Every year, the week after Christmas, I get questions about this at work. I figured I’d do a post on it. If you know anyone who gets an iPad for Christmas (especially older folks), you might want to show them this post.
At work, we distribute third-party tutorial software that was written for PCs. The last week of December, I get a lot of questions like, “I got an iPad for Christmas. I can’t install your software on my iPad. Please help.”
The thing is, iPads don’t run PC software. iPads run apps, which are downloaded from Apple’s iTunes App Store.
“But I’ve heard your software runs on a Mac. So shouldn’t it run on my iPad too?”
It’s true that PC software can run on Macs, if software is installed on the Mac to allow it to run Windows. However, iPads are not Macs. That’s a common misunderstanding. Both products are made by Apple, but they are different products. It’s much more accurate to think of an iPad as a big iPhone, minus the phone capability, than it is to think of it as a little Mac.
“So you’re saying an iPad is not a computer?”
Yes, it is a computer (and so is an iPhone), but it will help you to instead think of the iPad as a mobile device, while thinking of PCs and Macs as real computers.
Similarly, if you receive a Kindle Fire for Christmas, it’s more accurate to think of it as a big Android phone minus the phone, than as a PC. PC software won’t run on it either. You get your Kindle Fire software through the appstore Amazon links to on your tablet, under the “Apps” tab.
Hope this post helps those who are not computer-savvy who become iPad owners this week.
Moziah Bridges, the 10-year-old entrepreneur who sells hand-made bow ties, has received a lot of media attention in the past day. WREG did a story on his bowtie business, Mo’s Bows, and he was mentioned in a Memphis Business Journal post as well. Nice to see him getting the recognition he’s earned. It shows how far you can go with an idea and hard work.
If you want to buy one of Moziah’s bowties, you can visit Mo’s Bows on Etsy. His ties are also on sale at Shelton Clothiers, and as I mentioned yesterday, he’ll have a trunk show there from 1 to 3 PM Friday.
Good article on TIME’s Moneyland blog today: The Beginning of the End of the 9-5 Workday? A leading communication firm has named the demise of the traditional 9-to-5 (or 8-to-5, for many) workday as one of the top trends for 2012.
Plans for tonight: It’s the Silly Goose’s Naughty List Ball. That doesn’t start until 9 though, so I’ll hit the Saucer around 6 for some warm-up beers. I have a post in Drafts about iPads that I’ll probably put up tonight.
Tue update: Nonprofit PR winners, Naughty List party and patio canopy plans at Silly Goose, Mo’s Bows, Blind Bear, Ghost River interview and more
Obsidian PR has completed voting for the two nonprofits that will receive six months of free PR services. The two winners are:
Memphis Roller Derby, to get free PR January-June
On Our Own of Memphis, to get free PR July-December
Congratulations to the winners! I’m especially excited for Memphis Roller Derby. I know several women who skate in the Derby and I hope Obsidian’s assistance will help them take the organization to new heights in 2012.
The Silly Goose will have their third annual Naughty List Ball tomorrow night, Wednesday, December 21, starting at 9 PM. The Jeremy Stanfill Band will play, and there will be a special visit from the Goose’s very own Bad Santa.
The Goose, by the way, received approval this week to install a canopy over their patio area, allowing patrons to enjoy the patio even when the weather is less than perfect. They expect to have it up by late January-early February.
This Friday at Shelton Clothiers, there will be a very special trunk show from 1 to 3 PM. 10-year-old entrepreneur Moziah Bridges will present “Mo’s Bows,” his hand-crafted bow ties. Check out Mo’s Bows page on Facebook for more information.
The Blind Bear will be open to the public Christmas Eve and Christmas Day from 6 PM to 3 AM.
I played poker last night at the Goose’s 7:30 game. I didn’t win, but I had an interesting hand, a very speculative hand pre-flop that turned into a monster by the river. I was congratulated on the way I played it, but in review, I wonder if I could have played it better and extracted more of my opponents’ chips. I analyzed it here on my poker blog.
Long day. Minor car trouble and then all sorts of projects coming my way at work. I’m ready for a beer.
