Temple News photographer Rachel Playe took some photos of last night’s total lunar eclipse. Check them out.
See also: Wired.com’s photos from the eclipse.
Stay tuned: Total solar eclipse Aug. 1, 2008.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
B&C: TN photographer shoots the moon
A post I wrote for the Temple News blog, Broad & Cecil: TN photographer shoots the moon (02.21.2008)
B&C: The crepe truck's triumphant return
A post I wrote for the Temple News blog, Broad & Cecil: The crepe truck's triumphant return (02.21.2008)
The Temple Crepe Truck is back today after undergoing repairs yesterday and Monday. Oui love you!
Thanks to K.Mattioli for the tip.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
B&C: Hart helps to pick Phila. School District CEO
A post I wrote for the Temple News blog, Broad & Cecil: Hart helps to pick Phila. School District CEO (02.20.2008)
The Philadelphia School District’s CEO Search Advisory Committee recommended Arlene Ackerman (above) as the next CEO of the Philadelphia School District, the Philadelphia Daily News reported today. The five-person School Reform Commission, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and PA Gov. Ed Rendell had a say in the final decision.
As the Temple News reported, Hart served along with 44 other local leaders on the advisory committee in the six month search for a new CEO.
Nutter called Ackerman, “the right person for Philadelphia’s schools at the right time,” at a press conference yesterday. Ackerman’s previous experience includes leading the San Francisco and Washington, D.C. school districts.
(Photo courtesy of Philly.com)
The Philadelphia School District’s CEO Search Advisory Committee recommended Arlene Ackerman (above) as the next CEO of the Philadelphia School District, the Philadelphia Daily News reported today. The five-person School Reform Commission, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and PA Gov. Ed Rendell had a say in the final decision.As the Temple News reported, Hart served along with 44 other local leaders on the advisory committee in the six month search for a new CEO.
Nutter called Ackerman, “the right person for Philadelphia’s schools at the right time,” at a press conference yesterday. Ackerman’s previous experience includes leading the San Francisco and Washington, D.C. school districts.
(Photo courtesy of Philly.com)
B&C: Blockson collection settles in
A post I wrote for the Temple News blog, Broad & Cecil: Blockson collection settles in (02.20.2008)
The Charles L. Blockson collection is being moved to its new permanent location in Sull
ivan Hall, according to a Philadelphia Inquirer article today.
As the Temple News reported, Dr. Diane D. Turner became the permanent curator of the collection in September, 2007. The collection contains over 500,00 artifacts chronically Afrian-American history.
Blockson retired as curator in 2006, but pushed for the $475,000 rennovations to Sullivan Hall prior to leaving.
B&C: Insert obligatory 'mooning'/Total Eclipse of the Heart here
A post I wrote for the Temple News blog, Broad & Cecil: Insert obligatory 'mooning'/Total Eclipse of the Heart headline here (02.20.2008)
Tonight, between 10:01 p.m. and 10:51 p.m., a total lunar eclipse will be visible in South America, most of North America, Western Europe, Africa and Western Asia. The partial eclipse will first be visible at 8:43 p.m. and the whole thing will be over by 12:09 a.m.
There are usually two lunar eclipses a year, though a full lunar eclipse like tonight’s is much morerare. Keep an eye out for Saturn and the star Regalus, which will be visible tonight near the moon. The reflection of the moon usually drowns them out.
Predicted rain and snow in the Philadelphia area might make the eclipse tough to see, but the Franklin Institute has you covered: 
Frankline Institute: Lunar Eclipse Event
More lunar eclipse info from NASA here.
B&C: Cheeks to Stick with Sixers
A post I wrote for the Temple News blog, Broad & Cecil: Cheeks to stick with Sixers (02.20.2008)
According the the Philadelphia Daily News, Philadelphia 76ers head coach Maurice Cheeks is close to signing a contract extension. The Sixer’s new president and general manager Ed Stefanski is apparently pleased with Cheeks’ work since coming on as head coach in the 2005-2006 season. He is on the last year of his contract, which is worth about $3 million this year.
