5K Training

I've started running again. I'm on Hal Higdon's 5K Training designed for intermediate runners with some of my own modifications. I've been on it for less than a week now and I'm already popping pills (just Aleve mom, don't worry). This is how I envision myself after my 5 mile run at the end of the week:

Here's to praying that someone will be around to scrape me off of the track. Or maybe dial 911 for me...

Solemn Holiday

"I believe that even amid today's motor bursts and whining bullets, there is still hope for a brighter tomorrow. I believe that wounded justice, lying prostrate on the blood-flowing streets of our nations, can be lifted from this dust of shame to reign supreme among the children of men.

I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality and freedom for their spirits. I believe that what self-centered men have torn down, men other-centered can build up. I still believe that one day mankind will bow before the altars of God and be crowned triumphant over war and bloodshed, and nonviolent redemptive goodwill will proclaim the rule of the land.

'And the lion and the lamb shall lie down together and every man shall sit under his own vine and fig tree and none shall be afraid.'

I still believe that we shall overcome."
--Martin Luther King, Jr.

In honor of a great man who believed in an even greater philosophy, and a nation still struggling to realize his dream: Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day. If you can, please take a moment to read through one of his moving speeches.

Fudgems

We've all seen the shows for the year's best ads. But I think it was high time for someone to cover the year's worst ads, which is exactly what Seth Stevenson over at Slate did. He asked viewers to weigh in as well and they came up with a pretty good list of good marketing money gone way wrong.

My favorite though (and I don't know if I'd call this a bad ad since it did make me laugh out loud) is the Domino's Fudgems ad. When I first saw this ad on TV, I didn't pay much attention to it. I did think it was a little bit gross that Domino's was actively using this "fudgy" block that leaves brown goo all over those who touch it as a selling point. Many Slate readers also wrote in to say that they were surprised Domino's was now delivering hash with their pizza and sure enough the block does look like a huge chunk of grass that leaves liquid pooh in its wake. But upon closer inspection, what I found the most amusing was that the Fudgems talks. It makes the sort of noise a raccoon might make...if it were high...on hash...and had eaten a gluttonous pound of fudge brownies and a whole pizza to satiate the munchies. SO maybe Domino's does know what they're doing and are marketing to exactly the right demographic, the only ones who would consider eating their pizza: stoners. This one definitely gets my vote for the year's best worst ad.