Howdy!
As ol' James Buffett might say, the weather is here, I wish you were beautiful! That seems more witty in song than in print...
The weather has been beautiful and we wish you were here to share it with us. Here at the famous Casa de Sweetwood Bed & Breakfast, we have augmented our outdoor amenities with you in mind. From the tiki umbrella over our deck table to the new 8x8-foot awning over the new deck bar, you can relax in comfort while choosing sun or shade! You might even find yourself lulled to a nap by the sounds of our gently flowing bamboo water fountain. And our pool now features a floating bar with four floating bar stools!
As always, you can tell the pool is open when you hear Buffet blaring loud enough to scare the neighbors!
All we ask is that you don't hassle one of the owners, Senior Sweetwood, about when he is going to get around to redoing the pool deck...
Summer reservations are going fast! Contact the owners for details.
Meanwhile, you may have noticed augmentations here at Mark's World. The most obvious is a zany, as Jon Stewart might say, moment of zen with the Random Surrealism Generator which will spew a pithy thought - just for you! - every time you visit. As I typed this blog I encountered "I'm afraid I must bottle my frying pan." Hmmm... Indeed!
Today's website suggestion for Mark's Summer Reading Club is: The "Fantastic Four" movie site: FantasticFourMovie.com
The big Marvel blockbuster opens July 8 and will make you forget about "Batman Begins" and that goofy Tom Cruise snoozer "War of the Worlds." Mmmmmmm... Jessica Alba... That'll wake up the summer box office! And talk about perfect casting: "The Shield's" Michael Chiklis as the ever-lovin' blue-eyed Thing! In fact, I have a bet with my best friend Brad that the Fantastic Four weekend opening will destroy the $49 million of "Batman Begins." He will be humbled once again!
Enjoy the weather!
Mark
P.S. This is the funniest thing I have seen in years: tom cruise.mov
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Saturday, June 18, 2005
Summer Reading Club
Now that I have all sorts of free time to, uh, to do, uhm, stuff, I have run across some fascinating new web sites. I will share them with you periodically in a new segment I like to call "Mark's Summer Reading Club."
When you get some free time, check these out:
• http://www.saulbass.net/psychostudio Think you are better than Hitchcock? Then redit that infamous shower scene!
• http://www.tripadvisor.com Reviews of actual vacation spots by actual people who report actual experiences - good and bad. Of course, the bas experiences are the funniest!
• http://www.podcastingnews.com Continually updated site exploring Podcast innovations.
• http://findadeath.com A truly decadent concept: Not only does it let you know whether your favorite stars of the past are dead, but provides details on the each celeb's final days and pictures of their final homes as well as final resting places. It is written in a shameless, disgusting, tawdry style - and completely irresistible.
• http://www.regrettheerror.com This is a daily update on newspaper corrections. As I always admonished folks, "There but for the grace of God..."
• http://metaatem.net/words I learned about this one on Poynter. You type in a word, like your name, and "flickr" will spell it out in different letters from pictures found on the Internet. It is hard to explain. Just do it!
• http://jumptheshark.com I still am amazed at all the people who do not know about this site. It gets its name from the episode of "Happy Days" when Fonzie jumped his motorcycle over a shark. This is basically a discussion board where folks can discuss when a good TV series went bad, or, jumped the shark. Truly addictive!
• http://www.slickdeals.net Here's a good place to discover great deals on virually anything. This is essentially a board where folks share amazing bargains - and it really works!
http://cheaters.com I keep telling everyone that my new favorite daytime television show is "Cheaters" in which anyone who suspects their loved of infidelity can contact the show and they will dispatch a team of private detectives and videographers to detail the cheating and then arrange a confrontation. The best part: despite the scandalous nature, the show claims it is "both dedicated to the faithful and presented to the falsehearted to encourage their renewal of temperance and virtue." Yeah, right...
• http://www.theonion.com Fake news is, sometimes, better than the real thing! One of the funniest sites on the 'Net.
• http://www.humanclock.com Go to this site and hit "view the clock" and then "gimme a cute window" and the time will be displayed, uniquely, by humans!
• http://www.link4u.com/vacation.htm Why not take a virtual vacation?
• http://www.earthcam.com/usa/nevada/lasvegas/paris.html Here is a 24/7 live cam from the Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino! Ahhh... The Paris...
Other summer reading tips: I chowed down on two John Grisham books in Florida: "The Street Lawyer" and "The Last Juror." "Juror" is a must-read for anyone who has ever worked at a small newspaper. "Cargo" magazine has cool stuff for guys. "House of M" may top "Infinity Crisis" as the comic book event of the summer. For summer viewing, check out the first season of "The Bob Newhart Show" on DVD. A real gem! Also, you MUST see the rereleased Steve McQueen classic "Bullitt." Ultra-cool!
When you get some free time, check these out:
• http://www.saulbass.net/psychostudio Think you are better than Hitchcock? Then redit that infamous shower scene!
• http://www.tripadvisor.com Reviews of actual vacation spots by actual people who report actual experiences - good and bad. Of course, the bas experiences are the funniest!
• http://www.podcastingnews.com Continually updated site exploring Podcast innovations.
