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The three Democratic candidates for city controller in Philadelphia spent close to $1 million communicating with voters over the past few months. But I've encountered smart, socially aware people who, as recently as yesterday More »
 
After a bruising primary campaign, Philadelphia's Democratic City Controller Alan Butkovitz easily won renomination over two-time challenger Brett Mandel and former city attorney Mark Zecca in a low-turnout election. With over More »
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
 
Apple thinks not-so-differently from the rest of America's big corporations. It behaves like Westinghouse and the rest, whose armies of lawyers  minimize their tax bills.  Apple is just better at it.  The More »
Monday, May 20, 2013
 
The Republicans have been tormenting Obama for his entire presidency.  Now, equipped with what they imagine are dry twigs, wood chips, branches and limbs which they can ignite to destroy his presidency, they wonder why the More »
 
"Big government" is a convenient conservative bogeyman - until tragedy strikes.  But now, with death and devastation in their own backyard, here's Tom Coburn: "As the ranking member of the committee that oversees FEMA, I More »
 
  Republicans currently in thrall to the scandal trifecta would be wise to heed Newt Gingrich, who knows all too well what can happen when party warriors foam at the mouth. "I think we overreached in '98," he told NPR More »
 
The estimated 1,000 high-school students who marched Broad Street to protest School District budget cuts on Friday were not just visible. They were loud, rambunctious and utterly unmoved by the politics of the moment. More »
Sunday, May 12, 2013
 
I celebrated Mother's Day as I do every year — by celebrating the women who shaped me. More »
 
Who says you have to be old-fashioned to be classic? Heck, who says you need to be classic to be ... classic? More »
 
"North of the Boulevard," the new drama by prolific Philadelphia-based playwright Bruce Graham, is gritty – but is it true grit? More »
 
North of Philadelphia, in Bensalem, there is a mile-long dirt track, established in 1974. Then it was called the Keystone Racetrack. Now it is known as Parx Casino and Racing, on 417 acres, with 1,400 stalls More »
 
Design enthusiasts from all over Philadelphia turned out to see the 7th Annual Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby and to watch the parade of human-powered sculptures roll through the neighborhood last Saturday. For the finale, More »
 
Let's try to do something that Washington has a hard time doing once a whiff of scandal is in the air. Let's keep our bearings. Let's survey all the moving parts of an issue. More »
 
If they ever make hypocrisy an Olympic sport, I think Philadelphia City Council has a real shot at the gold. More »
 
If an advertising agency gets money from clients to produce television ads touting the clients' products, the advertising agency has income on which income taxes must be paid. But if the advertising agency is a non-profit More »
 
I've been a holdout, declining to join the progressive movement to abolish the death penalty everywhere in the United States and the world. I've thought that in an open, democratic society with a fully developed modern legal More »
 
I have always had something of a love for suits, and I welcome any occasion to wear one. At my high school, opportunities to don a suit come rarely, if ever. So my personal penchant for wearing them led me to create a new More »
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
 
In 1954, American Girl magazine published a book of beauty tips for young women. It included helpful suggestions about preparing for the ultimate American beauty contest: the high school prom. More »
 
Some are baffled and others saddened by the fact that humans put footprints on the moon more than 40 years ago and have not ventured a fraction of that distance from home since. Have we lost our spirit of exploration? More »
 
Shock and outrage were bound to follow when the famous biologist-writer E.O. Wilson proclaimed that many scientists are at best "semiliterate" in math. When this heresy appeared in an op-ed piece for the Wall Street Journal, More »
 
More people seem to be ditching office chairs in favor of standing desks. A recent article in the New Yorker even tackled the trend of treadmill desks. A mounting body of research suggests that sitting is bad for you — More »
 
It's been a long time coming, but 3rd Ward is now open in Philadelphia. For now, it's arguably the prettiest coworking space in town. In a few weeks, it'll be, in essence, a DIY trade school for the curious at heart. More »
 
Celebrate books with wonderful events and author meet and greets from The Big Blue Marble Bookstore, and this year, a partnership with the Color Book Gallery. Lots of fabulous activities for your little bibliophiles!   More »
Friday, May 17, 2013
 
It's been a lovely spring; the dogwood and azalea flowers held on longer than usual so there hasn't been the typical fifteen minute intermission between the first and second acts in the garden. Now the iris are blooming, the More »
 
May is considered the most beautiful month for Philadelphia gardens, and it's no surprise that it's also the most popular month for horticultural events of every kind. From plant sales to garden tours to educational symposia, More »
 
Top Stories
The final month: Comcast founder Ralph J. Roberts 'proud to be associated' with Germantown High
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May 22 - Brian Hickey @GTownWOLane

As the final day of Germantown High School's 99-year history approaches — the Class of '13 will don caps and gowns on June 19 — NewsWorks will present a series of stories including interviews with More »

Demanding contract deals, Philly union workers protest at U.S. mayors' event hosted by Nutter
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May 22 - Aaron Moselle @awmoselle

Hundreds of blue-collar municipal workers took to the streets Wednesday afternoon to demand that Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter settle a pair of outstanding union contracts. They intend to resume the protest Thursday.  More »

Celebrating hidden history of Philadelphia can lead to revitalization of festival sites
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May 22 - Peter Crimmins @petercrimmins

The Hidden City Festival, celebrating Philadelphia's overlooked historical sites, begins today. It has opened nine sites to the public with installation and conceptual art projects.  More »