Who does not like to be charmed rather than being conquered by force?
Is money overated?
Does romance and poetry wins over muscles?
Happy Valentine's day 2009
The French Guy from New Jersey
On February 12, leave your cubicle, laptop, computer behind and join us in Montclair for the New Jersey Metro Twestival (Twitter meets Festival).
For 10 Bucks you will have a chance to meet great people you never know existed in your backyard, grab a bite hopefully (if some sponsors step up to the plate) and maybe hear the sound of music if any local talent joins us.
Best of all all of your $10 will go to a good deed named Charity: Water to help finance clean water projects where they are needed.
All these good deeds could not happen if The Writers Loft had not offered to host the event.
Thank you Kirsten
The reservation page and more details will be available on Saturday, February 7.
Want to sponsor this event or offer food and beverages or spread the word in old or new media, let us know...
Listening to Robert Egger, the founder of DC Central Kitchen share his participation in Inauguration 2009 on Tell Me More, brought back to mind how often non-profits make miracles happen with little but passion and faith in what they are doing.
DC Central Kitchen which helps feed the poor and those in needs in the nation capital celebrated its 20th Anniversary on January 20th.
Give them a hand if you can.
Your food going to waste can be someone's meal.
Less an hour before an historic event takes place here in America, let me revisit a few things that captured my attention along the way to this day, my Barack stories.
If you are in DC experiencing the events firsthand, a Washable Map of the Obama Inaugural, An Instant Collectors Item? might come handy.
Going out to eat for lunch or dinner Will your Restaurant serve Barack of Lamb or Crepes Michelle on Inauguration Day? or any other dish.
Far away cities are riding the Obama wave.
Is Obama City, New Tourist Hot Spot? Obama = Little Beach in Japanese and after Barack Obama's Kenyan Family Celebrated by Slaughtering bulls will they benefit? They got connected to the electric grid I heard.
Music was on the menu during the campaign with Vote Early, Rock Late in Ohio with Devo, Breeders (Oct 16-17) and These United States in Frisco (Oct 15) not to forget The Dead endorses Obama! Where does Wolfgang Puck stands?
Let's conclude with this Halloween treat Creative not Bitter, Yes We Carve, Halloween 2008
Enjoy the celebration and a taste of Hope.
It has been suggested in many corners that on this Martin Luther King Day 2009 we all think of ways to give back to our community with A Day of Service.
The idea has been swirling around my brain for the past couple of days.
On a small scale as the sidewalks, steps and driveway of my house were snow covered and my landlady is a bit older than me I thought that a simple act of neighborliness would be to clear them.
On a wider scale, taking a look at my readers stats via Google Analytics made me realize that my community is near and far away with readers on all continents in 86 countries and communities and in 40 plus languages.
So how can I give back to the community.
Very simple, I pledge to give back 5% of the income derived from my blogging activities (advertising, t-shirts and whatever else it might be) in the year 2009.
The more readers I have, the more income I have, the more (in dollar and cents) I will give back.
Borrowing an idea or two from Causewired (the book), I will ask you all to vote on what ideas, causes I should use the funds for.
One will be local (New Jersey), another US based, the third one could be anywhere on the planet.
Feel free to make some suggestions.
I will set up the poll in the next 10 days.
Josh Levy offers some Winning Ideas for Change in America (January 17, Change.org)
Related: All For More Gals in Tech, Just Signed Up for 'Ada Lovelace Day'
I am not sure I agree with Duncan Bartlett byline for Rent-a-friend in Japan (BBC, January 12) that 'Japanese still like to use their money to have fun'.
This segment of From our own correspondent starts with a visit to Cat Cafes where for a fee time pressed Japanese can enjoy the company of our furry friends for a short time without ownership drawbacks such as cleaning litter and and other inconveniences.
As for the trend to hire people for companionship. He notes that "very popular at the moment is the Campus Cafe, where men go to socialise with female university students. It is cheaper than the upscale hostess clubs in which businessmen and politicians drink whisky with women in kimono."
