rickyleepotts.com | a voice of rhythm, reason, & reality

There is no such thing as a free lunch. Well, wait, maybe there is. If you ever happen to be in the windy city and can take advantage of one of the following great specials the only tab you will have to pick up is the one from the bar. (Note that there truly is no such thing as a free lunch. The lunch, although maybe free for you, cost someone something along the way. By the time the food was produced, packaged, shipped, prepared, and served there was a lot of dollars spent to provide you with that free meal.) So, who out there is hungry? This list proves to make you salivate all over your keyboard! Plus, eating at these places gives you more than a free meal, but rather a true experience of what makes Chicago great. The places on this list are iconic restaurants to the city of Chicago and impossible to find elsewhere.

Friday night at the Lion Head Pub

I love chicken wings. Nothing beats a big plate of deep fried BBQ chicken wings. Sometimes I venture out and try the hot sauce, but I like the sweetness that most BBQs offer. (Unless of course you are at Scotty’s Brewhouse and can enjoy their MoFo Mustard. It is sweet and spicy all wrapped into one sauce. Their specialty actually.)  So, on Friday night the folks over at the Lion Head Pub throw a nice Caesar salad, some fresh vegetables, and a variety of other bar foods like Sloppy Joes onto a buffet and invite you and all your friends inside for dinner. But of course, don’t forget to the tip your waitress. And have a cold one for me while you are there. They appreciate the traffic from the bar.

Address: 2251 North Lincoln Avenue • Phone: 773-348-5100 • Directions

Saturday night at the Map Room

Just the name Map Room has me interested. I picture walking in to a dark, fresh and modern atmosphere with white leather couches everywhere and sexy blond bartenders wearing all black behind the bar. But, from noon until 3:00 PM you can venture in off the streets and enjoy a free brew with your lunch. Order any number of items from their extensive barbecue inspired menu and your beer comes with the meal. This is from a huge list of beers including bottles, drafts, and even cask ales. This place is truly a beer lover’s dream.

Address: 1949 North Hoyne Avenue • Phone: 773-252-7636 • Directions

Midnight Snack at Sedgwick’s Bar & Grill

If you are walking around the crowded streets on any given Saturday night and manage to stumble across Sedgwick’s Bar & Grill, walk in and enjoy some late night snacks on the house. Here, after midnight, you will find an array of foods thrown together on a buffet for your eating pleasure. You can grab nachos, quesadillas, pastas, and even a variety of cold cuts. But again, remember that it is midnight and chances are you are already drinking. So, make sure to order a few beers and take care of your bartender. This food might be free to you but these have to make a living somehow.

Address: 1935 North Sedgwick Street • Phone: 312-337-7900 • Directions

Spending Sunday at Big Chicks

Are you hungry for some pre-game fried chicken? Perhaps some cheeseburgers or gyros? Maybe you are even in the mood for a meatball submarine sandwich. However you look at it, if you can make it to 4:00 PM then head over to Big Chicks for their incredible buffet packed with all of this and more. This buffet is always changing and there are new items being added nearly every week. So, after a long night out on Saturday, sleep in, grab a candy bar or something to hold you over, and head over to Big Chicks for a late afternoon feast. You won’t be sorry.

Address: 5024 North Sheridan Road • Phone: 773-728-5511 • Directions

The guy that I am sitting with today has a story to tell. He actually has quite a few stories to tell. Good thing he is a singer and a songwriter. He tells his stories on stage with a guitar in his hand. Outside of the fact he is about as laid back as they come, he is also an incredibly nice individual. His skills on the acoustic matched with him trained vocals talents makes him a great excuse to see a live show. His songs have unique titles and you can tell, just off of the lyrics alone, that he has been through more than an average person should ever have to go through. I first met this cat at Birdy’s Bar and Grill and have become good friends since. Sit with me today as it is my absolute pleasure to introduce you to Jason Firebaugh.

So how do you actually pronounce that last name of yours?

It’s just like saying Fireball…except you don’t prounce the two ll’s on the end of it.

Is it true you just moved to the Indianapolis area?

It is true that I just moved back to Indianapolis.  I was away for about seven years, lived in Florida and Texas in that time.  Glad to be back though!

Describe your genre in one word.

Heartfelt.

Do you write all of your own lyrics?

For the most part, yes.  There’s only one song that I can’t take complete lyrical credit for.

Have you ever co-written with anyone?

Yes, I used to be in a punk band in Florida called Skylab Hoax.  We collectively wrote a song called “Best Disguise” that I still play on my own.  I also have two songs in which friends of mine gave me titles and I wrote lyrics based on those titles.  Those were really fun.

Tell me about the Acoustic Live Challenge that you just experienced.

The Acoustic Live Challenge was a great experience!  I entered it mostly to get more into the music scene here in Indy.  I haven’t been playing my solo/acoustic stuff for very long so I knew I would have a tough time winning, and I was up against some absolutely amazing musicians.  I learned a great deal just watching everyone else play and I also met some great people that I will continue to play with in the future.

Who are some of your biggest inspirations?

Musically speaking, I have a ton…and honestly, most of them fall in the “Punk Rock” genre.  Face to Face, Screeching Weasel, Blink 182, Green Day; just to name a few.  In life, my friends and family inspire me everyday.  Every song I’ve written has at least one person (if not more) as my inspiration.

If you could be any cartoon character whom would you be and why?

Louis/Cornelius from Meet The Robinsons.  This is my favorite Disney movie.  I like the message and theme of the movie.  Basically saying, you live and you learn and you move on from it.

What are you drinking on stage?

Beer, typically Miller High Life, Coors Light, or Bud Light.

Do you have a job outside of music?

Yes, I currently have a job in a warehouse that pays the bills…but just barely.

What would you be doing if you were not playing music?

I enjoy the lyric writing process so I would hope that I would still be writing in some fashion.  Maybe poetry or short stories.

If you cold live anywhere else in the world where would you go?

Any place that is warm year round, is near water, and has nice beaches.  If it meets those three criteria, I’m down.

What was the last movie you saw?

Inglourious Basterds.

Did you like it?

I did like it.  I enjoy most Tarantino movies. I would watch this one again.

If you could only play one song for the rest of your career what song would you choose?

I have a song called “Love Found Never Lost” that I wrote about my sister and her husband.  Basically about their love story; how they ended up together, etc.  That would be the one, it’s one of my favorites.

How long have you been performing?

On my own as a solo act, I first played out in October; so about four months.  But prior to this I played for a few years in a punk band.

Do you play anything besides the guitar?

Not really…although I could still play a C scale on trumpet if you ever need that.

Let’s say you are about to headline a show at Verizon Wireless Music Center. Who is your opening act?

Locally, either Brad Odom or Eddie Brummett.  If I could be selfish and pick a nationally known opening act that I really wanted to see and hang out with, I would pick Blink 182.

Are you a Colts fan?

Now you’re talking my language.  I love the Colts!  Huge, huge fan!  Besides music, following the Colts is my biggest passion!

How did you react to the news about Michael Jackson?

This may sound morbid or strange, but it seemed normal to me.  It just seemed like with the ups and downs, all the strange things that happened in his life, it just didn’t surprise me that much.  Although I will say, with all he contributed to music, it was a pretty big loss.

