Sunday, April 30, 2006
VIDEO: The punch in the face
Think back to when Jerry Springer was interesting to watch (don't deny it - I know you tuned in), you know back in the 90s when all of his guests let their fists do the talking?
Flick off
It was funny, the movie was in the large theater and I think there were about a dozen people including us in there, but don't let that stop you from seeing the movie.
I first learned about him when Kurt Cobain would wear his "Hi, how are you?" shirts.
Another flick some people might want to see is United 93. Mega blogger Jeff Jarvis was at the scene on 9/11 and has his review of the movie.
Friday, April 28, 2006
The dakota
One of my last pics from new york is of the dakota.
For john lennon fans this is a sad place because it was his home and the place he was killed.
I heard that yoko ono still lives there.
The building is across the street from central park.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
How to get a good deal on a new car
After more talking, he offered her $500 off the sticker prices. This angered her. So what did she do? Accept that price anyway? Say no thank you and leave?
No.
Instead she stood up and said, "Usually I bring my husband with me when buying a new car. All he does is sit in the corner, but I guess you need a [insert male genital name] to get a good deal!"
Good for her and the whole speech worked! That night she was emailed a much better deal. So if you are afraid to go shopping for a new car, take this anecdote with you and remember being nice doesn't work.
Companies want to know what bloggers are writing
Guess the blogosphere is becoming more important - it has finally awakened the sleepy giants.
I've noticed that when I blog about a company, you sometimes notice an odd, anonymous comment show up. Or increased activity from that company in my Google Analytics logs.
Expect to see more of that.
Someone reading this may say, "Moron, corporations have already been doing this for years!"
True, but those are the tech savvy ones, the majority in my estimation are fairly clueless at this point, but the tide is changing.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
The real soup nazi
Here is the image of the real life soup nazi from seinfeld. He is expanding his empire across new york and other parts i am told.
Soup places are popular in ny, think they would work in hot texas?
Monday, April 24, 2006
Somebody scooped me!
I've been Simonized
Wes Hohenstein leaving Tucson TV already?
As a former Houstonian now living in Tucson, I was thrilled to see Wes joining Chuck on KOLD! However, just 25 minutes ago, they told him goodbye. Apparently he was just "helping out" for a little while. When they asked where he was headed, he just smiled and said, "Texas." He gave no other details. It is a sad, sad night in Tucson!
# posted by Anonymous : 12:56 AM
Mike....looks like you need to start another "Where is Wes in Texas?" post. Looks like Tucson is old news.
# posted by Anonymous : 3:33 PM
I am impressed in a few weeks that Wes has mesmerized the Arizona viewers. And I thought television branding was more difficult!
Wow, I'll play along here, "Anonymous, where is Wes going?"
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Back from NY
I was pleased with the mobile blogging from my cell phone. It's quick and I can post both pictures and text. Not bad and it's a great time saver.
Here is a link from our good friend in NY, Rafizzle, about my Morimoto's birthday experience from his perspective. His post is better than mine since he wasn't typing on his non-QWERTY cell phone!
I loved NY and will still be posting a bit about the trip in the coming days.
Friday, April 21, 2006
The last days of cbgb's
It was kind of somber @ cbgb's the birth place of punk. That's because the venerable club is closing its doors this october after more than 30 years.
In the 70s, the talking heads & the ramones would be on stage.
Staff told us the club might relocate.
Eating with spinal tap
We ate @ the world famous lombardi's in little italy and guess who was there? Michael mckean of spinal tap fame (the blonde one).
We love him more in best in show though.
Star sightings aside, the pizza was fantastic.
Lettermans deli
Here is hello deli next to lettermans late show. Must be a lunch only place. We saw the late late show host, craig ferguson next door @ lettermans back stage door a few minutes later.
Thursday, April 20, 2006
The odd couple
Neil simon's the odd couple w/ nathan lane ' matthew broderick was very funny. The actors appeared to think so too! Those two have great chemistry.
A pleasant surprise was olivia d'abo from the abc show the wonder years is in the play. Mee-oow.
It is actually happening
I have actually seen it w/ my own eyes! Proof that Axl Rose will play with the new Guns N' Roses live in New York @ the Hammerstein Ballroom, May 15 & 17.
No i won't be going. :(
I am not blue
We are waiting for the odd couple to start. Earlier we hit the met and saw this great picasso, from the blue period and some warhols among others.
From central park
Blogging on a beautiful thursday in central park. We are off to the met to see some art, then to the odd couple on broadway later tonight.
An iron chef sang to me!
