tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-311018172024-03-08T14:12:40.727-05:00Carolina On My MindDianne Barbeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14901322756129162040noreply@blogger.comBlogger621125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31101817.post-56558145763220408772012-01-08T14:48:00.005-05:002012-01-22T11:52:04.874-05:00Clay Aiken, Celebrity Apprentice Cast Promote Show<p align="center"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/BoardRm2a.jpg" /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=" font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >Clay Aiken joins 2012 Celebrity Apprentice cast.</span></span></p><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:verdana;" ><u>Clay, Cast on Promo Trail</u></span><br style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:180%;" ><span style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Celeb Apprentice Debuts Feb. 19</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">From the moment Donald Trump officially presented the new Celebrity Apprentice cast on Wednesday's <span style="font-style: italic;">Today Show</span>, the 18 candidates have whirled through a continuous, sometimes crazy, merry-go-round of multimedia promos.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Through individual videos,</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> <a style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.nbc.com/the-apprentice/video/meet-clay-aiken/1376719" target="new">NBC</a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"> provided a brief intro to each candidate. <span style="font-style: italic;">Mashable Entertainment</span> picked up the videos and tabbed the line-up as the </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://mashable.com/2012/01/05/celebrity-apprentice-social-media/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Mashable+%28Mashable%29" target="new">Most Connected Cast Yet</a></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">To stay connected to Clay and read the latest about </span><i style="font-family: verdana;">Celebrity Apprentice</i><span style="font-family:verdana;"> from his perspective, follow the singer at </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://twitter.com/clayaiken" target="new"><b><i>Twitter</i></b></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> and </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="https://www.facebook.com/clayaiken" target="new"><b><i>Facebook</i></b></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">.</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">The series, which debuts on NBC on Feb. 19, is also being advertised through interviews on every show and site imaginable. The screen cap below links to a TV Guide interview of Clay Aiken and Lisa Lampanelli.</span><p align="center"><a href="http://video.tvguide.com/Celebrity+Apprentice/Celebrity+Apprentices+Lisa+Lampanelli+and+Clay+Aiken/9084695?autoplay=true&partnerid=OVG#ooid=V5dXg4MzoEPJdDWhDAv_1a-DivMAEbDD" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/TVGuide1a.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >Clay Aiken, Lisa Lampanelli in TV Guide interview.</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Click on screen cap to link to video.</span><br /></span></p><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://justjared.buzznet.com/2012/01/06/clay-aiken-celebrity-apprentice-cast-photos/" target="new">Just Jared</a></span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" > provided individual photos of the 18 <span style="font-style: italic;">Celebrity Apprentice</span> candidates. Follow the link to read the complete story: </span><blockquote style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;" face="verdana">Clay Aiken, Aubrey O’Day, George Takei, and Real Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Giudice will be vying for the title while competing for each of their charities.<br /><br />"Being in front of [Donald] Trump is more intimidating than [being in front of Simon Cowell]. That’s because you realize his success is real outside of TV. Whereas with Cowell, I don’t deny him his value – but singing is not his expertise," Clay, who once was runner-up on American Idol, told <span>Today</span>.</blockquote><p align="center"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/CACast2.jpg" /> <img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/CACast1.jpg" /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">2012 Celebrity Apprentice Cast</span></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" > <span>How many can you name? </span></span></p><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">For a quick reference, here are the 18 cast members and the charities for which they are playing as listed in <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/celebrity-apprentice-cast-donald-trump-276982" target="new">The Hollywood Reporter</a>:</span><br /><blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;">Former American Idol </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Clay Aiken</span><span style="font-size:85%;">, National Inclusion Project</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Retired race car driver </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Michael Andretti</span><span style="font-size:85%;">, Racing for Cancer</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Talk show host </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Adam Carolla</span><span style="font-size:85%;">, Catholic Big Brothers Big Sisters</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Actor/bodybuilder </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Lou Ferrigno</span><span style="font-size:85%;">, Muscular Dystrophy Association</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Actor/TV personality </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Arsenio Hall</span><span style="font-size:85%;">, Magic Johnson Foundation</span><br />Magician/TV personality <span style="font-weight: bold;">Penn Jillette</span>, Opportunity Village<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Former Twisted Sister singer </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Dee Snider</span><span style="font-size:85%;">, March of Dimes/Bikers for Babies</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Star Trek’s </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">George Takei</span><span style="font-size:85%;">, Japanese American National Museum</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">American Chopper’s </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Paul Teutul Sr</span><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span><span style="font-size:85%;">, Make-A-Wish Foundation<br /></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Actress </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Tia Carrere</span><span style="font-size:85%;">, After-School All-Stars</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Singer </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Debbie Gibson</span><span style="font-size:85%;">, Children International</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Real Housewives of New Jersey’s </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Teresa Giudice</span><span style="font-size:85%;">, The NephCure Foundation</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Growing Up Gotti’s </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Victoria Gotti</span><span style="font-size:85%;">, Association to Benefit Children</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Comedian </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Lisa Lampanelli</span><span style="font-size:85%;">, Gay Men’s Health Crisis</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Miss Universe 2008 </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Dayana Mendoza</span><span style="font-size:85%;">, Latino Commission on AIDS</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Singer/actress/model </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Aubrey O’Day</span><span style="font-size:85%;">, Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN)</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Model/actress </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Cheryl Tiegs</span><span style="font-size:85%;">, The Farrah Fawcett Foundation</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Model/actress </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Patricia Velasquez</span><span style="font-size:85%;">, Wayuu Taya Foundation</span></blockquote><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/FD_CApPromo1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/FD_CApPromo1a.jpg" /></a><br /><span style=" font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >Clickable Celebrity Apprentice graphic by Fountaindawg.</span></p><span style="font-size:85%;">An excellent introductory story running in the </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >International Business Times</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> answers the question <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/277206/20120105/celebrity-apprentice-2012-who-clay-aiken-teresa.htm" target="new">Who Are Clay Aiken, Teresa Giudice and the Other Contestants?</a> Brief bios of the 2012 line-up are included.<br /><br />Not to be missed is </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >The Dead Bolt</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> interview: <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.thedeadbolt.com/1003024236-celebrity-apprentice-adam-corolla-surprised-by-clay-aiken.html" target="new">Adam Carolla Surprised by Clay Aiken</a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >. </span><span style="font-size:85%;">The Inclusion Project received excellent publicity in the CBS story:</span> <span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31749_162-57353009-10391698/clay-aikens-national-inclusion-project-to-benefit-from-his-celebrity-apprentice-appearance/" target="new">Clay Aiken's National Inclusion Project To Benefit from His Celebrity Apprentice Appearance</a></span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">For Clay Aiken fans, the most appealing paragraph in Friday's </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.astrochicks.com/2012/01/celebrity-apprentice-2012-teresa-giudice-real-mob-housewives-cat-fight-with-gotti/" target="new">Astrochicks</a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"> story is -- appropriately -- the second: </span><blockquote style="font-family: verdana;font-family:verdana;"> <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">... the rumor is Clay Aiken is the one to watch this season. Hollyscoop talked to several cast members Wednesday, and it seems everybody is raving about Aiken.</span></blockquote><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://listn.to/clayaiken/player" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/CApp2.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >Clay Aiken: New Facebook photo<br /></span></p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">The photo above links to the Root Music Player on Clay's Facebook page. Once there, you can listen to "Unchained Melody," "Bring Back My Love," "Suspicious Minds," "Misty," "The Way," and "Invisible."<br /></span><br style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Here is one for the Clay Nation from <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.highlighthollywood.com/2012/01/08/this-week-in-hollywoodland-jack-wagner-clay-aiken-and-justin-timberlake-in-the-news/" target="new">Highlight Hollywood</a>:</span><br style="font-family: verdana;font-family:verdana;"><blockquote style="font-family: verdana;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">When Highlight Hollywood reported last week that handsome and talented singer Clay Aiken would be on Donald Trump's "Celebrity Apprentice," which airs on NBC, we had no idea there would be such a magnificent reaction.</span> [snip]</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">We try to focus on everyone, who has something positive going on in their lives, and we also hit hard news.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">[snip]</span> <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">But it is very rare that a celebrity has such a huge following, and yet their fans are so genuinely gracious, kind and supportive, generous in spirit and all around awesome! Clay Aiken has such fans.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">His fans embraced his decision to appear on "Celebrity Apprentice" and they all believe as we do, that he’ll be the winner of the competition. Donald Trump is a great showman.</span> [snip]</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">But it’s great when he picks someone as charismatic, talented and genuinely kind as Clay Aiken to appear as a contestant on his highly-rated series "Celebrity Apprentice," which thanks to Clay’s wonderful fans will be even higher rated than any previous season.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Thanks, Aiken fans, for showing Highlight Hollywood and the world, that you back the right guy, and that you all have as much class he Clay does! You do him proud!</span></blockquote><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Set your Tivo and other recording devices for 9 pm ET Feb. 19-May 27. If this week's publicity, Twitter and Facebook social networking activities are any indication, the Clay Nation and the National Inclusion Project are in for one heckuva ride this spring.<br /><br />Hold onto your hat, and have an awesome week, all!<br /><br />Caro<br /></span><p></p>Dianne Barbeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14901322756129162040noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31101817.post-23383532048457873482012-01-01T13:00:00.007-05:002012-01-01T20:23:19.514-05:00Clay Aiken Fans Celebrate Dawn of 2012<p align="center"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/HNY1.jpg" /></p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">The ebb and flow of tides are like time as the outgoing merges with the incoming, the old with the new, the past with the future. </span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><br /><br />As events of 2011 wound down on New Year's Eve, the strains of "Auld Lang Syne" gave way to the heralding of the infant 2012 with traditional New Year greetings by the media, online websites, friends, relatives, and associates.<br /></span><p align="center"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/NHY2b.jpg" /></p> <span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Similarly, Clay Aiken fans are at once in retrospective mode while greatly anticipating the singer's 2012 agenda. Two events circled on Clay Nation calendars around the globe are slated for February:</span><br style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><blockquote style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(17, 51, 85); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Feb. 12 - May 20: Celebrity Apprentice, NBC-TV, 9 pm ET<br />Feb. 20 - Reflections of Life - Distinguished Concerts International, Carnegie Hall, 7 pm ET</blockquote><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Clay's new single, "Bring Back My Love," a bestseller on <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006JHYG4E/ref=sr_1_album_1_rd?ie=UTF8&child=B006JHYGF8&qid=1324315566&sr=1-1" target="new">Amazon</a> and <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/bring-back-my-love-single/id487370089" target="new">iTunes</a>, will be sent to AC radio stations around the nation. In his blog today, Clay hinted that a 2012 tour is in the offing. </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">He also suggested that fans watch the <span style="font-style: italic;">Today Show</span> </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span>on Wednesday. Donald Trump will guest on Tuesday, so most are planning to watch both days.</span></span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><br /><br />For the inevitable rewinds on Clay Cyberspace, click on the retrospective graphics by <span style="font-weight: bold; color:#553355;" >Clayscience</span> (2011) and <span style="font-weight: bold; color:#553355;" >Fountaindawg</span> (2003 - 2011). Both are expandable.</span><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/2011Glance_CS1.jpg" target="new"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/2011Glance_CS1a.jpg" /></a></p><p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/2012NY_FD1.jpg" target="new"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/2012NY_FD1a.jpg" /></a></p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">The New Year's wish below links to a special Jacquie Lawson greeting for <span style="font-style: italic;">Carolina On My Mind</span> readers. Quoting from <span style="font-weight: bold; color:#553355;" >Fountaindawg</span>'s graphic:<br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" ><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">2012 -- Bring it!</span></span></span><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=3308620057226&source=jl999" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/NNY2.jpg" /></a></p><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >Happy 2012, Clay Nation!</span><p align="left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Avatars/NY_Caro_11.gif" /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;" >Signature by Linda</span></p><p></p>Dianne Barbeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14901322756129162040noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31101817.post-39452042356677284912011-12-25T14:00:00.002-05:002011-12-25T14:23:53.540-05:00Clay Aiken Serenades Christmas Greetings<p align="center"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Winter%20Holidays/Cotton_ban1b.jpg" /><br /><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><em>Graphic by Cotton</em></span><br /></p><p align="center"><span style="color: rgb(112, 14, 30);font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;"><strong><em>Wishing all a joyous Christmas!</em></strong></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(112, 14, 30);font-family:verdana;"><em>Recommended Playlist: 'Merry Christmas With Love' by Clay Aiken</em></span> </span></p><p align="center"><span style="color: rgb(112, 14, 30);font-family:verdana;"><em><strong>Merry Christmas to all who may dwell here</strong></em></span><span style="color: rgb(112, 14, 30);font-family:verdana;"><em><strong><br />Merry Christmas if even just one<br />May the joy of the season surround you<br />Merry Christmas with love!</strong></em></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vViZE2W0Jz4?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vViZE2W0Jz4?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE</span>: <span style="font-style: italic;">Clay Aiken sings MCWL during the 2005 Joyful Noise Concert in Denver. View video by Scarlett full screen at </span></span><a style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vViZE2W0Jz4" target="new">YouTube</a><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;">.</span></span></p><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">If "Merry Christmas With Love" is not filling your holiday airwaves, the solution is a click away with mp3 downloads at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_0_25?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-music&field-keywords=merry+christmas+with+love+clay+aiken&sprefix=Merry+Christmas+With+Love" target="new"><strong><em>Amazon</em></strong></a> and other online outlets. Fan club members can link to Clay's musical holiday greeting <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.clayaiken.com/ecard" target="new">here</a>.<br /></span><p><em><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"></span></em></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong><em>MCWL Playlist</em></strong><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Merry Christmas With Love<br />Mary, Did You Know<br />Hark the Herald Angels Sing/O Come All Ye Faithful<br />O, Holy Night<br />Don't Save It All for Christmas Day<br />Joy to the World<br />Sleigh Ride<br />Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas<br />Silent Night<br />The Christmas Song<br />Winter Wonderland<br />What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?</span></em></span></p><p><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">The clickable graphics below are by <strong></strong><strong style="color: rgb(112, 14, 30);">Fountaindawg</strong>, 1, 3; <strong><span style="color: rgb(112, 14, 30);">Cotton</span></strong>, 2; <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(112, 14, 30);">Lindylo</span>, 4, and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(112, 14, 30);">AmazingCA</span>, 5. Photographers include <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(112, 14, 30);">Curtis Brown</span>, 1, 3; <strong><span style="color: rgb(112, 14, 30);">zippy888</span></strong>, 4, and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(112, 14, 30);">toni7babe</span>, 5.<br /></span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/FD_MC1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/th_FD_MC1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/ClayAiken8/Cotton_Chr1.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/ClayAiken8/th_Cotton_Chr1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/FD_Chr1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/th_FD_Chr1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/ClayAiken8/Lindylo1.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/ClayAiken8/th_Lindylo1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/ACA_toni1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/th_ACA_toni1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">A special thank you to all who visit the Carolina blog throughout the year. I always enjoy hearing from you and appreciate your props for the talented visual artists featured here.<br /></span></p><p><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">With visuals and music from Jacquie Lawson, I wish you and yours peace, love, and all the wonder of the holiday season in this </span> <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(112, 14, 30);" href="http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=3251208137226&source=jl999" target="new"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Shining Star</span></a><span style="font-style: italic;"> card! Note there's a puzzle option when your day winds down. *g*</span></span><br /></p><p align="lef"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Linda_2.jpg" /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;">Christmas signature by Linda</span></span></p>Dianne Barbeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14901322756129162040noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31101817.post-59684297828163358912011-12-19T17:45:00.012-05:002011-12-20T11:38:33.375-05:00Clay Aiken Fans Celebrate Season with New Single<p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/FD_BBML1.jpg" target="new"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/FD_BBML1a.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >Clay Aiken to release BBML single at midnight.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >Double clickable graphic by Fountaindawg, photo by Curtis Brown.<br /></span></span></p><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana;color:#212429;" ><u>Bring Back My Love</u></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;color:#212429;" >Fans Count Down to New Single</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Only a few more hours to Clay Aiken's much-anticipated new single!</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">"Bring Back My Love," will be released for digital download at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday on <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006JHYG4E/ref=sr_1_album_1_rd?ie=UTF8&child=B006JHYGF8&qid=1324315566&sr=1-1" target="new">Amazon</a>, <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/bring-back-my-love-single/id487370089" target="new">iTunes</a>, and <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?style=music&pid=8656333" target="new">CD Universe</a>. And fans cannot wait!</span><p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/HNS1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/HNS1a.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" ><span style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >iTunes Hot New Singles Banner</span></span></p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">As the zero hour ticked closer, many fans played the song non-stop on the the Mediabase Player </span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">on the Music Info Systems site. You may be prompted to download a plug-in for your browser. These links should help: <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.interoperabilitybridges.com/windows-media-player-firefox-plugin-download" target="new"><b>Firefox</b></a> and <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:8larWLA-pPAJ:www.musicinfosystems.com/faq/BrowserSettings.pdf+mediabase+player&hl=en&gl=ca&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESju9n5iKLAoNksrro4R3qfIQdveyfD-avr0Eqr5GY0op5j74wA0547ej3JgWIM3rm0K7uDG4cjaHljoBiyR9Xk8gS7tYKM-8Xl_nnGN804bY1Mb4Yl5gLgcIjiJdgy8T8Y_yeQF&sig=AHIEtbQ4sXePAI8u5nNJnGNFn6heV8rgMg&pli=1" target="new">Mediabase Settings</a><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span></span><p align="center"><a href="http://www.musicinfosystems.com/mmrwebinclude/player.asp?&format=H1&sngcde=aikebbml" target="new"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/BBMLMBPlayer.png" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">BBML cap links to Mediabase Player</span>.</span></p><blockquote style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Bring Back My Love - Clay Aiken (lyrics)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When I was young</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Love was a lonely lullaby</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Then there was you</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >I saw my future in your eyes</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >And I threw you away</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >I was wrong</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >When all is said and done,</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Then I'm gonna bring back my love to you</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Gonna show you what love can do</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Believe me, just give me time</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Cause I'm gonna to bring back my love to you</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >And we'll lay down like lovers do</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Oh, my darling, say you'll be mine</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Spending my time</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" > building my castles in the sand</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >I was a fool</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" > letting you fall right through my hands</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Tonight, please let me hold you in my arms</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><br />And lie here safe from harm</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Cause I'm gonna bring back my love to you</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Gonna show you what love can do</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Oh, my darling, say you'll be mine</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >All that I ever wanted</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >All that I ever needed</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Was your love</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Cause your love carries me</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Cause I'm gonna bring back my love to you</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Gonna show you what love can do</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Oh, believe me, just give me time</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Cause I'm gonna bring back my love to you</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >And we'll lay down like lovers do</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Oh, my darling, say you'll be mine</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Oh, my darling, say you'll be mine</span></blockquote><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Always with the voice at the forefront, the song starts with piano alone, proceeds to vocals and piano. Strings, horns, and percussion are added at various points.</span><p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/FD_Chr1.jpg" target="new"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/FD_Chr1a.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Double clickable Christmas graphic by Fountaindawg.</span></span></p><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-size:130%;color:#212429;" >Champions Gala 'Stays in Raleigh'<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">While I was playing oboe in Jamestown United Methodist Church Lessons and Carols Christmas Cantata rehearsals/performances on Dec. 10-11, many Clay Aiken fans converged on Raleigh for the National Inclusion Project's annual Champions Gala.<br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />Most of the events -- VIP reception; silent and Dutch auctions; luncheon; Clay's special performance of pop hits, holiday music, and the premiere of BBML -- were off limits to cameras this year.<br /><br />Honorees included Walgreens (corporate), Kevin Connolly, 24, photographer and professional skier born without legs; and Chris Burke, whose Down Syndrome has not impaired his acting career. Read the bios/credentials of these champions of inclusion at the Foundation's <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.inclusionproject.org/news.php?id=133" target="new">website</a>.<br /><br />Clack of Sunday morning's NIP Volunteer Round Table discussion can be viewed at the <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.youtube.com/user/gingerscarlett?blend=1&ob=video-mustangbase" target="new">Ginger Scarlett Channel</a> on YouTube. Videos <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://youtu.be/BsOkz2CoFyc">1</a><span style="font-style: italic;">, </span><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://youtu.be/Y4X7uKAww3g" target="new">2</a><span style="font-style: italic;">,</span> and <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://youtu.be/SgVzuJ11r_Q" target="new">3</a> cover the mission and scope of the NIP's inclusive programs and fundraisers; Let's All PLAY camps; proactive, creative ways to organize benefits.<br /><br />Special thanks to </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size:85%;color:#5F7F9D;" >Scarlett</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> for providing video of these sessions.<br /><br />Recaps of the weekend have been devoured throughout Clay Cyberspace, and those in attendance are still talking about the 2011 event. I especially like this Not.Just.Us quote shared by </span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color:#5F7F9D;" >claysgalsal</span>:</span><br /><blockquote style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">I had the pleasure of seeing you at the foundation fundraiser hosted by Clay Aiken last weekend. I went kicking and screaming, but I gotta admit ... the dude can sing.