This post is for fellow bloggers who use the WordPress content engine. Coming up in mid-January, there will be a WordCamp not far from Memphis. WordCamp Birmingham will take place January 14 and 15. According to the site, WordCamp is “informal, community-organized event where everyone from casual users to core developers can get together, share ideas, and learn. Anyone who wants to learn more about publishing online content, design, blogging, web development, or just plain using WordPress are invited to speak, attend, or volunteer!” WordCamps are held around the world, but this is the closest one to Memphis in some time. Worth a 4-hour drive if you’re a WordPress user.
You can view the list of sessions here. Looks like there will be some very interesting topics, including one on running a nonprofit website with WordPress. Themes, plugins, e-commerce, CSS, Ajax, freelancing, project teams, and a lot more will be discussed in the session too. For those who’ve heard about WordPress and are considering giving it a try, there’s also a beginner session.
Insider tip: MailChimp is a sponsor. If you go, try to get one of the really cool MailChimp knit hats.
In other news: There’s a little less cray cray in the world today. North Korean leader/wack job Kim Jong-il has passed away. Wonder if the country will give him a title similar to “Eternal President,” awarded to his father Kim il-Sung after his death.
I’ll be playing in the 7:30 poker game tonight at the Silly Goose. I like that poker game because it’s a mere half block walk from home. Not the home where I sleep, but the home with 70 taps on the wall. I’ll be at Pint Nite at the Saucer before and after poker.
One more thing before I go: Yesterday I was at the Silly Goose drinking a PBRtini. Someone brought an order of fries over from the Majestic, and look who showed up to mooch a few:
All right, time to go eat some wings and defend the Horn Lake Zaxby’s mayorship. If any more news comes in I’ll do a second post after work.
Yesterday afternoon as I was doing laundry, my friends texted me: “Want to do some day drinking? We’re going to Bardog.” That sounded like a plan, so I took the laundry out of the dryer and headed up there.
The bar had uploaded pics to Facebook of Panda Manda “smothering” a bad tipper with her boobs, so I brought a wooden nickel (good for a 5-cent PBR) up there and told her I was going to tip her a penny. They had one of those Christmas toy dogs up there that flaps its ears and sings Christmas songs. I guess the makers of Billy Bass felt the need to get in the holiday spirit. Anyway, this being Memphis, we decided the dog needed to be more gangsta. So Amanda did a little decorating.
Bardog O.G.
I was going to leave for the Saucer at 3 to watch the Memphis-Louisville game, but I was having a good time where I was. Amanda asked if I wanted another beer. “Well, you know,” I told her, “I guess I was going to like, LEAVE or whatever, and go to the Saucer to watch the game or something. But you know, I think I’m going to have ONE… more!” I didn’t feel like I was overstaying my welcome, the way some people do at bars.
ONE... more.
We ended up staying until 4:30. Since I hadn’t been in Bardog for a while, I decided to ditch my original tipping plan and tip 100% instead. I’ll save the penny tip for the next time I’m at the bar at Maria’s Cantina in Southaven. A really fun afternoon at Bardog. I really don’t know why I haven’t been going in there more often lately. Need to start back up again.
Next stop was the Saucer, and since we’d be passing the Blind Bear on the way, we called Jamie and Jeannette and asked if we could stop in and see the place. WOW. It was still under construction, so I didn’t take pics, but that place is going to be beautiful when it opens. Large bar toward the back that seats probably 15-18. The poker tables had me eagerly anticipating Tuesday, December 27, which will be the first poker night. Lots more to appreciate about the Blind Bear too, but seeing as how it’s a speakeasy I don’t want to give away all its secrets. “I’m going to lose my Foursquare mayorship of the Goose because of this place,” said my friend Clay, who has been going to the Goose every day. I can’t disagree – this is the kind of bar that could make me lose my mayorship of the Saucer. It has the potential to be that good.
Jamie told me two pieces of Blind Bear beer info, both of which are good signs. First of all, they’re going to have PBR on tap. Secondly, Jamie told me, they’re not going to carry Abita Turbo Dog at all. Both facts indicate they understand their customer base. If you’re not familiar with the bouquet of Turbo Dog, feed a hippopotamus some laxatives and stick around for a couple of hours.
Next stop was the Saucer. The crowd at the bar wasn’t exactly what I’d hoped to see, but I made the best of it nonetheless. Happy to see that when I check in on Foursquare at the Saucer, I’m now getting points for consecutive days at “Bars” rather than “American restaurants.” Management is finally starting to get it.
