Friday Featured Artists - 03-31-06

I Talk Too Much!

Yes - MY blog has been reviewed by the ladies over at iTalk2much.com . While they gave me a measly 1 Slap - I decided to make them my Friday Featured artists.

Constructive Criticism is an artform - yet many critics never receive the respect that they deserve from their readers. The ladies at i Talk too much seem to have a good fan base - and I've received hundreds of hits on my blog even though I was reviewed poorly. Though I did find their comments lacked any constructive criticism at all during my review - nothing I could take to the drawing board and build upon - I have seen some good comments on other blogs that would help the budding blogger do a good redesign of their site.

What is i Talk too much? It is basically a blog written by a handful of women with too much free time on their hands! The naive blogger can submit their blog for review by the ladies in hopes for the coveted 5 slaps! Most recently - the sites receiving 5 slaps seem to be the ones that come up "Site Not Found" and "404 Error" - what does that tell you about their critic methods?

I submitted my site about a month ago for review - and it was then I decided to find a new template. Unable to find anything that fit my personality readily available - I decided to tackle a design myself. Well - apparently that was a HUGE mistake - which is why you are now looking at a generic blog template! I'm currently teaching myself CSS/HTML/XHTML - have purchased a new domain - and hope to have a brand new killer web site and blog up and running within another month.

Oh ... yeah - this review isn't about ME! I forgot - as do the ladies at i Talk too much. Though the reviews they offer are typically spot on - they do tend to talk about themselves just as often in their reviews as they do the web site they are reviewing. Which is sometimes a complete turn-off. Yet their fan base seems to enjoy every word.

I do give them props for coming up with a brilliant MARKETABLE blog. They have great money making potential there - but from all appearances it seems they are not taking advantage of that. Which is OK! For the true artists - it isn't about the money. It's about the art. And the art of critique these ladies have down pat!

I give them a 4 out of 5 on the Friday Featured artist scale. Sorry ladies - it would have been a complete 5 if you had offered something constructive in my review - rather just than saying the color scheme was bad. I do disagree with you on my writing - sometimes you have to read past the first entry to see what a blog is all about.

If you've got the guts to handle what these ladies dish out - you can submit your blog for review at italk2much.com.

Generic Template - Yeah - What's It To You?

All righty - until I have a new template made on my new web site - you're stuck with this god awful generic template. Deal with it.

The Final "Reveal"

For those of you reading my blog for the latest information on the Biggest Loser casting - well - there isn't going to be anymore news. That's right - I quit! I will no longer be the secret go-between for possible candidates and the public. Sorry to disappoint.

Here is everything that I know as of this moment - and that's it. You'll get nothing more from me - I am moving on and I hope that you do too:

#1 – information was shared in the chat room by several BL participants. You could have read the information yourself by entering the chat room and typing the command /show 1000 - that would have brought up the last 1000 messages in the room. The chat room only saves 96 hours – so it may be too late to read it. {People - seriously - don't disclose information in public chat rooms or on message forums! If I found the information easily - so could anyone else!
You are hurting yourself AND the production of the show.}

#2 – I received an anonymous e-mail via my blog – asking about an e-mail that was sent out by 3 Ball last week. It was a friend of a contestant who was concerned – and wanted to try and find out more information for her. She asked what I knew – so I mentioned the BL forum chat. {This was a public chat room – I felt it was OK to mention it}. The friend contacted me again a few days later saying that the possible contestant was flying out on April 8^th – and asked me to keep my fingers crossed for her.

#3 – let’s see if I can remember anything else ….. chatter around the message boards is that the men are already in California – but the ladies were flying out on or after April 5^th – which is what I was ‘confirming’ in my post on the GOYFB webiste.

#4 – several forum posters have PM’d me and said “I’m in the finals” – but I really have no clue who they are in real life – so I wouldn’t consider their information to be 100% truthful. I've asked each of them to display a specific item if they make it on the show - and that is the only way I'll know if they make it.

#5 – I decided on Sunday that I would no longer post information on my blog – or on the forums – regarding casting. Why – because (1) If someone who is indeed a finalist tells me – then I’m obligated to inform 3 Ball. I don’t want to be the person that causes another to lose their spot as a finalist. (2)I am seriously interested in the production process of a reality show – I would one day like to be able to talk to someone about it – and if I continue acting as everyone’s go-between to post ‘secret information’ – I’m only hurting myself. {Note - after my auction blog I stopped asking questions. People came to me with thier information and stated it was OK to post it. This is the only reason I continued.} (3) I’ve worked in TV and I know when it’s time to be quiet – when it starts costing the production.

That’s it. That is all I know. Sure – I have my own list of suspected forum members who are finalists – but I haven’t shared that information with anyone. And I can assure you I won’t be spilling any more beans – whether from a ‘mole’ or other forum members. I quit being everyone’s go to gal!

However - I will listen to you in private! If you need someone to talk to - let me know and be assured it will be kept just between us. Again - I'm researching the production process of reality shows - from the inital casting call to the finale edit - and any input offered would be welcome.

