July 10, 2008

Where I've Been or Wake Up, Sleepy Blog

I just noticed that it's been more than two months since my last blog post.
How about an update?

Melissa and I moved. We now live in a house on a street off of Hixson Pike. It's 16 minutes closer to work, and, well, much closer to everything else. Sam loves the yard, and we've already met a few of our neighbors. (New pics of Sam will be online soon, by the way.) We are happy.

Work is good. They keep me busy, and I can honestly say I like my job. I'm also picking up the occasional weekend catering gig with Beth and Pete. Fun, as always.

I'm having ANOTHER yard sale this Saturday. This one will feature all the stuff we thought we still needed/wanted, but no longer do.

Newspinion.org died a quick death. Sorry, my heart wasn't in it. To follow up on an earlier post, I am, however, still planning on doing some spiritual writing online, as well as revamping this site.

Also...

While I have been lurking in its shadows since before its launch, I suppose I should officially mention that most (if not all) of my Chattanooga-based blogging will now be done at Chattarati.com. Perhaps all the commotion will get me posting more than once every eight weeks.

BILLets , Blogging | By colrus | 6:14 PM | Comments [1] | TrackBack [0]

May 9, 2008

The Joys of Producing Advertising Copy

After a few recent conversations, after hearing about some others, and after recently reading a few highly questionable local media pieces, I am prompted to write...

One would think, with my varied background, that the idea of producing long-form advertising copy would not appeal to me. Over the last few months, however, I have learned that this is not the case. Quite the opposite, really.

You see, I know I'm trying to sell something. The client wants me to help them sell something. The reader is (at least mildly) interested in buying something. Or they can completely disregard my message if they're not. As long as the copy I produce is not libelous or slanderous or inaccurate or otherwise disingenuous, the free market takes over and the product/service/organization and my accompanying message about it are forced to live or die on their own. And I am perfectly happy with that. Because it's honest.

On the flip side, producing copy that calls itself "objective" -- or at least acting like the copy that's being produced is worthy of being considered "objective" -- and then using that same copy to sell or benefit from a cause/organization/product/idea/event, is, well, dishonest.

I'll stop there. I don't want to ruin anybody's day.

Quickies | By colrus | 12:12 AM | Comments [1] | TrackBack [0]

May 8, 2008

Quick! Sell Me On Your Part of Town

After almost 6 years, Melissa and I (and now Sam) are looking to move off of Signal Mountain. While we've LOVED living on the mountain, we've grown tired of going up and down it. Even a simple trip, say, to Target has to be planned:

"Are we gonna go anywhere else? Are we going to want to go back off the mountain after we get home? Should we wait until later?"

And let's not even talk about brakes.

So...

Since we are planning to move, I'd love to hear why your part of town (or area) is the best. We're pretty open at this point, so let it fly. Give me three reasons why we should live where you live.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Quickies | By colrus | 11:36 AM | Comments [1] | TrackBack [0]

May 7, 2008

Items I'll Soon Forget to Mention Unless I Mention Them Right Now...

Last week, due to the unbelievable generosity of my wife's family, my little family was able to join them on a seven-day cruise from Miami to San Juan, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten. We took Carnival, which was MUCH nicer this time than the last. We ate a lot. Slept a lot. Swam a lot. And explained to a lot of folks the reason why Sam was wearing a cast.

I'm pretty sure that 1 in 4 of those people thought we were abusing him. As a matter of fact, after about the fourth day of telling people that "he broke his arm playing soccer with his cousins" and getting mean looks, I wanted to start telling them that "he just wouldn't listen." Of course, I would be in a sweaty Caribbean jail right now if I'd done that. Sam got his cast off today, by the way.

The trip was great. We even saw Chelsea Clinton (for about 20 seconds) in San Juan. She was there helping her mom campaign. A tour guide was telling her about how Mayor Dinkins donated cobblestones to San Juan. Chelsea seemed bored.

I have video of the encounter, and about another hour and a half of moments from the trip. I took a bunch of pictures, too, some of which I hope to post by the weekend. I may even whip up an extended post about the trip.

Former fellow Pulser Angela Tant is once again a co-worker of mine. She started working with us as a copywriter while I was on vacation. I didn't have much time to talk with her today, though, as she, I, and the rest of my department are pretty much slammed right now. The good kind of slammed, though.

We are having a yard sale in a couple of weeks. Baby stuff will dominate the inventory, but other, interesting, non-baby items will be available, too, as we are purging and consolidating as we search for a new place to live off of the mountain.

My sister, brother-in-law, and perhaps niece and/or nephew are coming to visit for Memorial Day. My brother-in-law just returned from a tour in Iraq, and hasn't yet gotten to meet Sam. We plan to show them all that Chattanooga has to offer. So look out, Towing and Recovery Museum!