After watching the end of the Tiger game – a disappointing loss – I wandered next door to the Silly Goose. I sat down at the bar and ordered a PBRtini, my signature drink which consists of a PBR poured in a martini glass. I don’t always drink PBR in ‘tini form, but I’ve decided that from now on I’m going permanent ‘tini at the Goose, in honor of the patrons there who wear their sunglasses indoors and brag to everyone that their group name is on a “VIP reserved table” card. The only time I won’t do ‘tinis at the Goose from now on is Monday poker night, when there are just too many people in too small a space to manage a martini glass.
(I only drink PBRtinis at certain bars. For example, I would never drink a PBRtini at Bardog. I just have a feeling that Aldo would hate that. Gotta respect the house, you know.)
It was one of those days when I’d forgotten to eat, and I needed to take a break from beer, so I ordered nachos as Paul’s Drunkass Food to go. Came home and ate, and contemplated going back out, but then thought, “Nah, screw it. It’s cold outside, think I’ll catch up on sleep.” I’ll save the partying for next weekend, when both Thursday and Friday will be weekend nights for me in Memphis.
So now it’s Sunday. I’ve been asked to judge a balcony lighting contest at a Downtown condo building today at 4. I actually take things like that seriously, and don’t want to be completely sloshed by the time I get there. So, I’m skipping brunch at the Majestic, eliminating the three mimosas I usually drink there. However, I will be out around noon, because I have to spend this:
Yesterday I wrote about some of the benefits you get if you join the Flying Saucer’s UFO Club. Well, I left one thing out. If you give them your email address, they’ll spam you with “Important Beer Goddess Video Messages” about glass nights, beer dinners, and other special events. Well, that sucks, huh? No, actually it’s a good thing, because at the end of many of those videos is a “Capt. Keith Beer Quiz.” These are quizzes about beer designed by Capt. Keith Schlabs, who works for Saucer corporate, and if you get at least 7 out of 10 right, you get to print off a certificate good for $5 toward beer at the Saucer. The questions are not easy, but with the help of Google and Wikipedia you should be able to get a passing grade.
If you’re looking for cool stuff to do Downtown today, here are a few suggestions.
Grizzlies open practice 1-3 at the FedExForum. Doors open 12:30.
Blues Society jam at Mr. Handy’s Blues Hall, 4-8 PM
Memphis Jazz Orchestra rehearses at Alfred’s, 6-9 PM. This is kind of a chill way to wind down the weekend.
FreeWorld plays Blues City’s Band Box at 9:30. They backed up the start time an hour so people who do the 8-5 rat race thing can still catch their first set before bedtime.
All right, that’s all I’ve got for now. Since I don’t have to be anywhere until 12, it’s entirely possible that I’ll find something else to post.
You know, this morning I was thinking to myself, “So many different choices down here… why do I spend time in some Downtown bars more than others?” I realized it was a combination of three things. The bar has to be
close;
comfortable;
and the majority of time I go there, I know people who are there.
That’s why I’m really looking forward to the opening of the Blind Bear later this month. I’m pretty sure it is going to have all three of these qualities in spades.
Speaking of spades (and clubs, hearts, and diamonds), I need to issue another correction. A Blind Bear employee hit me up on Twitter and told me that the Tuesday night poker night will actually be run by Jamie, one of the owners who currently bartends at the Silly Goose. He and I have played many Monday nights at the Goose and we’ve knocked each other out of tournaments on a few occasions. I have no doubt he’ll do a fantastic job, and I’m interested to see whether he’ll retain the structure of the Goose’s poker tournaments at the Blind Bear, or do something different.
All righty… looks like I’m going to hit brunch at Bardog in a bit, soon as I get sheets out of the dryer and back on my bed. I still plan to watch Memphis-Louisville at the Saucer at 3.
No, this post has nothing to do with StumbleUpon, the social media content discovery service. Rather, this is a post about the fact that when you live Downtown, occasionally you StumbleUpon parties. I StumbledUpon two last night.
Yesterday evening I got home from work, threw my stuff in the closet, changed clothes, and prepared to head to happy hour at the Flying Saucer. As I walked out the door, my new neighbors where wheeling a huge amount of beer into their apartment.
“Hey, Paul,” they said. “We’re having a housewarming party tonight. Please come by. We’ll get started around 7 or 8. We tried to knock on your door last night, but you weren’t home.” Knocking on my door is pretty much pointless. I’m usually at work, at a bar, or dead asleep. I thanked them for the invitation and told them I’d stop by.
