#GovJamCLT Is this Weekend - June 12-14

The Charlotte Shapers are giving you the opportunity to collaborate on solutions to problems and challenges facing the city. It’s a weekend-long event, dubbed #GovJamCLT (see hash on Twitter), with the goal of helping “Charlotte residents begin to make the increasingly important connections needed between government and those the public sector serves.”

You might be familiar with previous events and initiatives the Charlotte Shapers have done over the last couple of years, such as its annual business idea competition. Part of the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Community, the Charlotte group carries out the international organization’s mission of empowering young leaders (people in their 20s and 30s) to create solutions to problems around the world, essentially one community and city at a time. The Charlotte group’s primary focus is tackling youth unemployment, but they also address a wide range of issues, as you’ll see with #GovJamCLT.

#GovJamCLT Rundown

Date: June 12-14 | Friday, 5:45 - 9 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Admission: $15; covers all three days (each day that you attend, you get $5 back).
Location: The Junior League of Charlotte, 1332 Maryland Ave.

Part of the Global Gov Jam, when people around the world will come together for 48 hours, #GovJamCLT is open to everyone, and the theme of this “jam” will be announced at the start of the event (but you can presume it will be tied to local government). If you've never participated in an event like this before, all you need to do is come with an open mind and a desire to see positive change where you live.

Get complete details and register for #GovJamCLT at charlotteshapers.org/govjamclt.

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2015 CIAA Tournament 'New Day-New Event' Press Conference Sept. 3 -- Watch Live; Plus, Backgrounder

Six months to the day after announcing that the CIAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament would remain in Charlotte for the next six years, conference officials and their partners are holding their next press conference, themed as "New Day-New Event." The press event will take place Wednesday, September 3 at 1:45 p.m. at Time Warner Cable Arena, and the public will be able to watch it via live stream at theciaa.com.

The press conference will provide updates on the weeklong tournament, which in 2015 will take place February 23-28, giving more details on the new partnership between the CIAA, City of Charlotte, and the Charlotte Hornets. CIAA Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams, Charlotte Mayor Dan Clodfelter, Mecklenburg County Commission Chair Trevor Fuller, Hornets President Fred Whitfield, and CRVA CEO Tom Murray are scheduled to speak, discussing topics such as tournament ticket sales, hotel availability, VIP experiences in Time Warner Cable Arena, and official CIAA events, according to the press release I received.

Photo by Jon Strayhorn/Media Arts Collective

In 2014, the CIAA Tournament completed its 69th year, with Charlotte being its home for the last nine years, and during its time here has experienced phenomenal growth. The weeklong festivities, which in addition to the 20-plus college basketball games held over several days between the 12 men’s and 12 women’s teams of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, are highlighted by the more than 200 parties and social events that go on that week, mostly unaffiliated with the CIAA but put on by independent party promoters and event planners. The events draw tens of thousands of visitors to Charlotte that week, including dozens of celebrities, and has close to a $50 million economic impact on the city annually.

The Charlotte Post published an article in July that said Bojangles' Coliseum could become a second site for the basketball tournament, specifically that the first two days of games, which are usually poorly attended, would be held there, while the Thursday-Saturday games, which typically get great attendance, would continue at Time Warner Cable Arena. I think that makes sense from a logistical standpoint, but the downside is that for those two days it would move the games away from Uptown, which is the center of all the CIAA-related action. One of the great things about the tournament's location, as it has been the last several years, is that you can park in Uptown (or take the light rail there) and walk to everything--the arena, convention center, hotels, and the majority of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs.

Another issue of contention for the CIAA is control over hotel rooms. Its commissioner has stated in the past that they want to receive contracts for large blocks of rooms at many Charlotte hotels so that they can better serve their fans, alumni, teams, and partners. If granted, it would be similar to what the Democratic National Convention had in 2012, which would allow them to handle room reservations and then turn over any remaining rooms back to the hotels by a specified date. This would also help prevent price gouging that tends to go on in regards to hotel room rates that week. February/early March is a slow time for hotels here, but the week of the CIAA Tournament often sees rooms go for two or three times the normal rates, and they still tend to sell out.

Founded in 1912, the CIAA is the nation's first African-American athletic conference, and it represents rich tradition and history for African-Americans who have graduated from its colleges and played on its sports teams over the last 100 years. Some students are now the third or fourth generation in their family to attend a CIAA school, dating back to a time when blacks were denied admission to most colleges in this country. Today's 12 CIAA schools are: Bowie State University, Chowan University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, The Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Livingstone College, Saint Augustine's University, Shaw University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, and Winston-Salem State University. 

You can keep up with the CIAA on social media: facebook.com/theciaa, twitter.com/ciaaforlife, instagram.com/ciaasports.

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No Good Deed Goes Unpunished: DeAngelo Williams Gives Up Business Class Seat for Marine (Maybe)

Coming off of the Fourth of July holiday weekend, in which we were all being patriotic Americans (and by that I mean shooting fireworks, cooking on the grill, going to the movies and baseball games, and taking long naps), Carolina Panthers' running back DeAngelo Williams displayed true patriotism. He shared on his Facebook and Twitter accounts Monday that he gave up his business class seat on his flight to a Marine.

