A bit of materialism... Yes, I love my camera!!

Truth be told, I wasn't very happy with the image quality in last week's Pipeline because I was using a small spare camera after the button on my nicer camera broke off and disappeared.

 

Yesterday's issue included pictures taken on the now repaired camera which sports a shiny new shutter button, for which a chunk of the repair was paid for with free tarot night tips, which makes me very thankful.

 

Whenever I think about quitting the free tarot night gig I am reminded that the hourly wage paid by the caffe and the tips are more $ than I receive for working so many hours on the e-newsletter, which I guess is kind of fitting considering the state of journalism in general. 

Is it okay to love an object so much? In thinking about all the things I don't own- a working TV, a PDA/iPhone, a laptop, a toaster, a microwave, a laundry machine, etc.-- I guess a camera ranks high on the "stuff I use on a regular basis" scale. 

As for the man who fixed the camera, he was recommended to me by a local camera center that said Chicago Camera Specialists at 5 S. Wabash would be cheaper than going through the manufacturer (my 2-year warranty expired) as well as faster.  The advice proved true. 

I wrote down the owner's name somewhere, but lost it. His business card if I recall correctly- not in front of me at the moment- had no name on it and no website, just a little map on the back. I was so happy that I had to take a picture of him when I picked up my camera last week. The tiny office where Chicago Camera Specialists is located is on the 10th floor of a very old building in the heart of the jeweler's row district, and is worth a visit just to check out its interior.  It feels like one of those places that time hasn't touched. 

Here's George Carlin talking about "stuff."  

2010 Trends Forecast

Though the jobless rate has decreased to 9.7%, mainly because the government is in the process of hiring more U.S. census workers than ever before, there still exists a sense of fear and uncertainty among most Americans who aren't lying to themselves. 

At least a few months back, and maybe because my grandfather worked at a dealership for decades, or because I had a lot of car dealership advertising customers at one point, I was slightly offended by a Tribune columnist who decided the world would be better without car dealers.  Hmm, really? 

Automotive advertising essentially supports traditional newspapers. Or, it did. 

It used to be there'd be a car dealership on every corner. Perhaps it was a sign of too much prosperity, a 2-ton gilded age of guzzling gas that in addition to providing cars, and subsidizing the work of journalists through advertising in newspapers, many dealership channels established a direct 'pipeline' to charities and helped to sponsor community programs and athletic teams. 

In light of this communication pipeline breaking down, will community banks become the new car dealers, because they have money - our money- to give back to the neighborhoods that they serve? 

In other predictions, the transit system will become even more overcrowded and there will be more walking and more bicycling, or more people telecommuting or showing up late to work. An hour-and-a-half commute walking, or cramped on a crowded bus and a train? I'll take the walking. 

"Edit Ignored Friends?"

Is it just me, or does this language seem very harsh? When stripped of its function, which is enabling a person to ignore select friends, the meaning of the phrase denotes cruelty even if it does mimic human behavior. 

If someone is someone you want to ignore, or perhaps a better word being don't have enough time to get to know, you simply 'de-friend' them because it's a good idea to give attention and energies to those you consider to be a true friend, and let other relationships exist in the in-between world of acquaintance-ship, or business relations.  That's a truthful way of doing it vs. creating a complicated hierarchy of virtual relationships that you want to edit partially or entirely out of your life.  Why has Facebook turned us into fourth graders? What's next, a rating system? 

Whatever happened to the simplicity of "friend or foe," and a world where you had less choices in terms of circles you could be part of, yet more assurances?  Today it seems like if we decide to opt-into virtual and social networking we give ourselves the burden of having to establish a structure of community within that framework, or in other words some semblance of a reality. 

The Day in Pictures, and Some Plush Poo

Normally I don't do much "pre-stalking" of new businesses outside of mentioning in The Pipeline that they are to open, but in the case of OhNo!Doom at 1800 N. Milw. I walk by its storefront quite often. Initially I noticed that the shady sign sales company which never had anyone who appeared to be working inside of it was gone, replaced by a depressing and all-too-common Vacant Space. Shortly after that I became intrigued by a window decal announcing that OhNo!Doom would be coming soon.

I liked the fact that OhNo!Doom a) Uses an exclamation point in its name! and b) Was moving into a newly revitalized stretch of Milw. which in just the past four years has welcomed a tea cafe (Tea Essense), a theatre (gorillatango), a video store (odd obsession), a music place for kids (bucktown music), a butcher (sterling goss), a wine shop, (red & white), an art studio (easel), and a yoga place (echo).

Yesterday I received a warm and exclamation-mark heavy email from doom communications crew leader, Lana Crooks, and I welcomed the chance to pop by and meet her as well as the five other folks (Andrew Thompson, Joseph Call, Oscar Alatorre, Jordan Owen, and Max Bare) behind OhNo!Doom. All of the said doomers are talented in different yet complementing disciplines like animation and plush stuff and visual art and painting.

Prior to visiting OhNo!Doom I was at the sneak preview for the Flat Iron's "Now You See It, Now You Don't" exhibit, and before that I popped by a book signing at p.45 on Damen.

The "Body Mates" photo is from that walk.... The smiling woman is novelist Delphine Pontvieux, author of ETA, Estimated Time of Arrest... The canary cage art on the walls is just one of many interconnected panels which will debut tonight over at the Flat Iron and be white-washed over by 10 PM, perhaps proving that art really is about the process and not necessarily the destination or permanency... The other images were snapped inside of OhNo!Doom.

(And, if I may offer a two-cents/two-word take on the budget-friendly $5 plush poo by Lana Crooks:

"Oh, yes!")

