Shoot, I expected to be moving into a new home in the next two months, but it's a bit unexpected to move my Internerd home as well.
The kind folks at WNY Media have graciously invited me to join their gang of pundits, malcontents and Buffaloians. The new Mild-Mannered Blog is up and running right now, so head on over there for future updates.
Over the next few weeks, I'll be importing the old stuff to the new stuff. I'll get to reuse jokes for a whole new audience! Ain't life grand?
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Sunday, January 07, 2007
WBEN and the blog ban
Considering all the shots WBEN is taking after the program director decided to slice the on-air throats of local bloggers, I would just like to say that I have never been banned from WBEN. I, in fact, have never even been invitied into the studio. I was on one independently-produced show, but I can't remember if it aired on WBEN or not, and it was most certainly not on the subject of blogging.
So this is me sticking metaphorical thumb into the eye of Wenger, Beach, Bauerle and whomever else was involved in the decision to ban the local bloggers. I stand tall with my fellow local bloggers, even though some of them have only been through here once or twice and most know not of this blog's existence, in saying, "This agression will not stand, Mr. Wenger! I will not appear on WBEN programming from now on! Good day to you sir!" Even though I've never actually been invited on.
Also, if two radio hosts, who make their living by criticizing anybody and anything they feel like, can't take their own heat, then they're pussies ... and they can put that in their call-in pipe and smoke it.
Of course, if I had a job in the media while seeing the rise of the Internet culture rapidly maketraditional outlets irrelevant, I'd be scared shitless for my career as well. Oh wait ...
So this is me sticking metaphorical thumb into the eye of Wenger, Beach, Bauerle and whomever else was involved in the decision to ban the local bloggers. I stand tall with my fellow local bloggers, even though some of them have only been through here once or twice and most know not of this blog's existence, in saying, "This agression will not stand, Mr. Wenger! I will not appear on WBEN programming from now on! Good day to you sir!" Even though I've never actually been invited on.
Also, if two radio hosts, who make their living by criticizing anybody and anything they feel like, can't take their own heat, then they're pussies ... and they can put that in their call-in pipe and smoke it.
Of course, if I had a job in the media while seeing the rise of the Internet culture rapidly maketraditional outlets irrelevant, I'd be scared shitless for my career as well. Oh wait ...
Friday, January 05, 2007
thank you global warming
It was 50 degrees out yesterday. In Buffalo. In the first week of January. Crazy.
Also, I would advise those with beachfront condos in Florida that they should sell their properties in the next 50 years. Or at least get some flood insurance.
Also, I would advise those with beachfront condos in Florida that they should sell their properties in the next 50 years. Or at least get some flood insurance.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
yet another wire post, and more tv
For those of you without HBO and such, BET is set to start airing "The Wire" next week from the beginning. I have no idea how the editing breaks down - there is some nudity and frequent profanity, and I can recall one scene from S1 where two cops say nothing but variations of "fuck" for 10 minutes - but this is the television show that answers all the criticisms people have about TV. "The Wire" is intelligent, diverse and adult. It's literate TV, and to say it explores its world with precise social realism is an understatement. Here's the release from BET:
ET TAPS 'THE WIRE' WITH THE BASIC CABLE PREMIERE OF THE PEABODY AWARD-WINNING DRAMA
Released by BET
BET Taps 'THE WIRE' With The Basic Cable Premiere Of The Peabody Award-Winning Drama
The Surveillance Continues on BET When the Critically-Acclaimed Series Begins with Marathon Presentation on January 10 at 9 p.m. ET/PT
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 3 -- On Wednesday, January 10, 2007 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, the critically acclaimed HBO series THE WIRE will begin airing on BET with its series premiere. The basic cable, multi-season run of THE WIRE on BET will consist of all 50 produced episodes, with each episode airing in a 90-minute block. The first three episodes will be shown in a three-day marathon beginning Wednesday, January 10 through Friday, January 12 from 9- 10:30 p.m. ET/PT each night. Beginning January 18, THE WIRE can be seen every Thursday night at 9 p.m ET /PT with an encore run on Saturday nights at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The Peabody Award-winning series tells the story of a single drugs-and- murder police investigation from the point of view of both the police and their targets.
Incidentally, I thought the recently completed S4 was the best season of any show ever, even though it's all very good. So it goes without saying that I thought it was the best show all year. Here are my other favorites, in alphabetical order:
"24" saw something happen this year: the writers took out all the really hard to believe stupidity (see ya, Kim Bauer) and left in all the awesome. The result is the best season of the show yet, and one of the most deliriously entertaining programs on the air today. I usually hate saying this, but it helps to watch while leaving your brain at the door when watching. Of course Jack Bauer isn't going to make it across Los Angeles in three minutes, but that's not the point. It's the twists, turns, high body count and squirmy president that made me shout at the TV every five minutes on Monday nights. And damn it if Jack Bauer isn't one of the greatest American action heroes we've ever had the privilege to follow.