I hear you are not on Twitter yet.

I am not.  You are correct…although I am hoping to get started “tweeting” at some point soon…is that right?  Tweeting?

What are your thoughts on MySpace?

I think MySpace is great.  I think it was the first place where musicians could really get their name out there and network around the world without having to physically travel to places.

Who has more talent between Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers?

You know how the Colts questions was Awesome?  This is the complete and total opposite of awesome…but if I must answer, I will say the Jonas Brothers.  I loathe Miley Cyrus.

Coke or Pepsi?

Coke.

Can you name SpongeBob SquarePants best friend?

Patrick?  Is that right?  I have five nieces and nephews, that is the only reason I even have a guess.

You are a songwriter. That means you must know how to tell a good story. Tell me a story.

So I was in Broad Ripple about nine or ten years ago.  My friends and I decided to head into Rock Lobster, and yes, I am that old.  It was a Friday or Saturday night, so it was packed.  After having a few drinks, I needed to use the restroom.  For those of you that are either female or haven’t been to the Rock Lobster, they have (or had, not sure if they still do) a trough style urinal.  One big urinal where guys just line up next to one another to go to the bathroom.  Anyway, I end up at the far right of the trough and there are three guys to my left.  I hear the door open and a guy yells out to the three guys, “Scoot down, make room.”  So they do.  This guy stands right beside me and proceeds to drop his pants completely; so he is standing there in his boxers only.  I laughed to myself and he looks and says, “Don’t tell me you’re not seeing this?”  I had no response due to the fact of who this person was…none other than future Hall of Famer and Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning.

Do you ever play outside of the city of Indianapolis?

I played a show in Illinois in December, but nothing else yet.  I really hope to be able to play at various places in the Midwest as I get more established.

If you could meet anyone, alive or dead, who would it be and why?

One person who is kind of a personal hero, but one that I didn’t mention as an inspiration earlier…Warren Zevon.  He was an amazing lyricist, with a very unique voice.  And the fact that he decided to write a final album in the time he had left on earth, speaks volumes of what he was as a person and as a musician.  I would love to be able to meet him and talk with him about his entire life.

If you were offered a large sum of money to do a rap album with someone else’s lyrics would you do it?

Absolutely not!  I am not a fan of rap and I wouldn’t want to be successful off of something I didn’t do myself.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I see myself still playing music.  Although I would like to be able to make a career of it, the odds are very slim.  No matter what happens, I am a lifelong singer/songwriter/musician.

What do you want to be remembered for when this is all said and done?

I want to be remembered as a person who truly, honestly cared.  Someone that cared about other people and their feelings.  Someone that cared about society.  Someone that cared about making music that was from the heart and took the time to ensure that it always was.  If I give that impression off to people, then I will be happy with my life.

I always let the artist get the last word. Go.

Rock On!  Go Colts!

After a long hard week at work not much tops heading out to dinner with some of your closest friends. Sharing ice-cold beers and mile high cheeseburgers is a great way to end a week filled with emails and memos. When deciding on where to go there are tons of options, especially in here in Indianapolis.

You can go to a fast food joint for a cheap meal or you can venture out to a sit down restaurant for a little more attention paid to the atmosphere. There are burger places all around the city and one that I like, especially in the summer, is Champps Americana. There just happens to be a Champps right here in the heart of the north side.

Located right next to the Keystone Fashion Mall you will find Champps Americana. Champps serves anything from soups and salads to pastas and burgers. They also have quite an impressive beer list to boot.   As a matter of fact, their bar is the main focus when you first walk in. Not to mention the huge projector screens and plasma TVs pretty much everywhere you look. I have not been to Champps in a while so when a good friend of mine from out of town said he wanted to get a beer I figured that was the perfect excuse to go. (He was also staying right across the street so it was convenient for him.)

So, around 7:00 PM my good friend Tyler, my girlfriend Sheryl, and I went toward the Keystone area. Andrew Lyon, my friend from Washington DC was already there. When we arrived, we found Andrew, sat down, and waited for our server. Not sure how long Andrew had been there but the server had not yet visited the table. Perhaps he had just sat down, but that is no excuse to not have at least offered a beverage. But the server finally makes his way over to the table and immediately wants to get us some drinks from the bar. Of course he does, they cost more than a soda or water. I ordered a Miller Lite as it was their cheapest alternative.

About fifteen minutes later my drink finally arrived. Not to mention the fact that my girlfriend and Andrew had not yet ordered a drink. We will let that slide for the time being. So as Tyler and I get our beers, we are ready to order our dinner. Tyler went with a burger, Andrew the same, and Sheryl decided on some pasta. I went with a diet breaking appetizer sampler that featured potato skins, chicken fingers, mozzarella sticks, and hot Buffalo wings. I figured it was Friday, why not?

Another ten or twelve minutes pass before Sheryl and Andrew’s beers arrive to the table. Andrew had a terrible time deciding which beer to get as he is a typical stout drinker. When asking the server what he suggested, as he was looking to try something different than a Guinness, the server acted confused at the question. He tried to sell Andrew into an IPA and eventually ended up talking him into a wheat beer. Moral of the story is that not only does the beer selection at Champps suffer but the education to their servers is just the same.

Regardless, their beers arrive and the conversation continues. But now it’s time for dinner. The two burgers arrive first and are auctioned off to their respected owner. (If there is anything that I dislike more about a restaurant is when the server auctions the food. If you, as the server of the table, do not know who ordered what, you need to pay a little more attention to what is going on. I have served my whole life and I have never once forgotten what my guests are eating. He only had a few tables anyway.) Then Sheryl is hit with her colorful pasta and I my appetizer sampler. The server leaves for the time being to get my sauces (the sampler is served with bleu cheese, marinara sauce, BBQ, and a spicy mayonnaise.) By the time he gets back I had realized what I had ordered was not what was sitting in front of me.

For starters, the potato skins were burnt to a crisp. The cheese sticks were practically frozen. Even the wings were cold. Oh yeah, and the picture showed four chicken strips on this platter while I was only served two. So not only was I served cold and burnt food, but I was served the sauces a mere five minutes after the meal arrived. That was when I decided to tell the server I would like my meal remade and to look like the picture. He grabbed the plate and headed back to the kitchen.

Sheryl, in the mean time, was digging into her pasta. She said the flavors were bland and that when you order chicken pasta you should be able to see the chicken and not have to ding through it. I would actually later try the pasta and found it quite enjoyable. It was a chicken and spinach Tortellini and I enjoyed it immensely.

Not five minutes later one of the mangers delivered my new and improved sampler platter. This time the meal was exactly what I had wanted. The wings were glowing with color, the potato skins looked full of flavor, the mozzarella sticks were filled with stringy cheese, and there were actually four chicken strips this time rather than two. She even took my first plate of sauces and delivered a brand new selection that were all warm in their own right. It was a great presentation. Then she managed to inform me that she would be taking care of the meal. This was absolutely uncalled for.

