ampolotalk

Play Ball!

2008-04-07T07:24:00.000-07:00

It’s been a long winter…but good news: major league baseball is upon us. Recently we made a pitch for your ideas on how to make a great game even better. Several of you took a swing. It’s easy to add comments here, so jump in.

Leading off is Mike: “What bugs me is the constant assault of pumped in noise -- bad music, stupid sound effects and relentless advertising. At some of the stadiums you can barely turn around and talk to your friends. All team operatives who program this junk should be sent to a special rehab center where they are allowed one beer, an easy chair and a transistor radio that plays Vin Scully. Also, cell phones should be banned. Or else there should be a special area where people who want to yak loudly and endlessly on cellphones and wave at the camera can be isolated, and perhaps studied for a National Geographic special.”

George suggests a rule change: “Increasingly, pitchers now walk the power hitters. While that has always been an accepted practice, lately it has gotten abusive. Not good for the game, a bit unfair to the vanity and skills of the power hitters, and a big disappointment to fans who hope to see a celebrity batter do his stuff. Here is a simple rule change to address those concerns without altering the game very much: 4 non consecutive balls equal a walk, and the batter advances to first base, as has always been the case. But under the new rule, 4 consecutive balls and the batter advances to second base.”

Alan writes: “I think to improve major league baseball they should publicly execute Roger Clemens who is a liar and a dirty pitcher. Also, there should be more Jewish baseball players. Hank Greenburg and Sandy Koufax, that's all I heard my uncles and aunts talk about as I was growing up. Why are Jews all stand up comics? We need hitters.

Batting cleanup is Junior, who describes himself as an American citizen and National League fan: “Major League Baseball should dispense with inter-league play. It takes the air out of traditional rivalries and dilutes the World Series. It homogenizes the American and National Leagues, which are truly quite different.”

Richard has several ideas:

*Get the government out of baseball!! Maybe the buttheads that are all worked up about steroids, HGH or Ritalin could spend their time on important things like lowering taxes or saving Darfur from its current holocaust.

*How about scheduling less than 17 home games in April at Wrigley?

*Attach electric shocks to seats of idiot fans who stand up with 2 strikes and 2 outs; it didn’t work in ’03 when the Marlins killed the Cubs with 0 and 2 counts and 2 outs, and it won’t work now.

In that same vein, have a roving enforcer to stuff a baseball down the throats of nouveau fans who boo hardworking players like Derek Lee, Alfonso Soriano and Jacque Jones who do not hit a dinger every time they come to the plate. All 3, among many others were booed when they first came to the Cubs. It makes me sick when they invade sacred ground and show how little they know about the game. The bottom line fact is that Hall of Fame players failed at least 2 out of every 3 times they came to the plate. More to the point, of the tens of thousands of men who played major league baseball for more than a cup of coffee, only 20 batted above .333; the highest lifetime average for a Hall of Famer was Ty Cobb, .366, which of course is barely above 1 out of 3 hits per at bat.”

And finally Jim adds: “All impractical and unattainable but: Free soft drinks for kids under 14. No walking out except between innings. Team gives season ticket "scholarships" to needy families who are big fans.”

Party of the First Part

2008-03-24T12:14:00.000-07:00

You may remember that some time ago we asked for party ideas and suggested one of our own, tongue in cheek: "come as your significant other--not in dress, but rather adopt the personality of your significant other for the evening!!!”

This prompted viewer Todd to respond: “Sounds like a fast track to divorce to me !”

Happily married viewer Beth emailed that for 23 years she and her husband Tony have hosted a party, “ honoring American laureate, hero, great light, Walt Whitman.”
The invitation explains: "Song of Myself" will be read through… starting at 9 PM.
Everyone’s invited to participate.
Bring your own beverages or a dessert.
Testimonials to Walt will be lovingly accepted.

Viewer Esther sent us several ideas:

Everyone comes solo - and everyone else has to try to figure out who is a couple.

Everyone brings an ingredient or two ----- to make dinner.

Everyone brings a new person

Everyone brings the last book they read - to swap/share with others

Everyone brings an unfinished project - and posts it -
Everyone offers to help one other person finish !

Peggy’s party idea revolves around food and friendship: “I got 2 friends, and we each invited 5 of our friends. Then we cooked a fabulous dinner ,since 2 of the 3 of us are foodies. Guests loved it. It had no other theme, besides 3 cooks in the kitchen.”

Another viewer, Penny, describes her ambitious parties for her husband Michael.
“I gave Michael a surprise parade for his 50th . The invite asked what the Fourth of July, Gay and Lesbian Day, the Rose Bowl and Michael's 50th had in common. Inside it said, "A parade, of course." It asked for everyone to decorate their car, pet, themselves or whatever and come celebrate. I hired the local High School marching band to head up the parade.

Another successful party was the roast I had for Michael's 40th. When he walked in, everyone was holding a caricature of his face on a stick. After a delicious meal, friends from all times and segments of our lives roasted him. He loved it.