"Battlestar Galatica" was a series I caught up to this year based on the wonders of technology. I started recording season three on my DVR while I caught up on the previous seasons on DVD, all in the span of about three weeks. Can you imagine watching TV like this five years ago? Anyway, BSG lived up to its reputation as one of the best sci-fi shows ever by telling us stories of occupation, torture, prison, suicide bombers, abortion, democracy, war, religion, civil rights and what happens when we elect the wrong guy as president. The point of science fiction is providing social and political commentary while surrounding ourselves with a fantastic world - Battlestar does exactly that.
"The Office" finally escaped the shadow of its British counterpart with last year's "Yankee Swap" Christmas episode, but it was doing laps around it by the end of 2006. Not only was the Jim-Pam storyline to close out season two incredibly gripping, they effectively reversed the romantic triangle in season three by introducing Karen, a new love interest for Jim. And she was shockingly as cool as Pam. The other assorted hijinks around the office was brilliant, but none more so than Steve Carrell as Michael Scott, equal parts swarmy, lonely, friendly, pathetic, competent and incompetent. "The Office" certainly eased the pain of "Arrested Development" going off the air.
"Veronica Mars" is another show Julie and I followed mostly through DVD until catching up with the beginning of season three in October. It's a smart, fun show about a not-a-girl-not-yet-a-woman detective that's compelling and entertaining. I thought season two ended very well, but season three has seen a bit of a dip in quality; it's still good, but not as good as I think it can be. Still, it's not like that other mystery show that took a big nosedive this year ("Lost," I'm looking in your direction), and the repeated references to "The Big Lebowski" help. It's worth the time.
ET TAPS 'THE WIRE' WITH THE BASIC CABLE PREMIERE OF THE PEABODY AWARD-WINNING DRAMA
Released by BET
BET Taps 'THE WIRE' With The Basic Cable Premiere Of The Peabody Award-Winning Drama
The Surveillance Continues on BET When the Critically-Acclaimed Series Begins with Marathon Presentation on January 10 at 9 p.m. ET/PT
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 3 -- On Wednesday, January 10, 2007 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, the critically acclaimed HBO series THE WIRE will begin airing on BET with its series premiere. The basic cable, multi-season run of THE WIRE on BET will consist of all 50 produced episodes, with each episode airing in a 90-minute block. The first three episodes will be shown in a three-day marathon beginning Wednesday, January 10 through Friday, January 12 from 9- 10:30 p.m. ET/PT each night. Beginning January 18, THE WIRE can be seen every Thursday night at 9 p.m ET /PT with an encore run on Saturday nights at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The Peabody Award-winning series tells the story of a single drugs-and- murder police investigation from the point of view of both the police and their targets.
Incidentally, I thought the recently completed S4 was the best season of any show ever, even though it's all very good. So it goes without saying that I thought it was the best show all year. Here are my other favorites, in alphabetical order:
"24" saw something happen this year: the writers took out all the really hard to believe stupidity (see ya, Kim Bauer) and left in all the awesome. The result is the best season of the show yet, and one of the most deliriously entertaining programs on the air today. I usually hate saying this, but it helps to watch while leaving your brain at the door when watching. Of course Jack Bauer isn't going to make it across Los Angeles in three minutes, but that's not the point. It's the twists, turns, high body count and squirmy president that made me shout at the TV every five minutes on Monday nights. And damn it if Jack Bauer isn't one of the greatest American action heroes we've ever had the privilege to follow.
"Battlestar Galatica" was a series I caught up to this year based on the wonders of technology. I started recording season three on my DVR while I caught up on the previous seasons on DVD, all in the span of about three weeks. Can you imagine watching TV like this five years ago? Anyway, BSG lived up to its reputation as one of the best sci-fi shows ever by telling us stories of occupation, torture, prison, suicide bombers, abortion, democracy, war, religion, civil rights and what happens when we elect the wrong guy as president. The point of science fiction is providing social and political commentary while surrounding ourselves with a fantastic world - Battlestar does exactly that.
"The Office" finally escaped the shadow of its British counterpart with last year's "Yankee Swap" Christmas episode, but it was doing laps around it by the end of 2006. Not only was the Jim-Pam storyline to close out season two incredibly gripping, they effectively reversed the romantic triangle in season three by introducing Karen, a new love interest for Jim. And she was shockingly as cool as Pam. The other assorted hijinks around the office was brilliant, but none more so than Steve Carrell as Michael Scott, equal parts swarmy, lonely, friendly, pathetic, competent and incompetent. "The Office" certainly eased the pain of "Arrested Development" going off the air.
"Veronica Mars" is another show Julie and I followed mostly through DVD until catching up with the beginning of season three in October. It's a smart, fun show about a not-a-girl-not-yet-a-woman detective that's compelling and entertaining. I thought season two ended very well, but season three has seen a bit of a dip in quality; it's still good, but not as good as I think it can be. Still, it's not like that other mystery show that took a big nosedive this year ("Lost," I'm looking in your direction), and the repeated references to "The Big Lebowski" help. It's worth the time.
