, across the street from the Univ. of Pennsilvania campus. There will be events in board and card gaming, miniatures, and FRP (fantasy role-playing) All are welcome. Donations are welcome, but not obligatory. An email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] should be made by those who seek further information. Yours, John Desmond (Sorry not to have sent this out earlier. My RL upscrambled this week) You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity-Announce. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html. You may post announcements to this list, but this list attempts to prevent discussion. Please use univcity to discuss messages on this list. Subscribers of univcity receive all mail to this list.
Re: [UC] Sad commentary
Salutations, gentlefolk, College sophomore Eitan Danon looks forward to change. I'm just really excited to have Taco Bell on campus. We've long deserved a Taco Bell, Danon said I am wondering what he did to deserve a Taco Bell ?? Has the Dean of Men found out about it ? The local constabulary ? Will the _DP_ investigate ? The _Daily News_ ? Inquiring minds want to know. Yours, John Desmond You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
[UC] Window exhaust fan sought
Salutations, gentlefolk, Summer will soon be here. My apartment's on the second floor of a three-story twin house, living room faces street, bedroom faces backyard, kitchen in middle. With gas stove and pilot lights, kitchen's really hot in summer. Would like to get //humongous// //macho// big exhaust fan, which, with front and back windows open, will move enough air through to keep place cool. Label on kitchen window says NFRC MFG CODE: SIL / Series 1200 / Vinyl Double Hung Trouble is, first, there's only about 2 1/2 inches between front of frame and the screen, which is probably removable but I ain't figured out how, and, second, even big hardwarse stores have only a couple of models of little-bitty window fans in stock. Last year, I used a box floor fan, propped up with wood scraps, and piece of cardboard to cover rest of window opening, but would like a better solution this year. Can anyone direct me to seller of window exhaust fan that would keep me cool ? Thanks, very much. Yours, John Desmond You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
[UC] Gaming groups around Philadelphia
Gaming groups - in and around Philadelphia, Trenton, Wilmington, Harrisburg, Reading, and points inbetween Salutations, gentlefolk, This is the April `05 - Cold Wars edition. Please send additions and corrections to [EMAIL PROTECTED], or write me at 4910 Cedar Ave, Phila, Pa, 19143 Thanks very much !Yours, John Desmond - The Philadelphia Area Gaming Enthusiasts - www.philagamers.org - Meet in Chestnut Hill on Tuesday evenings and in Center City on Sunday evenings. Email lists on yahoogroups.com - page, pagecentercity, page_announcements The Ambler Gamers - Email list - AmblerGamers on yahoogroups.com The Eastern Pennsylvania Gaming Society - www.epgs.org Meet in Oxford Valley Mall, usually on 1st and 3rd Saturdays of every month Email - epgs on yahoogroups.com The Penn Gamers meet Wednesday evenings on the Univ. of Pennsylvania campus in West Philadelphia For the latest info about meeting locations, check http://dolphin.upenn.edu/~pgamers/meetings.html To get on their mailing list, visit http://dolphin.upenn.edu/~pgamers/list Bux-Mont Historical Gamers - meets in the northern and western suburbs of Philadhelphia on Wed nights POC - Dick McFarland, [EMAIL PROTECTED] The Rogues, POC - Michael Panzer, 267-258-4969, www.angelfire.com/pa/therogues/ Trenton - Regular gaming at the Gamer's Realm in West Windsor, NJ, Thursday nights, 6:30PM until 10:30. Anyone interested should join the realmgamers mailing list at Yahoo Groups. We play designer/German games for the most part. Princeton Games Union - http://www.princetongames.org/ - Meets on Friday and Saturday nights (sometimes Saturday afternoons) in the Frist Student Center at Princeton University. Board games, RPGs, etc. Jersey Assn of Gamers - POC - Dan Foley, [EMAIL PROTECTED] or Jeff Schulte, [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.jerseygamers.com Picatinny Games Club - POC - John Thamasovich [EMAIL PROTECTED] New Jersey Miniatures Society - POC - Tim Ruffner, [EMAIL PROTECTED], www.njms.net South Jersey Confederation of Wargamers, POC - John Burke, 609-886-3205, Charles Keller, 609-889-1403 Days of Knights - games club in Newark, Delaware - board games every Saturday - http://www.daysofknights.com/ Harrisburg - The West Shore group is Boardgamers Pastime. They meet in the annex (called Foundation Hall) to the New Cumberland Public Library in New Cumberland, PA, on the first and third (and usually fifth) Sundays of each month, from 1-6. The organizer is Mario Lanza, who can be reached at [EMAIL PROTECTED] Harrisburg - East Shore group meets at the East Shore Area Library, which is at 4501 Ethel St., Colonial Park (behind the Colonial Park Mall), on the first and third Saturdays of each month, from 9-5. Don't have the name of the organizer for this one, but call the library at 717.652.9380, and they'll probably tell