On Facebook, DeAngelo added this caption to the photo: "He just doesn't know it yet but he will be sitting in this seat when he boards the plane. I always give up my 1st class seat! #isalutethetroops!"

And on Twitter, he remarked: "I always give up my seat to military if my seat is better! I truly appreciate our troops #flyingtherightway"

His public display of goodwill made the rounds on several national news outlets, pop culture websites, sports blogs, and, of course, Charlotte news, and was lauded by many on the social networking sites. But it was also met with criticism by some on social media who took issue with the NFL star being "showy" about his good deed. Love and hate comes with the territory on the Internet, so...

But the online comments also quickly took an unexpected turn. Many commenters said that DeAngelo had been duped by a faker because the so-called Marine's uniform display broke protocol:

"You don't wear shooting badges while displaying medals in the dress blue alpha uniform. Anyone with that much time in service would know better. Also looks like the silver and bronze star medals are incorrectly placed by precedence."

"I'm gonna be honest here. He looks like a "faker". I'm a Marine and he is wearing his cover indoors. NO MARINE WEARS THEIR COVER INDOORS. Something is fishy DeAngelo Williams, don't give up your seat to him!"

"That is a great thing to do, however, I am a Marine and that man is NOT! He is faking."

Perhaps the Marine in question, who appears to be an elderly man, will come forward to clear the air. Regardless, I hope this doesn't cause others to second-guess their kind gestures to servicemen and women in the future.

It should also be noted that actress Amy Adams made headlines a week earlier for giving up her first-class seat to a soldier. Except in this case, the notable deed was announced on social media by someone else--ESPN's Jemele Hill--who happened to witness the act.

Just saw actress Amy Adams do something incredibly classy. She gave her 1st class seat to an American soldier. I'm an even bigger fan now.
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) June 27, 2014

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Charlotte Woman Makes Her Way Backstage At 2 Chainz Concert and the Rapper Asks #IsThisYoThot

I stay away from blogging about ratchetness, and I don't think this is too ratchet, but I'm posting it because it involves a Charlotte woman. It also shows the perils of this everybody-wants-to-be-famous, social-media-fueled culture we're living in. The young lady who's receiving 15 minutes of fame is named Tina (whom I happen to sort of know, which is how I know she's a Charlottean). Rapper 2 Chainz was backstage at his concert in Charlotte when he discovered Tina had made her way back there among his entourage and friends. With a video camera rolling, 2 Chainz goes on a mission to find out who Tina is and who she's come to see, and he asks the question: "Is This Yo Thot?" For those of you unfamiliar, thot, or T.H.O.T., is one of the latest (disrespectful) hip hop slang terms and it stands for "that hoe over there."

2 Chainz performed in concert last Thursday at The Fillmore Charlotte, but his team just posted this footage on YouTube yesterday, and he shared it on Twitter then too. Subsequently, the #IsThisYoThot hashtag is blowing up (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram). 

In the three-minute video, as 2 Chainz proceeds to ask Tina to leave, he also informs her that "while you're back here, you're in a blog territory." To which Tina replies, "Oh sh#t, this is going on a blog for real?" But rather than let that embarrass her, the young socialite and social media darling (she posts photos of herself with celebrities quite often) takes the opportunity to tell potential viewers to follow her on Instagram @iluvtinaa.

Keep your head up, Tina. Credit: Tina's Instagram

The video has also made its way onto WorldStarHipHop, where it is quickly approaching (and will surpass) one million views.

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Soledad O'Brien Brings 'Black In America' Town Hall Tour to Charlotte - February 18

Race is often something people have difficulty talking about, or they talk about too much but not in a constructive way. So it's great when you have an expert facilitating the discussion. That's what we'll get when Soledad O’Brien hosts her "Black In America" Town Hall Tour this Tuesday, February 18 in Charlotte. The event starts at 7 p.m. and is being brought to you by the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, but is actually taking place across the street at Knight Theater (430 S. Tryon St.) to accommodate more people. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased through CarolinaTix.

Photo credit: Starfish Media Group

The conversation will focus on issues of race, class, wealth, and education, all of which stir frequent debate and division in this country. Directly after the discussion, she'll hold a book signing for her book, The Next Big Story: My Journey Through the Land of Possibilities.

Charlotte is the second of five cities on the "Soledad O’Brien Presents: Black In America" tour, taking place over the span of a week. And this tour is a part of the new ventures Soledad (@soledadobrien) is launching, as she branches out beyond her role as an award-winning journalist (she's still doing high-profile reporting, including for Al Jazeera America and this recent interview with Russell Simmons). She left her CNN morning show a year ago to launch her own media production company, Starfish Media Group, which, among other things, she will continue to produce documentaries in the "In America" series on CNN.

The newswoman-turned-entrepreneur has partnered with Google, which is sponsoring the Black In America initiative, and the tech giant is assisting Starfish Media Group by providing Google+ Hangouts, Google Apps for Business, and creating a YouTube channel to allow the company to reach a broader audience, according to The Huffington Post.