"If you're not having fun...

...  it's not working." 

Though I can't remember who said that quote, I do find it to be true, and truth be told I did manage to have a lot of fun with this week's Pipeline.  In some ways I wish there were a Buck Lily and Wicker Tim in every issue.   

A friend made an astute comment which almost made me spew out my beer because I was laughing so hard. Surrounding my usual "space and time, can't include everything, blah blah" plea were two images of dancing cats either holding a heart or leaping through a heart.

Perhaps I was having too much fun, and I somehow made the time for promoting the cat circus out of the kindness of my crazy cat lady heart...

Given that I have at least three jobs now, and I am still not sure that The Pipeline can totally be sustainable,  I am just going to try to have as much fun as possible, and not take anything in life, including the newsletter, or myself, or my fears, too seriously. 

P.S. Pictured is a "love hurts" cake spotted at Alliance Bakery on Division many months back on a warm spring or summer day, and a "love hurts" installation currently in the window of the silver room on milwaukee. 

Happenings Inside Wicker Park, CLICK TO ENLARGE

A book on online dating, author visits Bucktown cafe

As a tie-in to phase two of the three-part Valentine's Day series, "Aly" met an author this past week at caffe de luca's free tarot night.  Her name is GeVonna. She is pictured. Below is a press release for her book. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                              For more information, contact:

January 26, 2010                                                   GeVonna, Author of “Busted: Cyberstyle”

                                                              (404) 257-2577 / GeVonna@bustedcyberstyle.com

 

 

New Book Shares How to Avoid the Snares and Traps of Online Dating… And How to Set a Few of Your Own

 

“Busted: Cyberstyle” Reveals Insider Tips for Dating in Cyberspace Just in Time for Valentine’s Day; Now Available on Amazon.com

 

CHICAGO, Ill. – According to news reports, an estimated 30 million people logged in to dating sites in 2009 to search for a love connection. While the Internet dating industry boasts its fair share of success stories, cyber dating is not without its snares and traps. And singles who turn to dating sites around holidays, especially Valentine’s Day, are often the most vulnerable.

 

To help women avoid common online dating disasters, GeVonna, author of “Busted: Cyberstyle…An Undercover Approach to Online Dating” is sharing tips from her new book on how to avoid losing in the online dating game. Her book, now available on Amazon.com, shares the intimate details of her real life online dating experiences, which serve as a road map for women looking for love online on the heels of New Year’s Eve and in anticipation of Valentine’s Day. Each account reveals the complex landscape of dating sites and the sharp curves and dead ends that women should be aware of before they venture in.

 

“So many women make New Year’s resolutions to find love and then just weeks later, Valentine’s Day arrives and they're still alone,” said GeVonna. “That dynamic often pushes them toward joining online dating sites to expedite their journey toward a relationship, or causes them to use poor judgment if they’re already registered on a dating site. It’s at that point that they are likely to fall prey to the games people play online, and instead of finding themselves on the fast track to love, they find themselves on the fast track to heartbreak.”

 

In 1997, after a broken engagement, GeVonna tried online dating for the first time.  Since then, sites like Match.com, Eharmony.com, YahooPersonals.com, and most recently, BlackPeopleMeet.com have become her primary method for meeting eligible bachelors. In the process, she’s gained tremendous insights into the pros and cons of online dating and the behaviors and red flags women should be aware of.

 

In her book, GeVonna shares her  insights on everything from how to set traps instead of getting caught in them to strategies on how to distinguish the real men from the players. Ideal for both cyber dating veterans and newbies alike, “Busted: Cyberstyle…An Undercover Approach to Online Dating” is the ultimate playbook for women who want to master the online dating game.

 

GeVonna’s book is packed with pearls of wisdom gleaned from her interactions with dozens of male suitors she’s met online. According to the online dating diva, it’s imperative for women to:

 

• Establish guidelines for yourself in order to help make the best use of your time, which can include only responding to messages, rather than winks and flirts.
• Create cheat sheets to keep tabs on the men you’re most interested in and the conversations you’ve had.
• Before going on a date with a guy you’ve met online, email your girlfriend his photo and contact information.
• Do your homework. Cleverly use phantom and reconnaissance profiles to determine if a guy is sincere or if he’s playing the field.
• And most importantly, if you’re setting a trap, don’t get busted.

 

“A lot of women fail to realize that while online dating may be more convenient than having to go out and meet people, it still  comes with its own set of challenges, and it’s important that you’re prepared,” said GeVonna. “The key is to remain in control, have fun and don’t take rejection personality. Have faith that you’ll find ‘him’ online or offline, and enjoy every step of the journey until you do.”

 

Visit Amazon.com today to purchase “Busted: Cyberstyle Busted: Cyberstyle…An Undercover Approach to Online Dating.” The book retails for $14.95 and ships within 24 hours. For more information about Gevonna, visit www.bustedcyberstyle.com. Join her mailing list and receive her online dating safety tips, free of charge.

 

Gevonna is available for broadcast and print interviews on the topics of her book, online dating, relationships and more. To schedule an interview, contact Gevonna (404) 257-2577 or GeVonna@bustedcyberstyle.com.

 

About GeVonna:

 

Originally from Chicago, GeVonna is a former media personality, actress, informational speaker and the author of “Busted: Cyberstyle.” She has appeared in commercials and independent films, and is currently working on several projects, including her next infotainment piece, “From Fired to Fired Up” and “Just a Pew Away,” a film based on her book. GeVonna is a graduate of the University of Kansas, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Broadcast Journalism. For more information or to contact GeVonna, visit www.bustedcyberstyle.com.

 

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