And finally, speaking of roasts: Rich says there is nothing like roasting a pig to bring people together:

“There is a company here in Boulder that sells whole pigs all set to put out on the grill. They will even rent you the big gas powered grill that comes on its own trailer. We threw wood chips on the fire for flavor. The pig is very easy to carve. You slow cook (smoke) it all day and by the time it is ready, the meat literally falls off the bones. We had the apple in the mouth just for effect. We also cooked vegetables inside the pig for flavor and moistness.”

Now that’s what I call a party animal.

Back to School Part 2

2008-02-24T07:58:00.000-08:00

We inadvertently forgot to include this suggestion for improving education with the others:

From Sharon:"I've always thought that the grade school curriculum (at almost every level) would be much improved by having yearly themes from which individual subjects would draw and all would overlap. For example, if the theme was FOOD, a class might use actual recipes in math class and for science experiments--research regional dishes for history and sociology, write and produce a cookbook for an English and art project. I've always thought students would appreciate learning as a 'whole' experience more than they do the unrelated pieces of knowledge we sometimes seem to be handing out to our children."

Back to School

2008-02-24T07:47:00.000-08:00

In addition to the ideas featured in this week's Ampolo video, we received several other thoughtful suggestions for improving education:

From Robin: "Smaller class size! My daughter is in a high school with 3,000 kids, and it's so easy to fall through the cracks that way, especially if you're a student that's 'no trouble.'"

From Libby: "Require every student to speak English; teach diagramming sentences and grammar; reward teachers and teachers’ unions for flunking students; make remedial/summer help required in order to advance.

From Alan: "Pay more money to teachers."

From Chuck: "Extranet sites filled with school news where teachers can post homework assignments, students can communicate with each other, and selected outside contributors can add content."

And from Bob: "I believe the key to establishing a quality education system throughout the country begins with quality teachers. Currently I don't see any correlation between what school districts spend on their teaching staffs and the teachers' performance. The longer a teacher works, the more the teacher is paid. This formula doesn't work, especially in the districts that need quality teachers the most. There's no incentive.

"Teachers' compensation should be tied to teaching results. Base initial salaries on a measurable, weighted formula, including school location, skills, etc. After one year, add test score results to the formula. In addition, bonuses should be paid to reward a particular school, programs within a school, a group of teachers, etc. By incentivizing teachers with higher salaries for performance, the higher paid teachers would be less likely to leave the schools they're currently at, including high need, inner city schools. The result would be retaining and adding quality teachers at the schools that need them most. Because teachers are paid according to a formula, if their results diminish, their salaries are reduced. If they fall below a certain formula guideline, they should be moved out and replaced. Finally, if they fall below a minimum standard, they should not be retained."

Thanks to all. We welcome more comments.

You Gotta Have Art

2008-02-04T13:15:00.000-08:00

We hope you will enjoy this week’s episode, in which two viewers shared with us their favorite works of art—public and personal. We heard from others as well, and we’d like to direct you to their special pieces.

Darrell directed us to Franz Winterhalter’s Portrait of Countess Olga Shuvalova, 1858

Linda wrote: “The Song of the Lark by Jules Breton comes to mind. I’ve always loved that painting, and had a poster of it in my room. I must have identified with her peasant look: bandana, outfit, machete. Seriously, tho’, I find the painting serene and earthy.”

Howard reported: “I am now interested in a new artist, Cheryl Warrick, who is not too well known. I saw her work at the print fair in NYC in November.

And Adar wrote: “Two images came to mind immediately, both public art. One is a mural on a house in Belfast. It promotes the loyalist paramilitary group, the Ulster Freedom Fighters. I saw this mural, amidst a wash of others, walking down Shankhill Road. A few days later, I saw a piece of stenciled graffiti art in Dublin. It looked similar to this.”

Nora is sitting in front of one of our favorite pieces of art. It is Issue #1 (by Miranda July) of The Thing, an object-based quarterly.

Power from the People

2008-01-28T08:04:00.000-08:00

Hmm. I see a transportation theme developing these last few weeks. Episodes on tollway charity days and reduced-cost vehicle stickers for eco-friendly cars followed by episodes on bike lanes and, this week, a bike-powered work station. Clearly Ampolo is becoming a vehicle for social change.

Mileage Rewards

2008-01-14T08:24:00.000-08:00

One of the rewarding things about doing Ampolo is that we get to meet with and then introduce our viewers to people devoted to making a difference in the community. In past weeks, you've seen Gabe Lyon, who along with husband Paul Sereno, is bring science to under-served high schoolers through Project Exploration. You've also seen Joan Brunwasser, who was way ahead of the curve in recognizing that we probably can't trust today's voting machines. This week we introduce you to Lali Watt, a village trustee in Wilmette, Illinois. As she explains, her novel, but remarkably simple idea to improve the environment is, at this point, largely symbolic. But she hopes, as do we, that what begins as a symbol can grow into a movement

Blogging As Art

2007-12-17T15:00:00.000-08:00

As this week’s feature clearly demonstrates, whether it comes to fashion or fashioning blogs, Ampolo is cutting edge. You can visit Keiler’s blog directly by going to: simplewardrobe.blogspot.com.