• http://findadeath.com A truly decadent concept: Not only does it let you know whether your favorite stars of the past are dead, but provides details on the each celeb's final days and pictures of their final homes as well as final resting places. It is written in a shameless, disgusting, tawdry style - and completely irresistible.
• http://www.regrettheerror.com This is a daily update on newspaper corrections. As I always admonished folks, "There but for the grace of God..."
• http://metaatem.net/words I learned about this one on Poynter. You type in a word, like your name, and "flickr" will spell it out in different letters from pictures found on the Internet. It is hard to explain. Just do it!
• http://jumptheshark.com I still am amazed at all the people who do not know about this site. It gets its name from the episode of "Happy Days" when Fonzie jumped his motorcycle over a shark. This is basically a discussion board where folks can discuss when a good TV series went bad, or, jumped the shark. Truly addictive!
• http://www.slickdeals.net Here's a good place to discover great deals on virually anything. This is essentially a board where folks share amazing bargains - and it really works!
http://cheaters.com I keep telling everyone that my new favorite daytime television show is "Cheaters" in which anyone who suspects their loved of infidelity can contact the show and they will dispatch a team of private detectives and videographers to detail the cheating and then arrange a confrontation. The best part: despite the scandalous nature, the show claims it is "both dedicated to the faithful and presented to the falsehearted to encourage their renewal of temperance and virtue." Yeah, right...
• http://www.theonion.com Fake news is, sometimes, better than the real thing! One of the funniest sites on the 'Net.
• http://www.humanclock.com Go to this site and hit "view the clock" and then "gimme a cute window" and the time will be displayed, uniquely, by humans!
• http://www.link4u.com/vacation.htm Why not take a virtual vacation?
• http://www.earthcam.com/usa/nevada/lasvegas/paris.html Here is a 24/7 live cam from the Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino! Ahhh... The Paris...
Other summer reading tips: I chowed down on two John Grisham books in Florida: "The Street Lawyer" and "The Last Juror." "Juror" is a must-read for anyone who has ever worked at a small newspaper. "Cargo" magazine has cool stuff for guys. "House of M" may top "Infinity Crisis" as the comic book event of the summer. For summer viewing, check out the first season of "The Bob Newhart Show" on DVD. A real gem! Also, you MUST see the rereleased Steve McQueen classic "Bullitt." Ultra-cool!
Thursday, June 16, 2005
Sweetwoods in the News!!!
While I am no longer in the newspaper biz, my brother and sister have both played significant roles in their local newspapers in recent weeks. This, of course, saves me the hassle of actually writing something to post here!
My sister, Karen Roth, is a terrific columnist volunteering her talents for the "Write Team" of the Daily Times of Ottawa, Ill. She deserves to be paid for her work, Lonny! Here is her June 8 column following the June 4 marriage of her daughter Angela to Fred Nimke:
"Smiling with tears from the cradle to a wedding"
When your baby girl is born, a myriad of thoughts races through your mind. Holding her safely in your arms, you envision that first step and the first date. You think of her playing with friends, going off to college, and the grand finale - her wedding day. Happiness swells inside you. And you smile through your tears.
You bring that darling infant home. Colic and ear infections take over your sleep-deprived life. You wonder how you lost control and why nothing feels right. One day she finally takes a nap. You check on her and gaze at those chubby cheeks and the dimpled hands. And you smile through your tears.
She skips off to her first day of school. She comes home brimming over with excitement about the big swingset and Music with Mrs. Martin on Mondays. Then comes the day when someone makes fun of her and her feelings get hurt. You hug her and use the moment to remind her why we should be thoughtful of others. And you smile through your tears.
Teen years hit before you know it and you enter a cycle of slumber parties and orthodontist appointments. The telephone constantly rings, and the circle of friends is ever changing. Her bedroom looks as though a hurricane blew threw.
Just when you begin to wonder how what kind of person you are raising, you run into a neighbor. Your daughter babysat for her children, and the neighbor can’t say enough nice things about how much the kids love her. She raves about how responsible your daughter is to clean up the kitchen and make sure the children get to bed on time. And you smile through your tears.
College and then graduate school. She juggles a job, internship, and car payments. You worry about how she will manage to get everything done. You warn her again about drugs and strangers, but she rolls her eyes as she runs out the door.
One evening she calls with the message that she had car trouble but made it safely to class & don’t worry. You leave her a voice mail message telling her to stay put until you arrive. Your husband breaks all the traffic rules racing to get there before she is alone on campus at night.
You don’t see her at first, and your heart skips a beat. Then you spot her. Some professors are waiting with her. They extend offers of overnight lodging or calling a repairman.
You are impressed with the quality of people she knows; they are good folks who look out for one another. They tell you what a wonderful person she is and how highly they think of her. And you smile through your tears.
Her wedding day is almost here. I’ve been preoccupied with the most unexpected things: how will we ever get everything done, what will I serve the girls for lunch before we head to the church, and where did I put that wedding wrapping paper?
Then we went for her final dress fitting. And suddenly I remembered the day she was born and the tremendous feelings I had on the first day of her life. I thought I could never love her more than I did right then.
I was wrong. Her father and I are grateful we had the chance to raise this wonderful person. We love her more today than we did twenty-five years ago.
