Blender magazine is gone

Blender magazine has closed. READ STORY

Dallas talk show host going national

He is now known as Richard Hunter thanks to mega DJ Rick Dees:

Hunter’s show, Big Dick’s Wild-Ass Circus, got its start in 2002 on Sports Radio KTCK/1310-AM The Ticket and in 2006 moved to KLLI/105.3-FM 105 Live. Now his show is being re-branded as The Richard Hunter Show to reach a broader audience. But, according to Hunter, he’s not abandoning his wild-ass roots.

“As far as Wild-Ass Circus, Big Dick, and BDH, and all of that, it will still be there,” he said. For people who refer to the new show by the old names, he said, “It will become like a fraternal thing, like an old-school familiarity if someone uses the terminology.”

Hunter signed the deal with Dees last fall, and he and Dees’ group intended for 105.3 to be the show’s flagship station. But a little over a month after signing the agreement with Dees and CBS, the Dees group’s parent company, the station changed to an all-sports format, leaving Hunter without a radio home. After a several-month search, he and Dees Entertainment found a new home at KXYZ/1360-AM BizRadio. READ THE REST

More New York Pizzeria locations coming to Houston

The Houston Business Journal has news about more New York Pizzeria locations coming to H-Town:

Russo’s New York Pizzeria has opened a coal-fired pizza store in the Hedwig Village on the Katy Freeway, that is its second coal-fired store in Houston. The first was opened last April at 19817 Northwest Freeway.

Also in Houston, Russo's has opened a new location at 5530 W. Grand Parkway South, Suite 200, in Richmond, and will open another in May at 1660 West FM 646, Suite C, in League City. READ THE REST

Here is how I rate the following locations I've been to:
Midtown - Good
Meyerland Plaza - Good
249 near 1960 - Wouldn't return

Internet Explorer 8 review

Dwight Silverman of the Houston Chronicle reviews Internet Explorer 8:

I really like IE8’s Accelerators. These small plug-ins automate routine tasks usually applied to blocks of highlighted text. Accelerators will send selected text via e-mail, map an address, translate a paragraph or define unfamiliar words.
I also like the way IE8 manages tabbed pages in a window. In IE8, tabs are color-coded and grouped together, making related pages easy to find.
In addition, Microsoft has made great use of the blank space that appears when you open a new tab. IE8’s new-tab page includes a history of pages visited in the current browsing session, the ability to switch to InPrivate browsing, in which all cookies and history generated within that window are deleted upon exit, and a look at the text currently stored in the Windows clipboard. This is one of my favorite features of IE8. READ THE REST

But his review wasn't all peachy.

Buffalo Bayou Houston pictures

I took a history boat ride down Buffalo Bayou and discovered a hidden view of Houston. Naturally I had camera in hand to document this. It's where nature meets urban life. We went only miles from downtown Houston, but from the photos you'd think we were in the middle of nowhere.

SEE THE PHOTOS

I also talked with Houston historian Louis F. Aulbach of the Buffalo Bayou Partnership who was the tour guide. You can watch that too.

Giff Neilsen leaves Channel 11 KHOU

As I first reported on Twitter and Facebook, KHOU Channel 11 sports director Giff Nielsen is leaving the Houston sports TV scene:

Nielsen returned to work Monday after a two-week vacation. During his absence, the Belo Corp.-owned station laid off his two sports producers, including longtime Nielsen associate Carleton Cole, as part of its plan to cut 150 jobs at 20 TV stations nationwide.
“There may be a better sportscaster out there, but you won’t find a better person than Gifford Nielsen,” said Keith Connors, the station’s news director. “There’s nobody better than Giff, and while we hate to see him go, it’s a great opportunity for him to move on.”
Connors said Butch Alsandor will take over Channel 11’s weeknight sportscasts, and Matt Musil will anchor on weekends. Belo currently has a hiring freeze, so Nielsen’s position will remain unfilled. READ THE REST

MORE
Giff Nielsen retiring after 25 years on Channel 11

(Image courtesy of KHOU )

Press release advice from a pro

In my journo career I have seen a lot of bad press releases. Heck, I see them everyday actually. Suzanne Tormollen of the Startup Houston Blog who is a 13 year public relations veteran of the tech scene offers some advice. This goes for non-tech types too.

SEE THE TIPS

My advice is simple:
- Get the facts on the release correct.
- Target your release to someone who might actually care.
- Keep is short and concise (too long and it will just end up in the trash - I guarantee it)

Dallas vs Houston rivalry through CBS Radio

I told you how Brian Prudy was taking the helm of both the Houston and Dallas markets for CBS Radio (he better start reaching out to blogs but that's another subject).

One of his plans is to tap into the strong Houston vs Dallas rivalry and boost his radio stations' ratings in both markets:

He will split time between the cities but, at times, he plans to bring his employees in both cities together for some on-air trash talking.
“One of the best radio shows I’ve ever listened to was this fall, where our (Dallas) sports station and our CBS sports station in Baltimore went at it for a couple of hours before the Ravens-Cowboys game,” he said. “It was station-on-station, with listeners calling in from both markets, and it was awesome radio.
“We’ve got a natural opportunity here. Texans and Cowboys, Rockets and Mavs, Astros and Rangers, do not have best friends forever status. There’s nothing better in sport radio than love and hate, and we think this can help both stations. There’s a natural rivalry between the two markets that can generate some entertaining radio.” READ THE REST

I think this one sounds like a winner actually. Let the trash talking begin.

News report from the 90s predicting our current economic problems

BoingBoing dug up an article from the late 1990s that predicted our economic troubles of today.

- New York Times warns that new financial rules could "wreak havoc" -- 1999

Report says Twitter confirms paid pro accounts coming

A Wall Street Journal article tells us that paid pro accounts are coming to Twitter:

In exchange for a fee, companies could get "more features" on Twitter, the WSJ reports. Twitter cofounder Biz Stone tells the WSJ that the company recently hired a product manager to help develop those accounts, but doesn't specify what the extra features will be or when the accounts will launch.

This makes perfect sense. There's a lot of stuff companies would pay Twitter for, such as a way to verify the company rep's legitimacy; to more analytics and information about who is reading their Twitter page; to better tracking features to see what people are saying about their company. READ THE REST

But Biz Stone at Twitter also points out that companies and individuals will always be able to use free accounts.

Metallica, Soundgarden reunion, Jane's Addiction, Devo, Tool and more

- JASON NEWSTED On METALLICA's ROCK HALL Induction
- METALLICA Performing At SXSW: Pro-Shot Footage Available
- METALLICA 'Had No Business' Playing SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST Festival, Says Indie Label Head
- METALLICA Performs 'My Apocalypse' For First Time; Pro-Shot Footage
- METALLICA: 'Broken, Beat And Scarred' Video Released
- METALLICA: 'The Club Dayz' Photo Book Coming
- METALLICA's HAMMETT: 'We Don't Hold Sweden Responsible' For CLIFF BURTON's Death

- JANE'S ADDICTION: More Footage From SXSW performance
- Perry Farrell Gets Shocked: Jane’s Addiction Frontman on SXSW Gig, Reznor Sessions, Lollapalooza

- LIMP BIZKIT's FRED DURST: 'We're Stronger Than Ever'

