亲吻是促进情欲的最佳成人用品性爱法则。想要拥有更高品质且动人心弦的成人用品性爱，吻是让她欲仙欲死的关键，堪称前戏重炮，透过亲吻来传达激情，让女人感受男人的浓情。即使没有交合的动作，也能从彼此的亲吻当中活络身心。女人的唇和乳房是男人攻城掠地的首要据点，男人快狠准地开口，会让女人开心而芝麻开门。

“周末夫妻”：是指夫妻双方因为工作或求学而分居两地，只能一周或半个月才相聚一次。随着现代人生活节奏的加快和工作压力的增大，这种婚姻模式正变得日益普遍。所谓“小别胜新婚”，见面之后自然是激情难抑，只是对于暂时还没有养育下一代打算的爱侣，享受水乳交融的同时，避孕也成为不可忽视的话题。

“在我亢奋激情时，全身都异常敏感，尤其是我的背部和脚。我喜欢在进入正题之前按摩对方以及接受按摩。”

“全面而完整的‘爱抚’是最重要的。我喜欢女人爱抚我全身。男人会希望接受爱人的蹂躏。”

“只要慢慢的跳舞或搂抱”

性福出了时差

　　私密资料：天高云淡，男，35岁，喜欢早上make love，平均每周2次。很少喝酒，每周大约1瓶红酒的样子。

　　算了半天，最后得出了-2.17的结果。他的Sexiest Time是下午两点十分！除了周末，这个时间都得呆在办公室吧？万分同情！他自己也愁眉苦脸：我怎么就这么命苦呢？其实也不必如此沮丧。

　　保留时差，创造性福

而对男人的脊背，按摩与瘙痒的形式是严重需要摒弃的，在频率上做文章就是心意了。到了男人小腹这个部位，就意味着即将进入重点了。但是请不要急于向下行进，吊一吊他的胃口也好。肚脐并不只是生命初期遗留的生活垃圾，有男性声称抚摩小腹和肚脐一样会带来快感，肚脐以下平滑的小腹，最能让男人热血贲涨浮想联翩，主菜还没有上来，好好享受开胃色拉吧。

There have been several references made to Obama's celebrity. He has even been scorned for his popularity. It is now negative to be popular, yet the definition is deceiving:

Adjective
S: (adj) popular (regarded with great favor, approval, or affection especially by the general public) "a popular tourist attraction"; "a popular girl"; "cabbage patch dolls are no longer popular"

But think about that populair girl in high school that we all, barely in secret, hated. She wore the best hairstyles, was a true fashionista, had the boyfriend with the car, the latest designer accesories, and God help us if she was smart too! We hate her because we're jealous. We want that charisma, that effortless appeal.

So we make up rumors about her. Someone says she's a ho, another says she has "the clap", and another says she's having sex with the teaher. And although, we don't believe it, we spread it along, making it more "credible" with each retelling. Then after repeating the ludicruous claims a few more times you feel like an idiot. And worse, you just made her even more popular.

This juvenile pattern is too similar to the Obama campaign. The slander, the rumors, the obscenities. From Obama hates gays to Obama the anti-crist; the media is a mad house for eccentricity.

Although I truly don't believe Obama to be the anti-crist, I won't be buying a round trip ticket for the Obama train anytime soon. He is a victim of celebrity becoming greater than the man. Celebrity so great, it overshadows his virtues and insults his value. I want to love him, but I don't even know why I like him. He's like the P. Diddy of politics; loved because he's cool. And of course others will argue that he deserves better than just the attribution of cool.

But I'm not there yet, you know, giving out praise and credit. My stubborn nature prevents me from being a fan for no other reason than--I'm a hater at heart. I hated that popular, I spread the rumors. And though I look back in shame but with wisdom, I realise that this is my human nature. I cheer for the under dog providing necessary support. Obama doesn't need it and so I haven't given it.

I've watched him in two debates with great intentand listened to his words. Still the only thing that I could see was his charisma, his style, his swagger, his inner-Diddy. Of course I'll still vote for him, afterall McCain's no under dog either. But I don't have to love him.

