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October 29, 2004

FOUR FOR FRIDAY

Q1: National Treasure, Alexander, The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, Finding Neverland, The Incredibles, Polar Express, Team America: World Police, I Heart Huckabees, Alfie, Ocean's Twelve, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, After The Sunset, Meet the Fockers, Fat Albert, Ray, Christmas with the Kranks, Seed of Chucky. Which movie are you most looking forward to seeing this holiday season?

Q2: Despite the fact that ABC's Desperate Housewives is the most popular primetime TV program, Lowe's and Tyson Foods have both pulled their commercials from the show because they say the show's content is "inconsistent with the core values they want their brands associated with." Do you think Lowe's and Tyson's decision is good brand strategy? Or do you think the companies buckled to forces that would censor all TV programming down to fare for twelve-year-olds? And, are you concerned about the increasingly successful efforts of consumer lobbying groups to force marketers out of certain TV programs, or do you think such actions are long overdue?

Q3: Dropped by Clear Channel and hounded by the FCC, radio shock-jock Howard Stern has announced that he is moving his morning show to the Sirius Satellite Radio Network, a 100% pay-for-use radio service. The head of Sirius is hailing Stern's move as a "watershed event" for satellite radio. Do you think Stern's move will dramatically impact satellite radio or affect the long-term dynamics of radio use in the United States? Or, do you think Stern's move is meaningless; he's just an over-the-hill radio personality whose celebrity is waning?

Q4: Regardless of which candidate you support in next weekís election, who do you think will emerge victoriously as the next President of the United States?

Posted by Mikal at 6:28 AM | Comments (10) | TrackBack

October 28, 2004

A NIGHT OF SPOKEN WORD AT INDIANAPOLIS' URBAN ELEMENT

Last night I happened upon a really Swedish event at Urban Element (901 North Pennsylvania Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46204). Urban Element's Night of Spoken Word was billed as an open mike for poets and other writers. Here's what it looked like:

By my count, 20 or so poets and writers spoke, the majority of whom appeared to be first-time visitors to our new neighborhood eatery. And, in an act that could only be described as odd and shameless, I spoke to the audience about a book I conceived with my friend Lee McDaniel, and then acquired while working as an Acquisitions Editor for Penguin Group (USA) / Alpha Books. The book, The Complete Idiotís Guide to Slam Poetry, provides readers with a behind-the-scenes look at the explosive world of Slam Poetry--a style of poetry composed for the purpose of being performed in front of a live audience in a competitive arena. Co-authored by Marc Kelly Smith, who is widely regarded as the founder of the Slam Poetry movement, and Joe Kraynak (a local writer of distinction), The CIG to Slam Poetry includes two audio CDs with 30+ slammin' tracks featuring today's hottest Slam poets.

Slam Poetry's roots can be found in Spoken Word Poetry, so speaking to the crowd about the CIG to Slam Poetry seemed like a natural fit. What wasn't necessarily such a natural fit was that I was stumping for a book published by my former employer, which is my current employer's chief competitor. Luckily, my current employer does not have a Slam Poetry offering, so the conflict-of-interest thing sort of gets tossed out the window on this one.

In addition to talking to the group about the book, I just so happened to have some of the book's companion CD tracks burned onto my laptop, which I was able to plug into Urban Element's sound system for the audience's listening pleasure. The group especially enjoyed hearing Regie Gibson's "All Praises Due".

Urban Element plans on hosting additional Spoken Word events in November and December. Call Shea, Maurice, or Mark at 317.331.4482 for dates and times.

Posted by Mikal at 5:26 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

October 27, 2004

Please join us in remembering a great icon of the entertainment community. The Pillsbury Doughboy died yesterday of a yeast infection and complications from repeated pokes in the belly. He was 71-years-old.

Doughboy was buried in a lightly greased coffin. Dozens of celebrities turned out to pay their respects, including Mr. & Mrs. Entenmann, Sarah Lee, Mrs. Butterworth, Jimmy Dean, the Drakes, Mrs. Fields, Hungry Jack, Hungry Man, the California Raisins, Betty Crocker, the Hostess Twinkies, and Captain Crunch. The Gravesite was piled high with flours.