<br /><br />I have never seen fans like that in my life. They remind me of small crowd versions of the Beatles and Elvis. I was told that lunch with Clay Aiken went for $58,000. Clearly I should not have ducked chorus in high school.</blockquote><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#212429;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">P.S. Luncheon a Very Special Treat</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">For me, a very special highlight of Gala Weekend was the luncheon six of us shared in Greensboro Sunday afternoon.<br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />Five participants traveled from Raleigh while I packed up my oboe to meet them at Mimi's Restaurant in the Friendly Shopping Center. The hour wait was no problem as some of us were meeting for the first time.<br /><br />What a treat to finally meet </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size:85%;color:#5F7F9D;" >Aspiegirl</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> and her roommate </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size:85%;color:#5F7F9D;" >Maria</span><span style="font-size:85%;">, both of whom I have known online for years. I also met for the first time Triad neighbors </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size:85%;color:#5F7F9D;" >georgiesmybaby</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> and </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size:85%;color:#5F7F9D;" >FearofH2O</span><span style="font-size:85%;">.<br /><br />Being with </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size:85%;color:#5F7F9D;" >Scarlett</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> is always special. After the Ohioans departed for their 11-hour return trip and the Triad folks headed home, Scarlett and I visited, picked up some sushi for her, and eventually rented a car for her return to Raleigh and very early flight the next morning.<br /><br />It's been quite a week!</span><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/Christie1.jpg" target="new"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/Christie1a-1-1.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >Double clickable cap of Christie Cookie site to enlarge.</span></p><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-size:130%;color:#212429;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">Christie Cookie Site Features NIP</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">The National Inclusion Project has been the featured charity in Christie Cookies' <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="https://www.christiecookies.com/StoreFront/IAFDispatcher?iafAction=showCharity" target="new">'Chippin' in for Kids'</a> program for November and December 2011. Scroll on the left sidebar or the Charity of the Month.<br /><br />Each time a cookie tin is purchased, Christie Cookies donates 22% of the price back to the charity. At the same time, the cookie site is spreading the word about inclusion:</span><br /></span><blockquote style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">Inclusion is giving people their rightful opportunity to participate. Since the National Inclusion Project began, they have made a real impace by ensuring that children nationwide can experience all of life."<br /><br />Read more information at <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.inclusionproject.org/" target="new">National Inclusion Project.org</a>.</blockquote><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-size:130%;color:#212429;" >Piano, Violin Students Perform</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">No doubt, last week was one of the busiest of the year as my violin and piano students also performed holiday music/semester literature at Wesleyan Christian Academy on Thursday afternoon. No wonder the Carolina blog has sat so long without an update!<br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />Hats off to Erica Freeman, Kayla Davidson, and Haley Pierce, pianists; and violinists Jenni Harrell, Raegan Isenhour, Sara Beth Bulla, and Tatum Davis for their solos, duets, and ensembles during the first performance.<br /><br />Double duty in a church Nativity scene rearranged the second program, so the string ensemble performed the opening four numbers with Tatum present and closed the program with one violinist dancing in King Herod's court elsewhere.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" >'King Herod' Claims Violinist</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">The violin ensemble at the second recital included Ora Fulp, Erica Justice, Sara Beth, and Tatum. A fifth member was home sick with the flu.<br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />Pianists Miranda Rivera, Mitch Rivera, Jeremy Fulp, and Caleb Hernandez presented a varied program. In addition to the holiday selections, Caleb performed three new compositions whose current "working titles" are "Irish," "Winter," and "Old."<br /><br />The importance of the holiday goody bags was never more pronounced as this year. Between performances, Tatum and her mom microwaved her bag's popcorn to sustain them through the Nativity gig.<br /><br />Hopefully, all my students are still sharing their holiday music, as well as the goodies!</span><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/FD_NKiwi1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/FD_NKiwi1a.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Christmastime is Here when Clay sings carols</span>.<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Double clickable graphic by Fountaindawg, photos by NickiKiwi.</span></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;color:#212429;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Clay Synonymous with Christmas</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">No one sings Christmas music like Clay Aiken, and </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size:85%;color:#5F7F9D;" >Claymatron</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> provided just the post to describe what I mean. Here is her story:</span><br /><blockquote style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">I just returned from doing some Christmas shopping, and my first stop was the Hallmark card shop in our local mall. I was perusing some cards when I suddenly realized the Christmas carol I heard was being sung by Clay. I turned around and loudly declared, "OMG, that's Clay Aiken! Is that the radio?"<br /><br />The ladies behind the counter looked at each other, smiled, and said, "Nope, it's our own CD; he's our favorite!" I told them I am a fan, and they told me they play it every day throughout the holidays. And they always get the nicest compliments from their customers when they do.<br /><br />I'm not surprised. I stayed and bought three more cards than I intended and then browsed the entire shop until I heard "What Are You Doing New Years Eve?" It's the first time I've felt "Christmasy" this year!</blockquote><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color:#212429;" >NIP Lends NHHS Band a Hand</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">If you read my message board/Facebook posts, you know the Inclusion Project is helping the New Hanover High School Band, my Alma mater, and several other charities during the December Pepsi Refresh.<br /><br />After receiving an urgent email from my brother Chuck one week into the campaign, our NIP crew started advising NHHS and other novice groups with what we have learned in past Pepsi drives.<br /><br />Two weeks later, they are novices no more. Now we are taking notes from these energetic, creative gals -- Dana Ward (NHHHS Band, #9 in $25k), Crys Worley (AL Skate. #6 in $50k), Jennifer Rice (Ravenna Parks/Recreation, #14 in $50k), and on and on!<br /><br />Many thnx to all who are utilizing the NIP Voting Widget links in this blog's sidebar. Even my music students are committed to daily texts as we support these groups for the next 10 days.<br /><br />Wishing you and yours a very special holiday season!</span></span><br /><p align="left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Linda_2.jpg" /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">Signature by Linda</span></span></p><p></p>Dianne Barbeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14901322756129162040noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31101817.post-8810946153989002322011-12-08T19:09:00.004-05:002011-12-09T00:00:14.653-05:00Clay Aiken's Pipes Shine, Portray Benefit Message<p align="left"><object style="font-weight: bold;" height="315" width="420"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ydUttsFGmr8?version=3&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ydUttsFGmr8?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="315" width="420"></embed></object><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS</span> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">- Clay Aiken performed "My Grown Up Christmas List" during the True Colors benefit concert Sunday. View video by bigappleforclay full screen at </span><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://youtu.be/ydUttsFGmr8" target="new">YouTube</a><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana;color:#110000;" ><u>Pipes, Calendar Peaks, Pepsi P.S.</u></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color:#110000;" >'MGUCL' Defines Benefit Purpose<br /></span></span><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Clay Aiken's incredible pipes, a simple keyboard accompaniment, and the sublimely relevant "My Grown Up Christmas List" epitomized the purpose of Sunday's benefit concert for LGBT homeless youth in the New York City's Beacon Theatre.<br /><br />For many, the North Carolinian's exquisitely nuanced vocals were the performance highlight of the <span style="font-style: italic;">Cyndi Lauper & Friends Home for the Holidays Concert</span> last weekend.<br /><br />Clay was accompanied by pianist-arranger Ben Cohn.</span><p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/FD_Scarlett1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/FD_Scarlett1a.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >Double clickable graphic by Fountaindawg. Photos by Scarlett.</span></p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">The evening also featured musical and comedy routines by the host, Norah Jones, Amy Lee,</span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"> Cassandra Wilson, Rosie O'Donnell, Wanda Sykes, Jon Secada, Carson Kressley, Chely Wright, Skylar Grey, Vanessa Carlton, Angelique Kidjo, Harvey Fierstein, Deluka, Debbie Harry, Alan Cumming, and Randy Fenol.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Below are two clickable photos by <span style="font-weight: bold; color:#aa6666;" >Scarlett</span> from Sunday's concert and the widescreen graphic by <span style="font-weight: bold; color:#aa6666;" >Fountaindawg</span>. View the photographer's </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/116668923757048576406/albums/5682836231030226481" target="new">True Colors Home for the Holidays</a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"> collection here.</span><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/TC_Scarlett6.png" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/TC_Scarlett6a.png" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/TC_Scarlett5.png" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/TC_Scarlett5a.png" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/FD_Scarlett1ws.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/FD_Scarlett1ws1a.jpg" /></a></p><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#110000;" >2012 Calendars Top Past Record</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">A total of 129 Clay Aiken Calendars (58 desk and 71 wall) were ordered by fans this season, breaking previous sales records. Proceeds from the calendars, which have been shipped, will be donated to the National Inclusion Project.<br /><br />Produced annually by </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size:85%;color:#aa6666;" >Rosaratana</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> with photos by </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size:85%;color:#aa6666;" >toni7babe</span><span style="font-size:85%;">, the 2012 calendar features images predominately from the 2011 Tried & True Tour and is again being published in desk and wall versions.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size:85%;color:#aa6666;" >Hippoga</span><span style="font-size:85%;">, also part of the 2012 team, helped select the photos and coordinated the inclusion of 20 calendars in the silent auction for the Champions Gala, this weekend's annual event of the National Inclusion Project in Raleigh, NC.<br /><br />Below are clickables of the wall and desk calendar covers:</span><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/Calcov1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/th_Calcov1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/2012WallCal1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/th_2012WallCal1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p><span style="font-size:85%;">Printed on premium glossy card stock, the calendars can still be ordered through </span><span style="font-size:85%;">Rosaratana with delivery after Christmas. Costs are $12 for the desk size (8.27" x 3.74") and $25 for the wall version (11" x 8.5").</span><br /></span><p></p><blockquote style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">To place calendar orders, Paypal or email Rosa at rosash@comcast.net. Checks are accepted, and she will email you the address. Process time between orders received to calendars printed and shipped is approximately 3-4 weeks.</blockquote><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">"I’m thankful to everyone for the support they have given to the NIP every year," said Rosaratana, coordinator of the annual project.</span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><br /><br />The 2011 calendar project generated a foundation donation of $965.62 through sales plus an additional $650 in Gala auctions.</span><p align="center"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/OFC%20Blog/NHHS1a.jpg" /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >New Hanover High School Band on Parade.</span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=" font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana;color:#110000;" >Pepsi Campaign Still in Progress</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">About 15 minutes before I left to teach Monday's lineup of music lessons, I received an email from my brother Chuck in Wilmington: "Yo! How about another Pepsi Refresh?"</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Turns out our Alma mater, the New Hanover High School Band, is in the running for a $25,000 grant.<br /><br />Having applied for the competition since June 2010, the band finally gained entry into the December 2011 campaign. A quick glance at the<span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-family:verdana;" > </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.refresheverything.com/steel-drums" target="new">NHHS Pepsi Page</a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"> and the </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;" href="http://teacherweb.com/NC/NHHS/band/apt3.aspx" target="new">band website</a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"> on Monday and I knew these folks were in dire need of a crash course.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#110000;" >NIP Team To the Rescue</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">In four days, countless NIP supporters and charities with whom the foundation has partnered have come back from a long-awaited "Pepsi-less" existence and not only educated the NHHS coordinator, <span style="font-weight: bold; color:#aa6666;" >Dana Ward</span>, and her troops but also introduced the novice team to possible causes for forming reciprocal alliances.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">This is a sharp team, now fully functioning thanks to <span style="font-weight: bold; color:#aa6666;" >Royalle</span>, who literally compiled a Pepsi Syllabus Monday afternoon. Countless NIP supporters and previous NIP partners are also helping the fledgling group. </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">On Monday, the NHHS Band was ranked in the 40's for the $25k grant. At "press time," they had marched to #20 with a Top 15 goal set for midnight Dec. 31. Please revive your voting techniques, use the Thank You/NC Widget in the sidebar, and help this group and the other causes listed. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-size:130%;color:#110000;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">Maximize: Vote 5 Charities 3 Ways</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Most people reading the Carolina blog can't help but know the drill: Vote 3 ways for five charities daily: via a Pepsi ID (register if you haven't already), a Facebook ID, and a daily text of </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >110575 to 73774</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> (PEPSI).<br /><br />Voting instructions and suggested comments are in the <span style="font-weight: bold;">VOTE</span> panel of the sidebar widget.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#110000;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Next Time: Gala, Holiday Concerts</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Almost every Clay Aiken fan I know is headed to Raleigh for this weekend's National Inclusion Project Champions Gala. I'll be playing oboe at Jamestown United Methodist Church Saturday/Sunday and planning student holiday concerts ... but more on all that next time!<br /><br />Have a wonderful weekend, Clay Nation! Thank you for joining the NHHS Band and other NIP partners still vying for Pepsi funds!<br /><br />Caro</span><br /></span><p></p>Dianne Barbeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14901322756129162040noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31101817.post-25226524446181355992011-12-04T11:55:00.002-05:002011-12-04T12:36:44.087-05:00Clay Aiken Fans Applaud Broadway Benefit, Pepsi Win<p align="left"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/FD_MC1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/FD_MC1a.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">HAPPY HOLIDAYS</span> - <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Clay Aiken will join a huge cast performing in a holiday benefit at New York City's Beacon Theatre Sunday night. Double clickable graphic by Fountaindawg with photo by Curtis Brown</span></span></span>.</p><span style=" font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana;color:#001122;" ><u>NIP Votes for Pepsi Partners</u></span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:180%;" ><span style=" font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana;color:#001122;" >Fans Celebrate Holiday Concert</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Clay Aiken returns to Broadway Sunday evening for a special performance in the <span style="font-style: italic;">Cyndi Lauper & Friends: Home for the Holidays Concert </span>at the Beacon Theatre.<br /><br />Presented by Cyndi Lauper's True Colors Fund, the 8 p.m. benefit will help raise awareness for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered youth homelessness. Tickets are priced $35 - $500. For more information, visit the <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://beacontheatrenyc.com/events/cyndilauper_1211.html" target="new">Beacon Theatre</a> website.</span><blockquote style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color:#001122;">"When I first learned that up to 40 percent of all homeless youth in this country identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, I was shocked and saddened," said Lauper, co-founder of the True Colors Fund.<br /><br />"For far too long homeless youth have not received the attention, resources and funding necessary to bring an end to this epidemic. My hope is that through this inspiring evening of music and comedy we can raise awareness and much needed funds to help these young people."</blockquote><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">In addition to Clay, the Beacon Theatre benefit concert will feature the talents of Lauper, Norah Jones, Lou Reed, Rosie O'Donnell, Carson Kressley, Amy Lee, Chely, Wright, Skylar Grey, Vanessa Carlton, Angelique Kidjo, Harvey Fierstein, Deluka, Debbie Harry, Alan Cumming, and Cassandra Wilson.<br /><br />Cyndi Lauper's True Colors Fund is sponsoring the benefit concert.</span><br /><p align="center"><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,0,0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" id="InsertWidget_49a19bef-86e5-430f-a5d8-7d854904e879" align="middle" height="323px" width="400px"><param name="movie" value="http://www.widgetserver.com/syndication/flash/wrapper/InsertWidget.swf"><param name="quality" value="high"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="menu" value="false"><param name="flashvars" value="r=2&appId=49a19bef-86e5-430f-a5d8-7d854904e879"> <embed src="http://www.widgetserver.com/syndication/flash/wrapper/InsertWidget.swf" name="InsertWidget_49a19bef-86e5-430f-a5d8-7d854904e879" quality="high" menu="false" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" flashvars="r=2&appId=49a19bef-86e5-430f-a5d8-7d854904e879" align="middle" height="323px" width="400px"></embed></object></p><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-size:130%;color:#001122;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">NIP Celebrates $50k Grant Win</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">After securing a $50k Pepsi Refresh grant last month, National Inclusion Project supporters are voting for December participants who supported the foundation in November's successful drive.<br /><br />Links and text numbers for the supporting charities, along with several causes from North Carolina, are located on the ABC panels of the above widget and the vertical version situated in the Carolina sidebar. Both were created by </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size:85%;color:#115577;" >Scarlett</span><span style="font-size:85%;">.<br /><br />The VOTE panel contains two sample comments to post on the charity's Pepsi page following your daily ballot.<br /><br />Below are double clickables of </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size:85%;color:#115577;" >Fountaindawg</span><span style="font-size:85%;">'s opening graphic. The second is a widescreen version.</span><p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/FD_MC1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/th_FD_MC1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/FD_MCws1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/th_FD_MCws1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p><span style="font-size:85%;">Have a wonderful week, Clay Nation!</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br />Caro</span></span><p></p>Dianne Barbeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14901322756129162040noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31101817.post-12489126495742181522011-11-30T09:52:00.006-05:002011-12-01T14:01:30.717-05:00Fans Celebrate Clay Aiken's Birthday with $50k Grant<p style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/FD_HB1a.jpg" /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">HAPPY BIRTHDAY!</span> - <span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;">The Clay Nation hopes to deliver a $50,000 Pepsi Refresh grant for the National Inclusion Project as a gift for Clay Aiken, the foundation's co-founder. Graphic by Fountaindawg.</span><br /></span></p><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana;color:#000000;"><u>#2 NIP in Line for <span style="font-style: italic;">$50k Grant</span></u></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;color:#000000;">CA Fans Mark Birthday by Voting </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Two important events headline the network of Clay Aiken message boards -- a continuous Cyber celebration of the singer's 33rd birthday and the final push to provide his foundation, the National Inclusion Project, a $50,000 Pepsi Refresh grant.<br /><br />The latter would be one of the best birthday gifts fans could give Clay, whose commitment to connecting children with special needs to all life has to offer was his focus as a special education major prior to the <span style="font-style: italic;">American Idol</span> step into fame.<br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;">UPDATE</span>: It's official! The National Inclusion Project will be awarded a $50,000 Pepsi Refesh grant from November's competition. The banner replica links to the NIP's finalist page at the Pepsi site: <p align="center"><a href="http://www.refresheverything.com/includingchildren" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/NIPwin1a.jpg" /></a></p>In July 2003, during the <span style="font-style: italic;">American Idol 2 Tour</span>, Clay and Diane Bubel of Charlotte co-founded the Bubel/Aiken Foundation, renamed the National Inclusion Project in 2009.<br /><br />Amid the Clay Cyber cavalcade of birthday greetings with accompanying art work are reminders to pull out all the stops, vote with every available account, and recruit new supporters in the final hours of the grant campaign, which ironically ends at midnight on the singer's 32nd birthday.<br /><p align="center"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/NIP2a.jpg" /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Vote 3 ways to expand inclusive programs for all children.</span></p>New participants need to register at the <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.refresheverything.com/includingchildren" target="new">Pepsi Refresh</a> site (bottom left corner) and vote three ways: US-based email, Facebook, and by sending a mobile phone text: <span style="font-weight: bold; color:#000000;">109857 to 73774 </span>(Pepsi).<br /><br />The NIP Voting Widget in the sidebar includes links and text numbers for the Inclusion Project, as well as partner charities that have supported the foundation this past month.<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">National Inclusion Project supporters hope to mark the midnight hour of Clay's birthday with the close of a successful campaign for a $50k Pepsi grant for inclusion!</span></span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><br /><br />To help celebrate the day, here are clickable birthday wallpapers by graphic artists <span style="font-weight: bold; color:#554444;">Fountaindawg</span><span style="color: rgb(68, 68, 85);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, 1, 3, and</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color:#554444;"> AmazingCA</span>, 2. </span><br /><p align="center"> <a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/FD_HB1-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/th_FD_HB1-1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/ACAbd_Keh1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/th_ACAbd_Keh1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/FD_HB1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/th_FD_HB1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">'In My Life' a Tribute to Teachers</span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span">As a music instructor from a long line of educators, I especially was touched that Clay performed John Lennon's "In My Life" as a tribute to the teachers in his life during the 2010 </span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Tried & True Live!</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> PBS Special.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">On such an important day in his life, I think it appropriate that Clay sign off this blog entry with that exquisite rendition. </span></span></span><p align="center"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/P277MdNJBPY?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/P277MdNJBPY?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;">In My Life <span style="font-size:85%;">from</span> Clay Aiken: Tried & True ~ LIVE!</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">View video full screen at </span><a style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P277MdNJBPY" target="new">YouTube</a><span style="font-family:verdana;">.</span></span></p><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Happy Birthday, Clay! Have a wonderfully productive day, Clay Nation!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Caro<br /><br /></span></span>Dianne Barbeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14901322756129162040noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31101817.post-60643791230389114882011-11-23T15:26:00.001-05:002011-11-23T18:59:05.108-05:00Clay Aiken Fans Recruit Thanksgiving Voters<p align="center"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/OFC%20Blog/Thnxgivoween1a.jpg" /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">MERRY THANKSGIVOWEEN</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">:</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Seasonal celebrations collide</span>.</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">Cartoon by Mike Thompson of the Detroit Free Press.</span></span><br /></p><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#060708;"><strong><u>Group Texts Before Turkey Dinner!<br /></u></strong></span><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;color:#060708;"><strong><em>Holiday Commemorations Merge</em></strong></span></p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Due to their proximity on the calendar and the influence of commercial activity, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas celebrations have so effectively merged that the appropriate seasonal greeting could easily be "Merry Thanksgivoween!"</span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><br /><br />The spooks of Halloween have come and gone, families are gathering for Thanksgiving Day festivities, while from radio stations from Schenectady to Spokane, Pensacola to Phoenix have begun broadcasting the third stanza of "Merry Thanksgivoween" with Clay Aiken Christmas carols.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Among the CA vocals decking the airwaves with a joyful noise are "O Holy Night," "The First Noel," "Don't Save It All for Christmas Day," "Merry Christmas with Love," and "Winter Wonderland."</span><p align="center"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvxLhCATdwE" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%207/ABM_27b.jpg" /></a><br /><span style=" font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >Thanksgiving graphic links to 'All Is Well' montage by SueReu.</span></p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">The Thanksgiving graphic by </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#485272;" >A Beautiful Mind</span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"> links to </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#485272;" >SueReu</span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">'s montage of "All Is Well," celebrating the second and third stanzas of the "Merry Thanksgivoween" triology.</span><br /><br /><span style=" font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:130%;color:#060708;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">Holidays Provide Pepsi Alternatives</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Creative voting is the key in the National Inclusion Project's $50k grant campaign while visiting family and friends this Thanksgiving weekend. Daily votes for the NIP, partners, and allies via the Pepsi site, Facebook, and mobile phone are a must for regulars if the foundation is to remain in the Top 10.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Thanksgiving Weekend provides supporters with new voting recruits. Hold daily group texts --<span style="font-weight: bold;">109857 to 73774 </span>(Pepsi) -- with all who gather for holiday meals, games, and other weekend festivities.