Then I headed to the Saucer, grabbed my usual spot at the bar, and ordered a Dos Equis Lager. A few minutes later, my friend Bob (Bicycle Bobby as he’s usually referred to in this blog) walked by and took a seat at a table. “That’s weird,” I thought. “He always sits at the bar. I wonder if he has people in from out of town.”
I finished my beer and ordered a second one. As I did, my friend Stevana walked in. She used to work at the Saucer and still stops in to see everyone from time to time. “Are you here for Bob’s plate party?” she asked.
D’oh! He’d told me his plate party was last night on at least three separate occasions, and yet, I still managed to forget somehow! He and the other party guests must have been wondering why I was standing at the bar by myself, and perhaps they were thinking, “Maybe he doesn’t like free beer.” I hurried over to the table.
You get a plate party when you drink 200 different beers at the Saucer, earning your plate on the wall. Normally, you get a $100 tab for a party for you and your friends. However, as you complete more plates, your deal gets better and better. I have 93 more beers until I get my sixth plate done – and when I do, a $150 tab will await me. For Bob, it was even better. He’d just finished work on his 11th plate, earning himself a $200 tab. We drank and talked for a couple of hours, and then it was time to unveil the plate.
Kyla making the announcement at the bar
Bob revealing the plate
The plate. Most of the plates at the Saucer have a bronze-colored rim, but this plate’s rim is silver. The silver means “+10”. So Bob’s plate is colored black, for one plate, plus the silver rim for 10 more, a total of 11.
Lil’ Kim and her pimp daddy
While hanging out at the party, I checked Fousquare, Facebook and Twitter on my phone. I noticed that several of my friends, who don’t live in my building, were checking into Number 10 Main. I left a comment on Foursquare, asking one of them what was going on. Sure enough, they were at my neighbors’ housewarming party! I paid my tab at the bar and hurried home.
I thought to myself, “What am I going to do about beer?” After all, no one wants to be “that guy” who shows up at a party empty-handed and mooches everyone else’s beer. Then I remembered, I have PBR in the fridge! So, every time I ran out of beer, I just made a stop next door to refill. Convenient!
The party was great. My neighbors and I have a lot of friends in common; I probably knew a third of the guests. Great food, a DJ spinning good music, and I got to catch up with a lot of people I hadn’t seen in a while.
So, it was a very good Friday evening overall. Love those random weekend nights when I StumbleUpon great parties.
As for today: I just got up, so I haven’t had time to check and see if there’s enough news to do a Saturday update post. Memphis plays Louisville on CBS at 3. Most likely I’ll park myself at the Saucer for the game. No definite plan afterward, but hopefully I’ll StumbleUpon more fun things to do.
Starting off with a correction today. The Grizzlies open practice and State of the Franchise, which I had blogged was happening tomorrow, is actually Sunday. Sorry about that. They had “Saturday” in the email blast they sent out, but if I’d thought about it I’d have realized that the 18th is not Saturday.
The big news, though, is that YOUR! MEMPHIS! GRRRRRRRRRRRIZZLIES!!!!! play their pre-season game tonight at the FedExForum at 7. First chance to see Zach, Rudy, Marc and the gang live on the court. Tickets are available here.
If you’re looking for something to do after the Grizzlies game, there will be a Sexy Santa party at Rehab Disco tonight. Multiple DJs, live dance performances, LED mistletoe, light show, Christmas movies on projector screens, VIP sections with special entertainment, drink specials and free giveaways. Wear your sexiest costume, because there will be a costume contest. Doors open at 9, $5 21 and up, $10 18-20.
Today is the last day of voting in the Obsidian PR ballot. Of the five nonprofits that are finalists, two winners will be selected to receive free PR services for six months (oops, almost typed free PBR services, wouldn’t that be a sweet deal). Go here to vote by “Liking” the image of your preferred nonprofit. Finalists are
The Blues Foundation
DeNeuville Learning Center
Pink Palace
Memphis Roller Derby
On Our Own of Memphis
Last night I served as judge for the fourth year in the Majestic Grille’s movie costume/tacky sweater contest. Every year they show National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and people did a great job dressing up like the characters. Tacky sweaters were good too. Bartender Lisa was ineligible to win, but if she’d been eligible she probably would have.
