Friday Morning Update

Alright, I haven't taken the time to write an update about myself in a while, so here it goes...

Yesterday was one of the longer social days I've had in a while. In fact, I may stay home tonight just to recharge.

The day started off normally with work in the morning. By lunch however, everything changed. My work had a suite reserved for us at the Redbirds game. It was nice to walk down and watch a baseball game in the middle of the day. The best part was the food-- they had tasty snacks for us.

I left the game at the beginning of the 8th inning. My attention span is just only so long and I knew that I had a long day ahead of me, so I went back to the office. When I got back, I had an exciting idea that I started to pursue... and got so involved that I almost ended up missing my next activity.

After an hour, I headed down to the Residence Inn by Marriott that's located in Downtown Memphis. They had a rooftop party set up for us-- and more snacks! I adore that hotel; it's where I stayed when I moved back to Memphis in September. I think it used to be apartments or something because each unit has such a unique feel. I like Residence Inns normally anyway, but this one is better. And, they have free food and drinks... :-)

It was incredibly HOT yesterday afternoon, especially on the roof of a building, next to a grill and in the sun. I headed home to shower and prepare for the next leg of my evening. I switched into a new dress I recently found and headed up to my rooftop to visit my neighbors before heading on.

I went down to the Memphis Arts Council reception at the new Westin hotel. I could see by the reaction of the staff that they're starting to recognize me. Ha! (I may be back tonight, but as I said... we'll see how I'm feeling.) Anyway, the Memphis Arts Council event was fabulous! I met a few new people, reconnected with old ones, and enjoyed more food and drinks. :-)

While I was at the Arts Council event, one woman stopped me to ask where I'd found my dress. I told her that I found it online. She wanted the name of the website. I actually don't even remember where it came from. I found it on one site and compared prices and bought it from the place where I could get the best deal. She thought I was lying and started to promise not to get the same dress if I'd just tell her. Wow... Anyway, here's a photo of the dress on a model from the site--

After this wrapped up, I headed over to the Peabody rooftop to check out Kevin and Bethany Paige. I met up with friends and had a great time!

Next, I headed over to Flying Fish to say hello to the friends mentioned earlier from my rooftop. They were eating french fries with hot sauce... surprise! :-)

Made a quick run through EP's Delta Kitchen and and ended up at Flying Saucer with two of my girl friends. It was a fun time. Someone high fived me for my dress, so I suppose the night worked out alright.

On the way back home, I stopped by Earnestine & Hazel's to pick up my neighbor and his date and drove us back.

And here were are at Friday... :-)

[Thanks Paul for your two recent posts highlighting a few things from my site.]

Projectionist Pans Movie, Loses Job

Wow, what an interesting past few days it's been. A friend here in Memphis, Jessie Morrison, has been fired this week from his job. Why? Because while working as a projectionist at Malco, he wrote a negative review of a movie online.

What difference does that make you may ask? Well, he wrote it about the upcoming Fantastic Four movie. What happened next is a little surprising...

Fox figured out that he wrote the entry and where he works. Fox then phoned his boss and threatened to pull their movie from Malco's entire chain of theatres.

Just after, he was fired.

It's all a little sad. The reviewer loves movies and had been writing online reviews for quite some time-- and his company new in advance that he was doing this. In addition, he didn't reveal any movie "spoilers" in his review. He simply stated his opinion.

Anyway, the whole thing is burning up the Internet today. All you have to do is search for "Memflix" on Google and you'll now find over 35,000 entries.

Here's the latest from CNN.com:

LOS ANGELES, California (Hollywood Reporter) -- A projectionist at a Memphis, Tennessee, theater chain has lost his job after writing an unauthorized early review of "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer" for the Web site Ain't It Cool News.

Jesse Morrison, the projectionist, claims that the film's distributor, 20th Century Fox, was behind the decision by Malco Theatres Inc. to suspend him for an undetermined period. The studio denied the charge.

While studios and filmmakers have endured early reviews of their movies, both negative and positive, on Web sites since the early days of the Internet, the incident might mark the first time someone working in the entertainment industry has lost a job for voicing an early opinion online.

On Saturday, http://www.AintItCool.com posted a negative review by Morrison (writing under his online moniker Memflix) under the headline "Memflix crushes all hope for 'Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.' "

A 29-year-old film, video and journalism major at the University of Memphis, Morrison worked for $7 an hour at the Ridgeway Four, next door to Malco's home office. He picked up further compensation by readying movie prints for exhibitor and press screenings, which allowed him during the past year to write reviews of such movies as "Disturbia," "Vacancy" and "Spider-Man 3" for Ain't It Cool. He also wrote reviews for Malco's movie blog and a circular distributed at the theater.

On Monday, two days after his "Silver Surfer" pan appeared, Morrison was called into a meeting with Malco senior VP Jimmy Tashie and, according to Morrison, was "suspended until further notice," with the suggestion that he would not be asked to return.

Morrison said Tashie pointed out that "20th Century Fox called them that morning and threatened to take away the press and trade screenings because of this whole thing. They were upset."

Asked if Fox had any role in the suspension, Tashie said: "Absolutely none." The executive said his company received a call from Fox that said "there's somebody there working for (Malco) who is writing reviews in advance. That's all they said. No one asked us to do anything. We have been in business 95 years, and this is the first time anything like this happened. And this boy knew what he was doing was the wrong thing. ... He was in a position of trust and he violated that trust."

Drew McWeeney, known as "Moriarty" on the Ain't It Cool site, picked up Morrison's cause. Amid two positive reviews for the new movie, he championed Morrison's right to free speech and wrote: "He's written many reviews for us before, but when he wrote one for 'Fantastic Four,' Fox went into hypersensitive overdrive. They tracked him down and had him fired, threatening to pull their business from the entire chain over that review."

Sources inside Fox denied the studio's involvement, saying that the disciplinary action was beyond their reach and was the theater chain's decision.

Some entertainment companies, including film productions, do ask workers to sign confidentiality agreements, agreeing not to disclose information. Morrison said he had never been asked to sign such an agreement, though he would have if asked.

"If they had sat me down and told me that this has caused such a stink and that we would like you to sign some waiver, I probably would have signed it," Morrison said. "In my opinion, they used strong-arm tactics. I don't regret going on my Web site or Ain't It Cool at all. I just wish it hadn't come to this, but I don't really believe I did anything wrong."

Tashie said: "In the future, anybody in that position will sign something."

A number of Ain't It Cool readers have rallied to Morrison's cause, some even offering him jobs like a cameraman gig in Mexico.

Morrison said he is weighing his options. "I'm hoping to get a job as a professional movie reviewer, but I don't know what's going to happen with that. I guess you could say I'm at some kind of crossroads right now."

Net Impact Rockstar Conference Registration Now Open!

November 1st to 3rd, 2007, Nashville, Tennessee

Join us in Nashville!

Rockstar Registration is now open for the 2007 Net Impact Conference, taking place November 1-3 in Nashville. Register before June 15th to receive $100 off the regular registration price!

What will you do next to make our world more sustainable? This November, more than 1,500 graduate business students and professionals will come up with an answer. The 2007 Net Impact Conference will challenge attendees to think deeply about current issues and trends in the business world, while engaging them to take an action-oriented plan for change back to their communities.

Comprised of keynote speakers, panel discussions, networking opportunities, case competitions, debates, and much more, the 2007 curriculum will feature cutting-edge business leaders from around the world speaking on the following themes:

• Corporate Impact
• Leadership & Career
• The Social Sector
• Business and the Environment
• The Business of Health
• International Development

Attendees will also have the opportunity to pursue their career aspirations by networking with over 60 of the top for and nonprofit companies at the 2007 Net Impact Career Expo

Fun New Site: You've Always Had the Power

I found an interesting 2008 campaign-related store today: You've Always Had The Power.

