Blankbaby

I was on Attack of the Show for some reason

Above is the video from my appearance on last night's Attack of the Show. They had me on the Loop to talk Apple rumors before Apple's WWDC event that starts on Monday.

Luckily for me my segment was only a couple of minutes long since I seemed to have lost the ability to form coherent thoughts. I even called OS X 'the OS X,' like some sort of crazy old man ('Isn't your Apple MAC running the OS X or something? Where's my soup?').

Having seen Attack of the Show before I figured I was going to be one person on a panel during the Loop, which they often do. Imagine my surprise when I was on air, live mind you, and I figured out that it was just little old me and Kevin Pereira chatting about Apple rumors. Kevin did say he was a big fan of TUAW, which is always good to hear.

Thanks to the wonders of technology I didn't have to board a transcontinental jet to appear on AotS, but I did have to walk 5 blocks from my apartment to VideoLink, which has a satellite uplink thingie. I then sat in a green room for a few minutes (there was free candy, but I didn't have any) while I waited for my close up. One of the VideoLink dudes let me know I was ready to go, and I walked into another room with some bright lights, a camera, a table and chair, and a screen on which they would magically show Philadelphia's skyline. I even got to wear one of those in ear mics things, so I that the people on the west coast to talk to me.

A few minutes later and my second television appearance was over. (Note to John Gruber: I was wearing a Daring Fireball T-shirt under my 'ready for TV' shirt.)

When I was all done I walked into the green room to retrieve my umbrella and I was greeted by an older gentleman who was wearing a suit, though his coat was off. He was very busy looking into a mirror and applying makeup to himself. Looking up at me, with a sponge full of makeup in his hand, he said, 'How'd it go? You didn't shoot a booger out your noise or scream fuck, did you?' I acknowledged that I had not, in fact, yelled any profanities and anything that was in my nose at the start of my segment remained solidly in place until the end. He explained that he was a lawyer in Philly and he often appears on CNN to talk about legal stuff. I asked about the makeup and he said, 'I learned long ago if you don't do this you end up looking like a vampire on TV.' Since I hadn't applied any makeup to myself before my appearance I can only imagine I looked like a vampire (though vampires don't have reflections, so they can't be caught on film, right? Take that, Mr. Lawyerman!).

All in all, I had fun and I don't think I came off too badly. Here's to being on TV more often!

The TV is happy now

The Big Move In continues! My fancy new TV has been in Apartment 2024 for awhile now, but a couple of days ago we finally bought a fitting stand for it. That's the West Elm Modern Storage Media stand in acorn. The website lists it for $349.00, but luckily for us there is a West Elm in Center City. Marisa and I stopped in the store on our way back from Fork You Live (more on that in a little bit) to get a look at this media center in person. We had seen it online and liked it, but you want to touch these kinds of things. Boy, are we glad we did! It would seem that the acorn colored Modern Storage Media stand had been recently discontinued and was available in the store for $200 less than what was listed (and still is listed) on the website. The only problem? Finding a store that had one in stock. Luckily, we had the most helpful salesperson ever who looked up what stores were listed as having some of these in stock, and called them to make sure they had them. He then handed the phone over to Marisa, who ordered the stand and had it shipped to the apartment for $20. Not too shabby at all.

Big Brawn, courtesy of Hulu

Thanks to Roz, I am now a happy Hulu user! Hurrah! That means I can watch this Big Brawn ad over and over again.

Comcast, you minx!

I have been meaning to add HBO to my digital cable package for awhile now. If you live in downtown Philadelphia you get your cable from Comcast, which I don't have a problem with... for the most part. My cable modem is great, and the while I wouldn't mind spending less on my cable it is luxury. No one is making me subscribe to cable, so I really can't complain.

The reason I wanted HBO? I managed to watch a few episodes of John from Cincinnati, on the recommendation from Joe, and I really enjoyed it. The writing is top notch and very stylized. The situations are odd, and Al Bundy is in it (Ed O'Neill is his real name, and he is really great in this series)! What's not to like?

This is how I found myself on the phone with a very nice employee of Comcast. Somehow I got it into my head that adding HBO to my cable package would cost $10 a month. I was willing to pay this because John from Cincinnati isn't available by any other legal means and it is a more enjoyable experience watching shows on my TV with its nice sound system. The dude on the phone told me that adding HBO was a snap, and he went ahead and did it. I was happy as a clam until he said, 'Okay, so that'll add $18.95 to your bill every month.'

What the heck?! That didn't make the entirely made up amount I had in my head. How dare Comcast!

I said that seemed like an awful lot of money just to add one channel to my package. I thought that since I had Silver Digital I could add a premium channel for less, but the dude on the phone explained that wasn't so. I asked about any specials Comcast might be running and he told me that there weren't any special offers that included HBO.

Okay, Comcast, I can play your game!

I asked him if there were any way for me to get HBO for a little cheaper. What would happen if I upgraded my entire package to the Gold level? He asked me to hold, and then came back to me and said, 'Well, if you upgrade to Gold you'll get HBO, Showtime (which means I can watch Big Brother: After Dark. Bonus!), and Starz for $5 a month more than you're paying now.'