As if further proof is needed is needed that Ampolo is au courant, we refer you to snippets from two recent articles in the New York Times and Chicago Tribune respectively.

Taxi TV, Brisk as the Traffic You’re Stuck In
By Alessandra Stanley
Where once there was only peeling vinyl, printed fare rates and the cabdriver’s ceaseless cellphone chatter, there is now a television screen.

Report: Ohio Needs New Voting Machines
By Julie Carr Smyth
Columbus, Ohio
The state’s top elections official recommended Friday that Ohio counties replace their touch-screen voting machines because the devices — in use for roughly two years — are vulnerable to manipulation.

Loyal Ampolo viewers will see the connection to two of our earlier episodes. In July, we suggested television sets be provided, not in taxis, but in subway/elevated cars. And last month, voting integrity expert Joan Brunwasser told you about the problem with the current generation of voting machines.

Finally, we have been soliciting ideas from you on particular subjects via email. Soon you’ll see episodes featuring your responses. In the meantime, here is viewer Tom’s response to our request for interesting websites. We checked it out and suggest you do, too:
“A great vocabulary game, and a socially responsible one you can do every day! Go to www.freerice.com and increase your knowledge and be a good person to boot!”

Reverse Verse

2007-12-03T07:29:00.000-08:00

We hope this week's Ampolo idea for a children's book about things in the world that are backwards or in reverse inspires families and teachers to come up with their own investigation, or even a book. Later today or tomorrow, we'll share our book. In the meantime, feel free to post any backwards things that come to mind. And if you write a book, send it to us. We'll post it.

lights, camera, auction

2007-11-26T11:17:00.000-08:00

Do dogs live in the present or do presents live in the dog? This week’s video, sent to us by a viewer who simply identified herself as “Crooky,” not only answers that question, it also offers a smart, fun, stress-free approach to holiday gift giving.

How does your family exchange holiday gifts? If you do something special or unique, please share it with our viewers–either through our “comment” section below or on our blog Ampolotalk (which we revive this week after a period of dormancy).

As you can see, sending us a video does not require Academy Award winning cinematography skills–a good idea and clever way to present it are more than sufficient. And, if you have an idea, but don’t want to send us a video? An emailed description will do just fine.

In the Chicago Tribune of Sunday, November 25, the excellent columnist Mary Schmich offers a more radical holiday gift giving idea. Mary is tired of accumulating and giving "stuff." So, this year she will be giving a different kid of present. Here's her link:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-schmich_bd25nov25,0,5800710.column

Three years ago our family changed our holiday gift giving ways. Instead of buying presents for all family members, we are each responsible for gifting only one person. At Thanksgiving we put everyone's name into a hat and then draw our giftee. We don't reveal the results...until the opening of the gift(s). This year we have set a $75 maximum. You can do a lot for that amount of money. Everyone in our family agrees that this allows them to be much more thoughtful about choosing the right present. It has worked out very well.

We're Back, Baby

2007-11-16T06:56:00.000-08:00

After an extended absence--for which I had a permission note--I have returned. Ampolotalk comments on each new episode will begin again the week of November 19.

SHOPPING BAGS UNDER YOUR EYES

2007-09-04T09:33:00.000-07:00

We know that Ampolo is not the first to broadcast the benefits of reusing shopping bags and thus avoiding choosing paper or plastic each time you go to the store. Nevertheless, we felt it important to bring home the point--so important that we have created an environmentally-friendly reusable bag for those of you who don’t already have one. It’s available by clicking on the Ampolo Gear link on www.ampolo.com.

We’d love for you to share your thoughts/comments on this subject. Here are five questions to get the discussion going?

1. Do you already re-use bags?
2. If not, why not?
3. If so, what’s your system?
4. How do you remember to bring your reusable bags?
5. Would you be willing to support a ban of or tax on plastic bags?

RSVP

Easy as ABC

2007-08-20T08:06:00.000-07:00

Google "alphabet book" and you'll find 427,000 entries. Google "trouble falling asleep" and you'll be directed to 167,000 websites. And google "fun" and you get 668,000,000, yes 668 million, links. We think today's episode will tantalize anyone with an interest in those three subjects, as well as all who are interested in word games, crossword puzzles, and even sudokus. We hope you'll play along on your commute, in your office, and at home--whether around the kitchen table or in bed. Please send me the fruits of your labor. We'll post them. It will be fun. (Now we're up to 668,000,001).

If you have trouble creating a single sentence alphabet string, there are other ways to do your ABCs. How about compiling an A to Z list of places you have visited, authors you have read, or first names of people you ever dated.