A New Villian In Town

My husband has taken on a new hobby of sorts. He's working with a friend in creating a web comic based on their City of Heros and City of Villans characters. It's really pretty good - actually. Hubby is writing the stories and his friend is creating the comic characters. So far they've turned out pretty fabulous - and I can't wait to see the final comics when the pieces are all put togther.

The basic platform is a 9 panel comic - again - hubby is writing the actual story line and his friend is drawing those stories into comic format. I've included here a pencil sketch of the character that inspired the web comic - Ze Annoying Frenchie. While I'd like to put up one of the actual final characters - I have been asked to wait till a few of the comics are ready to go online. As soon as I'm given the go ahead - you can be sure that this latest web comic duo will be a "Friday Featured Artist".

Good Grief!

It's funny how it hits you - just out of the blue and so suddenly.

Grief.

We were driving down the street yesterday - home from Border's bookstore - when we pulled over to allow a funeral procession pass us by. I just started to cry. I hadn't done that since I learned my Uncle would die from cancer in January. I didn't even know I would still feel so sad about his death.

It hits you like a shockwave -you don't even see it coming. You're having a normal conversation about something in your everyday life - and WHAM! - it's there and it hurts so bad. Right in the heart - the gut. You try to surpress the tears - so people don't think you're insane - but that just makes them worse. So you have to polietly explain what happened - laugh away the tears.

But you know that one day - very soon - that feeling will come over you again. And you pray that when it does you're alone so that you can finally say goodbye the right way.

IE Browser Problems

It has been brought to my attention that there is an error viewing this blog in Internet Explorer. Apparently you will not see the header or the background colors. Since I am new to coding it may take me awhile to figure out what I've done wrong - I basically just changed my header and changed the background color. I'll be looking into it more this week and hope to have the site fully functional and viewable soon.

Thanks!

Career Search Update

It's about time for another wonderful Job Search update - don't you think??

What's going on .... well .... last Tuesday - 11 days ago - I had my interview with the BIG boss at the newspaper. It went smoothly and discovered that we had some friends in common. She had a list of questions prepared - and I answered to the best of my ability. I really HATE talking about myself and you would think by now I"d have these interviews down pat. BUT - it's hard to be put on the spot and respond to questions that come out of the blue! I called my HR rep yesterday for an update - who said the last of 4 candidates was interviewed yesterday afternoon and they hope to have a decision and make an offer next week.

I have an interview with Broadway Across American scheduled for Friday of next week. Oh I would love this job too - can we say FREE TICKETS TO EVERY SHOW!!!!! I'd be in sheer heaven. However -if I'm offered the newspaper job before this inteview - I'll need to call and see if we can bump up the interview. If the BAA job pays more - then it would be smart to put off the newspaper a few days - right?

This has been my situation since August I'm begining to see a definite pattern. Have an interview - get hopes up - hear nothing - schedule an even better interview - previous interview was a NO - go to better interview - get hopes up - hear nothing - schedule a fantastic interview ....

Let's hope that cycle ends soon!!!!

Blog Updates Nearing Completion

As you can see I've been busy attempting some graphic updates on my blogs. I hope to have all the graphic elements in place by the end of today! Woo Hoo! And then there will be no further changes until I get tired of this color scheme.

Thank you for your patience during this transitional period - it's been fun learning how to manipulate the standard blogger templates. I hope to teach myself more on template design and coding - but that will come in play at another date!

One thing you may notice is a slight name change. I decided to merge a few of my online personas into one Shining Star! Yes - Willo Keays is the psudeonym I use for writing, andI thought it was time to bring her forth into the public spotlight. So - say goodbye to all those screen names of the past - and embrace your new friend - WILLO!

"Moles Are EVERYWHERE!"

The more time I hang out at the Biggest Loser forum, the more interesting things people tell me. It's not as if I'm asking for details - they just send them to me! It's crazy! For example, I received a PM from someone I've never spoken with - EVER - that stated the finalists were chosen AGES ago. Then another forum member told me that her contact said pretty much the exact same thing!

Here's a summary of the conversation from "KAV" - a suspected Casting employee:

All the cast has already been chosen - this happened BEFORE the final interviews. The final interviews were a way to make sure the chosen ones passed the medical exam - and if they didn't pass the Casting Directors still had other candidates to fall back on .

When asked if casting were still looking for women - since the date for women to head to the ranch had been set back till April 5th when the men leave March 24th - KAV stated that all the people were already picked and notified for the show and went on about the final interview being the medical forms and background check.

So ... basically 3 Ball has had the cast finalized for awhile now - that everyone selected already knows they made the show.

Finally, there are several people on the Biggest Loser forum, as you may know, that have received this information. "Moles are everywhere."

MOLES ARE EVERYWHERE? What the heck - is she trying to scare us?! Or is she warning us to stay away from these so called "moles". Perhaps this too is all a bunch BS to create "buzz" around the show. Who Knows!

I'll continue to listen to what everyone has to say - but I would be VERY INTERESTED in hearing from someone at 3 Ball and/or NBC regarding the casting process. Heck - I'd love to see the entire Reality TV Production process from start to end - what a fascinating study of mankind. Even us non-chosen ones are still part of the game!! I guess we have to decide if we want to continue to be used as pawns - or take ourselves out of the game. As long as people are asking me to spread the word - and other people are coming here to read about it - I'll keep playing! For now - it's a really fun game to play. Maybe even I'm a "mole"?

