Pre-Ramble:

Story #1: Recent studies have shown that cardiac arrests in marathon and half-marathon runners have become more common over the past decade.  A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine however, reports that this increase is likely due to the dramatic increase in the overall number of people running marathons and half-marathons.

“In 2000, fewer than 1 million people participated in marathon and half-marathon events … By 2010, the number had more than doubled to about 2 million.”

Never mind that a staggering number of people (insane people) are capable of dragging themselves along a 26 mile course in a single afternoon, I believe that Story #2 provides an alternate explanation for the up-tick in cardiac events associated with running.

Story #2: Today’s WSJ reports that an estimated 92,400 Krispy Kreme doughnuts will be consumed over the course of the 8th Annual Krispy Kreme Challenge which will be held in Raleigh, North Carolina on February 4th.

“The Krispy Kreme Challenge is a student-organized charity race benefiting the NC Children’s hospital. Starting as a competition between a few friends, it has grown to include over 7500 runners and raise $122,000 for the N.C. Children’s Hospital in 2011.

To complete the Krispy Kreme Challenge competitors begin at the NC State Belltower, run 2.5 miles to the Krispy Kreme store on Peace Street, eat 1 dozen doughnuts, and run 2.5 miles back to the Belltower-all in under an hour. Participants can also sign up as Casual Runners, who are not required to eat all of the doughnuts, or Supporters, who do not run in the race but do receive a race T-shirt.”

FYI: For those of you in training for the event, one dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts has 2,400 calories, 144 grams of fat, 120 grams of sugar, and 1,140 milligrams of sodium — !

The Take-Away:  Paramedics will be distributing race packets containing a combination race number/bib, participant’s t-shirt (size XXL), and a personal defibrillator kit.

Pre-Ramble:

I hope you have been informed, entertained, or even occasionally inspired by a word or two.

My goals for the blog this coming year are to:

1. promote positivity
2. encourage personal power
3. have fun

Promoting positivity means shining a light on issues from a decidedly positive perspective, … emphasizing the dynamic of moving toward things … being “for” stuff, rather than ”against” it. (Please note that this does not rule out satire or snarkiness.)

By personal power I mean owning your gifts and stepping up, … moving personal energy forward to make positive things happen in one’s life and in the world.

As for fun, you can’t take yourself too seriously, … We know fun when we see it (example shown right) and will take it whenever and wherever we can get it — !

The Take-Away:  Sooooo, in the spirit of all of that — Cheers to uncorking a whole bunch of positive energy in your new year!  

Happy 2012!!

Pre-Ramble:

Every year in the few days before Christmas, actor/comedian Jay Thomas makes an appearance on CBS’s “Late Show with David Letterman” to try to knock a big meatball off the top of Dave’s Christmas tree with a perfectly thrown football (the two shown at right).  Special musical guest, the lovely Darlene Love is also a part of the tradition, but the annual rite of the meatball is what keeps me coming back.

The reason I’m such a fan is that I was actually in the Late Show audience one year to witness the ridiculous spectacle. My husband and I had lived in New Jersey early in our marriage and had taken a quick trip back to partake in the magic that is New York during the holidays. I had lined up a couple of tickets to the Letterman show and was beyond thrilled to be a part of the studio audience, not even realizing that we would be courtside for the hallowed meatball event.

In order to fully communicate its enchanting appeal, I’ve provided this recap from the CBS website:

“It all started one night back in 1998 when New York Jets quarterback Vinny Testaverde was a guest. He and Letterman picked up footballs and began tossing them at the tree, aiming for the meatball. Watching their failures impatiently from the wings was Thomas, former quarterback at tiny Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, N.C.

Thomas had discussed trying the target practice with Letterman before the show, but no one told that to stage manager Biff Henderson. He blocked Thomas from going out on stage.

“I fake to the right and Biff goes to catch me and I run around him like a scramble,” said Thomas, who picked up a football and threw with laser-like accuracy at the meatball, accomplishing in one throw what the NFL quarterback couldn’t in several.

Testaverde has been forgotten, but Thomas is invited back each year to see if he can repeat his feat.

Around the same time — Thomas isn’t sure exactly when — Letterman heard about a story Thomas told of his time as a radio DJ in the South when he and a friend had to give a ride to Clayton Moore, star of television’s “Lone Ranger.” We won’t be spoilers; Letterman has called it the “best story I’ve ever heard.”

