Philadelphia Reflections

gfisher@philadelphia-reflections.com (George Ross Fisher III, M.D.) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:56:48 EDT

William Penn's Quaker Colonies plus medicine, economics and politics

Sporting Philadelphia

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:52:07 EDT

A few reflections about sports in and around Philadelphia.

Philadelphia Fish and Fishing

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 10:27:23 EDT

Less than a century ago, Delaware Bay, Delaware River, Schuylkill River, Pennypack Creek, Wissahickon Creek, and dozens of other creeks in this swampy region were teeming with edible fish, oysters and crabs. They may be coming back, cautiously.

Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Bucks Counties

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 13:49:08 EDT

The Philadelphia metropolitan region has five Pennsylvania counties, four New Jersey counties, one northern county in the state of Delaware. Here are the four Pennsylvania suburban ones.

Subcultures

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 21:21:57 EDT

A few reflections about the subcultures in and around Philadelphia.

Downtown

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 18:21:43 EDT

A discussion about downtown area in Philadelphia and connections from today with its historical past.

Philadelphia's Middle Urban Ring

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 18:20:59 EDT

Philadelphia grew rapidly for seventy years after the Civil War, then gradually lost population. Skyscrapers drain population upwards, suburbs beckon outwards. The result: a ring around center city, mixed prosperous and dilapidated. Future in doubt.

Right Angle Club 2007

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 18:20:08 EDT

A report, to the year 2007 shareholders of the Right Angle Club of Philadelphia, by their outgoing president.

Food and Drink in Philadelphia

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 18:18:39 EDT

A flowing abundance of food sources made Philadelphia the capital of food and drink, right from earliest times.

Customs, Culture and Traditions

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 18:18:03 EDT

Abundant seafood made it easy to settle here. Agriculture takes longer.

Reminiscences

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 16:36:17 EDT

Watching the constantly passing scene, occasionally opportunities arise to change its flow.

Philadelphia Physicians

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 16:35:22 EDT

Philadelphia dominated the medical profession so long that it's hard to distinguish between local traditions and national ones. The distinctive feature is that in Philadelphia you must be a real doctor before you become a mere specialist.

Philadelphia Medicine

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 16:34:32 EDT

The first hospital, the first medical school, the first medical society, and abundant Civil War casualties, all combined to establish the most important medical center in the country. It's still the second largest industry in the city.

Historical Preservation

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 20:00:54 EDT

The 20% federal tax credit for historic preservation is said to have been the special pet of Senator Lugar of Indiana. Much of the recent transformation of Philadelphia's downtown is attributed to this incentive.

Whither, Federal Reserve?

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 00:28:21 EDT

The Federal Reserve seems to be a big black box, containing magic. In fact, it's high-wire acrobatics that must not be allowed to fail.

Bank Bubble 2007-2009

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 00:27:54 EDT

Whether it's for a Wall Street tycoon or a Chinese coolie, wages go up when workers chase after money they only vaguely know how to spend. Inflation appears when they know only a little worth buying. Unfortunately, when these confused squirrels stop running on their treadmills, the world gets a crash.

The Franklin Inn

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:42:21 EDT

Hidden in a back alley near the theaters, this little club is the center of the City's literary circle. It enjoys outstanding food in surroundings which suggest Samuel Johnson's club in London.

Land Tour Around Delaware Bay

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 10:46:59 EDT

Starting in Philadelphia, it takes two days to tour around Delaware Bay. Down the New Jersey side to Cape May, ferry over to Lewes, tour up to Dover and New Castle, visit Winterthur, Longwood Gardens, Brandywine Battlefield and art museum, then back to Philadelphia.

Academia in the Philadelphia Region

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 08:34:45 EDT

Higher education is a source of pride, progress, and aggravation.

Website Development

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:18:06 EDT

The website technology supporting Philadelphia Reflections is PHP, MySQL and DHTML. The web hosting service is Internet Planners.

Investing, Philadelphia Style

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 18:00:57 EDT

Land ownership once was the only practical form of savings, until banking matured in the mid-19th century. Philadelphia took an early lead in what is now called investment and still defines a certain style of it.

The Constitution

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 16:30:53 EDT

The Constitution is not a paper signed at any old convention. It was forged from the difficulties which forced its creation, and new difficulties soon revealed by implementing it. Its essence, the penetrating spirit of urgent compromise, flows from the Quaker environment of Philadelphia. A Republic, if you can keep it.