Custom Blog Software or Book Recomendations?

I am looking for a book or software product that will allow me to generate custom blog templates and teach me the coding necessary to host a blog at my own web site rather than Blogger.

For those who blog - or even any tech guys out there - do you know of such software or books that you could recommended?

While I'm looking for a job I'm hoping to be able to learn as much as possible so that I can design some custom templates and if I get good enough offer design services to other bloggers.

Creating Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Have you ever felt like you're being used to create BUZZ about a certain show? Do you think reality programs like American Idol or the Biggest Loser count on 'water-cooler' discussions to keep the show at the top of the ratings? What about LOST and Desperate Housewives - was their popularity built upon the fan reactions and almost instant discussions that took place upon the completion of each and every episode on the internet?

I do.

In fact - I believe that the LOST writers discovered the weakness of their fan base - and is now exploiting it in some of the writing to generate and FEED these discussions.

Why do I think that? Well - the writers of the show have started introducing "Fan Theories" into the writing. For example - Hurley and Libby's discussion about the modern washer & dryer in Bunker #1. This was one of the first things LOST fans spoke of after the bunker was open - if all the other technology in the bunker is 1970's era - why have a GE Duet Washer & Dryer from 2005?

I also believe that hired 'moles' continue to post on the Biggest Loser forum in an attempt to create buzz about the casting process and the show. Most recently - a few new members to the forum bumping up old threads regarding casting - and asking about the finalization of the cast. I've even been fed information by some of these newbies in an attempt to generate buzz. That's right - I and a few other select and boisterous members of the forum are being targeted with false information in hopes that we'll write about it on the forum.

It almost makes you feel special. I almost fell for it too - then spoke with another forum member who had experienced the same mis-information. Little bits and pieces dropped along the path in hopes we'd put one & one together and post the information publicly. When comparing notes we realized we'd been duped!

On other message boards and forums you can spot the 'paid posters.' Paid posters are those annoying trolls who hop onto a forum with messages like "Did you see the newest episode of LOST - if not go to this web site and see a full re-cap of the show!" and "I heard John Doe was up for an Oscar - head over to this web site for all the info!" NBC found a way to keep the buzz and chatter going without paying anyone - simply by planting specific people on the forum to keep feeding false information to trusted and well liked forum members.

It's actually a brilliant tactic - something I would have utilized myself had I been a paid Promotions team member. In fact - if anyone is hiring for such position - I'm still looking for a job! Wouldn't it be fantastic if someone actually paid me to blog and post on forums? Then the time I spent online would be truly justified!

***************************************************
Speaking of shameless board promotions - please check out the links to my friends blogs over in the right-hand sidebar! The newest addition is Willo Keays - who writes a column for my friends web site {URL soon to be released!}.

Also - I've submitted the blog for review - you'll see a link for iT2m in the sidebar. These ladies do a brilliant job of reviewing blogs across the web. Though not kiddie-friendly - I've found their critics to be most often spot on! I've subjected myself for ridicule in hopes of getting a good review. I know that my blog template is lacking - and I'm taking steps to improve that. I'm eagerly awaiting what they have to say.

My Very First Poem - Ever

I wrote this poem last week when I was in a rotten mood. I didn't share it then because I knew people would be concerned after they read it. But - it's the first poem I've written and I would like to share it. Keep in mind, it was written in a moment of anger, it's a poem and is meant to be dramatic, and that I'm feeling much better now. {Mom - this means it's JUST A POEM}:

Anger Erupts
I sit here with no joy, only sorrow
It’s holding my heart down
Chaining it to the ground

Why does there have to be a tomorrow
I sit and watch the world
Swirl around me with no sound

Anger erupts
And I drown
Anger erupts
And I’m down

When does the pain end?
Where is the sunshine?
Why is there no one else around?

The tears are falling
And I’m calling
And I’m screaming
But I don’t know where I’m bound!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

In the year 432 AD, Bishop Patrick arrived in Ireland to convert the Pagans to Christianity. Upon his death, Patrick became the Patron Saint of Ireland due to his work with the Irish people. There are many stories surrounding St. Patrick, most of which relate to why St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17th.

In Ireland, February and March hold the worst weather. March 17th marked the end of this cold weather and the beginning of the farming season. The Irish people, wanting to have a good time after a long harsh winter, would take a break from Lent to celebrate with feasts and MUCH drinking.

This overindulgence of the original celebration of St. Patrick's Day is evident today. Celebrants often drink beer, dress in green clothing and search for four leafed clovers. Everyone becomes a little Irish on St. Patty's Day! This holiday has changed very little, never straying far from the original intent of the celebration. The only change took place when Christian society adapted this Pagan ritual by simply naming the holiday after one of the Countries favorite spiritual icons.

Don't Forget!

Don't forget to visit the other sections of my blog!

Weight Loss Tracking - keeps you up to date on where I am in my battle to get heatlhy! I'll also be reviewing popular weight loss plans and trends on a bi-monthly basis!

