Catching up

Made it to the Innovate Illinois awards ceremony in plenty of time to get a good seat for snapping photos of all the winners receiving their checks, including a couple of old friends for two different projects. At left Jim Zimmerman accepts a second place check for $2500 in the Health & Business Practices category for the regional portal site: Discover Places . . . and the $5,000 top prize in the Technology category went to DxR Development Group, accepted by Eldon Benz (right).

A list of all the winners in the Southern region of the State of Illinois can be found at the Innovate Illinois web site. Perhaps Blog Lynx will read this and copy and paste the list into this space (with added links).

Jim Z. (The Jimmerman) is wearing a baseball cap because he recently had brain surgery. He has been mentioned in this blog before, but up until now, my personal geek guru Eldon Benz has not been given props: I first learned how to write computer applications using Macintosh Hypercard under Eldon's tutelage . . . before the company moved to the Dunn Richmond Center, when it was housed (literally) on Elizabeth Street and I had a summer appointment. Also thanks to Eldon, I came to appreciate Eric Clapton more. Way back in 1990. . . (She did look wonderful that night).

These days, DxR does business around the globe! Although it was not mentioned at the awards ceremony. The $5,000 grant will help defray the cost of translating the company's flagship products into Japanese.

What about the Iowans?

I am happy to report that the long-expected Iowans (Tom & Diana) came, saw, and concurred: Carbondale's a groovy place to be, Bloggee. After lunch at Longbranch, a walking tour of Town Square (why is no sign on the Pavilion?) stopping in at various establishments to say 'hi'. . . . After that, a chauffeured tour of campus and residential areas -- and drive down Springer Ridge Road to Makanda and Giant City State Park. Looking for a warmer, more progressive place to live, the two children's book writers will be visiting Mankato, Minnesota next. I got a lovely parting gift from Tom, too: an autographed copy of the book he wrote about basketball arenas.

And speaking of basketball . . .

How about those Suns!

And I don't mean Tom Horn's copper creations, available exclusively at Art Lovers Trading Company. . . . I mean the Phoenix Suns -- who found a way to defeat the Dallas Mavericks at home at the final seconds. I'm telling you non-basketball people: the current NBA playoff series has been the best EVER! More overtime and last minute games. Watch the fourth period, at least.

Props to Hicks

The man of steely gray has won this year's American Idol contest. You already knew that, unless you're from Iowa (ha ha). The entire show was terrific -- concluding with two performances by Prince! I was moved to tears myself by some of the performances (but not by Prince) especially Mary J. Blige and Elliot Yamin. That lady can Sing! She'll be performing on Good Morning America on June 23, so mark your calendar, if you want to hear her perform.