You can follow Black In America on Google+, and the first Hangout airs live this Wednesday at 6 p.m., from the tour stop at Towson University in Maryland. You can join in the conversation by uploading a photo of yourself holding a sign that says what "Being Black in America means..." to you, and post it using this hashtag: #iAmTheConversation.

Photo credit: Google+

Visit iamtheconversation.com for more details.

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The 'Perfect Bacon Bowl' Is Calling My Name

Hopefully you've had at least a few days off this week because of the holidays. If so, you've likely watched more TV than usual. And if that's the case, you probably have seen the commercial for the Perfect Bacon Bowl. It's been airing a lot this week. And now it's haunting me.

See, the Perfect Bacon Bowl is just what it sounds like, in terms of what it promises. You wrap uncooked bacon around the pan, stick it into the oven, and when it's done, the bacon has formed the shape of a bowl, which you can then fill with even more mouth-watering goodness.

I saw the commercial on TV all day on Tuesday. So I decided to tweet about it and include the YouTube video of the commercial. After posting my tweet, I clicked on the video's link to make sure it was working properly and I realized that I recognized one of the guys chomping on bacon in the commercial as someone who works for Edison Nation here in Charlotte. It would make perfect sense because Edison Nation has become astute in bringing clever, why-didn't-I-think-of-that kind of products to the market. I soon confirmed that it is indeed Edison Nation who's behind this cool, new thingamajig.

But I must resist buying it. See, I love bacon too much. I'm talking about the real stuff too: pork. No, turkey bacon is not an adequate substitute. I love bacon because of its taste, crunch, smell (but not to the extent of wanting bacon cologne)... er'ything. If I'm ordering at a restaurant I haven't eaten at before and it has an item on the menu that has bacon on it, I'm likely to order that. If I was to have a Perfect Bacon Bowl in my possession, there would be no end to the number of makeshift recipes I would create. I would probably try to eat cereal out of it.

But I'm not the only one. We're in the midst of a bacon craze--from cocktails to chocolate. Even if it is "Why the rest of the world hates us," as David Letterman proclaimed recently in response to the Perfect Bacon Bowl. This kitchsy kitchen device has also become food for fodder on Twitter (search "Perfect Bacon Bowl"), likely propelled by the prominence the TV commercial has been getting as of late.

Visit buyperfectbacon.com if you'd like to order the Perfect Bacon Bowl.


UPDATE: 1/26/14
I was given a Perfect Bacon Bowl, and I used it for the first time today. I whipped up a couple of bacon, egg, and cheese bowls for Sunday brunch. It was as easy to use as demonstrated in the ads, but it took longer than I expected for the bacon to cook to a crisp in the oven--about an hour in my gas oven because the directions say not to exceed 375 degrees. My suggestion is to cook your bacon bowls in a toaster oven for faster results. Of course, the microwave would be the absolute fastest way but I don't like to cook food in a microwave.

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Sell (or Recycle) Your Used Cell Phones, Tablets, and MP3 Players to ecoATM

I stumbled upon an ecoATM a few weeks ago while at Northlake Mall. I decided to pay it a visit this evening, with old cell phone in tow.

If you aren't familiar with ecoATM, it's an automated kiosk that allows you to sell your old mobile phones, tablets, and MP3 players and get cash instantly. That is, if it's determined there's a value for it. There are, reportedly, about 650 ecoATMs around the country, including eight in the Charlotte area: two each at Northlake, Carolina Place, Concord Mills, and Eastridge (Gastonia) malls. At Northlake Mall, there's one on level two just off the food court, near the path to AMC Theatres; and the other is on level one near the entrance to Dillard's.

The ecoATM on level two at Northlake Mall. Photos credit: Jarvis Holliday

The ecoATM on level one.

According to ecoATM, it is able to assess more than 4,000 devices. I experienced firsthand just how easy it is to use. The kiosk makes it clear that the company wants you to be able to get money quick and easy, but that it wants to deter criminal activity, i.e. if someone tries to sell a stolen iPhone they will probably be tracked down. You're required to scan your driver's license or some other form of state-issued ID early on in the process. (If you get to the end where you're about to complete the sale, you'll also have to scan your thumbprint and your photo is taken).

The machine spits out a small tracking sticker, which looks like a QR code, for you to place on the back of the device. Then, you place your device inside a box on the machine, where it works its magic. After about a minute or less, it determined that there was "not a market for my device." So, the (stingy, LOL) ecoATM wouldn't offer me any cash for it, but it did offer to recycle the phone for me. I decided to hold onto it (even though it's practically useless to me).

That's the other advantage to using this machine. If devices taken in by ecoATM can't be resold, they're recycled, which helps the environment by keeping the old electronics from ending up in landfills. In April, the company announced that it had recycled its one-millionth device; it's now approaching two million. There's a large market out there for this service, considering it's estimated that Americans have as many as half a billion old mobile devices lying around that they are no longer using. That happens because the average shelf life of those devices, the majority of which are phones, is less than two years. Because, you know, you usually upgrade to a new phone or it breaks. And the old phones likely pile up in a drawer or box somewhere in your house.