Softball update: We split a doubleheader tonight. I went 5 for 5, though, with a double, a triple, three runs scored, and two runs batted in. The key? Showing up to play unbelievably tired.

After driving home from Miami yesterday, and working all day today, I should have skipped tonight's games. Of course, I should be sleeping right now, too, and I'm blogging, so... Wait, on second thought, sleep sounds nice. Goodnight, all.

BILLets | By colrus | 1:48 AM | Comments [0] | TrackBack [0]

April 16, 2008

My Son Is on the DL

Last Saturday, while trying to keep up with his bigger cousins at a soccer game, Sam fell and hurt his left arm. He favored it the rest of the day, crying whenever he tried to pick anything up -- or push himself up -- with it. We thought that, maybe, his wrist was either strained or sprained, but, by Monday morning, he seemed to be better. The arm didn't seem to bother him, as he was using it as he normally would and not acting like it hurt.

Yesterday, as a precaution, Melissa took him to the doctor. X-rays showed a tiny fracture just above his wrist. He's now in cast, and will be for the next three weeks -- including the week we're on vacation.

Neither Melissa nor I have ever broken a bone. I have to tell ya, it just breaks my heart every time I look at him.

I'll post some pics soon.

Family News | By colrus | 6:50 PM | TrackBack [0]

My (Amended) Future in Blogging

A quick announcement...about my earlier announcement...

This blog is staying put. For now.

• While I am creating a new BillColrus.com, which will serve as a resume/personal life/personal projects reference site, it won't be done for quite some time. This site will continue to act as my main blog in the interim. I will be tweaking it, however.

• Though Newspinion.org, my new news and opinion site is now live, my possible involvement in another kinda similar Web project might signal its early demise. (Timing can be odd sometimes, can't it?)

• I am still also developing a spiritual study and discussion site. It's formulation, objectives, and approach are, yes, still being ironed out, but it's a topic I've been wanting to write about for awhile, and I'm still excited to do so.

• The Chattanooga Film Blog remains -- and will continue to remain -- deceased.

• Also, I am now twittering. (See right.)

If you hadn't noticed, I enjoy blogging about what I'm gonna blog about.

BILLets | By colrus | 12:03 AM | TrackBack [0]

April 3, 2008

My Picks for Most Beautiful North Shore Locations

1. Ziggy's.
2. Krystal.
3. That building where Melonhead's used to be.
4. The Small Business Development Center.
5. The vacant Northside Lunch building.
6. The vacant floorcoverings building at Coolidge Park.
7. The vacant Pruett's building.
8. That parking lot where Tubby's used to be.
9. The Nautilus Building.
10. The vacant Electric Mouse building.

I would like to personally state my relief that neither the Coolidge Hotel nor the condos on Stringer's Ridge were built. The absence of these developments marks sensational community efforts to preserve the beauty of the North Shore area.

BILLets | By colrus | 9:43 AM | TrackBack [0]

March 23, 2008

Take a Look at Me!

A bunch of new pics of the boy are now online, including Christmas and his first haircut.

Pics | By colrus | 12:41 AM | TrackBack [0]

March 19, 2008

In Good Company?

I haven't read a Cal Thomas column in months, maybe years. But a passage in his most recent piece caught my eye:

Obama says Rev. Wright is no longer among his campaign's "spiritual advisers." Obama should not be asked which of Rev. Wright's outrageous statements he disagrees with, but rather which ones he does agree with. That Obama remains a member in good standing of Trinity United Church of Christ indicates that he prefers the company of many people who have demonstrated that they believe what their pastor has said.

Political Pronouncements | By colrus | 1:58 PM | TrackBack [0]

March 17, 2008

And the Whole World Goes Green!

Not growing up Catholic, I admit my knowledge about St. Patrick is limited.

What I do know, however, is that while he may be regarded by some as the patron saint of Ireland, he's regarded by many more as the patron saint of drink specials.

BILLets | By colrus | 11:55 PM | TrackBack [0]

March 11, 2008

Meet the Most Quotable Man in America - What I'm Diggin': March 10, 2008

While on a business trip last week, I was pleasantly surprised to read this fantastic and fascinating story about "the most quotable man in America" in my copy of Spirit, Southwest Airlines' in-flight magazine.

If the Post runs the interview, it will be the 159th time the press has quoted him. Packer, a 44-year-old, never-married, retired highway repairman from Long Island, has shared the orbit of the rich and the famous and the powerful. He has met three American presidents, bonded with NFL royalty, and once even received a shout-out from Garth Brooks. That sort of accomplishment doesn’t just happen to a guy. In fact, Greg Packer spends more of his time trying to get his name in the paper—or his face on TV—than probably any other amateur, self-made minor celebrity in America. The media are his medium, and he keeps the messages coming.

Also diggin'...

