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April 30, 2004

FOUR FOR (FRIENDS) FRIDAY

Q: Last night marked the second to last episode of the hit NBC television show, Friends. Do you plan on watching next week's series finale, or are you more interested in the lesser-touted final episode of Fraiser? Or could you care less either way?

Q: My friend Christina is getting married this September 18th. Any words of advice as she enters her last summer as a single woman? How about tips or tricks for making it thru the last few months of the wedding planning season?

Q: My friend Matt closed on his first house yesterday afternoon (pictures available here). Any words of advice or encouragement for the first-time home owner?

Q: A couple of other friends are flirting on the edge of starting a long-distance relationship. How about advice or thoughts for those crazy enough to put it all on the line... the phone lines, the train lines, and the long lines at the airports... all in the name of love?

Posted by Mikal at 5:08 AM | Comments (10) | TrackBack

April 29, 2004

GUEST BEL-BLOGGER BRADLEY W.: THE POST-MODERN REINCARNATION OF THE SILK ROAD

Coming to an Asian or European city near you...in the next TWO HUNDRED YEARS (by my calculations), will be a modern reincarnation of the ancient Silk Road. Proposed more than 45 years ago by China, 23 Asian countries have signed the Asian Highway Project Agreement now. The total length of the proposed highway network is 140,000 kilometers, connecting capitals, major ports, commercial and industrial centers and tourist sites of the signatory nations. Click here to see the original map and routes of the ancient Silk Road. China claims they will have major portions completed by 2010. However, here in the United States, Mississippi is virtually incapable of completing major portions of highway for lack of funds. How do the numerous countries located on the Silk Road anticipate completing a major web of highways (no matter how rudimentary), let alone meeting their own basic precious needs? I'm sure right wing conservatives who support the extensive global economy will say products can then reach Silk Road regions via this highway web at a cheaper price, thereby boosting their corporate economic wealth, thereby degrading the regions culture, environment, and way of life.

This breeds geopolitical power struggles like no other. If we remember our history, the ancient Silk Road provided for the ideal delivery method of the Yuan dynasty take over of China in 1264 by the Mongols. Prior to this, the Han empire used the road to defend China against the Huns. It has been the home of the Afghan people, terrorists, wars and battles, and a nomadic refuge. The Silk Road encompasses no less than three deserts, the highest plateau in the world (Tibetan Plateau), highest mountains in the world (K2, Nanga Parbat, Mt. Everest, etc.), rare and endangered wildlife (Snow Leopard, Chiru - Tibetan Antelope, several species of trout and birds), and a population that is more dynamic, nomadic, and exploited than any other in the world.

China claims the Asian Highway Project will connect cities and ports, expand further cooperation with neighboring southeast and central Asian nations over border-crossing transpot, and accelerate regional integration and economic cooperation. They also believe it will lead to a boost in China's international tourism, especially with neighboring countries.

While impressive in scope, it lacks the consideration of regional lifestyle, environmental impact, cultural impact and devistation, terrain challenges, and geopolitics. By introducing China into a climate of cooperation such as this could lead to further suppression of other countries in the adjoining regions. If we recall the cultural revolution in Tibet, its purpose was to bring Tibet into the modern age, help them develop. While the leadership has changed, the same presence is in the air.

What do you think of a modern-day Silk Road?

Posted by at 2:02 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

April 28, 2004

It's Show Time!
Your parents are there;
Your in-laws are there;
Your boss and his wife are there;
The minister, his wife and kids are there.
You're all settling down for a nice relaxing evening; and then
In walks the dog (click link below, but as with last week's 'Cat' posting, beware)......

April 26, 2004

Because of work and exercise-related goals and deadlines, Blog postings for this week are likely to be few and far between. 'Four For Friday' will appear on the 30th, but probably very little else will show up on the site between now and then. If you're interested in making a Guest posting of your own, feel free to contact me off-blog to see about becoming a Guest Beli-Blogger. In the meantime, have a great week. I fully intend to!

April 25, 2004

I recently updated the backend of the Beli-Blog with a tool that blocks spam from being posted in the comment areas of this site. Well, in installing the program which performs this amazingly valuable function, we must have done something wrong, because now no one, including myself, can leave comments in any of the "By The Numbers" entries on the left-hand side of this page. My apologies to anyone who receives a notice upon attempting to post a comment to a By The Numbers entry which reads: "You are not allowed to post comments." The problem should be fixed within a day or two, and for now only appears to be affecting the By The Numbers section of the site.