According the the Philadelphia Daily News, Philadelphia 76ers head coach Maurice Cheeks is close to signing a contract extension. The Sixer’s new president and general manager Ed Stefanski is apparently pleased with Cheeks’ work since coming on as head coach in the 2005-2006 season. He is on the last year of his contract, which is worth about $3 million this year.
B&C: Philadelphia is the nation's fifth most miserable city
A post I wrote for the Temple News blog, Broad & Cecil: Philadelphia is the nation's fifth most miserable city (02.13.2008)
A recent Forbes.com article has ranked Philadelphia as America’s fifth most miserable city.
The ranking looks at cities’ unemployment, tax rates, commute time, weather, crime, and toxic waste locations.
Philadelphia’s downfalls were commute times, violent crimes, and toxic waste locations. It ranked in the top 20 in each of those categories.
The rest of the top five most miserable cities: Detroit, Mich, Stockton, Calif., Flint, Mich. and New York, NY.
B&C: Genneration Y wants more perks at work
A post I wrote for the Temple News blog, Broad & Cecil: Generation Y wants more perks at work (02.07.2008)
According to a recent survey conducted by Careerbuilder.com and Harris Interactive, “Generation Y” employees (people born between 1980 and 1995) have a “exhibit a sense of entitlement that older generations don’t.”
The study said that younger employees better pay, flexible hours and company-provided cell phones.
Members of Generation Y, the lamest of all generation names, cite unpaid internships and high education costs are justification for demanding more time off and higher pay.
Apparently, some employers are going for it. 57 percent of employers allowed for more flexible work schedules and 33 percent created additional recognition programs. Employers cited growing Web 2.0 trends like Myspace and Youtube as a big reason to appease these snobby young employees.
Illustration by Mike Korostelev
According to a recent survey conducted by Careerbuilder.com and Harris Interactive, “Generation Y” employees (people born between 1980 and 1995) have a “exhibit a sense of entitlement that older generations don’t.”The study said that younger employees better pay, flexible hours and company-provided cell phones.
Members of Generation Y, the lamest of all generation names, cite unpaid internships and high education costs are justification for demanding more time off and higher pay.
Apparently, some employers are going for it. 57 percent of employers allowed for more flexible work schedules and 33 percent created additional recognition programs. Employers cited growing Web 2.0 trends like Myspace and Youtube as a big reason to appease these snobby young employees.
Illustration by Mike Korostelev
B&C: Bill Cosby to lay it down
A post I wrote for the Temple News blog, Broad & Cecil: Bill Cosby to lay it down (2.6.2008)
Temple’s favorite alumni and Board of Trustees member Bill Cosby is planning to release a hip-hop album titled State of Emergency, according to AllHipHop.com. Cosby, 70, has spoken out against vulgar rap music in the past, but his album is reportedly clean and issue oriented.
This album will be the Cos’ 35th to date.
This album will be the Cos’ 35th to date.
B&C: Temple gets $5 million in anonymous cash
A blog post I wrote for the Temple News blog, Broad & Cecil: Temple gets $5 million in anonymous cash (2.6.2008)
According to a Daily News article, Temple received two cashiers checks totalling $5 million dollars last Thursday. The checks, delivered in ordinary envelopes, were signed by cashiers at a Wells Fargo bank in Arizona.
One check was for $1 million and was intended for “general use” and the other was for $4 million to go towards scholarships for women and minority students. These instructions came in letters along with the checks.
Temple representatives said they may never know who the donor is, but confirmed that the checks are legit.
According to a Daily News article, Temple received two cashiers checks totalling $5 million dollars last Thursday. The checks, delivered in ordinary envelopes, were signed by cashiers at a Wells Fargo bank in Arizona.