Hello from new york. Im mobile blogging on my phone. For my bday last night we dined @ morimotos. He is an iron chef on food network. It was amazing. He even sang happy bday to me. A staffer told us
this was rare. I will have pics @ a later date.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Why do people hate Houston?
Sketkar blogs about the many interesting facts that make Houston a great place to live. Don't show these facts to anyone outside of our area...they won't believe you. Trust me, I've heard it all as a native Houstonian (you didn't know those existed did you?).
Yes, I am one of those that feels Houston does not get a fair shake. Why? As I commented on Sketkar's blog, maybe it's because Houston doesn't have the history the east coast cities have.
Other complaints I've heard - our sprawling city and humidity. Ask the northerners how bad the humidity really is when they are snowed in their homes. Houston, it's worth it.
Interesting about my native Houstonian comment. If most people you meet on a daily basis aren't from here, what does that mean? Why are so many people moving here if it is so bad?
Thanks to Russell for pointing this out.
VIDEO: Titanic Two: The Surface trailer - Jack's Back!
If they thought they could make as much money with this one as they did the real movie - it would be in a theater near you.
This is not as funny as Brokeback to the Future or Must Love Jaws, but still worth a watch.
mikemcguff podcast: Blogging Exposed part 2
(no iPod? Listen through your computer - just click the link)
Here is the mikemcguff.com podcast from Tech Now. In this episode, we get to pick the brain of one of Houston's most prolific bloggers, Laurence Simon aka Mr. Crap, once again in part 2.
Find out:
How to get readers - and then get them to come back
Is there money to be made on blogs?
What's next for TBIFOC?
Listen to the podcast - part 1
Find out what Simon considers a blog
Advice on coming up with posts
Being a consistent blogger
What can motivate you to post?
Links:
- The art of Houston blogging: how to start one and get it read
- Houston blogging tips for new and experienced bloggers
- The bloggers favorite bloggers
Sign up for the mikemcguff podcast on iTunes and myPodder.
Monday, April 17, 2006
The kinky mobile
Spotted this in downtown houston. Kinky is going all out now!
Watch these for a good time
I suggest Thank You For Smoking. It's a good satire.
If you like stupid 80's comedies - The Benchwarmers will make you laugh out loud.
Curious about Heavy Metal? Metal: A Headbangers Journey is a documentary by anthropologist Sam Dunn. Interviews and commentary with some of the greats.
Houston Blogging Exposed part 2 warning - Technology Bytes @ 8 pm
Technology Bytes is moving back to it's old time slot of 8-10 pm. We had been moved to the 7-9 pm slot for awhile but it was just not the same so I lobbied for our old slot and they finally gave it to us. The change takes effect Wednesday April 19th.That's geeky music to my ears. That means that Tech Now will hit at 9 pm. That's a good time for me on the radio. I feel comfortable there.
This week, Tech Now returns with Part 2 of the Houston Blogging Exposed piece (listen to part 1). I promise Mr. Crap will be back with some great advice for new and veteran bloggers in the way only he could tell it.
New XM channel lineup guide
On March 1, we added two new commercial-free music channels, Big Tracks - XM 49 devoted to Classic Rock from the late 70s onward, and XM Chill - XM 84 devoted to Chill music. Starting on Monday, April 17, XM will add 8 more commercial-free music channels. The new channels include:
U.S. Country - XM 17 - Country Superstars of the 80s and 90s Flight 26 - XM 26 - Modern Hits 90s & Now XM Hitlist - XM 30 - Today's Hit Music enLighten - XM 34 - Southern Gospel XM Liquid Metal - XM 42 - Heavy Metal XL Big Tracks - XM 49 - Later Classic Rock The Heat - XM 68 - Rhythmic Hits Escape - XM 78 - Easy Listening XM Chill - XM 84 - Chill Music Viva - XM 91 - Latin Pop Hits
VIDEO: Paris sings for Hef
Paris has an album in the works, think she has the voice to be the next Jennifer Lopez?
Saturday, April 15, 2006
VIDEO: News photographer attacked - caught on tape
However, while being attacked, KXAN photojournalist Julie Karam continued to keep the camera rolling and recorded the entire incident.See the video here. (video link will be on the upper left side)
[snip]
"In our business, if you know you're not going to get sound, and you know that you are doing the story anyway, you've got to at least get video of the accused," Karam said.
Never in her nine years as a photojournalist has she gotten this kind of response for doing her job."He grabs a hold of this (the viewfinder), grabs a hold of my camera and yanks it down over my shoulder," Karam said. "I'm thinking, 'This guy's going to hurt me.' That's how frightened I was. I didn't do anything to deserve it. Nobody deserves to be manipulated, prodded and touched in that way.