Two blogs:

The hilarious bad sports journalism mock site, Fire Joe Morgan, featuring -- among others -- in pseudonymed glory Office writer Michael "Mose Schrute" Schur.

As mentioned originally 'round these parts by Ryan and by a few other Chattabloggers since, the viciously awesome Stuff What People Like.

From the "books I didn't get around to read because I simply didn't have time while I was the editor of The Pulse" department:

2004's The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. I'm 100 pages in. Outstanding and chilling.

In food:
Kashi's "Heart to Heart" Honey Toasted Oat cereal. Delicious and good for me. And you. And, yes, I am suddenly elderly.

In sports:
Watched a spring training game (Cubs vs. Royals) on TV yesterday, and my fantasy baseball draft is Saturday.

What I'm Diggin' | By colrus | 1:00 AM | TrackBack [0]

The Plan Keeps Coming Up Again

On his blog today, Billy Blades pointed out something that I've been saying for, well, 14 months now: There has never been a plan for the homeless campus. But, somehow, there was enough of a plan to spend $775,000 on land for it.

Who says government is inefficient?

Here's what Billy had to say:

In Michael Davis' excellent story, Ron Littlefield, Chattanooga's Worst Mayor Ever, admitted that there's no plan to make his homeless complex actually happen, but that he hoped that if he bought the property an opportunity would come along to bring his unformed dream to reality. That's the kind of mayor we have folks - a wing and a prayer. Except the wing cost Chattanooga's taxpayers $775,000. Good news though--prayers are still free.

I just don't know what to say anymore.

I'll just quote Built to Spill:

The plan keeps coming up again
The plan means nothing stays the same
But the plan won't accomplish anything
If it's not implemented

...or if it never existed in the first place

Political Pronouncements | By colrus | 12:53 AM | TrackBack [0]

February 26, 2008

Needlessly Driving a Truck 118 Miles to Encourage Georgia to Practice Conservation or "Swallow This, Georgia!" or Things Government Does Poorly, Inefficiently, and Expensively #8,436: Being Funny

(Sorry, after scanning the airwaves today, I had to add to my header...)

So, a misguided surveyor has caused a misguided legislative actions in Georgia, resulting in a misguided use of city time and resources in Chattanooga. For a humorous publicity stunt, the action is, well, kinda lame:

"The city of Chattanooga, facing a possible Georgia land grab as part of an effort to get access to the Tennessee River, is sending a truckload of bottled water to Atlanta.

Mayor Ron Littlefield said the water will be delivered on Wednesday by his aide Matt Lea wearing a coonskin cap.

The mayor has officially proclaimed Feb. 27, 2008, as 'Give our Georgia Friends a Drink Day.' The proclamation comes as a result of the Georgia Legislature passing a joint resolution that seeks to pursue reestablishing the boundary between Georgia and Tennessee.

The truckload of bottled water along with the proclamation will be delivered to the Georgia Legislature Wednesday morning.

'Please know that we are willing to help our neighbors to the south with this complimentary truckload of water,' said Mayor Littlefield. 'And along with this water, we want to send Georgia legislators a message that focusing on conservation efforts would be much more productive than an ill-conceived land and water grab.'"

Wow. Zinger.

While only slightly funnier, at least Gerald McCormick had the decency to simply call them "idiots" and not take up any more time or money with the matter.

On the flip side, I will be more interested in seriously considering State Sen. David Shafer's desire to stick a big straw in the Tennessee River when -- oh, I dunno -- Georgia seriously considers, say, the history of Forsyth County.

Political Pronouncements | By colrus | 3:36 PM | TrackBack [0]

February 21, 2008

I Am Change You Can Xerox

Watched most of the Democratic debate tonight. Thoughts...

1. Hillary needed a big win tonight to regain some momentum. She didn't get it.

2. I have never been less impressed with Barack Obama as I was tonight. But he still won.

3. Three quarters of the way through the debate, I was trying to figure out why neither Obama or Clinton were resonating with me -- despite my personal pre-debate pledge to try my best to hear them out, and despite the fact that they were trying their best to stick to the issues. Then, it hit me: I am not a Socialist.

4. On the flip side, I honestly don't care much for John McCain, either.

5. "Change You Can Xerox." Really, Hillary? Really? Fire whoever wrote that.

6. April is the 15th anniversary of the massacre at Waco. During the next debate, I would like someone to ask Hillary if the 29 children under the age of 14 who died during the siege at the hands of her husband's administration deserved universal health care. Before you vote, watch this. Hillary's buddy, Chuck Schumer, was a disgrace during the post-Waco Joint Congressional Committee hearings shown in the film.

Political Pronouncements | By colrus | 11:48 PM | TrackBack [0]

February 20, 2008

Hillary Clinton: A Mutha of a Mother

Ugh...

