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Thursday, April 30, 2009

VIDEO: Richard Simmons uncensored

Here is Richard Simmons like you have probably never seen him before. The YouTube video appears to be outtakes from his daytime television show in the 1980s (I just watched his Biography, this is how I am guessing this).

This is NSFW and don't watch it around children.  This ain't the Richard Simmons that appears on Letterman or Leno.

WATCH IT

Dr Pepper Icee location in Katy

I have not had a Dr Pepper Icee in a long time and that is a shame. In fact reports of Dr Pepper Icee locations stopped coming into the blog too. That's changed thanks to mikemcguff.com contributor Brian:

Just had a Dr Pepper Icee from the Valero off of I-10 at Westgreen and Park Row in Katy.

Thanks Brian! Matt, add it to the map please.

See more Dr Pepper Icee locations in Houston.

VIDEO: Dallas TV reporter burns foot during live shot

No matter what the other talent might say, it is tough being a morning show feature reporter sometimes. Just ask roving Good Day reporter Fiona Gorostiza of Fox 4 KDFW in Dallas. She burned her foot live on the air during a fire walking stunt:

In a myfoxdfw.com account headlined "Good Day's Firewalking Fiasco," the station says that Gorostiza felt a coal sizzling on the bottom of her bare foot while walking across hot coals during an outdoor segment at Fair Park conducted by the Firewalking Institute of Research and Education.

"By noon, she had a pretty unattractive blister which she covered with a bandage," the Fox4 account says. "Later on, Fiona went to a doctor, and discovered she had suffered a second-degree burn." READ THE REST

You can watch the video of the event here. It's tough to ignore the anchors egging you on I guess.

AUDIO: Allergy experts sort fact from folklore

Great piece on NPR's Science Friday about allergies. Experts talk about why we have allergies, separate fact from folklore, explain the science behind pollen counts and suggest remedies.

LISTEN

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

WFAA Channel 8's Pete Delkus vs Dale Hansen in Dallas

WFAA Channel 8 in Dallas is really rolling with this supposed Pete Delkus vs Dale Hansen feud that can be seen nightly on the newscast. Seems the station is now organizing a 'rumble' around the weatherman and sports guy:

Once and for All. With the Ulimate test of Endurance. Athleticism. Sheer will. Dale vs. Delkus: Rumble in the Plaza. Who has the best shot? Who has the better moves? Who'll come out on top? Only YOU can decide. Dale vs Delkus: Rumble in the Plaza.
Watch the competition, Starting Monday, May 4th at 10:00pm, only on Channel 8. SEE MORE

Will this be as fierce as the TV anchor fight in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy with Will Ferrell?

VIDEO: Texas secessionist blowback

Great. Now YouTubers are making parody videos in support of Texas (who is compared to the dimwitted Simpson character Ralphie) leaving the United States as Gov. Rick Perry has recently talked about. The video says the Lone Star State could become Teabaggerstan!

WATCH THE VIDEO

VIDEO: Mike McGuff prank call as 'Shazzy'



I did this improv prank call on my 107.1 KWBU radio show 10 years ago and still laugh at it today.

Basically Rogue DJ John Carroll and I would go to the Baylor University student union want ad board and select a target. In this case, a guy wanting to start a band. To his surprise, I called as an old British rocker living in Waco who was in 1980s metal bands and needing a quick paycheck.

If I remember correctly, I just called with a premise and made up the name Shazzy and his band Shattered Misses as I went along. From there it just gets crazier and crazier. After all, Shazzy wants his head chopped off on stage and states he once puked on Mick Jagger. Enjoy.

If you can't see YouTube videos, listen to the audio file.

The top 50 US TV shows from a UK POV

Brilliant. A UK paper rates the top 50 American television shows. What the Brits think of our culture from across the pond. I immediately found this one funny:

49. The Office: They took our show, changed it, and now they’re selling it back to us. To be honest, it’s a different beast entirely, but laugh out loud funny. SEE THE REST
Clearly they are only rating current shows on this one.

(Thanks Mr. Murdock)

Former Houston TV anchor has a Facebook imposter!

You might remember Patrick Nolan formerly of KTRK in Houston. He is now an anchor at FOX 4 Now WFTX in Fort Meyers, Florida. Nolan's Facebook account made some news recently - the only problem it is not really his. Someone has created a Facebook page for the anchor and is pretending to be him:


When you realize Nolan isn’t behind the comments, they are kind of funny.

“Don’t forget to watch me randomly break out into Spanish,” reads one about the bilingual anchor.

A local radio station informed Nolan about the site. READ THE REST

Call it the price of fame I guess. Hopefully Nolan can crack the case of his impersonator!

(Image courtesy of WFTX)

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

93.3 KDBN The Bone in Dallas flips to Quality Rock

UPDATE 9/2009
Quality Rock 93.3 KDBN in Dallas changing formats

Cumulus owned 93.3 KDBN The Bone in Dallas is now 93.3 FM Quality Rock:

The new format sounds like a mash-up of adult-album alternative and classic-alternative formats, with familiar tracks by acts such as Red Hot Chili Peppers, Train, Counting Crows and Eric Clapton, and occasional sprinklings of less-familiar artists such as Gomez and nonwarhorse songs by the likes of Everclear, Barenaked Ladies and Beck.

The format flip followed a weekend stunt during which 93.3 played nothing but music by the Dave Matthews Band from Friday evening till 5 a.m. Monday. Dallas-Fort Worth radio fans with medium-range memories might recall that before "The Bone" launched in January 2002, the station played similar material first as "The Zone" and then as "Merge Radio." READ THE REST

Some radio observers are wondering if this format will hit Cumulus station 103.7 KHJK in Houston. The station seems to be abandoning it's Jack personality.

RELATED
- 93.3 The Bone in Dallas now has Atlanta-based “The Regular Guys” simulcast morning show
- http://www.fm933qualityrock.com/

The Edge KDGE-FM Dallas turns 20 and there is an unofficial party

Here is a story about passion. George Gimarc helped start 94.5 The Edge KDGE (now at 102.1 on your DFW radio dial) in Dallas back in the late 80s when it was really an alternative station. Obviously the station has new owners and a different feel 20 years later.