Aunt Jemima delivered the eulogy and lovingly described Doughboy as a man who never knew how much he was kneaded. Doughboy rose quickly in show business, but his later life was filled with turnovers. He was not considered a very 'smart' cookie, wasting much of his dough on half-baked schemes. Despite being a little flaky at times he still, as a crusty old man, was considered a roll model for millions.

Doughboy is survived by his wife, Play Dough; two children, John Dough and Jane Dough; and it was rumored that despite their age, the Doughís had another one in the oven. Doughboy is also survived by his elderly father, Pop Tart.

October 26, 2004

A former co-worker just got a new dog, and as many new dogs do, this one came without a name. Pictured below and on the right, this precious little pup is currently being referred to as NoName, which isn't really a name.

NoName is an English Bulldog, by the way, and her brother (the big fella pictured on the left) is an English Bulldog also. His name is Chopper. It might help to know--when thinking up names--that the Bulldog was originally a fighting dog, but now is considered about as easygoing as a dog can get. They're intelligent and trainable, but because of their face and body type, light exercise is enough to keep them healthy, and an air-conditioned house is their favorite place in the summer (mine too, by the way). The Bulldog is a member of the Non-Sporting Group and was first recognized by the AKC in 1886 (just a few years before the Boston Red Sox won their last World Series).

Please help out by leaving suggestions for names via the 'comment' link below. (Here's another picture of the pup, this time sleeping.)

October 25, 2004

The first couple to be shown in bed together on prime time TV were Fred and Wilma Flintstone.
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Every day more money is printed for Monopoly than the US Treasury.
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Men can read smaller print than women can; women can hear better.
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The State with the highest percentage of people who walk to work: Alaska ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The cost of raising a medium-size dog to the age of eleven: $6,400.00
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If you were to spell out numbers, you have to go until you "One Thousand" to find the letter "A"
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Q. What is the only food that doesn't spoil?
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October 22, 2004

Q2: We've all done it... misplaced the remote control or lost a wallet or purse. What situation stands out in your mind as being one of the most difficult as a result of you having lost or misplaced something?

Q3: Whatís the best investment of time, money, resources, or emotions youíve ever made?

Q4: How much do your religious beliefs influence the way you vote in local and national elections?

October 21, 2004

Earlier this month, on the 13th of October, I celebrated my one-year anniversary as a participant in Lifestyle Strategies of Indiana's health and weight management program (now called Health and Nutrition Technology). Since last October, when my friend Melody first told me about this remarkable program, I've lost between 50 and 60 pounds (depending on my weekly program weigh-in totals), and nearly 70 pounds since the beginning of 2003.

As I enter my second year in the program, I've decided to commit myself to goals that will help with my 40 x 40 plan. Tops on my list...learn Steve Silva's 'Calorie Steps'--a highly streamlined system for estimating the caloric intake of vegetables, baked goods, fruit, meat/poultry/dairy, condiments, beverages, and mixed foods. On the surface, trying to memorize the caloric values of the many items covered by each of those categories seems tedious or impossible for the layperson. Silva knew this all too well, and as a result created a system that makes it relatively easy for a schmoo like me to know how many calories I'm consuming within an acceptable range. For example, the range for calories consumed in the vegetable category, figured raw and per cup, is as follows:

For months now I've been skating on thin ice where knowing these values is concerned, and I've come to the conclusion that that's just not going to cut it if I truly want to maintain a weight of between 170 and 175 pounds (or less) over the long-term. The most important thing I can do right now is commit Silva's simplified calorie system to memory. Doing so will afford me with the opportunity to make informed choices and decisions, which is critical when attempting to maintain a significant loss of weight.

I'll post the other category calorie values as soon as I've committed the veggie scale to memory.

October 20, 2004

I'm not much of a fan when it comes to professional baseball, but you can bet your ass that I'll be watching tonight's Game 7 between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. Last night the Red Sox became the first team in Major League Baseball history to come back to tie a best-of-seven-games series after being down three games to none, and if the Bo Sox win tonight, well, let's just say that my faith may be on rebound where pro baseball is concerned.