Class Action

2007-08-07T13:55:00.000-07:00

Those of us who graduated from eighth grade at Central School in Glencoe, Illinois, in ( ) remain a tightknit group. (I've intentionally left out the year of our graduation, not to protect the guilty, but to protect the aging!) At any rate, we hold reunions at least as often as our high school class does. Recently, a classmate proposed another reunion dinner. Great idea! Out of towners were as excited as those who wouldn't have to travel for it. It struck me: why can't we add a somewhat non-traditional element to the festivities? And, thus was born this week's episode on www.ampolo.com. Please check it out and comment on that website and/or here on the kind of community-oriented projects a reunion class might perform during a reunion weekend or even an afternoon.

Finals finally finito

2007-08-07T13:39:00.000-07:00

With apologies to PETA, we are now in the dog days of August. No closure on the Vick scandal, the NBA ref scandal, or the Barry Bonds sideshow (speaking of doggerel, see bardball.com for some great limericks about Bonds.). We do, however, have winners in the ESPN Who's Now poll and the Ampolotalk, Who's ESPN's most happening personality poll. These winners are respectively, Tiger Woods, who mauled LeBron James and Tony Kornheiser, who outlasted Suzy Kolber. 'nuff said. Let's move on. America will find something else to talk about over the internet or at the water cooler. For this, I recommend HBO's hilarious new series, Flight of the Conchords--seen on Sunday nights after Entourage.

Starbugs

2007-07-30T08:31:00.000-07:00

This week's must-see video on our companion site, www.ampolo.com is a movie pitch. If you know any producers hungry (or thirsty) for the next Jaws or Snakes on a Plane, let us know. The video begs several questions:

1) If you were a Hollywood mucky muck, would you see this as a straight horror movie or more as a campy parody?
2) Title preference: Starbugs or Bugs in Coffee?
3) Who do you see as leading man, leading lady? Must be chemistry.
4) Ingmar Bergman died over ther weekend. Do you think he's already rolling over in his grave? How would he have approached this film?
5) If you ran a coffee shop, could you turn misfortune into fortune by coming up with a creative name for a cup of joe with a bug in it? What would you call it?
Comments, please.

ESPN Personality Poll Finals

2007-07-28T08:31:00.000-07:00

Suzy sent Dickie V. to the sidelines. Tony squeaked by Kenny. So it's a battle of the Special Ks for supremacy in our mindless poll to determine ESPN's top personality. Send your choice KOLBER or KORNHEISER to Steve@ampolo.com and we'll see which personality KOs the other. Can't predict a winner, but can assure you there will be no ties. A tie is like getting kissed by Joe Namath. Winner will be posted on Thursday August 2.

This continues to be fun, but for more meaningful subject matter, don't forget to check out www.ampolo.com.

Literary Hall of Fame

2007-07-23T10:07:00.000-07:00

Next week diehard baseball fans from around the country will gather in Cooperstown, New York, to watch as Cal Ripken, Jr. and Tony Gwynn are inducted into the Hall of Fame. It’s quite possible that some of these fans and those who visit Cooperstown throughout the year will stop at other halls of fame on their journeys. There are such shrines around the country honoring everything from basketball to barbed wire from racquetball to rock and roll.

Strangely, however, there is no national Literary Hall of Fame. Considering all the heavy hitters in the history of American literature, that’s disappointing…and surprising. You would think some enterprising city would recognize the tourist-drawing potential of such an endeavor. That’s the inspiration for this week’s episode on www.ampolo.com, where we ask: if there were such a hall, what five American writers—living or dead-- would you like to see inducted into its inaugural class? We are getting some interesting responses. So check out the video and post your fab five there...and here on ampolotalk, too.

Four on the Floor

2007-07-23T07:09:00.000-07:00

Contrary to reports, there is no, I repeat, NO, evidence that the results of this contest are tainted due to vote fraud. Yes, I have incurred some debt over the last few years due to Fantasy Football League losses, but said debt did not cause my fellow coaches to strong arm me into tinkering with this poll to determine ESPN's most happenin' sports personality--counterprogramming to that network's Who's Now series. By the way, if you have not been watching, you might be interested to learn that ESPN replaced its first round panelists--Michael Wilbon, Keyshawn Johnson, and Kirk Herbstreit--with Mike Greenberg, Jessica Biel, and Kevin James, a veritable Who's Now Who's Who in their own right.

But I digress,here are the results of quarterfinal voting

Keith Olbermann Bracket
CHRIS BERMAN V. DICK VITALE WINNER:VITALE

Melissa Stark Bracket
SUZY KOLBER V. STUART SCOTT WINNER: KOLBER

Craig Kilborn Bracket
PETER GAMMONS V. TONY KORNHEISER WINNER: KORNHEISER

Joe Theismann Bracket
KENNY MAYNE V. MICHAEL WILBON WINNER: MAYNE

So, polls are now open through Thursday, July 26 to vote on semifinals.