So on her wedding day, when she tells us she loves us before marrying the man of her dreams, we will smile through our tears.
----------------------------------------------
That was sweet! Meanwhile, my brother Eric and I share a great love for comic books. Eric has collected every Batman comic printed since he became my little brother on Dec. 6, 1963. As a result, he is something of a renowned Batman expert (he has a grad school paper published on the subject) and since "Batman Begins" opened this week, the Bloomington Pantagraph profiled him on Thursday. The story is here (thanks to legendary Publisher Henry Bird!):
"Building a better bat"
By Steve Arney
sarney@pantagraph.com
The complexity of the dyad character Batman/Bruce Wayne has attracted Eric Sweetwood from an early age.
He learned how to read from comic books, starting three years after his 1963 birth, and Batman has been his lifelong favorite.
In other comics, superheroes and villains are a collection of mutants, aliens and characters with special powers. To Sweetwood, they lack a plausibility.
Take Superman.
The alien from Krypton looks exactly like a European-American. His powers make victory predictable.
Sweetwood prefers the human hero.
"With Batman," he said, "you really could lose. Batman in the comics occasionally does lose. He's a real guy."
Sweetwood takes seriously his character study of Batman/Bruce Wayne and his study of the series' other characters.
A social studies teacher for Pontiac High School, Sweetwood will teach a July class at Heartland Community College for fifth-through-ninth graders as part of the college's Youth Enrichment Program. (Program information is available at www.heartland.edu/cce)
As a college student in 1997, he undertook a scholarly examination, writing a graduate school paper published by "A Student Journal of Historical Studies" at Illinois State University. You can download and read the paper here (PDF).
Complicating any study of the dual character is the shifting interpretations of Batman/Bruce Wayne by comics writers, starting with Batman's 1939 debut, and the script writers, actors and directors of modern media.
Wednesday's release of "Batman Begins" marks the fifth live-action motion picture since 1989. Christian Bale is the fourth actor to take the lead role. Christopher Nolan is the third director.
Batman appears, on average, in about 15 different comic books per month, and some of those books emphasis different traits within the character, said Jim Schifeling, owner of Acme Comics in downtown Normal.
For example, the Detective series focuses on Batman's cerebral sleuthing ability, said Schifeling.
Movie director Tim Burton unleashed a modern Batman in 1989, with the first in the modern "Batman" series.
The gothic setting and grittiness gave viewers a dramatic departure from the campy Adam West portrayal of the 1960s TV series and movie.
But Burton's Batman was familiar ground to comics collectors. They were witnessing a return of a darker Dark Knight, not a new creation. And the grittier Dark Knight has dominated Batman comics since then, Schifeling said.
He describes the traditional Batman as "dark and moody" and "an introvert."
The movie series, meanwhile, evolved into lighter fare, with Robin adding levity just as he did in the comics starting in the 1940s.
Recent movies became ridiculous, especially the most recent "Batman & Robin," said Schifeling. Over the decades, the comics made similar forays into weird and stupid, he said, such as the examination of the child Batman.
Sweetwood, too, dismisses the last movie as a failure. But taking the long view, his premise is that the shifting Batman/Wayne character reflects shifts in society while imparting lessons through Batman, his allies and the villains.
A few examples, gathered from his college research papers and from conversations this month, are as follows:
• Batman begins as a vengeful vigilante out to produce justice. This was during World War II.
• The post-war Batman and Bruce Wayne are more friendly. Batman becomes a friend of police, rather than an isolated fighter with a similar agenda. Materialism and modernism are reflected in the Batmobile and other machinery.
• Batman in the late 1950s and early 1960s takes to outer space, reflecting science fiction's popularity. Batgirl and Batwoman probably were introduced as love interests to "prove" that the Dynamic Duo wasn't a gay couple, as alleged by an anti-comics critic.
• Batman keeps his values in the 1970s but is less cooperative with government.
• The villains Scarecrow and Penguin provide examples of people turning angry and evil after enduring taunts and abuse from society for being odd. It serves as a warning to be kind to people who are different.
• The original Robin, Dick Grayson, became Nightwing, and his relationship with Batman shows the generation gap.
• The Oracle, paralyzed by the Joker, becomes a crimefighter through computer use. She is a modern woman.
A constant trait for Batman/Wayne is human frailty, and his flaws help the readers and viewers relate to the character, Sweetwood said.
Batman/Wayne is forever dealing with the grief of his parents' murder, wrongly blaming himself and obsessed with redeeming himself while protecting others, said Sweetwood.
The character also represents the ability to overcome personal tragedy and achieve greatness, he said, and that is a lesson for all generations of Batman watchers.
Copyright © 2005, Pantagraph Publishing Co. All rights reserved.
-------------------------------------
If you want to see Eric in his "Bat-Room," go here:
http://www.pantagraph.com/ent/art/0616_batguy1.jpg
I am so proud of my brother and sister and so excited that their talents and special qualities have been recognized by their local newspapers!