And when Diddy speaks we listen, but we don't hear. We're past the point of taking that man serious. Afterall, how can we trust a man who changes his name with the leaves and ever thought shiny suits were cool?

But how can he tone it down? How can he bring that persona back down to Earth? In my opinion, it's already gone too far.

PIMP MY EXXON

MUSIC IS OUR OIL TO HOST PRESS CONFERENCE AND FREE CONCERT AT ROCK & ROLL EXXON ON OCTOBER 11TH 2008 TO ANNOUNCE THE "MUSIC IS OUR OIL" WORLD TOUR CONCERT/FILM

It's better than the MTV reality show Pimp My Ride and it's happening in Philadelphia on October 11th 2008. An EXXON gas station recently dubbed "ROCK & ROLL EXXON", is getting "pimped out," "tricked out," and rebranded to serve as the venue for a press conference and "BETA TEST" concert to unveil a revolutionary world tour/concert and film titled "MUSIC IS OUR OIL” (MIO). The MUSIC IS OUR OIL world tour, which is scheduled to begin June 19, 2008, will send America's greatest Hip-Hop and Rock artists to oil producing countries to barter music and other essential commodities for 20 million barrels of oil. The 20 million barrels of crude oil will be transferred into 125-gallon MIO gas cards, which will be distributed to 3.2 million Americans thru the Temporary Assistance for Needy Family (TANF) program.
Organizer, and producer of MUSIC IS OUR OIL, 3Kingdoms Entertainment CEO Mikal Kamil says, "The purpose of this press conference is to introduce to the world a new American model we call "MUSIC IS OUR OIL." We will announce MIO's strategic vision, execution, and expected outcome. We will also encourage the great thinkers, activists, and doers of the world to be a part of this "Great Collaboration." Kamil says, "We are living in very progressive and different times. For the first time in history an African American is running successfully for president of the United States and EXXON MOBILE is hosting a BETA TEST concert on their gas station lot. In a very sexy and cool way MIO will show how gasoline can be used as a positive purchase and as part of the energy solution."
Much of the coolness of the BETA TEST will come from the eclectic personalities involved in the concert. The outgoing cast will consist of grafitti artists, indie rock bands, hip-hop artists, leading members of the music, oil, gas, ethanol, solar and auto industry and surrogates from the Barack Obama campaign. Adding to the list of unusal suspects, ethonol fueled indy cars, electric cars, gasoline tankers will serve as the backdrop for the concert's stage.

MUSIC IS OUR OIL presents
"THE BETA TEST" concert
After the press conference, 3Kingdoms Entertainment, Rock & Roll EXXON and EXXON distributor Lehigh Gas will sponsor a free concert titled "The Beta Test." "The Beta Test" will be held in Philadelphia outside at Rock & Roll EXXON gas station; located at 2330 Aramingo ave. The free concert will feature 10 indie rock bands and hip-hop artists who will barter their musical performances for gasoline. Artists will recieve a full tank of gas and the additional gas will then be transferred into 25-gallon MIO gas cards, which will be issued to low-income residents thru the Temporary Assistance for Needy Family (TANF) program. In addition all of the staging and concert production items as well as grafitti artists services are being bartered for gasoline. Circumventing the deflated dollar, weak economy is essential in offseting the cost of the event. With an emphasis on diversity, experimentation, linkage, collaboration and being part of the solution, the BETA TEST concert will transform a local EXXON gas station lot into ROCK & ROLL EXXON. The BETA TEST will also serve as a platform for the Obama/Biden and MCain/Palin campaign to push their "GET OUT TO VOTE" intiatitive. Surrogates from both candidates will be attending.