My honorarium for being a judge was Christmas ham with green bean casserole, mac and cheese, focaccia bread and a salad, along with a few bottles of PBR. By the end of the movie I’d nearly drifted into unconsciousness in a food coma. Apologies to my friends at Kooky Canuck, who had their Christmas party last night. First time I’ve ever not made it to the party. I was just so full that I couldn’t handle being around a huge crowd. Apologies also to my friend Zane who invited me to meet him at the Goose… I just needed to be somewhere where I was comfortable, and the Saucer is a much more comfortable environment to me, so that’s where I went. We’ll catch up soon I’m sure.
Not that I was exactly alone at the Saucer… within a few minutes of getting there, my friends Chris, Jeremy and Brian joined me, followed a short time later by my friend Joe, then the Nuh-Uh Girl, then Katie Mac. I was surprised to learn that the Nuh-Uh Girl did not have anything to eat at Kooky Canuck’s party. Well, I guess I didn’t miss any photo opportunities then.
There was a sign on the Saucer window that they’re having a Beerknurd Appreciation party next Thursday, December 22.
A Beerknurd is someone who has joined the Saucer’s UFO Club. It’s not a bad deal; for $18 you get a T-shirt, you never pay a cover to get in (except special events like New Year’s Eve), and you get a card you can swipe at the beer computer toward getting your plate on the wall. Now and then they have appreciation parties for members of the club. This one will have a Beerknurd Buffet and raffle prizes. Free food? Wonder if the Nuh-Uh Girl will show up.
One of the people who will work at the Blind Bear, the speakeasy going into the old Bar None space, showed me a few photos of the place on her phone. It looks great. The bar will no longer be next to the front door. GREAT MOVE. I understand why Circa did it that way (because it was a restaurant) and why Bar None kept it (to keep renovations to a minimum), but the space will be so much more comfortable with the bar moved away from the door. Some of the dining tables are poker and blackjack tables, in keeping with the speakeasy theme.
Oh, speaking of poker? Tuesday will be poker night at Blind Bear, I’m told, with (Edit: had it wrong earlier) Jamie hosting. With all the trivia nights happening around town on Tuesdays, poker is refreshingly different. I have high hopes for Blind Bear and suspect it may gain co-equal status with the Saucer as my home base. They hope to have the place open later this month. I’ll keep you informed as I learn more details. Don’t forget to “Like” The Blind Bear on Facebook to keep up with happenings there.
Plan for tonight: I’m going to hit the Saucer around 6:00 and figure out the rest from there. I’ll probably be rocking the Santa hat for the second night in a row, in case the Rehab Disco party makes it onto the agenda.
The pair of jeans pictured below was found on one of the couches at the Flying Saucer Thursday night. Now, personally, I would spazz out if I left my pants at a bar; but, please know they are safe and waiting for you behind the counter. Please share with anyone who might know the owner of the missing jeans.
(Correction: Had day wrong, it’s Sunday not Saturday for the open Grizz practice. Sorry about that.)
Now that training camp has started and Marc Gasol has been re-signed, the Grizzlies are holding an open practice from 1 to 2 PM this Sunday in the FedExForum. Coach Hollins will hold a scrimmage that will give fans their first chance to see what the team will look like for 2011-12. Afterward the team will sign autographs and talk to fans. Doors open to the public at 12:30. Admission is free but they’re asking attendees to donate a book to MIFA’s Holiday Hope Chest.
If you’re an MVP season ticket holder, come early. At 11 there will be a State of the Franchise talk for you on the main court. You’ll have the chance to ask question of owner Michael Heisley, GM Chris Wallace, and Coach Lionel Hollins. To RSVP for State of the Franchise, contact your Account Executive at (901) 888-HOOP or online at rsvp@grizzlies.com by Friday, Dec. 16.
More info about Saturday’s events at the FedExForum here. If you want to become one of those MVP season ticket holders, this is the place to go.
A new benefit for University of Memphis Law School students was announced this morning. All day, every day, all the time, students get $2 PBR at Bardog Tavern. Offer extends to faculty too.
And now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to go find a graphic designer who can make me a fake law school ID. I’ll have the Santa hat on tonight, because I have two Christmas events to attend in the Downtown core. I’ll start it off around 6 with a couple of warm-up beers at the Saucer. Will bring the camera in case anything interesting happens.