Here's a little sample of what they sell:

11th Annual Webby Award Winners Announced

Check out the 11th annual Webby Award winners: http://www.webbyawards.com/webbys/current.php.

Simply Google

Check out this Simply Google page. It compiles all of Google's funcationality into one easy page.

Thanks Towform for bringing this to my attention!

Very cool!

Angie's Favorite Phrase: "New Media"

My favorite phrase right now: "New Media."

Wikipedia definition: "New media is a broad term that usually refers to new technologies and communication methods in the context of their effects on the established mainstream media.
Originally this term was used by the pioneer Website developers to differentiate their techniques from the other methods of communication that shared the "media budget" within a company. This allowed the suggestion of new vs. old while at the same time establishing a claim on the budget available. Over time the term was used to refer to anything that was Internet-related."

Examples of New Media:
Video games and virtual worlds as they impact marketing and public relations.
Multimedia CD-ROMs
Software
Web sites including brochurware
Corporate blogs and wikis
Email and attachments
Electronic kiosks
Interactive television
Mobile devices
Podcasting
Hypertext fiction

Apple iTunes Sells DRM Free Songs, Music

Starting yesterday, Apple began selling songs in its iTunes store without copyright protection.

Purchasing songs without DRM (digital rights management) protection software will mean that you will be able to play these songs anywhere, on different types of players.

Apple is starting first with songs from music company EMI Group. The music available includes songs from Frank Sinatra, Norah Jones, Pink Floyd, Paul McCartney, Coldplay, and the Rolling Stones.

The DRM-free songs are higher quality than past songs Apple has offered for download. They also cost 30 cents more than the normal 99 cent iTunes songs.

I urge you to support Apple's trend-setting move and help to make this the new standard!

(To check it out, click the banner below.)

My Thoughts on the Future

I've been thinking about this for a while, so here it goes...

Do you remember the first time that you posted a photo of yourself online?

I can't remember just how old I was, but I'd guess I was probably about 14. The Internet was still brand new and AOL was charging by the minute.

Actually, after a little digging online, I found it. I believe that this is very possibly the first photo ever put on the Internet of me. It was over 10 years ago and I posted it myself.

Do you remember the first time you allowed your height to be published somewhere?

What about your last name?

The city where you live?

And your job title?

Your resume?

All of your friends names?

Photos of your family?

I can remember all of these moments in my life. They were all very deliberate choices; many of them directly tied to my age and stage of my life. I was careful not to reveal too much too quickly or at too young of an age.

I am completely aware that a potential employer, friend, or colleague can learn all about me at anytime. Heck, I do it myself when I want to learn about someone new.

This is a reasonable thing to think about, because once something is posted online, it doesn't go away.

What about nowadays though? Do we think before we post?

I've started to notice a trend...

More and more people are tracking their pregnancies online. There are photos of new moms' big bellies each month, growing larger by the frame.

Dads are posting photos of their newborns, still all red and just delivered at the hospital.

Parents, aunts, uncles, and grandparents are posting photos of a child's first steps, first haircut, first, first, first...

Some parents even write restaurant reviews about their experiences eating out online.

With online papers, you can track a child's grades and accomplishments who live in another city. (This comes in handy for me with my brothers that live in Oklahoma.)

What happens in another 10 to 20 years when an adult persons entire life has been traced online, from conception to present?

How will this further impact us when we apply to school, for a job, or even when we ask someone on a date? What about children who are making friends, applying to high school, or looking for a first job?

Hmmm......................................

Presidential Candidates Set an Example Online

Over the past few months, I have been more and more impressed with all of the presidential candidates. They are doing some fabulous online campaigning!

They all seem to be using the newest Internet techniques including search engine marketing, blogging, and online social networking!

Here are just a few examples:

You can vote on Hillary Clinton's campaign song: http://www.hillaryclinton.com/action/spotlight/?sc=8

You can read Barack Obama's blog: http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/group/ObamaHQ/

You can befriend all the candidates on Myspace: http://impact.myspace.com/

And you can watch them on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=2008+president

Way to go!

Memphis Most: Commercial Appeal Voting

Quick Note: Voting is on for the "Memphis Most." The Commercial Appeal has set up a site where you can vote on everything from the best martini in Memphis to the best barber.

Check it out here: http://most.commercialappeal.com/

While you're there, be sure to click here (https://commercialappeal.wufoo.com/forms/memphis-most-memphis-media/) to vote for the best Memphis blogger. I put in my vote this morning for Paul's Memphis blog (www.PaulRyburn.com/blog).

Okay, I give!

Who at Rose State has been reading my site lately? E-mail me at:

igive(@)angiedawn.net

Angie's Brothers Take State in Oklahoma Tennis

How fun-- my little brothers placed 1st and 2nd in Oklahoma for high school tennis this past week.

Congrats guys!

From NewsOK.com:

"Top individuals of the day: German exchange student Felix Brede of Durant beat Tulsa Kelley's Cale Hammond 6-4, 7-5 to win the No. 1 singles title. Kelley's Reider Hunt lost only one game in the tournament to handily win the No. 2 singles title. In No. 1 doubles, Ardmore's Timmy Argo and Luke Jordan beat Shawnee's Nick Copeland and Eric Haley. Chris Copeland and Jeff Seebeck won for Shawnee in No. 2 doubles to help the Wolves take second place in the team standings.

Quotable: "Our first match started off slow, but after that we did great. The finals was the best match we'd played all season. We jumped up 3-0 on them in the first set, and it just rolled on from there.” — Chris Copeland, Shawnee No. 2 doubles player, on teaming with Jeff Seebeck to beat Ada's Chase Sheffield and Colton Calaway.

Noteworthy: The only game Hunt lost came in the first set of his championship match against Deer Creek's Michael Calloway. ... In the semifinals, Copeland and Haley, beat Ada."

Happy Barbecue Fest!

Free Shipping at Macys.com on Beauty and Fragrances

Okay, this post is as much for me as it is for you. You can take it or leave it. :~)

I order all of my makeup on Macys.com, because I don't have to search through the store for each color of makeup. I don't have to remember what colors I want to replace either.

I can just open up my make up drawer, pull out the empty containers and bring them over to the computer with me. After a few minutes, I'm set with all different brands of products. They just show up in the mail a few days later.

Often times, Macy's even throws in a free gift! Today and through the end of this week, they've got free shipping on their beauty products and fragrances. As you can imagine, I'm going to get some!

To get free shipping from Macy's on your beauty products, click here:

Google Analytics Has a New Version

...more to come...

Clean Commuting Gets Creative

Molly Lavik (my MBA-school professor) and Jeff Rozic have come up with an exciting idea and they need your help!

They've created a new web site, StartUpTime.com, where you'll find an animated story about the "Commuter Pod." The Commuted Pod is a creative concept by Mentorography. It's the environmentally friendly car of the future and I hear that they're looking to actually manufacture it here in the US!

The way that you can help them is to submit your ideas for the next Commuter Pod webisode video. So, go to StartUpTime.com and check it out!

Online Advertising: Good or Bad?

What do you think? Is online marketing and advertising becoming an invasion of your privacy?

A new commentary piece on Wired discusses the level of information that's being collected. The author, Jennifer Granick, cites examples that argue that although the "Internet" may not know your name or social security number, marketers have enough information to identify you.

