Web Guy Blog

Just in time for the Holiday Shopping Season!

2007-09-05T18:16:00Z

Apple and Steve Jobs are at it again, relaunching the famous iPod, just in time for the holidays.

I have to admit, they’re pretty cool.

Obviously the iPod Touch is the coolest new version of the iPod. It’s basically an iPhone, without the phone. It’ll be available later this month in an 8 gig model ($299) and a 16 gig model ($399).

This from Apple:

“The new iPod touch introduced today features built-in Wi-Fi networking and a revolutionary multi-touch user interface… that makes it easy to find all of your music, video, and other digital content and enjoy it on the gorgeous widescreen display on iPod touch.”
Read more

Basically, you’ll get almost all the benefits and features of the iPhone, without having to get AT&T cell service. (You’ll also have to carry your phone around, too.)

Also, Apple announced that the iPod Nano will get a face lift. Now, the Nano will be equipped to handle video. It’s got a new shape, too. It’ll be available in a 4 gig model ($149) and an 8 gig model ($199).

This from Apple:

“Featuring a larger two-inch display with 204 pixels per inch, the new iPod nano lets you watch your favorite movies, TV shows, and music videos in the same resolution available on the current video iPod.”
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I’ll be adding the iPod Touch to my Christmas Wish List!

On a slightly related note, I’ve always wondered why Apple and other cell phone manufacturers don’t include a USB or Firewire port on their portable devices.

Wouldn’t it be cool if you could shoot video on your video camera, or take pictures on your nice digital camera, connect that device to your iPhone or iPod Touch, and then upload your videos or pictures to the Internet?

If this capability did become available, can you imagine the possibilities?

Here at News 3, we could equip our reporters and photographers with iPod Touches, or iPhones. The could shoot their video in the field and then transmit that imagery back to the station, without having to lug around a laptop. (Who would have thought we’d ever say “lug around” when referring to a laptop?)

Obviously, Apple is concerned about people using the USB port to illegally share copyrighted video and audio, but I think there is a software solution for that.

Mega Millions soars to $325 million in time for Labor Day weekend

2007-08-29T23:15:00Z

With the Mega Millions at it 4th highest jackpot ever at $325 million, here’s part of a fun press release we got from the Georgia Lottery:

ATLANTA – Mega Millions has soared to staggering heights with the jackpot for Friday’s drawing at an estimated $325 MILLION to a single annuity winner. With $325 million up for grabs, a lucky Georgian could host the most mega Labor Day cookout ever!

What you could serve with a $325 million menu:

- 163.3 million pounds of Claxton chicken

- 65.1 million pounds of shrimp from the coast of Savannah

- 55.2 million bottles of Vidalia onion barbecue sauce

- 35.1 million pounds of Georgia peanut brittle

- 14.8 million Georgia peach cobblers

- 218.7 million cups of iced tea

Find Sex Offenders in Your Neighborhood

2007-08-28T13:22:00Z

I came across this really nifty tool on the Internet that shows you the convicted sex offenders that may live in your neighborhood.

Simply go to this web site, enter your street, city, state and zip code, and the registered sex offenders will appear on a map.

In case you missed it…

2007-08-28T13:08:00Z

It was cloudy over Columbus early this morning so many of you may have missed the total eclipse of the moon last night.

But don’t worry! I’ve got the video for you right here.

Total Eclipse of the Heart… errr…. Moon

2007-08-27T17:31:00Z

So the space geek in me will come out again early tomorrow morning during a total eclipse of the moon.

This, from NASA’s web site:

“A total eclipse of the Moon occurs during the early morning of Tuesday, August 28, 2007. The event is widely visible from the United States and Canada as well as South America, the Pacific Ocean, western Asia and Australia. During a total lunar eclipse, the Moon’s disk can take on a dramatically colorful appearance from bright orange to blood red to dark brown and (rarely) very dark gray.”

And now, for your listening and viewing enjoyment, a song that fits tonight’s celestial event…

A Hero on Board

2007-08-22T16:27:00Z

My flight today from Atlanta to Richmond started off fairly normal.

We all boarded the flight (I was in “Zone 5"). I took my seat (emergency exit row, window, my favorite) and stuffed my stuff under the seat in front of me.

As everybody else filed onto the plane and took their seats, I thumbed through the latest edition of Wired magazine, tired from an early morning drive to the Altanta airport, and knowing I had a busy day ahead of me.

Once everybody had settled in, the pilot stood at the front of the cabin and took over the PA system.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, thanks for flying with us today. I’d like you all to know we’re flying with an American hero today.”

With that the pilot introduced a young Army Specialist, who was flying home from Iraq on his R&R. The entire plane burst into a supportive and appreciative round of applause.

After the pilot thanked the Specialist for his service, a passenger sitting in first class offered to trade seats with the young soldier.

It was one of those moments that touches your heart and makes you appreciate all the things we have in life. Much of it is due to the soldiers who fight for us every day.

Local Newz Competition from WLTZ?

2007-08-22T15:50:00Z

I’m out of town on business this week, but I’m still keeping tabs on what’s going on in The Fountain City.

The Blog of Columbus is reporting that WLTZ, the NBC affiliate will soon launch local newscasts.

Mark Teixeira Song

2007-08-20T17:11:01Z

Rumor has it these two guys are student at Auburn University, and BIG Braves fans.

***UPDATE***

I did some digging around the old dubya-dubya-dubya and found this article:

Students’ tribute to Braves player scores
On Aug. 31, Andrew Hall planned to be in a seat at Turner Field, watching the Atlanta Braves during his bachelor outing the weekend before his wedding. Now, the graduate student at Auburn University will spend that evening performing live in a pregame show and meeting star player Mark Teixeira and other Braves players.
Full Article

Watching Dean

2007-08-17T12:35:01Z

Me (left) with Jeremy Davies (right) after a night of chasing severe weather in Columbus.