Now, there comes a time where I expect a restaurant to do the right thing. This is exactly what should have happened. Now, did I expect it? No, of course not. Did I assume that I would still pay for my meal and just have to wait a little bit to enjoy what I had ordered? Yes, of course. But what matters here is I was never mad, nor did I complain about the food rather just pointed out that it was not what I had expected. The restaurant took the first step and impressed me beyond belief.

I later asked for the manger’s card so that I could send her an email with this blog link prior to sharing it with my readers, and would come to learn that she is in fact a managing partner of that location. This lady went out of her way when she didn’t even have to. Makes me wonder how they would have reacted had I actually of had a problem. I want to personally thank her for her attention to detail and the willingness to correct an issue before it even became one.

Now, to the server that we had that night, I might suggest a career change. You knew nothing about a pretty standard beer list. You hardly ever came to the table to ask if things were sufficient or if there was anything we needed. You actually disappeared at one instance during the evening for over a half an hour. Just curious, where did you go? But putting the mediocre at best service to the side, Champps has impressed me with how they handled this issue. (Can I complain that they have removed the Mongolian Egg Rolls from the menu? Apparently it was one of their best selling appetizers but corporate decided to take them from the menu in an effort to have a more “Americanized menu”. Regardless, they were delicious and I would like to see them return to the menu in the near future.) I will return to Champps because of how they handled this situation and to anyone else out there looking for a place who understands that the guest truly does come first, try giving Champps at Keystone at the Crossing a chance in the near future. You wont be disappointed.

The guy I am sitting with today has some serious talent that you just can’t afford to miss. He brings not only raw talent to the stage in his guitar playing abilities, but his songwriting is some of the best I have ever heard. Not to mention that he is one of the nicest and most humble guys in the music industry. He works his butt off producing music and tours every chance that he gets. I have a hard time fitting him into a genre, but all across the board he produces some incredible music. I first met this guy at a hole in the wall bar here in the heart of Indianapolis, Indiana. He was sitting in the corner playing on his computer when I first saw him and he has left an impression on me every since. (Perhaps it was the John Deere hat he was wearing.) With a list of influences a mile long it is hard to compare this guy to anyone else in the industry. But regardless, it is time to sit back, relax, and get to know the man that is Ryan Horne.

What is your first memory of the guitar?

Picking up my fathers old Martin and turning it upside down and trying to play it. I am left handed and I knew then and there that I would buy a left handed guitar.

How long have you been performing?

Starting performing with a band I played and sang with in high school. Starting making a living playing music in 2004.

Do you have a job outside of music?

I do not. I am able to play music for a living these days and it works.

Do you write all your own lyrics?

Most of the time but as of late I have been doing a lot of co-writing with other artists and writers. Creatively, it is so much fun to have different perspectives.

Where do you get inspiration for a new track?

Everywhere. That is a tough question to answer because you can see a man walking the streets and get inspired to write. So many things inspire new tracks.

Where are you originally from?

I am from Marietta, Georgia. It is a suburb of Atlanta.

How do you like it down there in Atlanta?

I like it more and more and we are starting to bring the Atlanta music scene together and make it more into a community.

What is your favorite venue to play?

The Workplay Theatre in Birmingham, Alabama.

What is the largest crowd that you have ever played for?

Probably around 2,000.

The smallest?

Probably around 5. (Laughs)

What is your opinion on MySpace?

It is dirty now with all the ads and all the strippers, not a huge fan but I love Facebook.

Are you on Twitter?

Yes, I am on Twitter at @ryanhornemusic.

How did you react to the news about Michael Jackson?

Not much of a reaction; just thought he had some great tunes.

How many albums do you have out now?

About to release my fifth record but I do not sell the first two anymore; I don’t like them.

Where can I get some Ryan Horne merchandise?

You can get merchandise on my website.

Describe your genre in one word.

Americana.

Tell me a little bit about the new record.

A collection of tracks that I enjoy. Focus is on the songwriting (the melodies, the lyrics). Has a little more of a southern rock plavor to it on some songs.

Do you have a favorite song on the record?

Yes, Hell To Pay. It is about a shooting I witnessed in Atlanta.

Who are some of your biggest influences?

So many to name. Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Martin Sexton, Ryan Adams, Patty Griffin, etc. Too many to list. Lots of great artists and songs out there.

Tell me a little bit about Patchwork Records.

Home grown. A project I started in college. Not much else to say about it right now.

Who would win in a pillow fight between Nathan Angelo and Micah Dalton?

Hard to say, they would be pretty even.

What are you drinking on stage?

Usually water.

If you could only play one cover song for the rest of your career what song would you choose?

Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen.

Is there any song that you play in every set?

Yes, 4th of July which will be on the new record that is coming out December 8th.

If you were told that you only have a week to live how would you spend your last seven days?

Traveling to places around the world that I have never been to.

If you could tour with anyone in the market right now who would you choose?

Patty Griffin or Martin Sexton.

What would you be doing if you were not performing?

I would be an engineer in a studio. I have a degree in Recording from MTSU.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Still putting out records, still traveling and playing.

What do you want to be remembered for when this is all said and done?

All of the songs that I have written. I want to write 1,000′s of great songs.

I always let the artist get the last word.  Go.

The new album is coming December 8th! (Note that this interview was conducted prior to the release of his latest album.)

Today, on Friday February 19, 2010, Tiger Woods made a public apology to a group of close friends and family. At the PGA headquarters in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida Tiger stepped to a podium with people like his mother, long time friend and former college roommate Notah Begay, PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem, and a handful of others. Also said to be there were his wife and other good friends like Michael Jordan. Yet these individuals did not sit in the room where Tiger gave his speech, you could tell he was with friends and family while presenting.

The speech itself was very scripted. Tiger read from a stack of papers and the speech lasted just over thirteen minutes. Tiger expressed his apologies to his sponsors, friends, family, and fans. Tiger also said that he has been receiving and will continue to receive rehabilitation for his actions. To the average person you would assume that Tiger meant every word of what he said.

Tiger left the stage by hugging his mother, shaking hands with the majority of the front row (where Tim Finchem was sitting and was the only person who did not get up once Tiger was finished speaking) and then gracefully walked out of the room. Then came hours of “experts” expressing their thoughts on the speech. Basically, when this was all said and done it was something that Tiger had to do. He has no choice but to apologize to a nation demanding answers.

Below you will find the presentation word for word as well as a video of him speaking. This was a tough day for Tiger Woods, and Tiger fans all over the world. I feel sorry for the man to have to go through all of this, and I know that once he does in fact return to the golf course everything will go back to normal. Tiger is, and always will be, a professional golfer and very well the best player to ever play the game.

“Good morning and thank you for joining me. Many of you in this room are my friends. Many of you in this room know me. Many of you have cheered for me, or you worked with me or you supported me. Now every one of you has good reason to be critical of me. I want to say to each of you simply and directly I am deeply sorry for my irresponsible and selfish behavior I engaged in.

I know people want to find out how I could be so selfish and so foolish. People want to know how I could have done these things to my wife Elin and to my children. And while I have always tried to be a private person there are some things I want to say. Elin and I have started the process of discussing the damage caused by my behavior. As Elin pointed out to me my real apology to her will not come in the form of words. It will come from my behavior over time. We have a lot to discuss and however what we say to each will remain between the two of us. I am also aware of the pain my behavior has caused to those of you in this room. I have let you down. I have let down my fans.

