According to NBA team valuations posted on Forbes.com, our Indiana Pacers rank 22nd out of 30 NBA teams with a value of $303 million. Although that puts us in the bottom 25 percent in terms of worth, it could be worse -- the Milwaukee Bucks earned the distinction of being most worthless, with a value of $278 million. And if you take into consideration the fact that the Pacers were bought by team owners Melvin and Herbert Simon for a measly $11 million (albeit in 1983), the team's appreciation appears far more substantial. Besides, as the folks at Mastercard know, you can't put a price on everything -- the spirit having an NBA team brings to Indianapolis? Priceless.

Still wondering which NBA team was ranked most valuable in terms of hard, cold cash? That would be the New York Knicks, valued at $613 million.

More than 78 percent of families in the IPS (Indianapolis Public Schools) district can't afford basic school supplies for their children, but the BackPack Attack program currently underway is making a difference, and you can help.

Enjoy a meal at Applebee's on Tuesday, July 14, or at Qdoba on Thursday, July 30, and 15 percent of your purchase will be donated to BackPack Attack. Click here for Applebees or click here for Qdoba to print a flyer to give to your server that night to make the donation. The Indiana Fever and the Indianapolis Indians are also hosting special events at their games on Friday, July 17, and Friday, July 24, respectively. By donating a school supply item at the Fever game, you'll receive a coupon for a free Pepsi product at the concession stand.

Donations through the program are expected to provide school supplies to 20,000 IPS students at the beginning of the coming school year. For more information or to make a donation, visit the BackPack Attack website.

Wondering how to follow up on last weekend's festivities and have just as much fun this weekend? Following are just a few ideas: No Doubt will be at the Verizon Wireless Music Center Friday evening; Jerry Seinfeld promises to deliver more than a few laughs at the Murat Saturday night; "Walking with the Dinosaurs," a theatrical spectacle that's gotten rave reviews, will be at Conseco; the VIVA! Puerto Rico festival will be held at Garfield Park Saturday; and for you sports fans, Saturday is the last day of the USA Swimming Championships at the IUPUI Natatorium. The Fourth of July may be over, but there's plenty of fun ahead, so get out there and enjoy!

Those of you who happen to check out this blog now and then will be happy to know that I've decided to officially give up weather forecasting after the "glorious" weather I predicted for the Fourth of July turned out to be a day of steady rain. (In my defense, I was quoting the National Weather Service, but I should have known better -- this is Indiana, after all!) So, to play it safe, from now on I promise to comment only on what is or was weather-wise, and not what's going to be!

I hope you all had a happy holiday weekend anyway! As of noon today, we're officially halfway to another weekend (not that I'm counting or anything). Stay tuned for more on what's happening in Indy this weekend and the rest of the month!