- Shooter Jennings Turns Down Velvet Revolver
- SLASH Commences Recording Solo Album
- DUFF MCKAGAN'S LOADED: 'Flatline' Video Available
- Duff McKagan’s Loaded review (Thanks Neal)
- STEVEN ADLER: AXL ROSE Should Have Released 'Chinese Democracy' Under Different Band Name
- STEVEN ADLER On AXL ROSE: 'I'm Not Gonna Wait For Him'
- Former GUNS N' ROSES Drummer Defends AXL ROSE

- FAITH NO MORE: More Shows Announced

- QUEENSRŸCHE: Entire New Album Available For Streaming
- QUEENSRŸCHE Reaches Out To Soldiers With New Album
- Mike McGuff interview with Geoff Tate of Queensryche

- BILLY CORGAN Working On New SMASHING PUMPKINS Material
- Ex-SMASHING PUMPKINS Drummer Speaks Out On Exit

- SOUNDGARDEN Near-Reunion At TOM MORELLO's Justice Tour Stop in Seattle; Video Available
- More Footage Of SOUNDGARDEN Near-Reunion Available
- Chris Cornell Defends 'Scream'

- Nirvana Music To Be Released On Vinyl

- JUDAS PRIEST: Performing Entire 'British Steel' Album Is 'A Dream Come True'
- ROB HALFORD Says Entire 'Nostradamus' Album Will Be Performed 'Late Fall, Early Winter'

- 'Grunge Is Dead: The Oral History Of Seattle Rock Music' Due soon

- Tool Announce Plans to Hit the Road Summer 2009

- Chickenfoot Supergroup of Van Halen, Chili Peppers Members, Satriani Ready Debut

- Inside U2’s Plans to Rock Stadiums Around the Globe

- Devo Hint at New Album’s Sound, Debut Songs During SXSW Set

- Green Day Talk About New Album

- Coldplay To Take A Break

Hot 95.7 KKHH Houston rumors

UPDATE:
HOT 95.7 Goes All-Britney
"The New Brit 95-7, Houston’s Brit Hits!"
Like I predicted it went Britney for a day while Ms. Spears was in Houston


It seems like Hot 95.7 KKHH in Houston might be changing...or at least that could be what CBS wants us to believe. Supposedly there is a recorded announcement on the station saying that the music is changing formats or something due to the bad economy this Monday.

Enter a handy online petition to save the station which reads like a promotions director's dream. Remember how Clear Channel launched the Save our Buzz campaign when KTBZ The Buzz went from 107.5 to 94.5? Seems kind of familiar. Remember how no advanced warning came when KLOL flipped to Mega or The Wave washed away to become Hot 95.7?

This attention has led folks online to speculate that it is:
1) A promotion about paying your bills - like the station has been doing
2) The station will become Britney 95.7 since Ms. Spears is playing Houston Monday
3) The station really is changing formats (possibly to the Amp format)

We'll see. If it is a promotion, then it is working because losers like me are writing about the station.

Email me, Twitter or Facebook me (all located on the right side of this blog) if you know anything.

iTunes price going up to $1.29

The LA Times is reporting that iTunes is raising the price of some songs from .99 to $1.29:

The world's largest music store, Apple's iTunes, plans to boost the price of many hit singles and selected classic tracks to $1.29 on April 7, breaking the psychological barrier of 99 cents in what could be the first big test of how much consumers are willing to pay to download individual songs.

Although the date for higher prices has not been publicly announced, Apple has been notifying record labels it will go into effect on that date, industry executives said. READ MORE

Industry experts say are you crazy?

(via Daily Swarm)

YABBA DABBA DOOOOO! Fridays on Twitter

The rightful King of Catbloggers Laurence Simon (@isfullofcrap) is starting a new tradition Fridays on Twitter:

When it's time to go home on Friday, I'll post "YABBA DABBA DOOOOO!" like Fred Flintstone does when it's quitting time at the quarry.

He says others are doing the same.   Meet Bruwyn by the way.

Dead Weather: Jack White's latest band

Only Jack White could turn a slipped disc and severe case of bronchitis into a new band. He plays the drums for Dead Weather:

The tracks — a sludgy, bluesy blend of psych-rock guitar, alternately stark and explosive rhythms and Mosshart’s sultry-to-siren vocal — take relatively logical leaps from the members’ other bands, White’s groove-heavy drumming elevating the Dead Weather’s Stripes-esque blues-rock moods and Fertita and Mosshart pulling in atmosphere and disaffected cool, respectively.

The band’s beginnings, White said, trace back to the tail end of the Kills/Raconteurs tour, when he suffered a slipped disc and severe case of bronchitis that threatened to waylay his voice. His band went heavy on co-frontman Brendan Benson’s songs to finish the tour, and brought Mosshart in to take the lead for well-loved White tracks such as “Steady, As She Goes.” READ THE REST

The band's album drops in June. Hear two songs at http://thedeadweather.com.

FOX O&O stations offer video to bloggers

Fox owned and operated stations are making it easy for bloggers to embed video:

Fox Television Stations (FTS) and the Web broadcasting outfit Redlasso have ironed out a deal that gives Redlasso the rights to syndicate content from the Fox group’s local newscasts. Starting in April, content from the Fox O&Os will be made available to bloggers and news-oriented Websites at redlasso.com. READ MORE

VIDEO: Mall rat philosophy

OMG we are BFFs forever LOL.

WATCH THE VIDEO

At a Houston or Dallas Galleria near you.

(Image courtesy Charlie White)

So you want to be a TV Meteorologist?

Pablo Pereira, a meteorologist at KNBC Los Angeles, talks about his television weather career.

READ IT

Pereira has worked in Texas at WFAA and KRBC.

RELATED
Wes Hohenstein talks to the mikemcguff blog about TV weather

VIDEO: Synchronized electric face stimulus music

Next time you are bored at a gathering, wire up your friend's faces and convert music into electric shocks. Don't forget to synchronize everything though.

WATCH THE VIDEO

KVUE 24 Austin layoffs

Sad news to report from KVUE 24 Austin. The Belo owned station has made cuts like it has in Houston at KHOU:

Layoffs at Austin’s ABC affiliate have left four employees jobless, including morning co-anchor Jason Hill.

Hill, who was missing from his usual perch next to co-anchor Melissa Gale on KVUE’s “Daybreak” and “Midday” newscasts this morning, will be replaced beginning Wednesday by veteran 5 p.m. anchor Olga Campos, according to Patti Smith, the station’s president and general manager. READ MORE

Austin Chronicle fashion writer charged with arson

Here is something you don't expect to read:

Stephen MacMillan Moser, the society and fashion columnist for the Austin Chronicle, was arrested Tuesday afternoon on arson charges, Austin Fire Department officials said. Moser is suspected of setting his roommate’s car on fire in the City Hall parking garage early in the morning of March 13, officials said. READ MORE

And this comes after the Austin Chronicle's glowing profile by The New York Times' David Carr.

VIDEO: Twouble with Twitters

The Current PR folks emailed me about a new show that totally goofs on Twitter:

“SuperNews,” a Flash-animated sketch comedy satirizing pop culture, current events, entertainment, politics and more, is premiering as a weekly half-hour series tomorrow, tonight, at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

In addition to the Twittersphere, “SuperNews” will also explore infomercial king John Basedow’s ab workout, a social networking sitcom featuring Facebook, Myspace and Friendster, MTV’s loss of integrity and Larry King’s ever-inimitable interviewing skills.

Former KPRC 2 sports guy Chris Wragge is a busy dude

Realizing that he is lucky to be working in today's economic climate, former KPRC Channel 2 sports guy Chris Wragge isn't just holding down one job. He anchors the 5pm and 11pm newscasts on WCBS and also anchors CBS's Saturday Early Show.