“The rising cost of energy has created a strain on all consumers across the country. In addition to dispersing gas cards through the Music is our Oil program, we’re encouraging people to use E10, a 10 percent blend of ethanol and 90 percent gasoline,” said Toni Nuernberg, executive director of the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC), a Music is Our Oil sponsor.
The more than 9 billion gallons of ethanol in our fuel supply is helping to keep prices at least 15 percent lower, saving the average American family approximately $500 per year, according to Merrill Lynch.
“The long-term solution to high gas prices is diversifying our energy choices” said Tom Collina, executive director of 2020 Vision, a national group promoting alternative energy. “We need to give consumers more choices such as plug-in electric cars. With plug-ins, you can go from $4 per gallon of gas to $1 per ‘gallon’ of electricity.”
Plug-in Electric Vehicles (PEVs) will soon be on the market from GM, Toyota, Nissan and others. 2020 Vision supports the early introduction of these vehicles as well as federal incentives for consumers to make these cars affordable. “These cars are cheaper to drive, use domestic fuel, and dramatically reduce global warming pollution,” said Collina. “They are the ultimate solution to high gas prices.” 2020 Vision will drive a plug-in car to the event.

Other collaborators and sponsors include: Rock & Roll EXXON, Lehigh Gas, International Recipricol Trade Association, Pennsylvania Gasoline Retailers and Allied Trades, Ethanol Promotion and Information Council and 2020 Vision.

The BETA TEST is a test concert of the intended June 09 MUSIC IS OUR OIL world tour concert/film. Aside from the entertainment and oil industry, MIO has a lot of moving parts connecting to one mainframe. The BETA TEST concert is an early step in the development of the MIO world tour concert series. The BETA TEST will serve as the precurser to the start of larger activities with many moving parts. The "Great Collaborators" of MIO will use the BETA TEST to discover whether MIO's entertaining, logistical, marketing, technological, social and philanthropic concepts can be successfully realized.
Starting three years ago, 3Kingdoms Entertainment's Mikal Kamil did the unthinkable; he brought the entertainment and energy industry together to help raise money for low-income Americans that couldn't afford heat. This event was dubbed "Artists For Heat." Mikal Kamil, brainchild of MIO says, "We are also doing The Beta Test for personal reasons. We want to prove the naysayers wrong AGAIN. We want to say WE TESTED THE MIO AND IT WORKS."
On June 19, 2009, 3Kingdoms Entertainment will launch MUSIC IS OUR OIL and revolutionize the world of benefit mega events. Additional details regarding the logistics of MUSIC IS OUR OIL will be disclosed at the press conference. Members of the press and energy advocacy community are invited to attend both the press conference and concert. Tickets to the free concert will be distributed in Philadelphia through local radio promotions, and a variety of other promotional activities.

What: Press conference to announce revolutionary world tour concert/film and
Free concert with alternative Rock and Hip-Hop artists titled "The Beta Test”
Featuring: Leading members of the music, oil, gas, ethanol, solar and auto industry
Indie Rock Bands and Hip Hop artists: Matt Duke, The Feather Tops, Whiskey Livin, The Adam Monaco Band, Preston Swift, Hezekia, Stillicide, Nickelz, Dinner Thieves and Mellow Veneer
When: Press Conference: October 11, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. ET
Free Concert: October 11, 2008 at 3:00 p.m. ET
Where: Press Conference: ROCK & ROLL EXXON- gas station-
2330 Aramingo Ave
Concert: ROCK & ROLL EXXON- gas station-
2330 Aramingo Ave
Contact: To RSVP for news conference and concert, contact 3Kingdoms@verizon.net, musicisouroilbetatest@gmail.com

I am a black conservative black male. I'm ashamed of my black people. Obama represents bigger government and leans heavily on the far left. He believes in raising taxes. How can you be a black entrepreneur owning a small business support him? The government will take 62% of your profit leaving you with 36 cents on the dollar. I'm all for supporting black people but my principles comes first. This man panders and says anything to get a vote. One day he claims to be pro choice now a banner on his pathetic website says he's pro life. My mother always told me the friends and company you keep is a reflection on you. Obama has friends and associates running his campaign who are not good for America. He wants to socialize our nation? Look at Europe? Do we really want our rights taking away from us? Do you really want the government running our life? Everything the government does fails. Look at Fannie and Freddy. I really wish McCain would call names. Connecticut own Chris Dodd needs to do the right thing and step down. New World Order is soon coming.

