JonLowder.com

links for 2009-07-15

2009-07-15T13:02:15-04:00

Danville police shoot, kill growling miniature dachshund | Richmond Times-Dispatch

DANVILLE—Danville’s police chief says one of his officers acted properly by shooting and killing an 11-year-old miniature dachshund that ran at him while growling. Neighbors said Killer, who died Monday night after being shot once, was a sweet, mild-mannered dog. “He just kind of walked up and down the neighborhood and didn’t bother anybody,“ said Jenine Edmunds, who lives on the same cul-de-sac as Killer’s owners, Tawaiin Harper and his family. “He was just a little house dog.“

(tags: ping.fm)

links for 2009-07-14

2009-07-14T13:01:49-04:00

Hey, Online Display Ads Don't Suck After All!

Some research showing that display ads aren't all about the click-through.

(tags: advertising)
Apartment Vacancies at 22-Year High

According to the report the highest vacancy rates are in Jacksonville, FL but just behind Jacksonville are Charleston and Columbia, SC and then Greensboro/Winston-Salem.

(tags: apartment)

Night Walk

2009-07-13T22:43:22-04:00

Note to self: If you walk the dogs at night be prepared for them to get spooked by something invisible to you. Then be prepared for them to jump about 11 feet sideways and backwards and entangling you in their leashes in the process. Then be thankful you have a strong heart. Finally be hopeful that your vituperative yelps didn't wake up the neighbors and don't walk the dogs after dark ever again. Ever. Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

links for 2009-07-13

2009-07-13T13:01:44-04:00

Moons Over, In and Around Ocean Isle

Apparently a bunch of nudists near Ocean Isle attempted to set a world skinny dipping record. Can definitely say I'm glad I wasn't there to see it.

(tags: funny northcarolina)
Day in the Life of a Teenager

I love this post at TriadSmartyPants about a day in the life of a teenage girl and then a teenage boy. Both are perfect.

(tags: funny parent)
The Best of Winston-Salem

Smitty's Best of Winston-Salem list for 2009. If you wanna know where to go in Camel City then check out Smitty.

(tags: winston-salem)
Some Sigma Chi Brothers from Emory U Make Things Right Over 40 Years Later

It's never too late to right a wrong.

(tags: sigmachi)

The Envelope Please

2009-07-13T09:49:41-04:00

Smitty published his "Best of Winston-Salem" results and I'm proud to say that this humble blog was runner up to "Best Blogger in Winston-Salem for Life" Esbee. Thanks very much to those who voted for me and let this be a lesson to everyone that begging and groveling does indeed work.

links for 2009-07-11

2009-07-11T13:00:58-04:00

Malcolm is wrong

Seth Godin weighs in on Anderson's "Free" and Gladwell's critique of it

(tags: books free economics)
Best new way to make an internal sale

Use video instead of Powerpoint to make your point

(tags: sales video technology)
Does This Blog Get More Traffic From Google or Twitter?

Twitter vs Google for traffic. To me it doesn't matter if Fred actually gets more traffic from Twitter or Google, I'm impressed by how much traffic he gets from Twitter in the first place.

(tags: web2.0 web text)
Charlotte Housing Authority Votes to Evict Families When Kids Skip Too Much School

I think the idea is to make parents buckle down on their kids and make sure they go to school, but I also think that the unintended consequence is that kids have suddenly gained an upper hand on their parents if they didn't already have it. Not hard to imagine a kid saying, "Let me be or I'm gonna skip school and you lose the apartment."

(tags: education housing)
Welcome to USAspending.gov

Want to know how the gub-ment spends your money? Check out the dashboard.

(tags: government economics)
Obama Gave NC Wine to Italian President

Apparently President Obama gave the Italian president a bottle of Raffaldini wine during his recent visit to Italy.

(tags: northcarolina wine)

How to Gain Weight and Lower Your Blood Pressure

2009-07-10T14:05:12-04:00

An interesting thing happened to me when I moved from the DC area to the Winston-Salem area five years ago this week: in short order I gained 20 pounds (BBQ) and simultaneously lowered my blood pressure. I've always thought that one big reason was that I escaped the turmoil and traffic of Northern Virginia for the relative peace and quiet of the Piedmont Triad. Allstate just published some accident data that tends to support my theory: Winston-Salem is ranked 25th in terms of safe drivers while DC is ranked dead last at 193, and Arlington, VA is 172 and Alexandria, VA is 174. In addition to the fact that people in Winston-Salem generally drive 10 MPH below the speed limit, another factor that works in Winston's favor is that there are about 1/100th the number of cars per mile than in DC. Neither place has a rush hour, but for totally different reasons. DC has "rush days" from Monday through Friday (and often much of Saturday and Sunday), while Winston-Salem has rush 1/4 hours in one or two places around town.

The biggest problem I have is that there's no impediment to me getting to every good burger, steak or BBQ joint in town which I believe has led to my increase of two pant sizes in five years. Still I'll take peace of mind and a paunch over stress and a coronary while sitting in the world's longest parking lot any day.

links for 2009-07-10

2009-07-10T13:02:06-04:00

Bolich Building in W-S Being Auctioned

This would be kind of cool to see if you happen to be downtown on July 15. "During your lunch break, you might want to walk down to the Bolich Building on July 15th at 12 noon and witness the auction of the historic building. It will take place on the premises."

(tags: winston-salem)
Christopher Walken Impressions

No day is complete without a good Christopher Walken impression. I particularly like the "Christopher Walken as nursery school teacher"

(tags: funny)

West Forsyth Gym the Backdrop for a Make-a-Wish Piece on ESPN

2009-07-09T14:02:04-04:00

ESPN has been running a series of sports related Make-a-Wish pieces and last night's piece featured Lewisville native Chris Paul hanging out with a kid who had a fight with cancer (luckily it's now in remission) and the two of them shot hoops at Paul's alma mater, West Forsyth HS, which also happens to be my kids' school. It's a nice piece (see video below) and helps boost the respect that Paul continues to earn:

links for 2009-07-09

2009-07-09T13:01:00-04:00

More Happy News: Loan Delinquencies at Record High

Not surprising, yet still depressing.

(tags: economics)