Carl's Lost & Found

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Fri, 08 Jul 2011 09:21:05 -0400

Baseball great Harmon Killebrew gives up cancer fight

Fri, 13 May 2011 23:51:30 -0400

Baseball great Harmon Killebrew gives up cancer fight:

I remember watching this guy on TV when I was a kid, and pretending to be him when we were out playing. I totally respect his decision to throw in the towel, but it’s sad all the same.

Places you can find me

Wed, 11 May 2011 17:58:06 -0400

www.newmediarules.com - My main site for my public relations agency, which specializes in the auction industry.

www.newmediarules.net - My blog about how to communicate more effectively, with an emphasis on best ways to use different media.

Carl’s Lost & Found - This page. Mainly a holding place for personal stuff that’s too long for Twitter or Facebook. There’s no theme at all; just whatever doesn’t fit elsewhere. (Really make you want to jump right in, doesn’t it?)

www.carterspens.com - On weekends, I clear my mind by sniffing sawdust. I love building furniture and turning fine wood pens on my lathe. I keep the furniture or give it to my kids, but I sell the pens to support my sawdust habit.

Twitter: mediaguycarl

Facebook: CarlCarter

Somebody tell Newt that you use Twitter to point to mainstream...

Wed, 11 May 2011 07:35:00 -0400

Somebody tell Newt that you use Twitter to point to mainstream media, not the reverse.

Don't put the tools ahead of communications basics

Tue, 10 May 2011 19:06:09 -0400

Don't put the tools ahead of communications basics

For the past week, we’ve worried about what would happen...

Mon, 09 May 2011 20:24:00 -0400

For the past week, we’ve worried about what would happen when the painters reached the point on the stoop where these doves were nesting. As Kathy drove off this morning, she said a prayer for them. The painter gently moved the nest to the side, and the mother flew off. After painting, he put the nest back in its place, and as soon as he was gone, the mother was back sitting on her eggs.

Sorry about the river, but nobody should die

Mon, 09 May 2011 19:41:16 -0400

Yes, the impending flood along the Mississippi will cause extensive damage, but nobody should die unless they’re incredibly stupid. Yet, CNN is focused on it nonstop, continuing to ignore us in Alabama as we bury the dead who didn’t have the luxury of a disaster that telegraphs its intentions days in advance.

Once we got knocked off the news by the assassination of Osama bin Laden, I guess we fell off the map entirely.

Link to opt out on "behavioral advertising"

Mon, 09 May 2011 10:30:23 -0400

Link to opt out on "behavioral advertising":

If you just don’t like the idea of advertising companies rummaging around through your browser history to decide what ads to show you, this link will let you opt out. One important thing: You MUST do it on every browser you use on each computer, so if you use Chrome, Firefox, Safari or (ugh) Explorer on various sites, you need to go to this link in each of them. But you can do them all in two to three minutes.

“There is no end to what we can do together. We can do it...

Fri, 06 May 2011 09:32:00 -0400

“There is no end to what we can do together. We can do it … just me and you.” A little Friday inspiration for my Alabama friends from Sir Paul.

Pleasant Grove needs volunteers, supplies

Fri, 06 May 2011 09:25:00 -0400

Bethel Baptist Church has set up a “work board” where storm survivors can list what they need, and they’re sending out crews to address specific needs. The number to call if you’re willing to help is 205-238-4195.

Here are some specific needs identified by Bethel:

18” and 20” chainsaw chains to fit Craftsman, Poulan, Homelight, and Stil saws.
Files for the chains
Sparkplugs for the saws mentioned above
Ground marking paint – to mark property lines
“Pull-ups”
Feminine pads
Rolls of 4 mil plastic – to cover windows
Yard rakes – to remove debris.

Van Phillips, who’s been hauling supplies out to Pleasant Grove, says the folks out at Pleasant Grove United Methodist have set up their gymnasium as a store, with food, diapers, personal items, and clothes. Right now, they need people more than supplies. Call Mike Linholm, 205-915-4189. If you want to just show up, they can probably put you to work sorting the supplies and organizing the store.The church is at 452 9th Avenue North, Pleasant Grove. Obviously, there are no street signs, but at least the tornado didn’t blow out the GPS satellites.

