Links: Pittsburgh seeks middle tech, 8bit sequencing magic on video and more

DEFINITE READS

• The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports on that city vying for ‘middle-market’ technology firms, while some chase investment on the west coast and others fail. H/T Philly Tech News
• The Inquirer reports on the oenophile vending machine movement, in which wine kiosks are making their way from Harrisburg to Philadelphia. Philly Tech News reports that Oracle has given the Pennsylvania Liquor Control board a retail excellence award.
• The University City Review reports that the first 55,000 energy efficient LED traffic light bulbs are being installed as part of a $14.1 million stimulus grant. H/T Plan Philly

Below, finding a kidney on Facebook, Curt Schilling will take his video games and move to Rhode Island and more.

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Links: MC Hammer at Wharton, chatting Jimmy Wales and More

DEFINITE READS

• Pittsburgh Tribune Review reports that that city will put a bid in for Google’s announced ultra-fast Internet product.
• Keystone Edge has a Q&A with University of the Arts professor and tech-art entrepreneur Slavko Milekic.
• The Inquirer reports that MC Hammer will be appearing at a Wharton event, and, yes, TP will try to crash the party.

Below, Gabe Weinberg talks with Jimmy Wales, comic book classes and more.

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Startup Roundup: D.C.’s startup soul offers lessons, DreamIT-backed SCVNGR growing strong, TicketLeap redesigns

Introducing Technically Philly’s Startup Roundup. Here, we’ll parse out the small pieces that make our greater Startup ecosystem thrive. We want to keep you in touch with the innovations that we can’t quite get to covering, but that deserve highlight. If you’ve got news to share, get in touch.

DEFINITE READS

Philly Startup Leader Founder Blake Jennelle writes long-form about Washington D.C.’s “startup soul,” after taking in the scene there earlier this month. There’s a lot for Philly to learn from it’s neighbor to the south, Jennelle says, and we’ve got much in common. Like Philly, growth comes from the grassroots, but D.C. lacks a central community of entrepreneurs. And our brethren know Philadelphia. “The reputation of [Philly's] creative communities is strong,” he writes.

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Comcast Roundup: Sen. Al Franken says ‘hard to trust,’ NBC lobbying continues and More

Every Thursday morning at 8:30 a.m. EST, find all the stories you need to know about your friendly telecommunications giant in the Comcast Roundup. Get an e-mail subscription for our Comcast news updates.

DEFINITE READS

• The Washington Post reports on Comcast’s bolstered presence in D.C. circles, ahead of regulatory oversight of its deal for NBC.
• The New York Times reports that Democrats in particular have been critical of the NBC deal. Among them, the Washington Post reports that former NBC star and current Senator Al Franken said NBC can’t be trusted. But the Post also reports that Pittsburgh’s mayor, among other local leaders, encouraged their congressional members to support the deal.

Below, why some say the Comcast-NBC deal would ruin Web video, Brian Roberts makes a promise about layoffs and More.

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Comcast Roundup: Olympic channel controversy, Justice Dept. on telecom abuse and More

Every Thursday morning, find all the stories you need to know about your friendly telecommunications giant in the Comcast Roundup.

The United States Olympic Committee and Comcast announced yesterday they would partner to launch in 2010 The U.S. Olympic Network, broadcasting the trials and training and everything else that goes into the international event.

Comcast’s corporate blog takes on the rosy dream of giving you superhuman mega athletes and their schmaltzy stories 24/7/365. Of course, the N.Y. Times and the Debbie Downers that they are focus more on the fact that, well, the International Olympic Committee has made clear they have not given name or TV rights for the project.

The Times reports that this is just the latest development in the tense relationship between the U.S.O.C. and the I.O.C.

Richard Carrion, an I.O.C. executive board member, told the Times that they were concerned about the viability of the network and its affect on longtime U.S. broadcaster NBC.

“We’ve given the rights to NBC to be the Olympic network,” he said. “I don’t think something else called the Olympic network will fly.”

After the jump, Verizon crashes Steel Town, what Pirate Bay wants to sell Comcast and five other stories for the faithful.

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State agencies to “aggressively pursue” $8 billion in high speed rail investments

Pittsburgh, meet Philadelphia. Philadelphia, meet Reading.

A rail system high-speed rail system could connect Philadelphia to Pittsburgh through Harrisburg and a second system could link Philadelphia to Reading if state agencies win funding being set aside by President Obama from the economic stimulus package for high speed rail corridors.

State officials have been practically giddy about the administration’s proposal to invest $8 billion in high-speed rail corridors, including ones in Pennsylvania.

“What was so gratifying today was to have President Obama offer a forward-looking vision for high speed rail that will provide mobility options for the nation and contribute to a much needed strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” Pennsylvania transportation secretary Allen Biehler said in a press release issued by the Governor’s office.

Officials say that the state’s Keystone Corridor—between Harrisburg and Philadelphia—and an oft proposed link between Philadelphia and Reading, are two projects that could qualify for funding. Biehler told KYW Newsradio that PennDOT will also explore additional services between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg.
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Philly gets no love from latest Ben Franklin Tech Partners investments

At its quarterly meeting this week, the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority announced that several universities and Keystone Zones will receive state money to help foster the growth of green technologies. Absent in the latest round, however, were any local businesses, though Chester did get some cash thrown its way for its Keystone Innovation Zone.

Now, to be fair, the Southeastern branch of Ben Franklin Technology Partners certainly has shelled out some cash in the past. However, being the Philly cheerleaders we are, its hard not to be disappointed.

In addition to allocating some money for green initiatives, each branch of the four regional branches of the Ben Franklin Technology Partners also discussed where to place the money received from the Alternative Energy Investment Fund.

According to Governor Rendell, the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority has invested $4 billion since 2003 and has created 27,000 jobs.

Read the full list of recent investments after the jump.

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Technically Not Tech: Swapagift.com

Somebody doesn’t know what to buy you for your birthday, so you get a gift card that you either don’t want, won’t use or will surely lose.

There’s a solution, of course.

From its launch in October 2003 to February, SwapaGift.com had been “the leading online marketplace dedicated solely to buying, selling, and trading gift cards,” said Mike Kelly, who was the early Web adopter who launched the site with his wife Mary Jane out of their Langhorne home.

Last month, a deal was announced in which Swapagift.com was bought by Wolfe.com, the Pittsburgh-based online marketing company and parent of GiftCards.com, which included a drop of their trading option.

That makes the Eagles departure from the NFL playoffs and subsequent Steelers Super Bowl victory the second indignity Pittsburgh has bestowed on our fair metropolis this year.

While their operation has largely moved to Pittsburgh’s GiftCards.com processing facility, the marketing, promotion and business development remain with the Kellys in Langhorne.

Mike Kelly, 45, declined to disclose financial details of the acquisition, but he said business is good and that his company’s ties to Philadelphia won’t falter.

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