Television Show Discussion - this is where I'll rant or rave about my favorite TV programs - updated the day after each program airs.

Online Cookbook - a collection of my favorite recipes! I'll be adding to this on a daily basis (as time allows) - so check back every day for a new recipe!

And don't forget to visit my favorite blogs from the web - you'l find links to these sites in the sidebar!

Thanks for stopping in!

BLOG HITS REACH RECORD NUMBERS!

Well - due to my recent blog regarding my experience with the Biggest Loser casting process - over the past two days my blog has received record hits! A typical day has perhaps 10 - 20 readers - but in the past two days the blog has had over 350 views!

Sure - in the world of blogging that's a drop in the bucket! But for me - it was kind of cool to see. I'd like to say welcome to my new readers - I hope that you'll continue to read in the future.

Welcome Executive Readers!

I’m not going to share all the details – but I received an e-mail message from my contact at 3 Ball this morning. He opened with a statement that he was disappointed in my blog article – the fact that I had detailed our conversations. He felt I made the auctions sound shady when the intent was to raise money for the Children’s Athletic Fund. For some reason he got the impression that I was saying the casting process was itself tainted – and that these types of twists are the norm for a reality show. He also went on to defend his choice of allowing the 5^th auction ‘winner’ to pay outside of the e-bay environment. He is also under the impression that I also attempted to do this (I did not). Finally he said that he was sorry that I was not selected for the show, that he is upset that I shared the information, and that he already received 7 phone calls about the blog – 1 being from an executive.

Now … I chose not to respond to him because he is entitled to his opinion. To defend myself to you all – my contact is responsible for his own actions. He chose to relay information to me on his own – I did not coheres him in any way. My opinion regarding the way the 5^th auction was handle is just that – my opinion. I do feel it was not fair to allow a private sale – if it had been posted on e-bay we would have all had the same opportunity to bid – and it would have been random selection as to who caught the Buy It Now feature. I did send an e-mail to him after the fact saying it was a shame that the auction wasn’t allowed to play out as I was willing to pay $1500. He made a statement that perhaps he could set something up – and I said that it was OK – my husband wouldn’t want me to bid the funds – however there were many people on the forum who would love the opportunity for another auction. The only hard decision I had to face was whether or not to disclose his name in my story. I thought in order for the story to be credible I had to include his name.

It’s funny – I tried for almost 3 months to catch the attention of 3 Ball. It wasn’t until Monday all the executives decided to read my blog. I continue to see hits from GE/NBC servers today - so let me officaly say HELLO to NBC and 3 Ball. If you happen to be hiring .... I am looking for a job. It seems I have too much time on my hands.

The Biggest Loser 3 Casting- When Good People Meet Trolls

EDITED: Let me preface this with the fact that this was MY STORY to tell. It was based on my own personal experiences with the show - and not something that was commonplace. The thoughts and opinions stated below are my own and do not reflect the opinions of anyone else - or any other company - affiliated with the show. The story below gives one point of view of how the casting process went - mine - and was in no way written because I didn't make it onto the show. The point of the article was to reflect on how thousands of people across the country have their own story to tell - that many of us encountered obstacles along the way. No one else should be held accountable for the writings below.

*****************************************************

The casting process for the Biggest Loser 3 is coming to an end. We have been told by 3Ball Productions that all finalists will be notified by the end of the day on Monday, March 13th 2006. These finalists will be notified via telephone with a message to pack their bags and head to California where they will be sequestered for 10 days. During this sequestering period the cast will undergo physical exams and additional interviews prior to being selected as the FINAL CAST. Shooting begins on/around April 3rd at the Simi Valley ranch in the heart of California.

Since this date marks the end of my voyage in the casting process I thought I’d write an article based on my own experience with the show – and from conversations I’ve had with others regarding their casting processes. I found that my story was similar to others across the country – and wanted to share this for future contestants. In all I have been told that over 40,000 people submitted casting tapes or attended casting calls (or both) for the Biggest Loser 3. Those hopefuls consist of desperate Americans seeking the ultimate weight-loss experience – one that would change their life for the better. Many feel the time spent on the ranch with trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels far outweighed the $250,000 grand prize – and they were driven enough for this casting process to become a heated challenge – often turning ugly – but overall a fantastic experience they will never forget.

Many friendships were formed at casting calls around the country. Thousands of people stood in lines in the snow, the rain, overnight, and in theme parks! Some went home disappointed when the San Diego call was canceled due to the lack of crowd control. I attended the Orlando Casting call at Universal Studios - #197 in a line that grew longer and longer. I was told when the directors reached #600 – everyone was asked to go home. But the persistent stayed in line and the casting directors were able to see close to 800 people in Orlando. The actual call was done in groups of 13 – and lasted all of 5 minutes. We were asked what our names, weight and jobs were and then what our goal weight was and what our motivational clothing would be. And then it was over! If you weren’t able to catch the eye of the Casting Director – you were out of luck!

