Marc Sirkin's Mindnumbing Thoughts

ixl Originally uploaded by msirkin . You know you remember iXL... yea you do... we bought every company with a pulse, went public and went bust. I've worked in a bunch of places including a Burger King (the manager told me I can take this job ANYWHERE I wanted - I quit after 2 weeks on Fry duty). I also delivered Domino's Pizza, did 2 ad agency internships and worked at a college bookstore. See more of my bizcards ...

I flew from NY to San Diego this week and in between charging me for a crappy sandwich, the stewdaress came around serving coffee. What she said was interesting. She said "Starbucks... would anyone like Starbucks?" Then she said... "Coffee... would anyone like a Coffee?" It was odd was how she alternated between "Starbucks" and "Coffee" - like she was conducting some bizzare Pavlovian experiment. She litererally rotated back and forth between "Starbucks" and "Coffee" the entire way down the plane (or at least as far as I could hear). It made me wonder if she was actually scripted. Could Starbucks be trying to subliminally condition us or has it already happened? On the other hand.. here's Tivo's take.

I was watching Keifer Sutherland on "The Actor's Studio" and thought it would be fun to try to answer those silly questions that The Lipton asks at the end of the show... I found a link and haven't read them that closely and will answer them as honestly as possible... like you care (like anyone is really reading this... I think I'm alone now - never mind). 01. What is your favorite word? Hi 02. What is your least favorite word? No 03. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? Great Design 04. What turns you off? Assholes 05. What is your favorite curse word? Fuck 06. What sound or noise do you love? My kids giggles 07. What sound or noise do you hate? My own voice yelling at me (again) for being an idiot 08. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Actor 09. What profession would you not like to do? Accounting 10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? Yes, I...

When I am afraid of something, I want to force myself to do it… stand up comedy for example.. acting in a play for another example.. My friend Lee turned me on to a site called 43things which is sort neat in a Friendster way (you get obsessed then quickly bored). You can create different topics and link up with others who are trying to accomplish the same things. I added one today: Be fearless. This is similar to a page I created a while ago on my own web site called " Life is Hard " - what sort of stuff scares you? I read an article in Worthwhile magazine this week where the guy being interviewed basically said that whatever scares him most, he does first... sounds like a great way to live (assuming your wife doesn't get fed up with it!)

Ariel Close Up Originally uploaded by msirkin . Inspired by some random browsing on Flickr, I busted out the macro lens and had a little fun with some toys around the house.

Wow.. Google Maps rocks... the slider the fast search, the entire presentation. Schaweetness. This link takes you to Trumbull, CT... very possibly my next "hometown." Google Maps - trumbull, ct

When I leave for work each day, my kids run to the window and look out at me, waving and yelling and having a great time. For me, it's like leaving on a cruise every morning. For a while, they would hide under the window holding up these horses, the heads banging together - then jump up just as I was driving away. While it drove my wife crazy (they were supposed to be eating breakfast), it's the single moment of the day that makes me truly happy. Lately, the waving has started to wane. But I always look back as I drive off - and wave, even if no one is there. I went out early this past weekend, both kids were asleep - and I paused the car, looked toward the windows and waved... I started to think about the future - when my kids might not even talk to me, let alone wave with horses, yelling for their dad. I don't want that day to come. Small things always turn out to be the important things for some reason.

You have to see it to believe it... Xbox to 1979 toy Millennium Falcon mod is absolutely, completely out of control - yet somehow... I want one! http://www.xfalcon.atmotect.com/index_files/Page1404.htm

Last nights American Idol really sunk to new lows. They showed a clip of that girl who sold her wedding rings THREE times during the show itself before actually getting to her audition. By the 3rd time, I was really annoyed and felt like they were hyping up something special. Instead. the woman gets sent home and we're left wondering why the f**k they bothered showing her crying clip 3 times in less than an hour of programming. Lame. In a related story , Ryan Seacrest said that Simon is pompous. That Ryan - he's sharp as a tack.

I started building Web strategies and sites back around 1993. Back then, a large site might have been 10 pages or so, and cost about $5k. Usually, the client was a rogue marketing guy, or an IT guy (aka the webmaster!) who thought this would be a neat toy to play with. I spent years with a vision of how the Web would/should/could tranform businesses productivity, profitability and image but because of where I worked, or my role, never really found my footing. I helped to build a web site building tool for one company, and we sold it to a few businesses who were close, but not quite there in thinking about the web as a business process tool, and not just a web site. Fast forward to my new gig at a very large non-profit and I'm faced with a dream situation. Not only am I in a senior role, the entire organization is primed and ready to be completely "made-over" (this is a real extreme makeover!) by utilizing the web in ways that I've only been able to dream about. ...

I signed up and paid $40 to become a U2.com member so I could get tickets for their upcoming tour. I haven't seen them live since Joshua Tree, and my wife and I wanted tix bad to celebrate our 12th anniversary. Fast forward to the day that tickets went on "pre-sale" exclusively for u2.com members. Wouldn't you know it - we went online only to find out that there were no tix available. It appeared as if Madison Square Garden was sold out within 2 hours. I was pretty dismayed, but ended up getting tickets via ticketmaster online when they went onsale to the general public. That said, my wife stood outside a local Coconuts and I matched her online, clicking and refreshing as fast as I could to be able to snatch some tix. We ended up with behind the stage tix (hey, we're in!), but I had a pretty bad taste in my mouth. Lo and behold.. I get an open letter email from Larry Mullen, apologizing for treating their fans so badly, and basically taking the heat. ...

An ESPN interview w/Malcolm Gladwell talking about his new book "Blink" and how it relates to football. Fascinating article - especially about the Iraq wargames. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=merron/050203