TV Time

Got a call from Jeff Ehling over at the local ABC affiliate (Channel 13). He was putting together a story to tie in to the recent FBI press release regarding botnet cyber crime and needed a geek talking head.

Lord knows there’s no talking head geekier than yours truly and despite my fear of being in front of the camera, I agreed to do it. I try not to pass up any opportunity to promote the radio show. Plus I think I must secretly enjoy being scared out of my wits.

Much like the previous times, it went smoothly enough and I was not horrified with the results. Jeff did a great job on the story and used sound bites from me in the piece that worked well and I was very pleased to hear him use talking points that came from our more candid off camera conversation.

You can see the news story video here.

Wide angle, wide open

So I have this Sigma 20mm f/18 lens that I picked up a while back. My thought was that it would allow me to shoot more stage content than the Sony 50mm f1/4

After taking it out and shooting a few shows I was rather disappointed in the quality of shots I was getting so I stashed it away and went back to the trusty 50mm Sony which consistently produces great images in low light.

Not being one to just sit on a few hundred dollars worth of high speed glass I decided to take it out for another run.

The Continental Club was hosting a show commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Monterey Pops Festival and I thought it would be fun to shoot that.

Not as crisp as I like, but I really do like wider angle.

Allen Hill
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Allen Hill as Johnny Rivers

This time out, though, I think I stumbled upon this lens’s secret. By getting in close to the subject I was able to get some sharper shots and, with the wider angle, I was getting a bit more than I could with the 50mm.

Allen Hill
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Allen Hill as Johnny Rivers


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The above shot is of a member of a Moby Grape tribute band called Grape Jam. Who knew there was a Moby Grape tribute band? Go figure!

At any rate, I’m encouraged and will experiment more with the 20mm.

Praise the Lord and pass the popcorn

Living in suburbia it’s quite common to come home and find that the house has been doorknob spammed in some form or another. It could be anything from a menu and coupons from the local Chinese restaurant, pizza parlor or sandwich shop to any number of home repair or lawn maintenance services.

Saturday I found this hanging from the door handle:

I know there’s no such thing as a free lunch movie and there’s got to be a catch. Obviously it’s a promotional gimmick for something. I flip it over and I see this:

I’ve been doorknob spammed BY A CHURCH!

These leaflets are not cheap ones, either. Glossy and full color, they had to be a pretty penny to have printed.

If I read this correctly they’re holding their services at the movie theater on Sunday mornings.

The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo

Long, LONG before there was American Idol there was a nationally syndicated program called The Gong Show.

Contestants would perform their variety act in front of a panel of celebrity judges and if they were not “gonged” in the first 20 seconds the judges would rate the performance on a scale of 1-10 and the winning act would receive a cash prize.

I vividly remember my my friends in Three Day Stubble getting “gonged” off the show almost immediately.

I watched the program pretty regularly “back in the day” but I don’t recall seeing this.

Watching this video it’s hard to imagine that the guy wearing the rocket would one day go on to score the music for movies like Batman The Motion Picture and the theme from the Simpsons.

I wonder what ever happened to the acts who’s only claim to fame may be that they lost to the Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo on The Gong Show?

That makes two Gong Show conrestants I have met in person

And one time getting “gonged” myself from a recreation of the Gong Show.

There’s a hidden message here somewhere.

Technology makes for strange bedfellows

Exciting day yesterday!

Dwight Silverman arrived at the station with a copy of his new book, Microsoft Windows Vista: Peachpit Learning Series

There are several things that make this VERY cool to me, so forgive me being a bit of a techno-spazz.

1. Our friend Dwight published a book!
2. Technology Bytes now features an author who has published a book!
3. Technology Bytes is mentioned on the back cover of a nationally published book!

In other cool geek news, we had a special guest on the show last night. None other than James Kendrick of JK On The Run fame.

James is an expert on mobile computing and his blog is probably the single best source for anything related to that particular aspect of technology.

Thanks James! We appreciate you taking the time!

Mmmmmmmmmmmmm

Today I am grateful to live in a home where the occupants place a priority on stocking the fridge and the pantry in such a way as to allow for (amongst other things) the spontaneous baking of a batch of home made, triple choclolate brownies.

Since I have been asked for the recipe by several people:

3/4 c. Hershey’s cocoa
1/2 tsp. baking soda
2/3 c. butter, melted
1/2 c. boiling water
2 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 1/3 c. flour
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. salt
1 c. Hershey’s semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 bowl butter cream frosting

In bowl combine cocoa and baking soda. Blend 1/3 cup melted butter. Add boiling water; stir in sugar, eggs and remaining 1/3 cup melted butter. Stir until smooth. Add flour, vanilla and salt. Blend completely. Stir in chocolate chips.
Pour into prepared pan, 13 x 9 x 2 inches. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease pan. Bake 35-40 minutes. Cool completely. Frost with Butter Cream Frosting. About 3 dozen brownies.

Melt chocolate and butter in a saucepan over low heat; set aside. In a mixer, beat eggs, sugar and vanilla at high speed for 10 minutes**. Blend in chocolate mixture, flour and salt until just mixed.

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