For many of you, especially my friends, my behavior has been a personal disappointment. To those of you who work for me I have let you down personally and professionally. My behavior has caused considerable worry to my business partners. To everyone involved in my foundation, including my staff, board of directors, sponsors, and most importantly the young students we reach, our work is more important than ever. Thirteen years ago my dad and I envisioned in helping your people achieve their dreams through education. This work remains unchanged and will continue to grow. From the learning center in southern California to the Earl Woods scholars in Washington DC, millions of kids have changed their lives and I am dedicated to making sure that continues. But still, I know I have bitterly disappointed all of you. I have made you question who I am and how I could have done the things I did. I am embarrassed that I have put you in this position.

For all that I have done I am so sorry. I have a lot to atone for but there is one issue I really want to discuss. Some people have speculated that Elin somehow hurt or attacked me on Thanksgiving night. It angers me that people would fabricate a story like that. Elin never hit me that night or any other night. There has never been an episode of domestic violence in our marriage. Ever. Elin has shown enormous grace and poise throughout this ordeal. Elin deserves praise, not blame.

The issue involved here was my repeated irresponsible behavior. I was unfaithful. I had affairs. I cheated. What I did is not acceptable and I am the only person to blame. I stopped living by the core values that I was taught to believe in. I knew my actions were wrong but I convinced myself that normal rules did not apply. I never thought about who I was hurting. Instead, I thought only about myself. I ran straight through the boundaries that a married couple should live by. I thought I could get away with whatever I wanted to. I felt that I had worked hard my entire life and deserved to enjoy all of the temptations around me. I felt I was entitled. Thanks to money and fame I didn’t have to go far to find them. I was wrong, I was foolish; I don’t get to play by different rules.

The same boundaries that apply to everyone apply to me. I brought this shame on myself. I hurt my wife, my kids, my mother, my wife’s family, my friends, my foundation, and kids all around the world who admired me. I have had a lot of time to think about what I have done. My failures have made me look at myself in a way I never wanted to before. It is not up to me to make amends. That starts by never repeating the mistakes I made. It is up to me to start living a life of integrity.

I once heard, and I believe its true, “It’s not what you achieve in life that matters, its what you overcome. Achievements on the golf course are only part of setting an example. Character and decency are what really count. Parents used to point to me as a role model for their kids. I owe all those families a special apology I want to say to them that I am truly sorry.

It’s hard to admit that I need help. But I do. For forty-five days form the end of December to early February I was in in-patient therapy receiving guidance for the issues I am facing. I have a long way to go but I have taken my first steps in the right direction.

As I proceed I understand people have questions. I understand the press wants to ask me details of the time I was unfaithful. I understand people want to know whether Elin or I will remain together. Please know that as far as I am on concerned everyone of these questions and answers is a matter between Elin and me. These are issues between a husband and a wife. Some people have made up things that never happened. They said that I used performance-enhancing drugs. This is completely and utterly false. Some have written things about my family. Despite the shame I have done I still believe that it is right to shield my family form the pubic light. They did not do these things. I did.

I have always tried to maintain a private space for my wife and children. They have been kept separate from my sponsors; my commercial endorsements. When my children were born we only released photographs so that the paparazzi could not chase them. However, my behavior doesn’t make it right for the media to follow my two and a half year old daughter to school and to report the school’s location. They staked out my wife and they perused my mom. Whatever my wrong doings for the sake of my family please leave my wife and kids alone. I recognize I have brought his on myself and I know above all I am the one who needs to change. I owe to my family to become a better person, I owe those close to me to become a better man. That is where my focus will be.

I have a lot of work to do and I tend to dedicate myself to doing it. Part of following this path for me is Buddhism, which my mother taught me at a young age. People probably don’t realize it but I was raised a Buddhist and I actively practiced my faith form childhood until I drifted away from it in recent years. Buddhism teaches that a craving for things outside ourselves causes an unhappy and pointless search for security; it teaches me to stop following every impulse and to learn restraint. Obviously, I lost track of what I was taught. As I move forward I will continue to receive help because I have learned that’s how people really do change.

Starting tomorrow I will leave for more treatment and more therapy. I would like to thank my friends at Accenture and the players in the field this week for understanding why I am making these remarks today. In therapy I have learned the importance in looking at my spiritual life and keeping a balance with my professional life. I need to regain my balance and be centered so that I can have the things that are important to me; my marriage and my children.

That also means relying on others for help. I have learned to seek support from my peers in therapy and I hope someday to return that support to others who are seeking help. I do plan to return to golf one day I just don’t know when that day will be. I don’t rule out that it will be this year. When I do return I need to make my behavior more respectful of the game. In recent weeks I have received many thousands of emails, letters, and people expressing good wishes. To everyone who has reached out to me and my family, thank you. Your encouragement means the world to Elin and me. I want to thank the PGA Tour, Commissioner Finchem, and the players for their patience and understanding while I work on my private life. I look forward to seeing my fellow players on the course. Finally, there are many people in this room and there are many people at home, who believed in me. Today I want to ask for your help. I ask you to find room in your heart to one day believe in me again. Thank you.”

I came across a show the other day that grabbed my attention. It comes from the man that almost ate himself to death in the film Super Size Me, Morgan Spurlock. The show is titled 30 Days and Morgan puts himself in situations for thirty days that he would normally not find himself in. He does the research, he plans the topic, and then is filmed for the thirty days breaking down how his mind and body react to the living this life style for an entire month. The show is quite good and it allows the audience a chance to see life on the inside.

The episode that stood out to me most was the season finale of the second season. Morgan put himself in jail for thirty days. His girlfriend, of course, did not take this too lightly, but she knew he had to go for the sake of his show and for the sake of what makes Morgan, Morgan. So he was picked up at home and for an entire month was treated like a criminal. He would eat with these guys; he would sleep with these guys, get time in the “yard” with these guys, and even shower and use the restroom right alongside convicts.

At first it was a little scary for Morgan. I mean, going from being able to do whatever you want whenever you want to now being thrown behind bars is a major life change. From the moment he walked into the prison he was told that he would be treated just like all the other inmates. He would get no special treatment, no extra protection, and would not be pulled out of any fights or altercations if he found himself in one. Morgan was on the inside all alone.

The episode was actually quite educational. There is not a lot that you can see in forty-five minutes that takes place over a month’s time, but I felt they did a good job breaking it down and showing the highlights. You learn a lot during that time, however, and get to see how smart prisoners really are. For instance, the bathrooms in these cells are literally just sitting out in the middle for everyone to see. So if you have to use the restroom you are going to be showing off for the rest of the guys around you. But these prisoners have developed a technique to show when they are in fact on the John. When someone goes to the restroom they throw a sheet up to cover the cell. Then the inmate will write and place a note on the outside of the cell to let guards and cell mates know they are using the restroom. It is clever and it works.