Gimarc is not letting that stop him from showing some love. He is throwing a party with the original staff this summer for the station even if Clear Channel isn't attending. LEARN MORE

The Twitter Book

Yes, Twitter has its own book now by Tim O'Reilly and Sarah Milstein. Guess what it is called? You guessed it, "The Twitter Book." SEE MORE

Gadget Graveyard: 10 Technologies About to Go Extinct

I actually want a VCR. You heard me right. But I want a VCR that records straight to a DVD. I have a lot of VHS tapes with video projects of mine from over the years that must be put on YouTube. These devices are now hard to find my friend. A Best Buy employee told my wife that this device is being phased out. File that under the "duh file" I guess.

Here is a list of other technologies you'll become nostalgic for soon

(Thanks Brian)

Dave Chappelle live show review

Ever wonder what it is like seeing Dave Chappelle in San Francisco when he is testing out new material after a previous show the same night?

What about where Chappelle talks to the audience until 3:30am? THEN CLICK HERE

The review says that apparently Chappelle invited the prior night's show to play basketball with him and a few people took him up on it.

(Image courtesy of Flickr user sam.soneja)

The future of network television?

This won't look like Must See TV anymore:

Network executives are loath to reveal much about their plans. But it's fair to say that five years from now network television will look very different. The 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. prime-time period likely will be shorter, programs will be tailored to audiences, and increasingly advertisers will show up in the programs instead of just the commercials. Even more radical, say industry insiders: Networks may turn over programming to outsiders some nights or let local stations provide their own shows on, say, Saturday evenings. READ ON

Monday, April 27, 2009

PIC: Frog eats light bulb and glows

I wouldn't have believed a frog could eat a lit Christmas light and live to tell about it...let alone be photographed (and I don't think it is Photoshopped).

SEE IT

What are you going to tell me next? That business folks are passing around cards made of meat?

Top signature dishes among Houston restaurants

Houston Dining on the Cheap author/Zagat contributor (and most importantly to me, mikemcguff.com blog contributor) Mike Riccetti has a new blog post up lots of Houston food hounds will like - Top signature dishes among Houston restaurants.

And he's featuring dishes from places like Brennan’s (for when it reopens), Goode Co. Seafood, Café Annie, Danton’s, Ninfa’s, Kim Son, Churrascos, Reef and Churrascos. SEE THE LIST

Riccetti must like starting debates.  Anytime you mix food lists with blogs it's argument time.

RELATED
Mike Riccett's posts on mikemcguff.com

RIP GeoCities

The place where I started learning basic HTML and web design in 1995 is going away:

Does anybody still use GeoCities? Actually, does anybody still remember GeoCities? If you do, then you will be very sorry to hear that it’s closing down. After GeoCities has taken a big traffic fall, Yahoo decided that it’s time to close the free web-hosting services after 10 years. GeoCities was founded in 1996, but in 1999 Yahoo bought it for about $2.87 billion. READ THE REST

Back then you could have found me at http://www.geocities.com/paris/1839 and http://www.geocities.com/paris/2807 (Neither exist anymore). I would have been in the Moody Library or Writing Center updating the sites with Murdock.  Strangely enough my friend's site who turned me on to the place is still there. There is still a photo of me from high school with a Coke can on my head at his site.






RELATED
Yahoo Quietly Pulls The Plug On Geocities

(Thanks Murdock!)

Former News 24 Houston news director featured in newspaper for 'colorful existence'

The things you just wouldn't guess.  Jeff Alan was the former news director of News 24 Houston.  Remember that Time Warner Cable news outfit from the early 2000s? The Oregonian has a three part series on the newsman's very interesting life story (from part 1):

Jeff Alan isn’t exactly his given name. And that the Social Security number he has used for most of the past 23 years isn’t exactly his either. READ THE REST
Oh and that is just the tip of the iceberg according to the newspaper.
Here are all of the parts:
part 1 | part 2 | part 3

RELATED
Former Houston News Director: Multiple Social Security Numbers, Wives and Bondage Websites

(Thanks Mark)

Soundgarden, Clash, Green Day, Metallica, Depeche Mode and more

- CHRIS CORNELL: SOUNDGARDEN Near-Reunion In Seattle 'Gave Me A Warm Feeling'

- Flashback: “Radio Clash” Live From Tom Snyder’s Show

- Green Day Rock Under Watchful Eyes in “Know Your Enemy” Video

- SLASH Performs 'It's So Easy' With AVENGED SEVENFOLD; Video Available
- SLASH Issues Solo Album Update
- VELVET REVOLVER's Singer Search Is Not Over
- DUFF MCKAGAN: Rock Has Changed, My (Facebook) Friends

- KORN Recording Two New Albums, Prepping For Tour

METALLICA: 'In Their Own Words' Documentary Available Online

- JOE SATRIANI On COLDPLAY's GRAMMY Win: 'I Was Happy To Hear My Melody Being Celebrated'

- SMASHING PUMPKINS Offer Subscription To Recording Process

- HEAVIER THAN METAL: DALLAS COWBOYS LINEMEN START A BAND

- VIDEO: Depeche Mode Shut Down Hollywood Blvd for “Kimmel”

- RI¢HIE RI¢H SPENDS A DAY WITH JOSH FREESE

- REMEMBER WHEN JOHN MARSHALL PLAYED WITH METALLICA?

Saturday, April 25, 2009

2009 Texas APME Awards List

The Texas Associated Press Managing Editors presented its 2009 journalism awards and you can click below to see the winners.

SEE THE LIST

Congrats to Dwight Silverman of the Houston Chronicle who won first place in the best blog category Class AAAA. He was one of many Houston Chronicle staffers to take home a prize.

Friday, April 24, 2009

Metallica's Lars Ulrich loves Houston's Rothko Chapel and Menil

In a recent issue of Time Magazine's Short List feature, Metallica's Lars Ulrich lists off some of his favorite things at the moment.  He likes The Rachel Maddow Show, U2's new album among other things.

But number 5 caught my attention because Ulrich listed Houston's Rothko Chapel and The Menil Collection:

In an unassuming Houston neighborhood lie two of the most tranquil yet invigorating spaces on any art lover's journey.

In the dignified stillness of the Rothko Chapel, one is enveloped in the black mysteries of Mark Rothko's paintings; just down the street, Cy Twombly's paintings immediately take you through thousands of years of civilization, captured on the canvas with exuberance, color and grace.

My wife and I went to both a couple of weeks ago and no sign of the drummer.
SEE PHOTOS OF ROTHKO

VIDEO: "Stuff White People Like" author Christian Lander

I'm sure you have heard about the blog and accompanying book called Stuff White People Like: A Definitive Guide to the Unique Taste of Millions by  Christian Lander at this point.

