How do you spell Baba Ghannouj?

Ever been looking for one of your favorite restaurants with a foreign name and have a hard time finding it because the foreign name is so not easy to pronounce?

Baba Ghannouj is one of my favorite restaurants, and, it has a foreign name that could be spelled all too many ways.

How many "n"s should it have? Is it Baba Ghannoush or Baba Ghanoush?

Then there's the ending of the word "sh" or "she" or "ge" or "j" or "je". Let's see what those would look like.

The way I say it is, BabaGanoush, which could also be spelled Baba Ghanoush, or Baba Ghannoushe.

Baba Ghanouge
Baba Ghanouj
Baba Ghanouje
Baba Ghannouge
Baba Ghannouj
Baba Ghannouge

And what about the "b"s? Might there be two "b"s?

Babba instead of Baba?

How do you spell Baba Ghannouj?

Triangle Tweet Up & Book Launch August 20th Raleigh 6PM

TweetUp Alert! Spread the Word!
Social Media Book Launch!

New World Coffee House
Thurs. Aug 20 6pm Raleigh
4112 Pleasant Valley Road
Directions

The Triangle's own Martin Brossman, LinkedIn networking expert, Success coach, trainer and author, is publishing the best book for social media newcomers, and for small businesss owners: Brossman's Social Media and Online Resource Directory for Business is now available!

Come join us in celebrating Martin's intiative and vision, commitment and collaborative practices with the Book Launch for this August 2009 Directory!!


RSVP - We give you choices, since we all have our own preferences:
on inSide919.com
on Facebook
on EventBrite
or just by email to Martin@CoachingSupport.com

Maybe you know some of the local collaborators? Everyone of us is a member of inSide919.com!
Dave Baldwin
Anora McGaha
Wayne Sutton
Deidre Hughey
Heather O’Sullivan Canney
Michelle Courtney
Beverly Mahone
Whitney Hill
Pat Howlett
Jay Izso
John M. O'Connor
Karen Tiede and
David Williams

Come celebrate what's possible with collaboration and the result: an affordable book which will help bridge the gap from the printed world to the online world for small business.

Press:
Brossman's NC Social Media Guide Launches in Raleigh
Announcing Brossman's Social Media and Online Resource Directory for Business
Brossman's Social Media Directory NC Edition is Available
Brossman’s Social Media and Online Resource Directory for Business book Launch 8/20/09 -Ral NC Mini Link http://bit.ly/MwN9m#ncsocial
Blogpost on Internet-mosphere

Keywords
business how to, social media, social networking, social, online, small business, free, free online

Coupons at Baba Ghannouj Hwy 55 at High House / Green Level in Cary

We all have our favorite restaurants, places we go where we like the feed, feel we're welcomed and treated well, feel like we can relax and enjoy being away from work and home.

Since we moved to Apex, Baba Ghannouj at High House and Green Level Rd West in Cary has become one of our favorite spots. Because we like it so much we began talking with the owners about promoting their business locally, letting more people know about it. It really is one of those precious spots that you want all your friends to know about.

Baba Ghannouj Bistro, this one restaurant, independently owned, signed on as a client of ClearSight Publicity to increase its exposure online. The plan we agreed upon included affordable internet advertising with LocalAdLink, a twitter account and strategy, a facebook Page and strategy, and connections all around.

Their LocalAdLink ad gives them up to 5 videos, up to 15 photos, targetted words for their ads, and ten zipcodes where their ad will be focused. The ad also posts coupons, so before you go to Baba Ghannouj the next time, visit LocalAdlink.com, look for restaurants in Cary, and when you find Baba Ghannouj, click on the coupons and print the one you like the best.

While you're there, take a look at the fun little videos and the photos which enlarge so nicely to really give you an inside look at the restaurant!

The twitter account gives them more informal connection with a growing number of local twitterers. Currently we're almost at 100 followers, though not all of them are NC based. The daily specials are posted.

The facebook page makes it easy for friends of Baba Ghannouj Hwy55 in Cary to share their appreciation of the restaurant with their friends and family. It becomes part of our online community.

If you'd like to give your business this kind of exposure, call Anora at 919.741.9449.

Interact, the Go-To United Way Non-Profit for DV & SA in North Carolina's Wake County

Did you know that Interact now has a high end thrift store on Oberlin Road in Raleigh called Pass it On Too! The prices are great and the selection changes day by day as many people shop there, and many people drop by their donations. I don't think I've been there once without a shopper in the store and a donation in the works.

Interact's website is InteractofWake.org to distinguish it from other "Interact" sites on the internet.

