City panel rules on “Speak English” sign: No hay problema

by Aaron Hotfelder on

A couple months ago, Abha brought you the story of a famous cheesesteak shop in Philadelphia which featured a sign that said, “This is America: When Ordering Please Speak English.” Interest in that post was, shall we say, robust, generating almost 600 comments.

Now, a Philadelphia city panel has ruled that the sign posted by the owner of Geno’s, Joe Vento, was not discriminatory. According to MSNBC, “Commissioners Roxanne E. Covington and Burt Siegel voted to dismiss the complaint, finding that the sign does not communicate that business will be ‘refused, withheld or denied.'”

Critics of the sign say that it discouraged certain groups of people from eating at Geno’s, as the sign was posted directly above another sign stating, “Management Reserves the Right to Refuse Service.”

But Vento said that the sign was never meant to be offensive, and that he never refused serving anyone who couldn’t speak English. Though he doesn’t deny that, occasionally, his non-English speaking customers would “accidentally” get the wrong order.

Said the triumphant shop owner: “I always believed in my heart I was going to win from the giddyup.”

More here.

Can the Irish save Tara?

by Catherine Bodry on

The Irish have always been aware — and proud — of their history. That characteristic is coming in handy as the citizens of the Emerald Isle attempt to stop the construction of a major road slated to roar straight through one of Ireland’s oldest monuments.

Tara, or the Hill of Tara, is an ancient (and still somewhat mysterious) earthworks consisting of spiraling mounds. Archaeologists speculate that from 4000 BCE to the invasion of Richard de Clare in 1169, Tara was the center of Ireland’s political (and ceremonial) acitivies, and the name Tara derives from the Gaelic Teamhair na Rí, or “Hill of the King.”

The motorway in question would plow directly through the Tara-Skyrne valley, and is being built to serve Dublin commuters. Because the highway would radically alter Tara’s landscape, the site was picked up by the World Monument’s Most Endangered list. Those opposed to the road argue that there are several alternatives that were never properly researched, and that would circumvent Tara.

Recently, protests have gotten dramatic (see photo).

The most recent posts on TaraWatch.org, a blog set up to inform readers of the Tara battle, report that the Irish High Court has rejected an application for an injunction to halt work on the motorway. In response, one woman chained herself to a jack in a tunnel–any attempts by law enforcement to remove her, as well as heavy road equipment running over the tunnel, threaten to collapse it and harm her.

So what can you do? First, get informed, and then spread the word. Several avenues are paved for onlookers to help raise awareness of Tara — besides MySpace and Facebook pages, there’s also the aforementioned TaraWatch.org, the World Monuments Fund’s site, an online petition, and Tarapixie, an audio/video protester site.

Thanks to Emily Villamar Robbins for lots of information and linking me to several Tara sites.

Good Deed Travel (Mexico here I come): Do-gooder journey with daughter in tow

by Jamie Rhein on

In a few hours, I am embarking on the kind of do-gooder journey Rick Steves is not too fond of. I’m heading to Mexico to build houses with my daughter and a gaggle of teenagers (and adult tag-a-longs like me) who hail from a mostly affluent suburb of Columbus. I don’t hail from this neighborhood, but the trip appealed to me for a couple of reasons.

My daughter is at the age where there is a fierce interplay between popular culture, peers and parents. Before she gets much further on this journey, I figure a dose of helping others couldn’t hurt. Plus, we spend most of our days busy. It’s easy to fall into a barking mode of “What did you eat for breakfast?” “Pick up your room,” and “Get off the phone.” She is a Houdini and could disappear for hours into her room if we let her.

The opportunity for the two of us to go on a trip without the two men in our lives (husband-dad, son-brother) was one to take. Sometimes it’s hard to justify a solo trip without a darned good reason. Helping out folks by building them a house seems like a good justification to head out of the country for a little while. Sharing an experience that I’m hoping we both carry with us, particularly through the next three years before she graduates from high school, is a huge plus.

As trips go, I don’t know what to expect with this one. I haven’t thought much further than spending time with my daughter, but only have a vague idea of what this might look like. We’re packed. Like Rick Steves, I wonder if this house building endeavor is a band-aid approach to the world’s woes at best, and a way for those of us who have more than most to not feel guilty about it. We can build a house in Mexico and feel better, but not have to change much once we return. Given my life at this point, this is about what I can do. I’ll keep my eyes open, though, and see what’s what. Considering that this is spring break for most of these teens, there are some who might have chosen something less physical than wielding a hammer while trying not to smash ones thumb. They could have headed to a beach in Cancun. I’ll let you know what I think about these do-gooder ways once the house is built.

What’s going to happen to Southwest Airlines?

by Catherine Bodry on

Because of the recent grounding of 41 44 planes in Southwest’s fleet due to missed safety inspections, the airline stands to lose quite a few customers.

Even though we all know that we’re more likely to die in an automobile accident than a plane crash, many of us are still more nervous on a plane than in a car, myself included. In light of those nerves, I wonder how many people will — consciously or subconsciously — choose other airlines over Southwest with all the negative media attention its getting.

I’m not in a region where Southwest flies, so I’m unlikely to have to make a consumer choice for or against them any time soon. But what about you?

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Sweater Day to honor Mr. Rogers (and Pittsburgh)

by Jamie Rhein on

You have seven days left to put on your favorite sweater. To be really Mr. Rogers like, although it’s not necessary, choose a cardigan. March 20 is being deemed “Sweater Day” to honor Fred Rogers of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood fame. The show was filmed in Pittsburgh and March 20th would have been Mr. Rogers 80th birthday. Sweater Day is part of a six day (March 15-20th), “Won’t You Be My Neighbor Days” a promotional event for Pittsburgh’s 250th birthday year celebration. Here is the link to the events page.

People around the world can participate in Sweater Day and are invited to send photos or a video of themselves wearing a sweater to neighbordays@fci.org

Here’s a YouTube video of Mr. McFeeley from the show explaining what Sweater Day is. As a person who loved Mr. Rogers as a child, this is one event I’m all about. So spread some good cheer and get out that sweater.

Don’t like red sweaters? How about Japanese fashion?

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