This is an interesting tale of the massive rise (and fall kinda based on his description) of a blogger in a matter of a few months.

WATCH IT

Thursday, April 23, 2009

CBS's KRLD-FM/Dallas Inks Multi-Year Cowboys Deal

The Dallas Cowboys say goodbye to Cumulus' Sports KTCK-AM and Classic Rock KDBN-FM in the Metroplex and hello to KRLD:

CBS Radio's Sports KRLD-FM/Dallas inks a multi-year deal for the broadcast rights to the Dallas Cowboys. Coverage will include play-by-play of each of the NFL team's games, as well as a twice weekly segment with Cowboys Owner/GM and President Jerry Jones featuring regular appearances from head coach Wade Phillips. READ THE REST

PICS: Last batch of Houston Texans Cheerleader tryout photos

All good things must come to an end. So enjoy my last batch of Houston Texans Cheerleader tryout photos.

SEE THEM

See more Houston Texans Cheerleader photos

The UK's identity crisis

NPR's Rob Gifford put together a piece about the United Kingdom to show how the region's identity is changing and kind of confusing everyone:

Disparate tribes forged Britain in hundreds of years of conquest and amalgamation. Over another several hundred years, an empire grew, and a sense of Britishness among its people grew with it.

But in Britain's post-empire era, forces threaten that sense of common identity. There is growing Scottish and Welsh nationalism and an influx of immigrants, many of them Muslims.

And there is the European Union and its 27 member states. Britain is a part of that politically and economically, if not altogether in spirit.

So are the British British anymore? And are they Europeans? READ THE REST

When the wife and I were in Scotland in 2007 we saw a lot of 'Free Scotland' graffiti on walls. Is the big separation coming? SEE MORE ABOUT OUR TRIP

VIDEO: Learn what a movie producer does

Hollywood movie producer Ed Saxon (Silence of the Lambs, Philadelphia) discusses the role of the movie producer, plus good behind the scenes stories.

WATCH THE VIDEO

If you are or ever have been interested in film, you will probably like this.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Former WFAA TV anchors Bob Gooding dies

Former WFAA Channel 8 Dallas anchor Bob Gooding has passed away:

Bob Gooding, a news anchor on WFAA-TV (Channel 8) from 1961 to 1979, died Sunday afternoon at his East Texas home. He was 76

Gooding, who started with radio station WFAA-AM (570), had been battling cancer for quite some time. READ THE REST

RELATED
- Former WFAA anchor Bob Gooding dies
- "Better tomorrows" -- Former WFAA8 anchor Bob Gooding dies of cancer

VIDEO: Star Wars mashup with MacGyver

Will-E sent over the combination of Star Wars and MacGyver. Essentially someone has combined scenes from Star Wars and edited it to the music of MacGyver with a paper clip and some dynamite to make an explosive cheesy 1980s show open.

WATCH IT

Then make sure to check out the mashup of Star Wars and Dallas.

PICS: Houston Texans Cheerleader Tryouts Part 3

It's the middle of the week. That means it is time for more of my Houston Texans Cheerleader tryout photos! Forget NFL draft day, this is dance day.

SEE PART 3

- See more Houston Texans Cheerleader photos

What you don't know about your 401K

Steve Kroft of 60 Mintues on CBS had a great story on 401Ks. Sure we know lots of folks are losing money in these supposed retirment vehilces, but there could be some other stuff you don't know:

"There clearly has been a raid on these funds by the people of Wall Street. And it's cost the savers and the future retirees a lot of money that would otherwise be in their account, independent of the financial collapse," Rep. George Miller [D-CA] said.

Congressman Miller is chairman of the House Committee on Education and Labor, and a staunch critic of the 401(k) industry, especially its practice of deducting more than a dozen undisclosed fees from its clients' 401(k) accounts.

"Now you got a bunch of economic wizards jumping in and taking money out of your retirement plan, and they don't wanna tell you how much, you can't decipher it in simple English, and they're not interested in disclosing it, or having any transparency about it," Miller told Kroft.

"And most of the people that look at their 401(k)s have no idea that these fees are being taken out?" Kroft asked.

"No. Where would you find it? Where would you find these fees in this prospectus? You can look on any page you want, and when you're all done reading it, and you will find some of the fees and the commissions here, but you won't find them all, and I'll bet you won't find half of 'em," Miller said. READ THE REST

Also interesting is how the 401K got its start and how it was not intended to be your full nest egg.

KPRC Channel 2 Houston ups Rick McFarland to news director

Rick McFarland is the new news director at KPRC Channel 2 in Houston according to the On the Beat with Mary Benton blog.

You might remember how I told you that former ND Skip Valet left for WKMG Channel 6 in Orlando to become general manager.

McFarland has been with KPRC for a while, most recently serving as assistant news director for almost 10 years.

PIC: Fox 26 gets a Hummer

A photo was emailed to me of the new Fox 26 Houston KRIV Hummer.

SEE THE PHOTO

It is painted to look like a weather storm tracker vehicle but has a satellite dish on top. Live truck with weather branding? Weather chasing truck with live capabilities? Guess we'll have to wait and see.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Comcast Houston gets new HD Channels

If you are a Comcast Houston customer, then you are getting more channels coming to your silver remote:

Comcast will launch 27 high-definition channels and 10 additional digital channels April 27 on its Houston cable system.
The new HD channels will be grouped in the 600 range on Comcast’s channel system via its HD set-top boxes. Existing HD channels also will be moved into the 600 tier while remaining on their current channels. For example, HBO’s HD signal will be available at its current channel 460 and at channel 695. READ MORE

Channels include HD versions of Speed, Cartoon Network, Discovery, FX, Fox News and standard channels like Reelz TV and Universal Sports.

YouTube is getting a facelift

ClickZ points out that YouTube is getting a redesign:

YouTube has begun the first phase of a redesign that will highlight its gradually expanding library of premium shows and movies. The move, first reported last month on this site, will clearly separate that quality content from the ocean of user-generated clips that drove YouTube's popularity.
Navigational changes include the introduction of two new tabs -- "shows" and "subscriptions" -- to YouTube's masthead. Meanwhile the site has dropped a "Community" tab, which included contests, events, and groups. READ THE REST

As long as I can still get video of scuba diving cats, I don't care!

Make sure to check out the mikemcguff.com YouTube channel. Everyone has one these days right?