Mark
My sister, Karen Roth, is a terrific columnist volunteering her talents for the "Write Team" of the Daily Times of Ottawa, Ill. She deserves to be paid for her work, Lonny! Here is her June 8 column following the June 4 marriage of her daughter Angela to Fred Nimke:
"Smiling with tears from the cradle to a wedding"
When your baby girl is born, a myriad of thoughts races through your mind. Holding her safely in your arms, you envision that first step and the first date. You think of her playing with friends, going off to college, and the grand finale - her wedding day. Happiness swells inside you. And you smile through your tears.
You bring that darling infant home. Colic and ear infections take over your sleep-deprived life. You wonder how you lost control and why nothing feels right. One day she finally takes a nap. You check on her and gaze at those chubby cheeks and the dimpled hands. And you smile through your tears.
She skips off to her first day of school. She comes home brimming over with excitement about the big swingset and Music with Mrs. Martin on Mondays. Then comes the day when someone makes fun of her and her feelings get hurt. You hug her and use the moment to remind her why we should be thoughtful of others. And you smile through your tears.
Teen years hit before you know it and you enter a cycle of slumber parties and orthodontist appointments. The telephone constantly rings, and the circle of friends is ever changing. Her bedroom looks as though a hurricane blew threw.
Just when you begin to wonder how what kind of person you are raising, you run into a neighbor. Your daughter babysat for her children, and the neighbor can’t say enough nice things about how much the kids love her. She raves about how responsible your daughter is to clean up the kitchen and make sure the children get to bed on time. And you smile through your tears.
College and then graduate school. She juggles a job, internship, and car payments. You worry about how she will manage to get everything done. You warn her again about drugs and strangers, but she rolls her eyes as she runs out the door.
One evening she calls with the message that she had car trouble but made it safely to class & don’t worry. You leave her a voice mail message telling her to stay put until you arrive. Your husband breaks all the traffic rules racing to get there before she is alone on campus at night.
You don’t see her at first, and your heart skips a beat. Then you spot her. Some professors are waiting with her. They extend offers of overnight lodging or calling a repairman.
You are impressed with the quality of people she knows; they are good folks who look out for one another. They tell you what a wonderful person she is and how highly they think of her. And you smile through your tears.
Her wedding day is almost here. I’ve been preoccupied with the most unexpected things: how will we ever get everything done, what will I serve the girls for lunch before we head to the church, and where did I put that wedding wrapping paper?
Then we went for her final dress fitting. And suddenly I remembered the day she was born and the tremendous feelings I had on the first day of her life. I thought I could never love her more than I did right then.
I was wrong. Her father and I are grateful we had the chance to raise this wonderful person. We love her more today than we did twenty-five years ago.
So on her wedding day, when she tells us she loves us before marrying the man of her dreams, we will smile through our tears.
----------------------------------------------
That was sweet! Meanwhile, my brother Eric and I share a great love for comic books. Eric has collected every Batman comic printed since he became my little brother on Dec. 6, 1963. As a result, he is something of a renowned Batman expert (he has a grad school paper published on the subject) and since "Batman Begins" opened this week, the Bloomington Pantagraph profiled him on Thursday. The story is here (thanks to legendary Publisher Henry Bird!):
"Building a better bat"
By Steve Arney
sarney@pantagraph.com
The complexity of the dyad character Batman/Bruce Wayne has attracted Eric Sweetwood from an early age.
He learned how to read from comic books, starting three years after his 1963 birth, and Batman has been his lifelong favorite.
In other comics, superheroes and villains are a collection of mutants, aliens and characters with special powers. To Sweetwood, they lack a plausibility.
Take Superman.
The alien from Krypton looks exactly like a European-American. His powers make victory predictable.
Sweetwood prefers the human hero.
"With Batman," he said, "you really could lose. Batman in the comics occasionally does lose. He's a real guy."
Sweetwood takes seriously his character study of Batman/Bruce Wayne and his study of the series' other characters.
A social studies teacher for Pontiac High School, Sweetwood will teach a July class at Heartland Community College for fifth-through-ninth graders as part of the college's Youth Enrichment Program. (Program information is available at www.heartland.edu/cce)
As a college student in 1997, he undertook a scholarly examination, writing a graduate school paper published by "A Student Journal of Historical Studies" at Illinois State University. You can download and read the paper here (PDF).
Complicating any study of the dual character is the shifting interpretations of Batman/Bruce Wayne by comics writers, starting with Batman's 1939 debut, and the script writers, actors and directors of modern media.
Wednesday's release of "Batman Begins" marks the fifth live-action motion picture since 1989. Christian Bale is the fourth actor to take the lead role. Christopher Nolan is the third director.
Batman appears, on average, in about 15 different comic books per month, and some of those books emphasis different traits within the character, said Jim Schifeling, owner of Acme Comics in downtown Normal.
For example, the Detective series focuses on Batman's cerebral sleuthing ability, said Schifeling.
Movie director Tim Burton unleashed a modern Batman in 1989, with the first in the modern "Batman" series.
The gothic setting and grittiness gave viewers a dramatic departure from the campy Adam West portrayal of the 1960s TV series and movie.
But Burton's Batman was familiar ground to comics collectors. They were witnessing a return of a darker Dark Knight, not a new creation. And the grittier Dark Knight has dominated Batman comics since then, Schifeling said.