"Chester found plenty to worry about. He pointed to ad companies' own marketing materials as evidence of the depth and breadth of the information collected. Websites today track clicks, browsing and user attention span, and amass information like wish lists, preferences and purchases. Advertising brokers create a detailed profile of site visitors and use it to serve ads targeted to appeal to an individual's particular tastes."

"...anonymous or pseudonymous profiles can be readily connected to real world identity. While advertisers may not collect PII, they do collect IP addresses, which can be traced to an individual most of the time. Also, Carnegie Mellon professor Latanya Sweeney has demonstrated that one can identify 87 percent of the U.S. population from ZIP code, birth date and gender alone. Privacy protections based on absence of PII isn't very robust."

So, does it bother you that somewhere, some computer and internet marketer know all about you? They know what you browse and what you buy. What you listen to, what you watch, and what you read.

As you probably already know from reading my blog, I'm fairly comfortable revealing my offline identity online. When I was younger, I protected myself more for safety reasons, but now I'm pretty well out there. More than just online marketers, my blog readers have a sense of what I'm reading and buying.

I think of online tracking a lot like those keychain things you have at the grocery store. Have you ever signed up for one of these things at an Albertson's? The checker scans your keychain when you're buying groceries. From the customer perspective, it allows you to get a discount on your food. From the store, that keychain provides invaluable information about their customers, including you. It helps them to know what you're buying, when, and where. They can more accurately keep their shelves stocked for the day that you're looking for west key lime juice from Nellie & Joe's.

I look at this as a convienence. I want the store to provide the food that I want to buy. And, online, I want advertisements to be targeted toward what I want. I want e-mails to be customized to ME! I look at data mining that's used in advertising to help me to get what I'm looking for in front of me that much faster.

I will say however, that I do think there is clear and definite value to be considered when it comes to protecting that sensitive data. Why? Because I don't invite strangers into my home to learn about me. And, I want to be able to trust the web to use my information in a way that will help, not hurt, me.

What do you think?

It's Like Netflix, Only More Stylish: Bag, Borrow, or Steal

I recently discovered a new idea that you may find amusing. Think of the way Netflix works. You go online and find the movie that you want. A few days later, the movie arrives in your mailbox. After you watch the movie, you drop it back in the mail and a new movie arrives a few days later.

Anyway, there's a site you should check out called "Bag, Borrow, or Steal" if you have a fancy event coming up and you'd like to save a little money.

Bag Borrow and Steal allows their customers to borrow high end items like expensive handbags and jewelry, for a small rental fee. The item shows up in your mailbox, like Netflix, and you return it when you're done.

What an idea!

Anyway, check out some of the cool items that they have here--

Don't Forget Mother's Day

Quick Thought on Memorization in the Age of Technology

I may be showing my age more than normal, but here goes nothing...

I was thinking today-- Remember when you were a kid and it was vitally important to your social life that you memorize each and every phone number of all of your friends and family? If you forgot one or two, you could be completely cut out of your middle school social circle.

You had to be able to act fast when returning calls from call waiting-- or when conferencing a 3rd friend into a call.

Nowadays, kids (and me too) barely know their home phone number, much less the phone numbers of their friends and family. They've got all the numbers safely stored away in their cell phones, on Facebook, and in their address books on Outlook.

The most important thing to look for when buying a new cell phone is whether or not the new phone can accept a memory card from the old one. Gawd forbid that we actually have to type in a phone number more than once, if ever.

I've found often times that if someone wants me to have their phone number, they'll call me and I will just save the number under their name. So, it's possible I may never type in a phone number!

What I do memorize however is WEB SITES. Since I consistently work on 3 different computers (not to mention friends or co-workers computers), I can't count on always having my bookmarks. Besides, those or the history in my web browser could easily become erased and leave me completely cut off from my existing social circle.

I mean, what would life be like if I couldn't read what restaurant Paul has tried lately? And how's Shelain doing these days with her photography business?

One way I help this situation is by putting links along the right hand side bar of my site. But with all the sites that I stay on top of, I just can't help but memorize them with the same passion that I was memorizing phone numbers with just 20 years ago!

...Just my thoughts...

Help Save Internet Radio - A Response from Senator Bob Corker

This is a follow up from my previous post. Senator Bob Corker and his team have responded to me regarding Internet radio. His response is below:

Thank you for contacting my office to share your concerns about the increase of music royalty rates. Your input is important to me, and I appreciate the time you took to share your thoughts.

As you may know, all decisions regarding music royalty rates are determined by three judges appointed to the Copyright Royalty Board. On March 2, 2007, the board set new rates for webcasting between 2006-2010. In response, internet radio operators requested a rehearing and postponement of the May 15th deadline by which they would be expected to pay the new rates. The rehearing request was rejected by the Copyright Royalty Board who stated that new evidence had not been presented to support reconsideration of the ruling.

Like you, I agree that the implications of this ruling need to be considered, and I assure you that I will continue to monitor the situation. Should relative legislation come before the United States Senate, I will certainly take into consideration your concerns.

Thank you again for your letter. I hope you will continue to share your thoughts with me over the next six years.

Sincerely,

Bob Corker
United States Senator

Initials/kr

New Site to Check Out: Jott.com - Mobile Note Taking

Alright, so I finally got off the computer for a little while tonight to go and have a drink at Swig.

While there I learned about a huge web site that you have to check out! It's called Jott.com.

It's free and it allows you to call a 1-800-# and leave messages for yourself. Those messages are then turned into an e-mail that is sent to you.

That way, when you're away from home and you think of something that you'd just love to write down, but can't, you can just call Jott. The messages will all be waiting when you get back home.

I haven't tried it yet, but I just know that I'll like it. I'll try to let you know how it turns out!

(I must say that it's amazing the sites that are floating around out there besides Google...! hehe.)

Travel Buddy-- Looks Like I Need to Travel a Little More!!

MSNBC: Gender pay gap begins 1 year after college

Interesting article on MSNBC.com today... What can I say? Learn to negotiate! :~)

NEW YORK - Women make only 80 percent of the salaries their male peers do one year after college; after 10 years in the work force, the gap between their pay widens further, according to a study released Monday.

The study, by the American Association of University Women Educational Foundation, found that 10 years after college, women earn only 69 percent of what men earn.
...
The organization found that women’s scholastic performance was not reflected in their compensation. Women have slightly higher grade point averages than men in every major, including science and math. But women who attend highly selective colleges earn the same as men who attend minimally selective colleges, according to the study.
...

Happy Earth Day

Happy Earth Day!

Wikipedia defines Earth Day as "... a name used by two different observances held annually in the (northern) spring, both intended to inspire awareness of and appreciation for the Earth's environment. The United Nations celebrates Earth Day each year on the vernal (March) equinox; while a global observance in many countries is held each year on April 22."

I love Google's Earth Day logo today:

Help Save Internet Radio!

I don't typically post many call to actions here in my blog, but there's something today that I would like for you to consider:

As you may have heard, recent US legislation has tripled the royalty fees that are placed on Internet radio. This legislation threatens to force out sites that offer streaming radio for free.

Included would be sites like http://www.pandora.com/ (LOVE Pandora) and http://www.allmemphismusic.com/ (I work on this one).

If you love Internet radio as much as I do, you NEED to sign the Saving Internet Radio petition. It will send a custom letter from you to your representative expressing your concern.

Without heading down too much of a rant, when radio first started, it was very entrepreneurial... since, it's become corporate. The Internet is very much the same; humble beginnings resembled the wild west. Since then, more rules and regulations (admittedly, some are necessary) make the Internet a more controlled and corporate place to surf. It's important that something as basic as streaming music is preserved in a way that's affordable for everyone, not just a select few.

