How to Make a Living During the Recession?

YouTube.

The NYTimes had a story yesterday about YouTube partner Michael Buckley — among others — who are benefiting financially from the video sharing site. YouTube places advertising within and around its partners' videos. Though YouTube declines to say how much money its partners are making, Buckley told the paper he makes $100,000 annually.

"Mr. Buckley quit his day job in September after his online profits had greatly surpassed his salary as an administrative assistant for a music promotion company. His thrice-a-week online show 'is silly,' he said, but it has helped him escape his credit-card debt."

Buckley, a former host of a weekly show on a Connecticut public access channel, had minimal upfront costs: $2,000 for a camera, a $6 backdrop, and lights from Home Depot.

Of course, those looking for a get-rich-quick-scheme, the article notes that building an online audience can take time:

"In a time of media industry layoffs, the revenue source — and the prospect of a one-person media company — may be especially appealing to users. But video producers like Lisa Donovan, who posts sketch comedy onto YouTube and attracted attention in the fall for parodies of Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska, do not make it sound easy. 'For new users, it’s a lot of work,' Ms. Donovan said. 'Everybody’s fighting to be seen online; you have to strategize and market yourself.'"

In related news, the Flyer's cover story this week is "13 Upsides to the Downturn ..." The story cites better public health, no more credit card debt, and a new crop of entrepreneurs as positive aspects of the recession. So, you know, it's not all bad.

Just in Time for the Holidays

Those of you with kids might have already seen this, but it takes the holidays to get me thinking about toys. That said, look at this cute, little New Urbanist LEGO set.



One of LEGO's town-themed sets, the Green Grocer is three floors of mixed-used LEGO development.

The first floor is the grocery with shelves and cartons of food (and a stairway that leads to the apartment above) and it has a small frontage to the "street" outside. There's also a roof terrace, a blue and white striped awning, and a lampost and fire hydrant.

Two caveats: it's hard to find and a little expensive.

But, according to the reviews, it might be worth it. The town-themed sets also include Market Street (below) and Cafe Corner.

Jackson, Miss., Mayor Faces 20 Years

Even a mandate can be revoked. That's perhaps the lesson — one of many — to be learned from Jackson, Mississippi, mayor Frank Melton.

Melton, elected mayor in 2005, was seen as a straight-talking, tough-on-crime candidate. The Flyer even ran a cover story that detailed Melton's penchant for donning police-issue bullet-resistant vests and joining police checkpoints. (He was once the head of the state's narcotics bureau.)

But a year later, Melton participated in a raid on a duplex that opened him up to a host of legal problems. A state jury found him innocent of burgulary and malicious mischief, but he is scheduled to appear in federal court January 5th.

USAToday has a longer story about Melton today:

"Justice Department prosecutors say Melton directed a band of men, some with criminal records, to attack the duplex with sledgehammers, tearing out its front wall.

Melton has never specifically said what he did that night. He has called the raid a 'procedural error' that, he said, is a matter for the civil courts.

Despite the mayor's insistence that the house was used to sell drugs, no drugs, cash or weapons were seized that night. The owner of the duplex has sued the city."

Jackson City Council president Leslie Burl McLemore was quoted as saying that "no one in the state of Mississippi, no one in the city of Jackson, had the mandate Frank Melton had, from rich and poor and black and white. That doesn't happen. That's the work of movies, of fiction. But he squandered it."

During the Leadership Academy's luncheon with Newark, New Jersey, mayor Corey Booker, much was made of Booker's ride-alongs with police. For Booker, it seems like it was more of a way of getting buy-in from the police department for his crime initiatives.

However, I think there is danger in putting more emphasis on the ride-along than it deserves. It got a lot of lip service at the Leadership Academy's young politicos forum, as well, and while I think it's great for elected officials to see first-hand what police are dealing with on the streets, Melton is a good example of how it can all go very wrong.

In a related but unrelated note, I happened to be in Jackson over the weekend and had dinner at the Mayflower Cafe. I would suggest it if you're in the area, but you might want to go to the bathroom before you get there. Especially if it's cold.