Personal Finance

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 23:48:28 EDT

The rules of financial health are simple, but remarkably hard to follow. Be frugal in order to save, use your savings to buy the whole market not parts of it, if this system ain't broke, don't fix it. And don't underestimate your longevity.

Philadelphia Politics

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 19:51:54 EDT

Originally, politics had to do with the Proprietors, then the immigrants, then the King of England, then the establishment of the nation. Philadelphia first perfected the big-city political machine, which centers on bulk payments from utilities to the boss politician rather than small graft payments to individual office holders. More efficient that way.

PROLOGUE: Persia, The Nineteen - Thirties

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 18:07:17 EDT

Persia, The Nineteen - Thirties

Causes of the American Revolution

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:40:34 EDT

Britain and its colonies had outgrown Eighteenth Century techniques of governance. Unfortunately, both England and America also lacked the sophistication to make drastic changes smoothly.

Historical Motor Excursion North of Philadelphia

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:20:33 EDT

The narrow waist of New Jersey was the upper border of William Penn's vast land holdings, and the outer edge of Quaker influence. In 1776-77, Lord Howe made this strip the main highway of his attempt to subjugate the Colonies.

Arch Street: from Sixth to Second

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:51:16 EDT

When the large meeting house at Fourth and Arch was built, many Quakers moved their houses to the area. At that time, "North of Market" implied the Quaker region of town.

Government Organization

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:19:06 EDT

Government Organization

Dislocations: Financial and Fundamental

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:18:28 EDT

The crash of 2007 was more than a bank panic. It was a collision of several revolutions which were all ripples from the same splash.

Nature Preservation

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 22:45:43 EDT

Nature preservation and nature destruction are different parts of an eternal process.

Legal Philadelphia

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 22:45:21 EDT

The American legal profession grew up in this town, creating institutions and traditions that set the style for everyone else. Boston, New York and Washington have lots of influential lawyers, but Philadelphia shapes the legal profession.

Religious Philadelphia

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 18:25:38 EDT

William Penn wanted a colony with religious freedom. A considerable number, if not the majority, of American religious denominations were founded in this city.

Volunteerism

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 18:24:41 EDT

The characteristic American behavior called volunteerism got its start with Benjamin Franklin's Junto, and has been a source of comment by foreign visitors ever since. It's still a very active force.

Indigents

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 18:22:08 EDT

With a long history of welcoming and assisting the poor, Philadelphia has always risked swamping the lifeboat by attracting more of them than it can handle.

Evolving Philadelphia

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 18:21:21 EDT

The city changes.

Black Philadelphia

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 18:20:29 EDT

The City of Philadelphia is only a part of the region, but within that part, the black population holds political power. That's definitely not true in the rest of the region. Discordances like this create problems until political evolution smooths them out.

Philadelphia Economics

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:20:19 EDT

economics

Philadelphia's West Country

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:13:29 EDT

Like all cities, Philadelphia is filling in and choking up with subdivisions and development, in all directions from the center. The last place to fill up is the Welsh Barony, a tip of which can be said to extend all the way in town to the Art Museum.

USA: THE NINETEEN NINETIES

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 20:12:27 EDT

FRONT MATERIAL: Deaths of the Shah

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 19:42:14 EDT

Deaths of the Shah, by Donald Hough

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:54:56 EDT

testing a topic with no blogs

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 22:16:46 EDT

testing a topic with no blogs for inclusion in Volumes

Revisionist Themes

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:21:10 EDT

A set of working papers, still under construction.

Curtis

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 20:08:03 EDT

To Cy Curtis, magazines were just vehicles for advertisers. In fact, his mags taught former farmers how to manage urban life, more or less accidentally creating a focus for American books, authors, politics and literature. The fall of his empire teaches the lesson that antitrust laws against vertical integration are probably unnecessary.

Railroad Town

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 18:16:32 EDT

New Jersey (State of)

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 18:15:58 EDT

The Garden State really has two different states of mind. The state motto is Liberty and Prosperity.

Insurance in Philadelphia

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 18:15:07 EDT

Early Philadelphia took a lead in insurance innovation. Some ideas, like life insurance, flourished. Others have faded.

Outlaws

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:50:47 EDT

Even the criminals, the courts and the prisons of this town have a Philadelphia distinctiveness. The underworld has its own version of history.