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Make sure all eligible (US citizens 13 and older) guests who can access an email account vote for the NIP during the holidays. Use the voting widget in the Carolina sidebar for ease in voting. Print and pass out these Thanksgiving fliers to garner new text votes.</span><p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/NIPflier1-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/th_NIPflier1-1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/NIPflier4.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/th_NIPflier4.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >Double clickable/printable NIP Pepsi fliers.</span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/ThnxBW1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/th_ThnxBW1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/Thnx4a.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/th_Thnx4a.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >B/W double clickable/printable fliers.</span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Facebook Poll Offers More Ideas</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Earlier this week, </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size:85%;color:#485272;" >Scarlett</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> posted this survey on her <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="https://www.facebook.com/GingerScarlett" target="new">Facebook wall</a>. The points in her poll provide excellent suggestions for garnering additional votes this holiday weekend.<br /><br />If you are a site member, drop by her corner and take the poll. You can also share additional ideas in the comment section of this blog.</span></span><br /><blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#485272;" >How will you increase Pepsi Refresh votes for the NIP during Thanksgiving Week?</span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;color:#060708;" >1. Don't serve Thanksgiving turkey until everyone texts.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-style: italic;">2. Vote early in the morning before the bedlam begins.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-style: italic;">3. Vote at halftime, grab the remote and hold it hostage until people text, too.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-style: italic;">4. Ask a friend to take care of your votes.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-style: italic;">5. Vote before starting the car to drive anywhere, all passengers included.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-style: italic;">6. Print out the NIP Pepsi Refresh fliers and hand them out wherever you go.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-style: italic;">7. Register ID's of hosts/visitors so they can vote at the Pepsi site.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-style: italic;">8. Vote late at night when the house is quiet again.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-style: italic;">9. Add your suggestion.</span></span></blockquote><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">For Clay Aiken fans who have followed tweets and photo trickles throughout the taping of a certain TV show in New York City, below are double clickable graphics by </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size:85%;color:#485272;" >Fountaindawg</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> -- for which we can be thankful. The second is wide screen.</span><br /></span><p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/FD_CA1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/FD_CA1a.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/FD_CAws1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/FD_CAws1a.jpg" /></a></p><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" ><br />Merry Thanksgivoween, Clay Nation and all you hold dear!</span><br /><p align="left"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Linda_thnx2.png" /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">Thanksgiving design by Linda/ABM</span></span></p><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >Happy Thanksgiving e-cards in four styles to all who drop by the Carolina/OFC blogs throughout the year!</span><br /><blockquote><a style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcardm.asp?code=2478158177226&ob=1&cont=1" target="new">Thanksgiving with a Beat</a><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcardm.asp?code=2477902607226&ob=1&cont=1" target="new">Simple Gifts</a><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcardm.asp?code=2477954857226&ob=1&cont=1" target="new">Glorious Thanksgiving</a><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=2478026277226&source=jl999" target="new">Turkey Day Hoedown</a></blockquote><p></p>Dianne Barbeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14901322756129162040noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31101817.post-3275544357855951162011-11-13T14:57:00.010-05:002011-11-23T15:24:52.010-05:00Clay Aiken Fans Add Nifty Fliers to Pepsi Campaign<p align="left"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/Pep1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/Pep1a.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">INCLUSION FOR ALL CHILDREN</span> -<span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Inclusion is giving people their rightful opportunity to participate. Through after-school programs and summer camps, the NIP seeks to ensure that no child sits on the sidelines.</span></span></p><span style=" font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana;color:#444433;" ><u>For $50k Pepsi Grant</u></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;color:#444433;" >Info Fliers Boost NIP Voting Pool</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">With the aid of dedicated supporters and reciprocating charities, the National Inclusion Project continues to hold the #2 slot for a November Pepsi Refresh $50k grant.<br /><br />A tour of Clay Aiken message boards, Facebook, and Twitter yields constant reminders to vote and expand the voting pool for the charity co-founded by the singer in 2003. After today, readers of this blog can add fliers to their list of tools.<br /><br />In the three-pronged daily Pepsi Refresh voting process, the quickest methods are by Facebook and text. The Pepsi site requires more time and patience, but dedicated followers persevere in rendering five votes per registered ID -- one each for the <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.refresheverything.com/includingchildren" target="new">National Inclusion Project</a> plus four reciprocating causes.<br /><br />Links/text numbers for the NIP's partners and allies are included on the voting widget in the Carolina sidebar. A crash course in the voting procedure with a suggested comment to leave at partner sites is provided in the VOTE panel.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Like the widget, the fliers were designed and produced by </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size:85%;color:#777799;" >Scarlett</span><span style="font-size:85%;">.</span><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/NIPflier1-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/th_NIPflier1-1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/NIPflier4.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/th_NIPflier4.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Double clickable/printable NIP Pepsi fliers.</span></p><span style="font-size:130%;color:#444433;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Fan Garners Votes with Fliers</span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">One of the most creative supporters in spreading the Pepsi fliers throughout her community is </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size:85%;color:#777799;" >queenmama247</span><span style="font-size:85%;">. The minute these were posted on message boards her printer went into overdrive.<br /><br />The single fliers can be inserted or attached to emails to family, friends, and associates. Below are some of queenmama's uses for the fliers. Post yours in the comment section and I will add them to the blog proper.<br /><br />1. Leave fliers at your hair salon, and ask if one can be posted in the window.<br />2. Take fliers to your local hardware store, paint store, flower shop, library, laundromat, and hospital cafeteria.</span><blockquote style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The big stores aren't too receptive, but the small neighborhood stores are so kind. Most of them will put the fliers by the register. - <span style="font-weight: normal;">queenmama</span><br /></blockquote><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">3. If you are attending a wedding, baby shower, or other social gathering, have the guests text a vote together. Keep the volume turned up, and the return replies will be amazing!<br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />During last summer's Pepsi Refresh drive, </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" >queenmama</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> secured 200 text votes at her niece's wedding reception.<p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/ThnxBW1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/th_ThnxBW1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/Thnx4a.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/th_Thnx4a.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=" font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >B/W double clickable/printable fliers.</span></p>4. Enlist the aid of a high school student. In many schools, assisting with this project counts toward community service credit, a high school graduation requirement.</span><blockquote style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">My high school neighbor plans to see how many people he can get to text at football games and other sports events. He likes challenges. With permission, he posted a flier on the high school bulletin board. <span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:100%;" >- queenmama</span><br /></blockquote><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">5. Pass the fliers out at church on Sundays and Wednesdays.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><br />Don't forget to share the ways these fliers are helping you spread the word about the National Inclusion Project's Pepsi Refresh campaign.<p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/CA_Sally1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/CA_Sally1a.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Clay Aiken in New York City.</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;">- Clickable photo enhanced by Sally.</span></p>Those who are following the taping of a certain TV show in New York City will recognize the above photo of Clay as one that ran at <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.realityaired.com/2011/shows/real-housewives-of-new-jersey/photos-housewives-teresa-giudice-on-location-of-celebrity-apprentice/" target="new">Reality Aired</a> on Nov. 11.<br /><br />In a matter of minutes, CA fans cropped the singer and produced a profile that spread to the far reaches of Clay Cyberspace. The double clickable enhanced today by <span style="font-weight: bold; color:#777799;" >Sally</span> is one you just might want to right-click and save.<br /><br />Have an awesome week, Clay Nation!<br /><br />Caro <span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></span></span><blockquote style="font-family: verdana;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-style: italic;">For more information about the Inclusion Project's participation in the Pepsi Refresh, see the 11/4 blog: </span><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://carolinaonmymind-carolinaclaysblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/clay-aiken-fans-champion-charities.html" target="new">Clay Aiken Fans Champion Charities</a><span style="font-style: italic;">.<br /><br />The 11/4 entry also contains previews and order info for the 2012 Clay Aiken Calendars. Order deadline is 11/22, so link to the 11/4 blog ... SOON!<br /></span></blockquote><p></p>Dianne Barbeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14901322756129162040noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31101817.post-71098640003797628552011-11-04T13:08:00.004-05:002011-11-18T23:35:56.667-05:00Clay Aiken Fans Champion Charities<p align="left"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/NIP1-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/NIP1a-1.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">National Inclusion Project</span> - <span style="font-style: italic;">Inclusion is giving people their rightful opportunity to participate. The NIP works every day to ensure no child sits on the sidelines.</span></span></p><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana;color:#444444;" ><u>For Pepsi Refresh Challenge</u></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;color:#444444;" >Inclusion Project Sets $50K Goal</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">National Inclusion Project supporters stormed out of the gate the first of November and claimed the #2 position of this month's Pepsi Refresh campaign for a $50,000 grant for the charity.<br /><br />The foundation, co-founded</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"> by singer Clay Aiken and Diane Bubel in July 2003, must finish in the top 10 to win a November grant.<br /><br />Through a variety of programs, including the Let's All Play Camps, </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">the National Inclusion Project seeks </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">to ensure that no child sits on the sidelines. Read more about the NIP at the foundation's <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.inclusionproject.org/level_1.php?id=3" target="new">website</a>.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Register for a <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.inclusionproject.org/level_2.php?id=47" target="new">daily voting reminder</a> at the NIP website. If the Inclusion Project wins a November grant, your name will be in a raffle drawing for an Apple iPad2. The daily email is excellent for forwarding to friends, relatives, and associates who will help the charity attain its goal.<p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/NIP2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/NIP2a.jpg" /></a><br /><span style=" font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >Vote 3 ways to expand inclusive programs for all children.</span></p>The rules have changed since friends of the foundation successfully secured a Pepsi grant in December 2010.</span><br /><blockquote style="font-family: verdana;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">* </span>The Inclusion Project must win in November as there is no rollover from month to month.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">*</span> Advocates can vote 3 ways: via a registered <a href="http://www.refresheverything.com/includingchildren" target="new"><b><i>Pepsi</i></b></a> account, Facebook, and a daily text of #109857 to Pepsi (73774).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">*</span> Supporters have 5 votes for each avenue everyday, but only one NIP vote per method. Distribute the other four votes to charities supporting the foundation. These are listed in the NIP Voting Widget in this blog's sidebar.<br /><br />* After each Pepsi/Facebook vote for the foundation's partners and allies, click on the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Back to the Idea Page</span> tab (upper left corner) to leave a comment. Reciprocating charities will return votes to the NIP accordingly.<br /><br />* Best of all, there are no Pepsi power codes in this month's competition.</blockquote><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">On Nov. 30, there will be 10 winners in the $50k category, now the highest award possible.</span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"> Longtime supporters know the early momentum must be maintained in order to secure the grant.</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" ><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#444444;">Widget Makes Voting a Snap</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">A tremendous tool for Project supporters is the voting widget created by</span> </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#004477;" >Scarlett </span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">with reciprocal info gathered by </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#004477;" >Royalle</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Jerry Aiken, executive director of the National Inclusion Project, not only approved the widget but also asked that supporters be reminded to vote all three ways. "We lose much-needed votes when people take the easiest route and text vote only."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Fresh off the press, the voting widget below links you directly to causes supporting the NIP</span>.</span><br /><p align="center"><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,0,0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" id="InsertWidget_146057ad-1cbe-46fb-9e22-120e5b223348" align="middle" height="423px" width="220px"><param name="movie" value="http://www.widgetserver.com/syndication/flash/wrapper/InsertWidget.swf"><param name="quality" value="high"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="menu" value="false"><param name="flashvars" value="r=2&appId=146057ad-1cbe-46fb-9e22-120e5b223348"> <embed src="http://www.widgetserver.com/syndication/flash/wrapper/InsertWidget.swf" name="InsertWidget_146057ad-1cbe-46fb-9e22-120e5b223348" quality="high" menu="false" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" flashvars="r=2&appId=146057ad-1cbe-46fb-9e22-120e5b223348" align="middle" height="423px" width="220px"></embed></object></p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Create your own comment, but be sure to include the NIP Pepsi page address and text number. Here is a sample: </span><blockquote style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;">The National Inclusion Project just voted for you. Thank you for your return votes! http://www.refresheverything.com/includingchildren and Text 109857.</blockquote><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">The widget will be available here and in the Carolina sidebar throughout November.</span><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/Calcov1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/2012Calcov1a.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" ><strong>2012 Clay Aiken Calendars - Order by Nov. 22!</strong></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >Tried & True wall calendar cover is clickable.</span></span></p><strong></strong><p></p><span style="font-size:100%;color:#332233;"><u><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong></strong></span></u></span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#332233;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">2012 Calendar Deadline Approaches</span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The 2012 Clay Aiken Calendars are going back to the Gala as auction items. But before that, fans of the singer can order Tried & True wall or desk versions through the project's coordinator.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />Produced annually by </span><span style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;color:#004477;" >Rosaratana</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" > </span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">with photos by <span style=" font-weight: bold;color:#004477;" >toni7babe</span>,</span> <span style="font-size:85%;">the 2012 calendar features images predominately from the 2011 Tried & True Tour and is again being published in desk and wall versions.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style=" font-weight: bold;color:#004477;" >Hippoga</span>, </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">also part of the 2012 team, </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">helped select the photos and coordinated the inclusion of 20 calendars in the silent auction for the Dec. 9-10 Champions Gala, annual event of the National Inclusion Project in Raleigh, NC.<br /><p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/2012DeskCal1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/2012DeskCal1a.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Sample of monthly desk calendars. Double click to enlarge.</span></p>The calendars, printed on premium glossy card stock, can be ordered through Rosaratana between now and Nov. 22. Costs include $12 for the desk size (8.27" x 3.74") and $25 for the wall version (11" x 8.5").</span></span><blockquote style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">To place calendar orders, Paypal or email Rosa at rosash@comcast.net by Nov. 22. Checks are accepted, and she will email you the address. Process time between orders received to calendars printed and shipped is approximately 3-4 weeks.</blockquote><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">As in the past six years, all proceeds after costs will be donated to the National Inclusion Project. Thought not an official NIP fundraiser, this project is sponsored annually by the Together for Inclusion Alpha Chapter of Aiken 4Clay.</span></span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">The 2011 calendars generated a foundation donation of $965.62 through sales plus an additional $650 in Gala auctions.</span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Completed orders will be mailed by the first week of December.</span><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/DD_CA1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/th_DD_CA1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/DD_CA2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/th_DD_CA2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/DD_CA3.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/th_DD_CA3.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >Clickables by dancerdad.</span></p><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-size:130%;color:#444444;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">Celebrity Apprentice Sneak Peeks</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">If you are following Clay Aiken message boards, tweets, or Facebook posts, you are no doubt aware that our guy is involved in another NIP fundraiser through Celebrity Apprentice.</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">The clickable photos above by <span style="font-weight: bold; color:#00447;" >dancerdad</span> were taken during filming of a Celebrity Apprentice task for the show's 2012 telecast. Thursday's sale of New York City guidebooks by the men's team was well-documented </span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">by dancerdad and other Big Apple residents.</span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><br /><br />Have an awesome weekend, Clay Nation!<br /><br />Caro<br /><br /></span>Dianne Barbeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14901322756129162040noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31101817.post-19702170483838455542011-10-14T18:30:00.009-05:002011-10-15T10:57:47.203-05:00Clay Aiken Set for Celebrity Apprentice Boardroom<p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/ClayAiken8/Ashes1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/ClayAiken8/Ashes1a.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Expandable graphic by Ashes, photos by Ethan Miller.</span></p><span style=" font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana;color:#110000;"><u>With Well-Rounded Resume</u></span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:180%;"><span style=" font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana;color:#110000;">Clay Aiken Heads to Apprentice</span></span><br /><blockquote><a style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.wetpaint.com/american-idol/articles/youre-hired-clay-aiken-joins-celebrity-apprentice" target="new">You're Hired! Clay Aiken Joins Celebrity Apprentice</a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;">Clay Aiken will be joining Season 5 of Celebrity Apprentice, reports People. The American Idol Season 2 runner-up will join Real Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Giudice, funny man Arsenio Hall, and ‘80s sensation Debbie Gibson.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;">The leader of Clay Nation will no doubt put up a tough fight in the boardroom. As a top-selling recording artist, proud dad, and one of the only contestants with a college degree, Clay’s resume is the most well-rounded of the bunch.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;">Don’t let the sun go down on Clay, Donald Trump!</span></blockquote><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">A facsimile of the <span style="font-style: italic;">WetPaint</span> story headlines hundreds of sites, including </span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> <span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20536276,00.html" target="new">People</a><span style="font-style: italic;">, </span><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.examiner.com/tv-in-national/clay-aiken-set-for-donald-trump-s-boardroom-on-celebrity-apprentice" target="new">TV Examiner</a>, <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://blogs.ajc.com/radio-tv-talk/2011/10/13/people-confirms-clay-aiken-part-of-next-celebrity-apprentice/?cxntlid=thbz_hm" target="new">Access Atlanta</a><span style="font-style: italic;">, </span><a style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.playbill.com/news/article/155487-Clay-Aiken-and-Deborah-Gibson-Will-Compete-on-NBCs-Celebrity-Apprentice" target="new">Playbill</a><span style="font-style: italic;">,</span> and <a style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" href="http://popwatch.ew.com/2011/10/12/clay-aiken-teresa-giudice-celebrity-apprentice/" target="new">Entertainment Weekly</a>. EW puts Clay's chances of winning at 2-1 while <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.tvline.com/2011/10/celebrity-apprentice-season-5-cast-odds/" target="new">TV Line</a> projects 4-1 odds.<br /><br />In the process, the Carolina singer will raise awareness as well as funds for the <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Inclusion_Project" target="new">National Inclusion Project</a>, the charity he co-founded with Diane Bubel in 2003 to promote inclusion of children with special needs in activities with their non-disabled peers.<br /><br />Whole segments of the population are about to learn what the Clay Nation has known for years. The Aiken is intelligent, witty, talented, personable, snarky, and very dedicated to his cause. Coming in second is not on his radar.<br /><br />The show, which begins taping Monday, will be televised in 2012. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;color:#110000;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Carolina Site Changes Pace </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">To complete a fall project, I recently pushed the pause button on the Carolina's every- three-days-no-matter-what blogging routine and, to my surprise, I liked it! </span> <span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><br /><br />Since July 2005 when my friend <span style="font-weight: bold; color:#603A43;">Sally</span> talked me into writing a blog at the OFC and then a year later when the articles were also re-coded for the <span style="font-style: italic;">Carolina On My Mind</span> site, I have spent much of my free time gathering info, editing art, and penning these installments.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">But I have learned there are other things I want and need to do during my day. In addition to teaching 16 music students weekly, I look forward to reading again. In November, I am finally purchasing a Kindle like everyone else.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br />I began reporting for the </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;">Wilmington Star-New</span><span style="font-size:85%;">s papers when I was 16 and have worked on several newspaper staffs since. Writing is an important part of me, so I will still blog -- just not on such a rigid schedule.</span><p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/FD_CB1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/FD_CB1a.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;">Expandable graphic by Fountaindawg, photo by Curtis Brown.</span></p><span style="font-size:130%;color:#110000;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Carolina Blog Topics Inclusive </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Since its inception, the Carolina blog has embraced a number of my passions -- family, music, Clay Aiken, the National Inclusion Project, Tar Heel basketball, movies, recipes. Now I look forward to adding reading to that list.</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">For five years, I have appreciated the response from readers all over the world. At last count, you represent 170 countries. I especially thank those who stop by and leave comments not only for the writer but also for the visual artists featured.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Among the graphic artists spotlighted during the five-year Blogspot run are <span style="font-weight: bold; color:#603A43;">Sally</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold; color:#603A43;">Fountaindawg</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold; color:#603A43;">AmazingCA</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold; color:#603A43;">cindilu2</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold; color:#603A43;">A Beautiful Mind</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold; color:#603A43;">claystruck</span>, and <span style="font-weight: bold; color:#603A43;">Ashes</span>.<br /><br />The site has spotlighted videos and montages by countless CA fans, some of whom are <span style="font-weight: bold; color:#603A43;">Scarlett</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold; color:#603A43;">Aspiegirl</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold; color:#603A43;">SueReu</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold; color:#603A43;">LovesClaysVoice</span>, and <span style="font-weight: bold; color:#603A43;">Hope</span>.<br /><br />Countless fan photographers are represented in the Carolina editions. You can always search for visual artists and topics in the rectangle next to the orange B at the top of the blog.<br /><br />The original OFC blog in 2005 was short and sweet:</span><br /><blockquote><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/OFC%20Blog/carobluenotes-1.gif"><img style="WIDTH: 160px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/OFC%20Blog/carobluenotes-1.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;">Hello, Clay Nation!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;">It's opening night, and the curtain is going up. Just this much feels like a four-movement symphony. Much more to come as I study the score ... I mean the blog tutorials.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;">Have a great day, all!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;">Caro</span></blockquote><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color:#110000;">First Post Parallels 'Real Rebels'<br /></span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><br />A year later, the initial Blogspot entry outlined the personal and professional parallels of Sonny James and Clay Aiken: </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://carolinaonmymind-carolinaclaysblog.blogspot.com/2006/07/real-rebels-of-music_13.html" target="new">The Real Rebels of Country and Pop Music</a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">.