Become an Interact fan on Facebook, and join Interact's cause page and consider making a donation in support of this agency which helps so many through education, training of professional groups throughout the county, groups, a shelter, a twenty four hour hotline and much more.

You may think becoming a "fan" is a small gesture, maybe not that valuable, but for the many people who work at Interact, as employees, as volunteers, as partners and friends, every additional person is more encouragement and support. So let your support be known.

Interact's Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Interact/109159365095

Interact's Cause Page: http://apps.facebook.com/causes/59714/18204779?m=f1ca1534 Invite your friends and consider making a donation, even if small, to show you care.

DV stands for Domestic Violence.
SA stands for Sexual Assault.

LocalAdLink, "Feet on the Street" in the Triangle

A new player on the ever so crowded online advertising circuit, LocalAdLink inspires some passion. It is the low cost leader in the space, and it offers "feet on the street", live community sales people, independent representatives, who have a vested interest in seeing their advertisers thrive.

For just under $100 a month, a Local Ad Link advertiser gets an advertising representative, three coupons which can be changed at will; the space to upload up to three videos; ten zip codes to target your ads to; two targeted words to map your ad to (like "food" and "restaurant" for a local eatery, or "massage" and "pain relief" for a local massage therapist); the ability to track your stats about impressions and visits; the ability to change your zip codes and update your text. No pay per clicks. You get your ad in the LocalAdLink directory; rotating on LAL owned ad space on their social media site, BoomJ and on all the free LocalShoppingLink online stores that people are hosting; and on 3rd party sites - a list approaching a 100 pages of sites.

But perhaps the most powerful aspect of this community is that it is building a community of people who are paying attention to LocalAdLink advertisers, and going out of their way to support them. Perhaps like the two main bartering communities, which encourage members to shop with each other.

LocalAdLink ads are part of my offerings with ClearSight Publicity and Web Designs. Feel free to contact me with your questions and interest. 828-398-0390.

Local Businesses Advertising with LocalAdLink:

Baba Ghannouj, Hwy 55 at High House in Cary, NC

Carolyn Anderson's Local Coupon Delivery Business for Local AdLink Advertisers

Wade Giddens, Photographer and Advertising Consultant

Carolina Web Consultants, Web Centric Marketing

Apex Massage for Women, Apex, NC

Ann McKenzie, Arbonne Beauty Consultant and District Manager

Martin Brossman, Success Coach, Trainer and Author

Bear Rock Cafe, Lake Boone

inSide919.com, The top local business networking on and offline community

In the Town the Restaurants Come and Go

Maybe looking back these few years will be seen as the great depression of the 21st century, for now, we couch our fears in cautious words, calling it a recession. What a terrible time for the daring entrepreneurs who invest so much in bringing another business to market for us, only to find that us customers don't have enough to spend to keep you in business.

At Apex Peakway and Hwy 55, across the street from the soon-to-be open AAA Service Center, Cinnelli's has closed and a new establishment has just opened. In front of it, a beautiful fountain with seats, making it one of the sweetest outdoor eating spots in Apex. At the corner of that row of businesses, yet another Middle Eastern restaurant has closed it's doors, Solomon's is gone.

At Last! A Full Service Arts and Crafts Store in Apex

I've lived near Apex for over six years now. As an artist and crafts person I've always had to drive a distance to find supplies: to Crossroads for Michaels and AC Moore, or to Brier Creek, both a distance away.

Before Beaver Creek Commons was developed, when it was still woods, it was hard to believe that it would happen, but it did, a huge and now well-utilized complex of stores, restaurants and more have provided well-needed services and goods to residents of Apex and the far parts of Cary.

Linen and Things went out of business last year, and the store has been empty for months. Just a couple of weeks ago I noticed a little sign in the big empty windows mentioning AC Moore's upcoming arrival! Good news for me.

Welcome!

A Cyclist Loses His Life on S. Salem Street

A very sad report about a cyclist losing his life in a car accident yesterday, Saturday July 11th on South Salem Street at the intersection with Apex Peakway. I was in the car heading towards S. Salem Street right around noon when we saw there had been an accident. Cyclists, an ambulance and police. We had to turn around and travel back to Olive Chapel to get to 55 again. We didn't know what had happened until later, when reading the WRAL account.

How strange it is that we happened upon the scene from afar, not know what happened exactly until later, went about our day. But just beyond our not knowing was a well of grief and suffering. Life is just that mysterious, just that unpredictable, just that dangerous. One minute we're alive and breathing and then suddenly, we're not. Very sad.

WRAL has the report.