One check was for $1 million and was intended for “general use” and the other was for $4 million to go towards scholarships for women and minority students. These instructions came in letters along with the checks.
Temple representatives said they may never know who the donor is, but confirmed that the checks are legit.
B&C: Temple boathouse gets shut down by city
A post I wrote for the Temple News blog, Broad & Cecil: Temple boathouse gets shut down by city (1.29.2008)
Temple University received a notice late last Friday that the city’s Licenses and Inspections Dept. had sealed the East Park Canoe House, located on Kelly Drive at the Strawberry Mansion Bridge. The Temple men’s and women’s crew team, along with three local high schools, store their equipment in the house.
The notice cited building code violations. Assistant Director of Athletics Larry Dougherty said that Temple had no prior notice that the closing was happening. Temple staff, along with members of La Salle, Father Judge, and North Catholic high schools, have until Feb. 15 to remove equipment. Students are not allowed to enter the house. Dougherty said that the notice most likely was in reference to the damage on the exterior of the building, adding that Temple does not own the house.
“We haven’t seen the documentation. There is exterior damage to the building that can always affect the interior. We are tenants, the building is owned by the city,” he said.
A meeting between team representatives and the Fairmount Park Commission has been scheduled for Thursday, where a temporary storage solution will hopefully be determined.
“The rowing community has reached out to all of the schools to see where they can assist. We have been grateful for our neighbors who have reached out to both Temple and the high schools affected,” Dougherty said
Temple University received a notice late last Friday that the city’s Licenses and Inspections Dept. had sealed the East Park Canoe House, located on Kelly Drive at the Strawberry Mansion Bridge. The Temple men’s and women’s crew team, along with three local high schools, store their equipment in the house.
The notice cited building code violations. Assistant Director of Athletics Larry Dougherty said that Temple had no prior notice that the closing was happening. Temple staff, along with members of La Salle, Father Judge, and North Catholic high schools, have until Feb. 15 to remove equipment. Students are not allowed to enter the house. Dougherty said that the notice most likely was in reference to the damage on the exterior of the building, adding that Temple does not own the house.
“We haven’t seen the documentation. There is exterior damage to the building that can always affect the interior. We are tenants, the building is owned by the city,” he said.
A meeting between team representatives and the Fairmount Park Commission has been scheduled for Thursday, where a temporary storage solution will hopefully be determined.
“The rowing community has reached out to all of the schools to see where they can assist. We have been grateful for our neighbors who have reached out to both Temple and the high schools affected,” Dougherty said
B&C: Chimps are smarter than you are
A post I wrote for the Temple News blog, Broad & Cecil: Chimps are smarter than you are (12.05.2005)
A recent study at Kyoto University found that chimpanzees have a better short term memory than the college students they were pitted against in remembering a series of numbers from one to nine.
The study found that the chimps were no more accurate than the college students, but could select the correct order faster. One young chimp named Ayumu performed exceptionally well and was included in further tests. The college kids couldn’t even keep up after six months of training.
Apparently humans, and chimpanzees, lose the skills required for the test with age, so the next step is to see how the apes compete against younger humans.
A recent study at Kyoto University found that chimpanzees have a better short term memory than the college students they were pitted against in remembering a series of numbers from one to nine.
The study found that the chimps were no more accurate than the college students, but could select the correct order faster. One young chimp named Ayumu performed exceptionally well and was included in further tests. The college kids couldn’t even keep up after six months of training.
Apparently humans, and chimpanzees, lose the skills required for the test with age, so the next step is to see how the apes compete against younger humans.
B&C: Ron Paul does Philly.
I covered Ron Paul's Philadelphia rally in November 2007. Temple News photographer Rachel Playe also attended the event and created a photo slideshow. You can view the blog post, article, and slideshow here.
Clips and Stories
Below is a list of my clips from my various positions in journalism, which you can see on my resume here. I am always looking for freelancing opprotunities and chances to write about new issues and topics. Please feel free to contact me.
