I’m starting today’s blog post with another Groupon deal. This one is not a local deal, but it is one of the most incredible values I have ever seen. They’re selling a complete Cisco certification IT network training bundle for $99. The bundle is a $3,295 retail value. It includes instructor-led training, hands-on exercises, multimedia presentations, and exam simulators. It’s everything you need to get your CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) and CCNP (Cisco Certified Network Professional) certifications. As someone who works in IT myself, I can tell you that you rarely see CCNAs and CCNPs in the unemployment line.
Heading to Arkansas this week? Take I-40. Lanes will be closed on the I-55 bridge for construction. Crews will be patching concrete between 9 AM and 3 PM. Work should be done by Friday.
Great article in the Memphis Daily News today about efforts to battle blight by the Downtown Memphis Commission. Paul Morris, who runs DMC, notes that the current tax codes punish developers for improving blighted structures. The DMC tries to counteract that with tax incentives and developmental loans, as well as their internal resources which include an architect, and attorney, and an accountant. The Barking Lot, the Chisca Hotel, and the demolished parking garage at Court and Jefferson are a few recent wins in the blight battle.
One Commerce Square is having a blood drive in The Columns from 9-4 Thursday. All are welcome, whether or not you work in the building.
Political statistical analysis blog FiveThirtyEight carried extensive analysis of the 2012 presidential election (and called all 50 states correctly). Now that the election is over, though, the blog has time to focus on non-political matters. Its author Nate Silver did a statistical analysis of airports with the most unfair fares. Not the highest, because some cities have good reasons for fares to be higher than others; but the most unfair, all other things being held equal. Guess which city made the list? Thanks a lot, Delta!
Lady, the stray shepherd mix who wandered Beale Street for years, has found a forever home. Action News 5 has the story.
The BCS national title game is tonight. I’m torn whom to root for. Bama is an SEC team. It has traditions I deeply respect, and I have a lot more friends who are Bama alumni than Notre Dame alumni. On the other hand, I like how Notre Dame has stayed independent and refused to join a conference. I think I’ll stay neutral on this one.
Recommendations on where to watch the game: Flying Saucer and Silly Goose in the Downtown core; Double J and Max’s Sports Bar in South Main. If smoking is an issue, the Saucer and Double J’s downstairs are nonsmoking. Double J loft bar, Max’s, and the Goose allow smoking.
It’s also the beginning of a new poker league at the Silly Goose. Game begins at 8 PM, free to play. There are going to be more prizes and a restructured way of awarding points. “Like” Bluff City Poker on Facebook to keep informed of happenings within the poker league.
That’s all for now. I’ll probably hang at the Saucer until close to 8, then wander over to the Goose to play poker and get more info on developments with the new league.