Jay Bildstein

Round-up: Getting Current

As is customary in Both Sides, we periodically update our readers on some of the people who have been covered here, as well as keeping you informed about the doings of some of our friends.

Long time readers will recall our interview with former CNN anchor Daryn Kagan. A couple of years ago she made the transition from television to her own Internet media platform. DarynKagan.com, dedicated to inspirational news, is just the tonic for these turbulent times.

Additionally, Daryn is now a host on "Oprah Radio". She is sharing inspiring stories with Oprah radio listeners, weekdays on satellite radio. We wish her the best of luck.

Recently, we had the opportunity to interview expert landscape architect J. Mark White. He founded and runs Washington, D.C. based GardenWise. If you visit diaday.com, you will see some amazing photographs of his work. You can also listen to the interview. Some of his work reminds us of beautiful gardens that can be found in Mexico.

Remedios Sullivan, my Both Sides co-founder, continues as editor of diaday.com. She is doing great things there, attracting new talent and putting out diversely compelling content. Reme was a stalwart on my radio show "Let's Talk" along with Ara Chekmayan and Chris Yandek. Perhaps, the gang will return to the airwaves.

Meanwhile, dapper Ara Chekmayan is a force to be reckoned with on the New York public relations scene. He seems to be everywhere. Turn on the television and he pops up. St. Patrick's Day, Ara was seen marching in the annual parade along with Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Chris Yandek is on the march in interview journalism. On hiscyinterview.com, he has recently interviewed Whoopi Goldberg, Kate Beckinsale, "Spice Girl" Melanie Brown, Kathleen Turner and Diahann Carroll. His work is covered by outlets like the NY Post and AOL's Mom Logic. .

Chris tells us his friend Shontelle -singing sensation from Barbados, known for her hit song "T-Shirt"- just finished shooting the music video for "Battle Cry", a track off her album "Shontelligence". Recently, she did a duet with Akon "Stuck With Each Other" penned by legend Diane Warren.

Shontelle confided to Chris what she hopes to accomplish with her album, "I felt like in these times there is a lot of dark clouds looming over us. I feel like people just want to feel happy and they need something or someone to relate to. My album addresses a lot of things that are going on in the world. I would say it's definitely something that most people would relate to and that is definitely what I wanted to do. I think I achieved that."

Speaking of music, our friend Bridget Zeuner -Arizona-based Bridget Z- is helping musicians and personalities build and connect with their fan bases via the social Web.

She calls it "Webifying and socializing". Bridget tells us she is back from working with super-producer Cory Rooney -possibly most famous for producing Jennifer Lopez's hit "Jenny From the Block"- in Miami.

Then there is long time friend, public relations powerhouse and New York Times Bestselling author Jodee Blanco who has informed us that the sequel to her bestselling memoir "Please Stop Laughing At Me..." - entitled "Please Stop Laughing At Us... One Survivor's Extraordinary Quest to Prevent School Bullying" - has received the prestigious "Parent to Parent Adding Wisdom Award".

Both books have been chosen by Chicago's Mayor Daley Book Club for the third straight year as favorite picks among its three thousand plus student members. A survivor turned activist, Jodee speaks at schools across the U.S. sharing her story to motivate change. So far, she's spoken to well over half a million kids worldwide and tells us this is just the beginning.

For more articles like this one, in English and in Spanish, go to www.diaday.com. As always, you can reach us with your questions and comments atinfo@diaday.com. We look forward to hearing from you.