Come on Intel!

So it now looks like Intel is copying the Mini Mac from Apple. It's ironic that so many people blasted this little box when it came out saying that Apple was selling out to the lower end consumer. These are the same people that disregard the Macintosh for it's power and ability to outperform any PC platform. A quote from a recent publication:

Apple has been using the Mac mini to encourage users of Intel-based PCs running Windows to "switch," a campaign Intel hopes to blunt. But analysts said they don't see big consumer demand for a clone of the stylish and popular box, or much of a threat to Apple.
"I don't think the two -- Mac mini and whatever Intel puts out -- are really in the same market; that is, of course, unless Apple starts running OS X on x86 hardware," said IDC analyst Roger Kay.

It's evident to me that this cloning is an ongoing catch up game for the PC world. From Windows XP (designed for ease of use and closely resembling Mac 9.0 and up), the ipod HP, and now the Mini Mac.

If you are not a Macintosh user, you'll never know the ease and rock solid dependability of the Mac no matter how you make a PC look.

Blogging!

This whole blog thing is frustrating! I know just enough about HTML to be dangerous. I have a really good eye (my business proves that), but I can't seem to get things like I want them. Everytime I change something in a template it turns out NOT the way I intended for it to be. I'm looking at all of the resources for new templates, but nothing catches my eye. I want to build my own in Photoshop, but if I did, I wouldn't know where to place it! I'm pulling my hair out here. Can anyone give advice of somewhere I might look that would explain it all? Duhhh. An no, I don't like the new look.

Flurd Toater

Can you believe the amount of rain we've had Saturday? The weather forecasts had leaned away from any type of big rain event, but they missed. I left the house around 2 p.m. and traveled to Plano, then to Charlies Guitars off Harry Hines, then back to Plano for a couple of stops and during all the this the rain never stopped! It's now 8:00 p.m. and still raining. I thought I would smoke a brisket today, so I did it near the front door, so as I didn't have to run my electrical cords through the water and risk a shocked black dog in the back yard. I do love the rain and we definately needed it.

Banj Solar Powered!

joel w-Jo solar.1
Originally uploaded by banj.

I got this from our bass player. It's me. Like how I threw the gut in there for texture?

Random Thoughts

Hot today boy! WBAP says that we should reach 99 and it's only May 22nd! I don't know if that means a hotter summer or we're just in a hot surge of weather right now. It's kinda weird, cause actually so far I'm enjoying it. Of course I'm not out doing road construction or landscaping, but the warm weather is nice. It means that maybe, just maybe I get a couple of relaxing breaks soon. I have noticed more and more bikes on the road. It makes me wish I still had mine. Man I miss it. Honda VT1100 ACE. What a head turner. Now I just drive around in my 92 Camry with very little paint. That's a head turner too. Yea right!

It's a beautiful Sunday and our song service at church was incredible. We're all very blessed.

They're Roots! In a Canal!

Stupid header huh? I had a root canal day before yesterday. I didn't write about it right away cuz I didn't want to do much of anything after that. I have had one years ago, it was a bad experience. This one was too. The dentist I believe was a good one, but when we got to the bottom of the job, I was feeling pain. At times a lot of pain. He just couldn't get me comfortably numb. It was like a thousand volts of electricity running through my gums. After he was done, I was very sore. Today I still am somewhat. It's better but not OK. I'm sure as the days go by it'll get back to normal. I hate the dentist chair. Of course to like it I'm sure you'd have to be freak.

STAR WARS

So the new Star Wars movie is out. I'm not there. Meaning, I'm not into the "experience" as many movie goers put it. I remember as a mid teen, watching the first and second (Empire), but after that, and as I got older, with many more things of greater importance, I just kinda lost any interest I had in the whole Star Wars thing. I'm not down on anyone who is, for I know many who just could not wait to attend the very first midnight showing of these latter three (which of course are not the last episodes, but the first or something like that). What's the greatness of going to see a movie at midnight anyway? Just to be the first, and afterwards feel the tiredness for three days? I don't get it. It must because it's in a galaxy far, far away or something. Hey, who ticked off the Sith anyway?

