Summer vacation starts at 9am

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I am leaving today until July 6th. We are going to Club Med Turkoise in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Passenger Safety Cards

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Universal Space Agency - Art auction last Friday night

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DSC_5631, originally uploaded by zachklein.

Here is a picture of me and Jakob Lodwick in the middle of an ART PARTY AUCTION at the Universal Space Agency.

Last weekend I went to Manhattan to visit my friends Zach, Jakob, Ricky and Josh. They live in TriBeCa and were gracious enough to let my sister and I stay for five long days.

I say five long days because it seems like we did EVERYTHING!

Emily and I went to museums (The Met, MoMA), we went to the prestigious New York City Ballet, we went on a seven hour bike ride, we saw the Statue of Liberty, Chinatown, we took a ferry boat ride, we went shopping in SoHo, we walked through Central Park, Bryant Park and even Times Square.

We rode on a train, a subway, a boat, a bike and a taxi. And we walked a whole lot!

But my favorite thing that we did was Zach and Youngna and Jen's ART PARTY AUCTION at the Universal Space Agency on Friday, June 9th 2006. Everyone was very friendly and smart! This party also featured some of the BEST DANCING that I have ever witnessed at a party.

And, of course, there was great art all over from local artists to benefit a good cause.

Update 1 - Added hyperlinks

Marketing Message from David Ogilvy

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I'm not saying that charming, witty and warm copy won't sell. I'm just saying that I've seen thousands of charming, witty campaigns that didn't. Let's say you are a manufacturer. Your advertising isn't working and your sales are going down. And everything depends on it. Your future depends on it, your family's future depends on it, other people's families depend on it. And you walk in this office and talk to me, and you sit in that chair. Now, what do you want out of me? Fine writing? Do you want masterpieces? Do you want glowing things that can be framed by copywriters? Or do you want to see the goddamned sales curve stop moving down and start moving up?

New York City notes, Day 1

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• Our Airtran captain pilot from Atlanta to Newark (who the stewardess referred to as "Captain Mad Dog") played the harmonica over the intercom before the flight. It was AWESOME and really made my day. Everyone was smiling.
• We barely made the train to Penn Station - the doors closed behind me while my sister was left outside. Thankfully I pushed the door back up and yanked her onboard just in time.
• Raining in NYC. We walked around and enjoyed a big city atmosphere - Bryant Park and the New York City Library were great.
• We had an Uzbekh lunch with our midtown tour guide Luke Crawford (of Joyent fame). It was really, really tasty. I liked the rice pllaf.
• Walking around Times Square - I highly suggest the Times Square Visitor's Center. The flagship Toys R Us store was INSANELY huge.
• Subway and more walking in the rain to Zach's place at 349 Broadway. We got everybody to sign a copy of their book, which- while awkward- had to be done. (Actually, we didn't get everybody yet. Will complete on Monday.)
• Napping, then we went to see Zach and Paul and Jake's amazing Universal Space Agency. I was VERY impressed. No joke - these guys have built a really inviting space. The atmosphere tonight was very positive and the place has really turned around since Zach first signed the lease. Everybody was working good as a team and Emily and I got to do our share before the big art auction tomorrow.

This gave me occasion to observe, that, when men are employ'd, they are best content'd; for on the days they worked they were good-natur'd and cheerful, and, with the consciousness of having done a good day's work, they spent the evening jollily; but on our idle days they were mutinous and quarrelsome, finding fault with their pork, the bread, etc., and in continual ill-humor, which put me in mind of a sea-captain, whose rule it was to keep his men constantly at work; and, when his mate once told him that they had done every thing, and there was nothing further to employ them about, "Oh," says he, "Make them scour the anchor."

Tuesday personal notes, all from yesterday

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• I picked up a copy of National Geographic yesterday and was REALLY impressed by the glossy photo pages. They are using some sort of new laminate on all of their pages that makes it look and feel very soft glossy. It was very impressive.
• Yesterday my car battery died and my friend Sal helped me buy a new battery and install it (he did all of the work - I am a fud with mechanics). Afterwards I had to get more help at the Autozone and have someone cut and strip my negative battery connectors to install a new cable cramp thing. Now I know what it must be like for someone who does not know anything about computers to have someone come in and fix your problem. I know nothing about cars and Sal and the guy at Autozone were my saviors yesterday afternoon.
• Last night I went swimming in our neighborhood pool. I put on some goggles and freestyled two laps - it felt like I was 10 years old on the swim team again. A really great workout, too.

Atlanta Gas Prices - We spend $5,800 per year

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Gas pains? Nobody's got them like Atlantans.

Atlanta topped the list of cities most affected by rising gas prices, according to the latest survey by Sperling's, the same researchers who compile the "Best Places to Live" survey.

Atlantans will spend, on average, almost $5,800 on gasoline this year, or roughly 12 percent of household income.

The survey looked at the cost of gas in 80 U.S. cities. The results were based on households with two drivers, the number of daily miles each driver logs as well as daily gas use.

Eight of the 10 hardest-hit cities were in the South. Los Angeles and San Diego rounded out the top 10.

The reason? Sprawl.