April 23, 2004

Q: If you were able to leave your present job today in order to start your own business tomorrow, what type of business would you start?

Q: Do you have a regular rotation for the clothes you wear to work, or are you a fashionista--the type who wouldn't even consider wearing the same outfit within the same "x" number of days?

Q: What's the largest crowd you've ever been a part of?

Q: What's in the trunk of your car right now? If not your trunk, then how about in the back seat?

April 22, 2004

Found a link to this April 22nd, 2004, Wall Street Journal op-ed piece by Peggy Noonan on one of my daily reads, Cindra's Red & Purple Haze blog. There are a lot of things that Cindra and I agree on, but presidential politics is not one of them. That having been said, I did find one thing from this right-winged editorial which I actually did identify with:

We all know a presidential campaign involving an incumbent is in good part a referendum on that incumbent. Which sounds like a one-part process, but it's a two-part process.

If you want to fire the incumbent, you have to have someone to hire in his place. The guy who opposes the incumbent has to seem like a credible president. He has to be a real alternative, a possible president. So far, roughly four months into his national fame, John Kerry has not made the sale. There are people who have Bush-fatigue, but they do not have Kerry-hunger.

So far he [sic: Kerry] doesn't seem like a possible president. He seems somewhat shifty, somewhat cold, an operator. He has a good voice but he seems to use it most to slither out of this former statement or that erstwhile position. It's OK that he looks like a sad tree, but you can't look like a sad, hollow tree.

As much as I hate to admit it, I couldn't have said it better myself!

April 21, 2004

Continuing our theme of totally whacked online videos (see yesterday's post for the first offering), an advertising agency in the United Kingdom prepared an ad campaign for the Ford Motor Company which didn't go over too well with the company's executives or cat lovers. The proposed television ad for the new Ford Sportka depicts the sub-compact car as a carnivorous, cat-beheading vehicle. WARNING NUMBER ONE: Cat lovers may want to look away, "nothing to see here," trust me! WARNING NUMBER TWO: If you're dead set on watching the clip, make sure the volume on your machine is turned up, and, you may need to give it up to a minute to load (depending on your connection). In either case, you've been forewarned.

Oh, and just for the record, I really do love cats!

April 20, 2004

I'm not sure if this site is actually operated by the Burger King corporation, but the Subservient Chicken has been one of the most talked about destinations on the Net for a few weeks now, and with the recent death of McDonald's CEO, I was wondering if the Subservient Chicken could fain a heart attack.

So, if you've ever fantasized about having complete control of someone dressed up in a chicken outfit, this clever, if not a bit odd, ad campaign/site may just be the thing for you. At first glance, the Subservient Chicken, which might seem more than a little creepy to some, looks like a porn version of baseball's San Diego Chicken. He jumps across the screen decked out in garters, using what looks like a low-budget, voyeur cam that's sure to titillate poultry-philes everywhere. But while he obeys hundreds of commands, the freaky chicken man won't cross the line of good taste. Tell him to strip or [insert lewd act here] and you'll get a wag of the finger. But order him to dance, sleep, fly, moonwalk, or have a heart attack, and off he goes.

April 19, 2004

Please allow this blog entry to excuse Mikal from work today. Yesterday afternoon, while checking out the produce selection at a local Trader Joeís, Mikal started to feel a sore throat coming on. Then, when he woke up this morning, it felt as if there was giant fireball with tentacles reaching east and west stuck behind his Adamís apple. He took some Tylenol PM, gargled with salt and warm water, and went right back to bed. Mikal fully expects to be back at work tomorrow morning, which is just as well considering that he did spend the entire day this past Saturday at the office.

April 16, 2004

Q: Have you ever intentionally kept your friends apart from one another? In other words, it's a good bet that you have work-related friends, neighborhood friends, childhood friends that you're still touch with, church friends, family friends, etc. Do you ever intentionally keep friends apart from one another for fear of your different worlds colliding, or is that not something you've never even considered (until, of course, you read this entirely asinine question)?

Q: Why do you think reality-based television shows are so popular, and how long do you think they'll remain so?

Q: Have you ever lied about your age? If not, under what circumstances could you see yourself doing so?

Q: If, for some totally random reason, the water unexpectedly went out at your home on a weekday morning, and you couldn't shower, wash your face, or brush your teeth, would you still go into work that day, or would you simply say, "Screw it; I'm taking the day off"? In answering this question, you do not belong to a gym where you can shower, nor do you have neighbors or family close by whom you call upon for use of their facilities!

