How appropriate to launch the Philadelphia Metroblogging site on the same weekend that saw the birth of our nation lo’ those many years ago. They say the Declaration was signed on a sunny but cool day. On July 4th, in Philadelphia? Who are they kiddin’?

Hopefully, everyone involved with Live 8 will be as lucky with the weather this Saturday. Personally, I’ll be nowhere near the event. Seeing Stevie Wonder would be way cool, but I can’t imagine what the crowds and the heat will be like. Not to mention that, besides Stevie, the rest of our line-up, um, sux. Sux bad. I’m disappointed. Philadelphia can throw a good party and I was really hoping for something more special out of Live 8.

I don’t want to get off on a rant about how Philadelphia is like the popular child actor that couldn’t make the transition to adult success — I’ll save that for later. Philadelphia is a great city and there’s a lot to talk about, both good and bad. I’m sure our city’s new bloggers will never be at a loss for subject matter.

Like Philadelphia radio, for instance. Who misses Y100? More from me on that, later.

*waving hello* as another face from the Philly Metroblogging Crew (can I call us the PMC henceforth? can I? huh huh huh?) steps up for an initial post.

Previous posts have already indicated how Live8 awareness has infected the entire region. I’ve posted on my own blog about that event, but as I turn my attention here, I’ve got something else on my mind:

The Welcome America folks must be going to bed each night cursing Bob Geldof’s name.
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Since we all know and love the Metro for their, ahem, exemplary journalistic ventures, I’ll just go ahead and give them full credit for this entry.

Being a die-hard SEPTA fan and a lover of the living wage (maybe because I’m attempting to actually earn it?), I rejoiced to see that the city has hiked cab fare again! It’s actually the first time in 14 years that such a move has occured, but I’m settling in for the usual bitching and moaning from the “jet set” crowd, since, you know, SEPTA isn’t good enough for them. According to el Metro, the PPA is raising fares 18.2%, which makes us the 9th highest among 20 major cities. (Which other cities are on the list?)

According to Jim Ney, director of the Authority’s taxi and limo division, they are honoring the request to keep fares stable until after Live 8 because “It would send the wrong message to visitors coming to enjoy the holiday weekend.” So thanks, tourists! You’ll keep our cab fares cheaper for another few days; the hike is supposed to happen on July 5.

And for those who have not yet discovered the joy of the R1 Airport line, the new airport flat rate is now $25 instead of just $20. Yeehaw. (R1 is still holding at $5.50 a ride, according to SEPTA.)

More reading: Inquirer @ Philly.com

So here we are, at long last, the Philly metblog. We’re a good town, and I think we’ll be a good blog. I admit to having some first-post jitters (akin to that feeling in your stomach the night before you get on an airplane) but I’m trying to dissipate them through mindless rambling. I think its working.

There’s some fun stuff coming up in the next week in the City of Brotherly Love. An estimated 1 million people will be gathering on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on July 2nd for Live 8 (which others before me have mentioned). Since I live in the “no drive zone” that the city has established for the event, I have two choices.
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That’s what it is backwards, you know. I don’t know if it means anything. I’m just pointing that out.

I’m one of the few people you’re not gonna catch at the concert. Years ago when all the celebrity actors read the declaration of independence (or was that the constitution? i can never remember) I had the damndest time parking, and I enjoyed mobs of locals, and spent more time trying to stand comfortably among the crowd than focus on the celebrity actors giving their reading.

I guarantee a similar experience if I go to Live 8. I mean, sure, BJ’s there, Will’s there, Dave’s there . . . but I don’t wanna spend an hour parking, another hour fighting crowds, just to sit down and listen to

Maroon 5

I’m better off going to see Ike at World Cafe Live.

Scratch that . . . they just cancelled the show for Live 8.

Live 8 is ruining my life.

Better idea. Since everyone will be at this concert, drooling over Linkin Park, who I can’t stand, and Rob Thomas — the man, the myth, the yougettheidea — I’ll break into apartments and steal stuff.

That’s actually not too far from the truth. Kevin V’s hanging out in a foreign country. he even applied for dual citizenship. I need to get all his website and design books and mail them to him, and take all of his sneakers to our parents’ house. And maybe I’ll appropriate his 20″ flatscreen monitor while I’m there. Not like he’s gonna need it in his foreign country. I can also take all his DVDs so I got something to watch when I get home from the Live8 concert. Like I’d actually wanna see the Kaiser Chiefs or Sarah M

Sarah McLachlan is playing at Live 8?

How come no one told me?! This changes everything! Um . . . I guess I’ll see you guys at Live 8, then . . .
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The innaugural posting to Philly’s new Metroblog, how exciting. Philly’s a kick ass town, and there is definitely plenty to write about.

The 4th of July is coming up, and Live 8 is the big event. This is the first time in years that I have heard almost NOTHING about the usual Welcome America Celebration that Philly hosts.
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