you. Lansdale, Pa - Gaming meeting at my house (about a mile from exit 31, PA Turnpike NorthEast Extention) Thursday, 7:00PM until 10:00. German-style boardgames, old time miniature games, non-German style games. Contact Bill Chapman, at [EMAIL PROTECTED] Berks Boardgamers - http://www.berksboardgamers.com, POC-Jim Carvin, [EMAIL PROTECTED], 610-220-5644. Meets once per month on Saturday near Kutztown and the 3rd Wednesday of each month at the public library in Womelsdorf. Please see our website for the schedule or email us to get on our email newsletter list. We're all about good fun and competition. We play mainly German-designer games and Avalon Hill games. Reading, Pa. Area Wargamers - meets every Thursday night at the Golden Eagle in Fairgrounds Square Mall, 3050 N. 5th St, 610-921-3160 for directions Mostly historical miniature games of various scales, sizes, and eras - schedule at http://home.comcast.net/~efeifer/schedule.htm, YahooGroup - http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/readingwargamers/ POC - Keith Eshelman (610) 927-3539, [EMAIL PROTECTED], or Eric Feifer (717) 872-7984 Central PA Gamers Yahoo Group - http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/Central_PA_Gamers/ for players and DMs from Berks, Schuylkill and Lehigh counties. Games in Schuylkill Haven, PA, Fridays around 8PM - ADD 3.5, in a homebrew world The Bunker - a gaming group in Central Pennsylvania, that hosts a variety of historical miniature games, announced by e-mail and usually held on weekends. Located in Etters, Pa, between York and Harrisburg along Interstate 83. To get on our game notification list, e-mail Dale Zartman at [EMAIL PROTECTED] or [EMAIL PROTECTED] . Pennsylvania Wargamers Militia, POC - Roger Bos [EMAIL PROTECTED] Gettysburg-York ACW Gamers, POC - Scott Mingus, [EMAIL PROTECTED] NEPA Table Top Warlords, POC - Kurtus Brown http://members.toast.net/jab/ Local conventions for gaming, etc: The Shorecon game convention was acquired by Double Exposure convention management - www.dexposure.com. The Historical
[UC] Feghoot fans, heads up
Salutations, gentlefolk, I know not if they give a Hugo for the best Feghoot of the year, but if so, one of the onminees should be Steve Rushin's column on p 17 of the April 11th issue of _Sports Illustrated_. Strongly urge reading of it. Yours, John Desmond You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
Re: [UC]Judicial Elections 2005
Salutations, gentlefolk, A couple of hays ago Mr. West said: The only way your NO vote could actually have an impact on a race would be if a judge were so outstandingly abominable that he had actually overwhelmed voter apathy and ignorance with his awfulness. If yours was the deciding vote that pushed such a clod off the bench -- well, it probably would be a good thing. Well, my personal experience with the Philadelphia courts ain't much - appeared 'pro se' as a plaintiff in Municipal Court about 20 years ago, won my case, remember not whom the judge was but know I will never willingly do business with Michigan-Millers Insurance. And about a decade ago I was on a jury for a civil case in Common Pleas. The judge, in my humble and limited opinion, was knowledgable in the law, fair and courteous to both parties, the court personnel, and us jurypersons, and allowed everyone to 'say their piece' but completed the trial efficiently. I would feel my liberty and property would be secure in any court she presides over, and - although she was the victim of one of the greatest smear campaigns in local history - I will vote in favor of retaining Frederica Massiah-Jackson on our bench as long as she wants to stay there. As i wrote in an unpublished letter to _Readers Digest_, If she is one of our worst judges, then our legal system is in very good hands Yours, John Desmond You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
Re: [UC] Slavery Disclosure Bill
Salutations, gentlefolk, Mr. Siano mentioned sanctions against 'collaborators with the British during the Revolution'. The turth, however, is even stranger. Many Tories - King George III's partisans - had their property (including a good chunk of downtown Philly) confiscated during the revolution, and sold to finance the Continental war effort. In the Treaty of Paris (the US copy is in the American Philosophical Society library on 5th St) we promised to compensate them. Congress, however, never appropriated the money for this. Foward two hundred years or so, and in the Helms-somebody Act we insist that the Cubans must pay up for what they nationalized in '61. Of course the United Empire Loyalists (think Daughters of the American Revolution, turned inside out) have been keeping close track of the amounts due their ancestors, plus interest. Will a future Film Festival see a remake of Passport to Pimlico set in our neighborhood - but this time a documentary ? Yours, John Desmond You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
[UC] Camera clubs in W Philly
Salutations, gentlefolk, Are there any camera clubs in Univcity / West Philly / Center City ? Especially interested in one hospitable to both film and digital imaging. Yours, John Desmond You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