That's more like it! Though, I do wonder why he didn't tell me about that option in the first place. I imagine Comcast doesn't really want people to save money if they are hot to get a premium channel.

The moral of the story is to ask lots of questions when adding something to your cable package, it might save you some serious dough!

Wanna see me get yelled at on TV?

I have been a busy, busy panda here at WWDC (that's Apple's World Wide Developer's Conference to you, bub). Oh, that's right, I was so busy leading up to it that I didn't mention on Ye Olde Blankbaby that I would be in San Francisco this week. I'm here until Friday, so if you are a Blankbaby reader and you live in the Bay Area now is your chance to meet me!

Anyway, right after the Steve Jobs Keynote I get an email from a producer at CNBC. It would seem Steve Rubel (thanks, Steve!) gave him my name (and the names of a few of my fellow TUAW bloggers) because he was looking for someone to appear on Fast Money's Face2Face segment. They wanted someone to talk about the Keynote, though the catch was that they wanted someone at the conference. Since I'm currently in SF covering it, they went with little old me. They had me log into a WebEx session, dial up a conference number (using speakerphone) and talk into my iSight. They also made me take off my glasses, which made me sad but anything for TV (there was some glare from the glasses).

You can check it out here on iTunes and see me try to talk some sense into these fast talking traders (or you can look at it on Viddler. Thanks, Alex!). I don't know if I succeeded, but at least I didn't sound like too much of an idiot.

It is useful to keep in mind that I really didn't have any idea what they were going to ask me about. I knew they wanted to hear the 'Man on the Street' view of the Keynote but they didn't give me any specific areas they wanted to talk about. I wanted to talk about Safari 3 being on Windows but they were more interested in the iPhone (shocking, I know).

Oh, and thanks to Frank for the kind words. It was quite an intro that Dylan gave me... and one I try to live up to though I fail miserably more often than not. What's that saying, 'being there is 90%.' I might have just made that up.

Ugly Betty

I am secure enough in my masculinity to admit that I enjoy watching Ugly Betty (add another to the list of 'chick shows' like to watch: Gilmore Girls, Veronica Mars, and now Ugly Betty). Anywho, I am enjoyed watching Ugly Better much more now that Rebecca Romijn is on it (even though she is playing a dude turned dudette).

Calvert DeForest, a.k.a Larry 'Bud' Melman, is no more

Calvert DeForest died today. You might remember him from David Letterman's show where he played the character Larry 'Bud' Melman. He always got a laugh from me, what with his odd delivery of pretty random stuff (my favorite kind of humor).

Death has been in my thoughts a lot as of late. Well, perhaps not a lot, but more than usual. A friend of mine recently died due to complications from surgery and I don't think he was much older than I am. Not to mention the sudden, and entirely unexpected, death of Star. It really makes you think about what you're doing with your life.

Death is also a great motivator, at least for me. It is the main reason I have managed to shed 75 pounds in recent months. Death is a constant thought in the back of my mind as I go about my day. I really don't want to be another person who dies because they didn't take care of themselves (though heart disease does run in my family. Hurrah!). I'm not afraid of dying, really, so much as not willing to miss out on everything that will happen after I'm gone. I don't believe in an afterlife, or reincarnation, or anything along those lines. This life is the only one I get, and I damn well better enjoy it.

Heavy stuff, huh? I promise I'm not depressed! I'm a pragmatist when it comes to my own death (cremation, I think, is what'll happen to my body since I doubt any of my organs are harvestable... but the doctors should check. If they can use it, they can have it!) but I am against it happening to other people.

Blinking is for lamers

Oh David Letterman, you make me laugh. Check it out.

3, 2, 1 Contact!

I was walking back from lunch today with Joe and Kurt when the topic of television came up. I'm not sure how we arrived at the subject, but I started to sing the theme from 3, 2, 1 Contact as we were walking down the street (I sing in public, often and loudly). That got me thinking about watching 3, 2, 1 Contact as I was a child and for some reason a shiver ran up my spine. Why would 3, 2, 1 Contact freak me out?

Ohh, right... the mimes.

I don't know who thought it would be a great idea to have people dressed in black leotards with oversized heads and toilet paper rolls for eyes cavort around on a show about science, but it always creeped me out. Especially when the mimes were sad (they cried by pulling lots of toilet paper out of the rolls that were their eyes). I'm getting the chills just thinking about it.

Anyway, Youtube has the intro to the show. Be sure to turn up the volume and sing along. Let's make contact!

Legcutus of Borg

How cool is this?

Answer: very cool.

Bring on the Cylon threesomes

Table of Malcontents has a post about listing the Ten reasons Battlestar Galactica is doomed. Now, I still think that BSG is the best show on television, bar none, however, last week's episode was pretty lame. I mean, boxing? Come on. It felt like filler, and that's the first time I have ever really felt that way about a BSG episode.

One bad episode a series does not doom! Plus they list Cylon threesomes as something that points to doom. Silly blogger, threesomes never point to doom (unless you're in a committed relationship, in which case I would recommend against threesomes).