Blog Anniversary: April 30, 2009 - 1 Year

On April 30th, 2009, this little blog that could, reached a full year's worth:

177 posts
4,000 visitors

Friends of Nancy Cooper Started Nancy's Butterfly Fund

Nancy's Butterfly Fund was announced in an April 20, 2009 press release published on a blog for Nancy Cooper. The fund will be administered by Interact, the Wake County agency for safety, support and awareness of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Nancy's friends got together and created this fund to help other women and children leave their abusive relationships.

The press release includes information about how to contribute to the fund, including an upcoming event in Cary

"The inaugural event to raise money for Nancy’s Butterfly Fund will be held on June 13, 2009 at Life Time Fitness in Cary, North Carolina. Cooper, an avid runner, was a member of the club. [...]

Information will be released soon about how to get tickets to the upcoming fundraiser. To donate, visit Interact and select "Nancy's Butterfly Fund" from the drop-down list."

[The down down list is not yet available on the site.]

Per the release, the Fund's advisory board members are:

Hannah Prichard
Susan Crook
Jessica Adam
Diana Duncan

They can be reached through butterflyfund@gmail.com.

They requested that all media inquiries be directed to 919-760-9321.

Domestic violence is in the news almost every day in North Carolina, whether it is that a couple fought and hurt each other, or that a woman has died at the hands of her current or former partner. Very prominent cases have made national news all too many times in recent years.

There are domestic violence shelters and/or organizations in many of North Carolina's 100 counties. They are frequently full, though many of them try to help displaced women move on with their lives, and thus make room for others.

Your generosity is encouraged.

If you know of someone who is an abusive relationship, invite them to call one of Interact's 24 hour hotlines. Victims and survivors of domestic abuse are welcome to come to Interact between 9am and 5pm for free counseling Monday through Friday.

InteractofWake.org

Crisis Line for Domestic Violence

919-828-7740 | 866-291-0855 toll-free

Crisis Line for Sexual Assault

919-828-3005 | 866-291-0853 toll-free

The National Domestic Violence Hotline is:

1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or TTY 1-800-787-3224.

For Spanish speaking:

Ayuda por la violencia domestica en Espanol

Si usted habla espanol, puede llamar a la Línea Nacional Sobre la Violencia Doméstica al 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) o al 1-800-787-3224 para sordos.

Interact Family Empowerment Center's Grand Opening

At Town Hall in Apex

In an ordinary town hall meeting in Apex, with Mayor and Councilmen presiding, about fifty people attended in various roles, some from the town's planning office, some from developers, a bunch from two local residential areas affected by a development plan, and a few others unidentied.

A beautiful hill top home and horse stable at the corner of the rural Olive Chapel Road and the new stretch of Apex Peakway is zoned office and industrial, and a developer has plans to significantly level the hill and replace the home with a high end office park. It has left residents behind the property and directly across the street from the property feeling betrayed that the residential feel of the neighborhood is being neglected for business interests. When there are so many empty business spaces around and the economy is seriously impaired, why anyone would propose to build another office building is beyond common sense. Not even two blocks a way a high end home and condo development lays in disrepair, 3/4 never built, half a dozen homes unfinished and a few with rotting wood and mold growing.

The concern of the neighbors was in part because the developer was requesting opening up the restrictiveness of the zoning to allow small commercial retail stores on the Olive Chapel side. While there is a shopping center across the street, it is so nicely landscaped that it doesn't deter from the non-commercial feel of Olive Chapel. Further, no retail opens directly onto Olive Chapel.

Reassuringly, several of the councilmen expressed concern about the requested zone change, the need for it, and the reduction in buffering that was being requested for the Apex Peakway corner of the property. It was acknowledged by residents as well as councilmen, that in these times, there is no guarantee that a medical building will be built, and any flipping of the property with relaxed zoning could result in a completely different land use.

The council offered the developer two weeks to reconsider his request, yet allowed residents to speak their minds in concern about this project. Water management was a concern, as was traffic cutting through the ever so small one block wide and deep neighborhood. The planned exit and entry for the Medical plaza would be in two roads that line up exactly with the two roads in the Peakway Village center.

With such a succesful and vast stretch of commerce along highway 55, why the town would want to extend commercial zoning into the very rural and neighborhood quality of Olive Chapel Road is a mystery.

More to come in two weeks.

Downtown Carrboro

Downtown Carrboro in the Spring. Tulips in a brick sidewalk bed. A wild metal horse sculpture. Reflections in and out of a restaurant window. The wall of round lights at Carr Mill.