This year’s hurricane season has gotten off to a slow start, but now it’s really starting to kick into gear.

Hurricane Dean is blowing into the Carribean and threatening many of the Carribean islands.

One of those islands is tiny Grand Cayman.

During my time at WRBL as a reporter, I worked with a very talented photographer, Jeremy Davies.

Jeremy and I worked very closely at times, traveling to Louisiana to cover Fort Benning soldiers training for deployment to Iraq at the Joint Readiness Training Facility. We also covered countless stories and even significant weather events in the Columbus area.

Now, Jeremy is working for a television station in Grand Cayman. For many of us, it’s a dream job. Tropical weather, low key atmosphere, paradise.

But, according to National Hurricane Center predictions, Hurricane Dean will be bearing down on Grand Cayman sometime early Monday morning. It could be a Category 4 storm then.

There’s no doubt in my mind Jeremy will be able to handle the storm. He’s a real pro, and solid as a rock.

I only wish I could be there with him, to weather and report on the storm.

Good luck Jeremy!

WristStrong

2007-08-09T16:57:00Z

Apparently, I’m not alone when it comes to wrist injuries.

Comedy Central’s Stephen Colbert also suffered a recent wrist injury.

He’s launching a campaign to raise Wrist Awareness.

Ready for Launch

2007-08-08T12:22:01Z

Today is one of those very exciting days for me. It’s a day when the real nerd inside me gets to come out.

Space Shuttle Endeavor is scheduled to launch today at about 5:37pm ET.

Between now and then, I’ll be watching NASA TV online.

Good stuff.

Annex Mexico?

2007-08-07T16:37:00Z

Every couple of months, while driving around Columbus or Phenix City, I come across something (usually a car) promoting “Bagley for President”.

This afternoon, I was driving along J.R. Allen Parkway when I came up on the car (pictured above) carrying Bagley’s latest message: “Annex Mexico”.

Everytime I encounter the “Bagley for President"-themed car, I wonder what the motivation is for Mr. Bagley.

He promotes himself as a write-in candidate, campaigning consistently since I moved to The Fountain City three years ago, and probably long before that.

Does he really think, one day, the ultra-grass roots campaigning will finally pay off, and he’ll take his message across America (and maybe Mexico), taking the voters by storm, eventually driving his “Bagley for President” car to the White House?

Is Mr. Bagley vying for a spot in the next YouTube Debate?

Is Mr. Bagley a Republican or a Democrat? Maybe a Libertarian or an Independent?

Is Mr. Bagley simply trying to convey a message, stirring up the debate on the issue du jour?

Whatever the answers, I know that I appreciate Mr. Bagley.

I appreciate Bagley not for his politics or his opinions, but for his passion and drive.

On the surface, Bagley may seem like an overzelous nut. But, it’s people like Bagley, people who express their ideas and convictions, who make America the greatest country in the World.

Broken Wrist: Day…. I lost count

2007-08-03T18:21:00Z

It has been about six weeks since I broke my wrist and finally, I am without the splint.

The doctor tells me I’ll have to do some therapy to rehabilitate the muscles in my arm that I have not been using since I was in the splint. But, fortunately, most of that I can do without going to his office.

Apparently I need to buy some sort of stress ball to squeeze every day.

Good times.

Pownce

2007-07-31T14:29:00Z

There’s a new social-networking site on the dubya-dubya-dubya called Pownce.

From the Pownce website:

“Pownce is a way to send messages, files, links, and events to your friends. You’ll create a network of the people you know and then you can share stuff with all of them, just a few of them, or even just one other person really fast.”

Pownce is in beta right now, so you’ll need an invite try it out. I have a few invites. Send me a note if you’re interested.

A view from the guy who knows nothing about sports

2007-07-27T12:20:00Z

My desk in the Radio/Internet Room at SEC Media Days at the Wynfrey Hotel in Hoover, AL.

Since Wednesday, I’ve been neck-deep in SEC football. I’m at the Wynfrey Hotel in Hoover, AL attending SEC Media Days.

Downstairs there are dozens of sports-talk radio personalities, from all over the south, broadcasting live. Everytime I walk downstairs and through “radio row”, I hear the chatter of SEC football.

Honestly, I don’t have a clue what these commentators and experts are talking about. I’m just a casual fan of sports. I love going to games. I love the experience of sports. I don’t keep up with it on a day-to-day basis. I don’t have a clue who the second-string quarterback was for Auburn in 1992. Heck, I don’t know who the starting quarterback was that year, or really any other year (except this year), for that matter.

But here I am, surrounded by people who eat, sleep and breath college football.

Many of you are probably jealous that I get to be within feet of, and talk to SEC Celebrities like Tommy Tuberville, Nick Saban and Steve Spurrier.

Yesterday, over 100 people, Alabama fans, gathered in the lobby of the Wynfrey Hotel lobby, just to get a glimpse of Saban. Adults took the day off work, babies’ heads were signed, grown men cried at the sight of Saban.

I’ve been emersed in coach-speak, player-talk, all the cliches…

“We’re really coming together as a team.”

We just have to play within ourselves.”

“This is the best (insert college) team I’ve seen in years.”

Shameless plug… you can watch all the interviews from SEC Media Days at AuburnVersus.com.

But, while I’m stuck up here in the media room, shooting the interviews you can watch on AuburnVersus.com, with dozens of radio guys and girls, the insanity, the (insert college here)-mania is downstairs. And that’s really what the SEC is all about.