Quick Fork 2: Romancing the Frosting

Today is Tuesday, and you know what that means! Another episode of Fork You is available for your viewing pleasure. If you only watch one episode of Fork You, this is the one you should watch (at least so far).

If you want to learn how to make frosting, well then you're in luck. Oh, just watch the darn thing. It'll make me happy.

Studio 60 did suck last night

Well, maybe it didn't totally suck like Dave says, but it was far from good.  I know, we'll dig up the old cliche of the fish out of water and combine it with a small backwards town!  Brilliant!  They did try to address the cliche with Joh

n Goodman's character, but sadly his character still rather one dimensional (did we really have to show this small town judge laying a revolver on the desk?).  Methinks Studio 60 isn't long for this world.

On Tuesday nights I turn into a girl

I watch the Gilmore Girls, and I have for a long time. I'm not ashamed to admit this, however, it is clear from the commercials that accompany GG (or 'The Girls') that I am not exactly the target market for this show. Sadly, it seems I am now watching another girly show: Veronica Mars.

It is on directly after GG, so the other week I just left the TV on, and now I'm hooked. I used to be so manly (Hey! No laughing at that). Though there is a common theme, both show feature attractive women. I wonder if Kristen Bell is single.. and perhaps just a little desperate?

Stargate: LEGO

I never got into Stargate, but I know many Stargate lovers. This is for them.

Sony BRAVIA - The Advert

The newest ad from Sony for the BRAVIA is genius. And don't worry, all that paint is water based (you can even drink it from what I read, but I don't know why you would.

Optimus Prime Talks

Optimus Prime Talks. This is mostly for Kurt, who has probably already seen this.

The story so far

Ahh, Battlestar Galactica is almost back on TV with fresh new shows. I can't wait! I hear tell that some folks are having BSG parties for the season premiere. That might be fun to do at Blankbaby Manor. Sadly, I will be traveling to the wilds of PA for a wedding on the 6th so I won't be having a party (the wedding isn't sad though).

Anyway, just in case you haven't been keeping up with BSG you can get all caught up, and for free to boot! The Story So Far (iTunes Store link) recaps the first and second season. Sweet.

Lauren Graham is single, and so am I

Lauren Graham, of Gilmore Girls fame, is single. I am single.

Mere coincidence? I think not.

Lauren, call me. Sure, I'm not rich or famous but I am cute and funny. That's good enough, right?

Star Trek The Next Generation The Complete Seasons 1-7

Now that the Star Trek The Next Generation The Complete Seasons 1-7 DVD set is selling for less than $700 (much, much less) I think I am going to get it, but it still costs $330. Is my love for Star Trek worth that much?

Probably.

I could watch the entire series, in order, if I had these DVD's. How awesome would that be? Encounter at Far Point to All Good Things... in one fantastic Star Trek orgy.

Barry Manilow

Am I the only one who thinks that Barry Manilow looks a little scary?

He just serenaded Dick Clark with the theme to American Bandstand on the Emmys. Dick, despite the stroke, looks pretty good but Barry... yikes.

Treasure Hunters down the street from me

I'm sitting home blogging and watching Treasure Hunters on tv. If you aren't familiar with it, it is a reality show that is built around teams racing against each other to figure out clues to find the final treasure. All the clues relate to American history, which makes the show more interesting to me.

When you think American history what city do you think of? No, not Boston. No, not New York. Albuquerque? Ok, now you're just mocking me.

Yes, Philadelphia is what you think of! And who lives in Philadelphia?

Yes, Philadelphians. More specifically?

Yes! I do!

Apparently, the treasure hunt led the last few teams to Philadelphia last week (I missed the episode) where they were running around doing crap. This week's episode starts with the teams leaving a bed and breakfast in Philadelphia. Not so exciting, huh? What if I told you this very B&B (as they call 'em in the biz) is less than half a block from Blankbaby Manor? Neat, huh?

I may be a sad, sad excuse for a man but at least I live in a historically relevant city.

I can't wait for the third season of BSG

But this trailer will have to hold me over until then.

The Amazing Screw-On Head

Barry just emailed me a link to The Amazing Screw-On Head, a new show on SciFi which is described thusly:

In this hilarious send-up of Lovecraftian horror and steampunk adventure, President Abraham Lincoln's top spy is a bodyless head known only as Screw-On Head.

When arch-fiend Emperor Zombie steals an artifact that will enable him to threaten all life on Earth, the task of stopping him is assigned to Screw-on Head. Fortunately, Screw-On Head is not alone on this perilous quest. He is aided by his multitalented manservant, Mr. Groin, and by his talking canine cohort, Mr. Dog.

Can this unorthodox trio stop Emperor Zombie in time? Does Screw-On Head have a body awesome enough to stop the horrors that have been unleashed? Where can we get a talking dog?

It premiers tonight at 10:30, and this is a reminder to me that I should watch it, though I can also watch it online for free but my TV is bigger than my computer screen.

Blankbaby out.

The 'Blow-Away Guy' Rides Again

Owen will be glad to hear that The 'Blow-Away Guy' Rides Again.  I recall, very clearly, a freshman Owen sitting outside of his dorm room in a leather jacket, sunglasses, and a tie listening to his stereo at full blast.

Those were simpler times.