But get this, TV Newser reported last week he also filled in on for Harry Smith on the Early Show during the week too:

He goes to sleep around 12:15am, after his WCBS duties, waking at 4am for The Early Show. Wragge naps for about two and a half hours midday before heading back to WCBS. He'll get even less sleep starting tomorrow, when CBS's NCAA tournament coverage will cause WCBS's 11pm newscast to start late. READ MORE

Guess that is how you get to the top - never turn anything down. I think when he was in Houston, he also worked weekends on national sports if memory serves.

CBS Radio in Houston appoints Purdy as VP/Market Manager

Changes come to the leadership of Houston's CBS stations:

Brian Purdy is appointed Senior VP/Market Manager for CBS Radio's group in Houston, including KILT-AM, KILT-FM, KKHH-FM and KIKK-AM. He adds Houston oversight to his current responsibilities managing CBS Radio/Dallas, a position he has held since 2004. Purdy succeeds Laura Morris in Houston, who will stay on to assist with the transition. READ MORE

KLOL and KHMX will also be apart of Purdy's duties soon.

Houston Chronicle layoffs coverage

UPDATE 4/2009
More cuts at the Houston Chronicle?

Sad Tuesday for the Houston Chronicle as Hearst begins cutting 12% of the paper's work force. READ MORE

Richard Connelly of the Houston Press has been covering the story. He has the internal memo and a list of employees affected. Our thoughts go out to all of them.

MORE BLOG TALK UPDATED
Newspaper Death Watch | The Clownvision Chronicles | deadspin | The Huffington Post | blogHOUSTON

MORE BLOG TALK
LoneStarTimes | Banjo Jones | IFOC | John Royal | Fourth and Fifty

Westheimer Block Party

WestheimerBlockParty Evening - Free Press Houston - Saturday, 3/28/2009

St. Vincent, Valient Thorr, Devin the Dude, The Show is the Rainbow, HEALTH, Indian Jewelry, Pictureplane, Daniel Francis Doyle, Homopolice, The Eastern Sea, Fat Tony, The Riff Tiffs,
Factory Party, Golden Axe, GhostTown Electric, American Fangs, Windsor Drive, Cee Plus,
The Sweaters, News on the March, I am Mesmer, Dizzy Pilot, Perseph One, Muhammid Ali and more.
LINK

Meanings of radio call letters

Radio and TV station call letter usually mean something. They can be acronyms,  but not always.

Take the stations I've worked for:
KWBU = Waco Baylor University
KXXV = Roman numerals for Channel 25

Boing Boing has a link to a site that explains call letters from around the world.

In Texas:
KBME Houston, TX S B)est M)usic E)ver Made (was KKBQ)
KCEN-TV Temple, TX L C)e)n)tral Texas
KCOH Houston, TX O C)all o)f H)ouston, Newspaper
KDAF(TV) Dallas, TX L D)allas a)nd F)t. Worth
KDFI(TV) Dallas, TX S D)allas-F)t. Worth I)ndependent
KDFT Ferris, TX L D)allas-F)t. Worth T)exas
KDFW(TV) Dallas, TX L D)allas-F)t). Worth
KDGE(FM) Gainesville, TX E DGE = Edge (alternative format)
KEGL Ft. Worth, TX E EGL = Eagle
KENS San Antonio, TX O S)an Antonio E)xpress-N)ews
KFDM Beaumont, TX S K)all F)or D)ependable M)agnolene Note:
Magnolia Petroleum Co., now KLVI, calls
on channel 6 TV
KHKS Dallas, TX E KS = Kiss
KIII(TV) Corpus Christi, TX F III = Roman numeral 3
KLIF Dallas, TX L Oak Cliff, former suburban city of
license
KLOL(FM) Houston, TX F LOL = 101 (101.1 mHz)
KLTY Ft. Worth, TX E LTY='Light'
KNON Dallas, TX S N)o)n)-commercial
KPRC Houston, TX S K)otton P)ort R)ail C)enter

I couldn't list all of Texas so check more out or see the calls in your area.

VIDEO: The Houston Policeman (1972)

Officer Mike McCoy at the Houston Police Department Recruiting Blog found a great video from 1972 called The Houston Policeman: Main in the Middle. It was a documentary made about HPD and the challenges it faced at that time.

As the film states, this is the time when the image of a police officer had changed from that of the friendly face patrolling the street to "a dehumanized, mechanized, faceless robot in a cold blooded computerized society." A little over the top, but it is the film's words, not mine. It sounds like the inspiration for The Terminator!

The reason given for this change was the fact that Houston was growing rapidly and officers had to take "to wheels" over walking the streets. It makes you think back to old films when the image of cops consisted of the guy who knew everyone's name as he strolled through the neighborhood. A different view from the contemporary one because that would be impossible today in a major city.

In a lighter sense, it is fun to see the shots of Houston back then.

PART 1
PART 2
PART 3
PART 4
PART 5
PART 6

If you like this topic, then check out this video .

Rep. Ron Paul interviewed by Cohen's 'Bruno' for film

Remember Borat? Now Sacha Baron Cohen (aka Ali G) is returning as his Bruno character to the big screen. Banjo Jones reports that one of Bruno's targets is none other than former presidential candidate and current US Rep. Ron Paul.

Oh and you won't believe what happens in this scenario. Factoid: I am pretty sure that Dr. Paul, as he was known before politics, delivered my wife's cousin. In fact he delivered a lot of the population of Brazoria County. Good way to create a good voting base.

(Bruno image courtesy of SkullheadWilderness)

Historic Texas maps

My latest personal project for abc13.com involved restored historical maps of Texas. That includes an early 1900s map of Houston and a late 1800s map of Harris County!

SEE THE MAPS and more.

If you love Texas history, you should like this.

Man camouflaged as pile of paper

Here is a way to scare people at your favorite store. This event took place at Ikea.

TMZ going after politicos now

TMZ must be getting bored with traditional celebrities, because now the site is targeting politicians. They really are the new celebs anyway:

Aaron Schock says he was "shocked and amazed" by the reaction to his unexpected television cameo.

The freshman congressman, walking to the House chamber for a vote, was caught off-guard when a reporter approached him with a Sony camcorder, compared him to ex-fashion model and "The Hills" star Brody Jenner and asked him about D.C. nightlife.

The footage was shot by TMZ, the celebrity gossip Web site and television show, which cheekily suggested that the unmarried 27-year-old lawmaker must have "an impressive stimulus package." READ MORE

Zakk United leaves 94.5 KTBZ The Buzz in Houston

It's no surprise that FMQB is reporting that night jock Zakk United is leaving 94.5 The Buzz KTBZ in Houston.

Why? Well I posted January 10th, 2008 that he was going on the air in Dallas at the resurrected 97.1 The Eagle KEGL. In fact last spring the wife and I drove to Dallas and heard Zakk United the entire time. We started in Houston at 7pm listening to Zakk on 94.5 The Buzz and when we ended in Dallas hours later he was also on the air on 97.1 The Eagle.

The question is, has he been live in Houston or Dallas this whole time while voice tracking the other?  Clear Channel has this technology down!

Zakk is probably better suited as a rock DJ so the move makes sense. He was overnights on Rock 101 KLOL for a while and was very good on that shift. I don't think he could truly be ZU on The Buzz.