<br /><br />The headline was inspired by my husband's declaration following an early road trip as Sonny's drummer in the 1970's. The real rebel of country music, he said, was the "southern gentleman," not the Nashville rabble-rousers in the newspapers.<br /><br />Thank you for stopping by through six years of 600+ blogs. I hope you will continue to do so as the discussion explores an array of topics on a slightly different schedule.<br /><br />Have an awesome weekend!<br /><br />Caro<br /><br /></span></span></span>Dianne Barbeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14901322756129162040noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31101817.post-9777713188540519112011-09-25T17:35:00.006-05:002011-09-25T19:29:52.762-05:00Clay Aiken Photos, Montages Jazz Up Fan Sites<p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/CBs_fb1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/CBs_fb1a.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;">Clay Aiken - </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">New photo from Curtis Brown shoot.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Expandable image edited by Sally.</span></span><br /></p><span style="text-decoration: underline; font-family:verdana;color:#001111;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Clay Nation Celebrates Designs</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:180%;"><span style=" font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana;color:#001111;">'Aiken' for a New Screen Saver?<br /></span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Last week Clay Aiken changed his profile photo at Facebook and inspired a flurry of artistic activity throughout the fandom.<br /><br />The photo leads countless message boards across Clay Cyberspace, while fans easily may have set a record for photo reposts at the social networking site.</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">You have to look closely to detect the minute alterations by <span style="font-weight: bold; color:#005577;">Sally</span>. One step removed the contact lens circle in the singer's eyes. Can you locate another slight edit?</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color:#005577;">Fountaindawg</span> created widescreen/regular graphics of the photo, and longstanding computer screen savers were promptly changed. Both thumbnails of the Curtis Brown photo are clickable:</span><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/FD_CBws1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/th_FD_CBws1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/FD_CB1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/th_FD_CB1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Anyone for a new screen saver?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=" font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-family:verdana;color:#001111;">DWTS Couples Waltz to Aiken Favorite</span><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">It was a very good week for Clay Aiken montages, too.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Dancing With the Stars</span> fans can always count on <span style="font-weight: bold; color:#005577;">LovesClaysVoice</span> for exquisite montages of the current season's contestants accompanied by a variety of Clay Aiken songs.<br /><br />The one below features three Season 13 couples waltzing to the singer's rendition of "She Said Yes.</span><span style="font-size:85%;">"</span><br /><p align="center"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/eb9fMKfaU20?version=3&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/eb9fMKfaU20?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><span style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;">Dancing With the Stars: 'She Said Yes' by Clay Aiken.</span><br /><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">View montage by LovesClaysVoice full screen at </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" href="http://youtu.be/eb9fMKfaU20" target="new">YouTube</a></span><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">.</span></p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Season 13 dancers in the above montage include Chynna Phillips and Tony Dovolani, David Arquette and Kym Johnson, and Hope Solo and Maksim Chmerkovskiy.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">To view <span style="font-weight: bold; color:#005577;">LCV</span>'s montages from past DWTS seasons, check out her </span> <span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.youtube.com/user/LovesClaysVoice" target="new">YouTube Channel</a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">. Among Clay Aiken songs featured are "Suspicious Minds," "Those Magic Moments, "Unchained Melody," "Everything I Have," "Touch," "When You Say You Love Me," and "Sacrificial Love."</span><br /><p align="center"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/b-_r4gekDmU?version=3&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/b-_r4gekDmU?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana;">UNICEF - 'It's In Every One of Us' by Clay Aiken.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">View SueReu's montage full screen at </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;" href="http://youtu.be/b-_r4gekDmU" target="new">YouTube</a></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">.</span></p><span style="font-style: italic; font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color:#001111;">Montage, Song Speak to Human Race</span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Appropriately, David Pomeranz's "love song to the human race" backs </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#005577;">SueReu</span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">'s montage about UNICEF's "Believe in Zero" campaign. Clay, a UNICEF Ambassador since 2004 and one of many artists who have recorded the inspirational song, included the track on his </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">On My Way Here</span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"> CD.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">In just half a century, child mortality rates have been cut by 60%. However, there are still 21,000 children who die every day due to preventable causes.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">With innovative programs focusing on nutrition, education, immunization, health care, clean water and protection from exploitation, </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.unicef.org/index.php" target="new">UNICEF</a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"> is leading the way to cutting that number to zero.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">In 150 countries around the world, UNICEF is on the ground, working daily to meet the needs of children.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Translated into numerous languages and recorded by a long list of artists, <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://itsineveryoneofus.com/" target="new">It's in Every One of Us</a> has been heard around the globe through recordings, concerts, churches, synagogues, school choirs, hospitals, charities, corporate/personal growth seminars, the Olympics, you name it.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Have an awesome week, Clay Nation!</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Caro </span><br /><blockquote style="font-family: verdana;">To order a Clay Aiken Calendar, see <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://carolinaonmymind-carolinaclaysblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/2012-clay-aiken-calendars-set-for-gala.html" target="new">2012 Clay Aiken Calendar Set for Gala Return</a>.<br /><br />For information RE the I AM NORM Pepsi campaign, scroll to <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://carolinaonmymind-carolinaclaysblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/clay-aiken-inclusion-fans-plan.html" target="new">Clay Aiken, Inclusion Fans Plan September Rally</a>. Vote via the I Am NORM Widget in the sidebar.</blockquote><p></p>Dianne Barbeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14901322756129162040noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31101817.post-26434409973012416402011-09-22T15:33:00.003-05:002011-11-04T11:13:52.100-05:002012 Clay Aiken Calendars Set for Gala Return<p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/Calcov1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/2012Calcov1a.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" ><strong>2012 Clay Aiken Calendars - Order by Nov. 22!</strong></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >Tried & True wall calendar cover is clickable.</span></span></p><strong></strong><p></p><span style="font-size:100%;color:#332233;"><u><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>Wall, Desk Versions in Auction </strong></span></u></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;color:#332233;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">Aiken Calendars Headed to Gala</span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The 2012 Clay Aiken Calendars are going back to the Gala as auction items. But before that, fans of the singer can order Tried & True wall or desk versions through the project's coordinator.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />Produced annually by </span><span style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;color:#992244;" >Rosaratana</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" > </span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">with photos by <span style=" font-weight: bold;color:#992244;" >toni7babe</span>,</span> <span style="font-size:85%;">the 2012 calendar features images predominately from the 2011 Tried & True Tour and is again being published in desk and wall versions.</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style=" font-weight: bold;color:#992244;" >Hippoga</span>, </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">also part of the 2012 team, </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">helped select the photos and coordinated the inclusion of 20 calendars in the silent auction for the Dec. 9-10 Champions Gala, annual event of the National Inclusion Project in Raleigh, NC.<br /><p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/2012DeskCal1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/2012DeskCal1a.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Sample of monthly desk calendars. Double click to enlarge.</span></p>The calendars, printed on premium glossy card stock, can be ordered through Rosaratana between now and Nov. 22. Costs include $12 for the desk size (8.27" x 3.74") and $25 for the wall version (11" x 8.5").<br /><br />As in the past six years, all proceeds after costs will be donated to the National Inclusion Project. Thought not an official NIP fundraiser, this project is sponsored annually by the Together for Inclusion Alpha Chapter of Aiken 4Clay. The 2011 calendars generated a foundation donation of $965.62 through sales plus an addition $650 more in the Gala auction.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">To place calendar orders, Paypal or email Rosa at rosash@comcast.net by Nov. 22. Checks are accepted, and she will email you the address. Process time between orders received to calendars printed and shipped is approximately 3-4 weeks.</span></span><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/2012WallCal1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/2012WallCal1a.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">Sample of wall calendar months. Double click to enlarge.</span></span></p><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The 2012 calendars are being shipped as orders arrive. Below is fan mail from a happy customer:</span></span> <blockquote style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;">The calendars came yesterday, and you did a wonderful job as usual. After seeing it, I'm thinking of buying another one for my mom. She's still a Clay fan at 91, and I think she'd enjoy looking at those photos every month. I will send another check off to you this week.</blockquote><p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/GoodSearch1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/GoodSearch1a.jpg" /></a></p><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#332233;" >GoodSearch/GoodShop Support Charities</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">With your assistance, the National Inclusion Project could win an additional $1,000 donation in September's GoodSearch Registration Contest!</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">The charity with the most new registrations by September 30 will claim this prize. You can help the Inclusion Project win by <a href="https://www.goodsearch.com/Registration.aspx?WMode=INVITEFRIENDS" target="new"><b><i>spreading the word</i></b></a> to friends, family and colleagues via Facebook, Twitter, and an email at this link.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Remember that every time you go through the <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.goodsearch.com/" target="new">GoodSearch</a> and <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.goodsearch.com/goodshop.aspx" target="new">GoodShop</a> sites for Internet searches and purchases, you add revenue for the Inclusion Project. To date, that total is <span style="font-weight: bold;">$16,449.48</span> -- a penny or two at a time as supporters search and shop through these sites.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color:#332233;" >Pennies Become Dollars with GoodSearch</span></span><br /><br />GoodSearch is a Yahoo-powered search engine that donates 50% of its revenue, about a penny per search, to listed American charities and schools designated by its users. The money donated comes from the site's advertisers.<br /><br />More than 96,000 non-profits are participating in the program. GoodSearch was founded in November 2005 by siblings Ken and JJ Ramberg.<br /><br />In September 2007, the GoodShop online shopping mall was launched. A percentage of each purchase is donated to the user's designated charity. GoodShop is affiliated with more than 1,300 online retailers including Amazon, Target, Staples, eBay, Best Buy, and Apple.<br /><br />A toolbar is available for Internet Explorer and Firefox browsers. Read more about the GoodSearch/GoodShop sites <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GoodSearch" target="new"><b><i>here</i></b></a>.<br /><br />Have a wonderful weekend, Clay Nation!<br /><br />Caro </span><br /></span>Dianne Barbeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14901322756129162040noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31101817.post-57026325097785551872011-09-17T12:01:00.007-05:002011-09-19T19:39:42.334-05:00Happy Birthday #4 to Grandson Kai!<p align="center"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/birthday3_5a.jpg" /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" ><strong>Kai marked 2010 birthday by mowing apartment courtyard.</strong></span></span></p><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><u>Fond Memories Replayed</u></span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;" >Kai Celebrates Fourth Birthday</span><br /></span><br /></strong><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Four years ago today grandson Kai entered the world 21 days early wailing at the top of his lungs.<br /><br />In no time at all, he had charmed not only his immediate and long-distance families but also the hospital's preemie nursing staff and countless "aunties" around the world in the Clay Aiken fandom.<br /><br />Adept at programming the family's DVR, Kai is reading, counting, and playing games on the Leapster from Grandma Caro. Both he and his sister Lia are learning about the 50 states and countries of the world via the Leap Frog maps lining their walls.</span><p align="center"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/Leap2a1a.jpg" /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Kai learns while playing with his Leapster.</span><br /></p><span style="font-family:verdana;">In his four years, Kai has traveled to North Carolina and to Hawaii, logging more frequent flyer miles than his grandmother. Events from his short life have been shared in various Carolina blogs; and, at times, I think he has his own fan club. All thumbnails in this overview are clickable.<br /><br />Like most boys, Kai loves anything with wheels; he parks his beloved cars and trucks nightly in a special bookcase in his bedroom. I understand he was awake at 3 a.m. playing with his trucks and is now taking an afternoon nap.<br /><br />Kai's favorite toy during a month-long visit in Hawaii was a play lawn mower, which made his grandmother's third birthday gift a no-brainer. The lawn mower arrived two days early, and the apartment complex courtyard was promptly sharper. <p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/birthday3_11a.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/th_birthday3_11a.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/birthday3_3a.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/th_birthday3_3a.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/birthday3_4a.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/th_birthday3_4a.jpg" border="0" /></a></p>The smartest thing this long-distance grandmother did in September 2007 was order a good camera for Kai's mother. With the assistance of his artistic aunties -- <span style="color: rgb(153, 119, 85); font-weight: bold;">AmazingCA</span>, <span style="color: rgb(153, 119, 85); font-weight: bold;">Ashes</span>, <span style="color: rgb(153, 119, 85); font-weight: bold;">A Beautiful Mind</span>, <span style="color: rgb(153, 119, 85); font-weight: bold;">Aspiegirl</span>, <span style="color: rgb(153, 119, 85); font-weight: bold;">Sally</span> -- my grandson's first four years have been well-documented throughout the Carolina journal.</span> <p align="center"><a href="http://s242.photobucket.com/albums/ff28/mata808/Sleep3.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff28/mata808/th_Sleep3.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><span style="font-family:verdana;">In the beginning, an overwhelmed household had no time for photos. Poppy, Kai's grandfather, even sent a roll of pictures to prove it -- dirty dishes in the sink, an unkempt living room, overflowing laundry room.<br /><br />The stream of pixel-packed photos picked up dramatically once Sally created the "Hurricane Kai" collage of those images.</span></span> <p style="text-align: center;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://s242.photobucket.com/albums/ff28/mata808/Collage1.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff28/mata808/th_Collage1.jpg" border="0" /></a></span></p><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">With a brand new camera and lots of tips from Sally, the new mother became a pretty good photographer, and the graphic artists often enhanced the images as fast as they arrived.<br /><br />No activity went unnoticed by the artful aunties -- naps, reading a book, holidays, even the initial donning of a Tar Heel jersey sent to Kai by "Auntie" <span style="color: rgb(153, 119, 85); font-weight: bold;">Sandy</span> from Canada. Below are a few you may remember:</span></span><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://s242.photobucket.com/albums/ff28/mata808/ABM_Kai3.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff28/mata808/th_ABM_Kai3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s242.photobucket.com/albums/ff28/mata808/Napping.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff28/mata808/th_Napping.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s242.photobucket.com/albums/ff28/mata808/Student2a.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff28/mata808/th_Student2a.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s242.photobucket.com/albums/ff28/mata808/25_Sally1.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff28/mata808/th_25_Sally1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/ACADisn1.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/th_ACADisn1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s242.photobucket.com/albums/ff28/mata808/xmas017c.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff28/mata808/th_xmas017c.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s242.photobucket.com/albums/ff28/mata808/SallyJB1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff28/mata808/th_SallyJB1.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;" ><strong><em><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">Grandson Solves Climbing Hurdle<br /></span></em></strong></span><p><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;" >Our grandson has always loved to climb, and he is constantly seeking paths to the pinnacle of tables, cabinets, sinks, you name it. After the adults leaned the dining room chairs in a manner meant to discourage his "hobby," Kai determined a solution, got down on his hands and knees, straightened an upended chair, and pushed it to the desired location.</span></p><p><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;" >Very early in the spring of 2008, the target was the dividing shelf between the kitchen and the dining room. Poppy was still asleep, but Kai knew the phone locator button would blast him wide awake. It did, and another adventurous day was soon underway.</span></p><p><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;" >After that, the dining room chairs were flipped upside down when not in use.</span></p><p><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-weight: bold;">Kai Charms Carolina Clan</span></span><br /></p><p style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">In May 2008, Kai and his mother flew to North Carolina where he met a whole different set of relatives. Arriving just after the rush of spring recital time, he and his grandmother had a blast getting to know each other, routinely watching kiddie programs like "Mickey Mouse" on TV and penning the Carolina blog together.</span><br /></span></p><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;" ></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">During the month-long visit, Kai learned to crawl, pull himself up to a standing position, and was beginning to talk before flying home with his mother.<br /><br />Some of his favorite times were spent playing with twin cousins five years his elder. He loved swinging, going to the their t-ball games, and splashing in the pool while the they took swimming lessons. The lush, green grass and tall trees of this state fascinated him.</span><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/42Blog_Sally1b.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/th_42Blog_Sally1b.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/002a1.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/th_002a1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/032a1.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/th_032a1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/017a1a.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/th_017a1a.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/ACA_HapKai.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/th_ACA_HapKai.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >On 5/25/08, Kai "blogged" about meeting the Carolina relatives in <a href="http://carolinaonmymind-carolinaclaysblog.blogspot.com/2008/05/kai-joins-clay-aiken-fan-club.html" target="new"><strong><em>Kai Joins Clay Aiken Fan Club</em></strong></a>, sharing some of his daily rituals: pulling out a few books from the bottom shelf of a music cabinet as he crawled by every morning; beating out a rhythm on the washing machine and dryer before entering the den and watching a full lineup of kiddie shows with his NC grandmother.<br /><br />Not a day went by that we didn't check to see if the "Monkey Mail" had come. The grand piano was another favorite in his daily routine. At all times, Kai schemed for access to the keys and buttons on my laptop, telephone, and remote control</span> <p style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Back home three months later, Kai celebrated his first birthday; and, again, his artful "aunties" had a field day with the photos.</span></span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://s242.photobucket.com/albums/ff28/mata808/ACA_BD1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff28/mata808/th_ACA_BD1.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://s242.photobucket.com/albums/ff28/mata808/ACA_Kai2a1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff28/mata808/th_ACA_Kai2a1.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">Kai 'Helps' Mom in Kitchen</span></span><br /><p style="font-family:verdana;"><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >With the 5/13/09 birth of baby sister Lia, Kai spent many hours hanging with his grandfather. A favorite haunt becam</span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >e the hardware store where he delighted in spinning wheels incessantly.</span><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span></p><p style="font-family:verdana;"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;" >His propensity for buttons, snaps, openings and closures of all varieties continued; and Kai also enjoyed "helping" his mother in the kitchen. She created a cabinet shelf for him to routinely rearrange and eventually turned over the dishwasher to him, too.</span><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;" ><strong><em></em></strong></span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/025july1a.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/th_025july1a.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/024july1aa.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/th_024july1aa.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/Oops1b.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/th_Oops1b.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/Kai1bSal.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/th_Kai1bSal.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/ChrKai1c1.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/th_ChrKai1c1.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);" align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Drums Add Beat to Birthday #2</span><br /></span></p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Kai celebrated his second birthday with an impromptu jam session on Poppy's drum equipment, normally kept under lock and key.</span></span> <p></p><p style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Curious, clever, and extremely mobile, Kai knew his grandfather's bedroom was filled with a wonderful array of electronic treasures and percussion instruments.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Poppy, who had left the apartment early to visit his mother, called home the instant he remembered he had forgotten to lock the door.</span><br /></span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/Ashes_Kai2BD1.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/th_Ashes_Kai2BD1.jpg" border="0" /></span></a> </p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Too late! Cagey Kai had already made his move and was scampering out of the bedroom with a pair of drumsticks under one arm and a practice pad under the other.<br /><br />He set up his "drum" on a marble table and alternated between practicing and watching TV. Thankfully, his mother grabbed her camera for a video that the Carolina clan has thoroughly enjoyed.</span></p> <p></p><p style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Additional photos and videos are stored in his mother's <a href="http://s242.photobucket.com/home/mata808" target="new"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Mata808</span></span></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span>Photobucket account.</span></span></p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;" ><strong><em>First Lap in the Barber Chair</em></strong></span><strong><em></em></strong><br /><p><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >A first barbershop haircut was a major milestone for two-year-old Kai. Below are clickable memories of his maiden voyage in the barber chair.</span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span><span target="new" href="http://carolinaonmymind-carolinaclaysblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/clay-aiken-merry-thanksgivoween.html" style="font-family:verdana;"></span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/BS1b.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/th_BS1b.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/BS2b.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/th_BS2b.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/BS5b.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/th_BS5b.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/BS4b.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/th_BS4b.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" ><em><strong>Besides the all-important lollipop, Kai was anxious to learn just<br />how the clippers worked. That settled, it was back to his sucker.</strong></em> </span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/BS6b.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/th_BS6b.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" ><em><strong>Next time ... maybe a<br />shave and a lollipop!</strong></em></span></p><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;" >A Fun Day in the Park</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">With little sister Lia and Poppy taking an afternoon snooze, Kai and his mother slipped away for some sliding and swinging in a nearby park. Fortunately, Mom took along her camera, too.</span><br /><p align="center"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/Kai_Park6a.jpg" /><br /><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;" ><strong>PARK FUN</strong> -- <em>Anyone knows you can't steer without proper sound effects.</em></span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/Kai_Park8.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/th_Kai_Park8.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/Kai_Park5.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/th_Kai_Park5.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><strong>SOUND CHECK</strong> - <em>Kai investigates slide's nooks and crannies.</em></span></span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/Kai_Park4.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/th_Kai_Park4.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/Kai_Park1.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/th_Kai_Park1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" ><strong>LONG WAY DOWN</strong> - <em>Even a dare devil scopes out his slide<br />before diving into a maiden voyage.</em></span><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/Kai_Park7.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/th_Kai_Park7.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/Kai_Park9.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/th_Kai_Park9.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/Kai_Park10.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/th_Kai_Park10.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" ><strong>SWINGIN' FUN --</strong> <em>Kai tried out several swing positions that afternoon.<br /></em></span></p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Grandma's on the Radar</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Being a long-distance grandmother can be difficult at times; but there are some high moments, too. In 2010, Kai and I began conversing via telephone. Since his sister copies everything he does, Lia is bound to be next.