Paloma Cruz

I am listening to Inside PR #64 podcast, where they are debating whether a good writer is born or made — their vote is for born. “You can make a good writer better,” states one of the two voices floating from my computer.

The one quote I heard today that I absolutely loved: “(Good) writing is the price of entry to the PR world.”

YES, YES, YES!

Oh…. I agree. I think that everyone needs to improve existing writing skills (including me) or obtain them.

Just my opinion.

General

Personally, I hate change. I hate having to move apartments. I hate looking for a new job, starting a new job. I hate having to reaccustom myself to new practices and habits.

I am a creature of habit. I like continuity.

I guess, really, I’m not unlike everyone else. We all like some safety, security, continuance in our lives. If everything changed all the time, I think many of us would be unhappy.

Having said that, I know that I need to make some hard decisions that will effect change in my life. One is about my job, my career. One is about where I live, my life as a renter. One is about long-term goals. One is about personal happiness.

I don’t wanna!

Truthfully, just the thought of making these decisions is making me tired. I don’t want to be the adult. In fact, if someone else could take responsibility for a few days, that would be great.

{{sigh}}

That’s not true, I know. If someone else were trying to make decisions for me, I’d hit the roof. I’m not happy without independence. However, sometimes I do wish that weren’t the case.

I’ll let you know, at another time, what the decisions are and what my decisions will be. For now, I’m going to ponder.

General

Some news & links for your reading pleasure:

• Alvin ISD turns to Plato for educational tools, reported by the Houston Business Journal
• UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON-CLEAR LAKE Literary magazine accepting entries, reported by the Houston Chronicle
• Public gets chance to tour Clear Springs High, reported by the Houston Chronicle
• Alvin, Pearland teachers receive ‘Innovation’ grants, reported by the Houston Chronicle

News

Vertical Response gives us 5 Basics for Climbing the Search Engine Ladder that are touted as “EASY, QUICK and FREE.” They are: reciprocal linking, keyword analysis, keyword density, clean code and attention to the title tag.

The Blog Herald has some good tips on improving your blog. Tips to get more comments, and tips to make a good first impression. Worth a look.

The New York Times asks the question: Can Blogs Become a Big Source of Jobs? The answer they give isn’t very good. Yes, you can make a living off blogs. But finding a job takes an unconventional approach.

If you have time online, catch AOL Latino’s newest project: Fashionista. From a story in Advertising Age: “This is the first time we’re mixing video with voting and social networking, so we expect a lot of traffic,” said Mark Lopez, publisher of AOL Latino.

Resources

• 5 Basics for Climbing the Search Engine Ladder, by Vertical Response
• 10 Minute Blog Tips: Get More Comments, from The Blog Herald
• 10 Minute Blog Tips: Making a Good First Impression, from The Blog Herald
• Can Blogs Become a Big Source of Jobs?, by The New York Times
• AOL Latino Rolls Out Branded Fashion Reality Series; ‘Fashionista’ Sponsored Exclusively by Ford’s Mercury Milan; by Advertising Age

News

“They attacked us today. A mortar hit about 30 feet from where I sleep,” my brother wrote to me recently. “I slept through the whole thing.”

Only him…

Family

This summer, don’t just sit around…get fit and have fun at your neighborhood library. The Houston Public Library presents the Fit For Life event series to promote health awareness and physical fitness. The Fit For Life series coincides with Teen Summer Slam and Summer Reading Program, the library’s busiest time of year for teens and families.

Fit For Life events include a presentation on healthy choices about nutrition and a demonstration on the preparation of healthy snacks. Additional presentations will address the importance of making a life-long commitment to a healthy lifestyle and the importance of every-day choices and health awareness to achieve it. Each event will culminate with a 45-minute cardio workout program incorporating different types of aerobic activities such as Dance Dance Revolution, Hip Hop Aerobics and Dance Workshops to stress the importance of physical fitness. All Fit For Life events are free and open to the public.