He describes the traditional Batman as "dark and moody" and "an introvert."
The movie series, meanwhile, evolved into lighter fare, with Robin adding levity just as he did in the comics starting in the 1940s.
Recent movies became ridiculous, especially the most recent "Batman & Robin," said Schifeling. Over the decades, the comics made similar forays into weird and stupid, he said, such as the examination of the child Batman.
Sweetwood, too, dismisses the last movie as a failure. But taking the long view, his premise is that the shifting Batman/Wayne character reflects shifts in society while imparting lessons through Batman, his allies and the villains.
A few examples, gathered from his college research papers and from conversations this month, are as follows:
• Batman begins as a vengeful vigilante out to produce justice. This was during World War II.
• The post-war Batman and Bruce Wayne are more friendly. Batman becomes a friend of police, rather than an isolated fighter with a similar agenda. Materialism and modernism are reflected in the Batmobile and other machinery.
• Batman in the late 1950s and early 1960s takes to outer space, reflecting science fiction's popularity. Batgirl and Batwoman probably were introduced as love interests to "prove" that the Dynamic Duo wasn't a gay couple, as alleged by an anti-comics critic.
• Batman keeps his values in the 1970s but is less cooperative with government.
• The villains Scarecrow and Penguin provide examples of people turning angry and evil after enduring taunts and abuse from society for being odd. It serves as a warning to be kind to people who are different.
• The original Robin, Dick Grayson, became Nightwing, and his relationship with Batman shows the generation gap.
• The Oracle, paralyzed by the Joker, becomes a crimefighter through computer use. She is a modern woman.
A constant trait for Batman/Wayne is human frailty, and his flaws help the readers and viewers relate to the character, Sweetwood said.
Batman/Wayne is forever dealing with the grief of his parents' murder, wrongly blaming himself and obsessed with redeeming himself while protecting others, said Sweetwood.
The character also represents the ability to overcome personal tragedy and achieve greatness, he said, and that is a lesson for all generations of Batman watchers.
Copyright © 2005, Pantagraph Publishing Co. All rights reserved.
-------------------------------------
If you want to see Eric in his "Bat-Room," go here:
http://www.pantagraph.com/ent/art/0616_batguy1.jpg
I am so proud of my brother and sister and so excited that their talents and special qualities have been recognized by their local newspapers!
Mark
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
The nagging ends...
To all of the women in my life - including my wife, the staff at For Eyes in Algonquin, Heather, et al - please notice the change in my picture. The other one was dated, I admit. The new one was shot June 4, 2005 at my niece Angela's wedding to her beloved Fred. OK. Ya happy!?! A photo shot THIS century! Notice how the face has become fuller while the glasses smaller... I am told that makes me more stylish (the smaller glasses not the fuller face) though I still kinda miss the Harry Carey look. Holy Cow!
Now, I gotta work on the fuller face...
Now, I gotta work on the fuller face...
Friday, June 10, 2005
Addendum
Here's one for all the folks over the years who have pledged - upon hearing one of our comic/tragic misadventures while traveling - "I will NEVER vacation with you!": We arrived in Florida last August just in time for the first major Florida hurricane of the season, "Charley." Ten months later we have returned to Florida for the first major tropical storm of the 2005 season, "Arlene." Go figure...
Thursday, June 09, 2005
Soakin' Up Some Vitamin D
I feel like that Johnny Cash song: "I've been everywhere, man!"
It's been a whirlwind couple of weeks what with Memorial Day weekend, my niece Angela's beautiful wedding and our trip to Fort Lauderdale.
I'm exhausted. :)
Truth be told, despite my weariness of living out of a suitcase, I love everything about traveling. In a future/alternative life, I'd make a great "Travel Concierge." I'm not sure if such a thing exists. Maybe I should invent it/one. At least, it would be a cool column concept.
There are a lot of tricks to organizing a good trip - and it doesn't have to cost three arms and two-and-a-half legs. Let me walk you through some tips - and you can use these if you have yet to put together a summer get-away. The good news: It's not too late to book a fun trip! Quit panicking!
OK, first, decide where you want to go. There are a lot of ways to do this. The most popular way is to look around where you are and then decide how far away from THAT you want to get!
Seriously, what interests you? Dining? The Sun? Entertainment? Sports? Adventure? Kid diversions? Relaxation?
For me, sun and relaxation are always at the top of the list. Now, how much would you like to spend? I have a suggestion: As little as possible. Visit a online travel agent like www.expedia.com and poke around at the possibilities. To stay up to date on some great deals, subscribe to the email service at www.travelzoo.com.
Actually, that is how we ended up in Fort Lauderdale the first time. Travelzoo.com tipped me that Spiritair.com was having a sale from Chicago (or, ORD as a trained Travel Concierge would say) to Fort Lauderdale (FLL). Every now and then, the tickets there from Chicago are incredibly cheap. One reason: Fort Lauderdale is the HQ (concierge-speak for "headquarters") of Spirit. So, in 2003, I found non-stop tickets for $43 each way!. Yes, $86 for a round trip. The trick here: Book the trip on a less-traveled day like Tuesday vs. Friday or Saturday.
