I’m joining a ton of my friends (mostly LA Derby Dolls) for the “craziest frickin day” of running through mud, climbing walls, jumping fire and drinking beer – it’s the Warrior Dash and it’s about a month away (April 10). I just got really excited for the event because they sent me an awesome email including the

Warrior Code of Conduct:

1. A warrior’s thirst shall always be quenched. The sweet nectar of One Pyramid Brew will be served to each warrior. Thou may bring drink from youre homeland for additional strength (outside alcohol and glass containers will not be permitted; energy drinks and other non-alcoholic beverages permitted).
2. Friend of foe, thou shall respect the plight of fellow warriors through the muddy trenches and blazing wall of fire.
3. The heart of a warrior never slumbers and stands strong in the face of adversity.
4. Those warriors who reach out an empty hand may be thanked by that brother with a frothy cup of brew.
5. The celebration of battle is always open to the friends and family of our fearless warriors… and even better, they’re free!
6. Chariots to and from the battleground shall be steered by the sober and valiant mind of your designated warrior driver.

You heard it here folks. Real athletes drink beer. If this looks like your idea of fun, they added another day to the event so you can sign up to do the dash on April 11!

You going to Austin for SXSW this year? I am! I’m speaking a few times so why don’t you come say hi? Here are the deets:

20×2
Twenty hand-picked creatives, two minutes each and the same ethereal question to interpret: ten years in at SXSW, that’s 20×2. Join us as we answer “Who Loves Ya Baby?”

Monday, March 15 at 07:00 PM
The Ghost Room, 304 W 4th St.
Add to your plans on Plancast.

Mapping and Geolocation: Turnkey Approaches You Need to Know
Local and location are all the rage right now, and it’s become clear that sooner rather than later every app in the world, big or small, mobile or not, will have mapping and geolocative abilities baked right in. So what about yours? This panel will cover the ins and outs of getting you properly situated with location-based technologies, covering approaches, tools, design and user experience, best practices, and future directions.
Speakers: Lane Becker, Joe Stump, Kate Imbach, MG Siegler, Micki Krimmel

Tuesday, March 16 at 05:00 PM
Ballroom C
Add to your plans on Plancast.

Socialize Your Network: Tech Tips That Rock
Speakers: Brad King, Gabe Beneveniste, James Hannon, Elliot Hurst, Micki Krimmel

Friday, March 19 at 11:00 AM
Room 12AB
Add to your plans on Plancast.

I sat down for an interview with Amanda Coolong from Techzulu recently at an event in Los Angeles. We talked all about NeighborGoods – where the idea came from, how people are using it, and what the future looks like for the company. It was super fun chatting with Amanda and the video turned out great! Watch it here.

Startup Stories #3, The Wall from Mickipedia on Vimeo.

Every entrepreneur hits the wall sometimes.

re-blogged from NeighborGoods blog:

“Our beds are empty two-thirds of the time. Our living rooms are empty seven-eighths of the time. Our office buildings are empty one-half of the time. It’s time we gave this some thought.”

This interesting opinion piece from the New York Times begins by reminding us of those words spoken by R. Buckminster Fuller 40 years ago. The editorial examines how we can better use space in our cities and how new data visualization technologies can help us find ways to revitalize unused paved alleys and industrial sites into public green space. It’s all pretty geeky stuff but what it comes down to is the simple fact that we don’t currently make the best use of our space. We overbuild giant buildings that barely get used and we leave large expanses of unused concrete. We build without a sense of the larger picture. How can we get the most value out of the space we are using? How can we apply a more sustainable approach to development?

Speaking of space, do you know how much self-storage space we use in America? According to the self-storage association, we have 2.35 billion square feet of self-storage space in this country. That is 7.4 square feet of storage space for every American man, woman and child.

All that stored stuff holds hidden value – monetary value and social value.

We can all agree that transforming unused blocks of pavement into green space and finding ways to use empty office buildings would help us be more sustainable. Ideas like this also make for stronger communities by creating more communal space and opportunities for gathering. The stuff we own has this same potential.

If instead of using a power drill once or twice a year and then storing it in a closet, we instead make that power drill available to our neighbors, we are getting more of the value out of that power drill. Now instead of purchasing 10 power drills, our block only needs one. That is more economically and ecologically sustainable. Sharing that power drill also gives us a chance to connect to each other. We can share stories about how we used the power drill or maybe even help each other with a household project. The power drill has the potential to help us strengthen our local community. How many things do you own that have that same potential? Take a look around your house and think about what you’re not using today. Could someone else use it?

As a society, we have spent the last several decades working more hours to buy more stuff and then building barricades against our neighbors to protect that stuff. If we can lower those barricades just a little, we can create a more economically and ecologically sustainable system where the potential value is extracted from the stuff we produce and buy. So go on, get that stuff out of storage and into your community. What can you add to your NeighborGoods inventory today?

NeighborGoods is profiled in the Amex OPEN Small Business Rules series! Click here to watch the video. We’re honored to be profiled alongside great companies like Thrillist, Etsy and Cafemom.