Guns N' Roses playing a show in United States
When Axl Rose told Rolling Stone in January that he'd have new music for Guns N' Roses fans this year, he wasn't kidding. After a decade of working on Chinese Democracy, the follow-up to 1993's platinum-selling The Spaghetti Incident, and three years away from American stages, GN'R are ready to play New York next month. Tickets for May 15th and 17th at the Hammerstein Ballroom, go on sale April 21st.This is along with news that the band was to play at the 307 Jazz & Blues Club in Lafayette, Louisiana on May 26. This date is reportedly a hoax.
Also, Velvet Revolver and former GNR drummer, Matt Sorum, posted in his blog that he ran into Axl in NY. They supposedly had a nice meeting.
No word on a release date for the Chinese Democracy album.
Friday, April 14, 2006
REVIEW: David Lee Roth's book, "Crazy from the Heat"
Believe it or not, this book was actually recommended to me by a friend who likes to dip his toe every once in a while into the rock world.
Roth is a very funny and intelligent writer. His stories of excess are great as expected, but he manages to pull out some very interesting off stage stories about his life outside of Van Halen and his solo career.
But one of the most interesting chapters was Roth's take on the Van Halen reunion. Did you know VH used to be called Mammoth, until DLR changed it to the brother's last name?
Unlike other rock books, Roth is not afraid to lift the curtain and let us in on the backstage of the show. That's what makes this book so special.
Other must reads:
Dance on Fire
The Dirt
TommyLand
Find out more about Crazy from the Heat
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Rocketboom comes to Houston - interviews The Godfather of Houston Podcasting
If you read this blog regularly, you probably know him better as the Godfather of Houston Podcasting.
Congrats to Holliman on the vlog exposure. Wow...he'll have something to talk about at the next podcasters meetup!
My wife's needs
What she needed was a trench coat and for me to burn the "Bad Boys" theme from the Fox show Cops to CD! What goes on at this so-called office she works in?
So like any good husband, I went on the iTunes music store...
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Mark Cuban gets intimate on Q&A
Recently Cuban appeared on C-SPAN's Q&A with Brian Lamb. This is a great interview (listen to the podcast), because it is not the traditional ten minutes, we're out of here for a commercial break approach.
Cuban on starting audionet which would become Broadcast.com:
CUBAN: We put a $3 million valuation on it and we let our friends put in only $30,000 apiece because the thing that scares me more than anything is losing a friend's money. And each of those $30,000 investments turned into $22 million when we sold.So if there are any would be Internet moguls out there, I would like to invest $20 and make it $20 million. Thanks.LAMB: How many made $22 million?
CUBAN: There were I think eight of our buddies that invested with us.
Jeff Skilling's brother is the WGN-TV Weatherman?!!!!
How did this one escape me? What a great promotional opportunity for the TV station.
"Now here's Chicago-Land's 'Smartest Guy in the Room' Tom Skilling with the weather!"
"Not only can Tom Skilling forecast the weather, but he might also have the knowledge to make it a commodity!"
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
You got a beer opener?
We're getting the gasoline.
A truck full of middle-aged women stop, roll down their window and shout in our direction.
"Hey, do you guys have a beer opener in your van?"
My reaction, "No, this is a work van."
Her rebuttal, "What does that matter?"
Even if I had been in my personal truck and actually had a bottle opener, I would never contribute to an alcohol fueled drive down Highway 290. The bluebonnets are intoxicating enough for some drivers who aren't watching the road.
The Enron Tour
Lord has branched out to other opportunities, the most notable now would be the Enron Tours:
BUS tour featuring the historic Kirby Mansion, the Front Porch Pub (a popular hangout of Enron employees featured in Rebecca Smith and John Emshwiller's book 24 Days), the Import Warehouse (formerly Linda Lay's Jus' Stuff), current and former homes, offices, churches, businesses, favorite restaurants, lawyers' offices, courthouses, and jails of Enron's Fab Four: Kopper, Fastow, Skilling, and Lay. Everyone gets a "share" of Enron stock and a photo opportunity in front of the most expensive Crooked E purchased during the Enron auctions. Some short walking opportunities.If you're a couch potato and don't want to leave home, you can take a tour of the old Enron commercials instead.
Here are some pics of the wife and me way back when that infamous "Crooked E" was still on Smith street.
Monday, April 10, 2006
Worst McGuff baby names
In anticipation off the blessed event. First [seven] I could think of, in no particular order...
Mickey McGuff
Mortimer Fetish McGuff
Toman (Toe-Man) McGuff
Tocheese (Toe-Cheese) McGuff
Finger McGuff
Tuffy McGuff
Sagat Six McGuff
Maybe someone out there can actually come up with better/worse names.