Friday morning odds and ends

— Thursday's Tunica Caberet auction netted the state almost $25,000. By comparison, September's Platinum Plus auction yielded $60,000 for the state. Both strip clubs were closed following nuisance claims and Environmental Court judgments.

— Two neighborhoods in Milwaukee are considering printing their own currency to promote shopping at local businesses (sort of like this, but not.) Downtown retailer Divine Mafa had a similar idea a few months ago in which he would give people $10 in Divine bucks for $8 American currency. A story in the Chicago Trib. says there are at least 2,000 local currencies all over the world, but I think it's almost always a hard sell.

— My internet is a slow, slow place, full of turtles, molasses, and spinning beachballs. Just thought I'd mention that as I waited for a page to load.

— In November, the most American jobs were lost since 1974, resulting in the highest unemployment rates in 15 years. 24,000 jobs were cut from auto dealerships, 82,000 from construction, and 36,600 from hotels.

— In addition to MIFA gift cards (similar to what the Church Health Center does), MIFA is currently taking gift donations for homebound seniors. The gifts will be given to 1,000 seniors during a special Christmas Day Meals delivery. Suggested gifts include: blankets, stationery, postage, winter caps, sweaters, gloves, crossword puzzles, playing cards, or dominos. For more info, call 529-4551 or email ascott@mifa.org.

Pezz Dispenser

So this totally isn't a music blog — and let's face it, with my taste, it never will be — but I did want to mention Pezz's record release party at the Hi-Tone tonight.

Here's what Flyer music editor Chris Herrington had to say about it this week:

"Pezz, a Memphis music fixture for nearly 20 years, retains original members Marvin Stockwell and Ceylon Mooney, currently joined by now-longtime fixture Christian Walker and relatively recent addition Anthony Siracusa. Pezz's half of the 11-song split disc [with While I Breathe, I Hope] is inspired by Mooney's recent political activism, including trips with peace delegations to Palestine and Iraq. Some proceeds from sales of the record will go to the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center. The band plans on recording a new full-length album next spring."

The bill includes Pezz, While I Breathe, I Hope, and the Antique Curtains, as well as Streetside Symphony. Doors open at 9 p.m. Admission is $5.

For more info, visit www.makeshiftmusic.com or www.myspace.com/pezz69.

Held Back

Early in his tenure, MCS deputy superintendent of academic operations Irving Hamer identified one overarching problem plaguing the district.

Yes, the district suffers from high poverty rates, low graduation rates, myriad student migration, and sluggish test scores, and Hamer's problem — students overage for their grade level — is either a cause or an effect for all of those things.

In August, Hamer told the school board that by 12th grade, 22 percent of the district's students — more than a fifth — are overage.

About 9,000 are held back during elementary school, 7,000 get held back in middle school, and 10,000 are held back during high school.

In January, the district plans to begin MCS Prep Academy, a program for students 14 years old and older who are at least one year overage for their grade. In its initial stages, the academy will take 200 students from each region of the district.

Those 800 students — registration will begin December 11th, I hear, but I don't know exactly how the students will be chosen — will have an extended school day, go to school 11 months out of the year, have individualized learning plans, and receive accelerated credit accumulation.

The district hopes to enlarge the program for the 2009-2010 school year.

For Sale by State

Hot on the (hooker) heels of September's Platinum Plus auction, an auction of state-seized personal property from the Tunica Cabaret will happen tomorrow, December 4th, 10 a.m. at 5599 South 3rd St.

The doors open at 8 a.m. for the public to inspect the wares for sale.

I haven't seen any of the pictures for this auction, so I have no idea what might be sold. However, at the Platinum auction, they sold chairs (ugh), poles (yuck), and previously worn stripper costumes and shoes (ick). But you know, you might want some of those things. Who am I to say?

Just like the auction at the Mt. Moriah Performing Arts Center (or the Purple Church, if you prefer), the Tunica Cabaret building is owned by the federal government and will not be auctioned off tomorrow.