Saturday, June 9, 2007 * 12–3 PM (Hip Hop Cafe and Hip Hop Jam to run concurrently)

Fifth Ward Neighborhood Library
4014 Market, 77020 * 832-393-1770

Wednesday, June 13, 2007 * 4– 5:30 PM

Stanaker Neighborhood Library
611 S/Sgt. Macario Garcia, 77011 * 832-393-2080

Thursday, June 14, 2007 * 3–4:30 PM

Carnegie Regional Library
1050 Quitman, 77009 * 832-393-1720

Thursday, June 21, 2007 * 2–3:30 PM

Lakewood Neighborhood Library
8815 Feland Street, 77028 * 832-393-2530

Friday, June 22 * 4–5:30 PM

Tuttle Neighborhood Library
702 Kress, 77020 * 832-393-2100

Wednesday, July 11, 2007 * 1–2:30 PM

Johnson Neighborhood Library
3517 Reed Rd., 77051 * 832-393-2550

Wednesday, July 18, 2007 * 3:30–5 PM

Oak Forest Neighborhood Library
1349 West 43rd Street, 77018 * 832-393-1960

Thursday, July 19, 2007 * 3–4:30 PM

Park Place Regional Library
8145 Park Place, 77017 * 832-393-1970

Friday, July 20, 2007* 3–4 PM

Frank Neighborhood Library
6440 West Bellfort, 77035 * 832-393-2410

For more information, please call 832-393-1313 or visit www.houstonlibrary.org.

General

Houston Public Library & Houston Grand Opera Present “Opera to Go!”
Dr. Dulcamara’s Magical Restorative Tonic!

Art is only minutes away from your door at the Houston Public Library. The Houston Public Library invites children to see and hear the beauty of Opera with Dr. Dulcamara’s Magical Restorative Tonic! Set in the Old West, this production is a delightful retelling of one of Gaetano Donizetti’s most beloved operas, The Elixir of Love. Revel in the fun and see if ranch-hand Ned Moreno is able to win the cowgirl of his dreams with Dr. Dulcamara’s magical potion, or if Sheriff Bill Corey stands in his way!

Opera to Go! features 45 minutes of fully staged, high-energy productions sung in English and created by the Houston Grand Opera especially for school-age children. These events are free and open to the public at your Houston Public Library:

Friday, June 1, 2007

Park Place Regional Library at 10:30 AM
8145 Park Place, 77017 * 832-393-1970

McGovern-Stella Link Regional Library at 2 PM
7405 Stella Link, 77025 * 832-393-2630

Monday, June 4, 2007

Heights Neighborhood Library at 10:30 AM
1302 Heights Blvd, 77008 * 832-393-1810

Jungman Neighborhood Library at 2 PM
5830 Westheimer, 77057 * 832-393-1860

Wednesday, June 6, 2007

Meyer Neighborhood Library at 10:30 AM
5005 West Bellfort, 77035 * 832-393-1840

Kendall Neighborhood Library at 2:30 PM
14330 Memorial Drive, 77079 * 832-393-1880

Friday, June 8, 2007

Stanaker Neighborhood Library at 1:30 PM
611 S/Sgt. Macario Garcia, 77011 * 832-393-2080

Monday, June 11, 2007

Johnson Neighborhood Library at 10:30 AM
3517 Reed Rd., 77051 * 832-393-2550

Young Neighborhood Library at 2:30 PM
5260 Griggs Road, Palm Center, 77021 * 832-393-2140

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Tuttle Neighborhood Library at 1 PM
702 Kress, 77020 * 832-393-2100

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Lakewood Neighborhood Library at 10:30 AM
8815 Feland Street, 77028 * 832-393-2530

Scenic Woods Regional Library at 2:30 PM
10677 Homestead Rd., 77016 * 832-393-2030

For more information, please call 832-393-1313 or visit www.houstonlibrary.org.

