HealthCareFineArt.com

Henry says I first mentioned blogging to him in 2003. He let the idea percolate for a while and emailed me last weekend to say he was ready to start blogging (he’s a thoughtful guy). I stopped by his office a couple of days later for my Are You Ready to Blog lecture. By the time I left, Henry had lost his blog virginity and had a couple of posts up at HealthCareFineArt.com.

Along with his medical practice, Henry has built a very successful business creating digital images for the health care industry.

Where was I? I remember. While Henry has a beautiful website, he had concluded a blog would be a valuable addition. People he knows and trusts warned him “this blog thing” might be a distraction. And he came to Dr. Steve for a second opinion.

Aside: Have I mentioned smays’ theory that the first 48 hours are critical in the life of a new blog? At the end of two days you’ll wind up with one, sad little “toe in the water” post… or a dozen or so posts.

I’m proud to report Dr. D. comes down solidly in Column B. He is off…and..running. And, like all good blogs, he has focus. He’s writing for and about the health care fine art space (the oxygen is thin up there).

Like all natural bloggers, he didn’t need much help. He came armed with passion, creativity and something to say. And he hasn’t stopped saying it. He is… empowered!

(Throw up the Prediction graphic)

A year from now, a Google search for “health care fine art” will take you to Henry’s blog. Comments are open, so if I’m wrong… I want to hear about it.

If any smays.com readers with blog want to give Henry a little link love, he’ll appreciate it and so will I.

Mac Sliders

Mac Sliders

My sources tell me that another long-time PC guy is very close to getting a Mac. If/when this happens, it will be the fourth person in my little world to step off the cliff. I thought it might be fun to keep a record here. Top row, left to right: smays; Phil Atkinson, Head of Learfield IT; Roger Gardner, Learfield President/CEO. If you decide to Get A Mac, drop me a line (and a pic).

Update: Bottom/left is Chuck Zimmerman (3/6/07)
Update: Clyde Lear (4/4/07)
Update: David Brazeal (4/18/07)

SFX: Rim shot

Dave Morris is blogging from the Country Radio Seminar in Nashville, which now has a smoking ban:

“…all around our hotel there are signs that sell the virtues of something called Nicogel – a hand gel which contains nicotine… rub it on and get your fix. I’ve certainly “milked” the whole concept of killing two birds with one stone by masturbating with it. Problem is, you’d really want to follow that up with a cigarette.”

If that’s original, it’s a pretty good line. If Dave stole it…it’s still a good line.

Roger Gardner’s first MacBook

My alternate headline was, “Gomer Does the Big Apple,” but the Jim Nabors reference would be either too dated or unflattering to Learfield President and Chief Operating Officer Roger Gardner, the latest Learfielder to break down and “Get A Mac.”

Like Phil and me, Roger has been flirting with the idea of buying a Mac for sometime. He’s been teetering at the precipice for weeks and finally went over the edge this week and purchased a 17″ MacBook Pro (with all the fixin’s)

In all fairness, Roger has two teenagers at home and they needed another computer and –like a lot of folks these days– couldn’t come up with a good reason not to try a Mac.

Sheryl Crow Birthday Drive raises $14K+

Our Sheryl Crow Correspondent, Ann, reports the annual Sheryl Crow Birthday Drive raised more than $14,000 to benefit the Delta Childrens Home in Kennnett (SC’s hometown). Ms. Crow posted the following thank-you on her website forum:

“I can’t tell you how much your generosity has once again touched me and my community. The birthday gift of contributions made in the name of the Delta Children’s Home is the most precious gift I could receive and I am deeply grateful.

I am working on a new record as we speak and am really enjoying the process. I hope you will enjoy the outcome. Much, much love and gratitude.”

Our thanks to Ann for letting us know this was taking place.

Sheryl Crow Birthday Drive

Every year for the past six years, Sheryl Crow fans gotten together (on her website forums) to give Sheryl a special gift for her birthday on February 11. The idea to do this originated with a fan and it involves raising money for the Delta Children’s Home.

