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HitchBOT Hijacked In Philadelphia

Posted on August 3, 2015August 3, 2015 by admin

PHILADELPHIA, PA — HitchBOT is… was a hitchhiking robot from Port Credit, Ontario. HitchBOT traveled over 10,000 km in Canada from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Victoria, British Columbia. “We want to see what people do with this kind of technology when we leave it up to them,” Frauke Zeller, one of the creators and an assistant professor in professional communication at Toronto’s Ryerson University, told the AP. “It’s an art project in the wild — it invites people to participate.”

But, after only two weeks traveling in the USA, HitchBOT was vandalized and destroyed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The HitchBOT team has issued a statement:

Oh dear, my body was damaged, but I live on back home and with all my friends. I guess sometimes bad things happen to good robots! My trip must come to an end for now, but my love for humans will never fade. Thank you to all my friends.

A message from the family:

hitchBOT’s trip came to an end last night in Philadelphia after having spent a little over two weeks hitchhiking and visiting sites in Boston, Salem, Gloucester, Marblehead, and New York City. Unfortunately, hitchBOT was vandalized overnight in Philadelphia; sometimes bad things happen to good robots. We know that many of hitchBOT’s fans will be disappointed, but we want them to be assured that this great experiment is not over. For now we will focus on the question “what can be learned from this?” and explore future adventures for robots and humans.

We have no interest in pressing charges or finding the people who vandalized hitchBOT; we wish to remember the good times, and we encourage hitchBOT’s friends and fans to do the same.

Warming: Philadelphia Hold Your Breath

Posted on July 19, 2015July 20, 2015 by admin

By Daniel Brouse

Do Not Breath in Philly on This Day / NOTE: Graphics are from the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency of the United States of America)

Many days in the Philadelphia region are not good for breathing. On “Ozone Action Alert Days” you are advised to avoid activity outside. Children should not play outdoors. Avoid running and other fitness activities. Do not breathe in un-conditioned air.

View the current air quality for Philadelphia.

July 19, 2015 is one of those days:

NOTE: Graphics are from the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency of the United States of America)

Ozone is not only killing humans, it is also killing the trees.

In 2005, the EPA and NGO’s were contacted about the deforestation problem:

Dying Trees, The Membrane Domain (2009)

Bird Watching

Posted on April 8, 2015 by admin

Glen Foerd on the Delaware, the 18-acre historic estate located in Northeast Philadelphia is a public park that has long been a destination for local birders. Situated on the bank of the Delaware River, the site attracts a variety of bird from bald eagles to blue herons. Right off of the estate’s shores is a nest that is home to ospreys, a bird listed on the threatened species list by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

Glen Foerd will be celebrating their winged friends with a Feathered Fun Day in coordination with Elmwood Park Zoo and the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove. The Elmwood Park Zoo, located in Norristown is an accredited zoo by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. They maintain a collection of over 100 species with the mission of inspiring active participation in conservation. Elmwood Park Zoo will be bring their live raptors for guests to view. John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove will be bringing objects from their touch collection. Guests will be able to learn what makes each bird different and how the various types of birds have adapted to their habitats. Children’s crafts will also be available for families to enjoy.

Pricing for the event which will run from 11:00-1:00 PM is $5 per person, children under 5 are free. The day will kick off with a 9:00 am Bird Walk lead by the Delaware Ornithological Club around the grounds of Glen Foerd. Ticket pricing for the Bird Walk $5. Special joint ticket pricing of $8 will be available if you would like to attend both events.

Glen Foerd on the Delaware is the last of the grand Philadelphia riverfront estates open to the public. The estate is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Historic American Landscapes Survey. Glen Foerd connects visitors to the legacy of the estate through programs in the arts, nature and history and preserves and protects the landscape, buildings and collections for the enjoyment and enrichment of the community and future generations. Glen Foerd is a Fairmount Park property operated by the Glen Foerd Conservation Corp. in cooperation with Philadelphia Parks and Recreation and supported in part by the Philadelphia Cultural Fund.