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Once he gets started, my grandson delights in providing a running commentary of all that's happening ("The dogs are getting ready to go out ... Lia is taking a nap"), as well as walking around the room pointing out items ("This is our TV; here's Lia's high chair; and this is my dump truck full of Cheerios") which the person on the other end of the line can only imagine.</span></span> <p></p><p><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >"Grandmother" has become the voice on the phone so much so that when his mother was talking with a friend in Hawaii, Kai yelled from across the room, "Hello, Grandma!"</span></p><p><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;" >I look forward to the time when "across the room" is literally just that.</span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/Haw_Kai1b.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/th_Haw_Kai1b.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/Haw_Lia1a.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Kai/th_Haw_Lia1a.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">LOTS OF WATER</span>:</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;"> Kai and Lia enjoy beach in Hawaii.</span></span></p><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;" >Family Spends Month in Hawaii</span><p><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;" >Having lived and worked in Hawaii for five years, my daughter has many wonderful friends there; and in August 2010, she and the children flew 12,000+ miles round trip for a visit.</span></p><p><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;" >Kai and Lia experienced many "firsts," with visits to an aquarium, a zoo, and a natural history display, as well as seeing more water than ever in their short lives. They loved the exotic fruit and cool lagoons of the islands.</span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/KaiLia/BD3.png" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/KaiLia/BD3a.png" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">BIRTHDAY PARTY ON WHEELS</span>: <span style="font-style: italic;">With Mom's special van decorations,</span></span><br /><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >Kai and sister Lia have celebrated 9/17 all over town. (Clickable)<br /></span></span></p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Here's to a very special fourth birthday, grandson!</span><br /><p><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;" >Love,<br />Grandma Caro</span></p><p style="font-style: italic;"><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:100%;" ></span></p><blockquote style="font-family: verdana;"><em></em><em>Voting information for I AM NORM/National Inclusion Project is located in the 9/15 <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://carolinaonmymind-carolinaclaysblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/clay-aiken-inclusion-fans-plan.html" target="new">Carolina</a> blog.<br /><br />Happy Weekend, Clay Nation!<br /><br />Caro</em></blockquote><p></p><p></p>Dianne Barbeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14901322756129162040noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31101817.post-73072778196842900182011-09-15T12:49:00.002-05:002011-09-15T18:59:34.733-05:00Clay Aiken, Inclusion Fans Plan September Rally<p align="center"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/IamNORM1b.jpg" /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >I Am NORM initiative seeks Pepsi grant for inclusion.</span></p><u style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;">Secretariat-Style Finish</u><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:verdana;" ><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:180%;" >I Am NORM Sets $50k Grant Goal</span><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Entering the second half of September's Pepsi Refresh at #41, I Am NORM, youth initiative of the National Inclusion Project, is in position for a Secretariat-like finish in this month's campaign for a $50,000 grant.<br /><br />Just as the legendary thoroughbred thrived on coming from behind, I Am NORM must follow suit. NORM doesn't have to be #1 to win, but the organization must finish in the top 10 charities of the $50k category for a grant.<br /><br />To accomplish this, all supporters of inclusion -- fans of singer Clay Aiken, co-founder of the National Inclusion Project; followers of I Am NORM; persons and organizations who have benefited from programs, Let's ALL Play Camps, and funding from the Inclusion Project -- need to mount a no-holds-barred effort.</span><p align="center"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/PepCap.jpg" /></p><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">1. Engage the aid of friends, family, and associates in collecting as many Pepsi/Diet Pepsi power codes as you can locate in your area.</span><br /><blockquote>The 10-character codes from the yellow caps or canned carton tops immediately convert single votes from 5 - 100 points. The more power votes the quicker this campaign becomes a horse race with I Am NORM closing in on Sept. 30 celebration.</blockquote><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">2. Vote for <a href="http://www.refresheverything.com/iamnorm" target="new"><b><i>I Am NORM</i></b></a> three ways in the Pepsi Refresh, and encourage others to do the same.</span><br /><blockquote>(a) At the Pepsi site<br />(b) Via Facebook<br />(c) By texting <span style="font-weight: bold;">109076</span> to <span style="font-weight: bold;">73774</span> (PEPSI) daily.</blockquote><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">The above link takes you to NORM's Pepsi page, but you can also use the widget at the top of the Carolina sidebar.<br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />Other charities on the widget are partners who are casting reciprocal votes with NORM. Be sure to leave a comment so the groups know to return a vote for I Am NORM. A sample comment is on the "How To Vote" panel.</span><p align="center"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/NORMcap2.png" /></p><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">In a statement during Labor Day Weekend, Jerry Aiken, executive director of the National Inclusion Project, urged inclusion supporters to participate in this campaign:</span><blockquote style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">WE are I AM Norm. This is a program within National Inclusion. We work in conjunction with other funders and are focusing on youth movement to build awareness about inclusion. National Inclusion receives the funds and manages the program.</blockquote><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">Power Codes Prove Pepsi X-Factor </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">No matter how you slice it, the key to being in the winner's circle of the Pepsi competition lies with power codes. Here are a few suggestions for gathering the magical caps.</span><blockquote>1. Contact all your Pepsi-drinking friends for assistance in obtaining these codes.<br /><br />2. Befriend your cleaning lady and ask her to keep watch for the power code caps with other clients. Do the same with cafeteria workers at work/school.<br /><br />3. A friend or contact working at a bottle recycling plant might agree to gather the yellow caps for you.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">4. If</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> your school, daycare, or sports team is having an event, offer to provide drinks. Solicit assistance from other fans to help record the power codes.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">5. Ask acquaintances to report the availability/sales of Pepsi products with yellow power caps in your area.</span></blockquote><br /><p align="center"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/Power2a.jpg" /></p><blockquote>6. Accept donations from supporters who live in (a) other countries or (b) areas where yellow caps are depleted and purchase the Pepsi products for them.<span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />7. Hold an online Power Vote Party in a message board thread, Facebook Chat, OFC Chat, etc. Serve "refreshments" and provide entertainment/clack while participants vote the codes. Post party totals on Facebook and in NORM threads.</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />8. Host a challenge for "the most interesting picture of clack" (t-shirts, pins, anything) with a backdrop of Pepsi power caps.<br /><br />9. Host an all-night online clack party that requires Pepsi so participants can stay awake watching.<br /><br />10. Make this list grow with your suggestions in the comments below.</span></blockquote><p style="text-align: left;"><object width="425" height="345"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/92zvN0tmFKY?version=3&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/92zvN0tmFKY?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="345"></embed></object><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">POWER OF YOUTH</span> - The bold beginning for I Am NORM, a youth-led movement of inclusion throughout the US.</span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"> View more videos at the</span><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" > </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.youtube.com/user/IamNorm2010#p/a/f/0/92zvN0tmFKY" target="new">I Am NORM YouTube Channel</a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >.</span></p><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">NORM Promotes Inclusion of Youth</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Designed to promote the acceptance, respect, and full inclusion of all youth, I Am NORM was formed on a wintry January 2010 weekend in Washington, DC, by 20 young people with and without disabilities from diverse backgrounds and places throughout the United States.<br /><br />These paragraphs from NORM's website outline the bold mission of these young people:</span><br /><blockquote style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">We are united in our commitment to a world where people of various abilities have equal opportunities. We believe that diversity makes us stronger and that discrimination breaks us down.<br /><br />We know that hatred is a learned behavior and that we can all strive to rise above fear and prejudice. We understand firsthand what we gain when everyone is included in our schools and our communities and how much we lose when anyone is left out.</blockquote><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">The organization's work is driven by a Youth Inclusion Task Force and supported by a coalition of youth-serving partner organizations.<br /><br />If successful in the Pepsi drive, the charity will utilize the $50k grant for hosting the 2012 Youth Summit, presenting the I Am NORM program at other youth conferences, and advertising the cause to the youth demographic.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><br />Read more about the cause at the <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.refresheverything.com/iamnorm" target="new">I Am NORM Pepsi Page</a> and at the </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.iamnorm.org/home.aspx" target="new">I am NORM Share It</a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"> website.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">There is much more information about 1973 Triple Crown winner </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secretariat_%28horse%29" target="new">here</a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">. View the movie <span style="font-style: italic;">Secretariat</span> </span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">on Starz and Neflix. Be sure Pepsi products are served for refreshments.<br /><br />Have an awesome rest of the week, Clay Nation. Let's win this horse race!<br /><br />Caro<br /></span><br /></span></span></span>Dianne Barbeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14901322756129162040noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31101817.post-1778403675424165152011-09-08T12:17:00.009-05:002011-09-11T13:06:55.906-05:00Clay Aiken Montage Reflects 9-11 Anniversary<p align="center"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TqD0FaMB2WE&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TqD0FaMB2WE&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >9-11-01 Tribute Montage by Yollie950</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >'Grace of God' and 'It's in Everyone of Us' by Clay Aiken.</span></p><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana;color:#333443;" ><u>The 10-Year Anniversary<br /><br /></u></span><strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#333443;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-family:verdana;" >America Remembers 9/11/01</span><br /></span></strong><blockquote style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">In memory of the senseless devastation and tragic loss of lives in America 10 years ago today.</blockquote><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">To the survivors of loved ones lost in the 9/11/01 terrorist invasion, know that America remembers. This country also pays tribute to the brave men and women whose heroic actions saved lives in New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC.</span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><br /><br />"Grace of God" and "It's in Everyone of Us" by Clay Aiken are featured in the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqD0FaMB2WE" target="new"><strong><em>9-11-01 Tribute Montage</em></strong></a>, which also can be viewed at YouTube.</span><br /><p align="center"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/OFC%20Blog/Biggart1a.jpg" /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >One of final photos by the late Bill Biggart.</span></p><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;" >Photographer Leaves 9-11 Legacy</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Professional photographer Bill Biggart died taking pictures when the second tower fell. In the aftermath, some of Biggart's digital photos were recovered from his camera's memory card.<br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><br />You can read the story at <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://digitaljournalist.org/issue0111/biggart_intro.htm" target="new">Bill Biggart's Final Exposures</a>. View a slide show of his amazing photos from <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://digitaljournalist.org/issue0111/biggart01.htm" target="new">Seeing the Horror</a>. Expandable, the first is printed below.</span><p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/OFC%20Blog/GodBlessAm3.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/OFC%20Blog/GodBlessAm3a.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >God Bless America</span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"> - <span style="font-style: italic;">Remembrance Flag is ex</span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >pandable.<br /></span></p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">In 2001, I wasn't in the habit of turning on the TV that early; but, for some reason, I was watching the TODAY Show that fateful morning. I remember with horror and disbelief as I watched the terrorists' planes fly into the twin towers and the terrible aftermath we witnessed in real time the rest of that day.<br /><br />According to those who commented in the 9/11/2009 blog, Canada and other flew flags at half mast that fateful day in 2001. Jannet Moranz posted this reflection:</span><blockquote style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">It was a day that no American living on this planet at the time will ever forget. Sometimes I measure my life in terms of before and after.</blockquote><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#333443;" >Anniversary Design Depicts Then, Now</span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Commissioned to commemorate the 10th anniversary of 9-11, the drawing by EKTIMIS depicts through symbolism the New York city skyline and its reflection in the adjacent Hudson river.<br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><br />The skyline illustrates the current city skyline, while the reflection in the river illustrates the same skyline prior to 9-11 with the World Trade Center standing.<br /><br />One of three specially-commissioned artworks by EKTIMIS, the high grade 24" x 32" wall poster can be ordered at <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.911tenthyear.com/ektimis-911-artwork-EA-LE-911-L-0800-P.html" target="new">9/11 Tenth Year</a>. The sample below is clickable.</span><p></p><p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/OFC%20Blog/EKTIMIS1.png" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/OFC%20Blog/EKTIMIS1a.png" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Poster commemorates 10th anniversary of 9/11.</span></span><br /></p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">The four eagles soaring in the top left corner of the drawing depict the four divisions of the U.S. armed forces that were dispatched abroad to protect the country, soon after the events on 9-11 - the U.S. Air Force, the Army, the Marines, and the Navy.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">The two eagles hovering above the water (separated from the four above) represent the two divisions of the U.S. armed forces that stayed behind promptly after 9-11 to protect the U.S. homeland - the National Guard and the U.S. Coast Guard / Border Patrol.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">The stems of red roses held tightly within the claws of one of the hovering eagles represent and memorialize the lives lost since 9-11. The falling red petals from the roses leave a visible trail in the water back to the image of the World Trade Center twin towers, further depicting the connection of the lives lost with the towers.</span><p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/OFC%20Blog/Gander1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/OFC%20Blog/Gander1a.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >Gander, NF, hosted stranded travelers in 2001.- </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >Clickable.</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color:#333443);" >Canadian Town Honored at 9/11 Event</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">In her blog comment this week, Sandy Hall wrote about a little known part Canada played during the week of 9/11/01:</span><br /><blockquote style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Our paper has been running articles all week. One story that touched my heart was about the friendships that were formed in Gander, Newfoundland, when the town became home to thousands of stranded travelers and welcomed these complete strangers into their homes.</span></blockquote><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">The tiny town of Gander, Newfoundland, hosted passengers from 38 planes that were forced to land in Canada after the US was attacked. The town was honored for its help in a ceremony in Washington, DC, on Thursday. Read the complete story at the</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" > </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2011/09/08/gander-newfoundland-honoured-sept-11-washington.html" target="new">CBC News</a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"> site.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Countless </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.life.com/gallery/59971/911-the-25-most-powerful-photos#index/0" target="new">Remembering 9/11</a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"> galleries are featured at </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >Life Magazine</span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"> online. Also, see <a href="http://lightbox.time.com/2011/09/07/revisiting-911-unpublished-photos-by-james-nachtwey/#1" target="new"><b><i>Revisiting 9/11</i></b></a>, unplublished photos by James Nachtwey at <i>Time</i>.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Where were you on 9/11 10 years ago? Share your reflections and personal experiences in the comments below. Staying vigilant and united, we will never forget September 11, 2001.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">God bless America!</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Caro </span><blockquote style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">See previous Carolina entry for <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://carolinaonmymind-carolinaclaysblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/dragoncon-honors-inclusion-project-of.html" target="new">I AM NORM/National Inclusion Project</a> progress/voting links in the Pepsi Refresh campaign for a $50,000 grant.<br /><br />The 2010 9/11 entry paid tribute to the 343 fallen firefighters who gave their lives saving others at Ground Zero: <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://carolinaonmymind-carolinaclaysblog.blogspot.com/2010/09/fire-and-steel-brigades-honor-911.html" target="new">Iron and Steel Brigades Honor 9/11 Fallen</a>.<br /><br />Thank you for sharing your 9/11 experiences in the blog comments. To leave a remark, scroll to the bottom of that section, click on the "Post a Comment" link, and write in the box provided.</span></blockquote><p></p>Dianne Barbeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14901322756129162040noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31101817.post-15241776141064680522011-09-01T17:49:00.012-05:002011-09-14T18:07:44.766-05:00Dragon*Con Honors Inclusion Project of Clay Aiken<p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/CB_HuffPo1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/CB_HuffPo1a.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Clay Aiken</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">- Photo by Curtis Brown is expandable.</span></span></p><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:verdana;" ><u>Labor Day Convention in Atlanta</u></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;" >Dragon*Con Spotlights Inclusion<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Atlanta, the city where singer Clay Aiken began his sojourn on <span style="font-style: italic;">American Idol</span> and subsequently launched a successful career as an entertainer, will <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://youtu.be/Iu0CKMHT1tI" target="new">always and forever</a> be special to his fans. This Labor Day Weekend, there will be yet another connection.<br /><br />Dragon*Con, the largest multimedia, pop culture sci-fi fantasy convention on the planet, celebrates its 10th anniversary at the Hilton Atlanta Sept. 2-5 with the National Inclusion Project as its designated charity.</span><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://dragoncon.org/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/Dragon1.png" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >Link to Dragon*Con website with this image.</span></p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Aficionados of science fiction, fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art, music, and film will gather at the Hilton Atlanta Hotel for the annual event. Link to the Dragon*Con website for links, apps, and tracks galore!</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">In addition to tax deductible donations, Dragon*Con is accepting submissions for the <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://dragoncon.org/charity.php#Submissions" target="new">2011 Charity Auction</a>. Various programs of the National Inclusion Project are outlined on the Dragon*Con website, providing an excellent intro to the charity co-founded by Clay and Diane Bubel in 2003. </span><blockquote style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The National Inclusion Project has worked with hundreds of programs, trained numerous staff members and leaders, and provided inclusive opportunities for over 20,000 children.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">A donation to the National Inclusion Project provides maximum impact in communities as they move to being fully inclusive.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-style: italic;">* $25 allows a child with disability to go swimming with his peers for the first time.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-style: italic;">* $100 provides a field trip for children to experience their community together.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-style: italic;">* $1000 provides curriculum, training, and supplies to implement inclusive service learning.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-style: italic;">* $5000 opens the door for five children with a disability to spend a week at camp with their friends.</span></blockquote><br /><p align="center"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/IamNORM1b.jpg" /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >I Am NORM initiative seeks Pepsi grant for inclusion.</span></p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#111111;"><span style=" font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">I Am NORM Opens $50k Grant Drive</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">The National Inclusion Project's race for a miracle finish in the August Pepsi Refresh was running on all cylinders right up until midnight Wednesday. Time will tell if supporters were successful in voting enough power codes to move the charity into the Top 10. </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Meanwhile, <span style="font-style: italic;">I Am NORM</span>, sister charity of the Inclusion Project, is competing in the $50k category of September's Pepsi Refresh giveaway.<span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">An initiative designed by young people to promote the acceptance, respect, and full inclusion of youth with disabilities in schools and communities, <span style="font-style: italic;">I Am NORM</span> was formed on a wintry January 2010 weekend in Washington, DC, by 20 young people, with and without disabilities, from throughout the United States.</span></span><br /><br />You can vote for </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.refresheverything.com/iamnorm" target="new">I Am NORM</a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"> at the Pepsi site, via Facebook, and by texting </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >109076</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> to </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >73774</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> (PEPSI) daily. Read more about the cause at its Pepsi page and at the <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.iamnorm.org/home.aspx" target="new">I am NORM Share It</a> website.<br /><br />If successful, the organization will utilize the $50k grant for hosting the 2012 Youth Summit, presenting the </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >I Am NORM</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> program at other youth conferences, and advertising the cause to the youth demographic.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color:#111111;" >Power Codes Prove Pepsi X-Factor</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Under the new guidelines, power codes have become the x-factor in the Pepsi Refresh competition. The 10-character code from the yellow caps or canned carton tops can increase a single vote from 5 - 100 points. </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size:85%;color:#447799;" >Erica</span><span style="font-size:85%;">, an 8th grade violin student, brought the month's first yellow cap to her Thursday lesson.</span><p align="center"><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,0,0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" id="InsertWidget_34e7942f-cd16-4000-8b6e-629b4b39a0b5" width="400px" height="273px" align="middle"><param name="movie" value="http://www.widgetserver.com/syndication/flash/wrapper/InsertWidget.swf"><param name="quality" value="high"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="menu" value="false"><param name="flashvars" value="r=2&appId=34e7942f-cd16-4000-8b6e-629b4b39a0b5"> <embed src="http://www.widgetserver.com/syndication/flash/wrapper/InsertWidget.swf" name="InsertWidget_34e7942f-cd16-4000-8b6e-629b4b39a0b5" quality="high" menu="false" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" flashvars="r=2&appId=34e7942f-cd16-4000-8b6e-629b4b39a0b5" width="400px" height="273px" align="middle"></embed></object></p><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size:85%;color:#447799;" >Royalle</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> has compiled a list of partner/reciprocating charities for </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size:85%;color:#447799;" >Scarlett</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> to create an <span style="font-weight: bold;">I Am NORM Voting Widget</span>. Updated daily, this handy device will appear at the top of Carolina blog sidebar throughout September.<br /><br />When voting for other Pepsi Refresh charities, be sure to leave a comment so they will reciprocate with <span style="font-weight: bold;">I Am NORM</span>. This sample appears in the widget's "How To Vote" panel:<br /><blockquote><span style="font-weight:bold;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-style:italic;">Votes from I Am NORM / National Inclusion Project of Raleigh, NC. Thank you for your reciprocal support. http://www.refresheverything.com/iamnorm ... Text 109076.</span></span></blockquote><br />Special thanks to all who voted/provided power codes for the National Inclusion Project in August. On a personal note, my daughter Jennifer; Maria, a friend from Ohio; and the Fulp and Justice families among my music students/parents were especially helpful.<br /><br />Have a wonderful Labor Day Weekend, Clay Nation -- in Atlanta or wishing you were there, too!<br /><br />Caro</span><br /></span><p></p>Dianne Barbeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14901322756129162040noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31101817.post-89522007319703922692011-08-28T14:39:00.012-05:002011-08-28T19:48:41.324-05:00Clay Aiken Sings 'Both Sides Now,' Spurs Campaign<p align="left"><object height="345" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ruLwUanEJd0?version=3&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ruLwUanEJd0?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="345" width="425"></embed></object>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">BOTH SIDES NOW</span> - <span style="font-style: italic;">Singer Clay Aiken and signer Debra Leisey perform beautiful duet that describes the purpose and programs of the National Inclusion Project. View 2010 Gala video by Scarlett full screen at </span><a style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" href="http://youtu.be/ruLwUanEJd0" target="new">YouTube</a><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span></span></p><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: verdana;font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;"><u>Aiken's BSN Defines Inclusion</u></span>
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<br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:180%;"><span style=" font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:verdana;">Song Inspires $50k Grant Drive</span></span>
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<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Throughout August, this blog has outlined the mission and importance of the programs of the National Inclusion Project so that everyone who can will support the Raleigh, NC, charity in its campaign to obtain a $50,000 Pepsi Refresh grant.