The Delta Children’s Home provides an emergency shelter for children that are removed from their own home by the courts or who need shelter for other reasons (family problems, etc.). It’s the only facility of its type in the area. The Delta homes do not receive money from the Federal or State government and rely on the community for support.

Sheryl Crow and Grand PrizeI’m a little fuzzy on just how this works but I think those who contribute to the fund drive are eligible to win a prize. This year it’s an autographed guitar. If I’m wrong about the mechanics, we’ll rely on Sheryl Crow fan Ann to clear it up.

Thanks to Ann for alerting us to this worthy effort. The drive ends a midnight Pacific on Monday, February 12.

Be my Valentine (Scott Brandon)

Scott rummaged around in his long-abandoned blog for this inspirational Valentine which is, I think you’ll agree, timeless:

“The day every single, available, looking, scouting the territory, exploring your options, on the market, in the market, playing the field, non-committed, searching (whatever you choose to call yourself) person dreads…is here. Valentine’s Day has returned. Bringing withering flowers, deflated balloons, frilly cards and the shattered self worth of the un-attached with it.

Is there another holiday as cruel as this one? Christmas says that if you are alone, we will love you. Thanksgiving says that if you are alone, we will share with you. News Years says that if you are alone, we’ll get snockered with you. But Valentine’s Day says that if you are alone, hide…because we will flaunt our relationships in front of you, see your pain and then pity you for a brief second between our butt naked, hand in hand, slow-motion trots through fields of sunflowers.

At first, I thought I hated the questions the most…”Who is your Valentine?”, “What did you get your Valentine?”…then I thought it was the look you get after you answer the question. That “awwww” look. You know the one…where their head tilts like a dog when it hears a high pitched noise. But, I soon realized it was the blind optimism they spout afterwards that makes my teeth grit, my ears turn red, and my trigger finger twitch. “Well…don’t you worry. There’s a woman out there for you.” Yeah, she’s out there. She’s washed up on a beach in Mexico after an all night Tequila party gone sour…but hey she’s out there!

Do me a favor, take your unsolicited advice and your positive outlook, stick’em on the end of Cupid’s arrow and shove the whole thing right up your ass-orted box of chocolates.

Today, as the army of “I heart you” Teddy Bears comes marching down the hall, all I can think of is why isn’t there an “Ain’t Gettin’ None” Day? You know, a little day (say in mid-March…right after the Madness wears off) set aside just for those who aren’t bumping nasties. It would be a national holiday for the single person (or the relationship challenged). We could have special songs, a mascot and traditions like taking pot shots at the “dreamy” couple as they’re lip-locked in the Romance Classics aisle at Blockbuster.

Until that day arrives, I will have to be content with my own Valentine’s Day ritual. I walk around the office after closing and pop all the heart shaped balloons and eat the candy. Hey, I’m single…what else do I have to do tonight?”

Upon re-reading Scott’s essay, I thought to myself (because it’s almost impossible to think to anyone else), if only there were some kind of online answer to Scott’s delimma…

Kennett expats in environmental face-off

Rock star Sheryl Crow and movie producer Laurie David, who helped work on Al Gore’s Oscar nominated documentary “An Inconvenient Truth,” are teaming up for a two-week bus tour across North Texas and the Gulf states. The tour is designed to fight global warming and save the environment.

The tour hopes to stop TXU’s controversial plan to build 11 coal-fired power plants across the state of Texas. Governor Rick Perry’s plan to fast-track the coal plants has been attacked by environmentalists and a coalition of cities.

C. John Wilder, 48, is chairman of the board and CEO of TXU Corp., one of the nation’s largest electric energy companies.

Brother-in-law Lew connects the Kennett dots in this story. Not only are Ms. Crow and Mr. Wilder from Kennett, they lived in the same house (on Emerson Street), although not at the same time.

Sounds like the beginning of a pretty good screenplay, doesn’t it?