PICS: More Houston Texans Cheerleader tryout photos

I wasn't joking...this Houston Texans Cheerleader tryout thing goes multiple days online. Here are 51 more photos of the biggest dance off you've ever seen (at least to become an NFL cheerleader in Houston).

SEE THE PHOTOS

- See more Houston Texans Cheerleader photos

Dallas Clear Channel station managers get hands dirty

Here is a weird business idea for a broadcasting company. According to the Dallas Business Journal, Clear Channel is letting its managers get involved in station on air programming:

Managers will have the latitude to choose content and talent for their stations as a way to generate more audience and ultimately advertising dollars. READ MORE 

Clear Channel owns stations like 102.1 The Edge KDGE-FM 102.9 KDMX-FM, 97.1 The Eagle KEGL-FM, 106.1 KISS-FM KHKS-FM and 92.5 KZPS-FM.

Will this be happening in Houston too?

(Via Dallas Observer )

Free scoop day at Ben and Jerry’s

Tuesday, April 21st is Free Cone Day at Ben and Jerry’s. READ MORE

Monday, April 20, 2009

PICS: Houston Texans Cheerleader tryouts part 1

Remember last year how I said I would be known as the best television web producer in Texas for a week? It's that time of year again. Why?

All this week I am posting my photos of the 2009 Houston Texans Cheerleader tryouts. I can actually say my cheerleader work is award winning now.

I was at the Houston Texans practice bubble all day Saturday shooting photos for you.

SEE PART 1

Here is an archive page where you will be able to find all of the photos as I post them through the week.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

The 10 guitars that changed music

Musicradar.com features the 10 guitars that changed the world. This one goes in chronological order. Here's a spoiler, EVH is on the list. SEE THE LIST

(via Daily Swarm)

VIDEO: TV Truck Pulled from Lake

The fear of every TV crew out there, that they will be the ones to ruin the very expensive live truck:

A TV live truck was finally freed from the ice Tuesday after days of being submerged in Big Muskego Lake.

Channel 58 (WDJT) was doing a story Sunday on the dangers of thin ice when they fell victim to the problem themselves. READ MORE

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE VIDEO

Leave it to WDJT's competition, WTMJ-TV, to make sure to cover this and hype up the accident. When TMJ messes up one day, we can be sure WDJT will be there.

(via Fil-Turd )

Web radio gets good news, so does 104.1 KRBE

Here is some actual good news about online radio from MediaWeek:

"Advertisers are embracing online radio faster than anyone ever thought they would," TargetSpot CEO Doug Perlson told a Kagan Summit panel session on Wednesday (April 1).
"The ability to respond to an ad immediately makes local advertising very appealing because you can target-specific ZIP codes and demographics."

According to Jeff Hely, CEO of the Radio Advertising Bureau, revenue for Internet radio was up 28 percent in January and 12 percent in February for a year-to-date average of 17.5 percent.

It's all about advertisers reaching their audience, not millions or hundreds of thousands, but the precise audience they want and need. READ THE REST
Houston radio station 104.1 KRBE actually found its Internet stream (referred to as KRBE-IF) meeting the minimum reporting standard in the February Arbitron PPM results. According to RBR.com , only 13 streams (including one counted twice for an embedded market) met minimum reporting standards for Arbitron’s February report. So I guess congratulations is in order for the KRBE Internet Feed if it is actually acquiring enough of an audience to measure in radio ratings. Not many stations can claim that.

Former Houston Chronicle fashion guy Clifford Pugh lands new gig

Banjo Jones reports on a Houston Chronicle employee who was one of many who recently exited the newspaper:

Of the recent casualties in the recent 27 percent purging of the Houston Chronicle newsroom, one of the biggest shockers was the axing of the newspaper's style critic, Clifford Pugh.

But the veteran scribe won't be on the mat for long.

The Examiner newspaper group, which produces weekly freebie papers in River Oaks, West University, Memorial and Bellaire, has hired Pugh as its newest columnist. READ THE REST

Here is the Pugh announcement from the Examiner Papers.  Here is his first article.

Rich Connelly of the Houston Press thought Pugh's departure was the most surprising of all.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

PIC: James runs from the Paparazzi



James is ready to hit the town and avoid the Paparazzi (his dad).

SEE LARGER IMAGE

Top 10 amazing, funny and useful Twitter links

Jonathan Dube at CyberJournalist put together some interesting Twitter links. CHECK THEM OUT

The Secrets Behind Your Favorite Toys

The mental_floss blog knocks it out of the park:

You know the toys. You’ve seen the commercials. But you definitely haven’t heard these stories. Listen up as game inventor Tim Moodie reveals the glorious secrets behind your favorite classic toys. READ MORE

Some of the toys features include Slinky, Play-Doh, Etch-a-Sketch..etc.

Why does age 27 suck for rockers?

It's no secret that 27 is a rough age for rock stars. Why?  Because many don't make it past that age.

Some prime examples of ending way too early:
Jimi Hendrix
Janis Joplin
Jim Morrison of The Doors

One from my generation is Kurt Cobain of Nirvana.

NPR takes a look at this tragic circumstance.

(via Daily Swarm)

Monday, April 13, 2009

Glenn Beck Show guest faints live on air

Some folks have been asking me where the video is of Glenn Beck Show guest David Buckner fainting live on Fox News.

HERE IT IS

David Buckner is a professor of organizational leadership at Columbia University program. TVNewser is all over it.

VIDEO: Is Flutter the New Twitter?

Just when you thought you got Twitter down, here comes Flutter. Forget the 140 characters, the messages (Flaps) are only 26 characters. You can even use Flutter to shorten message from other services like Facebook and Twitter.

WATCH THE VIDEO

Flutter: @mikemcguff is a moron.

(Thanks Tim)

Houston's top 10 cheap restaurants

Food in Houston has another interesting top 10 food Houston list (Geez by the name of the blog what would you expect...cheap Cleveland eats?):

These are the cheap restaurants that I enjoyed most over the last year.
By "cheap" I mean an average food price of under $20 per person. You can eat well at most of these places for under $10. READ THE REST


See more Houston restaurant and related items under my food category.

Let's all dump IE6!

Dwight Silverman blogs about the demise of Internet Explorer 6! Yippee!:

If you're on a Windows PC and using Internet Explorer 6 or 7, you've got a decision to make soon. Microsoft, which finished and released Internet Explorer 8 last month, is about to start pushing the latest version of the browser at you by way of its Windows or Automatic Update feature.