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<br />All along, no words, photos, or voting links were needed. Just co-founder Clay Aiken performing the Joni Mitchell song "Both Sides Now" with Debra Leisey signing the inclusive lyrics.
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<br />Enjoy their performance from the 2010 Champions of Change Gala, annual meet when honorees are recognized for achievements opening doors for young people with disabilities.</span><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/AikenBubel2a.jpg" />
<br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">In 2003, singer Clay Aiken and Diane Bubel of Charlotte co-founded the National Inclusion Project, formerly the Bubel/Aiken Foundation. to expand inclusive programs for all children.</span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">One Pepsi Power Code a Day!</span></span>
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<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">After watching the video, please make it your goal to purchase one -- or more -- Pepsi/Diet Pepsi products with a yellow cap each of the final four August days.
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<br />Email, text, or PM an NIP supporter the 10-character power codes by 6 p.m. ET Aug. 31. The codes will be voted before the contest ends at midnight ET Wednesday.
<br /><p align="center"> <a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/YelCap2a.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/th_YelCap2a.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/Power2a.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/th_Power2a.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Clickables show much-needed power code caps.</span></p>In one swoop, the "powerful" codes increase a single vote from 5 - 100 points. The <a href="http://www.refresheverything.com/inclusionproject" target="new"><b><i>National Inclusion Project</i></b></a> must be in the Top 10 to land a grant, and we definitely need your help.</span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">
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<br />The Pepsi site linked above is complicated for casual voters. However, everyone can easily follow this simplified routine for four days:</span><blockquote><span style="font-family:verdana;"> 1. Text a daily vote: <span style="font-weight: bold;">108169 to 73774</span>.
<br />2. Vote for the NIP daily via Facebook.
<br />3. Gather 4 power codes from Pepsi products and email/PM them via Facebook to an Inclusion Project supporter.</span></blockquote>
<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">The <a href="http://www.inclusionproject.org/level_1.php?id=3" target="new"><b><i>National Inclusion Project</i></b></a> has four days to secure the Pepsi grant. Thank you to all who join in this final power code effort!
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<br />Power caps are at a premium this final week. If you have trouble locating them at grocery stores, check the coolers at Best Buy, the Dollar Store, and other establishments.</span>
<br /><blockquote style="font-family: verdana;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">BOTH SIDES NOW</span></span>
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Bows and flows of angel hair
<br />And ice cream castles in the air,</span>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">And feathered canyons everywhere,</span>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">I've looked at clouds that way,</span>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">But now they only block the sun.</span>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">They rain and they snow on everyone.</span>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">So many things I would have done,
<br />But clouds got in the way.</span>
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">I've looked at clouds from both sides now,</span>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">From up and down, and still somehow,</span>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">It's clouds illusions I recall.</span>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">I really don't know clouds ... at all.</span>
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels,
<br />The dizzy dancing way that you feel</span>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">As every fairy tale comes real,
<br />I've looked at love that way.</span>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">But now it's just another show.</span>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">And you leave 'em laughing when you go</span>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">And if you care, don't let them know,
<br />Don't give yourself away.</span>
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">I've looked at love from both sides now,</span>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">From give and take, and still somehow</span>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">It's love's illusions I recall.</span>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">I really don't know love at all.</span>
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Tears and fears and feeling proud
<br />To say "I love you" right out loud,</span>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Dreams and schemes and circus crowds,
<br />I've looked at life that way.</span>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">But now old friends, they're acting strange</span>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">They shake their heads and tell me that I've changed.</span>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Something's lost and something's gained from living everyday.</span>
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">I've looked at life from both sides now,</span>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">From win and lose, and still somehow</span>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">It's life's illusions I recall.</span>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">I really don't know life.</span>
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">I've looked at life from both sides now,</span>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">From up and down, and still somehow</span>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">It's life's illusions that I recall.</span>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">I really don't know life ... at all.</span></blockquote><p style="text-align: left;"><object style="font-weight: bold;" height="345" width="420"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fbRGi_mu144?version=3&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/fbRGi_mu144?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="345" width="420"></embed></object>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">MAKING INCLUSION A REALITY</span>: <span style="font-style: italic;">Inclusion is giving people their rightful opportunity to participate. The National Inclusion Project works every day to make full inclusion a reality. Montage by SueReu features Clay singing "These Open Arms."
<br /></span></span></p><blockquote style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">While coming home from camp, my son asked if I knew that everyone's brain was different. He explained that some kids at camp are different from other kids because they have certain disabilities.</span>
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">When asked what he thought about that, he replied, "It's all good, Mom. We're all special and unique in our own way." </span><span style="font-style: italic;">-- Profound statement by a 7-year-old participant in a Let's ALL Play Camp.</span></blockquote><p align="left"><object height="345" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fb1PnrGHu3c?version=3&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/fb1PnrGHu3c?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="345" width="425"></embed></object>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;">MAKING A DIFFERENCE</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> - </span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">The National Inclusion Project provides opportunities for all children to participate through nationwide Let's ALL Play Camps and other programs throughout the year.</span>
<br /></span></span></p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Have an awesome week, and thank you for joining the cause of inclusion for all!</span>
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<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Caro</span></span><p></p>Dianne Barbeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14901322756129162040noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31101817.post-29870711844081207642011-08-23T12:16:00.007-05:002011-08-23T18:29:20.467-05:00Clay Aiken Montage 'Refreshes' Pepsi Grant Drive<p align="center"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fBhbrtj7Zeo?version=3&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/fBhbrtj7Zeo?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object>
<br /><span style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Clay Aiken: 'Where Do I Begin' from Tried & True Tour.</span>
<br /><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >View montage by SueReu at </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" href="http://youtu.be/fBhbrtj7Zeo" target="new">YouTube</a></span><span style=" font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >.</span><span style="font-size:85%;">
<br /></span><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >Download video with this </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.sendspace.com/pro/6ao9x1" target="new">Sendspace</a></span><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" > file.</span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana;" ><u>Fans Ferret Out Power Codes</u></span></span>
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<br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:180%;" ><span style=" font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana;color:#221111;" >Montage Replays Tour Opener
<br /></span></span><blockquote style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">While coming home from camp, my son asked if I knew that everyone's brain was different. He explained that some kids at camp are different from other kids because they have certain disabilities.</span>
<br />
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When asked what he thought about that, he replied, "It's all good, Mom. We're all special and unique in our own way."</span> - Profound statement from a 7-year-old participant in a Let's ALL Play Camp.</blockquote>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Fans of Clay Aiken, co-founder of the National Inclusion Project charity that provides camps and a variety of activities for children with and without disabilities, are competing for a $50,000 Pepsi Refresh grant to fund more "special and unique" experiences.
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<br />What better way to open this blog than with the extraordinary new montage by <span style="font-weight: bold; color:#553344;" >SueRue</span> of the singer performing "Where Do I Begin" (Theme from "Love Story") along the 2011 Tried & True Tour trail.
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<br />The montage should be inspiration for all inclusion supporters to seek new avenues for adding votes and the all-important power codes required to secure the Pepsi funds.
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<br />The video features footage by </span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color:#553344;" >MBlovesClay</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold; color:#553344;" >Scarlett</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold; color:#553344;" >goldarngirl</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold; color:#553344;" >dlh7777</span>, and <span style="font-weight: bold; color:#553344;" >Thankful4Clay</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;">.
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<br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Below are three clickables <span style="font-weight: bold; color:#553344;" >SueReu</span> provided from the montage. </span><p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/Sue_LS5.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/th_Sue_LS5.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>
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<br /><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/Sue_LS2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/th_Sue_LS2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>
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<br /><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/Sue_LS1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/th_Sue_LS1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-size:130%;color:#221111;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">Fan Successfully Dives for Codes</span></span>
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<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Less than a week ago, <span style="font-weight: bold; color:#553344;" >Shamrock</span> took her own advice and attended a local minor league baseball game in search of yellow power caps. She and her sister located 32 yellow caps that night, yielding 500 points in the National Inclusion Project's August campaign for the $50k Pepsi Refresh grant.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >
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<br />Following lunch on the 20th, she and her sister had planned to drop by their state fair where Pepsi was the official drink. While driving to the fair, her car was struck by an inattentive driver and totaled.</span><span style="font-size:85%;">
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<br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Between them, the sisters have a cracked rib and a sore neck, and their power code mission was halted long enough for them to be checked at the emergency room.</span><p align="center"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/Shamrock1a.jpg" />
<br /><span style=" font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >Shamrock dives for power codes.</span></p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">By Sunday, the sister duo was back dumpster diving at the ball field. Here is <span style="font-weight: bold; color:#553344;" >Shamrock</span>'s story in her own words:</span>
<br /><blockquote style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Well, I did it. I went dumpster diving today, and my sister helped me. I went back to the ball field to ask someone in authority if I could look in their recycle bins. The gentleman in the ticket office gave me the name of someone to call, but I couldn’t reach him.
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<br />As we were driving away, we passed the recycle bin. All the little bins had been emptied into a dumpster. The bags were clear plastic, and we could see some yellow caps. We decided to open a few. We were able to find 111 caps before we had to stop.
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<br />Tomorrow I’m calling to get permission to continue. So far we were able to vote 60 caps by my mom, husband, sisters, and a friend. The first 60 caps were worth 700 votes.
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<br />Checking the bags in the recycle dumpster wasn't very messy. There were lots of yellow caps since the ball park only sells Pepsi products, beer, and water.
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<br />We couldn’t reach all the bags because we were not prepared. We needed a step stool, a pole with a hook, old clothes, and rubber gloves. Tomorrow we’ll be ready if I get the okay!</blockquote>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">If you are reading this blog and drink Pepsi/Diet Pepsi or have a way to collect the power codes from yellow bottle caps or the carton tops of cans, send or take them to an Inclusion Project supporter via Facebook PM, Direct Message on Twitter, or some other means.
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<br />The NIP is in a real battle for a Pepsi grant position in the top 10. Power codes are the wild card in this competition, and efforts have been stepped up to locate them.
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<br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#221111;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Online Power Vote Party Nets 965!</span></span>
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<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">At 11:35 p.m. Sunday, </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size:85%;color:#553344;" >Scarlett</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> and I were chatting on Facebook and decided to enter as many codes from her stash as we could before midnight. Neither of us has seen the elusive "100," but we both hit an occasional "50." In 25 minutes, we cast 850 votes!
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<br />About five minutes before midnight, we started receiving messages asking if we were sure we wanted to continue as the day's deadline was approaching. Pepsi didn't realize how quickly we were moving.
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<br />I cast all my votes except one, which I saved for a few minutes into Monday. Just to be safe, I went back through and checked my list of codes to make sure they had all been used. Sure enough, there were five that I had skipped.
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<br />The early Monday votes amounted to 115 points, so in 30 minutes we logged a total of 965 votes. When you see supporters asking for you help in locating power codes, remember how many votes this 30-minute spree produced!</span><p align="center"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/YelCap2b.jpg" /></p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color:#221111;" >How Everyone Can Help</span></span>
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<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">In a nutshell, here are ways fans, as well as friends, family, and associates, can help the National Inclusion Project continue funding programs for all children:
<br /></span><blockquote>1. Text <span style="font-weight: bold;">108169</span> to <span style="font-weight: bold;">73774</span> daily.
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<br />2. Log into the <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.refresheverything.com/inclusionproject" target="new">Pepsi Refresh</a> site and cast a vote for the National Inclusion Project through your Facebook account. See "sign in" at bottom left corner of the Pepsi page.
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<br />3. Email, PM, or deliver Pepsi/Diet Pepsi power codes to a Clay Aiken fan/NIP supporter.
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<br />4. Register all of your email ID's with the <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.refresheverything.com/inclusionproject" target="new">Pepsi Refresh</a> site (bottom left corner again) and vote daily.
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<br />5. Scroll back through the August Carolina blogs for a variety of creative ideas shared by supporters.</blockquote>
<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">The campaign is heading into the final week. Be creative and bold in gathering power codes. Please share your successes, as well as businesses conducting Pepsi sales this week, and I will be add the information to this entry.</span><span style="font-size:85%;">
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<br />Have a powerful week, Clay Nation!
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<br />Caro
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<br /></span>Dianne Barbeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14901322756129162040noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31101817.post-35687318435788797962011-08-20T12:07:00.008-05:002011-08-20T20:55:16.902-05:00Clay Aiken Fans Pursue Pepsi Power Codes, Votes<p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/Pepsi1-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/Pepsi1a.jpg" /></a>
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >Vote THREE ways to fund inclusive programs for all children.</span></p><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;font-family:verdana;color:#444444);" ><u>Supporters Enlist New Voters</u></span>
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;color:#444444;" >Power Codes Prove Wild Card
<br /></span><blockquote style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The National Inclusion Project serves to bridge the gap that exists between young people with disabilities and the world around them.</blockquote>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Supporters of the National Inclusion Project are prowling for power codes and a greatly expanded voting force in the charity's quest for a $50,000 grant during the final days of the August Pepsi Refresh Challenge.
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<br />Fans of singer Clay Aiken, Inclusion Project co-founder, are casting votes for the NIP and a host of reciprocating charities. Having dropped to #13 Friday, foundation supporters hope to enlist an army of new voters this weekend.
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<br />Throughout the year, Pepsi gives away millions to fund charity ideas that refresh the world. No longer is there a month-to-month rollover, so supporters must complete the goal by midnight Aug. 31 and obtain as much mileage as possible from each day's allotment of votes at the Pepsi site, Facebook, and cell phone texting.
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<br />The wild card in this season's competition is the power code, which can be obtained from specially-marked Pepsi products inside yellow bottle caps and under the tops of appropriately marked cartons of canned drinks.</span><p align="center"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/Power2a.jpg" p="" /></p><span style="font-size:85%;">In addition to the normal 5 votes allowed (1 NIP + 4 Reciprocals), 10 power code votes can be cast for the Inclusion Project with each registered ID at the </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.refresheverything.com/inclusionproject" target="new">Pepsi</a> site. Codes can expand a single vote by 5, 10, 15, 25, 50, or 100 points.</span>
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-size:130%;color:#444444;" >Fans Share Power Code Finds
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<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Below are some of the ways supporters are rounding up more votes. Hopefully, these discussions will spark an idea that works for you. Share suggestions in the comments, and I will add them to the list.</span>
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<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color:#0077bb;" >scorpionlady45</span><span style="font-size:85%;">: My co-worker, who buys 2-liter Pepsi bottles to keep at the office, returned from lunch. I saw him with a bag and asked, "Did you get Pepsi with yellow caps?" He answered in the affirmative and said he had one at his desk that he could give me now.</span></span><blockquote style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I also sent out a text to six people and told them they have a mission to complete (text voting). Got three texts back so far with "mission complete."</span></blockquote>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color:#0077bb;" >all4luv</span><span style="font-size:85%;">: The best place to "shop" for Pepsi caps is a baseball game! Anyone going to a professional game, just stay afterwards and help clean up the park, so to speak. You can fill a bag with caps in no time at all! I'm hoping to go to an Indians game next week and see how many caps I can gather.</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;">
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<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color:#0077bb;" >Shamrock</span><span style="font-size:85%;">: I went to our local minor league baseball team play tonight. The stadium sells Pepsi products, so I kept my eyes open for power caps. Most people were drinking beer or water, but my sister and I managed to find 32 caps.</span></span>
<br /><blockquote style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I’m sure I would have found more if I could have opened the recycling bins. I did see one in the trash, and - YIKES! - I reached in for it.