America's Historic Square Mile (pre-1800)

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:07:21 EDT

Society Hill: Philadelphia's authentic colonial area, from the Delaware River west to 8th Street the limit of settlement in 1776, but for a while the center of America. The richest, most famous men in America lived within a few blocks of each other. Things happened here.

Health Insurance

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 19:55:46 EDT

Clinton Health Plan and its replacements.

Academia, Medical Version

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 19:50:52 EDT

The first hospital in America generated the first medical school, the first medical society, and many of the unique features of American medicine. In modern times, the gusher of federal research funds not only distorted academic medicine, but academia as a whole.

Theatre in Philadelphia

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 20:00:49 EDT

Theater has declined, everywhere in the western world. But in Philadelphia, even today if you attended every new play you would keep pretty busy.

The Park and Beyond

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 20:00:30 EDT

Fairmount Park is large enough to split the City from its suburbs, and is partly a playground, partly a museum. East Falls, Germantown and Chestnut Hill are almost a separate world on the far side of the park.

Musical Philadelphia

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 19:59:24 EDT

Quakers never cared much for music, but the city has nonetheless musically flourished into international fame. At the same time, quarrels and internal battles have also been world class.

Medical Malpractice

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:09:33 EDT

The medical system is on the point of abandoning the city to escape abusive lawsuits. A series of observations about shared blame, ultimately assigns responsibility to the mistake of allowing this matter to be covered by insurance, thus creating a financial target.

Foreign Affairs

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 20:52:45 EDT

This topic is under construction. Feel free to watch it evolve.

Benjamin Franklin

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 20:51:17 EDT

A collection of Benjamin Franklin tidbits that relate Philadelphia's revolutionary prelate to his moving around the city, the colonies, and the world.

Literary Philadelphia

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 20:12:01 EDT

Literary

Computers and Websites

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 17:10:12 EDT

Much of the early development of the electronic computer took place in Philadelphia. We lost the lead, but it might return.

Quakers: All Alike, All Different

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:40:48 EDT

Quaker doctrines emerge from the stories they tell about each other.

Financial Planning for a Long Retirement

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 09:26:20 EDT

How should an individual investor ensure they have enough money for retirement?

Such a person is often a professional or entrepreneur who has worked to accumulate wealth. Legions of "advisors" are lined up to take this money and manage it or else to sell "products" that promise to solve some problem or other.

A person who has created their career and their wealth from scratch by intelligence and hard work can also manage their investments themselves, or at least supervise the process from a position of strength created by knowing what needs to be done.

This collection of articles explains to the individual investor how to take control of their wealth. They may eventually decide to look for help from an advisor but they will retain control of their assets and they will know what to do.

Financial Planning videos on YouTube

Pacifist Pennsylvania, Invaded Many Times

Sat, 07 Jun 2008 19:47:26 EDT

Pennsylvania was founded as a pacifist utopia, and currently regards itself as protected by vast oceans. But Pennsylvania has been seriously invaded at least six times.

Haddonfield

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 18:03:35 EDT

Haddonfield is a bit of a secret. It's Philadelphia's "Main Line, East".

Revolutionary Philadelphia's Patriots

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 16:37:55 EDT

Hotheads in the London Coffee House got stirred up about an inoffensive Tea Act, Scotch-Irish had come here to escape the British Crown, both the local artisan class and the local smuggler class had unexpectedly prospered under non-importation, and the local gentry were offended to be denied seats in Parliament like other Englishmen. But Pennsylvania wavered until the day Ben Franklin stepped off the boat from London with a grievance.

Delaware (State of)

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 16:33:27 EDT

Originally the "lower counties" of Pennsylvania, and thus one of three Quaker colonies founded by William Penn, Delaware has developed its own set of traditions and history.

Articles of Confederation

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 16:32:17 EDT

For thirteen years the country was ruled by the Articles of Confederation, and by Philadelphia. We learned many lessons during that episode, and we are beginning to forget we learned them.

Albert Gallatin

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:20:57 EDT

A magnificent but largely forgotten man.

Architecture in Philadelphia

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 16:04:17 EDT

Originating in a limitless forest, wooden structures became a "Red City" of brick after a few fires. Then a succession of gifted architects shaped the city as Greek Revival, then French. Modern architecture now responds as much to population sociology as artistic genius. Take a look at the current "green building" movement.

