Before we get too carried away with the cupcake-snarking I'd like to reiterate that that was a retweet. Also, Team @muddysbakeshop +
Culture, curiosity and life in Memphis, Tenn.
March 9th, 2010 § 1
This story is totally ridiculous. Lindsay Lohan is suing E-Trade for $100 million because the baby in the latest (and funniest) talking baby ad is named Lindsay and the fact that she is a “milkaholic” is defamatory. I didn’t think it was about her when I first saw the ads. Heck, the idea didn’t even cross my mind. But now that you mention it, LiLo…
March 7th, 2010 § 0
Since I last brought it up I’ve gotten over my beef with the library. I go online, search for what I want to check out (usually a few selections from my Goodreads “to-read” list) and see what’s available at my branch. Then I drive to the central branch and check out my selections, because my local branch inevitably doesn’t carry what I want. It’s OK; it’s only a couple miles down the road. And at least I can drop books off at my branch when I’m done.
However, I still have one complaint.
The library’s Web site. It kinda sucks. But in fairness, I did check out some other cities‘ libraries‘ sites and they aren’t much better. Some are prettier, sure, but no more user-friendly.
My number one issue is that I have to enter my library card number to access my account. It’s 13 digits long. I’m no coder but it seems it’d be incredibly easy to allow a user to choose an I.D. to associate with his or her account, as I’ve done this with other services. This way users don’t have to either a) memorize yet another number or b) keep their wallets handy whenever they want to access the library’s Web site.
Basically, it would be cool if the library’s Web site was more like Amazon’s. Amazon can tell me every single thing I’ve purchased since 2002. It makes recommendations based on what I’ve purchased and even what I’ve viewed. If the last thing I checked out was The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, maybe the library could tell me, based on what other people who’ve checked out that same book have selected, what I may also enjoy? Maybe even allow me to maintain a wishlist that I can pull up whenever I’m at the library (possibly even imported from my “to-read” Goodreads shelf).
Which brings me to…. smartphone apps. Washington DC’s public library has an iPhone app that enables users to store their account information, search the card catalog and place holds on books. Ideally it would have most of the functionality of the Web site and possibly display an image of a user’s barcode (a la CardStar or even the Starbucks card app) so all he would have to do is hold out his phone to check out a book. Also it would make coffee and pick up prescriptions.
March 3rd, 2010 § 0
My office is two blocks away from the Blue Cross building. When I turn from Danny Thomas onto Jefferson there is always a covey of smokers huddled up on the curb, I assume because they’re required to stand a certain distance from the entrance.
I always wonder if they lied on their health insurance forms.
March 2nd, 2010 § 0
Today I happened upon the most obnoxious paragraph I think I’ve ever read. Someone posted a link to this article on Twitter about the uproar in Brooklyn over people bringing their babies in to bars.
Here it is:
This ban on buggies in a neighborhood where “kids rule” caused an “uproar,” said Erica Reitman, the 36-year-old married — but not a “breeder,” she insists — marketing director who is behind the blog F****ed in Park Slope. “There wasn’t a march on the street, but there could have been. [Union Hall] relented under pressure and got rid of the policy.”
Is this real? What kind of yankee skulduggery is this? I hope this woman read this article aloud so she could hear how much she sounds like a vapid asshole. The country’s in two wars and a “GREAT RECESSION” and these yuppies are threatening to march over the right to bring babies into bars? Talk about first-world problems.
Down south we argue whether firearms should be allowed in bars. How’s that for some parity?
February 22nd, 2010 § 0
I am currently obsessed with Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros’ first album “Up from Below,” which came out last summer. After watching their Tiny Desk Concert I’m now determined to see them live. And it took about .03 seconds for me to develop a massive girlcrush on Jade Castrinos. I love the way she and Alex look at each other when they’re singing. So happy and heartwarming and fun. I also love that she changes hats.
February 19th, 2010 § 1
Generous portions of baked and fried catfish, vinegar slaw, green beans, hush puppies and onion rings from Holy Rosary’s fish fry.
Lately I’ve noticed a few search hits to my 2009 compilation of Lenten fish fries, so I thought I’d post an updated version for this year. My last two trips to church were for a wedding and a funeral, so I’m not exactly your model congregant. But as I said last time, Lenten fish fries are welcome to anyone. They don’t check for a Certificate of Catholicism at the door and the money goes to charitable causes, so why not? The fish is usually pretty good, too.
So, without further ado:
Holy Rosary, Park Ave. just west of the Mt. Moriah intersection in East Memphis
Every Friday during Lent, 6-8 p.m. in the school cafeteria
$8/adult $6/child $25/family; fried and baked catfish available.
This is the one I usually go to because a) it’s closest to my house and b) they have really cheap canned beer. Get there early because there is always a line. Also, parking kinda sucks.
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Central at Belvedere in Midtown
Every Friday during Lent following the Stations of the Cross, which is at 5:30. There are 14 stations so I’d say get there at about 6:30. Presented by the Knights of Columbus. Their Web site and bulletin don’t provide more detail than that, so if you know more, please post in comments.
Church of the Incarnation, Collierville, on Bray Station north of Poplar
Every Friday except Good Friday, 5-7 p.m.
