I’ve added a new page to the “Downtown Info” section of my blog – see the right sidebar – a list of resources to aid the homeless in Downtown Memphis. People have been requesting that page for a while. “You’ve emphasized that giving money to panhandlers does not help the homeless,” people have said, “so where do I go to offer time or money to help?” I had forgotten I had a very similar page on the Handling-Panhandling forum already. All I had to do was bring it over and revise it a little. If you know of additional resources, or if any of the info on the page is out of date, please e-mail me (paul@paulryburn.com) and let me know.
In particular, the homeless help page contains a link where you can buy voucher books containing coupons for free admission to the Union Mission. This allows you to hand out coupons rather than money when you get panhandled for money to get into the Mission. If it’s a sincere request (which it’s usually not), the panhandler will be grateful. If they really want money for alcohol and drugs (which is usually the case), they won’t be interested in the voucher.
You remember the folks from the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center who protested the hiring of security patrols Downtown to curb panhandling? Well, they were back in the news this week. They held a sit-in in Sen. Bob Corker’s Memphis office this week, demanding a town hall meeting to discuss what’s going on in Iraq. When 5:00 came and it was time for the office to close, they refused to leave. The police were called and seven of them were arrested. Full details in this Memphis Flyer story.
Some time I ago I told you that I was going to have guest bloggers, named “Glo” and “Flo,” to add a female perspective to this blog. Well, 3 weeks have gone by and Glo and Flo haven’t contributed a damn thing. But, there may yet be a new female guest blogger: My BFF. Last night she commented to me, “Paul, you should let me write on your blog.” You know what? I would have no problem with that whatsoever. Her posts would probably be highly entertaining. Since I’m using WordPress, I could build her a separate account to post from that would still hit the same blog. Seriously, I’m all for this idea.
BFF quote of the day: “Paul, I’d rather kiss Brittney (another Saucer waitress) than kiss you.” This is another thing I would have no problem with whatsoever. Just give me 3 seconds advance notice so I can switch my digital camera to video mode.
While we’re on the subject of the Saucer, let’s go ahead and do the beer report.
Previous total: $754.00
Beers 136, 137, and 138 by my count (Saucer count still being corrected):
Pilsner Urquell draft $4.50
Sierra Nevada Wheat bottle $4.25
Heineken Dark bottle $4.25
Tip: $13.00 x ~30% = $4.00
Total: $17.00
Grand total: $771.00
A movie called Soul Men is being filmed in Downtown Memphis. Blog reader Corey Griffin shot some photos of the movie shoot and sent me a link to this Flickr album. Downtown Memphis being what it is, a bum came up and asked him for money while he was taking the pictures, and as a result there’s a photo of the bum in the album too.
Basketball update:
(1) Memphis beat (16) Texas-Arlington 87-63. Memphis goes on to play (8) Mississippi State at 3:45 PM Sunday. Go Tigers!
(9) Arkansas achieved a minor upset by taking down (8) Indiana 86-72. The Razorbacks play (1) North Carolina Sunday at 4:20. They are surely the underdog, but after seeing them eliminate Tennessee in the SEC tournament last Saturday, I have to believe that anything is possible with Arkansas. Go Hogs!
(2) Tennessee played a lackluster game but nevertheless beat (15) American 72-57. They will play (7) Butler in round two on Sunday at 1:30 PM. Go Butler!
Plans for today: It’s March Madness round two, so there will be a TV and beer involved. Beyond that, TBD. I still haven’t made it to Nate’s bar at E&H in several months… maybe tonight, after the last of the games end.