The story, too, is repeated each year. Thomas said he and Letterman have never discussed why it has become a tradition. It just has.

Thomas practices before each appearance, taking a football into Central Park and aiming at a particular tree branch.

“It is the craziest thing I have ever been a part of,” he said.”

The Take-Away:  Set your TIVO and try to contain yourself — the meatball show (technically taped yesterday) airs tonight at 10:30 CST on CBS.

Pre-Ramble: 

Literally translated, “feel-o-meter,” this 16-foot-wide illuminated emoticon uses face-recognition software to analyze the expressions of people in a specific area to capture a general mood — a smile, frown, or something inbetween – which then beams from the giant neon face.

The revealing surveillance device was created by three Berlin-based artists and most recently installed on a lighthouse in the Bavarian village of Lindau (shown at right).

The Take-Away:  ”You better watch out, … you better not cry, … you better not pout, … I’m tellin’ you why … ” … the Fuhlometer could be coming to a town near you –

Happiness is contagious — let your good vibes shine out into the Universe! 

Pre-Ramble:

Ho-ho-ho … On the face of it, this festively quirky activity seems like a great team-building exercise … Never mind that the results for a “Secret Santa” search reveal merchandise that looks way more naughty than nice, I’m sure Al had nothing but visions of sugar plums in mind when he brought up the bi-partisan initiative.

BFF, Senator Mike Johanns of Nebraska, offered to co-sponsor the activity, thinking that it would be a good thing to do “at a time of year when typically everyone is getting on everyone’s nerves … “

Here, here!!  We can only imagine how testy the senators must get with all that idle time they apparently have on their hands. Planning and procurement of gifts for the upcoming exchange should keep the ranks busy.

The Take-Away:  With the cost of the gifts capped at $10, I’d like to suggest the following (gathered from a couple random websites) …

1. Pound of pistachios  (pre-shelled)
2. Gel pens and pretty stationary  (can also be used to sign legislation, should that ever come up)
3. Basket filled with jams or mustards  (always a hit)
4. Gardening gloves with a plant  (“fertilizer” optional)
5. Makeup tote (HD can be cruel)
6. Special coffee cup filled with candy  (precious)
7. Board games ( … Monopoly … CLUE … Get a Clue?)
8. Favorite quote embroidered on a hankie  (if you draw John Boehner)
9. Special soaps and bath puff  (keeping it clean)
10. Lump of coal  (for the naughty)

If none of these fit the bill, our esteemed colleagues in the Senate may want to consider giving the book, “101 Creative Gift Ideas Under $10” by Lonna Weidemann … A steal for the budget-conscious at $8.

Pre-Ramble:

No.

No, we don’t take clients like that.

No, that’s not part of what we offer.

No, that market is too hard for us to service properly.

No, I won’t bend on this principle.

No, I’m sorry, I won’t be able to have lunch with you.

No, that’s not good enough. Will you please do it again?

No, I’m not willing to lose my focus, and no, I’m not willing to compromise.

Since we were toddlers, saying “No!” has held a fascinating form of power that cuts across the vast and murky sea of middling-maybes, or the waffling contortions of “kind-of” or “I don’t know … “ or “well … umm … gee, let’s see … “

“No” is generally regarded as a negative concept … “indicating a negative response, used to refuse, deny, or disagree with something.“ “No, I won’t go out on a date with you” … “No, I won’t give you $10,000” … “No, I won’t go fetch your scepter” ….

Synonyms for “No” are “rejection, refusal, rebuff (hate the rebuff), nix, thumbs down and veto.”

Having “No (fill-in-the-blank)” can mean there is nothing, non, notta, nope, …

When delivered in a sincere, respectful manner, however (not hollered at point blank range or accompanied by a wagging finger), “No” can be a really clean and direct way to communicate your agenda.  What a concept!

In fact, I’ll venture to say that being able to say “No” is imperative to your own well-being. It is the only way, for example, that you can prevent that icky, pit-of-the-stomach feeling that you get when you reluctantly say “Ok … “ when you really want to say “No way!”

YES!  I get it – there is power in setting boundaries, claiming space, and honoring standards around how you conduct yourself and/or your business – well, and simply how you will agree to spend your time.