Since his bio is still up on KEGL's web site, we must assume he is still there. If you want to still here Zakk United, go listen to 97.1 The Eagle online. Good thing he isn't going to work at this station.

(Image courtesy of Zakk United)

Metallica and Janes Addiction at SXSW, Crue Fest 2, Nirvana and more

METALLICA's 'Secret' Show In Austin: Photos, Video, Report Available
METALLICA played a "secret" gig earlier tonight (Friday, March 20) at Stubb's Bar-B-Q in Austin, Texas as part of the "Guitar Hero: Metallica" showcase during the Texas capital's annual South By Southwest music and media festival.
- METALLICA: More Performance Footage From SXSW Available
- HAMMETT Says JASON NEWSTED Will 'Most Likely' Perform With METALLICA At ROCK HALL Induction
- Les Claypool of all things not Metallica

- JANE'S ADDICTION Plays 'Surprise' Show At SXSW; Review, Video Footage Available

- Motley Crue Go Cruising in an Ambulance to Announce Crue Fest 2 Tour
- MÖTLEY CRÜE: 'White Trash Circus' Video Featuring 'Crüe Fest 2'
- MÖTLEY CRÜE: Footage From 'Crüe Fest 2' Press Conference Available
- MÖTLEY CRÜE - GODSMACK Drum Battle On Tap For 'Crüe Fest 2'?
- MÖTLEY CRÜE's NIKKI SIXX On 'On The Record With Greta Van Susteren'; Video Available

- JUDAS PRIEST: Entire 'British Steel' LP To Be Performed On 2009 U.S.

- SLASH Shrugs Off AXL ROSE's Latest Tirade
- GUNS N' ROSES Joined By SIXX: A.M. Guitarist D.J. ASHBA
- STEVEN ADLER On 'The Howard Stern Show'; Video Available
- DUFF MCKAGAN'S LOADED Performs On Atlanta's ROCK 100.5; Video Available
- GUNS N' ROSES Bassist Talks 'Chinese Democracy'

- NIRVANA Songs Fail To Find Placement In Ads, TV Shows

- VH1 to Bring Back “Behind The Music”
- SCOTT WEILAND: New Performance, Interview Footage Shot For VH1's 'Behind The Music'

- Fred Durst Says Dating Britney Spears 'A Fiasco of Madness'

- In search of the click track

Houston rodeo TV: Behind the scenes

David Barron of the Houston Chronicle got a great behind the scenes look at how Rodeo Houston video is done for the Reliant Stadium monitors and a national audience on DirecTV:

While the nightly rodeo and concert performances originate at Reliant Stadium, the production work at the rodeo gets done at the company’s 5,500-square-foot studios at Reliant Center, which is connected to the stadium by a 1,850-foot lifeline of copper and fiber-optic cables buried 10 feet under the Reliant Park parking lots.

The control rooms are tucked behind the wooden doors of the rodeo’s offices on the second floor of Reliant Center, and they include enough gear to equal three of the tractor-trailer-sized production trucks that fans are accustomed to seeing outside stadiums or arenas. READ MORE

If you ever attend Rodeo Houston, you will see that the video of the event is first class. It looks like a TV show. When I took these photos, I had to shoot around a jib crane camera flying around to get the bull riding action.

PICS: Spring break on Galveston's beach

Like I said on Twitter, I know my job seems "real difficult" sometimes. Here are photos I took this week from the beach in Galveston. How is tourism in Galveston after Hurricane Ike? Here is your answer.

SEE THE PHOTOS

While beaches had spring breakers,  I went down to The Strand around 1pm Wednesday and found that area very dead.  Hopefully business picks up on the evenings and weekends there.  I understand that there are more bars opening up in the empty shops. Is The Strand the next 6th Street?

My wife said James has had an affect on my photography. She noticed that I was shooting lots of dads and their sons. I didn't even notice till she pointed it out.

Channel 11 KHOU has layoffs

First of all I have to say there are lots of rumors flying around about layoffs at Belo in Houston and around Texas. There are so many that I have not posted them because who knows what is fact from fiction at this point? I've heard people are gone, then found out they were on spring break vacation.

We now know that a large part of KHOU's sports staff has been let go, or will be let go:

Thursday was scarcely festive at KHOU (Channel 11), where more than a half-dozen employees were laid off among 150 positions eliminated nationwide by Belo Corp.

Among the casualties were sports producers Carleton Cole, who has been at Channel 11 for 26 years, and Ava Smith. Also departing is Don Graham, the station's director of local programming and production. READ MORE

Don Graham was the man behind Great Day Houston. Who will take control of that show? Graham's bio says he was director of the Charlie Rose show on KXAS Channel 5 in Dallas. That's pretty cool.
UPDATE: Barron reports Graham’s duties will be assumed by Lisa Trapani Shumate with Peggy Murphy joining Great Day Houston as executive producer.

Rumors of a reporter being let go are surfacing, but that person is still on khou.com.  We'll see...
UPDATE: Reporter Leticia Juarez has posted on her Facebook that she was apart of the KHOU layoffs.

Good luck to everyone who has been affected by this. It's just a tough time right now unfortunately.

Houston's East Side

Jay Lee "The Bald Heretic" takes a walk through Houston's East Side with the Houston Press:

John Nova Lomax invited me to go on one of his Sole Of Houston walks. This time he was hitting the east side. The plan was to just sort of meander out to 75th Street and then head north to Canal and then head back to town. READ MORE

The 17 most outrageous drum kits and guitars on the Net

Joe Bosso of MusicRadar profiles the 17 most outrageous drum kids on the Internet:

With that in mind, we've plunged the depths of blogs and forums to find the 17 strangest, the biggest, the most creative, the most 'What the hell were they thinking?' drum kits on the internet.

Some of you might find these kits as true objets d'art; others might find them abhorrent. Just remember: love 'em or hate 'em, you can always just clobber them to death. SEE THEM

RELATED
The 14 most outrageous guitars on the internet

(via the dailyswarm )

Fake web sites for movie companies

I recently wrote how I was afraid by the fact that someone from a network called Skynet came to my blog. OK, it wasn't that Skynet, but this site sure is.

Relax, it is a site the studio set up for Terminator Salvation (Release date: May 21).  It is a very funny site too. Especially if you know the role Skynet plays in the Terminator franchise.

I found this as part of a Wall Street Journal piece on how to build buzz for coming films, the studios are launching Web sites for fictional companies. See fictional sites for the movies The Surrogates and 2012.

Greatest Movies of the '80s

MovieFone takes on the tough task of trying to rank the greatest movies of the 1980s! Do you agree?

SEE THE LIST

(Thanks Brian H!)

SXSW 2009 invites Houstonians to organize 1st ever Christian rap stage

Jason “Sketch the Journalist” Bellini lets us in on a Houston show at SXSW:

Houston, TX – March 16, 2008 – South by Southwest (SXSW), the premier Austin-based company dedicated to building and delivering conference and festival events for entertainment and related media industry professionals, has invited several Houstonians to organize the first ever Christian hip hop showcase at this year’s affair.

Taking place Saturday, March 21 at Austin’s George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center, DaSouth.com presents The Life in Hip Hop will showcase performances from some of gospel hip hop’s most polished performers.

Houston’s Bobby “Tre9” Herring, Jimmie McDowell, and Jason “Sketch the Journalist” Bellini were personally offered the opportunity by Matt Sonzala, a respected independent rap promoter who is the official hip hop booker for SXSW, and asked to help organize this unique platform.