I think a lot of us hold onto them because of all of the data, particularly photos and videos, that we've accumulated on them (ecoATM advises you to delete all of your info from the phone before selling it). I went through my old phone last night and it was like scrolling down memory lane as I looked at photos I took on it between 2009 and 2011. I got my current phone in November 2011, and I plan to replace it in about a month or so (I know, I use a phone longer than most of you; that's probably because I'm not #TeamiPhone). This one has a ridiculous amount of personal data stored on it.

Here's a tip. The two ecoATMs at Northlake Mall are slightly different. The one on level one requires you to stick your driver's license in a reader/slot similar to a cash dispensing ATM, whereas the one on level two requires you to place it against a small glass surface that acts as a scanner. The latter will probably work better for you if your license is old and/or has a crack in it, which could prevent it from successfully sliding through the reader.

Visit ecoatm.com.

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It's #GivingTuesday -- Recommended Charlotte Organizations to Support

I don't remember if I heard of GivingTuesday last year when it launched. But now in it's second year, this national day of giving's message is all over the place--as it should be. Founded by a NYC-based nonprofit organization, GivingTuesday is intended to remind us that it is important to give during this holiday season, and it strategically takes place following what has become national shopping days (and oftentimes acts of greed): Black Friday and Cyber Monday. So today, Tuesday, December 3, is GivingTuesday.

Credit: facebook.com/GivingTuesday

This charitable campaign got a big boost this year when the United Nations Foundation joined as an official partner. Nonprofit organizations--big and small--are participating all around the country. Below I've listed a few Charlotte-based groups that would be deserving of your support, should you decide to give today. For each of these, I've either been involved with the organizations and/or know some of the key people behind them. And they run the gamut, from helping the homeless and impoverished to working with youth, education, and improving health. Donations can be given online at each of the organizations' websites.

Organizations listed in alphabetical order.

Charlotte Rescue Mission
Founded in 1938 (celebrating 75th anniversary), this organization has a long history of reaching out to the homeless and those battling addictions. Its mission is to minister the good news of Christianity to individuals caught in the crisis of poverty, hopelessness, or addictions by meeting their spiritual, physical, and emotional needs. charlotterescuemission.org

Communities In Schools of Charlotte-Mecklenburg
An affiliate of the national Communities In Schools network, the nation’s leading dropout prevention organization, its mission is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. As a result, our youth will be better equipped to find meaningful employment, lead productive, gratifying lives, and become contributing members of society. cischarlotte.org

Crisis Assistance Ministry
An independent nonprofit agency, it focuses on preventing homelessness and preserving dignity for Charlotte-Mecklenburg's working poor by providing assistance with rent, utilities, clothing, and furniture. crisisassistance.org

EmpowHERment, Inc.
Provides mentorship, talent development, and advocacy programs for girls and women throughout the Charlotte region. It started a few years ago as an annual summit, then last year became a fully developed nonprofit organization. You can support its efforts and have an enjoyable evening at EmpowHERment's First Birthday Celebration on Thursday, December 12 at UNC Charlotte Center City. Click here to buy tickets. empowherment.com

Freedom School Partners
FSP's mission is to engage, educate, and empower children to succeed in school and in life through quality, year-round educational enrichment programs. Provides quality summer Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools programs for students in grades K-12 throughout Charlotte’s communities. freedomschoolpartners.org

Queen City Mobile Market
Working to improve food access one neighborhood at a time. The mobile market will roll out on a mission to make sure everyone enjoys fresh produce regardless of their zip code in Charlotte and the surrounding area. qcmobilemarket.com

The Red Pump Project
A nonprofit organization that raises awareness about the impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girls through education, and open dialogue about the issues that surround sexual and reproductive health. The Fifth Annual Red Pump/Red Tie Affair takes place this Saturday, December 7 at The Hart Witzen Gallery in Charlotte. Click here to buy tickets. theredpumpproject.org

Learn more about GivingTuesday by visiting givingtuesday.org, at facebook.com/GivingTuesday, and Twitter @GivingTues | #GivingTuesday. You're also encouraged to post an #UNselfie--a photo showing where and why you gave to a charity.

UNselfies. Credit: @UTAFoundation

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Awesome Photo of the Charlotte Skyline... and the Credit It Deserves

I've seen a beautiful photo of Charlotte's skyline making the rounds on Twitter recently. It's from a vantage point you don't often see depicted in skyline photos of the city--from Marshall Park. Taken at night, and as great as the photo is, it doesn't show what has long been Uptown Charlotte's crowning achievement, as far as skyscrapers go: the Bank of America Corporate Center. Instead, it's highlighted (literally) by what in recent years has become the darling of the cityscape: the Duke Energy Center.

As someone who creates original content and is a fan of great photography, it bothered me that whenever I saw this photo posted, there was never a mention of the photographer. Who shot this? I believe in giving people, especially creatives, the credit they deserve. Thanks to a Google Images search, in which you can drag a photo into the search box to find where it has appeared on the 'net (and I, like many of you, discovered was possible from watching the MTV show Catfish), I was able to track down where I believe the photo was originally posted.