Ishmael, the Eleven Year Old Drummer at the NC Fairgrounds

Dandelions at the Dump

Recycling was the first post I wrote when I started this blog a year ago, so it is fitting to come back again to this topic. Because it is easier to take cardboard and chipboard and white paper to the dump than prepare it for the door to door recycling, I took a trip to the Cary dump next to the railroad tracks. The first brown container takes the cardboard and chipboard. You don't have to cut the carboard down to size, and you can just fold the chipboard in. The last brown container on the left takes the newspaper, white paper and magazines.

Just after I cleared all my bags or recycling I noticed a little slope covered with dandelions overlooking the part of the dump where organic matter is collected - plant clippings etc.
It's the little beautiful moments that make a day feel special.

Cary Crime Alert: Report Any Suspicious Activity to your Police Station

– CRIME ALERT – From an email from the Cary Police Department on 3/20/09

Since the end of February 2009, the Town of Cary has received five reports of home burglaries in northern Cary near Dynasty Drive and North Harrison Avenue. Most of the crimes occurred while residents were away from home between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays. Targeted items included: televisions, musical instruments, computers, video game players and games, and currency.

The suspects in the burglaries are described as three black males or two black males and a white male. Witnesses report that the suspects were driving a white mini-van, similar to a Chrysler Town and Country or a Dodge Caravan.

To help prevent these types of crimes, the Town of Cary Police Department reminds citizens to contact police to report any suspicious persons or activity near their homes.

For more crime prevention tips, see the Police Department section of www.townofcary. org or call (919) 469-4324.

Town of Cary Crime Alerts are intended to quickly raise public awareness of a potential or emerging crime issue so that citizens can take preventative action. Crime Alerts are typically issued before substantial information or evidence exists to point to a particular suspect or warrant a full news release.

###

PRIMARY CONTACTS: Randy Byrd, Police Sergeant - General Investigations, (919) 380-2133
April Raphiou, Deputy Public Information Officer, (919) 481-5091
Susan Moran, Public Information Officer, (919) 460-4951

The North Carolina Blogger's Camera is Broken

My camera slipped out of my hands the other day, bounced onto the landing of the second floor, then bounced cheerily down the carpeted stairs to the bottom, where it landed upside down on the wood floor.

I didn't do it intentionally.

It still took pictures, but the latch to the battery area won't close, so it's very hard to clamp it shut and still take a photo.

So all these beautiful pictures I'm seeing this early spring and slipping by.

The swan in flight over Lake Pine, beautiful wide stretched white wings, awesome.
The little bursts of green on brown branches and through brown leaves.
The tiny little purple flowers, wild flowers, that carpet random areas along roadsides.
The beautiful burst of white covering whole trees.
The rasberry colored blossoms on a tree without a name.
The fresh yellow of forsythia, like the Florida sun.
Pansies in front of stores for sale. Oh the adorable velvety faces of pansies.

The new birds I see at the bird feeder. The bluebird that was closer than any I'd seen before.

So it is I have to be at peace without being able to capture for the googlers of the world, the photos of places round about apex, north carolina.

Apex Massage for Women is Open for Business

A new massage studio for women has opened up in Apex, by appointment. Offering an oasis from the hustle and hassles of life, Apex Massage for Women specializes in the 90 minute retreat session, where you will get 90 minutes to focus on nothing but your breath, your well-being, your chance to let all your cares drift off and any discomfort in your body dissolves.

North Carolina trained and licensed massage therapist, Anora McGaha, LMBT NC 5886, is a graduate of The Body Therapy Institute in Siler City, one of the excellent schools for massage therapy in this state. Anora's training was supplemented with structural bodywork in the Kinesis Myofascial Integration tradition founded by Tom Myers of Maine; classes in trauma release by Michael Shea of Florida; and Somatic Meditative Inquiry (SMI) founded by Cynthia and Mike Flowers of Chapel Hill, NC.

This era is not only the era of the internet, a time of renaissance and such creative endeavors, it is also the era of bodywork, when there are literally hundreds of fine traditions in practice and more in development, each adding a dimension ignored or unemphasized in another tradition.

Apex Massage for Women is dedicated to helping women focus on their own well-being, since we tend to be the ones supporting others. Tending to our own relaxation, the re-establishment of our deep comfortable breath, the releasing of tension and discomfort is essential to staying well.

Visit the Apex Massage for Women Website for more information and call to make your appointment today.

Anora McGaha has worked with clients from Chapel Hill, Durham, Pittsboro, North Raleigh, Raleigh, Garner and Cary, and is in reasonable driving distance from Holly Springs and Fuquay Varina.

The Business Networking Center in Cary, NC

The Business Networking Center in Cary, also known as the BNC, is a lively center for all kinds of activities for business owners.