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<br /><span>Our 32 caps were worth 500 extra votes</span>. The NIP is still in 13th place, so the charities above us must have lots of voters and lots of caps. I wish I could think of other ways to find yellow caps. The baseball team plays at home for the next 4 or 5 days, so I plan to attend another game.</span></blockquote>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color:#0077bb;" >Clayscience21</span><span style="font-size:85%;">: Word of caution. Pepsi Max has zero calories but double the caffeine of regular Diet Pepsi. I'll be up all night. But it did taste good, and the liter bottle did have a power code!</span></span>
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<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color:#0077bb;" >Desertrose</span><span style="font-size:85%;">: Just think of the energy it will give you to clean your house now that we know the wonders of Pepsi in all kinds of cleaning operations. </span><blockquote style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">It is a win-win situation. We support the National Inclusion Project with bonus points, and we get the bonus of extra energy from all that caffeine to clean our houses. Not to mention all the ways Pepsi can be used to clean and repair.</span> [See 51-item related list below].</blockquote>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color:#0077bb;" >CTLover1</span><span style="font-size:85%;">: We stopped at Sam's for a few minutes on our way home. They have a big recycling bin at the bottom of the parking lot and what did I see? A woman "diving"!!! She'd even brought her own ladder! My first thought was, "Wonder if she's looking for yellow Pepsi caps?!?!?!?"</span>
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<br /><p align="center"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/pepsi18.gif" /></p><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color:#0077bb;" >MagicalMusic</span><span style="font-size:85%;">: If everyone purchased 5 bottles of Pepsi, that would be a minimum of 25 additional votes per person. As was mentioned before, CVS has 2 liter bottles for 88 cents. I bought 5 yesterday and will use the codes tonight. [NOTE: Some stores are running low on the power cap bottles, so call ahead!]</span>
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color:#0077bb;" >Vickie</span><span style="font-size:85%;">: Check your local Walgreen's this week. Starting Sunday, the ones around here will have 12-packs, six for $13.</span></span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color:#0077bb;" >SueReu</span><span style="font-size:85%;">: I dropped by the bottle return area at the store near my work and found three codes. I'll keep checking!</span></span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color:#0077bb;" >Thankful4Clay</span><span style="font-size:85%;">: A friend on Facebook just sent me seven codes. One was for 50 votes, and two were 25's!</span></span>
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color:#0077bb;" >morganette</span><span style="font-size:85%;">: Perhaps some of our Canadian members who live in the border cities will be in the U.S. during the next 12 days (for shopping, visiting, business, etc.) and they could help by picking up some bottles of Pepsi and PM the codes to US message board friends to vote.</span><blockquote style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">I went to the Dollar Store again last night less than 10 minutes away and bought 10 bottles for $1 each. The first one I opened was 50 votes! I've only opened 3 so far. Hope there are some more 50's. Still waiting for a 100!</blockquote>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color:#0077bb;" >dancermom2</span><span style="font-size:85%;">: Wonder if any of our Canadian friends would like to sponsor buying Pepsi for those in the States who can vote?</span>
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color:#0077bb;" >goldarngirl</span><span style="font-size:85%;">: I'm in! Just let me know how you want to do this. It's cheaper than my driving across the border to buy 10 bottles.</span>
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<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color:#0077bb;" >Jerry Aiken</span><span style="font-size:85%;">: Power votes are "powerful!" Ask your convenience store about </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >discarded cartons and bottle tops</span><span style="font-size:85%;">. Sports events have bottle tops being tossed away. CVS has Pepsi bottles on sale and a special for 2 six packs. Let's MAKE A DIFFERENCE!</span></span>
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<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style=" font-weight: bold;color:#0077bb;" >Scarlett</span><span style="font-size:85%;">: This weekend hold an online Power Voting Party with entertainment, food, and all the extras. Bring clack, but mainly bring power votes.</span></span><blockquote style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Hopefully, the energy and excitement of the online party will generate ideas for obtaining more power caps. The whole group can contribute and have fun while doing so!</span></blockquote>
<br /><p align="left"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/camp1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/camp1a.jpg" /></a>
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >The NIP ensures that children nationwide can experience all that life has to offer.</span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color:#444444;" >Group Texts, Circles of Friends Help</span></span>
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<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Have you posted a request for assistance from church, school, workplace? A concise message in a daily/weekly communique or posted on bulletin boards could make a difference.
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<br />If you have access to a large gathering (club/faculty/business meeting, church group, wedding reception, etc.), conduct a <span style="font-weight: bold;">GROUP TEXT</span>. Have everyone take out a cell phone and text <span style="font-weight: bold;">108169 to 73774</span> with the volume turned up. The mass "thank you" replies from Pepsi will be resounding!
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<br />The Pepsi site is complicated for casual voters. However, everyone can easily follow this simplified version: </span><p></p><blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">1. Text a daily vote: 108169 to 73774.</span>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">2. Vote for the NIP daily via Facebook.</span>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">3. Gather power codes from Pepsi products.</span></blockquote>
<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">For friends, family, and associates willing to register and vote through Pepsi, point them to the link in the bottom left corner to cast ballots daily for the Inclusion Project. When voting for the reciprocal charities on the NIP Voting Widget, please leave a comment with this info:</span><blockquote style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The National Inclusion Project is voting for you. We really need your help as we must place in the Top 10 for a $50k grant. Thank you for all your return votes! http://www.refresheverything.com/inclusionproject ... Text 108169.</blockquote>
<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">From the <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.inclusionproject.org/level_2.php?id=47" target="new">National Inclusion Project</a> website: Need an email you can edit, modify, or use as is to enlist the aid of those in your circle. <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.inclusionproject.org/nip_userfiles/file/Pepsi%20Spread%20the%20Word.doc" target="new">Click here to download a letter to family and friends to ask for their help</a>.</span><p align="center"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/pepsi2.gif" /></p><span style="font-size:130%;color:#444444;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Alternative Pepsi Uses Yield Codes</span></span>
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<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">So what if Pepsi is not your preferred drink, how can you help gather the all-important power codes? The list below is from a 2008 </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >WiseBread</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> blog entry by Paul Michael: </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Living Large on a Budget</span><span style="font-size:85%;">.
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<br /><a style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.wisebread.com/51-uses-for-coca-cola-the-ultimate-list" target="new">51 Uses for Coca-Cola</a> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">(But Use Pepsi Instead!)</span><blockquote><span style="font-family:verdana;">1. Remove grease stains from clothing and fabric.</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">2. Remove rust; methods include using fabric dipped in Coke, a sponge or even aluminum foil.</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">3. Remove blood stains from clothing and fabric.</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">4. Make gooey Coke funnel cakes .</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">5. Clean oil stains from a garage floor; let the stain soak, hose off.</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">6. Loosen a rusty bolt; pour on some Coke and wait for the magic to happen.</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">7. Kill slugs and snails; a small bowl of Coke will attract them, and the acid will kill them.</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">8. Help a lawn become lush and green.</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">9. Prevent an asthma attack! Apparently, the caffeine in two 12oz cans can prevent the onset of an attack.</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">10. Defrost a frozen windshield. Apply liberally and wait. </span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">11. Clean burnt pans; let the pan soak in the Coke, then rinse.</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">12. Descale a kettle using the same method in #11.</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">13. Neutralize a jellyfish sting.</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">14. Clean car battery terminals by pouring a small amount of Coke over each one.</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">15. Cure nausea; let a can of Coke go flat then take a teaspoon of Coke every hour.</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">16. Also, flat coke can help relieve an upset stomach (aka "the runs").</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">17. Make a Mentos & Coke exploding fountain. This one takes a 2-liter bottle of Coke.</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">18. Get rid of hiccups; gargle with a big mouthful of ice-cold Coke.</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">19. Shake up a can and pour it over your windshield to remove bugs and other crud.</span> <span><span><span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">[Diet Pepsi works best for this!]</span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">20. Use the method in 19 for your car bumpers, too.</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">21. Clean your engine; Coke distributors have been using this technique for decades.</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">22. Relieve congestion; boil a can of Coke and drink while hot to clear you up.</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">23. Make a sweet BBQ sauce. Mix a can of Coke with ketchup, and brush over ribs or chicken.</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">24. Baste a ham roast with Coke as it cooks. The sugars will caramelize; the ham will be moist.</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">25. Add a can of coke to your pot roast to tenderize it and add extra flavor.</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">26. Make pretty pennies; soaking old pennies in Coke will remove the tarnish.</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">27. Make your hair curly; pour flat Coke onto long hair, leave for a few minutes then rinse.</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">28. Age documents and photos; for that antique look, apply Coke, pat with paper, leave to dry.</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">29. Clean tile grout: pour onto kitchen floor, leave for a few minutes, and wipe up.</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">30. Mix a can of Coke with a packet of Italian seasoning; cook a tough steak in it.</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">31. Make better compost; Coke increases the acidity, adds sugars and feeds microorganisms.</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">32. Dissolve a tooth in it. Use a sealed container, this takes ages. Why would you want to though, unless you’re Hannibal Lector?</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">33. Remove gum from hair; dip into a small bowl of Coke, leave a few minutes. Gum will wipe off.</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">34. Get silky skin; mix a spoonful of Coke with regular lotion and apply liberally.</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">35. Make low-fat brownies .</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">36. Pour a little in a cup and set it out an hour before a picnic, away from your site; it will attract wasps and bees so they’re not bugging you and your grub.</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">37. Remove stains from vitreous china.</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">38. Got a dirty pool? Add two 2-liter bottles of Coke to clear up the water (it acts as rust remover).</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">39. Add Coke to your laundry to remove bad smells, especially fish.</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">40. Remove (or fade) dye from hair by pouring Diet Coke over it.</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">41. Mop a floor with Coke to make it sticky. It’s a movie industry trick to stop actors slipping.</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">42. Remove marker stains from carpet. Apply Coke, scrub, then clean with soapy water.</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">43. Clean a toilet; pour around bowl, leave for a while, flush clean. [Also great for cleaning drains!]</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">44. Apply to skin for a deep tan (although this seems like a recipe for skin cancer to me).</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">45. Supposedly, drinking an 8oz can of Coke every day can prevent kidney stones.</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">46. Add it to a Sloppy Joe mix</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">47. Perk up your azaleas or gardenias.</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">48. Coke and aluminum foil will bring chrome to a high shine.</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">49. Strip paint off metal furniture; soak a towel in Coke, sit it on the surface for days. Make sure you keep adding Coke to keep the towel wet. </span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">50. Add it to vodka, rum, or bourbon.</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">51. Drink it straight from the can, if you can (too sweet for me)</span></blockquote></span></span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Let's make August a huge fund-raising success for the National Inclusion Project so that children nationwide can experience all that life has to offer!
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<br />Have an wonderfully productive weekend, Clay Nation!
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<br />Caro</span>
<br /></span><p></p>Dianne Barbeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14901322756129162040noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31101817.post-71721516302181645542011-08-15T23:53:00.007-05:002011-08-17T17:13:54.727-05:00Montage Spotlights Clay Aiken's Signature Song<p align="center"><object height="349" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/S7wsAPSAIug?version=3&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/S7wsAPSAIug?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="349" width="425"></embed></object>
<br /><span style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Clay Aiken - Unchained Melody 2011</span>
<br /><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >View montage by SueReu full screen at </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" href="http://youtu.be/S7wsAPSAIug" target="new">YouTube</a></span><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >.</span><span style="font-size:85%;">
<br /></span><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >Download the video with this </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.sendspace.com/pro/1xcd0d" target="new">Sendspace</a></span><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >.</span></p><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana;color:#000011;" ><u>NIP Swings from #8 to #11</u></span>
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;color:#000011;" >Video Frames 'Unchained Melody'
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<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">This blog was supposed to be about the signature version of my favorite Clay Aiken song, "Unchained Melody," which </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size:85%;color:#553355;" >SueRue</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> this week fashioned into a beautiful new montage.
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<br />Since she uploaded the video a couple of days ago, links for the montage zipped through Clay Cyberspace and social networking sites faster than the speed of light. Video credits include </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size:85%;color:#553355;" >ClayIzzaQT</span><span style="font-size:85%;">, </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size:85%;color:#553355;" >MBlovesClay</span><span style="font-size:85%;">, </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size:85%;color:#553355;" >dlh7777</span><span style="font-size:85%;">, </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size:85%;color:#553355;" >Scarlett</span><span style="font-size:85%;">, </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size:85%;color:#553355;" >canfly172</span><span style="font-size:85%;">, and </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size:85%;color:#553355;" >goldarngirl</span><span style="font-size:85%;">.
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<br />If you are part of the minority who have not yet seen this montage, enjoy. If you have already played and downloaded it a zillion times, enjoy again. Included are five clickable screen caps SueReu created from the video.</span><p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/SR_UM6.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/th_SR_UM6.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>
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<br /><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/SR_UM4.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/th_SR_UM4.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>
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<br /><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/SR_UM3.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/th_SR_UM3.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>
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<br /><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/SR_UM2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/th_SR_UM2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>
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<br /><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/SR_UM1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/Clay%20Aiken%2010/th_SR_UM1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-size:130%;color:#000011;" >NIP Supporters Set $50k Goal </span>
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<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">With Monday evening's drop to #11, supporters of the National Inclusion Project scrrambled for new avenues to add to the foundation's total votes in the August drive for a $50,000 Pepsi Refresh grant.
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<br />For days the NIP has held onto the 10th position, the lowest a charity can be to win a grant in the $50k division. Renewed efforts paid off, and the foundation moved up to slots 8 and 9, slightly safer waters, before slipping back to #11.
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<br />What's your latest creative move to round up additional votes? Several of my music students and their parents are texting daily. Some have promised to bring power codes from yellow Pepsi/Diet Pepsi bottle caps.
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<br />Remember the wedding </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size:85%;color:#553355;" >queenmama247</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> attended this past weekend? Here is her report: </span><blockquote style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The wedding went off without a hitch. There were 210 guests. The DJ was so sweet when he asked everyone to take out their cellphones. He kept saying, "It's for kids."
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<br />We counted approximately 180 votes texted. Some people were having a hard time getting through, but it was a thrill to hear all the phones going off when the thank you messages started coming back!</blockquote>
<br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color:#000011;" >Power Voting Can Be a Blast</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
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<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Sunday </span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >afternoon</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#553355;" > Scarlett</span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"> and I enjoyed a Power Voting Party via Facebook Chat with codes from several 20-ounce Pepsi bottles she had purchased at a 99-cent store. Our grand total was </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >445 extra votes</span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"> for the NIP and was it ever fun!!!</span><p align="center"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/Power2a.jpg" /></p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">My friend doesn't drink Pepsi, but she used the liquid remains as a type of Draino in her sinks. This morning she said her tub was a mite bit sticky. I have located at least three "Pepsi suppliers," so I hope to contribute additional codes soon.</span><span style="font-size:85%;">
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<br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">One of the NIP's new voting partners, </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.refresheverything.com/nerdyscience" target="new">Nerdy Science</a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">, seeks to foster an early love for the science through multi-week, hands on programs.</span><span style="font-size:85%;">
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<br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Check out </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;" href="http://nerdybaby.blogspot.com/" target="new">Exploding Soda</a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"> in the <span style="font-style: italic;">Nerdy Baby</span> blog. The Pepsi geysers provide an excellent science experiment for young children and provide an alternative way to utilize power code bottles for those who don't drink soda.</span><span style="font-size:85%;">
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<br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">This week CVS has 2-liter Pepsi bottles on sale for 88 cents. Just be sure the caps are of the yellow power code variety!</span><span style="font-size:85%;">
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<br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">See the previous entry, </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;" href="http://carolinaonmymind-carolinaclaysblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/clay-aiken-fans-pull-out-stops-for.html" target="new">Clay Aiken Fans Pull Out Stops for Inclusion</a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">, for detailed voting instructions. Partner links and text numbers are in the NIP Voting Widget now situated in the Carolina sidebar.</span><span style="font-size:85%;">
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<br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Please share your successes for enlisting more voters and gathering power codes in the comments.</span><p align="center"><object height="349" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/V938JHfP17Y?version=3&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/V938JHfP17Y?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="349" width="425"></embed></object>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Dr. Phil</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> and Clay AikenTake on Bullying</span>.
<br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >View 2005 video full screen at </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" ><a style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;" href="http://youtu.be/V938JHfP17Y" target="new">YouTube</a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >.</span></p><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#000022;" >Bullying Headlines Google Search</span>
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<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Somewhere there's a workshop ... or teachers are making lesson plans ... or students already have a school assignment related to preventing or stopping bulling.</span><span style="font-size:85%;">
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<br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">During an eight-hour period Monday, <a href="http://live.feedjit.com/live/carolinaonmymind-carolinaclaysblog.blogspot.com/0/" target="new"><b><i>Feedjit</i></b></a>, the tracking tool associated with the Carolina blog, registered visitors who arrived by googling the phrase </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >Clay Aiken End Bullying</span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">. The hits came from all corners of the US, as well as Aruba in the Caribbean and the Republic of Mauritius, an island nation off the southeast coast of Africa.</span><span style="font-size:85%;">
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<br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">It's heartening to think that individuals from 27 cities wound up at the October 2010 entry: </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://carolinaonmymind-carolinaclaysblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/clay-aiken-shares-insight-on-bullying.html" target="new">Clay Aiken Shares Insight on Bullying</a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">. Even then, the blog was pointing out the relevancy of remarks the singer had made five years earlier on the <span style="font-style: italic;">Dr. Phil Show</span>.</span>
<br /><p></p><blockquote style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Recent suicides by young people who reached the breaking point from constant bullying, hatred, and harassment have spurred nationwide efforts to bring an end to this epidemic.</span>
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<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">On Oct. 28, 2009, President Barack Obama signed into law the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, giving the Department of Justice the authority to prosecute hate crimes, including attacks based on sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, and disability.</span>
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<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Paralleling the new legislation, more and more citizens have begun recognizing the epidemic of hate and are choosing to go proactive, becoming informed and getting involved. Too many, however, remain silent.</span></blockquote>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">The information trail continued into the evening. For whatever reason, surfers in these cities were on the Net exploring the topic of bullying: Birmingham, AL; Bessemer, AL; Phoenix, AZ; San Diego, CA; San Francisco, CA; Santa Rosa, CA; Denver, CO; Seymour, CT; Millsboro, DE; Miami, FL; Orlando, FL; Hephzibah, GA; Round Lake, IL; Wichita, KS;
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<br />Also Arnold, MD; Baltimore, MD; Genesco, NY; Cleveland, OH; Lebanon, OR; Malvern, PA; Addison, TX; Chatfield, TX; Woodway, TX; Bothell, WA; Ellensburg, WA; </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(154, 201, 13); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family:Verdana, Arial;font-size:85%;" ></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Oranjestad, Aruba, and Curepipe, Plaines Wilheme, Mauritus.
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<br />And they were still coming when I uploaded this blog. Hopefully, we are witnessing a nationwide -- maybe worldwide -- movement to end bullying forever!
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<br />Have a wonderful week, Clay Nation!