Bottom line here...I'm sick and tired of the New York Yankees. They've appeared in six out of the last eight World Series, and their 2004 payroll of $184,193,950.00 is $56,895,450.00 higher than their closest rival (the Red Sox), and a whopping $156,665,450.00 more than the Milwaukee Brewers.

Tonight's other game features the National League's Houston Astros (payroll of $75,397,000.00) and St. Louis Cardinals ($83,228,333.00). I'm a bit torn on this one...I went to college in Houston, where I still have many many dear friends, but I also have good friends and work-related colleagues who live in St. Louis. Bottom line here...I can live with either the Astros or the Cards winning the National League Championship Series, and if Bo Sox beats the Yanks in the ALCS, I'll likely end up watching parts, if not all, of each of this year's World Series games. If the Yankees win, I could really care less, unless of course they go down in a ball of flames.

October 19, 2004

A friend who noticed that I haven't posted much lately--aside for my Four For Friday postings--sent the following quiz, suggesting that I might like to use it as filler.

October 18, 2004

Aching muscles; can't sleep; here's why...I participated in the 9th Annual Indianapolis Marathon & Half-Marathon this past Saturday, and I'm sincerely proud to share that I broke the 3-hour barrier for the half-marathon, bettering my previous best for the 13.1 mile race by over 15 minutes. My time of 2:57:29 was a minute-and-a-half off of my goal of 2:56:00, but hey, I'll take it! A recap of all of my races shows some solid improvement:

Because of all the running I did this time around--I ran and jogged for around six-and-a-half miles of this year's race--my body aches unlike it did from any of my previous efforts. Regardless, I'm really glad I did it. The fall colors were in full bloom, and the 50 degree temperatures made for a rather enjoyable jaunt thru the historic Fort Benjamin Harrison course.

Finally, out of the 1,231 people who finished this year's race, I placed 1,026, which is a lot better than last year's finish of 1,252 out of 1,266. More pictures soon!

October 15, 2004

Q1: When and/or where do you do your best thinking... in the car while driving to or from work, in the shower right after you awake, while on an airplane, in the kitchen making dinner, when you're out for an afternoon or evening run, while applying your make-up, right before you drift off to sleep, at the gym, or some other time and place altogether?

Q2: Do you ever have epiphanies, moments when things become so abundantly clear that you're left wondering what in the heck you were thinking up until that point in time? If so, have your epiphanies led to dramatic changes to your way of being or your thoughts about a particular thing, or was your epiphany nothing more than a simple blip on the radar screen of your existence?

Q3: They say every one of us has at least one in our lifetime... Without revealing something you're not comfortable sharing, have you ever had what you believed to be a million dollar business idea? If so, what did you do about it? If you haven't done anything with the idea, and you're pretty sure no one else has done anything with it yet either, do you think you'll ever act on this million dollar idea of yours?

Q4: Mandatory/planned fire drills in the workplace... an unnecessary waste of time or in the best interests of the employee and company?

October 8, 2004

Q1: If you were granted the power to create and then use a "Panic"/"Stop" button, what are three things youíd use it for?

Q2: If you could afford it, would you take a ride into space before the end of 2005?

Q3: If you were given the talent to be considered "world-class" at something which you currently know little to nothing about, what would it be?

Q4: Has anyone ever called you by the wrong name, like a clueless co-worker or a family member? If so, have you corrected them or just let it go? What was your reaction and how did it make you feel?