Part of the reason for this system, however, is due to the fact that jails are overcrowded. The cells are meant for two inmates, at most, and all of them are housing three at a time. A pair of convicts will get a bunk bed while the other gets a thin mattress and is forced to sleep on the floor. Now, the prison that Morgan visited was not maximum security, where I feel things might be a little different, but the inmates were only allowed very few hours of daylight a week. They were kept inside and not given very much freedom at all. But tensions do run high around any prisons.

So as Morgan goes along he decides to make things even worse for himself. Not only is allowed a handful of visitations while he is in the pen, he decides to put himself in solitary confinement for seventy-two hours. This, from the way he described it, has to be one of the worst forms of punishment that a prisoner can go through. I have always thought that this would be the easy way out. You get your own room, three meals a day served to you right there, time to shower and work out all by yourself, and no worries about getting into arguments or fights with the other inmates. But, when Morgan said that the prisoner is not allowed any books while inside of solitary confinement, I quickly changed my mind. You see, if I was in prison (for whatever reason) and I had nothing to do but wait, I would read. I would read magazines and books and try to learn as much as I could when I was on the inside. I would also begin taking college courses, as they are offered in most prisons, and try to get as far as I could in my personal education as possible. But, if while in “the hole” as they like to call it, you cannot read I would not want to be anywhere near that.

Morgan explains how being locked up by yourself, even for seventy-two hours, can do a lot to a man. He began talking to himself and was just acting silly trying to find ways to pass the time. The human body can only sleep for so many hours a day and you could tell that boredom set in very early with his time in that holding cell. But I have a feeling the whole situation would be an issue. Being in jail, having to follow someone’s rules about when you eat and sleep, and not being able to make phone calls whenever I wanted, having no Internet access, and not being able to watch TV that you want. I would simply go insane after a few hours, let alone a few years. Just try to imagine living a life like that, never mind the fear of being disliked, for years at a time. There are guys that get five, ten, twenty or more years in prison. Is that justice? That depends on their crime. But I am not sure how I would handle a situation like that.

The show, if even only for an hour, put you in a pair of shoes you might not have understood before. I now know what it is like to be a convict behind bars. I know what a prisoner goes through, what kind of food they eat, and what sort of activities they can take advantage of. All things said and done I do not want to be in jail. It looks to be a pretty lonely place. But if it was not for Morgan Spurlock and his show 30 Days I might never know what it truly was like behind bars. This is just one episode in his collection of now two seasons and if this one shows anything for the future of this show, I can see this lasting for a long time. So check out 30 Days if you want to live your life in someone else’s shoes; if only for an hour at a time.

When you first see what this band looks like you cannot help but wonder what they sound like. Giving you an almost Enya sort of feel from their website/MySpace design and their photography you assume you will get hit with a soft ambient sort of sound. But you will get pretty much the exact opposite. This band that I am sitting with today takes a sound like what you expect from Evanescence, tosses in some almost techno beats, and then dishes out some polished and educated lyrics to produce a sound that is hard to replicate. When I first introduced myself to these guys I couldn’t help but want to get to know them better. It is rare to find a duo like this and even more rare to see a duo perform at such a high skill level. These two actually met over the Internet (seems to be a popular way to meet people these days) and their passion for music goes simply unmatched So take a few minutes, sit back with me today and get to know the group that is Lorelei.

Where did you come up with that name?

(Chris) Shannon and I both read a book called, “The Dogs of Babel” by Carolyn Parkhurst. It’s about a man and his dog, which was the only witness to his wife’s death. The dog’s name was Lorelei, which is fitting since Shannon has some dog features.

(Shannon) Funny, Chris! The story was very beautiful and we were both inspired by it. Then we discovered that Lorelei comes from a German myth. She’s a young maiden who haunts the Rhine River and lures in sailors with her song.  I used to be in an all-female a capella group in college, the USC Sirens.  Lorelei is the German equivalent of a Siren. We both liked the idea of a female seductress enticing men to their doom.

Actually, speaking of the name; how do you pronounce that?

Lore – uh – lie.

Where are you originally from?

(Chris) I grew up in Port Orchard, a suburb south of Seattle. Same stomping grounds as many of the famous Seattle musicians, like Kurt Cobian for example.

(Shannon) I grew up in Gig Harbor.  We realized that our childhood homes were only a few miles a part from each other! 

How did you meet?

(Chris) I posted an ad on Craigslist, believe it or not. I had been searching for months for the perfect singer, and Shannon responded. The rest is history!

(Shannon) Yep, I had just moved from LA to Seattle and was looking for some creative outlets to get involved with in addition to my solo project.  I saw his ad and emailed him. He listened to my music and he contacted me.  He sent me some songs that he had recorded with a previous singer who didn’t work out.  Chris was obviously very talented. We met up, started collaborating really well together…and here we are!

What are your thoughts on MySpace?

(Chris) MySpace is a great network for artists/bands who may never get heard outside of their home town. It’s a nice place to create a following and be able to communicate directly with fans. There have been many artists who have found success from MySpace popularity, like the Arctic Monkeys.

(Shannon) Honestly, I’m not a big fan of MySpace, but I do feel we should have a page, since most bands do.  It has gotten so filled with spam lately and it’s hard to weed out the real fans from the ones trying to promote themselves.  But it’s still a great tool for promoting our music and connecting with fans.  I’m more of a Facebook gal.

Are you on Twitter?

(Chris) I think so…Shannon, are we on Twitter?

(Shannon)  I have a Twitter account.  It’s: shanrockeileen. Hit me up!

Who are some of your biggest influences?

(Chris) I have always have been heavily influenced by UK music, and musicians.  Radiohead, Keene, and David Gray for example. I grew up in a musical family and I was exposed to a lot of blues and bluegrass music. Daryl Hall from Hall & Oats shagged my mom on one of their tours, so that is where a lot of my talent came from.  Eric Clapton is one of my biggest guitar influences. I started playing guitar while listening to a lot of Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and Black Sabbath.

(Shannon) One of my biggest influences as a singer and songwriter is Sade. She crosses all genres. Her music is soothing, soulful and timeless. Other vocal influences are jazz and soul singers, like Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Dusty Springfield and Eva Cassidy.

Do you guys have a favorite venue?

(Chris) Not really any favorites. I like venues where you are up close and personal with your audience. I also really love playing outdoor venues as well. It’s my dream to play at The Gorge in Eastern Washington someday

(Shannon) One day, Chris! My dream venue would be the Hollywood Bowl.

Do you ever tour outside of Washington?

(Chris) We played a showcase at the Viper Room in Hollywood last year.

(Shannon) And we’re planning a northwest tour in 2010, which will include Seattle, Portland and San Francisco.

Who is the ringleader of the band?

(Chris) Shannon and I work equally on Lorelei. Decisions, direction, and ideas.

(Shannon) Yeah, we’re both the ringleaders.  We write the songs and record them.  The rest of our band mates just perform with us.

Who writes all of the lyrics?

(Chris) A few of the tunes on the album I wrote with a co-writer that I had been writing with for years. However, Shannon changed and re-wrote a lot of those.  All the other songs Shannon had lyric duty.

(Shannon) I’ve always felt it was important that I write the lyrics I sing.  With the exception of covers, it’s hard for me to really get into a song that someone else writes.  I think it comes across better emotionally, both on the recording and while performing live.

Where do you get inspiration for a new track?