April 15, 2004

It's been a while since I've taken one of these tests. From my friend Julie in Colorado, can you tell the coder from a cannibal, the computer programmer from a serial killer? Click here to give it a shot (no pun intended). I surprised myself by getting 7 out of 10 correct.

And as long as today's post is on the somewhat silly side, notice anything weird about this picture?

April 14, 2004

Here's a short poem composed by the Washington Post's Richard Thompson for National Poetry Month. The lines are made up entirely of actual quotations from a prominent U.S. politician, and are arranged for aesthetic purposes only. Can you guess who spoke these words?

April 13, 2004

If youíve ever lived n Boulder, Colorado, you know that between the months of September and December you're likely to experience what Boulderites not-so-affectionately refer to as the ìGreeley Winds.î Greeley, Colorado, which sits approximately 55 miles northeast of Boulder, is home to some of the countryís largest stockyards (enclosed yards where cattle, pigs, horses, and sheep are kept temporarily before being slaughtered). Greeleyís agriculture-related businesses are so massive that when even the slightest of winds kick up before a snowstorm, in Boulder you can actually smell Greeleyís stockyards, which is a surefire way of knowing that Boulderís about to receive snow. Donít ask me how or why this happens, but itís the Godís honest truthÖ if you smell manure in the air in Boulder, you can bet your last dollar on the fact that snowís imminent.

After my first winter in Boulder, I, as most Boulderites still do today, came to rely upon and appreciate Greeleyís winds more than local weather forecasters. And being the type of person who really likes it when itís about to snow, these manure-filled winds and I became awkward friends. So imagine my surprise and delight over the past few weeks when Iíd step out of my downtown Indianapolis apartment building--and again when Iíd step out of my car at either the gym or office (11 miles away)--and Iíd smell my old friend wafting thru the air. Can it be that Greeley's winds have made their way from Coloradoís front range to the Heartland? Is there a reasonable explanation for what I've been smelling, or are spring snowstorms really in the air? Better yet, has my mind conspired with my olfactory sense to play a nasty trick on me?

Unfortunately, and of course, there's a reasonable explanation... close to the parking lots at each location, i.e., my apartment building, gym, and office, landscaping crews have put down a combination of fresh mulch and manure in preparation of the spring planting season. Since I leave for the gym before sunrise, I could only smell the manure in the air, not see the mulch on the ground. Early last Friday evening, while it was still light outside, I stepped out of the gym and noticed the mulch for the first time. Imagine my disappointment. No more snow!

April 12, 2004

I found this first on Cindra's Red & Purple Haze, and then later on Sallie's At The Heart Of It. Here's my contribution:

1. Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 18, find line 4. Write down what it says: ìThe first and most important thing you need to know about your critic is that no matter how distorted and false his attacks may be, he is almost always believed.î (From McKayís and Fanningís Self Esteem: A proven program of cognitive techniques for assessing, improving, and maintaining your self-esteem)

2. Stretch your left arm out as far as you can. What do you touch first? A big comfy 22î x 34î pillow.

3. What is the last thing you watched on TV? Arrested Development, last night on Fox. If you havenít seen this show, you should. The writing and acting are both terrific!

4. WITHOUT LOOKING, guess what the time is: 4:28

5. Now look at the clock; what is the actual time? 4:32

6. With the exception of the computer, what can you hear? A bird chirping, which is a bit odd because the Sunís not even up yet.

7. When did you last step outside? What were you doing? Yesterday afternoon, in search of food.

8. Before you came to this website, what did you look at? Not really sure what to make of this question, aside from the fact that the person who originally posted this series of questions on her/his website is directing me to answer as if I were leaving a comment on his or her site. Not the case, so I canít really answer this one.

9. What are you wearing? Boxers (oxford blue) and a T-shirt (white).

10. Did you dream last night? YesÖ I had a dream about a friend back in Colorado who will celebrate her 29th birthday tomorrow.

11. When did you last laugh? Really laughedÖ Saturday afternoon while walking along the Canal in downtown Indy with LeighÖ we were quoting lines from Seinfeld. Sort of laughedÖ a few minutes ago when I answered question number one in this series (it was more like a chuckle but had laugh characteristics, so itís sort of the same, and I chuckled because of what it revealed about myself).