VITALE v. KOLBER
KORNHEISER v. MAYNE

Cast your votes by emailing Steve@ampolo.com
And don't forget to view our 2 minute videos at www.ampolo.com

Easy Does It, Riders

2007-07-17T12:29:00.000-07:00

Our current Ampolo video, Easy Riders, suggests a way for urban transit systems to increase ridership and revenue--create specialty cars offering speed dating, ESPN, movie trailers, silent reading, and the like for commuters.

My explanation of this idea on a website devoted to those riding the CTA in Chicago elicited several responses, many of them emotional.

Some wondered about the logistics.

*No one is dumb enough or crazy enough to ride the L to watch TV!
And I can't wait to see hundreds of people on the platform trying to figure out which L car to get in to.
The ESPN car, the movie trailer car or the speed dating car.
Or will there be multiple dating cars: separate straight, bi, gay & lesbian cars?

Others wondered about priorities:

*The CTA needs to focus on providing reliable service, not gimmicks.

Others were somewhat open minded:

*It would be ridiculous and intrusive, but if it was a generator of significant revenue -- and I mean VERY significant revenue -- it might be worth it.

One commentator had already thought of the idea:

*The logical conclusion to the AMPOLO idea is casino cars or the politically incorrect smoking car.
Don't hold your breath on specialty cars,I suggested using el cars as mini outposts of museums to entice people to go to the real museums and be more inclined to the C.T.A. I also suggested that a day be designated cheap date night ,where couples would use the C.T.A. to go to inexpensive places[along with a singles night where people could get use public transportation as a place to find dates for cheap date night ,if they didn't have anyone.
Even having libraries or book exchanges[as is widely done in other cities] on the train or in stations is too radical for the C.T.A.

A couple responses were funny:

*For all you fans of gimmicky ideas....

How about designate up to 8 cars on every train as being substantially litter and "scent" free, and arriving at their destinations in a timely manner. ;)

*We already have quick date cars on the CTA. It's called fondling and flashing, and is found throughout the train.

Two thoughts:

1) No one is suggesting that specialty cars be mandatory. If you think showing a movie trailer is too commercial or that running sports highlights would be too intrusive, then you don't have to enter those cars or any specialty car. There will still be the good old fashioned smelly, littered cars you love to hate. (And it seems to me that the cars could be identified on the outside so that riders could quickly determine which one to choose.)

2) The above responses are much appreciated. At www.ampolo.com and on Ampolotalk, we are offering ideas to stimulate conversation and, we hope, action.

So please avail yourself of the comment sections on each of our sites. You have to register to do so at ampolo.com, but it is very easy to do so.

Eight is More than Enough

2007-07-17T06:22:00.000-07:00

This just in: Tony Parker bears Roger Federer on ESPN's "Who's Now." They must have been playing on clay in Parker's home country France. No doubt this will be the subject of much water cooler talk and internet mail today, and American commerce will resemble the Iraqi parliament in August.

Here at Ampolotalk, we have a REAL contest going on--the quest to find ESPN's most happen' sports personality. We are down to eight. Voting on the quarterfinalists will be open through Sunday, the 22nd.

Many of you have been sending in great comments with your emailed votes, but haven't been posting those comments. Please do so; it's easy. Otherwise I will post some, but will not give your identity away unless you authorize me to do so.

Send votes to Steve@ampolo.com.

Without further ado, the results. Winners/quarterfinalists are in CAPS.

Keith Olbermann Bracket
1. Stephen A. Smith vs. 3.Chris BERMAN
5.Linda Cohn vs. 7.Dick VITALE

BERMAN V. VITALE

Melissa Stark Bracket
9.Suzy KOLBER vs. 11.Dan Patrick
14. Stuart SCOTT vs.15.Michelle Tafoya

KOLBER V. SCOTT

Craig Kilborn Bracket
18. John Saunders vs.19.Peter GAMMONS
21.Mike Greenberg vs. 24.Tony KORNHEISER

GAMMONS V. KORNHEISER

Joe Theismann Bracket
25.Brent Musburger vs. 27. Kenny MAYNE
29.MichaelWILBON vs. 32.Barry Melrose

MAYNE V. WILBON

Don't forget to visit our companion website www.ampolo.com

Reinventing the Wheels

2007-07-16T06:47:00.000-07:00

At Ampolo, we are dedicated to seeing ideas translated into realities. So, inspired by this week’s video, we have sent the following letter to Ron Huberman, the newly installed chairman of the Chicago Transit Authority. We will let you know how he responds. In the meantime send us your ideas for other themed specialty cars. (Here’s one we didn’t include in the video: cars for religious prayer. If there were one for Catholics, that would really be mass transit!)

Dear Mr. Huberman:

Ampolo.com is a video website dedicated to new ideas for products, businesses, services, and ways to make the community a better place. This week we are featuring an idea for improving public transportation by creating specialty El cars that would attract additional riders (and thereby generate more revenues.) These cars might be devoted to sports (with secure televisions showing ESPN), movies (showing trailers), and even speed dating. You can view a brief video of this proposal at www.ampolo.com.