Feels like the Lonely Hearts Club to me...
Another service whose name translates to "I Want To Cheer Up Limited" rents relatives.
From getting a partner to tag along for a social function to supplying single moms a 'dad' to help kids with homework to the strange idea of renting a husband to future brides so they can practice beforehand.
Yoko Kubota (Christian Science Monitor) covered this trend in Tokyo's cat cafes offer serenity in the city (April 2008). She mentions that it cost from $8 to $12 an hour for an hour sipping tea or coffee in the company of cats.
Is companionship without commitment the future?
Pondering, wondering for Tokyo Thursdays # 72
Previously: Vin Chaud in Tokyo at Bar Radio
What's happening in the Typepad sphere is not all tech tips, marketing and all, there are also people using their 'megaphone' to do good deeds as many of us did in December with Menu for Hope 5.
A good example of that is David Armano of Logic+Emotion who started the Daniella's Apartment Fund to help a young mother of 3 get back on her feet and put a roof over their head.
So far it raised over $15,000 via 500 donors.
The call to action runs until February 5th.
It is a live illustration of what Tom Watson explores in CauseWired (Wiley) with the headline of 'Plugging In, Getting Involved, Changing the World'...a program by itself.
Funny coincidence that I just got a copy of his book in the mail a couple of days ago as a thank you for my participation in Blog Action Day 2008 on October 15.
I just wish it was graced by a better cover.
Related: All For More Gals in Tech, Just Signed Up for 'Ada Lovelace Day'
Blame it on us in the US for pushing aside the fairycake, the traditional British staple at birthday parties in favor of the new darling, well not so new here in America, the cupcake.
Or so says Zoe Williams in The rise of the cupcake (Guardian, January 8, 2009).
She notes that "when Pearl Lowe got married a few weeks ago, it was with cupcakes and canapes. Kate Moss was there. So there's a possibility, albeit a slim one, that Moss has eaten one."
It all goes back she writes to the 1996 opening of the famous Magnolia Bakery on Bleecker Street (New York).
Sam of Becks and Posh offered A 'Fairy' Easy Fairy Cake Recipe back in May of 2006.
Is it the beginning of the end or should we say that what went up must come down?
You decide.
Related: Frou Frou...Romance her with Cupcakes on February 14
It took my following them on Twitter to find out that the people at Rand McNally are offering visitors to the Obama Inaugural (on January 20th) a "waterproof, tear-proof microfiber map (picture from their blog) details the presidential inauguration site and parade route as well as the Mall and other historic places" in Washington DC.
This is part of their fabMAP series.
Those not making the trip to DC might purchase it as a souvenir item.
Will the colors fade before the memories?
The fabMAP concept makes sense also for bike riders and other outdoor enthusiasts.
I have not used any of them yet.
You can even wipe your mirrors, eyeglasses and I guess your windshield with it.
This is not an advertising plank disguised as a blog post in case you worried.
I just thought the idea made sense.
Some of the videos for a promotional contest for the fabMap through their I Never Get Lost site are a bit cheesy though.
Is it recyclable?
Not sure.
Related: Google Maps Lost Me, Rand McNally Online Directions Are Spot On!
She might have passed the 60 Years Mark yet Grace Jones knows how to get some attention.
The Artwork for her new album Hurricane turned the Diva into Edible Chocolate (at least I assume they are) Parts (Head, Arms and Legs)...
See the result above (photography by Jonathan de Villiers) as showcased in Grace Jones in Chocolate (by Mark of CR Blog (December 10, 2008).
I cannot say for sure that all the parts showcased in the picture are Grace...
Found my way to Grace Chocolate Factory thanks to Adam Kuban mention on Serious Eats
Miranda Sawyer (The Guardian) offered State of Grace (October 2008) a colorful interview of Miss Jones.
Somehow related: Inspiration Delivered to Your Mailbox: Stack, Each Month a Different Mag
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