Up the King's High Way

Sat, 31 May 2008 22:23:46 EDT

New Jersey has a narrow waistline, with New York harbor at one end, and Delaware Bay on the other. Traffic and history travelled the Kings Highway along this path between New York and Philadelphia.

Tourist Walk in Olde Philadelphia

Thu, 29 May 2008 20:42:51 EDT

Colonial Philadelphia can be seen in a hard day's walk, if you stick to the center of town.

Working Topic

Thu, 29 May 2008 13:13:17 EDT

Preliminary space for author use.

Revolutionary Philadelphia's Loyalists

Tue, 27 May 2008 20:09:58 EDT

History is written by the victors, so the Tory Loyalists of Revolutionary Philadelphia have mostly fallen from view.

Conventions and Convention Centers

Wed, 21 May 2008 18:40:20 EDT

When you have a big convention center, some circus is always coming to town. Philadelphia has always been a convention town, has had and still has lots of convention sites, and hopes to have more of the kind of famous convention we have had in the past.

Nobel Prizes

Sun, 11 May 2008 13:20:45 EDT

Some Philadelphians won Nobel Prizes for work done here, or elsewhere. Some prize winners would deny they are Philadelphians, but their work was nevertheless done here.

Shakspere Society of Philadelphia

Wed, 07 May 2008 17:03:10 EDT

Maybe not the first, but the oldest Shakespeare club in America or possibly even the world, has kept minutes for over a hundred fifty years.

Art in Philadelphia

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:58:44 EDT

The history of art, particularly painting and sculpture, has been a long and distinguished one. If you add in the art schools, the Philadelphia national influence on artists has been a dominant one.

Quakers: The Society of Friends

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:34:25 EDT

According to an old Quaker joke, the Holy Trinity consists of the fatherhood of God, the brotherhood of man, and the neighborhood of Philadelphia.

Medical Economics

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:33:32 EDT

Some Philadelphia physicians are contributors to current national debates on the financing of medical care.

The Clinton Health Plan of 1993 - Part Two

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:29:58 EDT

After the Clinton Plan was dropped, and then after fifteen years of aftermath, public dissatisfaction with the health financing system is no better, probably worse. Here are some fresh ideas.

The Clinton Health Plan of 1993 - Part One

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:29:37 EDT

Mistaking Senate re-election of Harris Wofford to mean the country demanded reform of the medical system, newly-elected President Clinton announced he would create one. When stakeholders surmised he was making it up as he went along, they deserted him.

Sights to See: The Outer Ring

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:21:43 EDT

There are many interesting places to visit in the exurban ring beyond Philadelphia, linked to the city by history rather than commerce.

Sixth and Walnut over to Broad and Sansom

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:21:21 EDT

In 1751, the Pennsylvania Hospital at 8th and Spruce was 'way out in the country. Now it is in the center of a city, but the area still remains dominated by medical institutions.

To Germantown, a Short Appreciation

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:20:26 EDT

Seven miles from the heart of Philadelphia, Germantown was once a separate town, the cultural center of Germans in America. Revolutionary battles were fought here, it was briefly the capital of the United States, and it still has an outstanding collection of schools and colleges.

Up Market Street to Sixth and Walnut

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:19:21 EDT

Millions of eye patients have been asked to read the passage from Franklin's autobiography, "I walked up Market Street, etc." which is universally printed on eye-test cards. Here's your chance to do it.

West of Broad

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:18:27 EDT

A collection of articles about the area west of Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

North of Market

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:16:43 EDT

The term once referred to the Quaker district along Arch Street, and then to a larger district that had its heyday after the Civil War, industrialized, declined, and is now our worst urban problem area.

Custom Tour of Private Philadelphia

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:13:48 EDT

Philadelphia Hospitality, a non-profit group, puts together the following tour for visiting bigwigs. A good guide to what's best around here.

City of Rivers and Rivulets

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:03:14 EDT

Philadelphia has always been defined by the waters that surround it.

Connecticut Invades Pennsylvania!

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:50:40 EDT

The rest of the world fights wars about national grievances, both recent and long past. Meanwhile, Connecticut once waged a serious war with Pennsylvania, and we don't even remember it.

Philadelphia's River Region

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 01:47:52 EDT

A concentration of articles around the rivers and wetland in and around Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The British Attack Philadelphia

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 21:58:12 EDT

Fighting in the Revolutionary War lasted eight years; for two full years (June 1776 to June 1778) Philadelphia was the objective of military attack. Only the Civil War killed a larger proportion of the population.