“We are extremely honored to be invited to such a widely known and well attended event,” Tre9 said. “We are very thankful for the chance to expose our music to a broader audience and look forward to what we can add to the overall SXSW experience.”

DaSouth.com Presents The Life in Hip Hop
1:00 p.m. - 1:20 p.m. - B.L.U.E. (Houston, TX)
1:25 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. - Dooney Da Priest (Dallas, TX)
1:50 p.m. - 2:10 p.m. - The Warriors ATX (Austin, TX)
2:15 p.m. - 2:35 p.m. - Kaboose (Houston, TX)
2:40 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. - RedCloud (Houston, TX)
3:05 p.m. - 3:25 p.m. - Braille (Portland, OR)
3:30 p.m. - 4:25 p.m. - The Much Luvv Fam
Tre9, S..O.M., Cy, Von Won, & Gifted (Houston, TX)
4:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. - Lecrae (Memphis, TN)
Hosted by DJ D-Lite, DJ Promote in between sets
Admission to all parts of this distinctive stage will be free of charge and open to the community.

For more information visit: http://www.sxsw.com/carver or http://www.dasouth.com/news/24-news/704-dasouthcom-concert-with-lecrae-braille-a-more .

Daft Punk's "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" soundboard

Yes, even before Kanye West sampled it, I was a big fan of Daft Punk's "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger." So I was very excited to see this soundboard.

WORK IT

Just tap the keys and you can sample the robotic vocals. This is great to make new friends at the office!

Valet of KPRC Channel 2 skips out of Houston

Wow, in two weeks the Houston television news world has lost two news directors. This just usually doesn't happen. The latest loss is Channel 2 KPRC's Skip Valet who is leaving for WKMG Channel 6 in Orlando to become general manager:

Both stations are owned by Post-Newsweek, and Valet came to Houston after a stint as news director at the Orlando station. He has been with Post-Newsweek since 1982 and began his career at the company’s station in Jacksonville, Fla.
Channel 2 general manager Larry Blackerby had no immediate comment on plans to name Valet’s successor. READ MORE

Watch an interview with Skip Valet at KRPC.

Last week KRIV Channel 26 News Director Kathy Williams parted ways with the station. Are we set to see a major shakeup in Houston TV news with two new news directors showing up?

MORE
- WKMG to name new general manager

The Chris Cuomo vs Al Roker Feud Escalates

I think a rivalry between Chris Cuomo and Al Roker is really odd . It is like a local morning radio war except on a national television network level! Enter exhibit A and B from TVNewser:

"The reason Matt Lauer is in such fantastic shape is because he's stuck carrying Al around on his back all the time," says Cuomo. "Matt is Al's sherpa." And: "Whatever it is that he is doing right now...Stop! And do the exact opposite."

Yesterday Roker tweeted Cuomo: "You look and sound beat, you wussy. For a guy who's in such great shape, you sure whine a lot. Maybe you should stay home." READ THE REST

Is this even real? Watch out Al, Cuomo's family runs New York!

VIDEO: Jesus and TV news coverage

Now we know why the faithful usually say they aren't happy with religious coverage on television news.

"The coverage" is mostly a 30 second story at the end of the newscast called a "kicker." It mostly concerns Jesus appearing on toast, walls, popcorn, gas puddles and whatever else you can come up with for attention.

Now some enterprising soul has compiled these clips into a montage of embarrasement.

SEE THE CLIPS

UPDATE:
The message in this post was to make a point of how some in the media treat religion like a softball topic and reduce it to a quick "gee-whiz" type of segment.  It was to suggest some deeper stories on faith might be good for the industry.

(Thanks Ed B!)

Remembering the Shamrock Hotel

For St. Patrick's day I decided to put together a multimedia project for abc13.com about the Shamrock Hotel. My parents used to take me there for dinner. Or at least we went once and I can remember looking out at the massive pool and diving boards. It was a special time.

I gathered interviews with Tom Horan who was the PR guy, raw video and photos of the giant Houston hotel.

SEE IT

Your bank has failed: What happens next?

What happens if your bank fails? Shouldn't we know? 60 Minutes followed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to a bank that had just failed to see what happens.

A lot of people are worried about their banks these days. While devastated giants like Citigroup get bailed out again and again and again, many smaller banks are failing. The federal agency that takes over unsound banks is the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation - the same people who guarantee depositors won't lose their money.

Most every Friday night now the FDIC seizes several banks. You haven't seen these takeovers happening because they're done secretly at night to make sure there's no needless panic by depositors. READ OR WATCH THE REST 

This is a great piece. Hopefully it always will work this smoothly.

International Space Station now streaming live video

NASA is now offering live video from the International Space Station, but don't expect an episode of Real World: Space or Big Brother: Astronaut Edition. The streaming only starts after the crew is off duty and asleep:

When the crew is asleep and the Web streaming is going on, remote cameras will show Earth or other parts of the sky as seen from the space station, or parts of the station's exterior as it orbits 225 miles above Earth.

The rest of the time, while the crew is awake, viewers will get an illustration showing the station's current location or live NASA television coverage of breaking space events.

The live Internet feed will include audio from mission control to the station. READ MORE

To see it, click here and look for the Live Space Station Video link.

Old Houston postcards

This postcard is of Houston's Esperson building at night. I don't know the year, just know all of the material on the Penny Postcard Archives by the A USGenWeb Archives is old.

Why are they called penny postcards? I thought you would never ask. According to the site:

These postcards cost 1¢ to mail. Postage was temporarily raised to 2¢ from 1917 to 1919 to cover the cost of World War I & from 2925 to 1928 (not sure the reason for the latter).

I see. Check out all of the other Houston cards including one of the famous Shamrock Hotel.

And if you are a Houston hater , don't worry, there are a ton of cities and counties to browse through.

Velvet Revolver, Nirvana, No Doubt, Devo

Metallica so play SXSW at Stubbs?
Austin Powell of the Austin Chronicle says he’s received confirmation from the Metallica camp that the metal superstars will indeed be playing Stubb’s on Friday March 20 at 10 p.m. as part of the “Guitar Hero: Metallica” showcase.
- 'Mandatory Metallica' Channel to Air on Sirius XM Radio

- VELVET REVOLVER: Another Singer Audition Tape Posted Online
- VELVET REVOLVER Management Shoots Down New Singer Rumors

- VH1 CLASSIC's 'That Metal Show': Guest Schedule Revealed

- MÖTLEY CRÜE's 'Crüe Fest 2': More Lineup Leaks/Rumors

- No More NIRVANA Music Coming Out, Says Bassist

- LIMP BIZKIT: Brand New Rehearsal Footage Posted Online

- STEVEN ADLER On 'Opie & Anthony Show'; Video Available
- STEVEN ADLER: 'I Still Love' AXL ROSE
- Ex-GUNS N' ROSES Drummer STEVEN ADLER: AXL ROSE 'Likes To Blame People'
- DUFF MCKAGAN: New Video Interview Posted Online
- Offspring Frontman On 'Chinese Democracy'

- No Doubt Tell Stories Behind Their Biggest Hits in New Video Series

- Kiss Hit the Studio for “Meat and Potatoes” Album With “Classic ’70s Rock & Roll Vibe”

- Chris Cornell Quotes Scripture, Responds to Trent Reznor’s Twitter Slam

- Devo Confirm First New Album In 19 Years, Announce “De-evolution Has Arrived”

- New York Loses Biggest Rock Radio Station (Again): K-Rock Shifts to Top 40
- With WXRK (92.3 FM) K-Rock gone, fomer rivals like their rockin' role
- Radio 1 DJs Too Old? Bosses Look To Younger Hosts

- Poison's Bret Michaels to Write a Tell All Book

AUDIO: Paul Berlin talks Houston radio and music history

Michael Berry of NewsRadio 740 KTRH treats us to a great walk down Houston radio and music memory lane with legend Paul Berlin.