12. What is on the walls of the room you are in? A painted cow skull and an original Eden Folwell acrylic on canvas titled ìtis better to give then to receive.î

13. Seen anything weird lately? Yesterday afternoon I watched Arnold Schwarzenegger's movie, Total Recall.

14. What do you think of this quiz? Very Swedish!

15. What is the last film you saw? Total Recall (on TV yesterday afternoon), and Hidalgo (in the theater a few weeks ago).

16. If you became a multi-millionaire overnight, what would you buy first? A new home for my Mother.

17. Tell me something about you that I donít know. I like to dance!

18. If you could change one thing about the world, regardless of guilt or politics, what would you do? I would do something to eliminate ignorance (because it would solve so many other problems).

19. Do you like to dance? I do, but in the past I've been too self-conscious to do so in front of anyone.

20. George Bush: is he a power-crazy nutcase or some one who is finally doing something that has needed to be done for years? I donít think George W. Bush is power-crazy. He has had power at his disposal his entire life, so he doesnít necessarily fit the mold of someone who is power-crazy, per se. Heís not a nutcase, but thatís not to say that I think heís 'crazy like a fox' either. Doing something that needed to be done for yearsÖ Nope; not buying that one, either. Simply stated, I think he's seriously misinformed, as well as seriously missing some brain cells.

21. Imagine your first child is a girl, what do you call her? The second love of my life.

22. Imagine your first child is a boy, what do you call him? The third love of my life.

23. Would you ever consider living abroad? Yes... I think it'd be fun, for a while at least.

April 9, 2004

Q: Have you ever crossed a picket line?

Q: What's one thing--outrageous or otherwise--that you plan or hope to do before you die?

Q: How often do you get a haircut, and, do you go back to the same place/person every time?

Q: If you had to make a guess today, do you think President Bush will be reelected come this November?

April 7, 2004

My Mom is thinking about buying a computer (her first for personal use at home) but isn't sure if she should get a laptop or desktop Windows-based machine (getting a Mac is out of the question, so don't even go there). Whatever she gets, it'll primarily be used for surfing the Internet, light record keeping, and basic word processing. Here's where she could use everyone's help:

1. What are the pros and cons of owning a laptop?
2. What are the pros and cons of owning a desktop machine?
3. What are the big picture issues she should keep in mind in either case?
3. Which brands do you trust or which ones have had positive experiences with?
4. Should she make her purchase online, over the phone, or from an actual store?

Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.

April 6, 2004

Let's stir it up a bit, shall we! Conventional wisdom on this one is pretty darn clear, isn't it?. Restaurants are in the business of selling what people want to buy, and the majority of fast-food junkies don't want to buy healthy food. Given those simple facts, you can't legislate these types of choices; or can you? On March 10th, the Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act--a ban on lawsuits blaming the food industry for obesity and other health-related effects of eating too much junk food--passed the U.S. House of Representatives. Along with 20 or so similar state measures, the 'Cheeseburger Bill' is a deliberate, pre-emptive strike aimed at fending off what many are calling an imaginary onslaught of litigation. Orchestrating the effort is a powerful cadre of food companies determined not to be victimized by policy battles similar to those waged against the tobacco industry. (NOTE: Kraft Foods is owned by Philip Morris.)

In the tobacco wars, a well-documented trail of industry malfeasance was critical to shifting public opinion, giving policymakers the support they needed to pass significant public health measures that have reduced smoking rates and lessened exposure to secondhand smoke. What if the same were true of the food industry... the 'Big Food' industry, i.e., fast food and processed grocery store food? What then?

Whether or not it makes sense for someone who eats too many Big Macs to sue McDonald's, what scares the food companies more than costly jury verdicts is the prospect of the litigation process unearthing damning information about dishonest industry practices, which opens the door to a plethora of new government regulations.

Comparisons between Big Food and Big Tobacco are striking. The latest statistics suggest that obesity linked to poor nutrition and inactivity will soon overtake smoking as the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Even more sobering, like tobacco companies, the junk-food industry has skillfully employed a host of strong-arm maneuvers to move its products, including manipulating ingredients, targeting young children, producing misleading advertising, concealing and distorting science, influencing government regulations, and intimidating public health advocates.

These are precisely the same tactics that were revealed in an avalanche of damning documents discovered through litigation against the tobacco industry. The similarity is hardly surprising, considering that Big Food and tobacco corporations are often one and the same. (Remember, Kraft Foods is owned by Philip Morris.)