(Chris) I’ll send Shannon music tracks that I feel great about, and she’ll work with the songs that inspire her.  Once she gets a melody and lyrics down, we’ll work out the final arrangements together.  It’s a great way to write songs actually.

(Shannon) Yeah, it works really well for us. Sometimes we’ll discuss the type of sound and vibe we want based on a certain song we’ve been listening to at the moment.  But it usually ends up turning out completely different from the original idea.  That’s why I love songwriting.  The songs take on a life of their own.

If you could be any cartoon character, whom would you be and why?

(Chris) Being Shaggy from Scooby Doo would be cool. He is the 70′s version of Ghost Hunters. Plus he has a pet dog that talks.

(Shannon) You kind of look like Shaggy!  For me, it’d be Wonder Woman. Because she kicks some butt and I already have her costume.

What is the biggest crowd that you have ever played for?

(Chris) My old band, Dead of Winter, opened for Stone Temple Pilots at the OK Hotel in Seattle. It was packed! That was a great show.

(Shannon) Mine was when I was flown out to perform a holiday concert for US troops and civilians in Guantanamo Bay. I felt like a celebrity there. That was an experience I’ll never forget.

The smallest?

(Chris) We set up a show opening for Alice In Chains, and only forty people showed up. A majority of the people were our friends and family. It was a big venue and it looked even emptier.

(Shannon) I got you beat. My smallest show was for five people. One of who was a drunken old man with a floor-length white beard swaying off beat. Granted, I didn’t promote the show, and it was technically just for practice.  But for morale purposes, I still had to be reminded multiple times that night that every band has to start somewhere!

If you could tour with any band out there right now who would you chose?

(Chris) U2 would be a great band to tour with, as they have such a huge fan base. Also, the Fray would be great. For “awe” purposes, I would love to do a song with Eric Clapton.

(Shannon) I think I’d choose Radiohead.  Or No Doubt.

If you could live anywhere in the world where would you live?

(Chris) Well, I must say Seattle is one of the best places to live in the world.  So I’m happy where I’m at. My second choice would be on my own vineyard in France or Italy, living peacefully making wine and music!

(Shannon) Yes, I’d live right where I am.  I want to travel all over the world and always come home to Seattle.

How long have you guys been performing together?

(Chris) Almost two years?

(Shannon) Yeah, just about two years now.

What is the last movie you saw?

(Chris) I saw the Hangover.

(Shannon) “Up In The Air” with George Clooney.

Did you like it?

(Chris) Yes, I thought it was a very funny movie. I would recommend seeing it, but not with children around!

(Shannon) I loved it.  I was tearing up throughout.

What would you be doing if you were not performing?

(Chris) I can’t imagine not performing music. That is a hard one, because I can’t really picture myself doing anything else. I think music keeps me out of trouble!  Perhaps I would paint oil paintings.

(Shannon) I’d probably be a visual artist and blogger. I recently started my own inspiration and design blog about things that make me happy.

What are your thoughts on the passing of Michael Jackson last year?

(Chris) I always loved MJ’s music. He was such a great pop songwriter. His influence is everywhere in modern music.  I believe he had a hard life and was greatly misunderstood.

(Shannon) I was pretty distraught.  I grew up with Michael in the 80′s and would create dance routines to his songs as a child.  I’d be lying if I said he didn’t influence me musically.  I was always a supporter of him throughout the sketchy years.

What is the last album you bought?

(Chris) I haven’t bought an album in a long time! I buy and download individual songs, but haven’t bought a full length CD in awhile. I haven’t felt there has been a full album that I must have.

(Shannon) Yeah, I feel the same way. But I’ve bought entire albums off of iTunes before.  The last one I purchased like that was Adele’s album, 19.

What are you drinking on stage?

(Chris) Bud Light and goat’s blood!

(Shannon) Yuck. Water.

Pepsi or Coke?

(Chris) Coke.  I like Coke better than Pepsi any day, especially Coke in a glass bottle.

(Shannon) I’m right there with you.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

(Chris) With a few Lorelei records under our belts, a large fan base and great tours. I will be satisfied knowing that we are sharing our music with the world.

(Shannon) Lorelei will have multiple #1 hits.  Perhaps we will have a Grammy nomination or two. Dream big!

What do you want to be remembered for when this is all said and done?

(Chris) I’d like to be remembered as a creative guitarist /songwriter.  I’d like to make some kind of impact in the music world.

(Shannon) The reason why I sing and write songs is to be able to inspire others.  If I can touch other people’s lives in a meaningful way, impact them, uplift them, I will be happy and will know that my purpose on this earth has been fulfilled.

I always let the artist get the last word.  Go.

(Chris) 2010 is the breakout year for Lorelei!  We will put out our full length CD, shoot a video, and complete a west coast tour.  We are planning many big things for the band and we want our friends and fans to stay tuned!  I believe that all creative people out there should stick to what they believe in and stay confident in their art.  Even when it gets tough, it will pay off in the end.  Love and persistence is the key.

(Shannon) Thank you so much for interviewing us, Ricky!  Everyone, please come listen to our tunes on MySpace sign up for our mailing list.  Fans are our top priority and we always respond to genuine emails and comments.  Big things are happening and we’d love to have you along for the ride!

As you all know Tiger Woods has been under the gun since his Thanksgiving Day car accident outside of his home in Orange County, Florida. The accident happened very late at night and there was immediate speculation that alcohol and domestic violence was involved in the incident. Alcohol, according to the Orange County Police Department, was not the cause of the accident. Then stories came from everywhere claiming that Elin Nordegren, Tiger’s Swedish super model wife, had beaten him up and he was running in a frantic to get away from her. (That might explain why Tiger did not have any shoes on when the police arrived.) There were even reports that she had bashed the car window in with one of his golf clubs. Regardless, this was a bad way for Tiger to spend his turkey day.

Tiger would spend the next couple of months in hiding as accusation after accusation came pouring in about his extramarital affairs. As many as fifteen women have lain claim to having shared a bed with Tiger Woods as a married man. Stories began to unfold that he would such as how Tiger would rent an entire floor of a Las Vegas hotel and order multiple cases of booze for him and a few friends.There were even stories that Tiger would purchase illegal drugs, order women who were paid to stay quiet, and disappear to some remote island for the weekend. (There were pictures taken recently of Tiger walking on the beach with a blond woman who was not his wife. He was in Australia for a golf tournament.)

Tiger married Elin Nordegren in October of 2004. On the list of women who have claimed to have slept with Tiger Woods includes Mindy Lawton, Cori Rist, and the hottest topic of them all, Rachel Uchitel. We are talking about Las Vegas cocktail waitresses to industry favorite porn stars. There are even reports starting to come out that one of these women is pregnant with Tiger’s baby. The gossip never ends thanks to websites like TMZ and magazines like the National Enquirer.

Needless to say this has been a mess for Tiger and his family. Tiger and Elin spent some time overseas at first, then Elin took some time to herself while her husband reportedly checked into a sex rehab facility down south. However, Tiger and Elin are now back in their Florida home with both of their children. This comes just in time for Tiger Woods to make his first public statement since November.  This announcement will come at 11:00 AM on Friday, February 19^th, 2010. But, before the announcement comes out I wanted to take the time to share with you what I feel the announcement will say. This is my attempt at writing a speech for the man I admire, Tiger Woods.