However, don't expect to suddenly wake up and find IE8 on your machine. Instead, Microsoft will alert you that it's available and ask you to install it. READ MORE


For those really brave geeks, why don't you just go ahead and try out Windows 7 now?

David Sadof flies again with Lunar Rotation

I've written this before and I will write it again...I've been a fan of David Sadof's since he was on Rock 101 KLOL doing the Exposure show (later Lunar Rotation and High Fidelity on other stations). The man was my gateway to alternative music.

I did an interview with him back in 2007 that you should check out.

Now Sadof is writing for The Examiner (the same place mikemcguff.com contributor Mike Riccetti is also writing).

One of Sadof's latest posts explains the inspiration of the classic The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars.

He also has set up a Lunar Rotation Facebook fan page.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Smashing Pumpkins, Coldplay, NIN, Beatles, Soundgarden and more

- Billy Corgan Talks Future of Smashing Pumpkins in Long Message To Fans

- Coldplay Say Satriani “Lacked Originality” As “Viva La Vida” Fight Hits Court

- Trent Reznor Previews Nine Inch Nails iPhone Application

- The Beatles’ Remastered Albums Due September 9, 2009

- Pet Shop Boys turn down PETA request to become Rescue Shelter Boys

- Chris Cornell On Soundgarden Reunion

GNR Drummer Says AXL ROSE Wants To Release Remix Album Of 'Chinese Democracy' Songs
- Guns n’ Roses’ “Chinese Democracy” Coming To “Rock Band” April 14th
- Slash: Velvet Revolver, Solo Album Updates
- Duff McKagan's Loaded: 'Rockline' Appearance

- Ratt Ready First Album In 10 Years

- U2 Add Final Dates To US Outing

- Metallica's Lars Ulrich On 'That Metal Show'

- STRYPER: 'Murder By Pride' Release Date Announced

- FILTER Working On 'Way Meaner' New Studio Album

- ANVIL Documentary Reviewed By NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO; Audio Available

- Talk Show Flashback: Before Billy Bob and Joaquin, There Was Andy Kaufman

RTNDA regional winners for Texas TV and radio

The 2009 regional Edward R. Murrow Award winners for radio and TV in Texas and Oklahoma have been chosen by the Radio-Television News Directors Association (RTNDA).

SEE THE WINNERS

RELATED
Dallas/Fort Worth TV, radio stations win Murrow Awards

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Former WFAA Channel 8 reporter killed in wildfires

The Dallas Morning News is reporting former WFAA Channel 8 reporter Matt Quinn was killed in the Montague County, Texas wildfires:


The wildfires that roared through Montague County on Thursday killed former Channel 8 reporter Matt Quinn and his wife Cathy, according to a family member. The fires swept through their rural property in the county, which is on the Oklahoma border northwest of Fort Worth.

Cathy Quinn's adult son, Chris, was being treated for burns this morning at Parkland Memorial Hospital. He was in fair condition. READ MORE


Quinn worked at WFAA through the 1980s. Before that he was at ABC News.

RELATED
- Former Channel 8 reporter killed in wildfires (WFAA)
- Couple die in wildfire preparing to flee

Third annual Houston Palestine Film Festival

The Houston Palestine Film Festival folks emailed me about the upcoming event:

The third annual Houston Palestine Film Festival brings an honest and independent view of Palestine and its diaspora's society, culture, and political travails through the art of film. This group of groundbreaking cinematic texts rise above the degrading stereotypes or reductively politicized depictions that are so familiar to Houstonians. A major goal of the Festival is to directly expose our local community to the perspective of artists as a first step toward circumventing the many government and media filters that pollute our understanding of Palestine and the wider region. LEARN MORE

You can watch the trailer here.

Friday, April 10, 2009

Houston based record labels unite for Hip Hop Hope Family Fun Day

Sketch the Journalist has the details of a Saturday event going on in Houston:

In an effort to offer hope, exemplify love and to serve people that may be discouraged by our current economic situation, Much Luvv Records and Rap-A-Lot Records would like to invite you to join us for Hip Hop Hope Family Fun Day on April 11th from 12pm-5pm at the Prince Complex 3000 Jensen Dr. in the heart of 5th Ward.

This event will include fun for the whole family with positive hip hop performances, inflatable moonwalks, face painting, games, a three point & slam dunk basketball competition, celebrity guests, health screening, free food and much more! "Being in the hip hop culture, you just don't see enough positive things being done by the artists to give back to the community. With today's news being so discouraging, we decided it was a perfect time to bring this hip hop hope event to lift the people's spirit," says Much Luvv Records CEO Bobby "Tre9" Herring.

Top electronics in the Engadget Awards

Go ahead, drool.

(Thanks Brian)

VIDEO: Steve Wozniak talks at Google

Steve Wozniak gives a great talk at Google and you can watch it on YouTube. The Woz talks about his past and how he and Steve Jobs got together to start Apple.

WATCH THE VIDEO

If you've read Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, Wozniak's story sounds familiar.

BTW, this was pre-Dancing with the Stars so he is not offering any tips on the Cha Cha.

PICS: Trip to Valenica Spain 2009 (Las Fallas)

Yes I know I have already gushed over Jay Lee's photos once this week. Give me a second to give more props to the Bald Heretic.

Have you seen the photos from his trip to Valenica Spain (Las Fallas)?

Oh, you need to CHECK THESE OUT. (also his Flickr set)

I hope these photos don't make your weekend plans look bad.

Thursday, April 09, 2009

Television's 10 Worst Series Finales of All-Time

Here you invest all of this time into a television series and they totally blow it at the end. It seems many times that the show is expected to come back and then the studio whacks it over the break.

SEE THE LIST

Then again, sometimes the writers are smoking crack or something.

Houston's Top 10 Restaurants 2009

Food in Houston breaks down it's top 10 restaurants of 2009, but there are actually more than just 10 restaurants featured.

READ IT

Do You Own Facebook? Or Does Facebook Own You?

Vanessa Grigoriadis of New York Magazine asks Do You Own Facebook? Or Does Facebook Own You? It's an article on privacy, site democracy and the service many now live their life on.

READ IT

VIDEO: Local TV news birthday wishes failure

Two KTVO Missouri television news anchors fall for some classic prank names during the birthday and anniversary wish segment.

WATCH IT

Was Bart Simpson phoning these in? You will hear the production staff talking over this video. I guess someone from the station added that in later for Internet distribution.

