Paul Ryburn's Journal

I read something that caught my attention yesterday… OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and other creators of AI agents are trying to train those agents to act in alignment with their creators’ values. For example, don’t go rogue and hack government websites.

What’s interesting is the word alignment. It has great meaning within the spiritual community. As a spiritual being, I try to live in alignment with the Purpose my Higher Self sent me here to achieve. It fascinates me to see techie people adopting the term and using it in such a similar fashion.

Maybe AI is part of the Great Awakening. The full embrace of our Creator selves. The dawning of the Age of Aquarius.

On to the news…

The Grizz are in the Grindhouse tonight for preseason action vs. Orlando at 7. All fans in attendance get a schedule magnet. TV: DAZN

According to Siri, DAZN isn’t a traditional TV channel with a number. You access it through the Xfinity apps menu or by saying DAZN into your voice remote.

Memphis Art Museum’s new website is live. The museum’s physical opening is still set for December 6.

Downtown Huey’s celebrates its 30th year on Sunday, October 25.

Comedian Matt Rife comes to FedExForum January 9.

Memphis Medical District Collaborative seeks a finance manager.

The Pet Hospitals Jefferson Ave. location seeks a vet.

Back soon with more news.

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Interactive Halloween horror story/game: The Last House on Hollow Street

Congrats to Felicia Suzanne’s and the Central BBQ catering kitchen, recipients of recent 100s on health inspections.

The civil rights museum will host a conversation with Colin Kaepernick Thursday.

The Renasant Convention Center will have a public happy hour 4-7 this Thursday. Live music by Gene Micofsky. Burrito bowls, $5 beers, $7 cocktails.

College football of interest this weekend:

Thursday

• South Alabama at Arkansas St., 6:30 PM, ESPN2

Saturday

• Texas A&M at 14 Missouri, 11:00 A&M, ABC
• 1 Texas vs. Oklahoma, in Dallas, Red River Rivalry, 2:30 PM, ABC
• 9 Ole Miss at Vanderbilt, 2:30 PM, ESPN
• 21 UCLA at 13 Oregon, 2:30 PM, CBS
• 15 Tennessee at Arkansas, 3:15 PM, SEC Network
• 10 LSU at Kentucky, 6:00 PM, ESPN
• UAB at Memphis, 6:00 PM, ESPN2
• 2 Georgia at 6 Alabama, 6:30 PM, ABC

If one-week-a-year TV station ESPN8 is “The Ocho,” can we start calling ESPN2 “The Duece”?

Back soon with more news. Deuces, Uces!

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It’s Grizzlies game day! They’re on the road at Atlanta for preseason action at 6. Put the TV on DAZN and get a first look at the Booz.

Big Edey is medically cleared and READY TO (pick &) ROLL!!!

Open-air dining event Meal on Main returns Thursday, October 22. Chef Jimmy Gentry of The Lobbyist will prepare the communal meal over an open flame on the street.

Sandra’s Sundries convenience store on Adams in the Claridge has Freedom Packs of 25-ounce PBR cans.

Today is National Get Funky Day.

A big bag of useful utilities

The trolleys will be back December 15, says Mayor Young.

The Orpheum seeks a security guard.

Back soon with more news.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@icloud.com

Do you want to taste the flavors of fall, but aren’t a coffee drinker? Downtown Nutrition has a pumpkin spice shake with vanilla and cinnamon. They’re on Madison just east of Second.

The Majestic Grille is hiring a server. Good benefits, awesome people.

Not Downtown news, but I hear that Memphis Whistle in CY is fully back slinging liquor again.

Reggae in the Park After Dark returns 7-11 PM Fridays in Court Square for the month of October.

FreeWorld plays Slider Inn Downtown tonight. 8 PM.

Cool free app: Plan family meal recipes based on local grocery store weekly deals

There’s a community clean-up starting at MLK and Walnut 8-10 AM Saturday. The first 10 volunteers get a free ticket to Taste of the District next week.

The Tom Lee lantern parade is Saturday at 5.

Grizz open practice, Sunday 11 AM, FedExForum. The first 500 there get an autographed player photo.

Say no to domestic violence: Walk a Mile in Her Shoes departs from Handy Park Sat. morning.

The Soul & Spirits taproom will host a Halloween Market Sat. 1-7.

Back soon with more news.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
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Michael Donahue of the Memphis Flyer recently sat down with Tony and Miles, the management team of Earnestine & Hazel’s, who provided an update on happenings at the haunted dive bar. There’s going to be an increased emphasis on live music, and Mondays are about to get weird (in a good way).

If any AutoZoners are still in town for this week’s national sales convention, I recommend making karaoke at E&H your plan for tonight. Starts around 9.

Bryson Tiller’s October 6 show at FedExForum has been canceled.

It’s International Music Day. Celebrate by playing the jukebox at Bardog.

I tried a pineapple Sunkist for the first time yesterday thanks to the Urban Bicycle Food Ministry. It tasted surprisingly like Mountain Dew.

