Photo of the day – Philadelphia skyline

by Alex Robertson Textor on

Today’s Photo of the Day is of a piece of the Philadelphia skyline, anchored by the 1930 PNB Building. It was taken by Christian Carollo Photography.

A few years ago, Philadelphia suddenly started cropping up in the travel media as a bypassed destination, as a place that was finally getting the attention it had deserved all along. This development accompanied a spate of stories about the evolution of Philadelphia as the “new” or “next” Brooklyn.

Philadelphia is just one of many North American cities that has fallen by the wayside in the public imagination. Cleveland, Detroit, Cincinnati, Winnipeg, and Indianapolis are right up there with Philadelphia, each for different, contextually specific reasons.

Got an image of a secondary North American city that doesn’t get the press it deserves? Upload it to the Gadling group pool on Flickr. If we like it, we might very well choose it as a future Photo of the Day.

Woman dies in Philadelphia hotel after cosmetic buttocks injection

by Laurel Miller on

A 20-year old British woman died in a Hampton Inn near the Philadelphia airport on Tuesday, after silicone injections in her posterior didn’t go as planned. AOL News reports that Claudia Adusei and three friends arrived from London on Saturday, and were staying at the hotel. Adusei and one of the friends had visited Philadelphia last November to have their buttocks’ enhanced with silicone (are you noticing the absence of a medical professional or facility in this story?). The duo returned so Adusei could have additional buttocks injections, while her friend had hip augmentation (are you also noticing the irony of women actually paying money to make their butt and hips larger?).

Although silicone is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for cosmetic use, the injection of liquid silicone for cosmetic purposes is prohibited. Silicone implants are medically approved for buttock augmentation, as is fat transfer.

Adusei received injections at noon on Monday, after two women showed up at the hotel to perform the procedures. Only one woman is believed to have performed the injections, and Adusei began complaining of chest pains approximately 12 hours after the procedure, according to police. The suspects vanished shortly thereafter.

Paramedics rushed Adusei to Mercy-Fitzgerald Hospital in Delaware County; court documents state she died around 1:30 a.m. A preliminary medical exam indicates that Adusei may have died from silicone entering her vascular system, which would have stopped her heart, says the Delaware County medical examiner. An autopsy must still be completed, and toxicology reports won’t be released for at least six weeks.

[Photo credit: Flickr user [lauren nelson]]”In order to make the buttocks big with liquid silicone, you have to inject a lot of it, and use a large-gauge needle because silicone is really thick–and this could easily get into the blood stream,” explains Dr. Steven Victor, a cosmetic dermatologist in New York City who was consulted by FoxNews. “When this happens, there could be several outcomes. You could have a stroke because it could go to the brain. It could also travel to other vital organs like the lungs, the heart, the kidneys, and liver. This could be extremely detrimental, including death…We need to regulate this kind of activity better and educate the public.”

Tip: Before contemplating any type of cosmetic procedure or plastic surgery, contact the American Society of Plastic Surgeons to check credentials. Then do your homework. If something sounds too good–or cheap–to be true, it probably is.

As for the women who performed the procedures? Police are searching for them, after being tipped off that the procedures were arranged over the Internet. Lt. John Walker of the Philadelphia Police southwest detectives division says that it’s unknown at this time whether the “person performing that procedure is licensed or unlicensed.” The FDA as well as British embassy officials are also investigating Adusei’s death.

It’s Groundhog Day on Foursquare: Pennsylvania Tourism sponsors new badge

by McLean Robbins on

Social media fanatics don’t have to see Punxsutawney Phil’s prognostication live to snag location-based service FourSquare’s latest badge. Sponsored by the Pennsylvania Tourism Office, users checking in anywhere in the world by badge by following visitPA on Foursquare and using the word “Groundhog” can snag the inaugural PA Groundhog Day badge on February 2.

Pennsylvania became the first state to partner with Foursquare last May by populating the network with more than 200 state tourism attractions and creating three custom badges: “PA Shooflyer” (dining), “PA Retail Polka” (shopping), and “PA 4 Score & 7” (history). Since the launch, visitPA has amassed more than 30,000 followers and has awarded more than 12,000 badges.

In a tradition dating to the 1800s, Groundhog Day is celebrated each Feb. 2 in Punxsutawney, Jefferson County, about 80 miles northeast of Pittsburgh in the Pennsylvania Wilds. According to folklore, if the groundhog emerges in the early morning and sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of wintry weather. If he does not see his shadow, there will be an early spring.

A Webcast of the Groundhog Day festivities will be available, including links to Punxsutawney Phil-related videos on YouTube.

Here’s to hoping for spring’s prompt arrival!

Knoebels could add two new roller coasters in 2011

by Joel Bullock on

Central Pennsylvania amusement park Knoebels could open two roller coasters next season. For a park with only three roller coasters in operation, that would be quite a boost. The small park is a fan favorite among theme park enthusiasts as it offers free admission, classic rides, and a homey non-commercial feel.

Black Diamond was purchased from Wildwood, New Jersey’s Dinosaur Beach where it was known as Golden Nugget. The partially enclosed roller coaster sent guests on a themed mine car ride through the desert. The Golden Nugget operated from 1960 to 1992. And then it operated on and off until remaining closed since 1999.

After an unusually long construction period, Flying Turns, may finally open. It’s an interesting throwback to a wooden bobsled roller coaster that hasn’t existed in 40 years. After numerous setbacks hopefully 2011 will finally be the year when the ride’s ready to open to the public.

Knoebels’ calling card has been revitalizing classic roller coasters and these two new additions should perfectly fit the park’s old school amusement park feel. Knoebels is also home to the critically acclaimed Phoenix which was reborn at the park after a previous life at a park in Texas.

[Image credit: Flickr user milst1]

Dog bites passenger and flight attendant, forces US Airways landing in Pittsburgh

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Mandy is one tough bitch.

On US Airways Flight 522 from Newark to Phoenix, this 12-pound Manchester terrier busted out of its cage. You would have too … if the drugs had worn off. With no more sedatives in her system, Mandy bit a man sitting next to her 89-year-old owner. Then, the dog shot up and down the aisle, also biting a flight attendant, according to the NY Post.

As a result of this mutt’s mayhem, an emergency landing in Pittsburgh became necessary. Mandy and her owner didn’t get back on, though. They were moved to a different flight.

[photo by crossfirecw via Flickr]