(Thanks Scott)

Wednesday, April 08, 2009

Spiderman casting coming to Texas

Here is the latest news in the casting world:

SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark, featuring direction by Julie Taymor (Across The Universe, Frida, The Lion King on Broadway) with music and lyrics by 22-time Grammy® Award-winners Bono and The Edge (from U2) will be holding open casting calls at major cities across the country starting next week.

SPIDER-MAN is seeking principals and understudies for the roles of ‘Peter Parker,’ ‘Mary Jane,’ and ‘Female Lead Villian.’ The production is looking for performers with dynamic rock/pop voices including those with experience in bands and as solo performers. Regardless of experience, anyone who thinks they might be qualified is encouraged to audition.

AUSTIN, TX (Wednesday, May 27; 10 AM – 6 PM)
Dougherty Arts Center
1110 Barton Springs Road
Austin, TX 78704
MORE INFO PLUS LOCATIONS IN OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE US

Twitter 101 and how to get retweeted

The media has hyped Twitter up so much that you just feel you have to be join. After all, it's a great place to get your message out...right?

So you secure that clever user name, upload a photo, look at the design area and give up and now it is your time to be heard. How do you do that though? How can you get people to follow you? How can you get others to ReTweet your message?

Don't look at me. What do I know? That's why dudes like Guy Kawasaki are out there.

- Twitter 101, Part 1
- Twitter 101, Part 2
- How to Get Retweeted
- 12 Twitter Stream Aggregators To Make You Smarter
- Twitter tools
- Twitter Tips for Beginners
- What is your Twitter grade?
- Twouble with Twitters

Let me know if this is useful.  Maybe I can use the tips too and pick up some followers.

Hickory Pit Bar-B-Q in Bellaire, TX

It's no secret that Joe Williams and I like Texas barbecue. So the other day we tried out a place that we both had passed a million times and never dropped in - Hickory Pit Bar-B-Q in Bellaire on Bissonnet and Rice Avenue.

We both liked the place a lot. It's not much to look at (the outside is getting a makeover) but the food is pretty darn good. I tried my staple, brisket BBQ sandwich, potato salad and a slice of pecan pie. Very good. It's all about the sauce and Hickory Pit Bar-B-Q does not disappoint.

On another note, I really enjoyed the old photos of Houston on the walls. Here are some examples.

RELATED
Yelp reviews

PICS: Jay Lee photographs Houston by air!

If Jay Lee isn't on the radio or serving as an expert on TV, then he's probably at work or taking photos.

This time I'm focusing on the photos part. The Bald Heretic took to the skies of Houston with his camera:


This past weekend I was treated to a light plane flight over Houston with my friend Daniel Baker. We took to the skies in a Grumman Tiger and flew over downtown and out to the ship channel before cruising out to Galveston and then back to the Sugar Land Airport.



SEE THE PHOTOS

Houston Chronicle launches 29-95.com (beta)

It's no secret that the Houston Chronicle is going to concentrate even more on the Internet. We now see the fruits of the Houston paper's labor.

http://www.29-95.com/

This is the Chron's new Houston entertainment site that is not branded by the actual paper from what I can tell. The only mention of the Houston Chronicle resides in the TOS and the privacy policy. Appears Hearst wants this to run as its own site and brand. Where'd the name come from? I can only think of this (someone from the Chron.com can clue me in if I am not clever enough to get it).

The following topics are in the top navigation - bars/clubs, restaurants, music, movies, art, tv/dvd, comics/games, sex and time suck (the last one sounds like this blog but thanks for coming back anyway!). Clearly this site overlaps other efforts by chron.com so we see personnel moving over to 29-95 which means some blogs are closing shop.

The wild thing to me is that the site has its own radio station.

Naturally you can find 29-95 on Twitter too:
http://twitter.com/2995

KDAF 33 in Dallas to hire backpack journalists

Uncle Barky informs us that Channel 33 KDAF in Dallas is hiring some backpack journalists (aka one man bands, VJs...etc):


Reliable sources inform unclebarky.com that David Duitch, news director of "The 33," is off to Columbia, Missouri to interview new college graduates for two vacant "backpack journalist" positions at the Dallas-based CW station.

And since he isn't the first -- or the last -- let's state the obvious. The pathway to a job in local TV news -- provided you're willing to work long hours for minimal pay -- is perhaps easier now than it's ever been for kids out of college with minimal experience but a willingness to learn on the fly. READ THE REST 

I am not surprised. I posted a few months ago that Houston's 39 KIAH was hiring backpackers. Both KDAF and KIAH are owned by Tribune.  Any takers out there?  Maybe this guy should apply.

Houston TranStar gets Twitter feeds for all freeways

Yes, I know I told you way back in February that Houston TranStar was on Twitter. But I have to post again on the fact that the agency has gone Twitter crazy! Check out all of the new feeds:


Houston TranStar currently offers a main Twitter site that displays reported incidents for all roadways in addition to sites for individual freeways. For a list of all Houston TranStar's Twitter sites, visit http://traffic.houstontranstar.org/twitter/ .

"Twitter is a great way to give travelers the quickest, simplest news about what's going on with the roads they travel most often," said Jack Whaley, Director of Houston TranStar. "When it's rush hour, getting through an entire traffic update on the radio may be more information

than the person wants; Twitter cuts through the irrelevant and unnecessary and focuses on what's important to that person."

Tuesday, April 07, 2009

97.9 The Box KBXX's Terri Thomas takes new duties at WQNC

Terri Thomas, the operations manager of 97.9 The Box KBXX-Houston appears to be taking on double duty according to FMQB and others. Thomas will be programming Radio One co-owned Urban AC WQNC-FM/Charlotte, NC.

We've seen that happen in other parts of Texas. Brian Purdy of CBS is in charge of both Houston and Dallas clusters. Are tough times forcing radio to consolidate management positions even more?

Telemundo Goes Hi-Def

Telemundo's KTMD Channel 47 in Houston is going high definition in April:

Telemundo said it would be the first Spanish-language net to offer HD content both at the local and network level.

Nine of Telemundo's owned-and-operated TV stations will initially distribute the network HD signal to their audiences, including stations in Los Angeles, Miami, Las Vegas, Chicago, New York, Dallas, San Francisco, Houston and Puerto Rico. The remaining O&Os will phase in HD signals over the next 12 months. READ THE REST

KLOL and KHMX are with CBS



It's official :

Houston: CBS will get KHMX-FM & KLOL-FM, joining a cluster which already includes KIKK-AM, KKHH-FM & KILT AM-FM. Clear Channel retains KTBZ-FM, KBME-AM, KKRW-FM, KODA-FM, KPRC-AM & KTRH-AM. READ MORE

What does this mean to you right now? Not much if you believe the company. CBS says it is keeping the Mega 101 and Mix 96.5 formats. Will they keep their word? That's anybody's guess now.