Sen. Hillary Clinton took a swipe at her daughter's profession today at an economic roundtable discussion at a restaurant in Parma, Ohio, suggesting wealthy investment bankers and hedge fund managers on Wall Street aren't doing real 'work.'

The lady is as cuddly as a porcupine.

Political Pronouncements | By colrus | 10:13 AM | TrackBack [0]

February 14, 2008

Poll: Which Would Be a More Boring Place to Work?

While in Pigeon Forge a couple of weeks ago for a marriage conference, I stumbled upon a shopping center that is home to -- not one -- but TWO of what would have to be the most dreadfully boring places on the planet to work.

Trouble is, I can't decide which would be more boring.

Would it be Wallet Works?

...or Mr. Tablecloth and MORE?

Please make your case in the comments below.

BILLets | By colrus | 11:52 PM | TrackBack [0]

February 8, 2008

The Basketball Diaries: A visiting British scholar considers the American spectacle known as UT Men's Basketball

This is pretty good.

"Although the enforced stoppages are infuriating, the first half has been thoroughly enjoyable. I’ve been especially impressed by the band as well, who do their best to whip up the orange-clad student section; the sound of Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song” being performed by a marching band is a strange one indeed. The time-outs are also enlivened by what appear to be slave kids who appear from nowhere to wipe the surface clean. Is this some kind of Mascoting 101? I’m not entirely convinced it’s legal, but it does lend a surprising Dickensian air to proceedings."

Quickies | By colrus | 8:51 AM | TrackBack [0]

February 1, 2008

What I'm Diggin': February 1, 2008

The fact that WDEF's Allen Fairbanks won an Emmy. If you've never seen his work, you need to.

Interviewing people who haven't missed a single day of work in 56 years.

This film. I heard it was awesome. Mesh told me the same. I saw it last night, and it was.

My new favorite people-watching spot: the table on the corner facing the cash registers in the upper balcony seating area at the new Greenlife grocery store.

The realization that, ultimately, politics is not the solution to any of the problems that politics argues about.

Compound interest and personal responsibility.

Helping people, one-on-one and face-to-face.

Jolly Rancher lollipops.

What I'm Diggin' | By colrus | 3:50 PM | TrackBack [0]

January 9, 2008

Random Thoughts on Last Night's New Hampshire-iffic Primary

1. John McCain has some serious neck issues.

2. While I am opposed to more than half of Barack Obama's platform, he does not drive me crazy. In fact, his speech last night (sans notes or prompter, if you didn't notice) was one of the more impressive I've seen/watched in quite some time. If we were to meet, I could likely "agree to disagree" with him and then break bread. Hillary Clinton, on the other hand, could not make a sincere 9-1-1 call.

3. Despite being impressed with Mr. Obama, I would like to politely ask him -- and, now, it seems, all the other candidates -- to pick a new word. "Change" is over, to put it as mildly as I can muster. Besides, "change" ain't gonna win this election. "Dollars" are.

4. Instead of blowing more dough on his never-had-a-chance campaign, John Edwards should take some of the millions he "earned" while suing doctors and pay some folks' medical bills.

5. I don't know what it is about me and Republicans' necks, but have you ever seen Mitt Romney wearing a shirt that DIDN'T cover his entire neck? He's SO wearing that underwear.

6. I have never, nor will I ever, like anything John Cougar Mellencamp does.

7. Just like the admirable job he's done pretending to be politicians on screen, Fred Thompson is doing a nice job of pretending he wants to be President.

8. Jon Stewart's slamming of Rudy Giuliani for his excessive 9/11 referencing was more than justified.

9. Change!

10. I'm not sure, but I think I'm leaning towards Barry Goldwater.

Political Pronouncements | By colrus | 10:12 PM | TrackBack [0]

December 30, 2007

Free Music for You: The NEW "East Ridge Song"

Bill and Ernie "Phil Spector" Paik pretend to be discussing the music during the recording session for the new "East Ridge Song," December 29, 2007.

In honor of East Ridge, Tennessee's recent triumphant announcement, Ernie Paik and I spent nine hours in his home studio Saturday recording a brand new, super hickified version of a certain minor local YouTube hit. I hope you find this new version to be a tad better, slicker, and a few seconds longer than its predecessor. Click here to hear/download it. (160 kbps mp3)

"The East Ridge Song"
Originally written in 2002 by Dan Lyons and Bill Colrus for the "On The Other Hand" television show.

Bill Colrus: Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Bass, Drums, Hitting a glass with a Sharpie

Ernie Paik: Mandolin, Mouth Harp, Violin, Piano, Electric Guitar, Tambourine

Produced by Bill Colrus and Ernie Paik.
Recorded and engineered by Ernie Paik at Ernie's house, December 29, 2007.

Music | By colrus | 2:23 PM | TrackBack [0]