American Idler from Ampolo Team on Vimeo.

This week’s episode may be about idling, but we’d like you to ACT. You’ve heard of the Dave Clark 5–well at least the Maroon 5. Now here’s the Ampolo 5–five questions related to this week’s subject. We invite you to respond (and read other responses) by using our “comment” option. (To comment you need to register, but that only takes about 30 seconds). So here are this weeks questions. Gimme 5 (or at least one).

1. Which reality shows do you like or dislike–and why?
2. What does the current fascination with reality tv shows say about society today–or tv executives?
3. What kind of reality show would you design?
4. What, if anything, could persuade you to appear on a reality show–which one?
5. What is reality, anyway?

Really, we want your comments.

Alphabet Strings from Ampolo Team on Vimeo.

To see more of Keiler Sensenbrenner’s artwork, check out her website.

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 Ampolo the fruits of your labor. We’ll post them. It will be fun. (Now we’re up to 668,000,001).

Seed Bank from Ampolo Team on Vimeo.

In the hope of inspiring our viewers to make a difference, we will periodically tell the stories of individuals who sought to make the world or their community a better place. Dr. Bent Skovmand was such a person. This Danish plant scientist had an idea you could take to the bank–not Citibank, J.P Morgan Chase, Fifth Third, or Bank of America, but a very different kind of depository located off the coast of Norway.

Class Action from Ampolo Team on Vimeo.

Those of us who graduated from eighth grade at Central School in Glencoe, Illinois, in (19?? ) 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. Please register and post comments on the kind of community-oriented activities those attending a reunion might plan.