Evil Doctor PorkChop: Entertainment

Went to the Museum of Flight today

Sun, 23 Oct 2005 05:38:39 GMT

Finally got out to the Museum of Flight today. http://www.museumofflight.org

What a cool place! They've got a Concorde you can walk inside of and see the sites. They've also got the first Air Force One and the first 747 and 737. Also, there's a whole bunch of other planes inside the building. If you are into planes, this is the place for you.

They also have flight simulators (for a small fee). One of them allows you to fly a fighter, but you need two people to ride. Since I was there by myself, I didn't get to do that. :-( But, there is also another one which is more of a ride. Still worth the small fee.

If you go, in front of the SR-71 inside, there is a space nook. Go in there. There's three free simulators in which you fly a Shuttle MMU to dock with the Hubble telescope. I ran out of fuel the first time, but I nailed the target on the second try. The multiple tries were possible as it wasn't vey crowded today.

Jim Cantore

Sun, 10 Jul 2005 04:31:13 GMT

I've watched the Weather Channel for years, especially when I lived on the Gulf Coast. One thing is for certain, your weather is about to really suck if Jim Cantore of the Weather Channel comes rolling into your town.

JackAss Etiquette, Again!

Sat, 18 Jun 2005 03:37:09 GMT

Ok, one should not edit their blog in the morning prior to drinking their normal, very generous cup of Community Coffee. (16oz steaming ounces thanks to Cheryl at WadmalawWorks for making a most generous mug!)

In my half awake state, I was attempting to delete a draft post and deleted this one again. I didn't realize it until later and this is the first chance I've had to fix it. Thank God for Google!

Also, I received via email, a hilarious response to my observation from a NJ friend of mine. I'm hoping to post it, but I'm holding off until I get his permission to do so.

So, without further delay, here's the original post.

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We've been out on the NC Outer Banks this week and I've noticed something during the visit. There is a distinct behavior difference between Southern JackAsses and Everywhere Else JackAsses.

To be clear, a JackAss is someone who usually does something on purpose to greatly annoy other people.

These could include things like cutting people off in traffic, not bundling your paper recycle on a windy day, or even using used cat litter for mulch on the common property line with the "favorite" neighbor. You get the picture. We all know one.

It seems in the Southern US, there is an unwritten etiquette to follow when committing acts of JackAssery. Having grown up in the South, I've been oblivious to this as it seems second nature. It wasn't until it was pointed out to me did I notice the difference.

Today, I'm examining driving acts. While in Nags Head, I noticed that a particular JackAss from Ohio cut me off without so much as a look. This was quite different from another JackAss from Georgia who zoomed out of a parking lot in Kill Devil Hills to cut me off in the turn lane. In that case, I got a smile and a wave. Hmmm, I guess it's "better" if you are perceived as friendly by others while acting like a JackAss.

In every observation, Southern JackAsses tended to acknowledge your presence when committing the act whereas Everywhere Else JackAsses tended to ignore you. I'm not sure how this behavior came about or why. It seems people accept Friendly and Annoying driving much better than just Annoying driving.

Be advised, if you do wave while being a JackAss, you should expect to get the special one finger wave back. Don't get offended, they are just giving you the proper recognition for your behavior. After everyone completes their "pleasantries", you should all go back to doing whatever you were doing.

I'll have to write more about this as these incidents occur. I'll should have plenty of material after a rush hour drive in Charlotte!

Punch Buggy, No Punch Back!

Sun, 12 Jun 2005 05:24:30 GMT

My daughter punched me in the arm the other day, exclaiming "Punch Buggy, no punch back!" The cause? A Mini Cooper had passed us.

Hmmm. I remember this game being played with the old VW Beetles.

Well, campers, no more! It seems the elementary school kids at her school have revised the game for the more hip (and plentiful) car of today, the Cooper. The Beetle just doesn't cut it for them, these days. Why is anybody's guess. Curiouser and curiouser...

Ok, we are changing the name of the game to Six Degrees of Robert Scoble

Sun, 06 Mar 2005 07:25:40 GMT

I've met Robert Scoble and he's a nice guy. And, I keep bumping into bloggers we know in common. If you are doing anything with blogs, you seem to have a connection to him.

So, I propose a new game. Just like there used to be the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon for actors, there should be a Six Degrees of Robert Scoble as I propose he is the center of the blogging university. This should prove very interesting.

Ratings would be done by appearances of your blog. So, Dave Winer would have a Scoble number of 1 since he has been named on Robert's blog many times. I would have a Scoble number of 2 since I've appeared on Seth Godin's blog and Seth appeared on Robert's blog.

This could be fun! Anyway, give it a shot and post your score in the comments.

UPDATE TO RULES

Ok, to address the "everyone is a one" point, only mentions in actual posts count. No blogrolls, link blogs, etc.

Got to see Polar Express IMAX 3D

Wed, 29 Dec 2004 06:42:11 GMT

All I can say is WOW. It was incredible. If you can see it, GO. It is worth it. I took my daughter over to Raleigh, NC to see it and it was worth the 2 hour each way drive. Check out the TV spot here: http://polarexpressmovie.warnerbros.com/cmp/ultimate.html?id=ultimate

The only curiosity was there was nothing being done once you exited the movie. Since every session was selling out, you would think someone would be selling t-shirts, soundtracks, or even hot chocolate. Instead, nothing.

Unfortunately, this situation seems to also occur at most movie theaters. If they wouldn't rape me for concessions and admission, I would probably buy movie merchandise on exit if the movie was good. I mean, how many concert t-shirts do I own??? Instead, they usually just herd you out of the place. Isn't someone missing a revenue opportunity here?

What a missed opportunity for Exploris, which probably could have used the revenue. http://www.exploris.org/home.html

Why do I buy music?

Thu, 16 Dec 2004 18:09:41 GMT

I read Seth's blog with interest about what was happening with the music industry. It occurred to me that what I was reading didn't jibe with why I buy music.

When I look at my music collection, I've got a personal memory or experience related with pretty much everything. I think this is what is missing with music today that keeps us from getting engaged with a band's music and actually buying it.

For example, I own every Cowboy Mouth cd ever released. You've probably never heard of them. However, if you've ever been to one of their shows, you would never forget it. Going to a Mouth show is like going to the Church of Fred for a revival. Fred Leblanc, the lead singer and drummer, has a charisma that doesn't come across on the CDs. You have to experience it to get it. And after seeing them at Jazzfest, Tip's in New Orleans, the Chimes in Baton Rouge, Ziggy's in Winston-Salem and countless others, I still enjoy the shows and the music. And I keep buying everything they release.

Otherwise, 106.5 The End out of Charlotte plays a lot of great music and that's as far as they get with me. I've got no connection to the music other than listening at drive time. Not something I want to fondly recall. Giving away the music may get me to listen, but it won't get me to buy.

So, what would get me to buy? Kristen at The End once interviewed the band, SR-71. After listening to the interview and hearing one live version song, Tomorrow, I went out and bought the CD. Why? Because the interview was about how they got to where they are and it was an engaging story. I connected with the story.

Another example, how many of us got hooked on Project Greenlight? I rented the films just to see the end of the story, knowing that the films had issues. I connected with the process. How many watch the Apprentice? We like watching the process of the developing story, even when the story sucks.

So, instead of giving the music away, give the experience away. Interviews with band members, videos of backstage activity, studio activity, etc. Make me feel part of the process, part of how the band got to where they are today. If you succeed in getting me hooked with a good story, I'll buy.

My $0.02.