Don’t quit collecting; just don’t deliver any more to that point for a few days. But they need some help. I don’t have a contact number but will pass one along when I get it.

Storm relief: Keeping the focus, gearing up for the long term

Fri, 06 May 2011 09:20:16 -0400

Now that relief efforts are in full swing, it’s becoming important to stay focused on specific needs. The idea of practicing “random acts of kindness” makes a great bumper sticker, but it doesn’t necessarily provide the most targeted help in a crisis.

What I’m hearing from various folks who have been helping with relief efforts is that they’re starting to get overloaded with some supplies at some points. Storage can become a problem. By all means, identify needs and do what you can; just make sure that you’re meeting today’s needs and not something that was requested and received a few days ago. Ask, don’t guess.

Volunteer 'super Sunday'

Fri, 06 May 2011 07:26:00 -0400

Volunteer 'super Sunday' :

This works better if work teams are coordinated, so they’re tightening access to damaged areas. Work through organizations such as the Salvation Army, Red Cross or your church, and make sure any organization you work with is in touch with others so that the aid is distributed as efficiently as possible. Several organizations are listed below.

Places that need volunteers

Thu, 05 May 2011 15:15:43 -0400

Christian Service Mission, 3600 3rd Ave. South takes volunteers daily. Call 252-9906. 8:30 am to 8:30 PM.

Oak Mt. Mission takes volunteers most mornings, and needs drivers. Call 685-5757. Monday through Thursday, 8:30 am to 1 PM.

Red Cross (now located between Home Depot & Styx Restaurant) by the Galleria on Hwy 150. It is in the old “Comp USA” building. Enter like you are going to Home Depot but turn right & enter the parking on the right. You will see Red Cross trucks.

Alabaster 1st Methodist “warehouse” behind the sanctuary. Main number: 663-0509. They are open daily and can use folks as “receptionists, and people on the phone”.

Methodist Headquarters on B’ham Southern Campus needs volunteers to answer phones. Call 226-7975 to help answer the phones.

Clothing: Take to The Foundry, or to The Foundry trailer currently at Hunter Street Church.

How to avoid the Facebook viruses running amok

Thu, 05 May 2011 11:26:00 -0400

OK, let’s try this one more time. I don’t know if it’s because we have a flood of Facebook newbies or what, but the spread of malware through Facebook applications seems to be at epidemic proportions.

The apps are getting better and more intrusive. They’re now able to not only post to users’ walls, but also send IMs and Facebook mail. If you fall for one of these, you’ll suffer a major embarrassment, because it will likely send stupid links to your friends, family, clients etc. And they’ll all know you played the sucker.

So my suggestion is this: Don’t TOUCH anything that has any of these characteristics:

Breathless messages like “OMG,” “you MUST see this!” or “you won’t believe this!”
Suggestions that the link will take you to photos of Osama bin Laden, girls in miniskirts, a list of people who’ve looked at your profile or anything else that looks too interesting.
Anything claiming to link to a photo or video in which somebody has tagged you, especially if it says “is this REALLY you?”.

As mentioned elsewhere, my rule is this: If it makes you feel remotely sneaky, dirty, or voyeuristic, leave it alone. If it asks you to “approve” a link, don’t. If it says “play the video,” run. Just close the whole browser window and don’t click anything on your screen.

I’ve noticed that some users tend to fall for these attacks over and over, and they always say “I got hacked.” No, you didn’t get hacked; you got stupid.

Needs at Pleasant Grove relief sites

Thu, 05 May 2011 09:20:00 -0400

My friend Van Phillips is taking a trailer load of relief supplies to Pleasant Grove today, and he plans to take a second load tomorrow. Here are somethings they say they need. I’m not sure where the drop-off point is for this, but you can call Riverchase United Methodist Church and they should be able to tell you. The number is below.

Items needed:

Packing boxes and tape
New pillows (in wrapper)
Towels and wash clothes
Dry erase boards
Socks/underwear – M,W and children
Volunteers to sort donations
Roofing nails
Gatorade
Canned soft drinks
Household cleaning supplies
Large containers of seasoned salt
Bacon
Sausage
Large containers of grits
Large containers of oatmeal
Eye Drops

Riverchase United Methodist Church
1953 Old Hwy 31, Birmingham, Alabama 35244, United States
Phone: 205 987-4030

Good info on storm-displaced pets

Wed, 04 May 2011 23:11:15 -0400

Here’s some more info on displaced pets. The source is below. I’m just reproducing it here to help spread the word.