October 6, 2004

Here are my responses to the latest installment of Getting to Know Your Friends:

1. WHAT COLOR ARE YOUR KITCHEN PLATES? Green, Yellow, White, Blue, Red
2. WHAT ARE YOU READING NOW? Pledged: The Secret Life of Sororities
3. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? A Penguin
4. FAVORITE BOARD GAME? Itís a tie between Pente and Othello
5. LEAST FAVORITE SMELLS? The appetizer soup at Sawasdee Thai Restaurant
6. WHAT'S THE FIRST THING YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU WAKE UP? Going back to sleep
7. FAVORITE COLOR(s): I donít have one
8. LEAST FAVORITE COLOR(s): I donít have one of these either
9. HOW MANY RINGS UNTIL YOU ANSWER THE PHONE? None; my cell is set to vibrate only
10. FUTURE CHILD'S NAME: If I have children, Samuel and/or Ainsley
11. CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA? Chocolate/Vanilla
12. DO YOU LIKE TO DRIVE FAST? Sometimes
13. DO YOU SLEEP WITH A STUFFED ANIMAL? In my bed, no; nearby, yes
14. THUNDERSTORMS - COOL OR SCARY? Oh, very Swedish indeed
15. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CAR? 2002 Land Rover Discovery SE
16. WHAT IS YOUR SIGN? Virgo
17. DO YOU EAT THE STEMS OF BROCCOLI? Yes
18. IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY JOB WHAT WOULD IT BE? Psychologist or CEO of a socially responsible Fortune 500 Company
19. IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY COLOR HAIR, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Light Brown
20. IS THE GLASS HALF FULL OR HALF EMPTY? NeitherÖ the water is at a certain level, and it can easily move in either direction
21. FAVORITE MOVIE(S)? Oceanís Eleven, Princess Bride, Last of the Mohicans, just to name a few
22. DO YOU TYPE WITH YOUR FINGERS ON THE RIGHT KEYS? Yes
23. WHAT'S UNDER YOUR BED? Nothing
24. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE NUMBER? Prefer not to say
25. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Track & Field, Volleyball, College Football, Badminton, Field Hockey, Softball, and Lacrosse
26. YOUR SINGLE BIGGEST INTENSE PAIN? Heartbreak
27. KETCHUP OR MUSTARD? Ketchup, I suppose
28. HAMBURGER OR HOTDOG? Burgers (unless a Junkyard Dog from Spikes in Providence, Rhode Island is on the menu)
29. THE BEST PLACES YOU HAVE EVER BEEN? Boulder, Colorado; San Francisco, California; Paris, France; Montrose, Pennsylvania; and Vilnius, Lithuania
30. WHAT SCREEN SAVER IS ON YOUR COMPUTER RIGHT NOW? None
31. FAVORITE FAST FOOD? Spicy Chicken Sandwich from Wendyís

October 4, 2004

I had it all planned out. I'd sleep in on Saturday morning until around 9:30 a.m., and then go for a killer long walk/jog in anticipation and training for an upcoming marathon. It all made sense. For the last month or so, with the exception of when a friend was in town for my birthday, I'd worked every weekend, so I was really looking forward to the extra sleep and time in bed. Then, disaster (well, sort of).

At approximately 7:00 a.m. the trucks started rolling in, and by 8:00 a.m. it was a full-blown staging area for the Circle City Classic Parade. From my bedroom window, at 8:30 firckin a.m, Saturday morning:

If you can't beat em, join em, I say. With 100,000 people lining the streets of downtown Indy for the Circle City Classic Parade, I figured 'what the heck,' rather than hit the Monon Trail for a walk/jog, why not adjust my plans and take on the whole 'it's a great day for a parade' attitude. And it actually was a great day for a parade. It was crisp and cool enough outside to sip hot chocolate in between bites of a hotdog.

October 1, 2004

Q1: Did you watch last night's televised debate between President George W. Bush and Senator John Kerry? If so, despite which candidate you support, who do you feel did a better job? If you didn't watch, are you planning on watching either of the two remaining televised Presidential debates or next Tuesday's Vice Presidential debate?

Q2: Have you ever given something up--either for religious reasons or just because you wanted to--for a specified period of time? If so, how did that work out for you... were you able to stick with it for the duration of time you had originally planned or did you cave earlier than planed? If you can remember, what was it that you gave up and why?

Q3: If you could change jobs tomorrow in order to start working directly for anyone in the world--either dead or alive--whom would you choose to work for and what would you do?

Q4: Halloween is just 30-days away. What's your best Halloween-related memory and/or costume?