LISTEN HERE

They talk Houston visits by Elvis, Beatles, Johnny Cash and a lot more!

(Image courtesy of thehistoryofrockandrollradio.com/PaulBerlin.html)

New iPod Shuffle speaks

Dwight Silverman of the Houston Chronicle fills us in on the new $79 iPod Shuffle:

A new feature called VoiceOver speaks the names of songs, artists and playlists to you - very handy since, as with previous shuffles, there is no screen to display song information.

Oh, it also will speak to you when the battery is running low, which will happen after about 10 hours of usage. READ THE REST

Update on Abby's Book Drive

Allison Wisk of NeighborsGo has a touching profile on the story I have been following for almost a year now:

At home on maternity leave, Mary Kearney cradles her newborn, Victoria Abigail, rocking her gently as she moves around her living room. Born just over a month ago, Victoria smiles quietly as her father, Will, looks on with a wide, proud beam across his face.
“To tell you the truth, I never thought we’d be happy again,” Mary said. “But we are.”
Victoria carries the name of her elder sister, Abigail, who passed away last May - the day after Mother's day - after a brief illness caused by a non-vaccine strain of pneumococcal meningitis. When Abby suddenly fell ill at home, the Kearneys – a young couple whose relationship began as high school sweethearts at Ursuline Academy and Jesuit College Preparatory – were thrown into a waking nightmare as the singular joy in their lives stopped breathing and was taken to the hospital, descending into a coma. Initially told Abby would be in for a two-week stay, the Kearneys quickly learned Abby had little time left.
“It snowballed into a living hell,” Will said. “It was already hell, but it kept getting deeper.” READ THE REST

http://www.abbysbookcorner.com/

Pugs and Kelly gone from 93.3 FM "The Bone" KDBN Dallas

Robert Philpot of DFW.com uncovered the big change in Dallas radio:

Noticing the lack of Pugs and Kelly in their normal afternoon slot, DFW.com checked out the 93.3 The Bone website and found that the disc jocks weren't listed as staff on the website anymore either. Shortly after, Cumulus Radio VP Dan Bennett confirmed that the two are no longer with KDBN. READ THE REST

What's the deal? Pugs and Kelly (John Myron and Kelly Mohr according to DFW.com ) weren't there very long. I posted that they moved to 93.3 FM "The Bone" KDBN Dallas from Live 105.3 KLLI just last September.  Check the official show site for details I guess.

(Image courtesy of pugsandkellylive.com)

The Center for the Study of Human Party Virus Annual Symposium

A friend of mine is organizing this event so check it out!

Saturday, March 14th
Last Concert Cafe
1403 Nance, Houston, TX
All ages, $8, 11am - 6pm

Researchers Panel
11:00 Wood and Felt
12:00 sIngs
1:00 tba
2:00 Giant Princess
3:00 Tambersauro
4:00 Moth!Fight!
5:00 American Sharks

Prevention Seminar
11:30 Buxton
12:30 David Israel
1:30 Benjamin Wesley
2:30 Jay
3:30 Hollywood Black
4:30 Elaine Greer
5:30 Joe Mathlete vs. B L A C K I E

VIDEO: Twenty weirdest TV Interviews of all time

The folks at Nerve bring us the 20 weirdest TV interviews of all time.

WATCH THE LIST

KPRC Channel 2 Stephen Dean's predator book

KPRC Channel 2 investigator Stephen Dean has made a name for himself on Houston television who traps the alleged Internet predators. It's the Houston version of the NBC Dateline To Catch a Predator series.

Now Dean has released a book (most likely a few years ago based on the High Tech Texan's blog) called "Setting the Trap for Internet Predators" based on his TV stories.  I can imagine some media companies not allowing something like this. Guess Post Newsweek is cool with it.

You might notice that the book's web site was designed by a Cynthia Hunt productions (another KPRC alum).

KTXA/KTVT DFW sportscaster Gina Miller profiled

KTXA/KTVT sportscaster Gina Miller has a nice write up in the Fort Worth Star Telegram by Ed Bark:

At 5 foot 11 inches, Gina Miller is long accustomed to standing out in a crowd. Now, it’s in more ways than one.

Miller has become the last female sportscaster on the six North Texas TV stations with daily local newscasts.

The Dallas native, who traveled as far as Guam to learn her trade, anchors the weeknight sports segments on KTXA/Channel 21’s prime-time newscasts and teams with Derek Harper on the station’s Dallas Mavericks pre-game, halftime and post-game shows.

During the football season, she shifts to sister station KTVT/Channel 11 to co-host Dallas Cowboys pre-game shows. READ THE REST

(Image courtesy the Star-Telegram)

The 50 Hottest Women Of Radio

Popcrunch compiled the list of the 50 hottest women of radio. Yes, the joke about a face for radio is just too obvious here. Texas is well represented. I went through the list several times to make sure I didn't miss anyone Lone Star State talent:

44. Amy - KISS 96.7 Austin, Texas
42. Heather - 94.7 Austin, Texas
29. Theresa - 94.5 The Buzz KTBZ Houston, Tx
24. Brandi Garcia - 97.9 Houston, Texas

SEE THE FULL LIST

Where is Dallas and San Antonio?

(Thanks Brian H!)

VIDEO: The Journey remake video

Oh that Steve Perry was an emotional dude back with Journey.  Who could forget the raw power of the classic Separate Ways video from 1983?

WATCH IT

Obviously a group of eager college students couldn't get it out of their system. They actually went to the trouble of making a shot for shot modern (sort of) remake of the video! They let us know that the video won second place at the 2008 BYU-Idaho film festival.


WATCH THE NEW VERSION

(Thanks Matthew!)

Conan O’Brien visits KPRC 2 Houston

Conan O’Brien made a stop in Houston at KPRC to promote his move to the Tonight Show at 10:35pm. He has been visiting NBC affiliates across the nation.

Full coverage on littlelostrobot and @RyCayari. More photos of Conan at KPRC plus one here.

I have to wonder if Conan brought up his old feud with KPRC who used to push his show back to 2:40am in favor of Jenny Jones or Jerry Springer depending on the year. Conan used to call KPRC out on his show for doing this.  In fact in 1997, he showed up here to see what was going on in Houston in the early morning when the show aired.  The pieces were recently re-aired on the best of Late Night during O'Brien's last weeks. WATCH THE HOUSTON VIDEO HERE. It is very funny stuff including Rice University and the Astrodome.

After KPRC, Conan then stopped by a Houston hotspot for fun according to the Houston Chronicle's Shelby Hodge:

Conan O’Brien loving life at Café Annie on Monday night where he and a party of three feasted on the sea scallops special, mojitos and several bottles of Hobbs Chardonnay.  READ THE REST

UPDATE
See the Channel 2 KPRC Conan O'Brien promos way before they air.

(Image courtesy of Flick user littlelostrobot)

Fox 26 KRIV news director out, Belo to cut

Not a positive last few days for Texas broadcasting.