How you can help

Posted on May 3, 2011 by Jessica| 1 Comment

Please fax or print & take to any and all vet clinic in all affected Alabama areas.

Without you, some animals may never find their owners…their pet may be the only thing they have left.

—————————————————————————————–

Attention AL Vet Clinics, Individuals, Rescues:

This message is for each and every person, organization or business who has found and is fostering a pet displaced by the tornadoes. It is imperative that everyone document the animal in your care and provide accurate contact information so that owners may be reunited effectively. Please take the following steps to ensure this:

ALL counties affected please email: tornadopetsofal@yahoo.com

Tuscaloosa and Jefferson County only:

call the hotline (do not leave voicemail) 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. 205-397-8534

And most importantly, because the active social media community here is reuniting pets very effectively, please visit and share:

http://www.facebook.com/ALTornadoAnimals

http://altornadoanimals.wordpress.com/

We want to help YOU! Let us know what your immediate needs are. We have food and supplies standing by to transport to you.

Members of ALTornadoAnimals

→ 1 Comment

Posted in Uncategorized

URGENT message to Foster families

Posted on May 2, 2011 by Jessica| Leave a comment

The most IMPORTANT message you will read today: If you or someone you know fosters after finding an animal:

email us tornadopetsofal@yahoo.com

call the Jefferson/Tuscaloosa hotline 205-397-8534

Without these CRUCIAL steps for information, they may never be reunited! please share!

Displaced animals

Wed, 04 May 2011 18:58:40 -0400

I don’t know this group, but I’m passing along for consideration. As with everything else, I encourage you to investigate before donating. - Carl

A group of local rescuers in Alabama have set up a Facebook page called Animals Lost & Found from the Tornadoes in Alabama on 4/27/11
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Animals-Lost-Found-from-the-Tornadoes-in-Alabama-on-42711/206345326063409
Have a Heart Animal Rescue and Adoption a local non-profit is willing to help us y accepting donations thru their rescue to help the injured animals vet expenses, boarding and food. ALL DONATIONS are tax deductible. ALL donations will go to the animals of the tornados.

If interested in volunteering please email tornadopetsofal@yahoo.com

$50 late charge on 68 cent underpayment? Are you kidding me, Gov. Bentley?

Wed, 04 May 2011 16:00:07 -0400

When you’re putting time, money and work into helping the people of Alabama recover from the devastating tornadoes, it’s a real kick in the teeth (among other things) to get a bill from the State of Alabama charging me a $50 late fee because my software undercalculated my 4Q state income tax by 68 cents.

Riverchase UMC relief items needed

Wed, 04 May 2011 14:14:00 -0400

Here's a current "need list" from Riverchase UMC based on the relief areas they are serving.

Current needs:
Eye Drops
Chapstick
Nail files and Clippers
Pull Ups - Toddlers
Power Strips
Roofing Nails
Gatorade
Canned Soft Drinks
Household Cleaning Supplies
Laundry Detergent
Large containers of Season Salt
Bacon
Sausage
Large containers of grits
Large containers of oatmeal

These items may be dropped off in the lower kitchen in the Sanctuary building.

Red Cross operations center accepting volunteers, needs food

Wed, 04 May 2011 12:56:22 -0400

Had to pick up some paint at Home Depot and stuck my head in the Red Cross’s state command center, which is set up in the old CompUSA outbuilding at the Galleria, Highway 150 side. The place is an organized hive with hundreds of visiting staff from all over the US, as they work to identify and get resources to areas of greatest need.

Since there have been a lot of people expressing a willingness to volunteer, I confirmed that they need volunteers there (or at least you can sign up there). They have a table for that purpose just inside the entrance, and trust me, they’ll make you feel welcome.

Keep in mind that these folks get hungry and thirsty and don’t have a lot of time and money for eating out, so various restaurants are helping provide some 300 meals a day. I noticed the only snacks available were all junk food — cookies etc. I’m sure they’d welcome a few boxes of apples and healthier options.