iOverload

Yesterday I attended a luncheon on social media optimization and similar strategies. It's amazing what's out there for communications professionals like myself, but its even more amazing to me that people do all this STUFF just for fun. These people are typically younger (from teens to mid-20s) or work in the tech field. Like this annoying, but kinda funny gal.

But it's a wonder to me how they get anything done besides update their myspace page, chat within facebook, podcast thy selves, twitter their friends, live a second life, text text text text text, make sure their linked in, broadcast themselves, digg on each other, flicker their photos, and oh yeah I forgot - check their email. Like, how does simply attending SXSW constitute as a job?

There's another world out there - log in.

a less than full can of garbage

I can't help but notice on garbage collection day in my neighborhood that my house is one of the few with only one garbage can on the corner. If you were to look inside, you'd also see it's not even full. Why? Because Cupcake Gal and I recycle just about everything we can.

Next door, my neighbor to the north usually has 2 full cans of garbage, yet he lives alone.

At our house, the process is somewhat "complex" but we recycle #1 & #2 plastics, aluminum, office paper, newspaper and glass at the corner on collection day (also, one of few in the neighborhood). We put all other plastics, such as #3, 4, 5 & 6 plastics, bottle caps, plastic pull tabs, and newspaper wraps in a bag that we eventually take to the Indianapolis Recycled Fiber drop-off at Kessler & Parker. We put all paperboard, cardboard, delivery envelopes, and shopping bags in other bag and again, take it to the IRF drop-off.

I consider it somewhat of a badge of honor to have the least amount of trash on the block. I'd love to start composting our food scraps soon and reduce the garbage even further but as you can understand, things are already cramped in the kitchen by doing the right thing.

I'll hope to post some other environmental comments occasionally. Please post your comments and eco-tips if you feel like sharing.

torch-gate

After a few days away from the Lot, it's time for Joe Lotstar to get a little serious for a moment. Yesterday in Paris, protesters scaled the Eiffel Tower in protest of China's human rights record and sabotaged the Olympic torch relay through the French capital. The vehement crowd tried to snuff the torch's flame and grabbed at the torch as if to run in their own direction and right the wrongs of years of Chinese oppression with a silly prank.

Today the torch will relay through San Francisco and reports indicate that major measures are in place to ensure a peaceful relay.

It's sad to me that protesters have resorted to plaguing a proud moment for a selected torch runner to make their statement. Most of these select torch bearers have dedicated their life to their sport or their community (or paid lots of money). Today, their proud moment will be reduced to playing defense and running in fear. In a city full of Chinese Americans, it's equally sad that celebration of the games in their homeland is plagued.

Please do not misconstrue -- I firmly believe that the Chinese government has done the citizens of Tibet wrong and committed several errors in human rights. However, isn't there a way to make your statement without ruining somebody else's moment in the sun?

I think the answer is yes.

"The right to swing my fist ends where another man's nose begins."
-Oliver Wendall Holmes

green is whore-ish

In one episode of 'The Office', the ladies of Dunder Mifflin are instructed to prepare an impromptu party. Gathered around the planning table, they begin throwing out color theme suggestions. I believe Phyllis suggests green to which Angela retorts: "Green is whore-ish."

Today, my lawn is green. Bright green. Healthy green. Parts of it even need to be mowed already.

Could it be the Scott's product my dad provided, laden with stuff I can't pronounce and with warnings to keep pets and children off for 24 hours. I feel like I've sold out and plan to try all-natural corn gluten weed preventer and fertilizer in the future.

It's sad that doing the right thing costs so much more money. A bag of corn gluten weed prevent/fertilizer costs $26ish and Scott's costs around $13, plus the Scott's bag is HUGE and I need to buy 3-4 of the natural stuff just to feed my postage-stamp sized lawn.

So when you see my rich green lawn - remember, she's just trying to make it in this tough world anyway she can, even if she is a bit "whore-ish."

the cache of coach crean

There is C.C. Sabathia, C.C. DeVille, C.C. Rider and CiCi's Pizza (barf) and now there is a new C.C. in town -- Coach Crean (otherwise known as Tom Crean & Crimson), the newly appointed head coach of men's basketball at Indiana University in Bloomington. The pundits are thrilled for IU (scroll to the bottom) and that makes me feel pretty good. And after listening to several sound bites and interview snippets with Coach Crean, I'm thrilled for IU too.

His enthusiasm is obvious and his resume is solid. If CC can do for IU what his buddy Tom Izzo has done for Michigan State, perhaps we'll finally have somebody worth naming a gymnasium after some day. I look for IU to compete for the Big 10 title within the next 3 years and be competitive every time the Hoosiers take the floor.

Go Big Red and welcome CC!

rollin' around

In the words of the immortal David Lee Roth, "I don't feel tardy." But alas, not only was I tardy leaving the house today, but I was so tardy I decided to stay home until my next appointment. I was excited for my dog Puddy though because I also intended to take him to Tender Loving Pets Doggy Daycare today (and I highly recommend them). Oh well, he just got a walk and Cupcake Gal will let him bask in the sun and roll around in the grass like this:

turning japanese

Is this a scene from Cloverfield or does Fukudome have the fans at Wrigley "turning Japanese-ah?!?!?!"



OK, so the Cubs lost a heartbreaker yesterday, but Kosuke's 3-run, bottom-of-the-9th shot to right center is my new personal opening day highlight. Instead of a having a pitcher's duel and losing out in the ninth, I look at yesterday's game as a pitcher's duel and a comeback that fell short in 10 innings - much more palatable.

Maybe Marmol should be closing - his stuff looked light lightning in the storm-ridden sky.