I filled the letter out and messages were sent on my behalf to Senator Lamar Alexander, Senator Bob Corker, and Representative Steve Cohen, all from Tennessee.

Thanks to Towform for bringing this site to my attention!

Happy Listening!

Don't Forget Cone Day: Ben & Jerry's

Don't forget to stop by your local Ben & Jerry's tomorrow for their annual Cone Day, where you can get a free Ben & Jerry's ice cream cone!



If you're in Memphis, you have 3 choices for locations:

SHOP ADDRESS DISTANCE 1 Ben & Jerry's Beale Street 175 Peabody Place Memphis, TN 38103 0.6 mi (0.9 Km) 2 Ben & Jerry's East Memphis 5007 Black Road Space #110 Memphis, TN 38117 9.2 mi (14.8 Km) 3 Ben & Jerry's Germantown The Village Shops of Forest Hill 9155 Poplar Ave., Suite 14 Germantown, TN 38138 17.6 mi (28.3 Km)

Angie's Memphis Food -- My Google Maps

Google has added the ability to create and edit your own Google map, more easily than the mashup concept that I mentioned yesterday.

I've created "Angie's Memphis Food" for your next dining adventure-- check it out!

Google Maps Mashups -- Housing and Wine

I just love the Google Maps mashups that everyone seems to be doing these days!

I've even heard there's a new version out that allows users with little programming knowledge to put together their favorite things on a Google Map.

In the meantime, here are a couple of the interesting maps that I've found...

Housing Maps . com -- http://www.housingmaps.com/ -- Someone has put together the Craigslist postings on for sale and for rent places in major cities. You can see where the place is, map to it, look at pictures of it, etc. It's great and I highly recommend checking it out if you'll be moving anytime soon!

Well, I can't find the other one... it's a vineyard mapping API... if I find it, I'll be sure to share it.

For now though, goodnight!

Google Earth + Crisis in Darfur - Socially Responsible Technology

I came across the following article today on CNN.com. Google Earth is using their free mapping feature to teach others about the crisis in Darfur. Check it out below.

(For entire article, visit: http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/04/10/google.genocide/index.html.)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- If you Google the word Darfur, you will find about 13 million references to the atrocities in the western Darfur region of Sudan -- what the United States has said is this century's first genocide.

As of today, when the 200 million users of Google Earth log onto the site, they will be able to view the horrific details of what's happening in Darfur for themselves.

In an effort to bring more attention to the ongoing crisis in Darfur, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum has teamed up with Google's mapping service literally to map out the carnage in the Darfur region.

Experts estimate that 200,000 people have been killed and 2.5 million more have been displaced since the conflict flared in 2003, when rebels took up arms against the central Sudanese government.

The new initiative, called "Crisis in Darfur," enables Google Earth users to visualize the details in the region, including the destruction of villages and the location of displaced persons in refugee camps. (Interactive: See how the new technology works)

Elliot Schrage, Google's vice president of global communications and public affairs, joined museum director Sara J. Bloomfield to make the official announcement about the new feature.

"At Google, we believe technology can be a catalyst for education and action," Schrage said. " 'Crisis in Darfur' will enable Google Earth users to visualize and learn about the destruction in Darfur as never before and join the museum's efforts in responding to this continuing international catastrophe."

Sign Up Now: Free Movie and Servathon!

I'm dropping you a note about two exciting Net Impact opportunities comingup in April! Mark these on your calendar and e-mail me back to sign up!:~)

I'm looking forward to seeing you! Please take the time to come out andget involved in these fun, worthy activities.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FREE MOVIE SHOWING: Iraq for SaleTime: Tuesday, April 17th @ 7:30 PM
Cost: FREE
Location: Power House
Address: 45 G.E. Patterson (near Earnestine & Hazels)
RSVP: E-mail rsvp@memphisnetimpact.org

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hands on Memphis Servathon --
Join Net Impact as we partner with MpactMemphis! We'll be volunteering to help out an organization in Memphis.Our team is "It's All Good" and you can get more details by clicking on the following link.

Time: Saturday, April 21st @ 9 AM
Cost: $20 donation
Location: TBD
RSVP: E-mail rsvp@memphisnetimpact.org

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please forward this to anyone you think may be interested in joining in!


Thank you!

Guy Kawasaki and the Travel Com Internet Marketing Conference

A quick note before I forget-- I have been gone since Tuesday to the Travel Com Internet Marketing Conference in Las Vegas.

I got back to Memphis this evening (which probably partly explains why it's 3:45 AM right now...).

Anyway, yesterday Guy Kawasaki spoke on how to change the world using technology. I COMPLETELY enjoyed the presentation. It really made the conference worth it for me.

I've heard about Guy many times through a professor that I had at Pepperdine. I've read one of his books (Art of the Start) and I've kept abreast of his blog from time to time, as you may have noticed in a previous post.

I won't post all of my notes here, but I'll say that his Blog is a great reference point. Check it out: http://blog.guykawasaki.com!

Reason 2,365,901 to Get an Extended Laptop Warranty

My Sony Vaio's hard drive crashed today. It's been acting up lately, which I'll blame my lack of posting on.

It's been randomly restarting and having all sorts of unexplained errors.

Anyway, this afternoon all was explained when the Vaio gave the error message "Hard Drive Crashed. Back Up Data."

After over an hour and a half on the phone with Sony, and three customer service people later, a box is on order.

If you've ever sent a laptop back, you know that the cardboard box is worth gold... once you have convinced them to mail you a box, it's pretty much smooth sailing.

Thank goodness it happened today... my 3 year extended warranty is up in around 3 months.

Whew.

You're Invited -- Mpact Party Saturday Night, March 24th

Dear Friends,

I wanted to let you in on an upcoming opportunity that you’ll want on your radar screen— Mpact’s Party of the Year is this Saturday, March 24th at the Botanic Gardens!

The theme is Casino Royale. There will be music by The Plaintiffs, food, a silent auction, and casino tables! The cost is $40 and the tickets can be purchased online here: https://web.memberclicks.com/mc/quickForm/viewForm.do?orgId=mpm&formId=25322.

If you’re interested to meet up for the party, please let me know. I’ve already purchased my ticket and I look forward to seeing you there!

See you soon,
:~) Angie

P.S. Feel free to repost this message or to send it on to anyone you think might be interested.

Ugh again.

Just when I thought I was almost beter...

My ribs on the right side have continued to be in quite a bit of pain... think no laying on my back or right side... reduced movement... tenderness to touch... it's been a pain-- quite literally!

I went to a new primary care doctor today (the one recommended by the Ear, Nose, & Throat doc who cured me a month or so ago) and this office seems much more competant.

The results are in: the new doctor has diagnosed me with a fractured rib. Sweet. Can it get any more exciting?

Anyhow, for all the times I've ended up with an achey body lately, at least I finally have an answer as to what's up.

I'm broken! :-)

But really, it sounds like I'll be okay... it's just going to be a little painful for a while.

Why has this happened you may ask? Well, if you remember, I was sick for around 7 weeks not long ago. I was going to an incompetant doctor who failed to diagnose me properly on the first 6 visits and I ended up at an ENT who was able to cure me in 3 days with just a little common sense and some nose spray, basically. Anywho... during those 7 weeks, I spent a LOT of my time coughing... and apparently, coughing for 7 weeks = broken ribs.

Take it from me, if your doctor can't figure out what's wrong with you, get a new doctor!

Web 2.0... The Machine is Us/ing Us

A great video that you have to see about our technology evolution...

New Book: The Unexpected Legacy of Divorce

I found a new book that I've been reading and I just love-- I highly recommend it! It's The Unexpected Legacy of Divorce by Wallerstein, Lewis, and Blakeslee.