Back soon with more news.  Still very short on money and will appreciate tips.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
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Random fact I learned on Wikipedia this morning: Van Halen nearly had a female singer. When the band parted ways with David Lee Roth in the mid-1980s, Eddie Van Halen called Patty Smyth of the band Scandal and offered her the gig. Smyth didn’t want to move to L.A. and turned Eddie down.

Alcenia’s owner/founder B.J. Chester-Tamayo will be honored at a food symposium at the Halloran Centre next month.

Uptown Chick-fil-A seeks a catering coordinator.

Protein Cheez-its are a thing now.

Shelby County Observer: Dolly trolley night draws crowds

Back soon with more news. I could use a little money if anyone finds it in their heart to tip.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@icloud.com

The AutoZone national sales convention is in town. Welcome, everyone!

Most likely there’ll be a lot of food trucks parked on Exchange between Main and Second all week. You don’t have to be a convention attendee to order from them.

MATA seeks a trolley administrator.

Comedian John Crist plays the Orpheum Sunday.

The Edge will host an Alley Dayz party Wed 5:30-7:30. Performance by Mak Ro, sounds by DJ Nate P, more than 20 local vendors.

People ask all the time if that nice new patio next to Earnestine & Hazel’s is part of the dive bar. It’s not – it has a separate owner/operator, although the two businesses collaborate on events.

The Peabody Hotel will host a spooky afternoon tea October 30-November 1.

Back soon with more news.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@icloud.com

College football is getting exciting! Games of interest this weekend:

Saturday

• 7 Alabama at 16 Mississippi State, 11:00 AM, ABC
• Navy at Air Force, 11:00 AM, CBS
• Vandy at 2 Georgia, 11:45 AM, SEC Network
• 5 Ohio State at 14 Iowa, 2:30 PM, CBS
• 8 Florida at 25 Missouri, 2:30 PM, ABC
• Auburn at 17 Tennessee, 2:30 PM, no network announced
• Memphis at Charlotte, 2::30 PM, ESPN+
• Arkansas at Texas A&M, 6:00 PM, ESPN2
• McNeese at 11 LSU, 6:45 PM, SEC Network
• Arkansas St at Louisiana, 7:00 PM, ESPN+

If you need to order a large amount of food from a mom-and-pop restaurant for an office meeting first thing tomorrow, DON’T just schedule the order on DoorDash and forget about it. CALL the mom-and-pop and verify they can handle that kind of volume at that hour.

125 tests of the new AI-enhanced Siri

Back soon with more news. Dead tired today. Gonna pay the Mission $6 and catch up on sleep a little.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com
Apple Pay: paul.ryburn@icloud.com

The theft of my iPhone 14 last Thursday morning turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I am now the proud owner of a new iPhone 18 Pro, complete with AI-enhanced Siri. During setup I was asked to choose between ChatGPT and Claude as the power behind the voice. I picked Claude.

Also, I have real cellular service now. No more missing texts and calls when I’m in a location without Wi-Fi, for example the Union Mission.

Now for the bad news – I lost my contacts. If you would like to exchange numbers with me, send yours to paul.ryburn@gmail.com or hit me up on Facebook.

The results are in for this year’s Memphis Flyer best-of poll.

I got a pleasant surprise yesterday. I walked in Earnestine & Hazel’s about 12:15 PM and NATE was there!!!! The retired upstairs bartender was being interviewed on camera. I’ll find out what show that was for and let you know. Nate’s been sick recently but he looks the same.

Thanks to Mrs. Strange, I enjoyed this grilled salmon bowl for dinner yesterday at the Saucer.

The final round for late-night trivia Tuesday was literature, and I used knowledge I picked up in Mrs. Strange’s 12th-grade English class to SMOKE the round. My second-place prize of $35 bought me the bowl, a lime/cucumber gose, and a chocolate fried pie.

Appropriately, Big Orange will attend Texas vs. Tennessee football this Saturday.

Room in the Inn seeks a congregational shelter coordinator.

Back soon with more news.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com

I’ll lead off with a belief I picked up from another writer on Medium:

Live as though life itself were your soulmate.

Isn’t that fabulous?

And since we’re near Southland and Tunica, a random fact I learned from Quora:

That camera above your blackjack table isn’t just checking to see if you count cards. It’s connected to facial-recognition software, which discovers your identity and feeds it to a search to determine if you have a hidden past connection to the dealer. If you do, the pit boss will be by soon to shut down the table.

Know someone who is hungry? Tell them about these events:

• A group will serve spaghetti in Handy Park tonight at 8
• There will be a breakfast for the homeless Saturday 8-noon in Court Square. I went to this event last year and the food was OUTSTANDING. Clothes closet, hygiene supplies, haircuts.

It’s Pot Pie Day.

The Redbirds lost to Rochester 4-3 in game 1 of the International League playoffs last night. Memphis’ back is to the wall tonight at 6:45 at AutoZone Park.

Back soon with more news.

I gratefully accept tips: 
Venmo: @Paul-Ryburn (8113 if it asks for digits)
Cash App: $PaulRyburn1
Zelle: paul@paulryburn.com