Our webmaster wrote about this inicident on his blog, but notes that there is no media coverage and this lasted for quite a while. Here is what Doug has to say as of 9:21 pm October 1st:

SEPTA decided to close Market East Station at 7 PM tonight for "police activity". This stranded myself and several thousand commuters both in the city, and in trains on their way to the city. Market East was completely evacuated. At the time I spoke to a SEPTA employee at Suburban Station around 8 PM, he stated that they were waiting on the "all clear" from the police before they could re-open the station.

Despite what the employee told me in the customer service office, he was almost immediately contradicted by a female employee there who stated that it was a "bomb scare" to another passenger....A crowd of commuters gather at the closed station. SEPTA really dropped the ball here. They had NO signage or personal on hand. There were a few police officers inside of the station that were completely unhelpful in answering queries from stranded passengers. No announcements were made over the PA at Market East nor Suburban Station. Basically, we were left in the dark as to why the station was closed....I eventually got home with the help of a subway, light rail, and a 1.5 mile walk across town.

Just to underscore my comments above, I'm no security expert--there may have been a very good reason for closing down Market East. SEPTA themselves may have not even had a say in the matter, they might have just been told to close the station by police. What SEPTA could control is how they reacted to this crisis. They could have made announcements. They could have made signs. They could have put notices on the train status boards. And they could have drawn up some emergency action plan in advance, that provided alternate subway/rail/bus paths for passengers to take to their destination.

Did I mention I'm paying $116/month for this? You're doing a heck of a job, SEPTA.

Oh! Did we mention that Septa and Amtrak and PennDot will be at a transit summit in Ardmore this evening?

Here are the details:

Thursday, October 2, 2008
WHAT: Congressman Gerlach’s Main Line Transit Summit
WHEN: 7 P.M. to 9 P.M.

WHERE: Lower Merion Township Building

75 East Lancaster Avenue
Ardmore PA

TENTATIVE AGENDA:
7 P.M. Sign-in period and chance to get materials from AMTRAK, SEPTA and PennDOT

7:15 P.M. Welcome and opening remarks

7:25 P.M. Presentation by SEPTA

7:40 P.M. Presentation by AMTRAK

7:55 P.M. Presentation by PennDOT

8:10 P.M. Question-and-Answer Session

8:55 P.M. Closing remarks

With news about the economy growing more dire each day, you may be wondering how well your job will fare in a recession. Some industries have already been hit hard: real estate agents, mortgage lenders, construction workers, and others in the housing industry are likely to be searching for their next move.

If you’re concerned about your job’s susceptibility to an economic downturn, you might begin searching for similar positions in an industry that will remain strong in a recession. It’s best not to try to start a completely new career in a down economy, but that doesn't mean you can't find a recession-proof job you'll enjoy. Your job satisfaction depends in large part on your personality preferences (your Myers Briggs personality type), and there are recession-proof jobs for every type.

In a recent interview with CareerBuilder.com, outplacement consultant John Challenger listed the top five recession-resistant industries: Education, Energy, Environmental Sector, Health Care, and Security. To read more about the jobs in each industry that will be in high demand, and see which jobs are best for your Myers Briggs personality type, visit the PersonalityDesk Myers Briggs Blog.

Experts in the field of personality type say that the personality characteristics of political candidates make a strong impact in their political success. Dr. David Keirsey, an expert in the field of Myers Briggs type, has theorized that presidential candidates with a particular personality style (what he calls the Artisan temperament) win elections reliably when pitted against candidates with a different personality type.

This is particularly relevant in the present election because McCain appears to many observers to be an ESTP, one of the four types within the Artisan category. Type theorists are more divided on their guesses about Obama's type; Keirsey has theorized that he is a INTJ, a Rational type, where others have guessed he is an ENFJ or ENFP, both Idealist types. According to Keirsey's theory, this confers a definite advantage for McCain.

I'm not certain I agree with Keirsey's theory about the power of personality type in elections, but I was very interested to study the candidates in light of personality styles. I've written more about my observations and guesses as to the presidential candidates' personality types in my Myers Briggs blog.