Rumors starting surfacing Tuesday that the Fox 26 News Director was out and the fact Belo was doing some cutting. Both appear to be true.

Kathy Williams is out at KRIV with managing editor and former Channel 11 KHOU reporter Carolyn Mungo filling in. Is Mungo the permanent choice? READ MORE

Plus Belo is reportedly cutting 150 jobs, not matching 401Ks and cutting management compensation by 5%. Belo owns KHOU Channel 11 Houston, WFAA Channel 8 Dallas-Fort Worth, KENS San Antonio and KVUE 24 Austin among others.  READ MORE.

(Thanks Randy, Bob, Ray and everyone else who sent in info!)

VIDEO: Motley Crue interview (1984)

I don't even know what to say about this Motley Crue interview from the set of Looks that Kill in 1984. You just have to watch it.

VIEW IT

Which is more amazing? Nikki Sixx's statement about post apocalyptic LA or the fact that MTV did stories on bands?

America's unhappiest cities list

Did your city make the list of unhappiest cities put together by BusinessWeek?  How the site ranked the cities:

BusinessWeek.com ranked 50 of the largest metros based on a variety of factors including depression rates, suicide rates, divorce rates, crime, unemployment, population loss, job loss, weather, and green space. The most heavily weighted factors were the depression, suicide, jobs (unemployment and job loss), and crime rates. The depression rate is based on drug company data on antidepressant sales. The rate of depression within a place, the total number of reported depression cases divided by the total population. The suicide rate is for 2004 and comes from “The 2007 Big Cities Health Inventory” compiled by the National Assembly of County & City Health Officials (NACCHO). The crime risk indexes for property and crime used for the scoring were based on FBI crime reporting for the seven most-recent available years. Divorce rates and 2009 population change come from the U.S. Census. The number of cloudy days came from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. SEE THE LIST 

(Thanks Brian!)

TV morning meetings online

Attention TV news personnel. Is your morning news meeting worthy of being broadcast to the world? Or would you just be putting your 5pm producer and online viewers to sleep at the same time?

The kids at WGAL Channel 8 in Lancaster, PA have done it. Does that mean meteorologist Matt Ritter stole the show with his "take cover now" trademarked warning?

The Mozilla.Ink Vietnamese food menu

I went to a fairly popular Vietnamese restaurant in Houston and to my surprise was reminded of Firefox when I looked down on the menu.

I took this crappy cell phone photo and did my best Perez Hilton so you could see the star of this post.

Liquid Buzz 94.5 HD 2

I have been a huge fan of Liquid Buzz on 94.5 KTBZ HD 2 for several years. This is the second digital channel of 94.5 The Buzz KTBZ only accessible with an HD radio. Liquid Buzz was a great mix of new and classical alternative with indie rock. It sounded nothing like the real Buzz for those keeping score.

Lately Liquid Buzz is starting to sound more like a Clear Channel active rock station. Think a little bit like Big Dog 106 in Beaumont. It's a mix of 80s hard rock with newer rock music. It's not bad, just not as good as what we had before.

I emailed Buzz program director Don Jantzen several weeks ago about the change but haven't heard anything back.

Anyone else a fan of this station or HD radio in general? What? Don't let all the responses hit me at once.

Fox 4 KDFW anchor likes to test his boss on air

Like Ed B. who sent this to me said, here's an anchor that must be independently wealthy! Uncle Barky reports on KDFW Fox4 anchor Steve Eagar in Dallas - Fort Worth who defied news management by wearing a suit they don't like.

But get this, he then points it out on air and invites viewers to call in with their thoughts:

"I'm kind of bucking the boss with this latest thing," Eagar told viewers. "I was told never to wear this suit again. Seriously. I'm not kidding. I want to know what you think. Like it? Hate it? Should I put it out to pasture? I think it was conveyed to me it's the pinstripes that are problematic. I like it. But you decide."

Eagar then told viewers to expect quick results: "If you never see it again, you'll know what the vote was. After this, there's a chance you'll never see me again, but let's see how it plays out." READ MORE

Is this a stunt like the Pete Delkus vs Dale Hansen thing? (Or is that actually real?)

So what happened with Eagar's suit?  READ HERE

(Thanks Ed!)
[Image courtesy of famousmormons.net ]

Chili's closes at Meyer Park

Here comes another big casualty at Houston's Meyer Park.  Believe it or not, Chili's has closed it's doors for good.  I find that strange because the restaurant was always so crowded.  Meyer Park security told me it closed in late February and the staff members were transferred to other area locations.

There go the memories. Super TV producer Adam Darsky and I both had our first dates at that Chili's location.  No, we were not dating each other. But seriously, this was the big teen hangout in southwest Houston.  Then the Meyer Park AMC shuttered its doors and things were never the same (just ignore all of those negative stories about the place - we're reminiscing here!).

Mexican restaurant Pablano's has also closed nearby.  Some of you may remember my recent post about TCBY closing down at Meyer Park too.  Is this shopping area becoming the Meyerland Plaza of the early 90s? Will it rise like the phoenix from the ashes of consumer indifference once the economy improves in the future?

Good thing Beck's Prime is opening in Meyerland! It's still opening right?

The 15 Strangest College Courses In America

From "Arguing with Judge Judy: Popular ‘Logic’ on TV Judge Shows" to "Zombies in Popular Media," these really are some strange college courses.

SEE THE LIST

I can't think of really any strange classes offered at Baylor. If you went to Baylor and can come up with one, let me know. I would have taken Coke Dr Pepper float hour as a class if possible.

Maybe I can go back to Baylor and teach "How Not to Shower for Days Because of That Weird Dude in the Communal Dorm Shower."

(Thanks Brian H!)

Former News 24 Houston reporter could be released from Iran captors

Good news! According to the Star Tribune in Minneapolis, the Iranian government could soon release former News 24 Houston VJ Roxana Saberi. You might remember my original post from last week about her detention while working in the Middle East.

According to the Tribune, members of Congress and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged the Iranian government to release her.

(Thanks Michael A. Carl)

Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan at a Texas Whole Foods near you

Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan will be coming to a Texas Whole Foods near you. I know that statement makes no sense, until you realize the rocker owns Arizona Stronghold Vineyards and Caduceus Cellars located in the mountains of central Arizona.

It's wine signing time according to the Tool Web site:

TEXAS WINE SIGNINGS: Maynard at Whole Foods Markets in the Lone Star State:

MARCH 23 - PLANO,TX - 2201 Preston Rd. 4:30 - 7:30 PM
MARCH 24 - AUSTIN, TX - 525 N. Lamar Blvd. 4:30 - 7:30 PM
MARCH 26 - SUGAR LAND, TX - 15900 SW Freeway. 4:30 - 7:30 PM
MARCH 27 - ALAMO QUARRY (SAN ANTONIO), TX - 255 E. Basse Rd. 4:30 - 7:30

So what is the attendance like for this? Do you really think only wine fans show up?  Or is it your die hard Tool fan in all black?

More on Keenan's love of wine from a 2004 article in Wine Spectator.

(Thanks Chad!)

College students reporting in New York

Who says college students can't start reporting on TV? In fact, now they can start at market number 1 - New York City. It's not the big 3,it's WPIX, but still it's NY!

READ MORE

(Thanks Michael A. Carl)

PIC: My Houston rodeo carnival photos

I've received a lot of good response from my Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo carnival photos.

SEE THEM

Hope you enjoy them too.