Web 2.0?
The Octopus Project
Congrats to The Octopus Project. Rolling Stone announces they're off to play the massive Coachella music festival.
Toto has come a long way from our movie making days at Westwood Mall and Lamar HS.
Wes Hohenstein on Tucson TV?
Is Wes Hohenstein now in Tucson as a weatherman? That's what one anonymous reader commented on an old post:
Wes is now at KOLD-TV (the CBS affiliate in Tucson, Arizona), along with Chuck George. Chuck works weekdays and Wes does weekends.I'm sure all of you Wes fans will watch kold.com religiously until his picture is posted. Please let us know when/if it appears.
His picture/bio is not up on the KOLD site yet (www.kold.com) but he is definitely there!
Based on the fervor Wes' departure created, I'm wondering how many Houstonians will migrate to Arizona to watch their main man give them the forecast?
Godfather of Houston Podcasting in Business Week
Interesting how an mp3 file, some good old ambition and ingenuity can launch dreams...even here in Houston.
Saturday, April 08, 2006
My Death Space - a tribute to MySpace users who have died
It's very sad to look at all of the young users who have died. But after all, people like to look at the obituaries in the paper, this is just the 21st century version for social networking sites.
Look, it's "America's First Evangelical Anchorman"
As a gifted news anchor, evangelist, seminar speaker and Bible teacher, Frank is a unique and formidable weapon for the Lord's Kingdom.Turner wasn't always "America's First Evangelical Anchorman." He went through some trials before the conversion:
Through the limitless depths of His grace and mercy, extended to me in the sacrifice of His dear Son, God has revealed Himself to me in an awesome and dramatic way. After 25 years of drug and alcohol addiction, depression and anxiety, divorce and bankruptcy, helplessness and hopelessness, and finally complete humiliation in my public firing from my 5 p.m. anchor job at Channel 7 in 1998, the Lord Jesus stepped into my life.Will this spread across America's newsrooms? Probably not. Looks like there has been some controversy.
The ubiquitous Mr. Crap
First he was a topic on Technology Bytes and my podcast.
Next I see pictures of him on the Midtown party scene.
Then he's listed as a favorite blogger.
Are those cat cams taking control of our minds?
Look at the cheerleaders
The real reason I was at the tryouts? Taking pictures for the rest of the world to put on abc13.com. These are some good pictures. I was also working on a future TV production.
My boss said I've never smiled so much before. Wonder why?
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
mikemcguff podcast: Blogging Exposed part I
Here is the mikemcguff.com podcast from Tech Now. In this episode, we get to pick the brain of one of Houston's most prolific bloggers, Mr. Crap.
Find out what he considers a blog
Advice on coming up with posts
Being a consistent blogger
What can motivate you to post?
And more in the way only Mr. Crap can bring it to you...
Links:
- The art of Houston blogging: how to start one and get it read
- Houston blogging tips for new and experienced bloggers
- The bloggers favorite bloggers
Sign up for the mikemcguff podcast at iTunes and myPodder.
The Spur 527 @ 35
Trust me, I am usually getting passed by every luxury car out there on the way to 59 in the mornings. I'm not sure anyone knows or cares what the speed limit signs say.
VIDEO: The abc13.com webcast - 3 times a day
And what my favorite part, it's flash, so there is no loading of another program to watch it. It's quick!
Monday, April 03, 2006
Mixed Message
Wednesday will be special
Also of note: Wednesday will be my interview with Mr. Crap on blogging at 8 pm on Technology Bytes. It will be the talk of the Houston blogosphere, I promise.
VIDEO: Streaker on local news
Reporter Bert Lozano didn't know just how hot his story on North Texas grass fires could get before a nude man ran past his camera. Remarkably Lozano doesn't lose it during this naked development to his story.
I think this clip would be more classic if Lozano had come up with a clever line for this. Something like, "Wow, these fires are heating things up so much around here, residents are taking drastic measures."
Not great, but I just typed it as it came to me.
Saturday, April 01, 2006
I wanna be a Texans Cheerleader
I spent all day (since 7:30 this morning) at the Texans cheerleader tryouts.
Hopefully I will make the squad this year. The dance routines were tough, but I've been doing jazz dance for years so I was able to pull it off.
I'm not sure that I am as pretty as the other girls, but I'm sure they will be able to give me a makeover.
And if you believe any of this you are a sucker...
April Fool's Day.
VIDEO: Leprechaun in Alabama TV news report
New KHOU anchor
Some 17 months after learning he was being replaced at WNYW/Ch. 5 by Ernie Anastos, Len Cannon has landed a full-time anchor job - in Houston.Cannon most notably used to work for Dateline NBC.