There’s a very cool spider web in the front yard. I can’t quite get the picture I want, but I got these. I’m going to see if I can do better as the sun goes down.
Click either image to see a larger, more frightening interesting view.
This is what we’re fighting for
So compelling, I cannot look away…
It was the best of times, it was the blurst of times
When I got the call from Phil Archer and Channel 2 I was reluctant to be interviewed on such short notice. I was not feeling my prettiest yesterday and, believe it or not, I suffer from HUGE stage fright. I hide it well but you can see it in the beads of sweat that form on my head. I tried to duck out but he was very persistent. I was explaining to him that I didn’t feel camera ready and he asked me “Do you have any open wounds?” to which I replied “Well, no, not right now.” He said “Then we’re good to go!”
I gave him directions to the office and he and his cameraman were there in 15 minutes.
These guys are pros and they do put a person at ease when they are doing the interview so I relaxed very quickly.
As it turns out, I was able to get home in time for the broadcast so I could cringe in horror as appropriate. Turns out I looked fine and the sound bite was perfect. It could not have been a better on screen appearance….well, except for one tiny detail.
The name of the radio show is Technology Bytes, not Reality Bytes.
Yes, Technology Bytes and Reality Bites both strive to be funny.
We both were created in Houston, TX.
But from there the differences become more and more glaring.
Reality Bites was created in 1994
Technology Bytes was created in 1995
Reality Bites is a comedy about love in the ’90s
Technology Bytes is a comedy about computing with equipment from the 90’s
Reality Bites features a mediocre cast of washed up near nobodies
Technology Bytes features a … wait … this is not a difference.
For sure they have more women in the movie than we do on our show, but I bet Jennifer the Intern was never arrested for shoplifting.
Ah well, you know what they say about publicity.
Who you gonna call?
In this town I am one of the “go to” geeks. On occasion, when one of the network affiliates needs an “expert”, they turn to Houston’s Best Tech Geek for a sound bite or two.
This time it’s Phil Archer from NBC’s Channel 2 doing a story about the proposed changes with Time Warner Cable. Apparently they’re moving to Dallas and Comcast is coming here.
Phil wanted to discuss what Houston’s Internet users might expect during this transition.
It airs tonight at 5:00 pm. It should be good for a laugh.
As I always say, I have a face for radio.
Nostalgia
This upcoming Devo concert has me waxing nostalgic in a big way. I am really looking forward to it. I was going through some of my memories that I have digitized and thought I would share two of my more favorite photographic memories.
Myself (looking a little out of it), Danny Elfman and Billy Gilbert who used to host Musical Chairs Wednesday mornings on KPFT. This was taken back stage at an Oingo Boingo concert around 1988.
A rather telling photo featuring my brother John in the center, me to the right and none other than Mr. “Turn on, tune in, drop out” himself, Dr. Timothy Leary on the left. This was very late 80’s or very early 90’s when he was doing a spoken word tour.
Chad Vader – Day Shift Manager – Episode II
In this episode Chad finds an apprentice, goes on a date, explains why he wears the suit and is screwed out of his shift.
Will Chad Vader cost us another Tech Now? Tune in Wednesday night and find out.
We’re through being cool
All through the 80’s I was a huge live music fan and I got to see some awesome shows. GBH, Dead Kennedies, The Dicks, The Dead Boys, Siouxsie And The Banshees, Johnny Lydon w/Public Image Limited, Big Audio Dynamite, Psychedelic Furs, The Dickies, Oingo Boing….the list goes on and on.
As I mentioned before, Devo has had a profound affect and influence on me since my first exposure to them in 1978.
My first opportunity to see them perform live came in 1982 at the Cullen Auditorium.
The Cullen show was actually two shows. One at 7:00 and one at 10:00. I was at the early show. The late show was raided by the police and shut down early. I’m pretty glad I missed that one.
I’ve seen them live one time since then with bandmates Joe and Greg. I can’t recall the year. Probably early 90’s.
Imagine my delight when I learned they were touring again. I am the proud owner of two tickets for their August 19th show at Reliant Arena. Interestingly enough the Psychedelic Furs are opening up the show. This promises to be a geriatric trip down punk rock memory lane.
I just hope this doesn’t end up being a cheezy promo for Disney’s Devo 2.0.
Microsoft’s next killer app
The potential of Microsoft Live Labs Photosysnth is mind boggling.
From Live Labs:
Photosynth takes a large collection of photos of a place or object, analyzes them for similarities, and displays them in a reconstructed 3-Dimensional space. With Photosynth you can:
walk or fly through a scene to see photos from any angle;
seamlessly zoom in or out of a photograph even if it’s gigapixels in size;
see where pictures were taken in relation to one another;
find similar photos to the one you’re currently viewing;
explore a custom tour or see where you’ve been; or
send a collection to a friend.
Check out the video tour that shows the basic concept.
Can you just imagine merging this with something like Google Earth?