Also, here are my Rodeo Houston photos.

Full Houston rodeo coverage. And Twitter account @rodeonews.

Where is Darby Douglas on Channel 11 KHOU?

Darby Douglas

UPDATE JUNE 13, 2018
Darby Douglas exits KHOU 11


UPDATE JUNE 11, 2014
Darby Douglas to return to KHOU 11


UPDATE 10/2009
- Darby Douglas' near death experience, plus life after KHOU 11
- Watch Darby Douglas do traffic on KHOU 11 once again


Lots of talk in the last week or so about Darby Douglas of KHOU Channel 11's morning traffic. HAIF had a post that Douglas was let go from KHOU which was followed by another related post by Katharine Shilcutt Gleave at Houstonist.


David Barron finally offers the news from Belo:

Darby Douglas, who has delivered traffic reports on KHOU (Channel 11) since 1996, is no longer with the station.
A Channel 11 spokeswoman confirmed that Douglas was no longer part of the station’s morning news team but did not elaborate. She noted that Douglas is employed by Westwood One’s Metro Traffic division and remains a Metro employee.
Douglas was replaced on Monday’s morning newscast by Metro Traffic employee Mary Kennedy. Channel 11 did not say when a permanent replacement would be named. READ THE REST

You can still read Douglas' traffic blog.  I never understood the point of a traffic blog by the way.

UPDATE JUNE 11, 2014
Darby Douglas to return to KHOU 11

(Image courtesy of KHOU)

GNR tour, Radiohead, Motley Crue, Limp Bizkit, Spinal Tap and more

Guns N' Roses: New Stadium Tour
- GUNS N' ROSES To Tour With VAN HALEN?
- Ask GUNS N' ROSES A Question
- An open letter to Axl Rose

- Miley Cyrus Snubbed By Radiohead, Vows to “Ruin Them”

- MÖTLEY CRÜE To Perform 'Dr. Feelgood' In Its Entirety On CRÜE FEST 2
- Cruefest 2: Worst tour ever?

- New pics of Stones, Beatles on 'spring break'
- “The Beatles: Rock Band” Set to Hit Stores September 9, 2009

- How Def Leppard and Poison Mended Fences for Summer Tour

- KORN Frontman On LIMP BIZKIT Reunion

- Spinal Tap Rockers Announce “Unwigged & Unplugged” Tour, New Album

- Michael Jackson Announces 10-Concert Run at London’s O2 Arena

- CHRIS CORNELL Not Concerned About Possible Backlash Over TIMBALAND-Produced Album

Alarm bells sound during WFAA Channel 8's 6pm newscast

Alarm bells never help a television newscast go smoothly. That's why there was some chaos during a recent 6pm WFAA Channel 8 Dallas newscast at the remote Victory Park studio. READ MORE

I would have thought sportscaster Dale Hansen could unleash a roar that not only shattered all the glass at  Victory Park, but could also smash that malfunctioning alarm into submission. Then he would talk smack about Jerry Jones like usual.

New Houston TV anchors...sort of

A source from inside KPRC Channel 2 tells me Rachel McNeill is  the new 4pm anchor replacement for Wendy Corona. McNeill is not exactly a new anchor in town since she's been pulling weekend duty at the big 2 for years. If I didn't have a good source inside, I could have read her bio to find out too! She will be paired with Jerome Gray. Congrats Rachel. No word on her weekend anchor replacement.

Also lots of people have been emailing me to ask about Channel 13 KTRK's new weekend anchor. It's another familiar Houston news face, Katie McCall formerly of Channel 39 KHCW KIAH. McCall went to Chicago's WBBM in between. I think she first appeared on air Friday.

(Image courtesy of Click2Houston and photogslounge.net)

Houstonian Roland Martin makes mark on CNN

David Barron has a nice profile of Houstonian Roland Martin and his rise through the media ranks (and a marriage to KHOU's Deborah Duncan) to CNN:

As a student at Yates High School’s communications program in the mid-1980s, Roland S. Martin loved nothing more than to grill visiting dignitaries and then chat them up as he escorted them to the next class, leaving them, he hoped, with a name and an impression they would remember down the line.
Today, Martin returns to Yates as a dignitary in his own right. In addition to his most visible role as a CNN contributor, he juggles roles as analyst, commentator and blogger for five other outlets. He carries two Blackberrys to help him keep track of the world and the world to keep track of him.
“I am a hybrid,” he says. “Call me what you want ... but I am a true 21st-century multimedia, multi-platform journalist. There is no box you can put me in, and if you put me in a box, I will kill you to try to get out of it.” READ MORE

(Image courtesy of UIC )

The 20 Weirdest Album Covers: A Definitive List

Oh yeah, these album covers are pretty strange.

SEE THEM

Jessica Amason of URLesque does a good job with this list. When I worked at 107.1 KWBU Radio Free Waco (RIP) we actually got a promo mask for the Aphex Twin - Windowlicker album. It freaked a lot of people out.

(via Daily Swarm)

39.2 KIAH to air all sports channel

I did not have Comcast to pick it up at the time, but I really enjoyed The Tube which ran on 39.2 KIAH the few times I saw it. Basically The Tube recreated early MTV - it was all music videos with no shows (although that wouldn't help me get my The City fix now would it).   Long story short the network went away and 39.2 went dark for a while.

Now channel 39.2 is coming back with a sports network reports TVNewsday:

Tribune CW affiliate KIAH Houston (DMA 10) today announced plans to launch a 24-hour sports network on its digital broadcast tier. The Universal Sports Television Network will premiere Monday, March 16, on digital ch. 39.2.

The Universal Sports Television Network, a joint venture between NBC Sports and Intermedia Partners, offers more than 2,000 live events and over 5,000 hours of annual original event programming. READ THE REST

KIAH is not the first station to sign up a network for .2 programming. KPRC Channel 2.2 is doing the same with a network called THIS. KHOU 11.2 was allegedly going with something called the .2 Digital Network. I don't think that has hit the Houston digital airwaves just yet though.

KDAF Channel 33's Rebecca Miller getting homeland security degree

Rebecca Miller's departure from KXAS Channel 5 became the number one post on the mikemcguff.com blog for 2008. So I had to bring you this big profile on the new Channel 33 KDAF meteorologist courtesy of the Fort Worth Star Telegram.

Miller is from New Orleans, and like many, was mad at the response after Katrina, so she started taking courses:

Miller, who earned a degree in atmospheric science (with a minor in math) from Texas A&M, began researching. She discovered that FEMA was under the Department of Homeland Security, and that A&M also offers a degree in homeland security. So she began taking courses — her current ones are Weapons of Mass Destruction and National Preparedness.

"I was surprised by how many facets of homeland security there are," she says. "The weapons of mass destruction class, that’s really fascinating to me, and I’m thinking, 'How, as a meteorologist, can I even apply what I know to homeland security and to weapons of mass destruction?’ Well, I have a friend who’s a bio-weapons expert in Fort Worth, and if you release a biological weapon into the air, you need someone to tell you: what’s the rate of dispersal, where’s it going to go, where’s it going to fall out, that kind of thing." READ THE REST

The article talks about a lot of other stuff in Miller's life and focuses on the positive response Dallas/Fort Worth viewers have given her since returning to the airwaves.

I had the opportunity to talk with Miller over email.  She seems like a very nice and genuine person.  Good luck to her.

(Rebecca Miller image courtesy of startelegrameditwriters.typepad.com)