Looking Down On LOVE Park (And Other Pics)

Last month I was at a party for my softball team on the rooftop deck of the building where our team's manager lives. I...well, quite a few of us, actually...took a few photos. I love being in high-rise buildings and looking down upon the area. Whether it's the Empire State Building in New York or the Sears Tower (or whatever it's called now) in Chicago or the CN Tower in Toronto, there's just something special to me about being so far up and viewing the landscape, the buildings, etc. as far as the eye can see. This building isn't quite as high as those... ;-)

LOVE Park from above.

Off in the distance (just above the cathedral's dome) is the Art Museum.

Too Long For Twitter: Netbook Edition

There's a part of me that, despite my current financial status, really wants to buy a new netbook or laptop before my trip next month. The laptop I have is NINE YEARS OLD. I bought it before I went to Baltimore on a temporary work assignment (I ended up staying down there for nine months). It's on its second hard drive, which I somehow managed to install by myself. The disc drive doesn't work any more. The battery life is pretty poor. And it's not very light. I have to take it on the plane in my carry-on bag because, as old as it is, it still would probably disappear from my checked bag.

A new laptop (or netbook) would be a lot easier to carry. But, just like my old TV that still refuses to die so I would be forced to buy a new HDTV, I'm not sure I should buy one if the old one still functions (at least well enough).

If you want to talk me into (or out of) buying it, feel free to comment.

And don't forget to vote for me for the CBSPhilly.com Most Valuable Blogger awards. Click on the image at right. Thank you!

Vote For Me And I'll Set You Free

Many of you* have been asking me, "Joe, we just love your blog so much! You're awesome! Short of actually handing you piles of cash, is there any way we can show our appreciation for you?" Well, now there is!

CBSPhilly.com is the catch-all site for the local CBS-owned TV and radio stations, including CBS-3 television, KYW Newsradio (1060 AM) and sports-talk WIP (610 AM -- at least for now; it's been reported that they plan to move to/simulcast on FM next month). At their website voting has now begun for Philadelphia’s Most Valuable Blogger Awards 2011, in the following categories: Dining/Entertainment, Sports, Lifestyle, Local Affairs, Health/Fitness/Medical and...Everything Else.

And guess who's been nominated in the "Everything Else" category?

Go on...guess!

Okay, I guess the image at right sort of gives it away.

Now, the stakes aren't that high. The only prizes they're giving away are $50 Amazon gift cards (12 in total, 6 to the top vote-getter in each category and 6 "Editor's Choice" picks.

You can go here to vote in my category. (Scroll down -- the nominees are listed alphabetically, so I'm in the T (for "The") section. And you can check out all the categories here. The voting is open now and runs through September 9, and you can vote once every day. And feel free to pass this on to your family, friends, neighbors, frenemies, acquaintances, pets, the supermarket cashier, the file clerk at your office, the toll collector on the turnpike, etc. Thank you for your support!

*"Many" in this case equals "no one." This is called "writer's embellishment." But it seems I have my friend Kurt to thank, as he told me today that he nominated my blog. How I became a finalist, I have no idea.