Re: [UC] Shopping Circulars Delivered
Salutations, gentlefolk, Should you wish to complain about the delivery or nondelivery of shopping circilars, the numbers to call are 800-540-0810 ( the circular delivery co ) or 800-376-6222 ( Pathmark's adv dept ) Hope this helps Yours, John Desmond You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
[UC] Measured distances for pedometer setting
Salutations, gentlefolk, Purchased a pedometer at teh Presidents' Day sales, and since - it is to be hoped - in a couple of months the snow will all be melted, was thinking about how to set it for my stride length. Should I sneak into Franklin Field, or is there some other football field or regulation athletic facility around ? Has anyone data for any of the neighborhood blocks, or would anyone like to spend a spring afternoon holding the other end of my Dad's old surveyor's tape ? Anyway, a rough guess based on size of kitchen floor tiles yielded result that a trip to supermarket last night to stock up for storm involved 3/4 mile of walking. Ambulatedly yours, John Desmond You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
[UC] Antennas, indoor, for TV reception - advice sought
Salutations, gentlefolk, I need to get an indoor TV antenna. Am on the second floor, here in West Philly - would have a view of the Roxborough transmitter towers if 'tweren't for the houses across the way. Advice sought, many thanks in advance. Yours, John Desmond You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
Re: [UC] Comedy = Truth + Pain
Dear Ms. Jacobson, I took your post as an opportunity to make a semi-serious comment on the anthropomorphizing of companion animals, as an aside to recent posts about dogs, etc. I did not intend to hurt anyone's feelings. Even Scrunch's. My apologies. Yours, John Desmond You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
Re: [UC] Comedy = Truth + Pain
Salitations, gentlefolk ! Q: Why don't cats play basketball ? A: Because they can't stand it when the crowd yells Hairball, Hairball Yours, John Desmond You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
Re: [UC] UCHS and Civic Center demolitions
Salutations, gentlefolk, Well, if I owned property in, or lived within, the proposed historic district, I might have an opinion to inject here. As it is, will just say: First: 'Twill be an interesting process getting together a set of 'opinion poll questions' that both sides agree are fair. Second: Doth thee wish to breakdown the opinions by lenght of time living in this neighborhood, owner/tenant, student/nonstudent, income level of respondor, ethnic group, etc Third, if thee seeketh volunteers to walk the streets of Philadelphia some sunny spring sunday, knocking on every door - maybe I'll have nothing more pressing to do ... Hope everyone hath a joyful New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, and a healthy, happy, peaceful and prosperous 2005 Yours,John Desmond You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
[UC] Shelf paper
Salutations, gentlefolk, Way back when, my mother used to line drawers ard cover shelves with something called 'shelf paper' - a heavyweight white paper, bit of a 'powdery' feel to it, that came in rolls of several yards, and could be cut to fit. Do they still make the stuf??? If so, where may I find a place that sells it??? Thanks very much for any advice. Happy New Year Yrs, John Desmond You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
[UC] Three-ways,anyone ?? ...
Salutations, gentlefolk, ... Light bulbs, that is ;-) My parents (R.I.P.) left a large supply of three-way light bulbs - mainly 50/100/150 watts - for the upright lamp sockets with 'twist switches' (There is undoubtedly a technical term for these which I know not). More than I have the space or need for. Drop me an Enote if you'd like some. Yours, John Desmond You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
[UC] Helicopters
Salutations, gentlefolk, Well, 'tis about ten past midnight on saturday morning, and for the past half hour several helicopters have been coming by 50th and Baltimore ... Doth any one know what is and/or was going on ? Is there some way we can convince the police and TV stations to use blimps instead ? Yours, John Desmond You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
[UC] Eileen Gunn at Phl SF Soc, Fri, 9/10
Salutations, gentlefolk, On Friday, September 10th, at 8 PM The Philadelphia Science Fiction Society will present Ms. Eileen Gunn - author of Stable Strategies for Middle Management (and other noted SF stories, collected in her new volume, _Stable Strategies and Others_ ) editor of online SF magazine _The Infinite Matrix_ (www.infinitematrix.net) member of the board of directors of The Clarion West Writers Workshop former managing editor of www.gorp.com (pioneer outdoor recreation website) and onetime Director of Advertising Sales Promotion for Microsoft at The Rotunda 4014 Walnut Street, in Philadelphia, adjacent to the Univ of Pennsylvania campus Our business meeting will start at 8 PM (preceded by socializing) and Ms. Gunn will speak about 9 Everyone interested in science fiction and speculative literature is invited to attend More info is available at www.psfs.org And, on Friday, October 8th The Philadelphia Science Fiction Society will present Shane MacDougall author of _The Vampire Slayers Field Guide to the Undead_ See you there! You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
