Ok, my friends are competing in thie cute baby contest; prize of $25000, which would be a hell of a head start on college funds.

It's [link] :Playing in the Pool: by n8shome

It is a cute pix, and they are lovely friends, so please go over there and peruse and vote if you want.

I don't usually do this stuff, but it would be great if they won.

I wrote a little thang for our company's blog about my recent brush with International TV Stardom: [link]

While you are there, you might want to check out the rest of the site--it showcases the work we do, which I think is extremely cool.

For all you wondering what I am doing with my time down here in New Orleans, behold!

Help us raise money to build a KABOOM! playground in the Irish Channel (our new neighborhood here in NOLA)! Marriott is our funding partner and covering most of the cost but we are responsible for raising $7,500 on our own. We will accept any donations - no amount is too small. Click here to help the kids and the community.

I am the volunteer coordinator for this project. I know that most folks are too far away to volunteer time, so I thought I'd provide an option to volunteer funds.

Donations are tax deductible. Lemme know if you have any questions.

I'm going to start doing a Rachel Maddow diary on DKos, much like City LightsLovers Countdown diary...it should be up...um, this evening, sometime, and I plan on making it...pretty much daily. If you could be into that, please stop in. Thanks!

My niece has two tickets to the HullabaLOU Music Festival in Louisville, KY that she is trying to sell. They are Friday only tickets, Regular Reserve Seating. She's selling both tickets for $95. They're normally $95 each (plus $13 Ticketbastard charges). The headliner for Friday is Bon Jovi. If you're interested and want to buy the tickets, please email me at my profile addy.

Jones Soda Company has a limited Edition 6-label Buffy the Vampire Slayer collection based on the BVS season 8 comics.

My facebook page is Gar Lipow. My twitter account is garlipow. Just in case anyone wants to friend or follow, or be friended or followed. Profile email is good. (nothing interesting posted yet, though that will change.)

New Post on Grist on the death of the climate bill. Please follow the link and comment if you find it interesting. (I know Grist requires annoying registration.)

We are in final discussion on the nominating procedure for next year's F2F.

The current plan: Complete package nominations (city and date decided by the nominator) will be due October 1st with voting shortly thereafter.

Come to the F2F thread to discuss.