While I am sure several people received call backs from this casting day – I was unable to find anyone. From others I have been told that a call back consisted of a one-on-one interview in front of the camera. The Casting Directors interviewed you based on answers from your long application – and you were asked to send a message to Jillian and/or Bob. I have also been told that some hopefuls were asked to bring a change of clothes and were filmed in each of the outfits selected.

While this was the end of my casting call experience, I did make my way to the NBC Biggest Loser forum. At the forum I met a wonderful group of people who participate in supporting one another in their battle to lose weight. People from all over the country – AND WORLD – participate in the forum offering friendship and advice. I learned from this group that it was still possible to send in a casting video to 3 Ball Productions and decided this would be my best chance of impressing the Casting Directors.

My tape was 5 minutes long and turned out rather well – I posted it for a short time online for others to comment on and received some great feedback. Off the tape went to 3 Ball with a copy of my long application, photos of me now and back when I was thin, my resume, and my New Years Resolution. The tape arrived at 3 Ball on Valentine’s Day – just a few days ahead of the February 17th deadline. I have heard nothing from 3 Ball since.

Over the course of the past few weeks there has been A LOT of drama taking place on the Biggest Loser forum – and within the chat rooms. I learned a great deal of information from a variety of sources during this process. I will not be naming these sources as I do not want to hurt their chances of making it onto the show. The drama began with an online auction. I wrote the following article during this time frame but refrained from publishing it as I was afraid it would hurt my chances of making it onto the show.

*************************************************

Could the Biggest Loser Audition Process be COMPROMISED?

A few weeks before the final deadline for tapes to arrive at 3 Ball productions, I – and others like me – participated in an online auction to benefit the Children’s Athletic Foundation. Each online auction toted the following description:

“This is a once in a lifetime offer. (part 2) NBC and 3 Ball Productions are auctioning off a chance to have your Audition Tape and Application VIP HAND DELIVERED!!! to the HEAD CASTING DIRECTOR. …AND… EXECUTIVE PRODUCER of The Biggest Loser. How important is this? Well if you imagine the hundreds of thousands of applicants, it makes a HUGE difference. The day after the season finale over 47,000 applications were downloaded off the NBC site. Tens of thousands of people have waited out for hours just for a chance to be seen by one of the hundreds of casting people traveling the country… but this is a E ticket to the top of the pile. The winner will have their video and application hand delivered to the Casting department, then to the Executive Producer and put into the hands of the two people who have the biggest impact on who makes the cast of the Biggest Loser. The Executive Producer and Head Casting Director, are the people you NEED to impress to get on the show. We will even snap a pic of your envelope being passed off. As a bonus… just so you don’t have to wait around wondering. You will get hand written feedback o your submission, letting you know if you are in or out, and what you could improve upon for future submissions. The Casting Deadline is approaching. The February 11th Open Call may be the last.”

After unsuccessfully bidding on 3 of 5 auctions, and waiting to see how auction #4 would turn out, I was patiently awaiting the 5th auction to begin when I received this e-mail message from the seller:

“The LAST auction ends tomorrow. Two were bought for BUY IT NOW bids of $750, One for a BUY IT NOW of $1000, and one ended on Saturday for $960. The last auction is currently at $760”

Well – of course I became VERY curious to see how I had missed the 5th auction! I quickly found the closed auctions for the two $750 ‘Buy It Nows’, the $960 auction, and the now closed auction of $970. But there was absolutely no sign of a closed $1000 Buy It Now auction.

I’m currently awaiting a response from the seller with details on this last auction. I’m not the only one who smells something fishy – as members of the Biggest Loser Forum begin to speculate on just what happened to that last auction. Did the seller cave into the request of one bidder and offer the auction up in a private sale? Would that sort of move compromise the integrity of the entire audition process for the Biggest Loser? Would the show Producers be opening themselves up to a nightmare they can’t even begin to imagine? Would I myself be throwing away MY opportunity for making it on the show by becoming a whistle blower? Let’s hope not. For now I will patiently await the reply e-mail message from the seller of the auction.

Here’s the response I received from the seller:

“I had just lowered the second buy it now from $1,000 to $750, and someone bought it within like 6 hrs. I had 2 other auctions running without the Buy it now option. Someone Emailed me that they would buy it at the $1000 price if I listed it. As Ebay and Paypal both take a cut it was more cost effective to have them just post the payment on the CAF website and add more money to the charity by not paying the fees.”

So it looks like one bidder did indeed have an unfair advantage over the rest of us. Too bad – the charity auctions just became a bit tainted right there – and the entire audition process compromised because ONE person received an unfair advantage over the rest. However – I’m told – this kind of thing happens in Hollywood everyday. Am I biter that it wasn’t me? NO – I just wish I had that one last chance to bid on the auction. It would make the whole process more random. Now someone has truly paid to have their application moved to the top of the pile.

*************************************************

Obviously the topic of conversation on the forum was WHO had won the auctions. While three contestants came forward – we still have no idea who contestants #4 & #5 were. And we will probably never know.