Philly.com: Another fallen Phila. officer leaves city reeling:

A 30-year-old Philadelphia policeman was shot and killed yesterday by a wanted felon who fired several times into the fallen officer as he lay wounded on a North Philadelphia street.

"He stood over the top of him and killed him," said Homicide Capt. James Clark, who called the killing of Officer Patrick McDonald an "execution."

The officer's slaying came at the end of a foot pursuit and was followed by a shoot-out that left the felon dead, a second policeman seriously wounded, and the city grappling with the death of another police officer killed in the line of duty.

KIKO's HOUSE: Officer Patrick McDonald (1978-2008):

The murder of any police officer is an outrage, but when Highway Patrol Officer Patrick McDonald yesterday became the fourth Philadelphia cop to be gunned down in 11 months, the financial crisis and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, let alone the presidential campaign, seemed ever more like abstractions.

McDonald, a star athlete in high school and eight-year veteran of the force, was widely admired. The 30-year-old bachelor had bought and lived in the house in the Morrell Park neighborhood where he grew up, and neighbors considered him to be their son, their father and their protector.

For what it is worth, McDonald's assailant also died. For what it is worth, it will only be a matter of time before the handgun the perp used is likely traced through a series of legal transactions until it entered the city's thriving gray market in devices the kill. Because, you see, in Pennsylvania just about anyone can buy a gun with few or no questions asked. Just don't get caught smoking on school property or, heaven forbid, enjoy a puff of marijuana once in a while.

Katey's Kafe: Officers Down:

The POS who shot both McDonald and Bowes is no longer with us, thankfully. He has been exterminated.

I would also like to mention how much of a class act the NYPD is. They flew McDonald's sister from NYC to Temple Hospital so she could be with her brother. Way to go.

Prayers sent to the family of Officer McDonald and those in the Philadelphia Police Department. I'm so very sorry for your loss.

R.I.P. Officer McDonald

WHYY's Its Our City asks Does Philadelphia feel safer now than last year?:

How can the crime rate be lower when things seem out of control on the streets of Philadelphia? That’s what’s been going through my mind lately, especially after yesterday’s shooting death of a Philadelphia Police officer. But if you check the police website you’ll see that the homicide rate is down 20% over this time last year. That’s is a big improvement. But I also remember that one of Mayor Michael Nutter’s goals is also to reduce the fear of crime.

CityPaper.net: The Clog: Voter intimidation tactics are afoot at Drexel

Drexel Dems: Voter Intimidation at Drexel

Philly.com: NJ town blanketed with racist anti-Obama fliers

If you’re looking to buy your first digital SLR, you’re spoilt for choice — or possibly overwhelmed by the options.

In the last few months we’ve seen new entry-level digital SLRs from three of the big names in the camera business — Canon, Nikon and Olympus — and Sony has also entered this market, using camera technology bought in from Konica Minolta.

To be honest, these cameras are more similar than different. All four are aimed primarily at people making the jump from a compact digital camera to an SLR — people who already understand the digital half of the equation and want to upgrade to an SLR to take their photography further. An SLR is more responsive than a compact, allowing you to take photos more quickly; it gives you more control, so you can be more creative; and it’s more flexible, allowing you to change the lens or use accessories such as flashguns and remote controls.

Because these entry-level SLRs are designed for people who are used to pocket-friendly compacts, the manufacturers have kept them small and light. Experienced photographers may scoff, telling you that larger and heavier cameras are easier to handle and hold, but if you’re used to a compact, you won’t want anything too big. If size is absolutely everything, the Olympus E-410 is the smallest and lightest of the cameras featured here.

The Canon EOS 400D Olympus E-410 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 both have 10-mega pixel sensors, while the Nikon D40 lags behind with just 6 mega pixels. This is enough for most purposes, including prints up to A4, but it gives you less scope for cropping your images or making poster-size enlargements. Since many top-end compacts now offer 7 or even 10 mega pixels, you might feel behind the times with the D40, although pixels aren’t everything — you’re still getting the benefits of a physically larger sensor and a bigger and better lens, so the D40 will produce better images than a compact.