Science

Sun, 09 Mar 2008 19:36:24 EDT

Science

The Proprietorship of West Jersey

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 18:18:01 EST

The southern half of New Jersey was William Penn's first venture in real estate. It undoubtedly gave him bigger ideas.

Tourist Trips Around Philadelphia and the Quaker Colonies

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 18:11:38 EST

The states of Pennsylvania, Delaware, and southern New Jersey all belonged to William Penn the Quaker. He was the largest private landholder in American history. Using explicit directions, comprehensive touring of the Quaker Colonies takes seven full days. Local residents would need a couple dozen one-day trips to get up to speed.

Philadelphia, A Running Commentary

Sun, 23 Dec 2007 00:46:49 EST

A series of observations in and around Philadelphia by notables over the last three and one-half centuries.

Favorite Reflections

Sat, 22 Dec 2007 10:54:54 EST

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Particular Sights to See:Center City

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 21:51:50 EST

Taxi drivers tell tourists that Center City is a "shining city on a hill". During the Industrial Era, the city almost urbanized out to the county line, and then retreated. Right now, the urban center is surrounded by a semi-deserted ring of former factories.

Japan and Philadelphia

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 12:48:39 EST

Philadelphia and Japan have had a special friendship for 150 years.

Touring Philadelphia's Western Regions

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 12:44:50 EST

Philadelpia County had two hundred farms in 1950, but is now thickly settled in all directions. Western regions along the Schuylkill are still spread out somewhat; with many historic estates.

Quakers: William Penn

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 11:20:08 EDT

Although Ben Franklin lately gets more ink, William Penn deserves at least equal rank among the most remarkable men who ever lived.

Fanny Kemble

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 10:47:12 EDT

Fanny Kemble was more than the toast of the town, she was the most glamorous woman in the English speaking world. But far beyond that, she was a famous author, Shakespearean scholar, and had a major influence on the Civil War.

The Phillies: A History of Disapointment

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:56:30 EDT

Despite Hall-of-Famers, 1 World Series and Five national Pennants, the Phillies remains the team with the most losses of any team in Major League Sport

Silence Connotes Assent: Only To Quakers

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 11:22:43 EDT

Quakers seek consensus, but try not to be intimidated by it. You get a lot accomplished at a meeting where agreement is assumed unless disagreement is voiced.

Lawn Tennis at the Cricket Club

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 17:53:14 EDT

Lawn tennis is slightly older than tennis on clay courts, but it's harder to maintain grass than other surfaces, so it's less common.

Victor Rambo, Indian Eye Surgeon

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 17:47:59 EDT

A twelfth-generation Philadelphian devoted his life to restoring eyesight to thousands of poor people in India.

Urban Bridges

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 17:13:00 EDT

The Episcopal Church has found a practical way for its prosperous suburban branches to form partnerships with struggling urban parishes.

Acorn Club of Philadelphia

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:05:46 EDT

The Acorn Club is the oldest club for women in the United States. Men are welcome, but they come in through the side door on the neighboring alley.

Funny Toes: A Physician Viewpoint

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 17:34:17 EDT

Most people either ignore funny toes, or hide them in their shoes. Here's one doctor's idle thoughts about them.

Military School

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 06:43:21 EDT

Valley Forge Military Academy takes rambunctious boys and makes them into leaders. Even some of the misfits and dropouts seem to benefit from the difficult experience.

SCUBA Tours of the Andrea Doria

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 19:55:15 EDT

The Stockholm collided with the Andrea Doria and sank her in 1956 in 250 feet of water. Lots of weekend visitors still wander around inside the ship.

Rise and Fall of Books

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 19:51:15 EDT

The Director of America's first library sees books as mainly a 19th Century phenomenon.

Authors, Writers, Poets, Reporters and Publishers in Laurel Hill

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 19:50:16 EDT

Authors, Writers, Poets, Reporters and Publishers in Laurel Hill. Naturally, lots of other people are buried there, too.

Burlington County, NJ

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 19:43:02 EDT

Burlington County in New Jersey is on the move. This rural county puts the urban ones to shame.

Germantown Avenue, One End to the Other

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 19:39:43 EDT

An old Indian trail cuts diagonally across Penn's street grid, from the Delaware River, to Chestnut Hill, and beyond. Lots of history, there.