The Take-Away:  Saying “No” can be a way of putting yourself and your priorities as #1.  The only trouble I see with a liberal use of the power of “No” is if it becomes an uncompromising, knee-jerk reaction that prevents you from deviating from your own possibly misguided/bull-headed path to explore something which has the potential to be quite wonderful. I guess the challenge is to be able to determine when to take that risk, and when to stick to your “No” guns.

Pre-Ramble: 

Well, so, on October 30th, Brian McGuinn accidently threw his wife Anne’s 1.5 carat, custom-designed ring, valued at $10,000, into the trash.  The ring eventually made its way to the landfill and was presumed lost.

Huge bummer.

Mr. McGuinn, however, was determined to find the “irreplaceable” memento and donned a haz-mat suit to wade through an estimated nine tons of seriously disgusting garbage to find it.

Astoundingly, 90 minutes later, he surfaced with the sludge-covered treasure and rushed it over to a nearby jeweler to be cleaned. (Heck yeah!?!)

“Once I found it, I actually let out a manly scream!,” says McGuinn, who describes the moment of finding his wife’s bling amongst the garbage as winning the lottery.

The Take-Away:  Wow.

Post-Note:  If you’re calling it “a manly scream,” that automatically means it isn’t.

In an oddly related story, the rings shown below are made by the up-cycle artists at Metal And Thread out of “actual trash picked up off the ground.” A description of the rings …

“A sustainable and artistic approach was used to make these pop art jewelry pieces. The lighters were found on the street and were carved, sanded, shaped and finally filled at the top with acrylic to finish the look. Colors vary depending on what Nate happens to find in the street.”

… a real find at $17.50 each.

Pre-Ramble:

Last year, I promised myself that I would stay on top of things and be more proactive about pumpkin management preparedness.

Somehow, the whole thing got away from me.

If you weren’t an avid reader in 2009, you may have missed my post “Let it fly” (10/29/09) which discusses the “trebuchet” (example shown right) in the context of increasingly popular “punkin’ chuckin’“ events. You may know these Medieval machines as “catapults,” … either way, they are ridiculous looking contraptions that,

“… use the mechanical advantage principle of leverage to release a sling and arm mechanism to propel a stone or other projectile towards a target with great force.”

Well, so, in lieu of purchasing your own backyard trebuchet — which can involve a number of potentially problematic issues including general bulkiness and high costs of transport and materials, not to mention local zoning regulations — you will be relieved to know that there are rental opportunities:

Craigslist:  Surprisingly, no trebuchets listed here.

eBay:  77 results, mostly small wooden models (assembly required) … like the Tabletop Trebuchet  … Perfect for home or office. A steal at $24.99.

Independent company:  A Google search came back with Yankee Siege Rental located in “picturesque” Greenfield, New Hampshire. Yankee Siege rents a contraption that can throw a maximum 300 pound object close to 1000 ft. (?).  (The falling pumpkin effect on their home page is truly inspired.)

“ … We are now available to help “catapult” your business or product! … You bring the object, we’ll find a way to throw it! … Free consultation!”

Good news … On-site rental of the unit, including a 4-member crew, rigging, castle, etc., runs just $3000 per day.

The better news …  For an additional mileage and set-up cost, Yankee Siege can also travel to your site!  No fuss no muss; use it just when you need it.

And, more good news … Yankee Siege also has a giant 14 foot diameter Mace Ball weighing 10,000 pounds … “This ball can be lifted with our crane and dropped on the object of your choice.”

And, as if that weren’t enough, the fine folks at Yankee Siege go the distance, promoting their website as a public forum for information about all things trebuchet.

“I hope that there can be an open discussion of problems, solutions and new ideas.”

The Trebuchet Take-Away:  Ok, that’s a noble goal … I can certainly see where a discussion around problems that result in the world of the trebuchet are warranted.  But, really, the giant, crudely built implement has been around since Medieval times … are we actually going to see any meaningful innovation happening here?  … Go for it.

Best trebuchet-related quote: “Catapults are similar to boats, in that you always want one that is just a few feet bigger.”  So true.

Best related item found:  A t-shirt featuring illustrated depictions of your most celebrated “Medieval Headwounds” … as inflicted by Axe, Cannon, Crossbow, Sword, Trebuchet, etc. Great holiday gift for the trebuchet enthusiast in your family. Black, 100% cotton, Beefy-T; $24.99 … free shipping. (You know you hope it comes flinging out of the FedEx truck into the side of your house.)

