NBC’s hit show America’s Got Talent is preparing for a sixth season and producers will hold auditions at Reliant Center in Houston on February 12 and 13, 2011.

What can you do in 90 seconds? That is how long you have to sing, dance, do magic tricks, juggle, tell jokes or whatever your talent is. (Yes, there is a spot for “Other” on the application!) Every type of performer is welcome – this includes musicians, dance crews, magicians, contortionists, comedians, singers, jugglers, animal acts and everything in between – all of whom want to perform for America’s votes and compete for the coveted $1 million prize.

All ages are welcome (although minors need a parent’s permission). America’s Got Talent offers a unique chance for anyone who has dreamed of performing their talent on a national stage. Do you have what it takes? Find out this February!

You can get more information and register for the Houston auditions at the America’s Got Talent auditions website: http://americasgottalentauditions.com/new/houston

Can’t make the auditions? You can submit a video for consideration. Learn more here: http://americasgottalentauditions.com/new/submitvideo

The classes are presented by Dick Myers of Small Business Consultants and Jay Mock of commercial lighting design company RLLDesign, along with occasional guest speakers.

There is information for both beginners and more advanced Internet marketers. Classes led by Dick Myers cover the basic and intermediate strategies for optimizing your website. Those topics include:

• Keywords: What they are, how you identify them, and how you use them to benefit your web site.
• What makes a web site work; a review of the primary elements of a site that allow it to produce leads for a business.
• Links and Link Building; How you do it and what it can do for your site performance.
• Starting a business on-line; Some ideas and some tools for a startup to use.
• Blogging: Why and how you do it. How to set up a blog.

Sessions led by Jay Mock typically cover new developments in Search Engine Optimization (SEO) (an ever-changing field) and the strategies that are helping his sites to get high rankings in the search engines.

Guest speakers have led sessions on everything from intellectual property law to affiliate marketing to choosing a web hosting company and more.

Classes are held from 7 – 9 p.m on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at the SBDC classrooms on Fannin. Free parking is available. Although the classes are free, space is limited and it is recommended that you pre-register.

You can verify the class schedule, learn what topics are planned for each class and register at the Internet marketing clinic website, http://www.small-business-consultants.net/small_business_resource/Internet_marketing_clinic.htm. The website also includes links to class notes from past sessions, and a map to the class location.

Sign up for an upcoming class so you can learn how to conquer the search engines and grow your business.

Guides

Houston Travel Companion – From the Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau. Includes information and coupons for local Houston attractions, dining, events, etc.

CultureMap – Your guide to Houston culture, shopping, dining and more.

SwamiCity Pocket Concierge – Tons of information on everything Houston. Available in multiple languages.

Houston “At a Glance” City Guide – Includes information in several categories, including history and culture, what to see, eating out, shopping, accommodations, and nightlife.

News

ABC13 – Get news headlines, weather, traffic, video and more from Channel 13, KTRK.

KHOU – Get news headlines, weather, traffic, video and more from Channel 11, KHOU.

MyFoxHouston – Get news headlines, weather, traffic, video and more from Channel 26, Fox News.

Telemundo 47 – News in Spanish.

Houston Business Journal – Business news.

Houston Traffic – Find out what is happening on Houston roadways so you can avoid the traffic jams. Get info on construction and accidents, and access live traffic cams.

Entertainment

Houston Press – Information on events, dining and more.

KUHF – Listen to news and music from KUHF public radio on your phone.

KTRU – Listen to the Rice University radio station on your phone.

Houston Symphony – News and music from the Houston Symphony.

Attractions

Houston Zoo – The official app of the zoo. Keep up with zoo events and  your favorite animals.

Magazines

Houston Magazine – The iPhone edition of Houston’s lifestyle magazine.

Houston Bride’s Magazine – The iPhone edition of Houston Bride magazine.

Whatever

Craigs+ Houston – Browse CraigsList classifieds.

Check My Neighbors – With just a click, you will find out how much the residents near your GPS position earn. Interesting statistics.

You Know You Are From Houston (Lite) – Game with fun “facts” about Houston.

Located on the University of Houston campus, the sculpture is most interesting after dark, when a projector casts lights through the copper and bronze piece, causing the text to appear on the outside walls of the M.D. Anderson Library.

The project was completed in 2004, and cost nearly a quarter of a million dollars. In addition to A,A, the library contains two other pieces by Jim Sanborn. In the library’s third-floor reading room, bronze panels display portions of poems and other literature, and a 24-ft. bronze scroll detailing the history of papermaking hangs from the ceiling to the first floor.

One of Sanborn’s most famous works, Kryptos, includes four encrypted messages. Three of the four have been deciphered, but the fourth remains a mystery. Kryptos is, appropriately, displayed on the grounds of the Langley, Virginia headquarters of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

The A,A sculpture is located on the University of Houston campus, outside the M.D. Anderson Library. It is visible 24 hours a day, and there is no admission charge.

From downtown, take I-45 South to Spur 5 South. Turn right on University Drive (the first stoplight). To obtain a visitor parking permit, visit the Information Center at Entrance 1 on University Dr. or the Information Center on Cullen Blvd near the Athletics/Alumni Facility.

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Although Houston is technically an inland city (50 miles from the Gulf of Mexico) the port is ranked first in the United States in foreign waterborne tonnage and second in the U.S. in total tonnage. More than 225 million tons of cargo moved through the Port of Houston in 2007. A total of 8,053 vessel calls were recorded at the Port of Houston during the year 2008.

On the tour you will see international cargo vessels, and operations at the port’s Turning Basin Terminal. Measuring 95 feet in length and 24 feet in width, the tour boat, the M/V Sam Houston, carries a maximum capacity of 90 passengers with air-conditioned lounge seating and additional standing room on the boat’s rear deck. You never know what vessels you will see in port during your tour, but you will see amazing ships and even bits of history, such as the spot where Santa Ana is said to have surrendered.

The tour is free, but reservations are required at least 24 hours in advance. Get your reservations far in advance during summer months, when the tours may be booked solid weeks in advance.

Register online anytime, or call 713-670-2416, Monday through Thursday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Because of security at the Port, you should plan on arriving at least 15 – 30 minutes before your scheduled tour, and you should not bring oversized bags or camera equipments. Photographs may not be taken during the tour.