Dog Days

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 19:26:50 EDT

Hunting rabbits with a pack of French hounds scarcely sounds like a matter to agitate the Pennsylvania Legislature and its Governor, so maybe something else is afoot.

Chester: To the Dark Tower

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 19:17:14 EDT

The ancient town of Chester struggles to revive.

Furniture for the Horse Country

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 18:58:55 EDT

Fine art is generally the product of rich people demanding something special from a nearby artisan community. Furniture making in Chester County is sort of like that.

Quilts, Patchwork Style

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 18:51:19 EDT

Although quilting can be found in the tombs of ancient Egypt, American farm women are correct that they invented an art form.

The University Museum: Frozen in Concrete

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 18:49:39 EDT

Archaeology has long been at the center of Philadelphia culture. The University Museum of Archaeology, the largest of its kind in America. is a victim of success, stranded in a congested and overbuilt corner of town.

Sacred Places at Risk

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 18:27:06 EDT

Church structures don't migrate, but church members do. A volunteer organization in Philadelphia has formed, to help endangered congregations decide how to review their options and act on the best choice.

Pennsbury Manor

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 17:53:52 EDT

The Delaware River takes an abrupt right turn at Trenton, creating extensive wetlands for miles around. Whatever its environmental drawbacks, the river delta is moving toward landfill and "development". Come back in fifteen years and be amazed.

Perth Amboy Revisited

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 17:45:25 EDT

Perth Amboy was once the capital of New Jersey, and the scene of General Howe's invasion of the rebellious colonies. Except for one old building, you might never guess.

Armonica, Momentarily Mesmerizing

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 17:41:47 EDT

The armonica was a musical instrument invented by Ben Franklin, who else. Beethoven and Mozart wrote music for it. It made people sick and may even have killed someone.

Venturi's Franklin Museum in Franklin Court

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 17:36:16 EDT

For several decades there has been a splendid museum of Franklin's personal life, hidden within the famous block where he once lived. Children love it.

Friends of Boyd

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 17:31:20 EDT

The last movie palace in Philadelphia is either ready for restoration, or the wrecking ball.

Eakins and Doctors

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 17:23:19 EDT

Philadelphia's art world joined its medical world in reacting fiercely to Jefferson Medical College's sale of the best painting by the best artist of Philadelphia's Nineteenth century.

Urban Termites

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 17:05:44 EDT

Slums are occasionally created deliberately ... when skyscrapers are conceived, the neighborhood must change, even if it's a nice neighborhood.

Slum Creation and Urban Sprawl

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 16:55:04 EDT

Suburban sprawl leads to urban home abandonment. Nobody likes the process, but varying factors continue to promote it.

Charles Peterson and Amity Buttons

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 16:43:24 EDT

Most of our really historic buildings have an ivory button nailed to the newell post, and there is only word of mouth to explain why. America's most famous preservation architect tried very hard to document some proof but couldn't.

Henry George, Single Tax

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 16:40:38 EDT

The Henry George idea of a single tax still lives on in a school run in his old house on Eleventh Street.

Christ Church and Elfreths Alley

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 16:32:16 EDT

Two of our oldest and most charming tourist attractions are just across the street from each other.

Harriton House

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 16:08:08 EDT

The original house in the old Welsh barony gave its name to Bryn Mawr, and once was the home of the secretary of the Continental Congress.

Highway Beautification

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 15:55:41 EDT

When American tourists notice this, they are very smug.

Perpetual?

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 15:34:48 EDT

If you get careless with your words, you may have to renounce them. The Articles of Confederation were stated to be perpetual, so maybe the Constitution is impertinent.

Securitized Debt: Fumbled, But Magnificent

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 00:25:47 EDT

Forget about subprime lending, Alt-A, and all that other crooked nonsense. Securitized debt remains one of the great inventions of modern times.

Merrill Lynch Illuminates the Mortgage Crisis

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 22:07:51 EDT

John Thain seems to have bitten the bullet at Merrill Lynch, illuminating one piece of the puzzle of our current crisis. But it's probably only one piece.

After a Year of Crisis, Fannie and Freddy Finally Get the Spotlight

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 18:40:52 EDT

Fannie Fannie Mae and Wall Street's chancy new CDOs are much the same thing, only with different sponsors and a few modified features. Important issues are: which model is better, whether continued competition between the two is useful, or whether both should be abolished.

Securitization: Pass the Hot Potato

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 17:37:57 EDT

Securitization of home mortgages is a generally good thing, but it has one major flaw. Unless we somehow fix it, it will fix us.