The photo was posted in April on Flickr by a Brooklyn, New York photographer named Mauricio Fernandez. And what's interesting is that he describes himself as "a Passionate Amateur Photographer." His work, which includes several cityscapes from around the country, is impressive for an amateur.

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Second Annual SHAPE Charlotte Business Idea Competition Final Presentations and Awards - Nov. 12

The 2013 SHAPE Charlotte Business Idea Competition concludes this Tuesday, November 12. Presented by the Charlotte Shapers hub of the World Economic Forum of Global Shapers, the evening will feature a networking reception followed by presentations from five finalists who were selected after going through a competitive process over the last several weeks.

SHAPE Charlotte is an innovative business model competition created for, and by, the next generation of leaders. The organization encourages entrepreneurship within people 35 years of age or younger "by empowering participants to act as agents of change through innovation and ultimately job creation." The finalists, all Charlotte-based startups, were selected based on their ability to demonstrate the viability, innovation, and impact of their business concept, and they are:

• FreshBrains - an online matchmaking platform that pairs student skill sets with local small businesses and nonprofits in need of web design services.

• FundNC - an online crowdfunding portal that helps facilitate and market new intrastate security offerings for North Carolina-based businesses.

• Gameplan - software that applies the results from a Holland Code Assessment (career cluster / personality quiz) tailored to high school students and formulates a "gameplan" for each student.

• PlateShare - a charitable micro-giving platform that creatively crowdsources donations from restaurant spending and redirects the money to hunger relief efforts.

• The Bridge, PR for Social Good - teaches organizations how to become better corporate citizens.

Tomorrow evening, one of the teams will be awarded the Judge's Prize worth $10,000, and one will win the Audience Choice Award worth $2,500.

The event is free and open to the public. An optional networking reception will be held 6-6:45 p.m. at Wake Forest University's Center City Campus (200 N. College St., Suite 150). And the main event will take place across the street at 7 p.m. at the One Bank of America Center Auditorium (150 N. College St.). RSVP is required; click here.

Mayor-Elect Patrick Cannon will present opening remarks, and Kirk Hawkins, news anchor at WCCB Charlotte, will host the event. The co-founder and CEO of Tykoon Nation, Mark Bruinooge, will deliver the keynote speech.

The SHAPE Charlotte Business Idea Competition started in 2012 and awarded more than $12,000 last year to Queen City Mobile Market and $2,500 to iMedicare.

Follow Charlotte Shapers on Twitter @CLTShapers, #SHAPECLT; on Facebook.com/CharlotteShapers, and at charlotteshapers.org.

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BarCamp Charlotte 8 Takes Place Saturday - Free

If you work in technology, for a startup, in the arts, media, investments, marketing, or computer fields--ranging from a freelancer to an entrepreneur, an executive to a college student, you're encouraged to attend BarCamp Charlotte 8 this Saturday, October 26. Seeing as how this list of professions and career fields runs the gamut, if you're not familiar with BarCamp Charlotte you should get the impression that it's open to just about anyone. So what is it?

As the local version of BarCamp, which began in 2005 in Palo Alto, California, BarCamp Charlotte is a community-organized democratic event that's filled with a day's worth of sessions in which the topics and ideas are pitched, voted on, and determined that morning (and again in the afternoon). That's why this type of event is often categorized as being an "un-conference." The topics typically deal with technology and innovation, and it should be a great way for you to network, build relationships, and maybe even come away with a new idea or two that you want to apply to your endeavors.

A BarCamp Charlotte event at its former home, Area 15. Credit: facebook.com/BarCampCharlotte

Since beginning eight years ago, BarCamps have taken place in more than 350 cities around the world. Charlotte got in on it in 2009 and has held seven events thus far, attracting more than 250 attendees. Area 15 in NoDa had served as the home to BarCamp Charlotte since its inception, but this year the un-conference has moved to a much larger venue, Pease Auditorium at Central Piedmont Community College.

BarCamp Charlotte 8 is free and open to the public. If you plan to attend, you're asked to register in advance. The event, which includes lunch, goes from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, followed by an after-party 5:30-8:30 p.m. at Kickstand Burgers-N-Bar.

Visit barcampclt.org for complete details. You can also follow the group on Twitter @BarCampCLT and the hashtag is #barcampCLT.

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Charlotte-Area Teen Nash Grier Becomes Vine Star, Goes On National Media Run

I'm hooked on watching Vine videos, those six-second clips that users create on their smartphones, powered by the Twitter app. I don't usually watch the short videos individually, but instead I view the Vine compilations that you can find on YouTube and other sites. People will compile videos made up of dozens, sometimes hundreds of vines--most of them either funny or weird or both--that were created by random people from all over the country (in effect, you're watching a 10-minute-or-so blooper reel). And it's extremely entertaining. I've watched enough of them to where I recognize some of the popular "actors," but I only recently learned (from a Charlotte Observer article) that one of them is a teenager from the Charlotte area.