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
the long overdue update
I've been missing for a while, basically because I've been on vacation during the season. We didn't go anywhere, but between our family and friends, the past 10 days have been spent being shuttled from place to place, and it gets a bit hectic.
Any free time I get has been usually spent watching or reading whatever DVDs or books I got for Christmas. I tend to disconnect myself from the wireless world when I'm off, even to the extent where I don't follow the news. In fact, when the tsunami hit around this time two years ago, I had no idea what people were talking about when they brought it up.
But I did manage to find out Gerald Ford, James Brown and Saddam Hussein died right around the time they expired, so I had that going for me.
Anyhoo, the other thing occupying my time lately is the purchase of our new house, nestled in the quaint corner of the Town of Tonawanda a block from Buffalo and Kenmore. Well, the house isn't really new ... it will celebrate its 70th birthday this year, and there are assorted issues that come along with that. Still, everybody who would know that has looked at it says it's in great shape, so that brings me comfort, as my areas of expertise usually fall under "Who was a member of the Justice League and who was not," which is great at trivia games but not at replacing galvanized steel pipes with copper ones.
The long and short of it is, as of Feb. 1, the United States government will think I officially matter. Tentatively.
Oh, and by the way, I've realized getting quoted an interest rate is one thing. It's a whole other matter to actually look at what you'll be paying over the next 30 years. SWEET MERCIFUL CRAP, LORD JESUS and other assorted comments that wouldn't seem out of place in Deadwood floated through my mind when I saw the figure.
Any free time I get has been usually spent watching or reading whatever DVDs or books I got for Christmas. I tend to disconnect myself from the wireless world when I'm off, even to the extent where I don't follow the news. In fact, when the tsunami hit around this time two years ago, I had no idea what people were talking about when they brought it up.
But I did manage to find out Gerald Ford, James Brown and Saddam Hussein died right around the time they expired, so I had that going for me.
Anyhoo, the other thing occupying my time lately is the purchase of our new house, nestled in the quaint corner of the Town of Tonawanda a block from Buffalo and Kenmore. Well, the house isn't really new ... it will celebrate its 70th birthday this year, and there are assorted issues that come along with that. Still, everybody who would know that has looked at it says it's in great shape, so that brings me comfort, as my areas of expertise usually fall under "Who was a member of the Justice League and who was not," which is great at trivia games but not at replacing galvanized steel pipes with copper ones.
The long and short of it is, as of Feb. 1, the United States government will think I officially matter. Tentatively.
Oh, and by the way, I've realized getting quoted an interest rate is one thing. It's a whole other matter to actually look at what you'll be paying over the next 30 years. SWEET MERCIFUL CRAP, LORD JESUS and other assorted comments that wouldn't seem out of place in Deadwood floated through my mind when I saw the figure.
Monday, December 11, 2006
public service announcement
"The game is rigged, man. We like those little bitches on the chessboard." - Bodie
And with that, the fourth season of HBO's "The Wire" has come to a close. It's brilliant. Incredibly brilliant. So amazing I think it may be the best season of any television show ever. I've talked it up a bit here and other places, but really, I'm hard-pressed to think of anything that holds up this well.
Seriously, if you have access to it, or HBO On Demand (or a receiver that works * sob *), check out all 13 hours. It's a committment, but if you don't get to the end of it and say, "Holy shit," I'll eat my hat. Not my Red Sox hat, because I like it and it's possibly sweaty, but something I haven't worn in a while. Still, hat.
And with that, the fourth season of HBO's "The Wire" has come to a close. It's brilliant. Incredibly brilliant. So amazing I think it may be the best season of any television show ever. I've talked it up a bit here and other places, but really, I'm hard-pressed to think of anything that holds up this well.
Seriously, if you have access to it, or HBO On Demand (or a receiver that works * sob *), check out all 13 hours. It's a committment, but if you don't get to the end of it and say, "Holy shit," I'll eat my hat. Not my Red Sox hat, because I like it and it's possibly sweaty, but something I haven't worn in a while. Still, hat.
Saturday, December 09, 2006
frak
I swear to you, I was all ready to sing the praises of the television experience these days. I just spent the last three weeks or so catching up on the first two seasons of Battlestar Galatica. I borrowed season one from a friend, and then ordered the two season two sets off of DVD Deep Discount. It's not only a terrific sci-fi show (which are few and far between), but a great show period. After I finished season two on Friday, I was all ready to begin watching season three on my DVR, which I've been stockpiling on the machine since they started airing in October. Can you imagine watching television in such a way five years ago?
And then this morning the DVR died. Frak frak frakity frak frak. I didn't cry, but I came close. Thankfully, the show will have a marathon in a few weeks.
Incidently, for those of you who have seen BSG (and I'd recommend it, as it's really sharp at times), I, for one, would like to welcome our new robot overlords.
And then this morning the DVR died. Frak frak frakity frak frak. I didn't cry, but I came close. Thankfully, the show will have a marathon in a few weeks.
Incidently, for those of you who have seen BSG (and I'd recommend it, as it's really sharp at times), I, for one, would like to welcome our new robot overlords.
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