The Canon EOS 400D and the Nikon D40 both ship with 18-55mm zoom lens, although the 35mm equivalents are slightly different (because the cameras have slightly different sensors), with the Canon lens offering the equivalent of 29-88mm and the Nikon 27-83mm. The Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 comes with an 18-70mm lens, or 27-105mm in 35mm terms and the Olympus E-410 comes in a twin-lens kit with 14-42mm and 40-150mm lenses, or 28-84mm and 80-300mm in 35mm terms.

In the short term, the Sony and Olympus cameras gives you a better zoom range out of the box, but in the long term, Canon and Nikon offer more lenses and other accessories. If you can imagine buying additional lenses in the future — for example, if you might want a telephoto lens for photographing wildlife — go for the Canon 400D or the Nikon D40. Both cameras are compatible with a wide range of lenses, flash guns, remote releases and so on.

What about other features? The Nikon D40 has a beginner-friendly menu system, with sample images that help you choose the right settings. The Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 has built-in image stabilisation for taking pictures in low light (Canon and Nikon offer image stabilisation via special lenses). The Nikon D40 uses SD memory cards, whereas the others take Compact Flash, although the Olympus E-410 also accepts xD memory cards. The Canon EOS 400D, Olympus E-410 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 have cleaning modes that vibrate the sensor to shake off dust.

So which is best? As you can see from the scores, it’s a close-run thing, but for our money, the Canon 400D has a slight edge. It costs a little more than the Nikon D40, but the extra mega pixels will keep you happy for longer.

The Nikon D700 offers a boat-load of features previously the exclusive domain of the D3 and D300 cameras and manages to pack it all in a D300-style body with a $2,000 savings added as incentive. Just like someone said: “With a Nikon D300 and Nikon D700 you would have high ISO, long reach, wide angle FX capability, and two semi-pro bodies that share accessories. Nikon is just filling in the gaps between their models so this is a body for everyone. It could also be a great 2nd body for D3 users who want two cameras that are both FX but one which is smaller and lighter”, it’s a new camera Nikon made for people looking for FX in a semi-pro body.

The headline feature of the D700 is of course its full-frame sensor, with the same 8.45-micron pixel pitch and 12-channel data readout from D3. As a result, the D700 has the D3’s renowned image quality at high ISO, but in a smaller, more affordable form factor. Like the D3, ISO ranges from 200 to 6,400, with Lo 1 (100), Hi 1 (12,800), and Hi 2 (25,600). We’ve noted a few differences in overall performance from the D3’s images, however, with a little better control over red saturation, and detail in the JPEGs that resembles what you get from well-processed NEF files from the D3. The D700 also features the same innovative EXPEED high-speed image-processing system, 14-bit A/D conversion and 16-bit processing pipeline to provide the detail and smooth gradation necessary for outstanding print enlargement and reproduction.The D300’s Integrated Dust Reduction made it into the full-frame D700 as well.

Also pulled from the D3 bag of tricks is the same Multi-CAM 3500FX autofocus sensor module featuring 51 AF points, the Virtual Horizon Indicator from the D3 (which is now active in Live View mode as well), the two Live View modes (Handheld and Tripod),the high-resolution 3-inch LCD monitor with tempered glass providing a 170 degree viewing angle.

The Nikon D700 additionally shares a number of features with both the D3 and D300. All three sport a powerful 51-point AF system, a high resolution 3in VGA monitor with Live View, the same 1005-pixel metering system, along with an HDMI port for connection to HDTVs – albeit using a mini-jack on the D700. All three are also very tough, offering resistance to dust and moisture.

Much has also been written about how the D700’s continuous shooting and viewfinder are inferior to the D3, the Nikon D700 offers 5fps continuous shooting compared to the D3’s 9fps,but add the optional MB-D10 battery pack and EN-EL4a battery to the D700 body and this can jump back up to 8fps.