Nash being Nash. Credit: twitter.com/Nashgrier

Nash Grier is a 15-year-old Mooresville kid who's become a Vine sensation. He now has more than 1.5 million followers on the app, which, according to Rankzoo, ranks him at No. 23 for the most followers. Slightly ahead of him at No. 22 is Harry Styles of One Direction, while Nash has more Vine followers than Wiz Khalifa, Ellen DeGeneres, Kevin Hart, and other top-ranked celebrities on the list (he's way ahead of Justin Bieber). In August, Vine surpassed 40 million users, continuing to grow at a rapid pace even though many analysts thought its popularity would be hurt by the introduction of video on Instagram.

You can expect Nash's profile to rise exponentially because he's currently on a quick national media run. He flew to New York yesterday, appeared on ABC's Good Morning America this morning (he met Sylvester Stallone), and also taped an interview for Inside Edition that's scheduled to air this evening. As is the norm with Internet sensations, I expect for his story to get picked up by many other media outlets in coming days (the U.K.'s Daily Mail already picked up his story from the Observer).

Follow Nash on Twitter @nashgrier, where you'll find links to his Vine videos (which you can view there on the web even if you don't have the app), and Instagram @nashgrier. You can also watch many popular Vine videos and top Viners online and all in one place at vinebox.co (here's the direct link to Nash's).

He's recorded several different "Mr. Steal Yo Girl" videos like this one.

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Lowe's Knows Digital -- Holograms and Key Machines

As a perennial handyman (not really) and avid do-it-yourselfer (hardly), I made a quick visit to Lowe's earlier this week to pick up a few items. I went to the Lowe's on Iverson Way (off South Boulevard) and encountered a couple of things at the home improvement store that reminded me that we're living in a digital age.

First, as I walked in, to the left of the main aisle stood a Lowe's associate named Holly. She tried to convince me to by a jug of some kind of home insect control spray that was on sale. I didn't need any. Holly is a hologram, by the way. (A few people have posted videos of the hologram on YouTube.)

As I proceeded through the store, I figured I'd go ahead and take my house key over to the station where copies are made. This way, if it took more than a few minutes, I could pick up the other items I needed while the key was being duplicated. Except, as I was surprised to find, no longer is there a counter where a Lowe's employee duplicates keys. Now there's a self-service automated kiosk called MinuteKEY. You stick in your key, choose the style of key you want (you can get a simple brass or silver key or custom keys like one with the Carolina Panthers logo), use your credit/debit card to pay for the number of copies you want, and it duplicates the key (takes about a minute for each copy).

The robots are taking over, people...

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No, GPS. There's a Sinkhole Ahead

Remember back when you would drive to a place that you'd never gone to before, that if you didn't know exactly how to get there you would ask for directions before you left home, and the person giving you the directions would basically guide you there by listing a series of landmarks? (Once you get on such and such street, come down about five lights and turn left by that McDonald's.) Then remember when MapQuest came along on the Internet and you would enter the address of wherever you were going, print out the directions, and take them with you? And remember when GPS devices started to become really affordable, so you bought one, placed it on your car's dashboard or windshield, and would get real-time, turn-by-turn directions to your desired destination? And finally, mobile phones started coming equipped with GPS built in, so now you could just hop in the car, type in or speak the address to where you're going, and get turn-by-turn directions. I've gotten so used to my phone instructing me on where to go. Haven't you?

Well, today I was on my way to a meeting in Concord when I encountered a large "ROAD CLOSED" sign on Harris Road, which is the name the road changes to after being Eastfield Road, near the Charlotte-Concord line. According to my GPS, I was only about five minutes from my destination, but thanks to the road being closed, I couldn't continue on the suggested route. And no matter how many nearby streets I tried turning on so that my GPS could recalculate, in hopes of it leading me in another direction, it kept pointing me back to Harris Road.

I wanted to scream: "I can't go that way because there's a sinkhole!"

I'd seen and read about numerous sinkholes popping up throughout the Charlotte area over the last several weeks, largely caused by all of this rain we've been getting. Today was my first time encountering one in person. It was relatively small compared to some of the sinkholes I've seen on the local news (and pales in comparison to sinkholes seen around the world), but it was big enough to stretch across--and force the closing of--the two-lane road.

In order to get to my meeting today, one of the guys I was going to meet with ended up having to give me old-fashioned directions over the phone, by listing a series of landmarks.

I look forward to the day when my phone's GPS has an "avoid sinkhole" button. #1stWorldProblems.

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NBC Charlotte Meetup at Discovery Place - July 25

NBC Charlotte (WCNC) is partnering with Discovery Place to host a meetup on Thursday, July 25, 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the science museum in Uptown (301 N. Tryon St.). Here's how the event is being described by the organizers: "You can rub shoulders with NBC Charlotte’s own, grab some face time with your Twitter friends, snag a cocktail at the cash bar, play some games, win some prizes, engage in some science fun or jump in the photo booth for some silliness at Discovery Place..."

Admission to the meetup is free, but registration is required by visiting nbccharlotte.eventbrite.com. Capacity for the event is 500, and so far nearly 350 people have registered. The hashtag being used for the event is #WCNCmeetup (Twitter | Facebook | Instagram).