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<br />Caro
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<br />Dianne Barbeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14901322756129162040noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31101817.post-52861589798369896252011-08-11T15:19:00.014-05:002011-11-03T19:28:19.748-05:00Clay Aiken Fans Pull Out Stops for Inclusion Grant<p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/NIP2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/NIP2a.jpg" /></a><br /><span style=" font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Vote 3 ways to expand inclusive programs for all children.</span></p><span style=" font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana;color:#112244;"><u>NIP at #10 in $50k Drive</u></span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:180%;"><span style=" font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana;color:#112244;">Widget Makes Pepsi Voting a Snap</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Clay Aiken fans are pulling out all the stops to keep the National Inclusion Project, charity co-founded by the singer, in the top 10 of the Pepsi Refresh Challenge in order to successfully secure a $50,000 grant for the foundation in August.<br /><br />There is no roll-over from month to month, so supporters must complete the goal during August and get as much mileage as possible from each day's allotment of votes at the Pepsi site, via Facebook, and cell phone texting.<br /><br />A tremendous tool for Project supporters is the voting widget created by </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size:85%;color:#004477;">Scarlett </span><span style="font-size:85%;">with reciprocal info gathered by </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size:85%;color:#004477;">Royalle</span><span style="font-size:85%;">.<br /><br />Jerry Aiken, executive director of the National Inclusion Project, not only approved the widget but also asked that supporters be reminded to vote all three ways and to make use of power codes. "We lose much-needed votes when people take the easiest route and text vote only."<br /><br />With the one-month setup, little has been said about reciprocal votes this time around, but there are charities supporting the Inclusion Project and vice-versa. Fresh off the press, the voting widget below provides lists of causes supporting the NIP.</span><br /><p align="center"><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,0,0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" id="InsertWidget_8a6cd312-512a-45e2-9c48-ce4f4c8ede10" align="middle" height="423px" width="220px"><param name="movie" value="http://www.widgetserver.com/syndication/flash/wrapper/InsertWidget.swf"><param name="quality" value="high"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="menu" value="false"><param name="flashvars" value="r=2&appId=8a6cd312-512a-45e2-9c48-ce4f4c8ede10"> <embed src="http://www.widgetserver.com/syndication/flash/wrapper/InsertWidget.swf" name="InsertWidget_8a6cd312-512a-45e2-9c48-ce4f4c8ede10" quality="high" menu="false" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" flashvars="r=2&appId=8a6cd312-512a-45e2-9c48-ce4f4c8ede10" align="middle" height="423px" width="220px"></embed></object></p><span style="font-size:85%;">Daily, cast your 5 allotted Pepsi and five Facebook votes using two of the five groups (<span style="font-weight: bold;">1 NIP + 4 reciprocals</span>) on the widget. Be sure to leave a comment on the reciprocating charity's page. After you vote, <span style="font-weight: bold;">look for the link at the upper left corner</span> that takes you back to the "idea page."<br /><br />Create your own comment, but be sure to include the NIP Pepsi page address and text number. Here is a sample: </span><blockquote style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-style: italic;">The National Inclusion Project just voted for you. Thank you for your return votes! http://www.refresheverything.com/inclusionproject and Text 108169.</blockquote><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">The widget will be available in the Carolina sidebar throughout August.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-size:130%;color:#112244;">Power Votes Multiply Quickly</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">The rules have changed since friends of the foundation successfully secured a Pepsi grant in 2010, the biggest being the use of power codes. Below is an outline of the process:</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><blockquote style="font-family: verdana;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">*</span> Advocates can vote 3 ways: Via the <a href="http://www.refresheverything.com/inclusionproject" target="new"><b><i>Inclusion Project Pepsi Page</i></b></a>, a Facebook account, and a daily text of <span style="font-weight: bold;">#108169 to 73774</span> (PEPSI).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">*</span> Supporters have 5 votes for each avenue everyday, but only one NIP vote per method (<span style="font-weight: bold;">not counting Power Voting</span>). Distribute the other four votes to charities supporting the foundation. They are posting in the comment section on the NIP Pepsi page.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">* <u>POWER VOTES</u></span>: The biggest change in the Pepsi Challenge is the use of power codes found in the specified bottle caps and carton boxtops of canned drinks. The codes will convert a single Pepsi vote into between 5 and 100 power votes.<br /><br />Locate the power codes on specially-marked Pepsi products listed below. When you enter the <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.refresheverything.com/inclusionproject" target="new">Pepsi Refresh</a> site, click on "power votes," enter a code, and you will be shown your total.<br /><br />All of your power votes can be voted for a single idea. You can "cash in" as many as 10 power vote codes daily. After entering the power code in the white area, hit "activate." Just below the number of additional votes the code added (5-100) are two links.<br /><br />Click on the one marked <span style="font-weight: bold;">return to your last idea</span>, and you will be taken back to the NIP voting page to enter additional power codes. Up to 10 daily!<br /><br />Even if you have cast your ID's 5-vote allotment, you can continue with up to 10 power codes via the <a href="http://www.refresheverything.com/power-vote" target="new"><b><i>Activate Power Voting</i></b></a> link at the bottom of any Pepsi page (see yellow cap). If the NIP was not your previous vote, search for the charity's page and then proceed with the power codes. After that, simply click on the "last idea" link.<br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/PepCap.jpg" /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;font-size:130%;">PEPSI PRODUCTS WITH POWER CODES </span><br /><br />10 oz bottle Pepsi, Diet Pepsi (bottle cap)<br />2 liter bottle Pepsi, Diet Pepsi (bottle cap)<br />12-can package Pepsi, Diet Pepsi (carton top)<br />20-can package Pepsi, Diet Pepsi (carton top)<br />24-can package Pepsi, Diet Pepsi (carton top)</blockquote><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-size:130%;color:#112244;"><span style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;">Fans Share Recruitment Tactics</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">The 8/5 </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://carolinaonmymind-carolinaclaysblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/clay-aiken-fans-champion-inclusion-in.html" target="new"><b><i>Carolina</i></b></a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"> entry outlined several successful tactics Clay Aiken fans are using to locate power codes and recruit others to vote for the NIP.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Here are some more. If you have suggestions, please post them in the comments; and I will add them to this segment.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana;color:#004477;">queenmama247</span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">: <span style="font-style: italic;">My niece is getting married Saturday, and I have been helping. Yesterday we were putting together the wedding favors, and I noticed there was an orange ribbon pin. The groom-to-be has a niece with leukemia, and they are very involved in supporting that charity. They just completed a motorcycle ride for his niece. Besides the pin in the favors, there will be a card with info for donating to the cancer society.</span></span><blockquote style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">When we were getting ready to leave I had to hurry and text in my NIP vote. The groom inquired about the Inclusion Project, and I was off and running.<br /><br />Bottom line is at the reception he is going to have the DJ have everyone take out their cell phones and do a group text for the NIP! That will be over 200 people! He said this is in return for my helping them. Dang I am excited!!!</blockquote><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color:#004477;">cameocat</span><span style="font-size:85%;">: <span style="font-style: italic;">I found 20 oz. Pepsi and Diet Pepsi bottles at the Dollar Store today with power vote caps. I got three of them - 50, 10, and 15 power votes! Cheaper than the liter bottles I bought on sale the other day!</span></span></span><br /><p align="center"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/pepsi16.gif" /></p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">I took my own advice and emailed family, friends, music parents/students asking for daily text votes and power codes. Nothing works as well as one-on-one, however. All week I have talked with students and parents about texting and gathering yellow power code caps/canned carton tops.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">First thing we did at <span style="font-weight: bold; color:#004477;">Jessicca</span>'s 1 p.m. piano lesson today was take out her cell phone and text a vote for the NIP. A few minutes later we heard Pepsi's reply loud and clear! The student also promised to have her parents do the same and to continue throughout the month.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Turns out this family drinks lots of Pepsi, and she will be gathering power codes for the NIP the rest of August! </span><span><br /><br /><span style=" ;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color:#004477;">Erica</span>, an eighth grade violinist, and her mother <span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color:#004477;">Julie</span> are texting/voting daily. In last year's NIP Pepsi campaign, Erica set a reminder on her cell phone so she wouldn't miss a day of text voting.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Let's move the National Inclusion Project into single digits! Have an awesome weekend, Clay Nation!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Caro</span></span></span>Dianne Barbeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14901322756129162040noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31101817.post-47596453314824107252011-08-08T17:03:00.013-05:002011-08-09T16:22:55.875-05:00Clay Aiken Fans Honor Parker with UNICEF Donations<p align="center"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-GhYAoDqYhI?version=3&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-GhYAoDqYhI?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >Children in the Horn of Africa struggle to survive.</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Video is accompanied by Clay Aiken singing "Grace of God."</span><span style="font-size:85%;">
<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >View montage by SueReu full screen at </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" href="http://youtu.be/-GhYAoDqYhI" target="new">YouTube</a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >.</span></p><span style=" font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:verdana;" ><u>Donate To Save Children</u></span>
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<br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:180%;" ><span style=" font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:verdana;" >Fans Celebrate Parker's Birthday</span></span>
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<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">No doubt today's third birthday celebration for Parker Foster Aiken is a joyous occasion for him, his parents Clay Aiken and Jaymes Foster, extended family, and friends.
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<br />Fans of the little tyke's famous father, who is also a Celebrity Ambassador for UNICEF, have chosen to honor the 8/8/08 anniversary by making donations to in his name for children at risk in the Horn of Africa.
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<br />A $10 donation will feed a child for 10 days, immunize over 30 children, and literally make a difference between life and death.
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color:#2976C5;" >SueReu</span>'s montage, set to the singer's "Grace of God" track, displays the catastrophic need for the two million children at risk in the Horn of Africa -- Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Somalia.
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<br />The montage by <span style="font-weight: bold; color:#2976C5;" >LovesClaysVoice</span> features earliest images of Parker with his dad singing "In My Life," a Tried & True favorite.<p align="center"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zG4-S4X4tQY?version=3&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zG4-S4X4tQY?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;" >Happy Birthday, Parker Foster Aiken!</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;">Video is accompanied by Dad singing 'In My Life.'</span><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >View montage by LovesClaysVoice full screen at </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;" href="http://youtu.be/zG4-S4X4tQY" target="new"><span style="font-weight: bold;">YouTube</span></a>.</span></p>Africa's worst drought in 60 years is compounded by rising food prices and a refugee crisis, creating a true children’s emergency in the area. UNICEF urgently requires additional funds to maintain critical lifesaving services for children who face malnutrition, disease and death.
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<br />Read more about the Horn of Africa crisis on this <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.unicefusa.org/work/emergencies/horn-of-africa/" target="new">UNICEF</a> page.</span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"> You can </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="https://secure.unicefusa.org/site/Donation2?df_id=10380&10380.donation=form1&JServSessionIdr004=rwf5jmp7sc.app227a" target="new">make a donation</a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"> here. If you use Paypal, you can also leave a message.</span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">There are no totals; but according to preliminary message board accounts, little Parker has helped lots of children in the Horn of Africa today.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >
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<br />If you would like, download the montages with these Sendspace links:</span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"> </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.sendspace.com/pro/az4ztr" target="new">Grace of God</a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"> and </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.sendspace.com/file/su8vsd" target="new">In My Life</a>.</span><p align="center"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BD%20Emoticons/hbhearts1a.jpg" /></p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Happy Birthday Week to Parker! Have an awesome August, Clay Nation!</span><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >Caro </span></p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Vote 3 ways daily for the National Inclusion Project in August's Pepsi Refresh Challenge:</span>
<br /><blockquote><span style="font-family:verdana;">1. First, vote at the </span><a style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.refresheverything.com/inclusionproject" target="new">Pepsi Refresh</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> site. See much more info on power codes in the previous <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://carolinaonmymind-carolinaclaysblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/clay-aiken-fans-champion-inclusion-in.html" target="new">Carolina</a> blog entry.</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">2. Sign out and back into the Pepsi site to cast your Facebook vote.</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">3. Text <span style="font-weight: bold;">108169</span> to <span style="font-weight: bold;">73774</span> (PEPSI).
<br />4. Recruit others to do the same.
<br />5. Goal: $50k grant for inclusion!
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<br />Dianne Barbeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14901322756129162040noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31101817.post-56077113696017970892011-08-05T16:07:00.008-05:002011-11-03T16:18:05.917-05:00Clay Aiken Fans Champion Inclusion in Pepsi Challenge<p align="left"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/Pepsi1-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/Pepsi1a.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">National Inclusion Project</span> - <span style="font-style: italic;">Inclusion is giving people their rightful opportunity to participate. The NIP works every day to ensure no child sits on the sidelines.</span></span></p><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family:verdana;color:#444444;"><u>For Pepsi Refresh Challenge</u></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;color:#444444;">Inclusion Project Sets $50K Goal</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Supporters of the National Inclusion Project are making an all-out effort to win a $50,000 grant for the charity in the Pepsi Refresh Challenge during the month of August.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Co-founded by singer Clay Aiken and Diane Bubel in July 2003, the National Inclusion Project seeks through a variety of programs, including the Let's All Play Camps, to ensure that no child sits on the sidelines. Read more about the NIP at the foundation's <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.inclusionproject.org/level_1.php?id=3" target="new">website</a>.</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">The rules have changed since friends of the foundation successfully secured a Pepsi grant in 2010.</span><br /><blockquote style="font-family: verdana;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">* </span>The Inclusion Project must win in August as there is no rollover from month to month.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">*</span> Advocates can vote 3 ways: Via the <a href="http://www.refresheverything.com/inclusionproject" target="new"><b><i>Inclusion Project Pepsi Page</i></b></a>, a Facebook account, and a daily text of #108169 to Pepsi 73774.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">*</span> Supporters have 5 votes for each avenue everyday, but only one NIP vote per method (not counting Power Voting). Distribute the other four votes to charities supporting the foundation. They are posting in the comment section on the NIP Pepsi page.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">* <u>POWER VOTES</u></span>: The biggest change in the Pepsi Challenge is the use of power codes found in the specified bottle caps and carton boxtops of canned drinks. The codes will convert a single Pepsi vote into between 5 and 100 power votes.<br /><br />Locate the power codes on specially-marked Pepsi products listed below. When you enter the <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.refresheverything.com/inclusionproject" target="new">Pepsi Refresh</a> site, click on "power votes," enter the codes, and you will be shown your total.<br /><br />All of the power votes can be voted for a single idea. You can "cash in" 10 power vote codes daily. The number of power votes you win may be as few as 5 or could be 100 or more.<br /><br />Click on the yellow <span style="font-weight: bold;">Power Vote</span> tab, enter the power code in the white area, and hit "activate." Just below the number of additional votes (5-100) are two links.<br /><br />Click on the one marked <span style="font-weight: bold;">return to your last idea</span>, and you will be taken back to the NIP voting page to enter additional power codes -- up to 10 daily!</blockquote><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">By the end of August, there will be 10 winners in the $50k category, now the highest award possible.</span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><br /><br />Currently #10, the National Inclusion Project has been in positions 9-11 this first week of the competition. As more supporters put voting into their daily routine, the foundation's prospects should grow exponentially.<br /><br />The image below links to the NIP Pepsi page:</span><br /><br /><p align="center"><iframe src="http://www.refresheverything.com/embed/inclusionproject?heading=Vote%20for%20this%20idea%20on%20Pepsi%20Refresh%21" frameborder="0" height="250" scrolling="no" width="300"></iframe></p><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=" font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-family:verdana;color:#444444;">Fans Share Power Vote Possibilities</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">What if you are not a Pepsi connoisseur or avoid soft drinks altogether? According to several creative supporters, there are many ways to gather the all-important power codes.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color:#0077bb;">all4luv</span> <span style="font-size:85%;">of Clayversity posted these suggestions:</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">1. Do you know anyone having a graduation party, barbecue, etc.? Check for power codes in the Pepsi 12-packs?</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">2. Locate them at sporting events. My son used to gather caps from Pepsi bottles at baseball games until the ushers finally kicked us out of the ballpark. He'd often get over a hundred, then come home, and enter all the codes to win free computer games!</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">3. In the workplace, there are Pepsi machines everywhere. Leave a note about the cause and a shoebox, and people will be happy to throw their caps your way!</span><blockquote><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/BAF/PepCap.jpg" /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#444444;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color:#444444;">PEPSI PRODUCTS WITH POWER CODES</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">10 oz bottle Pepsi, Diet Pepsi (bottle cap)</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">2 liter bottle Pepsi, Diet Pepsi (bottle cap)</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">12-can package Pepsi, Diet Pepsi (carton top)</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">20-can package Pepsi, Diet Pepsi (carton top)</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">24-can package Pepsi, Diet Pepsi (carton top)</span></blockquote><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#444444;">Ask Friends, Family To Help</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color:#0077bb;">SICLAYFAN</span><span style="font-size:85%;">: My daughter's best friend is not only voting in this challenge, but she's also posting about it on Facebook and asking her teacher friends to do so, too.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color:#0077bb;">TNMTMAMA</span><span style="font-size:85%;">: </span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"> I just got in 208 votes! My family has been collecting caps for me, so I used 10 power codes, one regular, one text, and one FB. I had a 100, 50, 15, 10 and six 5's in my power votes -- 205 pv on top of the three normal votes!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color:#0077bb;">MUMM_FUMS</span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">: I scavenged six more lids from the recycle bins in our break rooms today plus the ones friends give me. </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">This weekend I plan to contact family, friends, and music parents asking that:</span><blockquote>(a) Texters send a daily text vote to Pepsi -- <span style="font-weight: bold;">108169 </span><span>to</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> 73774</span> -- <span style="font-family:verdana;">for the NIP. Last time around I was working with an ancient cell phone. This mode of voting is a snap with an updated mobile phone.<br /><br />(b) People in my circle to email or gather Pepsi bottle caps/carton tops with power codes throughout the month of August.</span></blockquote><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">What is your grand plan? Please post your ideas in the comments below, and I'll bring them into the blog. The National Inclusion Project needs to generate as many votes as possible in August!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Have an awesome weekend -- and vote, vote, vote for the NIP!</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Caro</span><p></p></span>Dianne Barbeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14901322756129162040noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31101817.post-2528521430259308912011-08-01T14:48:00.004-05:002011-08-01T17:19:45.495-05:00Clay Aiken Fans Mark Phineas & Ferb Anniversary<p align="center"><object height="349" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hpEVHkMJRzc?version=3&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hpEVHkMJRzc?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="349" width="425"></embed></object><br /><span style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Clay Aiken, Chaka Khan sing 'I Believe We Can.'</span><br /><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >View Phineas and Ferb song full screen at </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" ><a style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;" href="http://youtu.be/hpEVHkMJRzc" target="new">YouTube</a></span><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >.</span></p><span style=" font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:verdana;" ><u>Video Chat on for Tonight</u></span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:180%;" ><span style=" font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:verdana;" >Fans Celebrate 'I Believe We Can'</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">One year ago (8/2/2010), recording artists Clay Aiken and Chaka Khan guest starred on the celebrated <span style="font-style: italic;">Phineas & Ferb</span> episode <span style="font-style: italic;">Summer Belongs to You</span> by singing the inspirational duet, "I Believe We Can."</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">My grandchildren, Kai and Lia, are really into Disney and other kiddie channels; so this blog was written as I looked up links for them. However, you are welcome to come along for the ride and celebrate the episode's one-year anniversary with the four videos below.<br /><br />The one-hour <span style="font-style: italic;">Summer Belongs to You</span> episode premiered on DisneyXD on Aug. 2, 2010, and was telecast four days later on the Disney Channel. The catchy duet was released on iTunes and other online outlets as part of a digital album of music from the <span style="font-style: italic;">Phineas & Ferb</span> series.<br /></span><p align="center"><object height="349" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oLltXG9ui5c?version=3&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oLltXG9ui5c?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="349" width="425"></embed></object><br /><span style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Phineas and Ferb: Summer Belongs to You, Part 1.</span><br /><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >View full screen at </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" href="http://youtu.be/oLltXG9ui5c" target="new">Disney Replays Channel</a></span><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" > on YouTube.</span><br /><br /><object height="349" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/T5FpzCXJb1s?version=3&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/T5FpzCXJb1s?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="349" width="425"></embed></object><br /><span style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Phineas and Ferb: Summer Belongs to You, Part 2.</span><br /><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >View full screen at </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" href="http://youtu.be/T5FpzCXJb1s" target="new">Disney Replays Channel</a></span><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" > on YouTube.</span><br /><br /><object height="349" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/T9Km5iXLnp8?version=3&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/T9Km5iXLnp8?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="349" width="425"></embed></object><br /><span style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Phineas and Ferb: Summer Belongs to You, Part 3.</span><br /><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >View full screen at </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" href="http://youtu.be/T9Km5iXLnp8" target="new">Disney Replays Channel</a></span><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" > on YouTube.</span><br /><br /><object height="349" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/m8595u0j7Eo?version=3&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/m8595u0j7Eo?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="349" width="425"></embed></object><br /><span style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Phineas and Ferb: Summer Belongs to You, Part 4.</span><br /><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >View full screen at </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" href="http://youtu.be/m8595u0j7Eo" target="new">Disney Replays Channel</a></span><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" > on YouTube.</span></p><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Perpetually on summer vacation, <span style="font-style: italic;">Phineas & Ferb</span> centers around two stepbrothers always embarking on some grand project. Their sister Candace angrily watches them, never able to get their mother to catch the duo in the act.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The two also have a platypus named Perry, a secret agent for an all-animal government organization that primarily takes on Dr. Heinz Doofenschmirtz, an evil scientist.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Wacky by adult standards, but it works!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Below are clickable screen caps from animated Clay's performance of "I believe We Can."</span></span><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/OFC%20Blog/Clay6.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/OFC%20Blog/Clay6a.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/OFC%20Blog/cap2a.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/OFC%20Blog/promocap1.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/OFC%20Blog/stuntsinger01.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/CarolinaClay/OFC%20Blog/stuntsinger01a.jpg" /></a></p><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">As if anyone in the Clay Nation needs a reminder, the singer will hold a live video chat with <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.clayaiken.com/chat" target="new">Official Fan Club</a> members at 8:30 pm ET tonight.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The "bleachers" are already filling up. See you there!<br /><br />Have an awesome week, Clay Nation!<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Caro </span></span><p></p>Dianne Barbeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14901322756129162040noreply@blogger.com4