Pre-Ramble:

This year, the first shot was fired across the bow by none other than Clinton Kelly, the other half of the “Clinton and Stacy” duo from the popular show on TLC ”What Not To Wear.”

In case you aren’t a fan, or don’t have daughters who threaten to submit your pathetic profile to the show on a regular basis, ”What Not To Wear” takes some poor, unsuspecting slob; throws out all of her horrible, ill-fitting clothes; and releases her onto the streets of Madison Avenue with nothing but a few fashion tips and a loaded credit card. The fashionista-in-training invariably comes back with bags of new horrible, ill-fitting clothes and eventually Clinton and Stacy are compelled to take her out and dress her up in stuff that is flattering, stylish and suited to a new fashionable lifestyle.

Well, so, apparently, Clinton is teaming up with a local alterations chain to bring his fashion-guru-ness to our own Minnesota Mecca of Americana – the Mall of America. Based on the premise that “the essence of style is fit,” “Perfect Fit by Clinton Kelly” tailoring, alterations and style consultation service will debut in the Mall this weekend.

Frankly, he couldn’t have chosen a better venue; the MOA is host to all ilk of fashion violations, at all levels of the fashion spectrum.  However, given this missive around turtlenecks, it is clear that pretty-boy Clinton (he is pretty cute), has NEVER set foot in Minnesota in the winter.  In an interview to promote the “Perfect Fit” opening, Clinton gives the following “haute tip for surviving a Minnesota winter” …

“Beware of the turtleneck … Don’t get me wrong, a turtleneck can be a wonderful thing, and I have a few of them myself … But they should be saved for a really cold day when you’re skiing or spending time outside.”

Seriously?! …  “Saved for a really cold day” … ??  You mean like, EVERY DAY FOR FIVE MONTHS STRAIGHT??

The Take-Away:  Clinton, baby, It’s COLD outside” — !  See below for What To Wear in from the MOA parking lot.  (Turtleneck strongly suggested.)

Pre-Ramble:

On that score, Daniel Pink’s site is a must-read – he’s a triple-threat-thinker: 1) insightful; 2) articulate; and 3) the kind of decent all-around good guy that you’d want to sit down and have a cupcake with.

Well, so, in a recent post, Daniel discussed an art installation called “The Idea Store” by two brilliant Brooklyn artists, Athena Robles and Anna Stein. Their work was featured at the (e)merge art fair which was held last month in Washington D.C.  The (e)merge art fair “celebrates galleries, artists, and the creative process with an energetic environment of collaboration and discovery” … Or, in DP’s experience, the affair was, “… a sprawling assemblage of creations from up-and-coming painters, sculptors, photographers, and performers.”  Here he recaps the premise of The Idea Store installation’s concept …

“People who visited a makeshift storefront – think Lucy Van Pelt’s psychiatrist’s “office” (modified version shown at right) – could fill out a card offering an idea and get paid a penny for it. Robles and Stein then placed the card on the kind of rack you might find at a Hallmark store. Then other visitors could select an idea from the rack and purchase it for two cents.”

As you can imagine, the proposed ideas ranged from trivial to considerable, however, as DP so astutely observes,

“The best idea of all may have been the notion of the store itself. It evoked all sorts of associations – the marketplace of ideas, contributing your two cents worth, etc. … And it raised lots of interesting questions: Why is one idea “worth” more than another? Why are some ideas easier to “sell”? Is it possible really to “own” an idea?”

The Take-Away:  For my money, this is the kind of concept (and thinking) that totally delivers the dopamine rush. These gals (Anna and Athena) are sharp – this is but one of several of their clever conceptual art projects — and the deceptively simple Idea Store concept resonates on so many levels. It’s interactive and playful and sparingly executed so as not to wash out the pure core of the idea with flashy, extraneous elements. The Idea Store concept is subtle and elegant — I wish had had been there to experience it firsthand.  Better yet, I wish I had thought of the idea for The Idea Store – !

As DP points out, although The Idea Store was originally conceived as a piece of art, there are many potentially fruitful applications for the idea-exchange-dynamic in other settings, … like schools or businesses, or in other random public venues.

Let’s put one on Wall Street, and let the 1% pay more than 2 cents if they want.