Business Networking International Meetings are held there. The Dancing Elephants Achievement Group has classes there. Martin Brossman often leads classes with local experts in social media and business in what could be called a "Learn with the Experts" series.

You can also get your business printing, designing and custom business gifts at the Marketing Depot USA which is also housed there.

If you're familiar with this great venue, visit the Zvents site link below and leave a recommendation!

http://www.zvents.com/cary-nc/venues/show/1071906-the-business-networking-center-bnc

The Fragrance of Spring Beginning

Propeller Plane in the Air, Deer on the Ground in Chapel Hill

The Fountain at 751 and the Road to SouthPoint, Durham

The First Daffodils of Spring, Chapel Hill

Stacey Cochran Hosts Authors at Quail Ridge Books

Stacey Cochran's a gracious, intelligent and prolific host to author and publisher events in the Triangle. The driver behind Raleigh's RaleighWrite2Publish meetup group, Stacey is fostering a vibrant and growing writing community.


Last night, February 21st, at 6:30PM, Quail Ridge Books again made room and welcome for a RaleighWrite2Publish event. Stacey hosted a panel discussion: To Self Publish or Not to Self Publish with authors Adam Shepard of Scratch Beginnings: Me, $25, and the Search for the American Dream; and Elisa Lorello, author of Faking It.


The room was filled to capacity and then some. Stacey had excellent in-depth questions.

Adam had experience starting with self-publishing, then getting an agent, after 70 rejections, from a friend of a friend of a friend who knew an agenty, and then getting published with Haper Collins.

Adam had pursued publicity with the rags to riches kind of pounding the pavement worthy of a young man. Still it was seemingly luck that got him an article in the NY Post, then interviews on the Today Show, CNN, Fox News and more. Adam spoke passionately about his experience, learning as he went, a compelling story in and of itself.


Elisa had published through Lulu, was as passionate about her story, and was confirming the devotion needed to one's book(s) to get the word out. Elisa was getting some traction on Facebook and with her blog. Adam didn't have a blog, but he was getting traction on book review and other people's blogs. Lulu didn't cost anything up front, but it was more expensive than some other print on demand (pod) publishers, so it makes it hard for the writer to make much if they sell it through a book store - if they even get it into a book store. But free up front is hard to pass by, especially on a writing teachers' salary.

Elisa read engagingly from her book about...An escort service. A special arrangement. Exchange of services. No crossing boundaries into socializing. But of course, if it was that simple, the story would be short...she told us with a smile.

Adam said that next time he is going to self-publish, and in fact, he is working on another book, for college students, on making the most of their time in college. He found a company in New England that helps get self-published books into book stores, and he'll go with them for distribution.

What did I learn? That the hardest and easiest way to publish a book is to get an agent and sell to a traditional publisher. Hardest because - it's so hard getting into the door. Easiest, because they have the whole network to distribute your book.

The easiest and hardest way to publish a book is to do it yourself, through Lulu, selfpublishing.com and others. Easy because you can just do it! Some for free up front, others for as little as $300 some dollars. Hard though, because the distribution isn't there.

Still Adam put it into perspective, even if your agent sells your book to a publisher, you're only hot news for a month or so, and then if you still want to distribute your book, it's back to your own resources!

Especially valuable was Stacey's bigger picture perspective on the 'proletarian revolution' that is now in play, and acknowledged by major media sources like the New York Times and Times magazine. We the people are now choosing what we want to publish and when and how. We are choosing which books we want to read, and we're finding them. One major publisher, Simon & Schuster, Stacey told us, had written that they are looking for the next big best sellers in readers comments on blogs! We the people are speaking!

Great talk. Great details. Lots of questions sent up to the panel via little question cards. A very valuable time. Must say, I have yet to have a disappointing time with RaleighWrite2Publish gatherings!

Today Anora McGaha Met JC Knowles

JC Knowles came to the opening of SoCo, the co-working space in downtown Apex on Salem Street, right in the middle of the historic district. I'd seen his 160 some posts on MYNC.com! and his photos. His name's all around town. He's an Ambassador for the town of Apex.

Much to my delight, JC shared with me about his life, his years as an auctioneer, his marriage on national television right after television began in the early fifties.

Passionate as I am about capturing the stories of those who can tell stories, and who have stories to tell, I urged him to write his memoirs, and to get video taped telling his stories.

JC entertained me, as he does so many people, with his bus story. He is able to narrate the cities and towns that the busses pass through at a speed that will dazzle. He also has the auctioneer's chant down - what a rhythm.

So who's going to join me to do a series of videos of JC's stories!? Time's right. He's a story teller!