Philadelphia Daily News (c/o Philly.com):
Drug bust leads to a fighting menagerie
Two Middle East views, one hope: Peace
South Street Bridge: A storied span
Detours, detours: Community wants a better bridge
There's a frenzy at the Zoo, and everyone's hoppy about it
Another Center City Wawa bites the dust
Nutter weathers 1st snowstorm as mayor
Black History Month: Thinkers of the Past and Future
Phila. homicide hiatus gives way to 3 murders
The cops shutter Rosa Photo & an era ends
Suspect sought in 'cowardly' slay
The Temple News (c/o Temple-News.com):
Kahlo-culture comes to PMA
Ron Paul does Philly
On the road, she works to open minds
A friendly exchange of words
Former IH professor vying for vacant City Council seat
Assaults worry community
Renumbering could ease registration
Rules change at Anderson Food Court
Mayoral candidate makes campaign stop here
Law professor runs for U.S. Senate seat, wants to strike ‘lightning’ in Washington
Campus PNC Bank expanding
Podcasting available in every classroom
Cosby to speak at 2007 High Point grad
Philadelphia Daily News (c/o Philly.com):
Drug bust leads to a fighting menagerie
Two Middle East views, one hope: Peace
South Street Bridge: A storied span
Detours, detours: Community wants a better bridge
There's a frenzy at the Zoo, and everyone's hoppy about it
Another Center City Wawa bites the dust
Nutter weathers 1st snowstorm as mayor
Black History Month: Thinkers of the Past and Future
Phila. homicide hiatus gives way to 3 murders
The cops shutter Rosa Photo & an era ends
Suspect sought in 'cowardly' slay
The Temple News (c/o Temple-News.com):
Kahlo-culture comes to PMA
Ron Paul does Philly
On the road, she works to open minds
A friendly exchange of words
Former IH professor vying for vacant City Council seat
Assaults worry community
Renumbering could ease registration
Rules change at Anderson Food Court
Mayoral candidate makes campaign stop here
Law professor runs for U.S. Senate seat, wants to strike ‘lightning’ in Washington
Campus PNC Bank expanding
Podcasting available in every classroom
Cosby to speak at 2007 High Point grad
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Resume
Alex Irwin
Philadelphia, PA
a.irwin@temple.edu
Education
Fall 2004- Present, Temple University student majoring in Communications
∙ Expected Graduation: May 2008
∙ GPA: 3.80
∙ University Honors student
∙ Law Scholars program
Internships
Spring 2008, The
∙ Only Communications major to intern with PDN
∙ Research and write articles on Philadelphia issues
∙ Collaborate with editors and other reporters
Summer 2007, Philadelphia Magazine Circulation Dept. (Circulation: 160,000)
∙ Prepared report analyzing issue covers and their effect on sales
∙ Worked at several promotional events including Manayunk Arts Fest
∙ Distributed archive issues and researched past articles
Spring 2004, PA State Representative Thomas Creighton, 37th District
∙ Worked with constituents and other aides in legislative tasks
∙ Drafted a resolution focusing on the 10th Amendment that was unanimously passed
Work Experience
Fall 2007, Philadelphia Magazine Design Home
∙ Hired after summer internship with Philadelphia Magazine
∙ Registered visitors and assisted with information about the project
Fall 2007- Present, News Editor for The Temple News (Circulation: 10,000)
∙ Find and assign stories
∙ Serve on editorial board and write op-ed pieces
∙ Copy-edit stories, write headlines and assist designer with page layout
∙ Manage writers and work with other members of staff
Spring 2006- Fall 2007, Staff Writer for The Temple News
Summer 2002- Fall 2006, Pharmacy Technician at CVS/Pharmacy
Other Skills
∙ Proficient in Microsoft Office suite
∙ Practical knowledge of Quark Express, InDesign and Adobe Photoshop
∙ Play in multiple bands and play shows throughout Philadelphia
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