General

The big top has risen and clown cars are filling up, tooting their horns, and hitting the streets of Houston on the way to your library. The Houston Public Library invites children of all ages to performances by Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus clowns during June 4-8. The clowns will bring their big red noses and much more to ten neighborhood libraries. This summer’s repertoire will include storytimes, balloon animals, juggling acts and lots of crazy clown antics. Circus Clown performances are scheduled are free and open to the public at the following neighborhood libraries:

Monday, June 4, 2007

Kendall Neighborhood Library at 10:30 AM
14330 Memorial Drive, 77079 * 832-393-1880

Heights Neighborhood Library at 1 PM
1302 Heights Blvd., 77008 * 832-393-1810

Tuesday, June 5, 2007

Fifth Ward Neighborhood Library at 10:30 AM
4014 Market, 77020 * 832-393-1770

Dixon Neighborhood Library at 2:30 PM
8002 Hirsch, 77016 * 832-393-1760

Wednesday, June 6, 2007

Bracewell Neighborhood Library at 10:30 AM
10115 Kleckley, 77075 * 832-393-2580

Flores Neighborhood Library at 4 PM
110 North Milby, 77003 * 832-393-1780

Thursday, June 7, 2007

Parent Resource Library, Children’s Museum of Houston at 10 AM
1500 Binz, 77004 * 713-535-7258

Walter Neighborhood Library at 3:30 PM
7660 Clarewood, 77036 * 832-393-2500

Friday, June 8, 2007

Scenic Woods Regional Library at 10:30 AM
10677 Homestead Rd., 77016 * 832-393-2030

Smith Neighborhood Library at 3 PM
3624 Scott St., 77004 * 832-393-2050

For more information, please call 832-393-1313 or visit www.houstonlibrary.org.

General

The Houston Public Library, H-E-B, and 97.9 The Box Radio have partnered to present a week-long Hip Hop Cafe: Dancin’ in the Streets program series for our community’s teens. All programs are free to the public and take place Monday, June 4th through Saturday, June 9th at the Fifth Ward Neighborhood Library, located at 4014 Market, 77020, 832-393-1770.

Hip Hop Cafe: Dancin’ in the Streets programs were created to promote teen literacy and library resources. During the week teens can participate in daily educational and fun activities ending with a free Hip Hop Cafe on Saturday, June 9th from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Monday, June 4-Saturday, June 9, 2007
Fifth Ward Neighborhood Library
4014 Market, 77020 * 832-393-1770

Fun, entertaining and educational programs for Teens, their families and friends @ the Houston Public Library!

Hip Hop Cafe weeklong programs include:

Monday, June 4th * 3 PM – 5 PM

T-Shirt Reconstruction
Bring an ordinary T-shirt and turn it in to something worth wearing.

Tuesday, June 5th * 3 PM– 5 PM

Make your own free bling.
Make a unique piece of jewelry that you can show off or give away to a friend.

Wednesday, June 6th * 3 PM– 5 PM

Bike Customization
Learn the tools of how to make your ride so much tighter with
professional customization artist Conrad with Sun God Kustoms.

Thursday, June 7th * 4 PM – 5 PM

Air Xpressions Air Brush Demonstration
Artist Lee Wilson will air brush plain white clothes—bring a shirt or shoes.
LIMIT 30 teens.

Hip Hop Cafe Celebration- Saturday June 9th * 12 PM – 4 PM

Special Appearance by King Booker of the WWE and special performance by Houston’s J Xavier: Da Young Prince of tha South!

12 PM -1 PM * John Hendricks Personal Trainer Body Works Company
1 PM – 2 PM * J Xavier: Da Young Prince of tha South
2 PM – 3 PM * UrgeWorks Hip Hop History and Dance
3 PM – 4 PM * Sol y Luna: Zcelebre: Break-dance and House Style Dance

All day activites include:
Air Xpressions Air-Brush Artist will be airbrushing T-shirts, clothes, and shoes.
Customized Cycles, Bikes, and Cars will be on display
Healthy Snack Demonstrations
Free Food and Drinks

Program Partner: Friends of the Houston Public Library

AllHip Hop Cafe: Dancin’ in the Streets events are free and open to the public. For further information call the Houston Public Library at 832-393-1313 or visit www.houstonlibrary.org.

General