I am fresh back from a couple of days in the Twin Cities – Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. My wife had a business trip and I tagged along, a good fortune I have with the work-anywhere capability of the Internet. I made several observations during the trip, and they will comprise my next few blog posts.

The accompanying photo is of the Mary Tyler Moore statue that stands along the Nicolett Mall in downtown Minneapolis. It was placed by the TV Land network and is similar to the one of Bob Newhart at Navy Pier in Chicago. I took the photo a day after I walked by the statue and didn't notice it, as it blends into the landscape of the former Dayton-Hudson department store behind it.

Diversions • (0) Comments • Permalink

A little less than a month ago was the first ever Looptopia, an all-night celebration of art and culture in Chicago’s Loop. Where there were critiques and complaints about the crowds and the lack of capacity to meet the almost doubling of the expected crowds, I see this as an opportunity for an even better Looptopia 2008!

As I joined family and friends and traversed the many venues, I had my camera in hand and captured photos and videos of the event. Rather than just send around links to Flickr and YouTube, I decided to build a micro Web site around them… because that’s what I do!

Check out Looptopia Memories. Tell your friends. And help it grow – I am looking for links to photos, videos and stories from the night to add.

Diversions • (0) Comments • Permalink

While taking a break from the keyboard over the holiday weekend, I went for a walk and saw this object and took a photo of it.

It is a barrier in the parking lot of the University of Wisconsin – Fox Valley in Menasha, WI. There were several of these barriers that were comprised of what appeared to be a planter with a large PVC pipe with quotations.

The quotation reads, “The biggest obstacle to change is a successful past. Unknown”

Unfortunately this person is unknown, as I would like to know what experiences in life drew them to this conclusion.

Diversions • (0) Comments • Permalink

On my way home from the likemind coffee meetup, I saw a rat in the Loop. Where it is not unusual to see one, this version was over 10 feet tall! I snapped this picture with my Treo, and couldn't help but walk up to the men standing by it to find out what it was doing there.

It turns out there was some demolition going on in the building, and the rat was put up by a union to protest the use of non-union workers. As I was talking with them another person came up to ask.

I'd say this was more effective than those kids that try to stop me every day.

Diversions • (3) Comments • Permalink

On a daily basis, and several times a day, as I traverse downtown Chicago on business, I am posed with the same questions. "Do you have a minute for the environment?" "Do you have a moment to help the children?" These questions are asked by young people with binders and clipboards who want me to donate money to organizations they work for or represent who in turn support those causes. In actuality they should be asking me if I want to support (insert name of organization) but their questions are more of a hook. I simply nod no and continue on my journey until I encounter the next person with a question on the next block.

If I were a weaker person I would feel bad that I have no time for the world or its children. In the past I have stopped to hear their pitch. Even if I was convinced to donate to them, I have an issue with handing over cash or my credit card number to a complete stranger standing on LaSalle Street.

I do care about the environment and the world, and I support other causes that are important to me, like the American Liver Foundation. I also have several pro bono clients for whom I donate services and my time to present themselves online. Where they have a legal right to be there and promote their cause, do they have to continually get in my walking path to try to stop me? And I have no idea if this is even a successful endeavor - maybe some of the marketing folks who visit could comment to that?

When I head out today on my daily trek, rather than simply saying "no" maybe I should instead ask them if they are taking good care of their liver.

Diversions • (3) Comments • Permalink