With that info, the next step is deciding where to stay. A good resource is wwwtripadvisor.com. Here, actual travelers rank hotels based on their experiences.
In 2003, I was surprised to discover that a little, inexpensive, independently owned Fort Lauderdale hotel called the Tropi Rock Resort ranked in the top five among the hundreds of Fort Lauderdale hotels. I called and talked to the owner, Mick, and he was a great guy. I booked it and the plane tickets and we just thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. It was so enyoyable, in fact, that we returned to soak up some Vitamin D this week. Mick gave us a great rate for the return visit and lest ye be fearful of all of the stories about rising gas prices, airline strife, blah, blah, blah: We got a great rate from Spirit! Good prices still remain.
In fact, I checked on Tuesday night by doing a search on Spiritair.com and found I could still book a round trip from ORD to FLL departing Tuesday, July 19, 2005 and returning Tuesday, July 26, 2005 for $88! Yes, it has just gone up $2 in two years! Add tax, title, license fee, destination charges and "security" fee, the total for two tickets was $213.80! A compact efficiency for seven nights at the Tropi Rock is $490 plus taxes. The pool and gardens are lovely and the ocean is one-and-a-half blocks away!
Here's a Spirit tip: When checking in, inquire if there are open seats in "Spirit Class," their version of First Class. NEVER book Spirit Class online! If they have openings at the gate and you want to kick your vacation off in style, it will cost you between $30-50 per seat. It varies depending on demand, length of the trip, etc. It seems random, frankly. On the most recent trip, it cost us $50 each. On our last Orlando trip it was $30. It used to be $40 when Spirit flew to Las Vegas in 2004. It's all you can drink and free snacks, unlike "coach," so you'll get some of that back by consuming like a pig - plus you will be infinitely more comfortable. We consumed $36 dollars in "free" food and drinks on the three-hour flight to Fort Lauderdale. Those suckers in coach PAID for food and drinks and were uncomfortable to boot!
Just to make this seem even more commercial: When in Fort Lauderdale, guests of the Mark Sweetwood blog (pretty much just Mary at this point) stay at the beautiful Tropi Rock Resort. Check it out at www.tropirock.com. When flying, the Mark Sweetwood blog flies Spirit Airlines! Catch the Spirit at www.spiritair.com.
Now, if I could just get paid for that...
As always, feel free to send me any questions or comments about travel, tips or destinations!
Back to the pool!
Mark
P.S. While "researching" this blog chapter, I discovered that on this Tropi Rock page - http://www.tropirock.com/rooms.html - our actual room is pictured at the top! How cool!
It's been a whirlwind couple of weeks what with Memorial Day weekend, my niece Angela's beautiful wedding and our trip to Fort Lauderdale.
I'm exhausted. :)
Truth be told, despite my weariness of living out of a suitcase, I love everything about traveling. In a future/alternative life, I'd make a great "Travel Concierge." I'm not sure if such a thing exists. Maybe I should invent it/one. At least, it would be a cool column concept.
There are a lot of tricks to organizing a good trip - and it doesn't have to cost three arms and two-and-a-half legs. Let me walk you through some tips - and you can use these if you have yet to put together a summer get-away. The good news: It's not too late to book a fun trip! Quit panicking!
OK, first, decide where you want to go. There are a lot of ways to do this. The most popular way is to look around where you are and then decide how far away from THAT you want to get!
Seriously, what interests you? Dining? The Sun? Entertainment? Sports? Adventure? Kid diversions? Relaxation?
For me, sun and relaxation are always at the top of the list. Now, how much would you like to spend? I have a suggestion: As little as possible. Visit a online travel agent like www.expedia.com and poke around at the possibilities. To stay up to date on some great deals, subscribe to the email service at www.travelzoo.com.
Actually, that is how we ended up in Fort Lauderdale the first time. Travelzoo.com tipped me that Spiritair.com was having a sale from Chicago (or, ORD as a trained Travel Concierge would say) to Fort Lauderdale (FLL). Every now and then, the tickets there from Chicago are incredibly cheap. One reason: Fort Lauderdale is the HQ (concierge-speak for "headquarters") of Spirit. So, in 2003, I found non-stop tickets for $43 each way!. Yes, $86 for a round trip. The trick here: Book the trip on a less-traveled day like Tuesday vs. Friday or Saturday.
With that info, the next step is deciding where to stay. A good resource is wwwtripadvisor.com. Here, actual travelers rank hotels based on their experiences.
In 2003, I was surprised to discover that a little, inexpensive, independently owned Fort Lauderdale hotel called the Tropi Rock Resort ranked in the top five among the hundreds of Fort Lauderdale hotels. I called and talked to the owner, Mick, and he was a great guy. I booked it and the plane tickets and we just thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. It was so enyoyable, in fact, that we returned to soak up some Vitamin D this week. Mick gave us a great rate for the return visit and lest ye be fearful of all of the stories about rising gas prices, airline strife, blah, blah, blah: We got a great rate from Spirit! Good prices still remain.