“Good morning everyone, and thank you for coming. Allow me to start by saying how deeply saddened I am for my friends and family. Since Thanksgiving Day there have been an onslaught of rumors about my transgressions and what the future for my career would hold. As you know I did take an indefinite leave of absence from golf. You will also recall that I did make an official statement on my website admitting to these transgression and I am deeply sorry for all of the hurt that I have caused. I have had to deal with this and what it has done to my family every day since and every day from here on out. That is why I am here today. Not only to apologize to you, my fans, but to also announce my return to the game of golf.

I will be making my official return to play at the Tavistock Cup in a few weeks. This is an event that I hold in high regard as it allows a select few PGA players the chance to play on one of the nicest courses in the country, Isleworth. This tournament also is on what I would consider a home course-taking place just down the road from my home here in Orange County. After this event I plan on playing at Bay Hill for the Bay Hill Invitational a couple of weeks before the Master and then again taking my game to Augusta for the Masters in April.

In my time away I have been able to rest, gather my thoughts on all that has been said in the media, and I am now ready to make a return to the game that I love. So to my family, friends, and fans know that I am deeply sorry for all that you ave been through as a cause of my actions, and know that I love you all for sticking with me through this difficult personal time in my life. I look forward to getting back on the course and I thank you for coming here today. That is all I have for you and there will be no questions at this time. Thank you.”

This might not be word for word what Tiger says in his press conference tomorrow, but you can bet your bottom dollar that I have hit a lot of nails on the head here. Tiger has spent too much time in hiding to come out and not have an announcement for his return to golf. He might shock the world and say that he is taking the rest of the year off or that he and his wife are getting a divorce or something insane like that. But I would venture to say that he is going to do nothing more than announce his return to the game that pays for his house, boat(s), and cars. I wish Tiger the best of luck tomorrow and I cannot wait to hear what he has to say. As always, you have my support in whatever you decide to do.

Paul Poteet is hungry. He is hungry for delicious food, good drinks, and invaluable conversation. Paul has actually taken his hunger and made it out to be an excuse to gather his closest friends and to invade any number of restaurants around our Circle City. This side project of Paul’s is called Paul Poteet’s Gotta Eat and has been gaining an increase in followers each and every event. The first event that I went to was held downtown at the Skyline Club. Since then he has held events at Urban Elements, the Brickhouse Burger Company, and The Pub, also located downtown. Paul actually has been hosting these events every couple of weeks. But, after picking his brain about the future of this side project he and some others close to him have said they plan on having at least one of these a week (more than likely on Thursday evening) in the very near future. I already know of two more that have been scheduled! There are a lot of good things coming from this man and his appetite, that is for sure.

The most recent stop on Paul’s journey took us to the north side, the far north side actually, all the way into Noblesville. Sitting deep inside a strip mall, a place called Eddy’s Sports Pub can be found. Sitting next door to El Rodeo, one of the best authentic Mexican restaurants you can find in this city, and across the street from a Crown Liquors and Chase Bank, you would not think to find a place serving the coldest beer around and some food that screams deep friend and delicious. There are over twenty big screen televisions hanging all over the place, video games in the corner to eat your quarters, and a bar as wide as the restaurant pouring anything you desire. The place even has the cliché corner bar neon signs showcasing Blue Moon, Corona Light, and Bud Light Lime. This is a place I could call home.

The event started with some munchies including some sloppy Joe nachos and some deep fried onion rings. The nachos were incredible. Just imagine a huge plate of nacho chips piled mile high with fresh sloppy Joes topped with shredded cheese, tomatoes, and jalapeños. By the time you are to the bottom of the plate (yeah, we made it all the way through them) you are left with nachos soggy with goodness.

The onion rings were simple, deep fried, and boring. Nothing really to get excited about when it comes to onion rings. It is also pretty hard to mess up onions rings. But the Buffalo wings that were served alongside it were another story. At first I passed these up as I was in the middle of a handful of conversations with guys like Daniel Herndon, but I could not hold off all night as I began to smell the heat from the buffalo sauce. Good thing there was a side of bleu cheese on the plate to cool my burning lips.

Shortly after I wiped my face clean of hot sauce came a plate filled with more deep fried goodness. This is what they mean when they say pub food. Food that is easy to make, fills you up, and forced you to drink one more beer. Speaking of beer, Eddy’s has some great drink specials. They run specials every night and all of the tables, at least on the restaurant side of the bar, had a table tent that explained all of their deals. Thursday nights they feature $2 domestic pints. Pretty hard to go wrong with deep fried and domestic.

About the time I was starting to get full I saw some friends of mine that I actually met at a previous Paul Poteet’s Gotta Eat event. I went over to say hello and here I was greeted with even more food. I started with a section of their club sandwich. Piled high was three slices of wheat toast, thin sliced tomatoes, turkey, ham, lettuce, and a mayonnaise that I could see myself bathing in. This stuff was tangy, but soothing at the same time. It absolutely made this sandwich perfect. It was so good I went back in for seconds and actually managed to clean the plate.

Now I am full. I moved from Coors Light to a Diet Coke and was ready to let everything just sit for a while before I tried to move. Just then John Karamanski, the man behind the curtain making these videos and images of the events, walks over with a pizza. He sits it on the table, grabs a few slices for his wife, and leaves the pizza for the rest of us. The four folks sharing the table beside us were just leaving so that meant more for us. I grabbed a piece, Bob Clark and Clayton McDaniel grabbed a slice, and we began enjoying what might be the single best piece of pizza we have ever eaten.

This pizza was not what I would call pub food. It was a chicken alfredo pizza. Yeah, a pub serving what tasted like brick oven chicken alfredo pizza. It was amazing. I devoured it hoping to enjoy one more piece when Paul himself walks up and grabs the last slice. He took one bite, knew there was something special here with this pizza, and managed to require a few napkins before had was finished. It was the perfect dessert for a meal filled with carbohydrates and calories.

As the night was wrapping up I made mention to Paul that the crowd was possibly the biggest I had seen yet. Half the restaurant was filled with people eating, drinking, and networking. Although they are not taking a head count at each one of these PPGE events, he felt it was the best crowd they had seen as well. Even the weather, which some blame Paul for in the first place, couldn’t stop folks from coming out. I tipped my waitress and my cap as I walked away from yet another successful event. Until next time, remember that Paul Poteet’s Gotta Eat.

The guy that I am sitting with today was first introduced to me by a coworker. I received an email from Ryan Mull, managing partner at IMAVEX, and he said that the two of us should meet. He was copied on the email and Ryan also made mention that I was doing interviews with artists all over the world. The interviews are done either in person, via email, or over Twitter and he decided that Twitter seemed like the more appropriate solution. (The in person interviews tend to get a little out of control. Sure, I can type as fast as someone speaks but it is hard keeping up when trying to have a conversation as well as capture every moment that I can while chatting.) So, we connected on Twitter and quickly realized that we needed more than 140 characters to get our thoughts across. So we moved from Twitter to email. Both collections of questions and answers are here in this blog. So sit back, relax, and get to know Kristian Andersen.