It seemed as if the drama continued daily on the message forum. Trolls were inundating the forum with topics such as “The Finalists Have Been Chosen” and “Casting Is Complete”. Needless to say these were all false rumors – but I felt the need to get confirmation from the casting directors themselves. After the auction I had been in communication with the “seller” regarding the casting process and to see if any of these rumors were true. We exchanged a total of 12 e-mails all together. It was on February 27th – at the height of the frenzy – that I asked my contact to confirm rumors on the message boards. It seemed that information was coming at the forum participants from all directions – many people citing sources “of importance” at 3 Ball. It was truly difficult to weed fact from fiction and I was at my own breaking point. I decided to see exactly who my own contact was – thinking he was a production assistant for the show. After some research I learned I was dealing with someone much higher on the food chain – I’d been talking to David Blass the Art Director of the show! I knew that if I addressed Blass as one business person to another I might be able to find out the TRUTH about what was going on.

I sent Blass the links to the two message forum threads that were in question – asking him to please shed some light on the truth. The response to my questions follows:

#1 - Are the producers working from a short list?

Yes, but like 100-200 of each sex

#2 - Have they sent out packages to the final group of candidates?

Not to my knowledge, as they are still doing interviews

#3 - Should those whose tapes arrived last week hang up their hats and move on?

NOT if they were on the VIP Delivery list, as I know one of the three that the casting director looked at on Friday was getting a call back. Waiting to see who it was.

Blass also posted to the threads in question with his own response – as BigLoserArt:

“I am sure that many folks in the casting department WISH that the cast was locked and chosen as they could then get some sleep, but that is just not the case. It is an ongoing process of finding just the right people and making sure that their schedule fits with the show, and that they pass all background checks etc.”


I appreciated him for being truthful with the information – it helped me maintain my own sanity through the end of this process and allowed me to offer some guidance to others on the forum. Yet – the insanity on the message boards continued and reached an all time high on March 3rd when the following message was posted:

I received this email today:

Dear Kelley,
Thank you for applying to be on the next season of The Biggest Loser.
You've taken the first step in getting healthy and you should be proud of yourself. Unfortunately, finalists have been selected and notified. We will welcome your application for next season and good luck on your weightloss!

Sincerely,
The Biggest Loser Staff

Of course that started a whole firestorm of messages doubting everything else we had heard from 3 Ball. It was later determined that the post was indeed the work of another Troll – but it was too late for me. I had sent the posting to Blass for confirmation – and I believe I lost all the credibility I had built up to that point with him. He responded with a short note that he was out of town on business and could not confirm the message. Though I sent a message of apology the minute I found out the thread was posted by a Troll, this was my last contact with Blass.

This same day – March 3rd – I heard from a good friend that her video tape had been reviewed by 3 Ball and that they had contacted her for photos and a bio. I was ecstatic for her and regained some hope for myself – as our tapes had arrived on the same day! This meant 3 Ball was still reviewing materials! My friend heard back from 3 Ball the following Monday and received a package in the mail the next day.

The Biggest Loser 3 Package is the documentation we all yearn for! It includes legal documentation giving the show permission to run an extensive background check on you as well as medical release forms to be completed by your doctor. This Magical Package is your pass to the semi-finals – meaning you might be the one to get a call on March 13th inviting you to California! There has been much speculation on the forum about the package – about who has received the package – about if you didn’t get a package are you still in the running – and anything else you can imagine. It became so bad that 3 Ball Productions put the following message up on their “Hotline”:

“You have reached the casting hotline for the Biggest Loser. Finalist for the Biggest Loser 3 have not yet been chosen. We will begin to contact finalists only beginning Monday March 13th. If you have received a letter from us stating that you may receive two questionnaires from us - You may receive a larger package. What this means is we may require more documentation from you. There is a chance you may not receive anything further. If you do not receive a package by March 13th then you will not be receiving one. If you belong to an HMO or have difficulty scheduling appointments with your doctor, you may want to schedule an appointment now. Again we will contact finalists only on Monday March 13th via phone-- until that time NO ONE HAS BEEN RULED OUT. Be sure to check back often as this hotline message may change.”

This is how we learned that March 13th would be D-day. As I write this article – D-Day is one day away. Things on the message forum have calmed down considerably. One of the auction winners attempted to post her own experiences in the casting process – but her post was deleted. The one piece of information that stands out from her post was a comment from the Casting Director who had reviewed her tape: “You were not selected for the show as there was a change in the demographics. When you see the show in the fall you will understand.” This is my latest quest to decipher – what the heck does that mean? Obviously the show is attempting to maintain all levels of secrecy regarding the final casting of the show – but what would make them change their demographics mid casting – and why? What is the secret twist they are attempting to hide. I guess we’ll all need to tune in this fall to find out.

I have asked my friends to share their stories – and I will post these on my blog as they are given to me. It is important to share our experiences so those that follow us don’t make the same mistakes. So next years hopefuls don’t fall prey to the same trolls that decided to haunt our lives. If you don’t want to share your story with me – then post it to the Biggest Loser forum for all to read. It will be very much appreciated!

Obviously I am not a finalist. I did not receive the Magical Package nor the Miracle Phone Call. I will continue my weight loss journey myself at home – but I am not alone. I met wonderful, supportive friends online and we have decided to work together in our struggle with our weight. We invite anyone wanting to make a drastic change in their eating and exercise habits to join us. Because you need to start your battle TODAY! Don’t wait for the next season of the Biggest Loser to take control of your life. Join us TODAY. And get fit for life!