You have indicated that the CTA must come up with creative solutions to its current financial problems. We think specialty cars fit that bill. Ampolo and our viewers would be most interested to hear what you think of this proposal. We look forward to hearing from you.

(signed)

Ampolo.com
*************

At first glance this idea may seem off the wall. But consider the means to which companies now go to market their “brand” and push particular products. Corporations pay millions for the naming rights to sports arenas. 7-eleven has even gone so far as to pay the Chicago White Sox to move the start of their home games from 7:05 to…of course 7:11.

Product placement is increasingly common (and noticeable) in movies and on televisions shows. NBC’s The Office is particularly adept at finding opportunities to mention Staples and to show Hewlett-Packard computers. (Did you notice that I just placed NBC, Staples, and HP? I don’t have a deal with them, but it will be interesting to see if the Google ads on this blog now reflect their names.)

But I’m getting off the track. Given the realities of today’s market, why shouldn’t a transit system desperately in need of revenue make money off of one of its renewable assets: a captive, often bored audience. It’s win, win, win—for the system, the riders, and the entertainment providers.

And then there were 16

2007-07-11T06:29:00.000-07:00

Just as ESPN’s Who Cares, I mean “Who’s Now” contest to anoint the most happening sports celebrity rolls along, so, too, does Ampolotalk’s poll to determine the world’s favorite ESPN personality. Each has achieved the buzz of Monday night’s riveting home run derby, or a PGA event without Tiger Woods, or a WNBA game (regular season, of course. Once those playoffs get going….)

We are down to the Sweet Sixteen. Due to an Executive Order, we cannot give you the exact vote totals or percentages, but we can tell you that the closest race was between Erin Andrews and Stuart Scott. That one came out dead even and was actually decided by the toss of a pillow. It landed on the cooler side, so Scott advances and Andrews is sidelined. We can also tell you that Berman, Kolber, Patrick, Gammons, Greenberg, Kornheiser, and Wilbon all won easily, and that Jim Rome elicited the strongest negative reaction from our voters.

Voting on the Sweet Sixteen begins today and continues through Monday, July 16. We’ll announce the Elite Eight on the 17th. Again, indicate each head to head choice by listing his/her number or name and sending your list to steve@ampolo.com

THE BRACKETS

Keith Olbermann Bracket

1. Stephen A. Smith vs. 3.Chris Berman
5.Linda Cohn vs. 7.Dick Vitale

Melissa Stark Bracket

9.Suzy Kolber vs. 11.Dan Patrick
14. Stuart Scott vs.15.Michelle Tafoya

Craig Kilborn Bracket

18. John Saunders vs.19.Peter Gammons
21.Mike Greenberg vs. 24.Tony Kornheiser

Joe Theismann Bracket

25.Brent Musburger vs. 27. Kenny Mayne
29.Michael Wilbon vs. 32.Barry Melrose

The numbers are merely for identification. Not seeding.

Don’t forget to visit our companion site, www.ampolo.com. We hope you’ll view the video there and find something that you’d like take and run with—free of charge.

Freeganomics

2007-07-08T19:36:00.000-07:00

If you have watched any of our episodes at www.ampolo.com or read our “About Ampolo” section on that site, you know we are hungry for your ideas.

Hmm. Hungry. Perhaps it’s no coincidence that two of the episodes inspired by viewers have centered around food. The first, BYOF, was sent in by Jim, an attorney, who has an idea for a restaurant that provides everything except the food. You bring that yourself and pay the establishment a fee for the table, the plates and silverware, the service, and the ambiance.

Jim’s idea inspired Mike, a writer and assistant manager of an Apple store, to make and then send us his own video—this week’s Ampolo episode, BYOL.

Mike told us that, “Parody is the sincerest form of flattery.”

BYOL is indeed a parody. But is there also a morsel of meaning in it? On first glance, the idea for a restaurant where you bring your leftovers appears, well, unappetizing. In reality, however, there is a growing movement of anti-consumers who might find BYOL right up their alley. The movement is called Freeganism, and as a recent article in the New York Times explained:

"Freegans are scavengers of the developed world, living off consumer waste in an effort to minimize their support of corporations and their impact on the planet, and to distance themselves from what they see as out-of-control consumerism. They forage through supermarket trash and eat the slightly bruised produce or just-expired canned goods that are routinely thrown out, and negotiate gifts of surplus food from sympathetic stores and restaurants. They dress in castoff clothes and furnish their homes with items found on the street; at freecycle.com, where users post unwanted items; and at so-called freemeets, flea markets where no money is exchanged."

Food for thought--which is exactly what we want Ampolo to be.

What do you think? If you were in a grocery story and the manager offered you perfectly good, untouched food that was going to be thrown in the trash, would you accept it? What if that same food were put in a trash bag and left by a dumpster?