Our rule is a good one for all startups: The perfect time is now. Don’t waste time waiting for the perfect set of circumstances to get your business going. Start now!

Thanks to Lindsay Campbell and the folks at Next New Networks for including us in the series. We’re really excited for this opportunity to tell people about NeighborGoods!

To stay up to date with all the Small Business rules videos, follow them on Twitter!

Olivia Wilde & Artists for Peace and Justice along with James Franco, Brandon Boyd, Rashida Jones, Taraji P. Henson, AnnaLynne McCord, Zachary Quinto, Will McCormack, Michael Stahl-David, Barbara Burchfield, Tao Ruspoli, Bryan Ling & Bryn Mooser…

Invite you to join ARTISTS FOR HAITI

Music by Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros & KCRW DJ Mathieu Schreyer. Silent Auction featuring artwork by Ed Moses, Ed Ruscha, Corinne Chaix, Raymond Pettibon, Huguette Caland, Larry Bell, Chuck Arnoldi, Robert Graham. & more…
Photographs of Haiti by Tao Ruspoli…
Short Films from the Jacmel Film School

A minimum donation of $100 is requested of all guests.

Thursday
January 28th
8pm – 11pm

Track 16 Gallery
Bergamot Station
2525 Michigan
Avenue,Bldg C-1
Santa Monica
CA 90404

RSVP Monica Lambert at Monica@thealist.us | 310.659.7783

100% of all donations will be given directly to Father Rick Frechette of
St. Damien’s Hospital and the ground-level doctors and rescue workers.

Season tickets are still available for 2010! You can buy for the whole season or just all the games for your favorite team. My team, the Varsity Brawlers is in 2nd place for season tickets sold. So buy yours now and come support us all year!

By the way, The Varsity Brawlers are playing the season opener on January 23 against the Sirens. We’ve got some surprises in store so don’t miss this bout! As always, you’ll want to buy your tickets in advance to be sure: Tickets here.

Accept Help Graciously from Mickipedia on Vimeo.

Part 2 from the startup video series.

Show Links: WePropel & Sparky Rose

Sparky not only made my awesome video bumpers, he also came up with some great potential titles for the video series. And now I don’t know what to call it. Basically, my plan for this series is to share my experience of running a company. Not just tips and tricks but really what it’s like. What am I learning and how does it feel? I might even talk to other CEOs or show you around the office or something. Like a web startup, I’m giving it room to grow however it may. So I want to make sure the title allows for some transformation. Which of these titles do you like best? Can you think of a better one?

UPDATE: Thanks, y’all! Startup Stories is the winning title!

PRESS RELEASE – LOS ANGELES

DOWNTOWN ON ICE AT PERSHING SQUARE HOSTS CHARITY BROOMBALL CHALLENGE BETWEEN MEMBERS OF L.A. FIRE DEPARTMENT AND L.A. DERBY DOLLS

Testosterone verses estrogen, bring it on… No guarantee of a sweeping victory for either team in the Los Angeles Fire Department verses L.A. Derby Dolls Broomball Challenge game Thursday, January 14 at Downtown on Ice at Pershing Square. Members of the LAFD face off against Southern California’s premiere women’s banked track roller derby league at 9:00am in a seriously fun game that promises to be a thrill to watch, despite the ruling of no “checking, blocking or hitting.” Armed with only athletic shoes, helmets, brooms and a winning game plan, the action promises to be a spirited showcase of thrills and spills between the sexes.

Attendance is free but donations are appreciated to benefit the LAFD Widows, Orphan and Disabled Fireman’s Fund. The team’s members from Fire Station #9 downtown and other outlying stations have been hard at work developing their game.

“We stay in shape with our jobs and training is a part of our lifestyle, so we’re confident that we will be able to run them up and down the ice for the full hour,” says Fire Captain Justin Bactat who also captains the team. But, according to L.A. Derby Doll Tae Kwon Ho, “The LA Firefighters are true heroes so it’s a real shame that we’ll have to kick their butts!”

The Broomball Challenge is a part of the community outreach programs from the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks that hosts the annual winter holiday rink at Pershing Square in the heart of the city at 532 South Olive. The 12th Annual Downtown on Ice outdoor skating rink debuted November 19, 2009 and will remain open everyday through Martin Luther King Day, January 18, 2010. The last day features a free afternoon concert performance by Urban Dread. As the largest outdoor holiday skating rink in Los Angeles with the lowest admission price, a session is just $6 and skate rentals $2. Underground discount parking is available with validation. For more info and a detailed session schedule go to www.laparks.org and click to Pershing Square or call 213/ 847-4970.

For more info on The Derby Dolls, who have their next bout January 23, 2010 when the Sirens take on the Varsity Brawlers, visit www.derbydolls.com/la

*Media welcome to attend game;
Interviews available. Contact: LCPR 818/ 889-1085 or lisa@lisacareypr.com