It's a 25 year study of children whose parents divorced in the 1970's and 80's when they were young kids. The authors collected data about the children as they grew up and analyzed it to find similarities between them.

My parents divorced when I was in Kindergarten, age 5. I've always been interested in the way that the experience shaped my life. To learn how it effected other people and the common intersections... it's all very intriguing.

Here's a summary from Amazon.com: During the last 40 years, our society's views on how families are created and how they operate has undergone a tremendous shift. In The Unexpected Legacy of Divorce, authors Judith Wallerstein, Julia Lewis, and Sandra Blakeslee have assembled a variety of stories from people of different ages and life stages. Some are children of divorce, some are from families that stayed unhappily intact, but all of them offer valuable information important to all of us as parents, children, and members of society at large. Separate chapters focus on the different roles children take on in the event of a divorce or unhappy marriage, ranging from positive role model to deeply troubled adolescent. In many cases, the people interviewed continue to define themselves as children of divorce up to 30 years after the occurrence; this is described by one subject as "sort of a permanent identity, like being adopted or something."

Both encouraging and thought-provoking, the final chapter questions how we maintain the freedom made possible by divorce while, at the same time, minimizing the damage. The authors' response to this question begins with pragmatic suggestions about strengthening marriage--not bland "family values" rhetoric but practical how-to ideas combined with national policy initiatives that have been making the rounds for years. With fascinating stories and statistics, Wasserstein, Lewis, and Blakeslee have illuminated the improvements within reach while our society experiences these massive changes in it's most fundamental relationships. --Jill Lightner
Check out the book here on Amazon.

Here are some of the quotes that I found to be interesting:

• "As I listed to Gary describe what it was like to play in his backyard, it struck me that children from divorced families do not talk this way.... When children of divorce did remember playing with friends as an important experience of childhood, the memories were from before the divorce... children of divorce have other, more pressing concerns. Is Mom all right? Is Dad going to pick me up tonight?..."
• "...divorce is a watershed that permanently alters their lives. The world is newly perceived as a far less reliable, more dangerous place... this new anxiety represents the end of childhood."
• "As every child of divorce told me, no matter how often they see their parents, the image of them together as a loving couple is forever lost... Unlike children from intact families, children of divorce in our study spoke very little about their parents' interaction... the parents' interaction was a black hold-- as if the couple had vanished from memory and the children's conscious inner life."

Wow, interesting, huh? Hopefully, I'll share more with you as I go; I'm on page 50 now, so I've just started.

Wowsa! Engagement Ring Found...

It's been quite a while since I've really blogged, so I think it's finally time to sit down and write. I'm finally feeling much much better (minus the rib and back pain) and my life is swinging back to normal. We're not there yet, but its getting closer.

The past few days have just been wild... I've wanted to share, but today I finally feel like I should write....

You'll never believe what happened to me today!

On my way out of my apartment building this morning, I found something next to my car on the ground: a big diamond engagement ring! It was between 3 and 4 carrots total... with 3 diamonds, in a platinum setting, with a gold trim. Beautiful ring!

Immediately, my mind began to race. How would I get the ring back to its owner? Who could I trust and how would I know?

First, I took the elevator back upstairs to the office in my building. I thought that I'd drop it off at the front desk as lost. Then, I realized... not everyone's honest-- and I'm not a huge fan of all of the staff in my building. So, I decided to take things into my own hands and turned on my heel, heading back to my car.

I put the diamond engagement ring in my purse with a plan to print "found ring" signs to hang in the lobby of the building. Then, I was off to work.

At lunch, I decided to drive to Pizza and a Movie on Harbor Town to return two movies that I should have taken back yesterday. Since I was already there, I decided to pick up sushi at Miss Cordelia's. After getting my food, I headed up to the checkout.

Just after paying my bill, I noticed a hand drawn sign that said "Lost Engagement Ring" with a sketch of the ring on it. It looked like it might have been the same ring.

I asked the clerk, "does this person live in X building?" and the clerk said, "no, but she did lose her ring. it must be hers." "Well, I'll talk to her," I said. "Who is she?" "She's a chef in the back," the lady replied.

"Hmm..." I thought, "this doesn't seem right... she doesn't live near me and she's a cook? I don't know if this could be the right person."

I then went to the back of the store, where I found this chef sitting outside, talking with a friend. They must have been mourning her loss.

I recognized the chef-- I spoke with her around two months ago. She was riding in an elevator in my building. She had parked near my car. She was there to teach a cooking class.

So, I went up and asked her where she lived... turns out she has a SECOND place in my building. She was just there recently.

At this point, I explained that this morning I found an engagement ring next to my car and I started to unzip my red purse. Just as I began to reach inside, the lady became very quite and her friend began to gasp.

When I pulled out the ring, the lady began to cry. Her friend began to confirm, "that's her ring! That's absolutely her ring!"

She was clearly in a little shock. After she had a moment, she said, "can I know your name?" Clearly this was a big moment for her. I left her with a business card.

A few thank yous and hugs later, I was on my way back to work. I was so relieved to have found the ring's proper owner.

The rest of the day went great.

Then, when I got home tonight, there were FLOWERS at my door! How fun-- she left me a thank you note and flowers saying "Angela! Many thank-you's for finding my Diamond Ring!! Thank you again!"

I had no expectations for a gift, but anyone who knows me KNOWS how much I LOVE flowers! (P.S. The flowers are from Gestures -- my favorite Memphis flower shop)

I wish I'd taken a photo of the ring, so that I could have shared it with you. It's pretty cool. I may have to share one of the flowers... we'll see.

Well, that's it. Pretty cool, huh? What a day filled with fate.

Memphis Bloggers: Free Tickets Anyone...?

Memphis Bloggers--



I have a group of free tickets to this upcoming performance this Friday at the Hi-Tone.





It's a concert that will help local bands make their way to South by Southwest this year.





Performers are: Snowglobe, Giant Bear, Jamie Randolph and the Bloodsuckers, Jump Back Jake, Holly Cole and DJ Witnesse.

Show starts @ 9 PM.

If you are a Memphis blogger and you would like free tickets, e-mail me at tickets@angiedawn.net.

Happy Valentines Day!

Google told to remove content from site

BRUSSELS, Belgium

Google Inc. lost a copyright lawsuit Tuesday to Belgian newspapers that had demanded it remove headlines and links to news stories posted without their permission. The ruling, if confirmed, could set a precedent for how Web search engines link to copyrighted material in the tumultuous arena of online news.

The company behind the world's most-used search engine immediately said it would appeal, claiming its Google News service was "entirely legal" and the Belgian decision was a one-time result that would not be repeated elsewhere.

The Brussels Court of First Instance ruled that California-based Google could not call on exemptions, such as claiming "fair use" because it says it reviews press articles when it displays headlines, a few lines of text, photos and links to the original page.

"Google is reproducing and publishing works protected by copyright," it said. "Google cannot call on any exceptions set out by law relating to copyright or similar rights."

For the entire article, go here: http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8N8VUPO0.htm.

Hello World!

I know, I know... it's been a while. Forgive me; I've been a little super-saturated with the internet lately.


I'm not sure how many times I can re-read TMZ and CNN; if you're behind, lots has been happening. Anna Nicole died, Justin T. had the flu, and Lindsey's back in rehab. Lol. Isn't it odd that TMZ has achieved full on news status? Not only that, since when is J.T.'s flu something we should be learning about on the major news networks? I've seen actual *news* programs quoting TMZ and interviewing their president (or whoever he is) way too much lately.


Well... back to reading US Weekly.... lol...