You can learn more about freeganism at www.freegan.info and read the full Times article at: http://select.nytimes.com/search/restricted/article?res=F00711FF3B5B0C728EDDAF0894DF404482.

We thought every Hilton had a Gideon’s

2007-07-07T13:15:00.000-07:00

So a rabbinical student and a pastor go into a blog....Sorry, I'm getting ahead of myself. New beginning: When I told my wife that I was going to begin blogging, she gave me her unconditional support---except for one condition. “No Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan or Britney Spears references,” she insisted.

Now here I am, less than a week into Ampolotalk and I’m already in need of a presidential pardon. I’m assuming that most of you did not see the Larry King interview with Ms. Hilton. I certainly didn’t, but I did see a clip of it on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. (Ferguson, by the way is, along with Stephen Colbert, tv’s best monologist. Tivo him if you can’t stay awake that late).

On the clip in question, Paris said she had read the Bible regularly while in jail. King then asked her to name her favorite passage, and…Silence. She was stumped! Couldn’t even make something up. Uncle Lar let her twist in the wind until she finally said she didn’t have a favorite. You can watch for yourself at:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XSSJupKdeA

Well, the Bible says: "Open thy mouth for the dumb, In the cause of all such as are left desolate." (Proverbs 31: 8) Not wanting Paris to feel any dumber or more desolate than she already feels, Ampolotalk asked two friends who know the Bible well to provide Paris with passages she can quote in future interviews.

First up is Lizzi Heydemann, a rabbinic student at the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies in Los Angeles, California:

"Perhaps King David's psalms were among Paris Hilton's favorite passages whilst in the 8 x 12 jail cell she described
to Larry King. Many psalms capture the feelings of loneliness and despair common to people of glamour and fame(particularly when they find themselves in undesirable situations they seem to have brought upon themselves).

"Following the age-old Jewish tradition of reading and reciting King David's psalms, Paris doubtlessly found comfort in David's pleas for divine attention: 'From the depths I call to you, O God. Lord, listen to my voice!' (Ps. 130)

"These words surely reflected her feelings in the depths of her prison term, and perhaps also after the flop of
her 2006 self-titled album, when God appeared to be the only one who might listen.

"Or perhaps she took comfort in Hannah, whose story in Samuel I has inspired Jewish prayer for millennia. The
priest Eli watched as Hannah stood, lips moving with no sound coming out. 'How long will you make a drunken spectacle of yourself? Sober up!' he demanded. As Paris must have insisted to the cop who pulled her over for that
second offense, Hannah protested that she wasn't drunk. She was merely praying (SamI 1:12)."

Thank you, Lizzi. Next up is Pastor Ruth of the Wicker Park Lutheran Church in Chicago:

Ruth begins by tipping her hat to a "houseguest/premier historian of the Church of the Brethren who suggests that Paris' favorite passage would be: 'Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.' (Psalm 23:4 -- King James Version)."

Ruth then adds: ("Here are) two very pointed passages that Paris should seriously, but -- not to be judgmental -- probably will not, ponder:

"John 8:7, And Jesus said [to the adulterous woman whom everyone was ready to stone], 'Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.'"

"James 2:18, Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith" and James 2: 20-26:
Do you want to be shown, you senseless person, that faith apart from works is barren? 21 Was not our ancestor Abraham justified by works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was brought to completion by the works. 23 Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness," and he was called the friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 Likewise, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another road? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead."

Our pastor adds some, "theological thoughts" of her own for Paris (from the Book of Ruth, so to speak):

"Luther was not fond of James (he called James 'the epistle of straw') because it suggests that good works have something to do with salvation. As long as Paris understands that good works are only a manifestation of faith, she can / should indulge in them to her heart's content.

"At some point after her incarceration, Paris observed that God had a purpose in getting her arrested (and presumably drunk). This kind of predestination is bad theology. Paris got Paris drunk and arrested. Paris should bear in mind what Paul writes to the Galatians. ' Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. 8 If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit." (Galatians 6:7-8)."

Amen.

So people, if your people know Paris's people please pass along Lizzi's and Ruth's suggestions. Also, feel free to post your own suggestions for appropriate Biblical passages for Paris Hilton in the Ampoltalk comment section.

ESPN inspires an Ampolotalk poll

2007-07-04T09:28:00.000-07:00

Well, the field of candidates is out there for all to judge. Have you already chosen your man (or woman?) I have. I think it’s going to be a landslide for… Tiger Woods.

Tiger Woods? I’m sorry. Did you think I was talking about the 2008 presidential campaign? No, friends, I refer to the selection of the world’s most happening sports celebrity.

Credit for this idea goes to ESPN. As the cable sports network notes on its website: “Throughout July, ‘SportsCenter’ will air ‘Who's Now,’ a daily series in which viewers will help ESPN determine the ultimate sports star by considering both on-field success and off-field buzz.”