All-you-can-eat soup, salad, baked potato bar; fried, batter-fried and baked fish, hushpuppies, vegetables, mac & cheese, desserts and drinks
$8/adult $4/child $30 max per family.
Proceeds benefit Youth Ministry Pilgrimages and other community causes; sponsored by the KofC
I’ve never been to this one but I have to say it sounds pretty appetizing. They always do it up fancy out there in the ‘burbs.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Germantown, Poplar at Kimbrough
Feb 19 and 26, Mar. 12 and 19, starting at 5 p.m. in St. Therese Hall (or as they called it in my day, the “Great Hall”)
All-you-can eat catfish for $9.50 or all-you-can-eat pizza for $4.50
Presented by the Men’s Club and benefitting the “youth of our parish”
Even though it’s kinda steep – I think it’s because they cater their food – I got love for OLPH’s Fish Fry. My dad was in the Men’s Club and they are some rad folks.
Church of the Resurrection, Hickory Hill
I’ve never been here so here’s a map. These folks are mixing it up with a ravioli dinner. Not sure if it’s a weekly thing, but there is one tonight (2/19) at 7:30. St. Paul’s in Whitehaven is also getting creative with a soup supper following their 6 p.m. stations, but their bulletin doesn’t give many details.
St. Ann Bartlett, Stage Road in Bartlett
This appears to be weekly. $7 for adults and $3 for children 12 and under. Dinner starts at 6:00pm and ends at 7:00pm in the cafeteria. I attended Mass a few times here when I was living at the Arbors and it’s a pretty nice church. I can’t speak for the cafeteria though.
St. Francis of Assissi, Corner of Chimneyrock and Germantown Rd. in Cordova
5:00-6:45 p.m. in the Family Life Center, sponsored by the KofC; I assume weekly
$7/adult $3/child $25 max per family.
St. Louis Church, White Station at Shady Grove in East Memphis
5-8 p.m. in the school cafeteria, Feb. 19 and 26 and March 19. Sponsored by the Men’s Club
Parking is pretty tough at this one too.
St. Patrick’s, Fourth and Pontotoc right by the FedExForum downtown
Every Friday during Lent from 5-7:30 p.m.
$7 with vegetarian options available. It looks like they show a film too, from 6:45 -8:15. That’s not enough time to screen the Passion of the Christ, which is encouraging.
St. William’s, 4932 Easley Avenue in Millington
According to their Facebook page, every Friday of Lent from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Family Life Center. Sponsored by the KofC.
Again, if you have more details on any of these or on one held by the many parishes with dismal web presences, please leave any relevant info in the comments.
February 16th, 2010 § 1
With my iPhone, this blog, my Twitter and Facebook accounts, and now this handy little guy, I like to fancy myself as something of a citizen journalist. Of course, I’m a journalist “by training,” so says my diploma – but I always preferred the reporting part to the information-gathering part. In other words, I hated interviewing.
But if I happen to witness something I get a big rush from being the one who gets to put it out there, like when the fabric store near my house burned down and my pictures were on Twitter before any news crews made the scene.
Friday night our search for a bar to replace Dish as our weekend hangout led us to the Bayou, which has a laid-back atmosphere, big TVs and some pretty legit gumbo. I went in to order while Brian stayed outside and talked to some people he knew. A few minutes went by, and he called me to say he’d walked across the street to check out the fire at Sidestreet. So I ran out there with my little Flip cam and took some video. And I tweeted what was going on.
And yes, I concede that it is a little weird that I’ve been witness to two serious blazes in the past year. I guess I’m just lucky.
Anyway, I got a call Monday from a reporter from one of the local television stations who’d seen my video on Facebook and wondered if they could use it and if I maybe could give a soundbite. So I did. And I won’t again.
The whole thing just made me a little sad. Not because the bar’s gone – I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve been there. I just couldn’t help thinking back to my j-school days, going back and forth with video-averse professors.
“They have the upper hand on us, because they can distribute news immediately. We have to wait ’til the next morning.”
“BUT they don’t have time to interview and fact-check – we get more time to build a stronger story.”
And now the guys who used to have the “upper hand” are asking lil’ ole’ me if they can use some video I posted on my Facebook page and get some quotes – three days later.
It’s just easier to carry on as a roving news vigilante than it is to suppress all my pie-in-the-sky HOPES! for the POTENTIAL! for news organizations if they just EMBRACE THESE NEW METHODS! when I get too close to the “pros.”
Because talking about it’s a lot easier than doing it. I think that applies to, well, everything in life. It’s freakin’ frustrating.
By the way, here’s the video I shot.
February 9th, 2010 § 2
Because I have zero shame, here are some of the songs I have adapted to sing to my cats. Please tell me I am not the only person who does this.
Catty Lee:
Penny Buddy Knows:
Penny Money:
Your Trish Is On My List/You’re a Trish Girl:
February 9th, 2010 § 2
I wouldn’t trade last weekend for anything.
Here’s the aftermath of the Super Bowl condensed into 8 minutes.
Post-Super Bowl celebration in NOLA from Jen Simmons on Vimeo.
Sorry the video quality is kinda cruddy, either I picked the wrong compression settings or should have used a different uploading service. Beginner’s mistake.