I can tell you that CBS made sure to stop rebroadcasting NewsRadio 740 KTRH on Mega 101 KLOL HD-2 though. The HD2 station is gone. You never know what you are getting HD Radio wise with CBS in Houston. As I've written before, Hot 95.7 HD2 is supposed to be dance - that is if you can get it. Most of the time the HD2 station just isn't there. I don't have that problem with Clear Channel Houston's HD2 stations.

(Station logos courtesy of houstonbands.net)

Frenchy's expands in Houston

I'm late on this Frenchy's announcement but what are you going to do? Cancel your mikemcguff.com subscription?

Not deterred by the current economic downturn, the popular Creole chicken brand Frenchy's is expanding; this time in Northwest Houston. Frenchy's second fast-casual restaurant location will open its doors by Saturday, April 4, and is located at 4705 FM 1960 Rd. West, Houston, TX 77069. This location is the seventh Frenchy's location owned and operated by GlennLock Foods, Ltd., the exclusive licensees of the Frenchy's brand and a 3131 Properties, Ltd. subsidiary.

Stryper replied to me on Twitter!

Yesterday when I wrote my weekly music update I included the band Stryper. Well they thanked me via Twitter. I got a shout out from Stryper! It was a Yellow And Black Attack via Twitter!!!

Here is the band's official Twitter account:
http://twitter.com/stryperband

25th Anniversary Tour: Stryper is gearing up to tour the US from Sept-Dec 2009, hitting 50 cities across the US. Followed by International Dates Jan/Feb 2010

(Image courtesy of Flickr user StrypedForever)

PIC: James and the bluebonnets



James and the wife find themselves in the middle of some bluebonnets in Brenham, TX (home of Blue Bell Ice Cream BTW). For those of you who do not know, taking photos of children among the bluebonnets is a Texas tradition. We like mixing our offspring with the Texas state flower.

SEE LARGER IMAGE

MTV puts the music back in its name

It's become a long running joke that MTV has no music in that M. The Hills anyone? While I would like to hang with Lauren Conrad over Kajagoogoo anytime, I am still happy to see music videos return:

“AMTV,” [is] a six-hour block for music and advertising experimentation. From 3 to 9 a.m. Monday through Thursday, it will show music videos, news, interviews and performances, harking back to the network’s origins as a 24-hour home for music videos. READ MORE

Oh yeah, the network is bringing back Unplugged too.

This all might be too later, too late. Do artists even care about videos anymore? Yeah you can get them all over the Net, but it's not like any performer or label is shelling out the millions once spent to get teen eyeballs for a YouTube sized screen. Bands and groups still shoot video for the Internet and DVDs, but they seem to be more of an after thought now.

(Image courtesy Flickr user MTV Music)

Monday, April 06, 2009

San Antonio TV and radio

MediaWeek's Katy Bachman profiles the San Antonio market (TV DMA Rank: 37 - Radio Metro Rank: 31):

Home to the Alamo, the second-largest city in Texas is also one of the top Hispanic markets. More than 50 percent of the population is Hispanic, per Scarborough, making San Antonio the ninth-largest Hispanic radio and TV market in the U.S. Of those Hispanics, 91 percent claim Mexico as their country of origin (per MRI). READ THE REST

KHOU 11's Butch Alsandor arrives in new world

David Barron of the Houston Chronicle found out how different KHOU Channel 11's sports department will be for the promoted Butch Alsandor:

Alsandor’s ascension as of Wednesday to the weekday sports-anchor slot vacated by Gifford Nielsen’s resignation Monday isn’t a simple matter of moving from one spot on the organizational chart to another. With the layoff of the station’s two sports producers, his workday will be considerably different than was Nielsen’s in the same role.
“The photographers will do the editing, but as far as deciding what we will do, it will be hands on for me,” he said. “It will be different. We’re all kind of going to school, trying to figure out how do some things that are new to us.” READ THE REST
The KHOU sports department is starting to resemble a small market station.

RELATED
WFAA's Dale Hansen responds to KHOU's Giff Neilsen's departure (Classic Dale!)

(Image courtesy of KHOU )

New restaurant at Minute Maid Park

Laurence Simon offers his take on the new Astros season and a new place to eat at Minute Maid park. CHECK IT OUT

RELATED
- Year 10 at Minute Maid begins with rave reviews still coming in
- Full of sound and fury signifying nothing...

Latest Dallas TV news ratings

So who which TV news operation is winning the Dallas-Fort Worth television war?

FIND OUT

Glenn Beck's rising star

Former 104.1 KRBE morning show guy and current Fox News/radio host Glenn Beck has seen his star rise lately. Sure he was on CNN's Headline News in the pre-HLN days, but his arrival at Fox fits the demographic better. Beck now has the third most popular show on Fox News.

Brian Stelter of The New York Times took a look at Beck's new Howard Beale "mad as hell" perspective. READ IT

Stephen Colbert then took things a bit father with his 'admiration' for Beck. The best part is his dream that he and Beck are stuck on a desert island together. When they run out of food, Colbert offers to be eaten by Beck so he can be apart of him. Next thing you know Colbert is wearing a gas mask and holding a shotgun in homage to Beck. WATCH IT

MORE
Glenn Beck Thinks That You, Yes You, Are As Mad As Hell

RELATED
Political power shift hasn’t hurt Fox News

(Image courtesy of Flickr user mikemalone4200)

The end of the “Star Anchor” era, plus life after TV

Michael Malone of Broadcasting & Cable takes a look at the changing game of local TV news. From the changing roles of TV anchors to life after TV.

Dawn of the Post “Star Anchor” Era
Bye-bye, Ron Burgundy—big-contract newsreaders are being pushed to extinction by hungry (and cheap) multitasking reporters.

Life After Local TV
Former anchors find fulfillment—and sometimes riches—after leaving the station world.