In other news, I haven't reviewed how people are finding my blog lately. I always think this is interesting. Here are a few of the latest phrases people typed into Google and Yahoo that land people here:

• Sinus cocktail (I'm apparently dominating on this phrase during this cold season!)
• Fun chocolate recipes (Happy V-Day!)
• Cute Angie (Hmm... there are a few of these...)
• Harry Bears Fried Peaches (A hometown favorite)
• Wangs Memphis Menu (You know, I don't think this is actually online...)
• Harry's Detour Downtown (Isn't it interesting how many food things I'm ranked for? Ha!)
• Rensselaer Medal Program (Hopefully, this is useful to someone...)
• Parvez Michel Gallery (Go Parvez!)

Okay, that's enough for today. Have a good night and if you haven't checked out Ballet Memphis lately, you should... they just wrapped up a FABULOUS performance this weekend:

Trey Bien!: Join the ovation and shout bravo when the company performs two revivals and one world premiere by Trey McIntyre, who marks his fifth anniversary as resident choreographer of Ballet Memphis this seasons.

Help Get the Vote Out for Memphis!

Please let everyone know about the voting for "$40 A Day" in Memphis episode on Rachel Ray's Tasty Travels!

Click here to vote:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/show_ad/

We’re behind. Vote, Vote, Vote!

You're Invited: Net Impact Professional Chapter Membership Kick-Off @ EP's Delta Kitchen

Dear friends,

You are invited to attend the Net Impact Professional Chapter Membership Kick-Off on Thursday, February 8th at EP’s Delta Kitchen and Bar!

I have included the details below. Feel free to repost this message and to invite friends!

See you soon,
Angie

What: Join the charter Net Impact Professional Chapter at EP’s Delta Kitchen and Bar on Beale Street for our exciting Membership Kick-Off!
Net Impact is a national organization whose members create positive social, economic, and environmental change through business. More importantly, Net Impact connects members to others who want to do the same! We’ll have drink specials, networking, and a wonderful new professional organization to introduce you to. In addition, all new members will receive a coupon for EP’s Delta Kitchen!

When: Thursday, February 8th @ 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM (If you can't make it until after 5:30, not to worry. We'll be networking until 7:30, then a group will stick around for for dinner.)

Where: EP’s Delta Kitchen and Bar
126 Beale Street, Memphis, TN 38103
(901) 527-1444

More Information: http://www.memphisnetimpact.org/

RSVP: rsvp@memphisnetimpact.org

Affiliate Summit-- Revenue Today and Schedule

A special thanks goes out to Revenue Today, who linked to me this week for writing about the Affiliate Summit. Revenue brands itself as "the performance marketing standard." It's a marketer's guide to permission marketing and personal search.

This link motivates me to follow up on my previous post and share with you what I enjoyed at the conference.

To start with, here are are the sessions that I attended at the Affiliate Summit in Las Vegas:

• Marketing Your Affiliate Site - Outside of the Box
• Mobile Phone Affiliate Marketing
• Ask the Experts: Super Affiliates
• Bloggers-- The New Super Affiliates
• Optimizing Landing Pages
• Affiliate 2.0: Discover Ten Top New Webtrends

I'll post notes from a few of the sessions in later posts.

Google Patents-- Check It Out!

I found a completely cool and very useful thing today: Google Patents!

Google has compiled the whole collection of public patents from the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

There have been around 7 million patents issued by the USPTO.

This site would have been extremely useful during my engineering studies at RPI.

Here's a fun patent for lipstick.

Macy's Waiting Line Online - What are they thinking??

What's Up With Me -- A Quick Summary: Sick, Affiliate Summit, Las Vegas, & More!

As I've been noticing that my readership is growing, my guilt for not posting for over a week has started to mount at a proportionate rate.

This is the short of it: First of all, I've been sick... really sick. And, I was tired of ranting about it, so I just stopped writing.

Here's one last set of details--

I'm in week 5 of being sick (not including my short stint in November) and I'm about as sick of talking about it as actually feeling bad. I've been to the doctor 4 times, had my blood drawn 4 times, had 3 antibiotics, 3 cough medicines, 2 shots, 2 X-Rays, 1 sleeping medicine, 1 mucas thinner, 1 inhaler, 1 pain killer... and around 5 or 6 bags of cough drops.

Needless to say, I can't remember having been sick for such a long period. It's been a real challenge. I've lost my voice on more than one occasion, and I've been coughing non-stop.

I basically have a super sinus infection and broncitious. Oh yeah, and my ribs are inflamed now from all the coughing... so now I have pain to deal with for a while. I think that my body is essentially re-adjusting to being back in Memphis. It's much more humid here than Los Angeles.

I'm beginning to feel better. But as you can imagine, I'm just TIRED of it all. So between you and me, I'm done being sick. ;-) I'm going to do my best not to talk about it anymore here.

With that... NEW TOPIC--

I just flew back tonight from Las Vegas. I was at the Affiliate Summit on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday.

The Affiliate Summit was a great chance to meet other people who are on the cutting edge of internet marketing-- and to absorb new creative internet marketing ideas.

I flew out to Las Vegas on Friday night and met up with BoRyan. We stayed at Neil's place, which was noteably well decorated! Thanks Neil!

BoRyan was also sick on Friday when we met up, so we became Neil's excuse to stay in. At one point, he told someone we were "sick as dogs." :-) At least someone got some mileage out of it. Hehe.

I should probably share more with you about the Affiliate Summit, but I'm going to wrap it up for now and work on Net Impact. In case you haven't heard, I'm launching a professional Net Impact chapter in Memphis! We are the FIRST professional chapter in the entire state of Tennessee!

Our Memphis Net Impact kickoff event is going to be held on Thursday, February 8th at Elvis Presley's Delta Kitchen. If you've been meaning to try EP's, this is your chance! We'll have drink specials, networking, and a wonderful new professional organization to introduce you to!

I hope to see you again soon. I'll do my best to get back into the swing of things here.

:-) Angie

Get Well Soon...

I'm renaming this blog post. I've heard that my title of "testing" is confusing.

I was actually planning to delete this post, but since I got a cute comment, I'm going to keep it.

In case you were wondering, I was testing out Google video. I made this homemade movie clip of the "Get Well Soon" gift BoRyan sent me last week.

Since he couldn't be with me in Memphis while I was sick, he did the next best thing. He FedEx'd me snacks!

THANK YOU! :-)

Wang's to the Rescue!

If you live in Downtown Memphis, you know that getting food delivered is next to impossible if you don't want Papa John's Pizza.

My favorite delivery restaurant in Memphis is Wang's Mandarin House. They have great food, free delivery, and are inexpensive. Wang's has been voted Best Chinese Restaurant by Memphis Magazine and Memphis Flyer for 23 years in a row. Someone knew what they were talking about!

My one challenge with Wang's is finding enough food to meet their $15.00 minimum purchase for delivery. If I was going to have one problem, this is the one I'd choose. Tonight, I'm going to have sweet and sour shrimp, crab ragoons, egg drop soup, and 7-up. Whoo hoo!

If you're finding yourself hungry in Memphis, be sure to check them out:
Wang's Mandarin House
113 S. Main Street, Memphis
(901) 523-2066

They're Growing Up!!

I have 16-year old twin brothers who are identical and live outside of Oklahoma City. Since they were born, I've been about the same size (as you'll see below). They have been growing up before my eyes, and after a recent photo, I feel compelled to share it with you:

Before:

Chris, Nick (check out his tiny RPI shirt!), and two friends

Nick, Chris, Me

After:

Chris

Nick and Lauren

All together now.... AWWWWWEEEE!! :-)

A Few Notes

I stayed home from work today. I didn't fall asleep until probably 4 AM this morning because my ribs are hurting me. I've just been sick for so long, that my body is giving in. Today, I'm staying in bed and I hope to feel better soon. I may have to stay in bed the entire weekend to build up my strength. Anyway, hopefully it's almost over.