Unlike Canon’s full-frame models you can still use lenses designed for cropped bodies on the D700. Fit a DX lens and you can either shoot in a cropped 5.1 Megapixel mode, or with the full sensor area and resolution – albeit with a reduction in quality beyond the DX frame.

Then, who should buy a D700? It’s for anyone who wants to shoot handheld in low light (at higher ISOs than you would ever consider with a D300, like 6400 ISO). It’s for anyone who really wants the advantage of shooting with a 35mm-sized full-frame sensor, and it’s for anyone who just wants better looking images than they’re getting now with a D300 or lower. So, in short, if you’ve dreamed of a D3 without the D3 pricetag, your dreams have finally come true in the Nikon D700.

USA received an order from Russia for one hundred thousand condoms. The dimensions were unusual: length — 20”, diameter —4”.

The manufacturers turned to Barak Obama: What should they do about it?

Barak thought for a minute and then ordered:

Make them!

Make them and stamp them: Made in USA, medium size.

Philadelphians will have an opportunity to explore the city’s coastline by land and by sea on Saturday, September 20, in what will be a full day of festivities during Southeastern Pennsylvania Coast Day, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., on Walnut Plaza at Penn’s Landing.

Visitors on this last unofficial Saturday of summer will be welcomed at 20 or more tents offering free water-themed activities along with face painting, make-and-take crafts, music and more. They will also have an opportunity to get a “duck’s-eye” view of the Delaware River aboard a Ride the Ducks amphibious vehicle. It is all part of a free festival sponsored by the Philadelphia Water Department, Pennsylvania Coastal Zone Management Program, DuPont Clear into the Future, and the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary.

“The Partnership is especially proud of the way this festival has taken off in recent years,” said Lisa Wool, program director at the PDE. “Not only do families have a great time, they also gain a new appreciation for Pennsylvania’s coastal waterways, including the tidal Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers.”

In the spirit of Coast Day, three neighboring institutions will be offering free or discounted programs to the public. The closest of these is the Independence Seaport Museum, which is offering reduced admission of just $5 per person on Saturday. A free shuttle bus will also be available to carry festival goers roundtrip from Walnut Plaza to two other riverside attractions.

The shuttle’s first stop is at the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center, an interactive museum that tells the story of the Schuylkill River and America’s first water utility. Incidentally, anglers are welcome to board the shuttle bus once they have finished competing in the PWD’s Philly Fun Fishing Fest from 7 a.m. to noon along the banks of the Schuylkill River.

The shuttle will also make stops at the American Philosophical Society Museum, where visitors can pick up a map before departing on a self-guided walking tour of Dock Creek. At one time, this tidal stream flowed right through the heart of Independence Mall, but it has since been forced underground by two centuries of development. For a limited time, however, Philadelphians can walk its original course thanks to sculptures and knowledgeable interpreters stationed at six locations, each of which features a different hands-on activity.

To learn more about Southeastern Pennsylvania Coast Day and the work of the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, please visit www.DelawareEstuary.org or call (800) 445-4935, extension 106.

A few weeks ago I posted about blogs that write about mental illness over at my personal blog.

I'd like to paraphrase from that here and simply say that we each have friends and family dealing with these issues in our lives. Maybe even ourselves.

I tend to believe that blogs that deal with mental illness are some of the most courageous you can find. The fact that one of the best is published by a fellow Philadelphian is reason to share it here.

Here are two favorites:

The Trouble With Spikol: Ran by executive editor of the Philadelphia Weekly, Liz Spikol documents her fight against her illness and her takes on all matters that strike her to write.

Furious Seasons: Ran by a journalist, and psych patient Philip Dawdy, Furious Seasons wrestles with the ongoing, terrible state of psychiatric care.

Subscribe. Read. Relate. Comment.

Old news I know, but congrats to Citizen Mom, Amy Z. Quinn on her new column at City Paper.

Her first piece, on the dangers perceived attending Philadelphia schools, earned criticism at Philebrity, where they cast it as subtle racism. I don't know I'd characterize it that way.

To me, her concerns were valid for anyone of any race. The Philly school system is in need of serious repair (via Albert Yee). Denying that makes little sense to me.