NBC Charlotte's Dianne Gallagher chats with a guest at last year's WCNC Tweetup.
Credit: wcnc.com

WCNC hosted a similar event last year at Icehouse South End, which I had the pleasure of attending, and I made several new connections. I think these types of events are a great idea. Most of us use social media these days, and we often "follow" or "friend" people on these sites whom we don't know personally or have never met in person. But because of your interaction with their tweets, status updates, and photo sharing, you feel as if you know them. So an event like what NBC Charlotte and Discovery Place are doing gives you the opportunity to continue your social networking--literally--but step beyond the virtual world.

I always encourage people to get out and network, no matter your profession or interests (remember, you can frequently find Charlotte networking events listed on my Dusk Till Dawn blog). As much as I rely on the Internet and social media, it'll never be a substitute for building actual one-on-one, face-to-face relationships. That was a part of the reasoning behind the "Charlotte’s Web: A Celebration of CLT Bloggers & Digital Tastemakers" event I put on in May.

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Read About It: Hot Cars On the Lake

I wrote a feature for the July 2013 issue of Lake Norman Magazine, "Get Your Motor Running," that focuses on car dealers and shops in the lake area that sell/build exotic, luxury, and classic cars. We're talking everything from vintage cars from the 1930s to late-model sports cars.

While conducting interviews and doing research for this story, I learned that selling cars on consignment is big business, and that people search all over the world for specific cars. Because of the Internet, car dealers like the ones on Lake Norman are able to sell and ship cars to buyers from anywhere. Yes, a couple of the dealers told me they have people--from the West Coast to the Middle East--buy cars from them online without ever setting foot on the car lot or seeing the cars in person. That's why many of the dealers place detailed info, multiple photos, and sometimes even video of each of these exotic and luxury cars, to give potential buyers a good idea of the quality and appeal of the vehicle.

One of the Lake Norman dealers told me he sold two of the Range Rover Autobiography Ultimate Edition SUVs to a single buyer for $250,000 each. Rolling in it!

The July issue of Lake Norman Magazine is online and on newsstands now.

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Post a Selfie in Support of #ISF3Wishes and Childhood Cancer Awarness

I don't think I've ever posted a "selfie" before. So, if I'm going to go the popular, smart-phone/social-media-propelled route of vanity, it may as well be for a great cause. The Isabella Santos Foundation has launched its 3 Wishes campaign to raise awareness for childhood cancer.

The Charlotte-based nonprofit's namesake is the late Isabella Santos, a remarkable seven-year-old girl who died last summer from a rare form of childhood cancer called neuroblastoma. ISF was founded in 2009 by Isabella's parents while their little girl battled the disease. In just a few years, the foundation has raised more than $350,000 for neuroblastoma research and other children’s cancer charities.

Isabella Santos. Credit: facebook.com/IsabellaSantosFoundation

Now, with the 3 Wishes campaign, you can honor the memory of this beautiful little girl by doing something you probably often do: Post a selfie. But take it a step further by including three wishes you would want to see realized by children battling cancer.

My 3 Wishes are:

• That princesses get kisses.

• You'll always have reasons to smile.

• Outgrow your "Proud Cancer Survivor" T-Shirt.

You're asked to post your selfie on Twitter, Instagram, and/or Pinterest and use the #ISF3Wishes hashtag; and post it on ISF's Facebook page. Spread the word too, particularly to your friends who have social media accounts full of selfies (you know who you are).

In my list of wishes, I got the idea for the first one from a touching video ISF recently created about Isabella's life. Shortly after the three-minute mark, there's a scene taken from the Santos's home videos showing Isabella, who looked like she was only about four years old at the time, telling her little brother Grant that: "Princesses need kisses."

I've seen several creative #ISF3Wishes posts, created by parents (with artistic abilities far better than me) and many featuring children close to Isabella's age, such as this one on Facebook:

Visit www.isabellasantosfoundation.com and follow on Twitter @TheISFoundation.

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5 Things to Note About New York Times Article, 'Young Americans Lead Trend to Less Driving'

Charlotte was abuzz yesterday on social media (and I assume in coffee shops and around water coolers—people still talk there, right?) with the city and a few of our residents being prominently featured in a New York Times article titled, "Young Americans Lead Trend to Less Driving" (posted online Monday night; ran in Tuesday's print edition). The writer cites studies and uses the Queen City to explain that "Charlotte and other American cities have not abandoned their cars or their sprawling growth. But ... that American driving patterns have downshifted — perhaps for years to come." It's an interesting read.

