– Thanks to regular blog reader KILLPR (I’m using his NTN Trivia handle; PROFPR is my handle when I play) for handing me an article on the Lincoln-America Tower that was on fire Friday morning, and it really is Lincoln-America and not Lincoln-American with an “n” as 99% of Memphians think (including me – I got it wrong in Friday’s post). The article states that the tower was built in 1924, and the 21st floor held the office of Lloyd Binford, president of the company. Binford was also the head of the city’s film censor board, and personally approved all movies before they were allowed to be shown in Memphis. He was a firm believer in family values, and therefore banned all Charlie Chaplin movies because Binford considered Chaplin to have loose morals. He also banned all Ingrid Bergman movies after she had an affair in real life. The censorship continued until the mid-1950s when he died. His three children and the son of the company secretary were the models for the bas-relief on the facade.
– I’ve received a couple of e-mails asking if I know anything about Google Analytics, a way to get data on who is visiting your website and their browsing patterns. Up until recently, Google Analytics was an invite-only service, meaning you had to already know someone using GA and have them invite you. This doesn’t appear to be the case anymore, so if you want a GA account, looks like you can have one.
– Google also recently added the ability to create, store and share spreadsheets using nothing but a web browser. I’m sure Semi-Charmed Kat is doing her Microsoft Excel dance as she reads this.
– If you want to make a donation toward the rebuilding of First United Methodist Church at Second and Poplar, which burned in Friday morning’s fire, you can bring them to First Alliance Bank at 464 N. Front. Make sure you specify that the donation is for the church when you bring it in.
– In an article this morning in the Commercial Appeal, there was speculation about who would make a good tenant to fill the soon-to-be-empty Tower Records space in Peabody Place Mall. One of the suggested tenants was Borders Books. I would LOVE to see that happen! Downtown really needs a bookstore that is one of the big chains. It would be especially nice to see them put a coffee bar in the bookstore. Again, this is all speculation, no word of official talks with Borders or anything. Tower is expected to close in 8-10 weeks.
– Speaking of books… the Southern Festival of Books will be held in and around the convention center this weekend, and the guy who won 75 episodes of Jeopardy in a row will be a featured guest. He’ll be there Saturday at 10. Attn Rapscallions: You think we can convince this guy to hang around until Tuesday and play on our trivia team? The accountants wouldn’t stand a chance against us if we had him.
– The last of the Romanians who lived and worked downtown this summer will be going home today. They’ll be flying to Paris, then connecting to Budapest, Hungary, then taking a bus to their homes in Transylvania. It has been a pleasure knowing the 4 Romanians who spent their first summer in Memphis this year – Diana, Daniela, Cristina, and the guy, Ion – all very kind and friendly people, and I’m sure Memphis would welcome them back.
– That’s all for now… gotta get back to work. Tonight, of course, is trivia night at the Saucer, and an opportunity for us to prove that we don’t need Mr. 75-win Jeopardy Guy to take first place.