(2) How Should We Reform Real Estate Finance?

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 11:57:05 EDT

When the ship springs a leak, patch the leak. When the storm subsides, fix the hole. When you get back to port, ask why you were ever at sea.

George Washington Defends Philadelphia (2)

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 10:58:01 EDT

On a chessboard of geography, the generals must deploy their armies, and anticipate what the other army might do.

Broad Street North and South

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 10:52:55 EDT

Broad Street in Philadelphia stretches due north from the old Nary Yard on the Delaware River, past City Hall in the center of town, to the northern edge of the city at Elkins Park. Further North of the City Route 611 continues straight on through Doylestown to Easton, where it rejoins the Delaware River.

The Origins of Haddonfield

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 10:22:43 EDT

Haddonfield was founded by a 19 year-old Quaker girl in 1701, when it was still a fairly dangerous place to walk around. She has over 140 direct descendants, and forty of them still live in the town. Some famous scenes from the Revolutionary War took place here.

CEO of the World

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 10:21:41 EDT

The State Department must change, because the world has.

The Missouri Compromise

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 10:10:37 EDT

Pennsylvania's contribution to this bargain between the slave-holding South and abolitionist North was that William Bingham owned much of what was to become the state of Maine. That gave the free states two new senators to balance two slave-holding senators for Missouri.

America in 1767

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 10:09:02 EDT

Baron de Kalb was a spy for France in 1767, correctly predicting that growing American strength would create opportunities for France to make trouble for England, there.

Meschianza

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 10:06:53 EDT

With two hundred years of embellishment, the story of the big party the British Army gave for Philadelphia as a goodbye present, lives on and on. For any ambitious hostess, this is still the party to equal, although neither the Quakers nor the patriots thought very highly of it.

Comic Interlude At Moland House

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 10:04:21 EDT

Washington, LaFayette, and twenty-seven other famous heros of the Revolution spent a week in this Bucks County farmhouse, waiting for the British to make a move. Washington had a bottle of Madeira every day for lunch, but Mrs. Moland made him sleep on the floor, and pay for cleaning up when they left.

The Final Capture of Philadelphia (6)

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 10:00:26 EDT

The British fleet dropped General Howe off at the head of the Chesapeake, planning to rejoin and resupply him by coming up the Delaware. But for six weeks the British couldn't subdue Forts Mifflin and Mercer, either by land or by sea, and had a close call before they finally did.

Philadelphia Gardens

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:54:45 EDT

Philadelphia loves its gardens, particularly boxwood and azalea.

Sullivan's March

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:51:31 EDT

With Washington beleaguered at Valley Forge, an Indian massacre of the nearby Wyoming Valley was a serious threat from the rear. General Sullivan was sent to exterminate the Iroquois, and proved utterly ruthless.

Defeat and Disaster: Philadelphia Falls to the Enemy

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:42:11 EDT

Howe was to take New York (and Philadelphia if there was opportunity) and then go up the Hudson to join an army under Burgoyne, which was coming down from Quebec. Howe, who was related to the King, decided on his own to take Philadelphia and leave Burgoyne to his own devices. The plan was too ambitious, and although he conquered the enemy capital, he lost his war.

The Battle of Germantown: Oct. 3, 1777

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:39:57 EDT

As long as the Delaware River was blocked at Fort Mifflin, the British army may have won the Battle of the Brandywine, but it still had no supplies from the British fleet and was adrift in enemy territory. Washington thought there was still a chance to save Philadelphia, and attacked Howe

Medical Generation Gap

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:43:29 EDT

Under a new rule, hospitals are forbidden to let house doctors work more than an 80 hour week. It is the cause of violent social uproar.

Mister Roberts

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:42:43 EDT

Franklin Roosevelt threatened to keep adding Supreme Court justices until he got a majority to agree with him. And then one vote switched; a Switch in Time, which saved nine. Owen Roberts of Philadelphia did the switching.

Show Biz Image: Hepburn, Rogers, Kelly

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:40:14 EDT

Hollywood presented a distorted image of our upper class, but presented it so forcefully that Philadelphia is now somewhat like that.

Paul Robeson 1898-1976

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:38:34 EDT

Valedictorian, All-American footballer, law degree, outstanding baritone, actor, film star, political activist -- Robeson rose to the top in the 1930s when by default he was always a pioneer. As a student, for example, he was the only black person on campus at Rutgers. His understandable resentments and show-biz surroundings propelled him into leftist activism. Mental infirmity and McCarthyism then brought him down.