[UC] Gaming groups around Philly
Gaming groups - in and around Philadelphia, Trenton, Wilmington, Harrisburg, Reading - and points inbetween Salutations, gentlefolk, This is the July 04 - Historicon and World Boardgames Championships edition. Hope you - or some of your friends - finds this interesting. Apologies for wasting your electrons if not. Please send additions and corrections to [EMAIL PROTECTED], or write me at 4910 Cedar Ave, Phila, Pa, 19143 Thanks very much !Yours, John Desmond - The Philadelphia Area Gaming Enthusiasts - www.philagamers.org - Meet in Chestnut Hill on Tuesday evenings and in Center City on Sunday evenings. Email lists on yahoogroups.com - page, pagecentercity, page_announcements The Ambler Gamers - Email list - AmblerGamers on yahoogroups.com The Eastern Pennsylvania Gaming Society - www.epgs.org Meet in Oxford Valley Mall, usually on 1st and 3rd Saturdays of every month Email - epgs on yahoogroups.com The Penn Gamers meet Wednesday evenings on the Univ. of Pennsylvania campus in West Philadelphia For the latest info about meeting locations, check http://dolphin.upenn.edu/~pgamers/meetings.html To get on their mailing list, visit http://dolphin.upenn.edu/~pgamers/list Trenton - There is regular gaming at the Gamer's Realm in West Windsor, NJ on Thursday nights from about 6:30PM until 10:30. Anyone interested should join the realmgamers mailing list at Yahoo Groups. We tend to get 5-10 people each week and play designer/German games for the most part. Princeton Games Union - http://www.princetongames.org/ - Meets on Friday and Saturday nights (sometimes Saturday afternoons) in the Frist Student Center at Princeton University. Board games, RPGs, etc. Days of Knights - games club in Newark, Delaware - board games every Saturday - http://www.daysofknights.com/ Harrisburg - The West Shore group is Boardgamers Pastime. They meet in the annex (called Foundation Hall) to the New Cumberland Public Library in New Cumberland, PA, on the first and third (and usually fifth) Sundays of each month, from 1-6. The organizer is Mario Lanza, who can be reached at [EMAIL PROTECTED] Harrisburg - East Shore group meets at the East Shore Area Library, which is at 4501 Ethel St., Colonial Park (behind the Colonial Park Mall), on the first and third Saturdays of each month, from 9-5. Don't have the name of the organizer for this one, but call the library at 717.652.9380, and theyll probably tell you. Lansdale, Pa - Gaming meeting at my house (about a mile from exit 31, PA Turnpike NorthEast Extention) Thursday, 7:00PM until 10:00. German-style boardgames, old time miniature games, non-German style games. Contact Bill Chapman, at [EMAIL PROTECTED] Berks Boardgamers - http://www.berksboardgamers.com, POC-Jim Carvin, [EMAIL PROTECTED], 610-220-5644. Meets once per month on Saturday near Kutztown and the 3rd Wednesday of each month at the public library in Womelsdorf. Please see our website for the schedule or email us to get on our email newsletter list. We're all about good fun and competition. We play mainly German-designer games and Avalon Hill games. Reading, Pa. Area Wargamers - meets every Thursday night at the Golden Eagle in Fairgrounds Square Mall, 3050 N. 5th St, 610-921-3160 for directions Mostly historical miniature games of various scales, sizes, and eras - schedule at http://home.comcast.net/~efeifer/schedule.htm, YahooGroup - http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/readingwargamers/ POC - Keith Eshelman (610) 927-3539, [EMAIL PROTECTED], or Eric Feifer (717) 872-7984 Central PA Gamers Yahoo Group - http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/Central_PA_Gamers/ for players and DMs from Berks, Schuylkill and Lehigh counties. Games in Schuylkill Haven, PA, Fridays around 8PM - ADD 3.5, in a homebrew world Local conventions for gaming, etc: The Shorecon game convention is now Southern Exposure, and will be Sept. 30-Oct 3, 2004 at the same hotel as last year. Shorecon was acquired by Double Exposure convention management - www.dexposure.com. The boardgame coordinator can be reached at [EMAIL PROTECTED] The Historical Miniature Gaming Society-East conventions, in Lancaster, www.hmgs.org, www.historicon.org, www.coldwars.org The Miniature Figure Collectors of America's Annual Show - one of the world's oldest and largest exhibitions of military miniatures, collectors' figures, and toy soldiers - MFCA, 205 Park Place, Cherry Hill, NJ, 08002 Ground Zero Games East Coast Convention - downtown Lancaster - for GZG games - Dirtside, Stargrunt, Full Thrust, etc - http://www.warpfish.com/jhan/ft/gzgecc/ The Philadelphia Science Fiction Convention - Philcon 2004 - at the Marriott Center City Philadelphia on December 10th-12th, 2004. Large all-weekend gameroom and gaming programming. www.philcon.org for info You are receiving this because you