Last night, I went to Drinking Liberally for the first time. It was at Dish and I went with Serrabee. Other than that I couldn't talk, it was a great time. I definitely want to go back again.

Afterward, I headed over to TJ Mulligans at the Pinch for trivia. Our little team started at around 6 people and over the two-hour game, grew to 14 people. It was a little chaotic, but fun. We again had a great team, but this time, we had pop culture covered. In the end, we only got one question wrong and got first place by a big lead. We won a gift certificate for $50! Unfortunately, I guess that the other people in the bar were suspicious of us or something because they told the bar that we were cheating. This was disheartening for me because we never cheated, and wouldn't cheat. Either way, we got to keep our prize and the night worked out. I should note that I drank a ton last night -- a ton of hot tea! I've never had hot tea at a bar, especially not 3 or 4 cups.

Like I said, today I'm relaxing. If I feel up to it, I may blog a little...

Still sick, healthcare, and more...

The verdict is officially in..................................I'm STILL SICK!

If you have been within earshot (or blog's reach) of me in the last month, you probably already knew this. I have been fighting it like crazy and I've almost won, but we're doing one more round in the ring, just for fun.

Today, as part of the "fun" associated with my doctor visit / physical, I had the following: a chest x-ray, an EKG, a urine sample, and a blood sample. Oh yeah, and I couldn't eat beforehand. If you know me, you know that I don't do the day without breakfast. I just don't!

The good news:
* I do NOT have psnemonia
* I do NOT have mono (My little brother was diagnosed last week with the stuff, so I had to be sure... despite not even giving him a kiss on his 16 year old cheek.)

The bad news:
* I still have my sinus infection :-(
* My ribs, back, and shoulders are beginning to be in a considerable amount of pain from all the coughing I've done over the past month.
* My weight today was higher than ever before in my life (I'm hoping maybe I was wearing really heavy clothes... :-) )

The doctor gave me much stronger drugs this time. They must be, because they cost way more too!

So much more in fact that this afternoon, my phone rang. It was Visa's fraud detection department. They wanted to let me know that someone had made an unusually large purchase at Walgreens today in this place I don't typically make purchaes in a place called "German...(pause)...town".

Hahahahaha!! Finally, a beaken of light and happiness in my day!

Lets be clear though, Germantown has some kick ass shopping to be had. Love me some Saddle Creek!

Maybe this entire experience was really to teach me something about myself....

I need to get out and go shopping!

(P.S. I am NOT contagious. I've been on medicine for weeks now. If you see me, be kind and please know that I won't get you sick too.)

Cute Video

Linked In to Guy Kawasaki

I really enjoy reading Guy Kawasaki's blog, How to Change the World.

This week, he addressed LinkedIn and ten ways to use it. If you haven't heard of LinkedIn, you should try it - especially if you're in Memphis. LinkedIn has so many great advantages; it is an amazing networking tool and can fast forward your interview process.

So far, most of my contacts are on the east and west coasts. Memphis, this is your chance - check out Guy Kawasaki's blog and give LinkedIn a try!

Which Superhero Are You? I Am Supergirl

Your results:
You are Supergirl
Lean, muscular and feminine.
Honest and a defender of the innocent.



Click here to take the Superhero Personality Quiz

A Blog I Read: The Homeless Guy

I read a blog that you should check out: The Homeless Guy. You may have heard of him before-- he's quite famous. Kevin Barbieux, the Homeless Guy, lives in Nashville where he writes about his daily trials of being homeless.

Kevin writes in his blog lately about being sick and how challenging it can be to spend time with others while you're coughing. If you've been around me in the last two weeks, you know that I can relate to this.

He also writes about what it's like to live a life with limited choices... or maybe finding the path to choice again.

Here's a exceprt from a piece about Kevin from USAToday.com (from 2003). I do hope you'll take a few moments to visit his blog, and maybe consider donating a few dollars to his cough medicine fund via PayPal. :-)

It's just after 9 a.m., and most of the computers at the Nashville Public Library downtown are occupied, as usual, by the homeless. They're a ragged group in knit caps and ratty coats, hunched over their keyboards. Most spent the night at the shelter a mile down the road, or shivering in camps just outside of town. Now they're pointing and clicking their way through cyberspace.

Kevin Barbieux, 41, a mild-mannered veteran of the streets, slides into his seat and pecks out the address to his Web site.

Five months ago, Barbieux, started a Web log about his life. His goals for the "blog" were modest. Mainly, he wanted to show people a different side to homelessness.

But a strange thing happened. Barbieux's site took off. What started as a few dozen hits a day grew to a few hundred a day, then a few thousand. At last count, more than 195,000 people from around the world have visited, and the number continues to grow.

Barbieux is now trying to get his life together. He wants to get off the streets for good.

Trouble is, he's not sure if he can leave that life behind.

Shy and professorial, Barbieux doesn't look homeless. He dresses neatly — usually in jeans, an oversize golf shirt and a heavy coat — and keeps his graying beard trimmed. He ambles around town in a new pair of $10 boots from Wal-Mart. He almost never drinks.

Thanks FashionTribes!

I want to give a special thank you to Fashiontribes blog, who was listed my Angie's Adventures blog in their blogroll of favorite blogs, FT Faves.

Fashion Tribes is a daily fashion column that keeps up to date on the trials and tribulations of the fashion world.

Thanks Fashiontribes!

Birthday Pictures Posted

I have finally posted the pictures from the November 2006 trip that BoRyan & I took to Kauai, Hawaii to celebrate our birthdays.

You can find the photos here: http://angiedawn.shutterfly.com

You'll need a password. It's the name of the school where I most recently studied.

Have fun!

Angie

Restaurant Coupons at Restaurant.com

Restaurant coupons you should check out: http://www.restaurant.com/

An Amazing New Restaurant

I found an amazing new restaurant in Downtown Memphis this week. Since eating there, no other food compares. The place that you just have to try is Encore.

I had the beef wellington and my friend had the duck. It did take a little while for the food to arrive, so they boxed up some carmelized pumpkin cheesecake with pear confit for me. It was amazing! To see their full menu, visit encore-memphis.com.

The chef at Encore was previously the chef at Chez Phillipe, another great Memphis eatery.

They're open for lunch Tuesday - Friday and dinner on Tuesday - Sunday. Although you don't need reservations, they are available. And, they also have take out.

The one suggestion that I have is to enter from the street. If you enter from inside Peabody Place (like I did), you have to walk through the entire place to get to the server. Nobody is there to explain this, so it can be a little uncomfortable.

Happy eating!

Rensselaer Medal Program

My undergraduate school, RPI, offers this scholarship for high school juniors:

For more than 85 years, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, in conjunction with high schools around the world, has awarded the Rensselaer Medal. This is awarded to promising secondary school juniors who have distinguished themselves in mathematics and science. The responsibility for selecting the Rensselaer Medalist belongs to faculty and staff within the participating secondary school.

The Medal was first presented in 1916 with two purposes: to recognize the superlative academic achievement of young men and women, and to motivate students toward careers in science, engineering, and technology. This $15,000 per year merit scholarship is guaranteed for four years (five years for the School of Architecture program) for each medalist who is accepted and chooses to enroll at Rensselaer.