Here’s how it works: ESPN selected a field of 32 finalists, seeded them, and then put them into four different brackets for a single elimination fight to the finish. The brackets are named after pioneers who paved the way for today’s heroes: Michael Jordan, Babe Ruth, Muhammad Ali and Billie Jean King. Top seeds are: the NBA’s LeBron James, the NFL’s Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, and my guy Tiger. Winners are determined by ESPN panelists and us, the American people.

Competition began on July 1 with Tiger easily beating #8 seed Arizona Cardinal quarterback Matt Leinart. You can see the full list of candidates and results at: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=whosnow

As someone who prides himself as both an idea man and a sports fan, I confess that I kicked myself for having failed to come up with “Who’s Now?” But in the idea business you learn to move on and ask, “What’s Next?” What’s next for me (and you, I hope) is a competition to determine the world’s favorite ESPN personality.

I have selected my own list of 32 finalists. I have placed them in their respective bracket positions by pulling their names from an Indianapolis Colts hat. Once we get down to our Final 4, I’ll try to line up some celebrity judges, but in the meantime, all head to head matchups will be decided by you.

To get things going, let’s do all 16 first round matches quickly. Voting begins today and continues through Tuesday, the 10th. Next Wednesday we’ll post the remaining Sweet Sixteen and a new round of voting will begin.

Please feel free to comment as well as vote. Voting is simple. Pick the winners of each of the 16 first round matchups (or as many as you wish) and email them to steve@ampolo.com.

You can either send your pick’s name or number. For example, in the Stephen A. Smith vs. Neil Everett contest, if you choose Smith, either send me his name or his number (1), if you choose Everett, send me his name or number (2). Do the same with the next…oh you get it.

THE BRACKETS

Keith Olbermann Bracket

1. Stephen A. Smith vs. 2.Neal Everett
3.Chris Berman vs. 4. Jay Crawford
5.Linda Cohn vs. 6. Mike Golic
7.Dick Vitale vs. 8.Stacey Dales

Melissa Stark Bracket

9.Suzy Kolber vs. 10.Jim Rome
11.Dan Patrick vs. 12.Joe Morgan
13.Erin Andrews vs. 14. Stuart Scott
15.Michelle Tafoya vs. 16.John Kruk

Craig Kilborn Bracket

17.Mel Kiper jr. vs, 18. John Saunders
19.Peter Gammons vs. 20.Tony Reali
21.Mike Greenberg vs. 22.Skip Bayless
23.Sage Steele vs. 24.Tony Kornheiser

Joe Theismann Bracket

25.Brent Musburger vs. 26.Chris McKendry
27. Kenny Mayne vs. 28.Mike Tirico
29.Michael Wilbon vs. 30.Pedro Gomez
31.Dana Jacobson vs. 32.Barry Melrose

The numbers are merely for identification. Not seeding.

Vote early and often and tell your friends. And don’t forget to visit our companion site, www.ampolo.com. We hope you’ll view the video there and find something that you’d like take and run with—free of charge.

Steve

Welcome to Ampolotalk

2007-07-03T14:58:00.000-07:00

On June 18, 2007, I helped launch www.ampolo.com, a site devoted to the free exchange of ideas for new products, businesses, and services; ideas for new movies, television shows, and books; and ideas for ways to make the world, or at least the community, a better place. The philosophy behind Ampolo is simple: we all have great ideas, but sometimes we don't have the time or inclination to turn them into realities. But it would be great if there were a place where such ideas could be presented and someone who does have the time and inclination can take them and run with them--free of charge. Isn't that why the Internet was created in the first place: to facilitate the free exchange of ideas?

Each Monday on ampolo.com we present a brief (2 minutes or so), entertaining video featuring an idea with the hope that some viewers(s) will take it and run with it. So far, for example, we've presented an idea to create more civility in Congress, an idea for a children's book, and an idea for a restaurant called BYOF (Bring Your Own Food). The episode posted this Monday, July 2, features an idea for customized DVDs. All of these video episodes can be seen on www.ampolo.com

Ampolotalk, which launches today, is the companion site to ampolo.com--a site where, each Monday, we will discuss the current video, and, we hope, hear what you have to say about it. But wait, there's more! When the spirit or the headlines move me, I will be blogging with other ideas or reactions to the ideas of others. I hope such blogging will provoke spirited conversation with those of you who visit Ampolotalk. Sometimes, I may ask you to participate in a contest; sometimes I might ask you to provide counsel to a celebrity, politician, or public figure. My hope is that this will be entertaining and make some points about popular culture, politics, the media, and commerce.

So, please consider visiting both ampolo and Ampolotalk regularly and participating in the banter. Each site has a simple link to the other.

Finally, in case you are wondering, Ampolo is the word for light bulb in Esperanto, the worldwide language created over a century ago to facilitate international cooperation. There's actually a movie in Esperanto, starring, who else, the ubiquitous William Shatner.

Hope to see you back here soon. We'll keep the light bulb on.

Steve