Wanderlust

Wish I was here: Paris at night

Cleanin' and Greenin' in Philly

This morning's reading turned up some good news in Philadelphia. Other cities, take heed.

A study published this week focused on more than 4,000 vacant city lots that have been cleaned up and planted with grass and trees under the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's Vacant Land Stabilization Program. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found there were fewer gun crimes in neighborhoods where lots had been "cleaned and greened." Some residents also reported experiencing less stress and exercising more.

Among its many progressive programs is the community garden and city harvest efforts.

There are more than 400 community gardens in Philadelphia, each one an oasis. Besides being attractive, these serene spaces promote health and nutrition, improve local economies, and allow neighbors to come together for a common interest.

(How cute are these lil' peppers?)

Philly is such a magnanimous city, full of warmth and fight. There's a reason they call it the City of Brotherly Love, right?

Insatiable

Shocker: Fox should be called Sheep

Talking Points Memo reports that Fox News viewers are less informed than those who read NO news at all.

“The (poll’s) results show us that there is something about watching Fox News that leads people to do worse on these questions than those who don’t watch any news at all,” said Dan Cassino, a political science professor at Fairleigh Dickinson and an analyst for the poll.

Read on and laugh (or cry - both are appropriate)...