In fact, I checked on Tuesday night by doing a search on Spiritair.com and found I could still book a round trip from ORD to FLL departing Tuesday, July 19, 2005 and returning Tuesday, July 26, 2005 for $88! Yes, it has just gone up $2 in two years! Add tax, title, license fee, destination charges and "security" fee, the total for two tickets was $213.80! A compact efficiency for seven nights at the Tropi Rock is $490 plus taxes. The pool and gardens are lovely and the ocean is one-and-a-half blocks away!
Here's a Spirit tip: When checking in, inquire if there are open seats in "Spirit Class," their version of First Class. NEVER book Spirit Class online! If they have openings at the gate and you want to kick your vacation off in style, it will cost you between $30-50 per seat. It varies depending on demand, length of the trip, etc. It seems random, frankly. On the most recent trip, it cost us $50 each. On our last Orlando trip it was $30. It used to be $40 when Spirit flew to Las Vegas in 2004. It's all you can drink and free snacks, unlike "coach," so you'll get some of that back by consuming like a pig - plus you will be infinitely more comfortable. We consumed $36 dollars in "free" food and drinks on the three-hour flight to Fort Lauderdale. Those suckers in coach PAID for food and drinks and were uncomfortable to boot!
Just to make this seem even more commercial: When in Fort Lauderdale, guests of the Mark Sweetwood blog (pretty much just Mary at this point) stay at the beautiful Tropi Rock Resort. Check it out at www.tropirock.com. When flying, the Mark Sweetwood blog flies Spirit Airlines! Catch the Spirit at www.spiritair.com.
Now, if I could just get paid for that...
As always, feel free to send me any questions or comments about travel, tips or destinations!
Back to the pool!
Mark
P.S. While "researching" this blog chapter, I discovered that on this Tropi Rock page - http://www.tropirock.com/rooms.html - our actual room is pictured at the top! How cool!
Thursday, June 02, 2005
Putting stock into reader expectations...
OK, I promise not to make this site a regurgitation of my old newspaper philosophies. But I was compelled to pontificate by this item from Wednesday's Chicago Tribune: "Sun-Times to kill stock tables."
I think that was a popular media topic, judging by my emails Wednesday. I passed it along to friends I know after reading it at Romenesko's Poynter site and other media-types and acquaintances emailed me, too, with their viewpoints. Mostly, I witnessed a bloodthirsty call for the death of stock listings!
One of my favorite books in recent years is "The Tipping Point" by Malcom Gladwell which, as the subtitle suggests, details "How little things can make a big difference." Gladwell demonstrates how a relatively small group - properly placed - can spark anything from a fashion trend to a syphilis outbreak. Gladwell also has a cautionary note about one of his agents of change which he labeled "The Power of Context:"
"...in a given process or system, some people matter more than others."
Now, newspaper managers across the country, long weary of the expense of publishing page-after-page of non-advertising-bearing stock listings, are watching the Sun-Times move with great expectations. For the average investor, the online community can provide a more expedient invest portfolio-tracking experience. For the older reader, stock listings in the newspaper are a tradition. While Chicago's No. 2 newspaper is among the first metro newspapers to end the practice, I've been told of another company that plans to make a similar announcement this summer.
Have newspapers reached the "tipping point" in terms of such content?
Perhaps. However, the Trib article quotes Sreenath Sreenivasan, chief of the new media program at Columbia University's journalism school, with this well-timed warning: "If they put in more business reporting, more context, that would be good for the reader. If they're doing this and not doing anything to enhance the paper, that may not be a good idea."
I hope that statement gets as much attention as the Sun-Times decision to end stock listings.
Editors often go about making these types of decisions in an odd way. If I had a dime for every time I witnessed some editor brag at some editors' gathering about how he or she eliminated a feature or reader service "And the newsroom did not receive a single phone call!" I could retire for real. These poor souls truly do not comprehend the newspaper/reader relationship.
The relationship is based mostly on how relevant the newspaper is to the reader's life. And, in recent years, readers have increasingly told newspapers that they were no longer relevant to their lives. But they didn't pick up the phone to do so in most cases. They just let their subscriptions expire and if the newspaper even bothered to call to find out why - and far too many do not - telemarketers were given excuses such as "I just don't have enough time."
Think about your relevant relationships with other types of media: Did you actually call Entertainment Weekly to let them know their magazine was no longer relevant to your life - or did you just let the subscription lapse? When you stopped listening to Steve Dahl on the radio, did you send him him a card or letter? When the TV sitcom "Frazier" became tedious in Year No. 6 of its 11-year run, did you send Kelsey Grammer a telegram? When media moths Ben Affleck/Jennifer Lopez morphed into "Bennifer" and overwhelmed and violated your consciousness, did you e-mail them to explain your reluctance to "Gigli?"
Why, then, do editors expect readers to call them with a pronouncement when they feel their relevant relationship has been thus violated? Sure, readers call if they believe an article or an opinion (like an editorial endorsement) is offensive. But these folks are in the minority of cancelations. They have a passion that has intersected with the newspaper and the likelihood of these readers actually canceling or remaining away from the newspaper for any extended period of time is nil.
As in gastronomic attacks, be fearful of the silent, but deadly variety of readership indifference...