No, Really, Just One More

Oklahoma State University won the tournament today with a burdie on the 18th hole. We had three teams in contention: Tulsa, Auburn University and OSU. As far as the truck goes, we really didn't want OSU winning this year. They've taken the tourney something like 8 times in 14 years. We were rooting for Auburn or Tulsa, but they came back in the last 4 holes to make a stand. GOLF IS OVER FOR 2005!!! Today was actually fun to produce for the viewers, but I'm glad it's now over. Now on to other things, like work!

Just One More Post About Golf...

This will be the last post about broadcasting golf. I hope. One more tournament this weekend. This is a NCAA tourney featuring SMU, USC, OU and more. My hogs dropped out this year, I don't know why. Maybe they just had better things to do. We have been setting up this week for two big days of this stuff. We are due for storms tonight, possibly in the form of a squall line. We'll see if that affects us tomorrow morning. I'll be really glad when this is out of the way for yet another year so that I can get back to more normal things (like working at night again). At least we've only got about 6 and one half ours of actual air time this year compared to the monstrosity that we had last weekend.

Longhorns

DSCF0147
Originally uploaded by banj.

I'm a Razorback. But I do like the horns. These cattle are located just outside of Van Alstyne on a back road. Cool huh? And what a great photographer. They just stared at me as I "grunted" from the drivers seat of the CRV. I think I connected with them...

Day 2

We survived! And survived well. Billy Joe Duprees team won the tourney. They were something like 14 under par. We had no flaws technically. All went well. My IFB was going out over the air for a while, but we'll get that fixed before the NCAA tournament I produce next weekend. After that, antoher year before I put something like this together again. Happy Mother's Day!

Day 1

Well, todays production went fairly well. We're using a new digital type of microwave for our on course transmissions. It's much better than the analog with lest ghosting and audio interference. We implemented 9 cameras in todays production, with two of the new SONY XD cams. They looked very good. We had our booth in an enclosure with the putting green and the #1 T at their back. We had to put up about 2,500 watts of light with dicrohics and full blue gels to compensate. Sorry if I'm too technical, I'm think I'm reeling right now. All it all it went well. Golf is boring by nature, so entertainment it wasn't. But we had folks like Drew Pearson, ex Dallas quarterback Roma, Ed Too Tall and many others on the links so it made for very good interviews. We even had the assistant general manager of the Chicago Blackhawks playing today. Now that's cool. Tomorrow, two flights and on the air at 11 a.m. We'll broadcast a full 6 hours of golf. Now that's.....not entertainment either!

Production

There are two golf tournaments which I have produced for television for the last 12 years. They are back to back weekends with this weekend being the first. You take for granted the pre planning and administration that goes in to such as beast. From communications to staffing, cranes, lifts, hardware requirements (microwave gear, cameras, support, etc.), graphics for air, organizational scoring, attire for crew and talent, signage (almost 80 pieces this year), opens, credits, music (bmi, ascap), control room personnel, it goes on and on. We are at a point this year that we are pushing the envelope on our ability to pull these things off. So many other things in our operation need this kind of attention, but do not get it. These things are not appreciated the way that they should be. I'd like to see a major market station pull something like this off as well as we do. Ok. I'm off to the course!

U of A Campus

DSCF0133
Originally uploaded by banj.

I needed to post this photo to share the beauty of my home state of Arkansas. I took my daughter to the University in Fayettville a couple of weeks back. She's applying there this fall. The photo is only a sample of what springtime on the "hill" is like. The dogwoods, redbuds, tulips and so forth are simply fabulous. A true blessing of renewal given to us by the Lord. I love this photo. And oh yea..."suuueeeyyyy pig!"