Career Options - What To do!?

Ok - I'm not having luck finding a new job - and my unemployment check runs out at the end of this month. So what am I going to do?!?!?!?! Panic is the first thing that comes to mind. I need a Plan B. What are my options at this point?

1. Continue as is - looking for a Full-Time job and hope I find one - but live in the poor house.

2. Get a part-time job somewhere while looking for a full-time job. Perhaps Borders - discounted books and a paycheck - sounds very appealing. Less time to interview and look for a real job.

3. Go back to school for my Masters Degree - downside I'd have to take the GRE or GMAT - and wait till the Fall to start classes.

4. Go back to school for my teachers certification - would take 2 years to complete.

5. Take online classes in drafting or web design - and work part-time. Gain a marketable skill and then look for a full-time job. I'd have to start out again on the bottom rung of the ladder though - and this doesn't sound appealing.

6. Get signed on at a Temp Agency and hope to find a position that's a perfect fit for me. Only downside - I'm already listed at several agencies and they all say I'm over qualified for the positions they fill.

I just don't know what to do. I really am screwed no matter which path I chose.

Advice and input would be welcome!

Brief Notes

Cruel & Unusual Punishment of the M&M's kind:
Last October I applied for amanagement position at the new "M&M's World" retail store coming to our nearest mall. While I never got that position - I was added onto the e-mail subscription list for the company.

Now - on a weekly basis I am reminded that #1 - I didn't get the job and #2 - that I can't eat their product anymore.

I've asked twice to be removed from their newsletter - I'm thinking of sending a letter to the President of the company and letting him know just how cruel & unsual their punishment is!

***************************************

Beautiful Sunny Florida Day :
This morning hubby and I decided to take advantage of the georgous "spring" weather we're having this week in Orlando. We headed over to the closest Bird Sanctuary and hiked one of the trails.

I can't reccomend anything more enjoyable - more relaxing - and more exhilirating than hiking in the spring. I came home so much more calm.

The best thing is - the hike counted as my cardio for the day. It didn't even FEEL like exercise!

So - Happy Wednesday! Go give a tree a great bug HUG!

***************************************

What's YOUR theme song?
My personal theme song would be "Wonder" - by Natalie Merchant.
This part in particular:

I believe
fate smiled and destiny
laughed as she came to my cradle
"know this child will be able"
laughed as my body she lifted
"know this child will be gifted
with love, with patience
and with faith
she'll make her way"

***************************************

Laughter Is The Best Medicine!

While clearing out some old files off the office computer I found one of my favorite speeches that I wrote while getting my degree in Organizational Communication. Writen back in 1999 - it's intent would be fitting for my mood today. So everyone - put a smile on! Laughter really is the best medicine!

***********************************************

The spring term is almost over, thank goodness! If you are like me, you’ve had a major project or exam each week—with the work load only getting worse as it gets closer to finals. Every minute of each day is planned out for school, work and family, with very little time for yourself. You collapse into bed each night exhausted, try to catch a couple of hours of rest before starting all over again the next day.

It’s conditions like this that often lead to depression and stress. According to the World Health organization, depression is on the rise worldwide. The National Alliance for the mentally ill has listed many different factors leading up to this outbreak of sadness. It often takes up to 8 years to correctly diagnose depression, leaving many people untreated for extended periods. People living in stressful environments and situations are more prone to depression. There have even been studies showing a genetic link which lead scientists to believe that this illness can be hereditary. There are many different chemical substances, legal and otherwise, available to ease the symptoms of depression—but many of these have disturbing side effects leaving the patient feeling out of control, irritable and with little or no appetite.

Stress is also a result of such an active lifestyle. According to Dr. Steven Burns, one in every ten people have a low tolerance for stress. This means that they reach their stress levels sooner, and easier than others. Stress can come from environmental, emotional and physical factors, and can be the result from any change to your life. As students we run the risk of suffering the most stress on a daily basis. When one become stressed they often feel that have lost control of their situation, and their perspective on the situation becomes very one sided. We can not control events in our external situation, but we do have the ability to control how we view these events and the emotional response we chose to have to them.

Humor is the solution to this global condition of depression and stress. Patty Wooten, a registered therapeutic nurse, has discovered that laughter banishes the feelings of sadness that can lead to depression. The experience of laughter lifts ones spirits leaving you feeling carefree, lighthearted and hopeful. Laughter can be used as an empowerment tool and allows us to take control of our emotional responses to stressful situations. One only has to spend a few moments with a child to experience the sheer joys of laughter. Seeing the world through their eyes can lead to humorous situations.

Humor can give us a different perspective on our problems. As Bill Cosby has said, "If you can laugh at it, you can survive it." Laughing at yourself when you are feeling stressed is not always easy.

Remember how good it feels to giggle on the phone all night with a good friend, or how happy you were after seeing a movie so bizarre you found yourself rolling on the floor with laughter. You can even find humor towards work situations in the comics—just look at Dilbert! If you can relate your situation to one of hilarity, you can find a way to laugh!

