Thanks

Lots to be thankful for this year. Started the day hunting pheasant with Patrick at Lake Nockamixon. Didn't see anything, but weather was warm with great light. Rain came suddenly, but we were just about finished. Of course the real reward is spending quality time with my son. Stopped hunting when Patrick was born and really never missed it, until this year when I started hunting with him, and then I remembered all the good times I had with my Grandfather and Brother.
Had dinner with family at my Grandmother's house. Also celebrated Patrick's 14th Birthday. One of the gifts I gave Patrick was his own spot on the Web, patrickawilliams.com. He's not real sure what to do with it, but I think after I get him started and show him how change the page he'll enjoy it.

Hot Spot Journalism

What is Hot Spot Journalism? This project will take me to Wi-Fi Hot Spots around Philadelphia, where I will post a photo and write a few words. I love the idea of free Wi-Fi around Philadelphia and it is the one Mayor Street initiative that I can fully support, and the one thing that I don't mind paying taxes to support. Of course there are detractors to this idea. Read recent coverage.
11/24 - Consumer Watch | Phila.'s plan for Wi-Fi access deserves a chance
11/23 - Lobbyists Try to Kill Philly Wireless Plan
11/23 - Telecoms lobbyists push to quash Philly's muni wireless plan
11/20 - Bill's passage may not hurt Phila.'s 'Wi-Fi' plans
11/20 - Lawmakers OK wireless bill
11/19 - City 'Wi-Fi' plan hinges on Pa. Senate debate
Lots of articles to read, I know, but they do provide some background on this issue and some of the give and take involved. Let's see how convicted the Mayor and Governor are to this idea, or as I suspect, is it all lip service designed to get companies such as Verizon, to pay up.
So far the following locations are supposed to offer free Wi-Fi.
- Love Park, 15th and JFK Blvd
- Ben Franklin Parkway, Love Park to Boat House Row
- Reading Terminal Market, 12th and Arch Streets
- Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch Street
- South Street District, 2nd and Pine Streets
You can see from a previous post that I was successful from Love Park. I was not able to connect from Reading Terminal Market, but will try again. Stay tuned as I visit and report from the other locations.

Love Park

Here I am posting from Love Park in Philadelphia. See I had a few spare moments and I thought I would test the theroy that Philadelphia wants to become the WiFi capital of World. Well at least the largest city that offers WiFi access. This is actually something that I can get behind, something that I actually wouldn't mind paying my taxes to support. And since I am posting to this blog while looking right at City Hall, it appears to be working. I read in the Inquirer on Friday about Philadelphia's effort to make this happen and they mentioned the hot spots around the City. One spot mentioned was Rittenhouse Square (a much nicer location that Love Park, by the way). Well I can report that like much published by the Inquirer, they were wrong, and you can not access the Web from Rittenhouse Square. I just tried it.
Well maybe next time I have a few moments I'll try a few of the other Hot Spots around the city, but next time I'll wear my mittens. Can you type with mittens on?

I'm back

This is the problem with blogs and blogging. What's that you ask? Well the fact that it has been over one month since my last post. And there really isn't any excuse except the fact that I have been incredibly busy and feeling very overwhelmed.

This is not a problem that my friend Jodi has. In fact, the time I spend reading her blog should be spent writing my own.

Maybe someday.