I was fortunate to spend the past 13 years at Shaw Newspapers where I had much freedom to build teams to fully utilize content innovations. In recent years, many non-progressive newspaper companies have, in contrast, cut content costs and then flattered themselves that the moves were deft; that the lowly reader never caught on that he/she is getting less for more. After all, no one has called. We've eliminated features, reporters, photographers, meeting coverage, prep sports coverage, graduation sections, etc. And guess what!? No one called!!
Ah, but circulation numbers declined... That should have been enough of a wake-up call.
I agree with Sreenivasan: A stock listing cut must be replaced by a content augmentation. And I'll add this caveat: Merely redirecting readers away from the print product to the Internet is NOT enough augmentation. Newspapers have to balance the desire to save on newsprint costs by eliminating such content with the need to maintain/attract readers with better, more relevant content. Newspapers must avoid giving readers yet another reason to put their newspaper down for good.
And, keeping "The Tipping Point" in mind, I suggest watching to see how the Chicago Tribune responds to the stock listing conundrum. They still set the benchmark for newspaper content in many markets. Therefore, what the Trib does matters more than others...
I think that was a popular media topic, judging by my emails Wednesday. I passed it along to friends I know after reading it at Romenesko's Poynter site and other media-types and acquaintances emailed me, too, with their viewpoints. Mostly, I witnessed a bloodthirsty call for the death of stock listings!
One of my favorite books in recent years is "The Tipping Point" by Malcom Gladwell which, as the subtitle suggests, details "How little things can make a big difference." Gladwell demonstrates how a relatively small group - properly placed - can spark anything from a fashion trend to a syphilis outbreak. Gladwell also has a cautionary note about one of his agents of change which he labeled "The Power of Context:"
"...in a given process or system, some people matter more than others."
Now, newspaper managers across the country, long weary of the expense of publishing page-after-page of non-advertising-bearing stock listings, are watching the Sun-Times move with great expectations. For the average investor, the online community can provide a more expedient invest portfolio-tracking experience. For the older reader, stock listings in the newspaper are a tradition. While Chicago's No. 2 newspaper is among the first metro newspapers to end the practice, I've been told of another company that plans to make a similar announcement this summer.
Have newspapers reached the "tipping point" in terms of such content?
Perhaps. However, the Trib article quotes Sreenath Sreenivasan, chief of the new media program at Columbia University's journalism school, with this well-timed warning: "If they put in more business reporting, more context, that would be good for the reader. If they're doing this and not doing anything to enhance the paper, that may not be a good idea."
I hope that statement gets as much attention as the Sun-Times decision to end stock listings.
Editors often go about making these types of decisions in an odd way. If I had a dime for every time I witnessed some editor brag at some editors' gathering about how he or she eliminated a feature or reader service "And the newsroom did not receive a single phone call!" I could retire for real. These poor souls truly do not comprehend the newspaper/reader relationship.
The relationship is based mostly on how relevant the newspaper is to the reader's life. And, in recent years, readers have increasingly told newspapers that they were no longer relevant to their lives. But they didn't pick up the phone to do so in most cases. They just let their subscriptions expire and if the newspaper even bothered to call to find out why - and far too many do not - telemarketers were given excuses such as "I just don't have enough time."
Think about your relevant relationships with other types of media: Did you actually call Entertainment Weekly to let them know their magazine was no longer relevant to your life - or did you just let the subscription lapse? When you stopped listening to Steve Dahl on the radio, did you send him him a card or letter? When the TV sitcom "Frazier" became tedious in Year No. 6 of its 11-year run, did you send Kelsey Grammer a telegram? When media moths Ben Affleck/Jennifer Lopez morphed into "Bennifer" and overwhelmed and violated your consciousness, did you e-mail them to explain your reluctance to "Gigli?"
Why, then, do editors expect readers to call them with a pronouncement when they feel their relevant relationship has been thus violated? Sure, readers call if they believe an article or an opinion (like an editorial endorsement) is offensive. But these folks are in the minority of cancelations. They have a passion that has intersected with the newspaper and the likelihood of these readers actually canceling or remaining away from the newspaper for any extended period of time is nil.
As in gastronomic attacks, be fearful of the silent, but deadly variety of readership indifference...
I was fortunate to spend the past 13 years at Shaw Newspapers where I had much freedom to build teams to fully utilize content innovations. In recent years, many non-progressive newspaper companies have, in contrast, cut content costs and then flattered themselves that the moves were deft; that the lowly reader never caught on that he/she is getting less for more. After all, no one has called. We've eliminated features, reporters, photographers, meeting coverage, prep sports coverage, graduation sections, etc. And guess what!? No one called!!
Ah, but circulation numbers declined... That should have been enough of a wake-up call.
I agree with Sreenivasan: A stock listing cut must be replaced by a content augmentation. And I'll add this caveat: Merely redirecting readers away from the print product to the Internet is NOT enough augmentation. Newspapers have to balance the desire to save on newsprint costs by eliminating such content with the need to maintain/attract readers with better, more relevant content. Newspapers must avoid giving readers yet another reason to put their newspaper down for good.
And, keeping "The Tipping Point" in mind, I suggest watching to see how the Chicago Tribune responds to the stock listing conundrum. They still set the benchmark for newspaper content in many markets. Therefore, what the Trib does matters more than others...
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