For more information, visit: http://admissions.rpi.edu/update.do?artcenterkey=1&setappvar=page(1)

Harvard University Free Tuition Announcement

Harvard University has announced that from now on undergraduate students from low-income families will pay no tuition. In making the announcement, Harvard's president Lawrence H. Summers said, "When only 10 percent of the students in Elite higher education come from families in lower half of the income distribution, we are not doing enough. We are not doing enough in bringing elite higher education to the lower half of the income distribution."

If you know of a family earning less than $60,000 a year with an honor student graduating from high school soon, Harvard University wants to pay the tuition. The prestigious university recently announced that from now on undergraduate students from low-income families can go to Harvard for free ... no tuition and no student loans! In addition, Harvard announces reduced fees for students from families with incomes between $60,000 and $80,000.

To find out more about Harvard offering free tuition for families making less than $60,000 a year visit Harvard's financial aid website at:

http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/daily/2006/03/30-finaid.html or call the school's financial aid office at (617) 495-1581.

I was right - Sinus Cocktail!

A few people have searched Google the past few days for "what is a sinus cocktail" and "sinus cocktail" and have landed on my blog.

Surprise-- they were all from Memphis!

The sinus cocktail is a Memphis thing. :-)

In Praise of Memphis

A great blog post about Memphis can be found here: http://fearlessvk.blogspot.com/2006/12/in-praise-of-memphis.html

Here's an excerpt:

Sense of Place: Many mid-size cities feel like Anytown, USA, with no distinctive sense of place or history. Memphis positively oozes its sense of place from every pore of the city, from the juke joints and hole-in-the-wall BBQ restaurants and the National Civil Rights Museum to Burke's Bookstore showcasing Southern literature and the countless art galleries showcasing Southern folk art. The colors, the smells, the architecture - everything testifies to Memphis' soul, and pays allegiance to its history. The challenge, of course, is to pay allegiance to history in a way that is not hopelessly nostalgic and reactionary, but my sense is that Memphis is self-aware about the challenge and does a better job than many other cities of embracing its past, scars and warts and all. In Memphis, I can walk down the street and feel surrounded by ghosts and memories and struggles.

A Different Kind of Beauty: Finding the beautiful in Memphis forces us to reconceptualize beauty itself. No, the beauty won't come from an architecturally dazzling new contemporary arts museum or from rolling green hills. But it will come instead from the unknown bluesman on the corner (of which there really are many), the every-one-is-unique knobs on the gates to the National Ornamental Metal Museum, the faded signs on the sides of so many abandoned buildings, and even the quasi-existential sight of more cargo planes than you can imagine loading and unloading at the Memphis International Airport in a surreal spectacle of the inner cogs of a global economy laying themselves bare. People who can find beauty in this city are unusual, idiosyncratic, and have cultivated a different way of seeing from the ordinary modern American vision - these are people I want to know, and I want to learn to see like them.

The Times They Are A-Changing: For all my griping about the cosmetic nature of downtown revitalization and the poverty of vision (or concern) regarding the zip codes where tourists never tread, there is no doubt that Memphis has transformed rather dramatically and will continue to transform itself as the years go by. This is a fascinating process to watch - how neighborhoods are built, how demographic composition changes, how cities and developers and citizens interact and negotiate and wrestle over the details of this transformation. Memphis is therefore a city that sparks imagination and vision - knowing that downtown might look completely different in 5 years, provokes us all to imagine how it will look, what it should look like, who will be touched by these changes. A professor at the University of Memphis told me that when he arrived in Memphis nearly 15 years ago, there was basically nowhere to eat but fast-food restaurants, BBQ joints, and Chinese buffets. That is a remarkable transformation indeed, and I think not just cosmetic. Wanting to experience different cuisines marks a kind of cultural curiosity and creativity that is a good sign of things to come.

The True DIY Culture: Once upon a time, I was young, stupid, and really into punk rock. (Now I am older, hopefully slightly less stupid, and more enamored of post-punk - the more things change....) The buzz acronym at the time was D.I.Y. - Do It Yourself - start your own band, write your own zine, put together your own record label, sew your own clothes, organize your own protests, blah blah blah. But really, I don't mean to mock, because for all its adolescence and narcissism and naiveté, the DIY ethic is a commendable one. And in Memphis, where cultural creativity exists, where political dissent exists, where writers and readers and artists and musicians gather - the spirit is necessarily a DIY spirit, because unless you're William Eggleston (whom I adore, just to be clear), you won't be in the national spotlight, the cultural overseers won't deign to notice you, unless they do so in a moment of extreme condescension, and you certainly won't make big bucks in this river town. But I really do think that makes the creative, artistic, and intellectual communiites of Memphis unique - uniquely self-motivated and uniquely idealistic. I've been enormously impressed by some of the people I've met in this city, struggling for all the right reasons aganst a wall of ignorance, complacency, and oblivion. Their spirit reminds me of my old adolescent idols, people I've long ceased to think about - and I really appreciate Memphis for reinvigorating that part of me and reminding me of the struggles worth fighting.

Remember the Main Article - Memphis Daily News

I thought I would take a moment to write a quick post beore running off to work today. I recently met up with an old Mpact Memphis friend who has been working on a proposal for a development project in downtown Memphis.

The proposal is for a $43 M apartment building along South Main. It would include quite a bit of retail space and a parking garage as well.

I was excited to hear about this proposal because upon my return to Memphis, I found very few options. Most of the places that were once apartments have been renovated and are now upscale condo buildings. When my apartment came onto the market, I snached it off the day it posted. This used to be something I had only heard of in LA or NYC, but right now, there are so few options in downtown Memphis that I see it happening here too.

And, it just so happens that my apartment is a condo... so even my apartment isn't exactly an apartment.

I guess my story made an impact because I'm the "old friend" in this article about the development project. You can find the original version here: http://www.memphisdailynews.com/Editorial/StoryLead.aspx?id=95655

I hope their project is chosen; good luck! :-)

I have placed a few excerpts for you below:

Remember the Main
New development team wants to build $43 million complex at Main and Gayoso
by Andy Meek

In the midst of guiding the development partnership he helped assemble to create what could become the largest African-American-led project ever in Downtown Memphis, Darrell Cobbins heard from an old friend recently.

She told him about her impending move back to Memphis and all but reaffirmed the untapped market for the multimillion-dollar mixed-use project Cobbins' team wants to develop at a key site along Main Street.

Operating as Riverside Partners, the developers have submitted plans to build a $43 million, 20-story apartment and commercial building at the corner of Main Street and Gayoso Avenue. The proposal calls for, among other features, the inclusion of six efficiency apartments, 118 one-bedroom and 78 two-bedroom apartments at the site.

Cobbins and the rest of his team - mostly young black professionals who have tapped some major financial backing for their project - say they believe rental opportunities at top-quality apartment developments Downtown are quickly drying up. Yet demand for them remains intense.

One example is the recent search by Cobbins' friend, who moved back to Memphis within the past month.

"She had to rent an apartment online, sight unseen, just to go ahead and grab it because she couldn't find an apartment anywhere Downtown, and she wanted to live Downtown," said Cobbins, an associate with the Memphis-based commercial real estate firm Commercial Advisors LLC.

...

And in addition to apartments, the team also is planning 14,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space and 390 parking spaces. There's been talk of adding a concierge in the lobby of the development, which will be called Riverview at Gayoso.

...

A roof garden also has been added to the design for the top story, a feature that gives panoramic views of the Downtown skyline and the river.

....

Officials with the CCC's Downtown Parking Authority still are evaluating proposals from the four development teams that submitted plans for the site a few weeks ago.

To read the entire article, go here:
http://www.memphisdailynews.com/Editorial/StoryLead.aspx?id=95655