Metallica, Osbournes, Stryper, Blur and more

- Behind the Scenes at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction
- METALLICA's Private Party In Cleveland; Photos, Video Footage Available
- JAMES HETFIELD On ARMANI Photo: I Was Holding My Wife's Bag
- DAVE MUSTAINE: Why I Turned Down METALLICA's ROCK HALL Invitation
- LARS ULRICH Explains Why DAVE MUSTAINE Is Not Part Of ROCK HALL Induction
- JASON NEWSTED: 'I Have Never Regretted Leaving METALLICA'
- METALLICA's Production/Lightning Designer Speaks

- Aerosmith and Houston's ZZ Top to tour

- Top 10 Passive Agressive Moments in Rock

- GUNS N' ROSES Bassist: AXL ROSE's 'Passion Was Always In The Right Place'
- DUFF MCKAGAN'S LOADED: Another Song Posted Online

- DISTURBED: 'The Night' Video Posted Online

- 'Osbournes: Reloaded': First Episode Available For Viewing
- OZZY And SHARON OSBOURNE Guest On 'The Howard Stern Show'; Audio Available
- Report: At Least 16 FOX TV Stations Refused To Air OSBOURNE Family's 'Variety' Special
- 'Osbournes: Reloaded' Ratings Respectable But Disappointing

- STRYPER To Embark On 25th-Anniversary Tour

- QUEENSRŸCHE: 'Rockline' Appearance Available For Streaming

- MÖTLEY CRÜE: Pro-Shot Footage From Uncasville Available
TOMMY LEE's Impromptu Call-And-Response Session
- Motley Crue fans are stupid

- Watch: Prince's 3-night run on Leno

- The Next Rock Musicals

- Blur Rehearsals Are 'Such A Laugh'

- Worst Song of All Time Re-Released

Sunday, April 05, 2009

Fox News Columnist Roger Friedman fired for pirate movie review

I have been linking to Roger Friedman of Fox News on this blog for years . He was great. Someone hire him! Here is what happened :

Roger Friedman, an entertainment columnist for FoxNews.com, discovered over the weekend just what Rupert Murdoch means by “zero tolerance” when it comes to movie piracy.

On Friday, the film studio 20th Century Fox — owned by the News Corporation, the media conglomerate ruled by Mr. Murdoch — became angry after reading Mr. Friedman’s latest column. (Movie bloggers had started opining about it late Thursday, alerting the studio.) The subject was “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” a big-budget movie that was leaked in unfinished form on the Web last week. READ IT

I found out about Friedman because he was a frequent guest on Matt Drudge's old radio show. If you wanted the latest Michael Jackson news, Friedman was your man!

(via Shannon Buggs)

WFAA's Dale Hansen responds to KHOU's Giff Neilsen's departure

Leave it to Dallas sports guy Dale Hansen of WFAA Channel 8 in Dallas to close out the coverage of the resignation of Channel 11 KHOU's sports director Giff Nielsen:

KHOU's news director, Keith Connors, was quoted as saying: "There may be a better sportscaster out there, but you won't find a better person than Gifford Nielsen."

Reacted Hansen: "I told the people at Channel 8 that when I go, I'd rather them say, 'There may be a better person out there, but you won't find a better sportscaster than Dale Hansen.'" READ MORE

More cuts at the Houston Chronicle?

More potential bad news for employees at the Houston Chronicle according to Bloomberg from last week:

Hearst Corp., the publisher of the Houston Chronicle, asked all of its newspapers to reduce costs by 20 percent annually through job cuts and other measures as ad sales plunge.

The publisher is studying ways to charge for applications on Apple Inc.’s iPhone and other handheld devices and is working on a device of its own for reading news content and carrying advertisements. READ MORE

RELATED
Dallas Morning News Publisher Cuts Pay as Much as 15%

Thursday, April 02, 2009

Anti-teen pink lights designed to make kids ashamed of appearance

When I was a teen, there were points where I didn't need a special light to be ashamed of my appearance, but this post isn't about me. It's about the British government's attempts to shame teenagers from loitering using a pink light:

The new tool is a pink overhead light designed to exaggerate acne, with the intention of making children so unhappy and insecure about their appearances that they go somewhere else. READ MORE

It's a high tech solution to a classic problem. Who knows if it really works? They are also using that high pitched noise that only teens can hear.

Why don't they just play this on monitors around the UK to scare teens off?

Top 10 'SNL' ad parodies, according to Hulu

Tim Nudd of the AdFreak blog posted the Top 10 Saturday Night Live ad parodies according to Hulu. You will notice that newer clips dominate the list.

WATCH THE TOP 10

Where is the Cluckin Chicken ad?

(Thanks Ed!)

Room for local TV news in social media

Michael Malone of Broadcasting and Cable writes about a new study from Crawford Johnson and Northcott that says it is time for local TV to embrace social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook:


In a series of online focus groups, young adults across the country indicated a strong interest in local information and said they would welcome the availability of that information on their turf - social networking sites. Further, they said that a local television station would make an impression with them if it had a presence on those sites.
“They may not be loyal local television news viewers today, but they are certainly local information seekers,” said John Altenbern, CJ&N president. READ THE REST

Good thing I built this then.

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Houston Astros games go HD

That Houston Astros game is about to look a lot sharper says the Houston Business Journal :

FOX Sports Houston will broadcast a record number of Houston Astros games this season in high-definition.

The network said it will carry 123 of 147 games in hi-def, a 34 percent increase over last year’s 92-game package. READ FULL STORY

What classic TV shows were almost called

Kara Kovalchik of the Mental Floss blog rounded up the former names of some now classic TV shows.

SEE THE LIST

Here are some that I found interesting:
Roseanne was Life and Stuff
Fraggle Rock was Woozle World
Married…with Children was Not the Cosby Show

This blog almost had other names too:
The Dunderpate Dude
IQ Demolisher
Moron Media
That stupid producer who runs his mouth

(Thanks Brian H!)
[Image courtesy of Flickr user zackharbock3434]

VIDEO: TV news photographer attacked by gator

The TV news photog known as Fil-turd has video of gators coming right at the camera! Film at 11.

SEE THE VIDEO

He has photos too.  Good stuff.

My photos of X-treme skaters and BMXers

I went out to Magnolia High School the other day and photographed some extreme sports dudes who have participated in the X Games (including Koji Kraft (Chicago, Illinois), Jay Eggleston (Denver, Colorado), Trevor Meyer (St. Park, Minnesota), Anthony Furlong (Tampa, Florida), Jay Stevason (Toronto, Canada) and Marc Englehart).

That's right, Mike McGuff on a tall ramp with guys whizzing past me on skateboards, bikes and skates. My stunt was making it up and down the ladder without falling.

SEE THE PHOTOS