According to information uncovered by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, some food manufacturers deliberately target consumers who are vulnerable to certain food addictions. Recent studies reveal that some foods that can cause health problems--such as chocolate, sugar, meat and cheese--are physically addictive. Lawsuits could help uncover the extent to which the food industry knew about and took advantage of these addictive responses.

Behind the rhetoric of "frivolous lawsuits" (courts already disallow baseless claims) and finger-pointing at greedy trial lawyers (only two suits have been filed, both dismissed) lies a powerful, deep-pocketed industry whose sway over our legislative process cannot be underestimated. The federal Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act is sponsored by Rep. Ric Keller (R-Fla.), an acknowledged fast-food fan whose donors include the National Restaurant Association, a major lobbying force behind the bill.

Congressman Keller defends the measure, claiming that it is "narrowly drawn" and "does not immunize the food industry" because of exceptions allowed for claims of false advertising, food mislabeling, adulterated food or tainted food. But his argument is disingenuous, as those regulations are woefully inadequate thanks to the lobbying efforts of the very same food industry. That's precisely why litigation is necessary. When regulations fail to protect consumers, the courtroom is often the only available option.

Though the first lawsuit filed against McDonald's was great fodder for late-night television shows, it has also sparked a national dialogue about where responsibility for the nation's obesity epidemic lies. Just as in the early days of the tobacco battle, "personal responsibility" is the junk-food industry's mantra. Of course we are all ultimately responsible for our own behaviors. But food choices don't take place in a vacuum. It's unfair for an industry that spends $33 billion a year on marketing its unhealthy products to blame individuals for succumbing to relentless messages to eat more unhealthy foods.

To create the necessary groundswell for change, it is essential to reframe the policy debate to incorporate proposals for increased government regulation and corporate accountability. Litigation helps to accomplish that goal.

The food industry learned from tobacco that litigation is a powerful public interest tool. Without it, the public health movement that is just beginning to seriously tackle the obesity epidemic could be set back decades, and may never recover. Advocates and policymakers cannot let that happen; the public health consequences are too great. Let's hope the Senate has better sense, and burns the Cheeseburger Bill before it gets off the grill.

April 5, 2004

From last Thursday's e-mail edition of Publishers Weekly:

Two of the most beloved characters in contemporary children's literature team up in Harry Potter and the Legend of SpongeBob. In this enchanting and educational story, everyone's favorite boy wizard finally discovers the full truth about his parents--they weren't just magical, they were super-absorbent!

Harry "SquarePants" Potter connects with the brother he never knew he had, dropping out of Hogwarts to go live in a pineapple under the sea. Eventually, Harry tires of the waterlogged life and returns--with brother in tow--to school. "You'll laugh-out-loud and get a lump in your throat, as you witness SpongeBob's unlikely triumph as captain of the Hogwarts quidditch team," says Cricket magazine. "Harry and SpongeBob are pure magic together."

By the way, last Thursday was April Fools' Day!

April 2, 2004

Q: What's your favorite binge food?

Q: Which day of the week do you most look forward to?

Q: What's the strangest request a co-worker or boss has ever made of you?

Q: Yesterday was April Fools' Day. What's the best April Fools' joke you've ever perpetrated or had pulled on you or someone you know?

April 1, 2004

Are students ready to pay? Every year the cost of higher education climbs by at least 5%, usually capping at about 12%.

The cost of a 4 year private higher education is currently, on average, $26,854 each year. -- US News and World Report

By 2020, the cost of a 4 year higher education degree at a private school will be well over $196,000. Does this figure scare you? It scares me! Just imagine, graduating from college at the age of 22 with over $100,000 in debt from student loans. Mind you, your given sometimes 30 years to pay it all back, but to have this much debt, comparable to a home mortgage, is borderline insane at such an age. Even with the increase in available financial aid, they are just LOANS, not handouts. It must all be paid back. My belief is that higher education is more and more aligning to the corporate enterprise, pressuring students to slave away in a profession to pay off loans that never frees them to creatively pursue their profession. Not all professions come with a $80,000 a year salary, and even if it did, the student loans combined with a mortgage and attempting to live a fruitful life lead to virtual poverty (not literal).

Is their a creative solution here? What would you do in 2020 to afford such an education? Is going to a state university, which is almost half the cost, more valuable or less valuable to you? Some nations provide higher education at state universities for free (tuition) to their students. What would you do?