(For those of you that do not know how Twitter works, messages that start with @kristianindy are messages from me to the artist.  Messages that start with @rickyleepotts are his responses.  I have set a limit to 140 characters for this interview and all questions and answers must fit in 1 single tweet.  All of the messages you see have not been edited and are exactly as I received them. Also note that #RLPTV was an attempt to create a trending topic on Twitter with this interview. It also allows for users to search and find my content.)

Let’s start this interview with @kristianindy! Tell me, @kristianindy, what is it that you actually do for a living? #RLPTV

@rickyleepotts My team and I work with our clients to help them develop their brand, product, and business strategies. We call it BXD.

@kristianindy How many people are on your team? #RLPTV

@rickyleepotts We have 7 full time employees (including myself) and a couple of part-timers – http://bit.ly/7CPOIz #RLPTV

@kristianindy I LOVE that you just used a bit link. How concerned are you with traffic on your link shares? #RLPTV

@rickyleepotts How concerned am I? Um…I guess not very. Should I be? #RLPTV

@kristianindy In my opinion VERY. I obsess over traffic to my link shares. Same as my analytics report. So are you a #Colts fan?

@rickyleepotts Yeah – my primary analytics report is my monthly P&L statement. Season ticket holder for 10+ years. #RLPTV

@kristianindy No kidding? That is awesome. Do you like the new stadium?

@rickyleepotts The new stadium is great in most regards –1 of the best in the NFL. Better than that strip club the Cowboys call home.

@kristianindy I do not even watch football to be honest. You appear to be an educated man! Where did you go to college? #RLPTV

@rickyleepotts It sounds like your a golf guy. I graduated with a degree in Design from Anderson University, in Anderson, IN. #RLPTV

@kristianindy I am in fact a golf guy. Are you? I can see you on the course! So what is this I hear about you living in Arkansas?  #RLPTV

@rickyleepotts What did Mark Twain say about golf again? – http://bit.ly/86vwJi . I split time between my homes in Arkansas and Indy. #RLPTV

@kristianindy I enjoy some MT but I really like those bit links! & I want to have multiple homes! So, what is your favorite “brand”? #RLPTV

@rickyleepotts This short-form interview format is tricky isn’t it? #RLPTV

@kristianindy I like it though! It makes you think about your response. I would be more than happy to do an email interview if you rather?

@rickyleepotts No way. This is interesting. Keep ‘em coming. #RLPTV

@kristianindy That’s the spirit! You have worked with some pretty impressive clients. Who is your favorite? #RLPTV

@rickyleepotts We’re really proud of our affiliation with all of our clients. We try 2 only work w/ clients where there is a mutual respect.

@rickyleepotts Currently we’re really excited about @FormSpring @exacttarget and @rewardsnap

@kristianindy What is one thing every brand has in common? #RLPTV

@rickyleepotts The fact that, in spite of what they might like to believe, they are not (exclusively) in control of their brands. #RLPTV

@kristianindy No no, I know but just in your experience with brands. Think Apple, McDonald’s, Target. What do they have in common? #RLPTV?

@rickyleepotts You mean great/successful brands. Successful brands all have a simple, differentiated, and focused value proposition. #RLPTV

@kristianindy No no no, you did quite well! I always let the bands that I interview get the last word. So, you too! GO! #RLPTV

(*This is where the interview went from Twitter to being handled via email.)

I see that you have worked with Smaller Indiana. The logo on their website does not link. That bothers me as a designer and as someone who wants websites that I visit to be user friendly. However, every time that I try to contact someone from there I am NEVER replied to. I am handling it in a very professional manner. It is honestly leaving a very sour taste in my mouth. What are your thoughts on a website that has a logo that does not link to the home page?

I’m sorry to hear that you are not getting a response from the gang over at Smaller Indiana. They are an amazing group and have done an enormous service for the Indy business community. With that being said, I’m obviously a proponent of adhering to best practices when designing for the web.

Where do you see the Internet in ten years?

I don’t think we will see it. In ten years it (the Internet) will be so ingrained and embedded in our lives that it will become invisible. The end game is truly ubiquitous networking.

What is your biggest challenge working with brand management?

I think it’s getting clients to understand that you can’t control a brand via brute force. It’s like raising a teenager. If you just lock them in their room and try to exert total control, they will rebel and you’ll end up with the opposite of what you intended. Conversely, if you just let them go and provide no supervision or support the outcome could, and often will, be equally bad. Managing brands is about finding the right balance between control and chaos.

Your team, based on what I see on the website anyway, looks more like fashion models than brand experts. Do you encourage that atmosphere in the office?

(Laughs) We just have a great photographer. But I will say that often times really great designers tend to have refined aesthetic sensibilities that transcend their professional life and manifest in lots of other ways…including fashion. We definitely take image seriously, it’s a profound part of our business. I don’t want to take fitness advice from someone that is in worse shape than me.

Out of Twitter, Facebook, and a blog which do you find has the most potential for the future of social media?

I have a hard time separating them. They are all just digital channels. I rarely think of those three “products” in a vacuum. Ultimately, I think Facebook is built to last, because their business is built on data. Blogs are a really just a publishing platform, but I don’t think they are going away either. Twitter is in front right now, because they are filling a huge need around “instant” – instant search, instant gratification, instant gossip, etc. 2010 will be the year of instant/real time, so I expect Twitter to flourish in the short term.

Who would play you in a Hollywood film about your life?

I’ve always said Ethan Hawke. But the rest of world seems to think Stifler (Seann William Scott) would be a more appropriate fit.

The names of your children intrigue me. Can you explain how you and your wife came up with those names?

My oldest daughter, Scout Belle, was named after the character in “To Kill A Mockingbird”. We named our middle daughter Daisy Jane, just because we thought it was a beautiful name, but there is also a literally connection to “The Great Gatsby” as well. Finally, my youngest is boy named Indiana Olav – we call him Indy. That is really my way of paying homage to Indiana and acknowledging how great that community has been to me and my family.

Any words of advice for a young guy like myself who wants to be on that list of the “Forty under 40″?

I think the fundamentals of success are fundamental. There is no secret sauce. I think it is a matter of working hard, being humble, serving others, and creating value. If I could add one thing that is often left off of that list it would be – being visible. Make sure that you are communicating to “your audience” in a way that is engaging and make sure that they know what you are up to. If you’re generating value…they’ll want to know.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

In a perfect world my life would look very similar to the way it does today. I would hope that my family is healthy and happy and that my businesses have continued to enjoy some level of success. I just want an opportunity to keep doing what I’m doing…which is what I love.

Do you think Lady Gaga has talent or she is all hype?

You’re asking the wrong guy. I listen to country (mostly classic country) music almost exclusively.

So how do you know Ryan Mull, managing partner at IMAVEX?

That’s a good question. If memory serves correctly we met a long, long time ago when he was at MarchFirst and I was doing consulting for one of their clients, a company called Healthx.

I always let the artist get the last word. (Yes, I consider Kristian an artist.) Go!

You’re doing good work and building a heck of a personal brand. Keep at it.