Here are five things that stood out to me as I read the article:

• The first paragraph describes Uptown Charlotte as "a pedestrian-friendly quarter with new office buildings, sparkling museums and ambitious restaurants." I couldn't have explained it better myself in 13 words.
• Shouts out to my friend Ted Boyd, director of Historic South End, who recently partnered with me on an event, for being photographed and interviewed.
• According to the article, Dan Mauney is opening two stores in South End, "one to sell women’s shoes and another men’s underwear." This is the first I've heard of that. Dan is most known as a co-owner of Sloan boutique in Dilworth, and as an organizer of the annual "BRIEF! A Fete for Fashion" men's underwear/swimwear fashion show and fundraiser.
• The writer mentions the success of the light rail, and that "President Obama has nominated the city’s mayor, Anthony R. Foxx, to be the next transportation secretary." I anticipated that would be included in the article. But I think it should've also been addressed that Charlotte is currently struggling with its plans for a streetcar.
• The driving trends could be reversed one day with "the emergence of self-driving vehicles [that] 'may re-empower elderly people to continue using cars far into their last years,' offsetting any potential decline from younger adults." Self-driving cars. Need. To. Happen. Now!

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Five Years of 'Grown People Talking'

Five years ago today, I launched GrownPeopleTalking.com. Below is the gist of what I said in the very first blog post on April 11, 2008:

"There are a million blogs out there. Some good, some bad (some pointless). What I hope to add is insightful commentary with a mixture of wit and humor. I also offer a local perspective, reporting to you live from Charlotte.

I'll be blogging about issues purely from my perspective, resulting from the many things I am fortunate (or unfortunate) to experience. Topics I'll cover are culture, entertainment, nightlife, music, sports, politics, social issues, fashion, Man Law, and just about anything else that goes on in everyday life.

I'll be posting several times a week, so I hope you will visit often."

What I'm most proud of today, April 11, 2013, is that over the last five years I've done what I said I would do with this blog. And I'm appreciative of all of you who have visited.

When I started GPT, I was a month into my new career as a freelance journalist. I'd spent the previous six years on the staffs of magazines, when I decided to venture out on my own, so to speak. I figured this blog would be a great way for me to share my voice and perspectives, keep you all informed on relevant topics and interesting events, and, most importantly for me career-wise, it would serve as a place for me to link to articles I write for other publications. In effect, it became a way to develop myself as a Charlotte media personality and person who knows a little bit about a lot (I've gotten numerous opportunities and paid gigs because of this blog). I'm not all highfalutin, but I quickly learned that in my industry (and in just about any industry, for that matter) it's important that you create a platform for people, whether it be consumers or potential employers/business partners, to know what it is you do and what you have to offer.  

Back in the spring of 2008, social media was in its infant stages. Facebook hadn't yet reached 100 million users worldwide (now there are more than 1 billion), many people didn't know what Twitter was or thought it wouldn't last (I would stubbornly resist joining for another three years), and Myspace was the most-visited website in the United States. My, how things change. Today, I use Facebook (Facebook.com/GrownPeopleTalking) and Twitter (@HollidayInk) to share links to my blog posts.

Also in 2008, launching and maintaining blogs was all the rage. It continues to be popular today, but I can't name many other Charlotte blogs that have lasted five years. That's not to toot my own horn--okay, maybe a little--but it's really to say that I've come too far to turn back now.

Photos of me rarely make it onto GPT, because this blog isn't about "me".

I have several ideas for where I can take this blog creatively, but what I never want to do is over-promise and under-deliver. So when the changes are ready, you'll see them, and I hope you likey. In the meantime, I plan to continue giving you "insightful and entertaining commentary about life in and around Charlotte," as this blog's tagline states.

I'm also planning a party at one of Charlotte's newest venues to celebrate this milestone. Sorry, but it's going to be private, for my industry peers and friends (invitations go out next week). But what I am planning to do is invite several of you GPT readers who have commented on blog posts and sent me thoughtful emails (jarvish@grownpeopletalking.com) over the years (so be on the lookout).

I've written exactly 1,064 Grown People Talking blog posts, as of today. Cheers to all the good things we've experienced over the last five years!

P.S. Make sure you regularly visit Dusk Till Dawn, the Charlotte nightlife blog I've written for Charlotte magazine since December 2010 (the recent headlines from that blog's posts are listed at the top of this blog via FeedBurner).

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Bank of America Experimenting with Mobile-Wallet Technology in New Pilot Program

It's scary sometimes to think about how much we use our mobile phones. In fact, one day soon we should start calling them something else because the phone--in terms of actually talking on the device--is becoming less and less of what we use them for. In addition to all of the texting, web browsing, social networking, picture taking and uploading, video recording, etc. you use your smartphones for, the money is in, well, the money. I'm sure you use your phone to check your bank accounts and maybe even make payments or online purchases through the mobile web, but Bank of America is seeking to up the ante in the global market of mobile payments that's estimated to be more than $170 billion.

BofA has launched a pilot program that it's testing out only in Charlotte, in which a customer can pay at a store register by simply scanning an image with a smartphone. So, basically, instead of swiping your debit/credit card at a register (as if that's too difficult), you would have the clerk scan your phone, which you likely would be holding in your hand anyway (oh no, but that would mean you wouldn't be able to rudely talk on your phone while in the checkout line).

Bank of America has partnered with a Wellesley, Massachusetts-based startup company called Paydiant, which specializes in mobile-wallet technology. Only BofA employees are participating in the three-month trial period, and five Charlotte merchants/retailers are being used. You can read more about the pilot program in this Reuters article.

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