Laughter has even been proven to support recovery in illness. Some of the most exciting research exploring the healing value of laughter is in the area of psyconeuroimmunology. This is the area of research that explores the connections between the nervous system, the hormonal system, and the immune system. Serum Cortisol is a natural substance in your body that suppresses your immune system. The Loma Linda University Medical Center has shown that laughter can reduce these dangerous levels. Other research has shown that laughter increases the level of natural killer cells that attack tumor cells. By laughing often, we can increase our chances of survival by building up those immune systems and natural killer cells.

The best part of laughter is you really don’t need any "reason" to laugh….just start! But, if you’re feeling a bit nervous about laughter here’s a list, from Dr. Annette Goodheart—laughter therapist-- of excellent reasons to do just that: laugh. Keep these reasons in mind and remember the benefits you get—physiologically, psychologically and spiritually. Indulge in your lighter side and laugh whenever, wherever and with whom ever you happen to be. Laughter is portable, immediate therapy…think of it as a way of "charging up" the dead battery of your soul.
As you discover laughter you’ll also discover even more reason to laugh; and when you make those breakthrough discoveries--let the world know!

If you are a fan of the television show Alley McBeal, you’ve seen the character John practice his own version of smile therapy. What I’d like each of you to do now is to look around the classroom, catch the eye of your neighbor, and smile! Chances are you’ll get a smile in return! You’ve just experienced your first dose of humor therapy! Humor does have a positive effect of your spirit, your mind and your body. The next time you are feeling sad or stressed out, or you just can’t get rid of that nagging cough, remember that laughter is the best medicine! Spend time with a child, rent a funny movie, have a giggle fit with your friends, whatever you do—just laugh! In the words of Oscar Wilde—"Life is too important to be taken so seriously."

The Devil Inside

Some days I feel just evil. Yes - I'm a sick and evil person every once in awhile. Today is one of those days! I happened to notice a certain event in our local newsletter - and just laughed and laughed. It turned into one of those evil laughs too ... bawhahahahahahahaha. I just want to keep on laughing now. But it is not a laughing matter. I'm sure many of you won't 'get' why I find the situation so funny.

You see, I opened up our community newsletter and read that my previous employer - the Golf Course I had quit working at last August - was being AUCTIONED next week for a measly $2,500,000. The owner paid $6,500,000 for the property 10 years ago. hhahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!! I can't stop laughing - it hurts.

Sick and evil - I swear I don't mean to feel this way. Really I don't. I'd never wish ill will on anyone - or cause intentional harm. But to see this company take a loss on a property that could be valued so much higher - it's just a great big I TOLD YOU SO opportunity for me.

What do you think the very first thing I did - after recovering from all this laughter? I sent an e-mail to the realtor asking him to let me know who purchases the property. As former Director of Marketing of the property I think I have a good opportunity here - they hire me and I give them all the information I know.

Now - if I happened to have had the $2,500,000 to purchase the property myself I would do it. One would be insane to pass up on this - it's a steal! The property values in our area have tripled in the past year - and our community is HOT HOT HOT real estate wise right now. The only down fall is the community association is attempting to keep the golf course a golf course. If they were smart - they'd buy the property and then sell out individual lots for custom homes. Just think - if you could fit 4 homes on each of the 18 holes - that would be 72 custom lots selling for $100,000 each - would bring in $7,200,000!

Of course - as a home owner in the area myself I'd much rather keep the property a golf course. It's too pretty and there are tons of birds here. So - the absolute best situation would be for a large golf management company to purchase the course - refurbish it completely - make it a bird sanctuary - and then sell memberships at $10,000 each.

There you have it - the dark side of Hush Hush. Secretly twisted and evil in her fight against corporate injustice. But someone please help me - because seriously - I can't stop LAUGHING!

Friday Featured Artists - 03-03-06

The Biggest Loser 3 Candidates!

I've been spending time talking with many wonderful people at the NBC Biggest Loser Forum. The majority of people who are posting there now have attended a casting call or submited a video for the Biggest Loser Season 3. We are reaching the final days in that casting process and it has been a very stressful time for us all.

I have had numerous people contact me from the board to let me know where they are at this time in the casting process - and I can tell you they are pretty darn far into this game! {Which means my own chances of getting onto the show are now ZERO}. They are all fantastic people - and if each of these individuals are chosen it will make for one heck-of-a show. Their personalities are completly different - I can see one or two of them clashing - but in the end they will be a great group that winds up not only reaching their weight loss goals - but winning the hearts of the viewers. They have definelty won over my heart - one good friend in particular who I know will make it all the way!

So this week I am choosing them as my Featured Artists. While not your traditional 'artist' - though Reality TV shows have become a powerful entity in today's Pop Culture - these candidates practice the art of support and friendship. Good thoughts and wishes to everyone who has received the "magic phone call" - you know who you are!

Here's hoping to see you ALL on the ranch!

Stay Tuned!

There will be new blogs posted soon - I'm not feeling well this week - havn't felt much like blogging.

Stay tuned!