Paying Bills Electronically

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:37:19 EDT

Here are four suggestions for improving electronic bill paying.

Benjamin Franklin Parkway (1)

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:31:53 EDT

The slash of a diagonal boulevard across Philadelphia's rectangular street pattern took a long time to heal. But if traffic remains reasonable, it's becoming a museum paradise.

Elizabethan Accents in Philadelphia

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:31:08 EDT

In the birthplace of American independence, there's still a lot of Olde English buried in the speech patterns.

Bristol, PA

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:28:44 EDT

Bristol is at a narrow point of the river, long the main crossing point for New York-to-Philadelphia traffic. William Penn placed his mansion nearby and for decades Bristol was a flourishing social center. The Pennsylvania Railroad cut it off, just as it cut off New Castle, Delaware, and both towns are now essentially museums.

The Revolutionary Origins of The Methodist Church

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:23:55 EDT

The Wesley brothers converted so many Americans to the Anglican church, they couldn't ordain enough ministers. Reluctantly, Americans were allowed to ordain their own ministers. When the Revolution was over, they had drifted into a new Protestant denomination.

MySQL server has gone away

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:16:11 EDT

What to do when your MySQL connection is timing out for no apparently good reason, all of a sudden.

Parsing name-value pair attributes in an HTML tag

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:10:53 EDT

Regexp HTML Attribute Parsing: Pulling out the value of numerous attributes in an HTML tag is a mind bender

(1) How Should We Reform Real Estate Finance?

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:24:13 EDT

Of course, first comes damage control. Soon afterwards, any crisis presents a political opportunity to reform -- or, to make matters much worse.

Turtles and Bananas

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 12:16:24 EDT

Snapper soup can be made from snapping turtles, but the historical source of the ingredients has been shipped from the Caribbean.

Bank s: Fragile and Dangerous

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 23:44:10 EDT

Any business can fail, but when banks fail there can be a panic. Every decade or so, America has a bank panic.

A Single International Currency?

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 16:26:36 EDT

Half the world cheats, the other half grumbles, when American dollars become a reserve currency for the rest of the world. It will be a long time before the world has a single unified currency, and it may not be desirable.

A Keg Tapped at Both Ends (2)

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 16:26:22 EDT

The New Jersey legislature began by ratifying the Declaration of Independence in Haddonfield, then moved to Trenton and concerned itself with debts, then with railroads, then corporations, and now -- with debts, again.

A Prophet In Our Valley

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 12:59:34 EDT

John Bogle invented the index fund. Lower cost, better performance.

27 Million Tons of Gunk

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 10:43:57 EDT

Philadelphia wants to dredge the Delaware to help our port, but New Jersey resists because of political pressure from New York harbor, which dominates the New Jersey Legislature.

2008

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 10:43:49 EDT

1793: Germantown Nurses the Yellow Fever

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 10:40:05 EDT

Refugees from Haiti slave revolts brought Yellow Fever to south Philadelphia.

Africa Comes to the Schuylkill

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:39:49 EDT

African oil, refined in Philadelphia, supplies 2/3 of the gasoline on the East Coast.

Fair Mount

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:03:53 EDT

Philadelphia's acropolis is Faire Mount, where the Art Museum marks the entrance to Fairmount Park. Stretching beyond is Boathouse Row and its rowing races. When the azaleas are in bloom, it's the match of any place in the world.

Blackball

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:50:49 EDT

To blackball someone has nothing to do with billiards. At one time, most Philadelphia social clubs required unanimous agreement for the admission of a new member. There actually was a wooden box into which voting members dropped either a white ball or a black one.

Easy Ride: Perth Amboy to Trenton

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 10:19:42 EDT

The British Army romped down the narrow waist of New Jersey, from New Brunswick to Trenton. But it's not safe to go too fast too far into enemy territory.

The Schools of School House Lane

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:34:16 EDT

Exclusive privates schools and colleges are usually to be found in isolated rural settings. But our oldest, best, and most famous schools are clustered together in a neighborhood that is far from exclusive.

Betsy Ross on Hard Times

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:33:32 EDT

The famous Revolutionary seamstress lived long into the 19th Century, apparently outliving her savings. A useful tale, perhaps, for Social Security reform.