The Simon Chronicles

Hello 2010

2010-01-03T19:51:00.000-08:00

Time to start over, start something new.

For the very few, if any, read this, you'll notice nothing has happened. Got busy I guess. So, I'm going to start building something new, and will be making a fresh start, a new direction. A blog with a purpose.

Re-charged and ready, let's go 2010.

Dear blog, how I have abandoned thee....

2009-07-25T06:34:00.001-07:00

I have become a statistic, a part of the blogging population that goes from posting regularly to all together falling off the face of the earth for a while. Why does this happen? Well, in my case, too many balls in the air at once has deterred me from posting things that I found were compelling for you to read. The blog itself kind of lost the plot, went from interesting social media and gadget articles to a hodgepodge of disconnected postings involving music videos and plastic arms you attach toilet paper too. Admit it though, that was pretty funny.

Over the next couple weeks, I plan on doing one of two things:

1) changing the layout, focusing on a couple topics and just posting on these, and continuing to have fun with this. The blogesphere is a muddled landscape of carbon copy sites and, similar to what happened here, sites that have more tumbleweeds rolling through it then fresh updates. The one thing I did notice is what other bloggers were grabbing from me and re-posting on their sites (most were pretty classy and tied it back to my site instead of what I was referring to) and so I think I'll take stock in that and focus on those types of things.

2) shutting it down all together, focusing on the other things i have going on in life right now, and maybe giving it a fresh shot again after all the dust settles around me. Either way, the whole purpose of this blog was always for me to share things I found interesting and enteraining with you. Not a pipe dream revenue based site or the next "Gizmodo" (still one of my favorite blogs), but being unique can be challenging.

For those dozen people that actually follow my site, thanks and I hope I can continue to fill your inbox with entertaining and sometimes downright ridiculous posts. Until then, you can always find me on Twitter....

Introducing... The Comfort Wipe

2009-06-11T09:19:00.000-07:00

Hello new house....

2009-06-11T07:55:00.001-07:00

This is the reason why I've been so absent from posting recently. I know we're all busy, so hardly an excuse, but it has eaten up a lot of my free time as of late. My fiance and I closed on our first home this morning, and since 8:30 this morning I've run a bit of a gambit of emotions, all in a positive way. I'm happy the process is over with and look forward to what is to come in the future.

Another chapter in the "Becoming an Adult" I guess...

If you live in the Raleigh area, and need a great realtor, Glenwood Agency is the way to go.

EXTREME SHEEP!!!!!!

2009-05-21T14:16:00.000-07:00

Artplosure 2009

2009-05-21T08:37:00.001-07:00

Artplosure 2009 happened over the weekend in downtown Raleigh, and it was one of the best art festivals I've attended in a long time. While I'll always love my Hoboken Music and Arts Festival, somewhere along the way, they lost the plot and became more of a "look how many things our vendors can fry" event with little focus on the artists. Not here. Live performances, interactive activities for anyone who wanted to participate, and nicely mapped out area around Moore Square making it easy for you to move around and take time to find everything you wanted to check out.

I took some shots for my new Meetup group, which you can checkout out here.

Looking forward to the next one!

Watch out for that tree...

2009-05-15T10:23:00.000-07:00

While I think that every phone should have this, here is the new application from Phase 2 Media: Email N' Walk. That's right, now you can email away while still watching your furry friend mark his 40th tree in the neighborhood. You type in your subject, the text of the email, and hit send. It will direct you to your mail account, where you select the person you want to send to, and away it goes. Gimmicky: sure, but if they could develop it for Blackberry, the world would be a safer place...

Tweet Mic

2009-05-15T08:25:00.001-07:00

With "Tweet Casts" becoming more and more popular, along comes Tweet Mic to help expedite the process. You can record your Tweet Cast directly on to your iPhone, and then upload a link direct to Twitter. The files are hosted on a Tweet Mic server, which you can access to manage your old recordings. The cost for the app is $.99, but if you're fairly active on Twitter and need to post that one thing that comes up on the fly, then it might be worth the investment for you.

Interact with and track your contacts on a new level

2009-05-14T10:52:00.001-07:00

Highrise is one of the new kids on the block, helping you organize and streamline how you operate and help you look forward as well. The great part about this program is that it's for everyone: marketers, designers, teachers, real estate gurus, the works. Track leads, import and export contacts with ease, and review conversations you've had with clients to help build relationships and be better informed in meetings. Reminders can be send via SMS and email.

It is a paid program, and for those of us that just need to keep up with a To-Do list, they have a free version called Ta-Da.

Even the best multitaskers need to elevate their game in this environment, so get to it!

Can you hear me now?

2009-05-14T10:43:00.000-07:00

Hi, we're from New Zealand, and we're going to destroy you.

2009-05-14T10:04:00.000-07:00

By far the most intimidating pre game ritual in ANY sport.

Don't mess with Elmo (NSFW)

2009-05-04T12:03:00.002-07:00

Daft Punk helps you have some fun

2009-04-30T20:48:00.001-07:00

Everyone needs a creative outlet to help them escape from the repetitive nature of their day to day, and Daft Punk is providing you with that outlet. Drop your own samples (provided by najle.com) over preloaded tracks, and create your own live mixes. Unfortunately, due to copyright infringements and publishing licenses, you won't be able to record it, but pop on some headphones and create your own real time mix. Beat matching is the key here, but the tracks should be pretty familiar, making it easy to jump right in and have some fun.

The National - Fake Empire

2009-04-29T15:06:00.000-07:00

Nothing witty to say here, the video speaks for itself...

2009-04-29T12:43:00.001-07:00

I want to hate this song... but I can't (part deux)

2009-04-26T18:19:00.000-07:00

(small editing issue last time)

Being the cute little emo kid that he is, there's a little chameo from his girlfriend at the end, with the subtitle "This song was written for her". I bet she appreciates is more than "Delilah"...

Justice - Stress

2009-04-23T12:29:00.001-07:00

What I learned today courtesy of the internet....

2009-04-21T20:30:00.001-07:00

The monstrosity of a sandwich you see above is none other than the McGangBang. In order to create this masterpiece, you need to roll over to your local McDonalds, and order up a double cheeseburger and spicy chicken sandwich. Open up your double cheeseburger, and slap the spicy chicken in the middle, and blamo, you've made yourself a McGangBang. Your friends and family will marvel in your culinary masterpiece.

While this has picked up a bit of a cult following, I don't think we'll be seeing this on the menu anytime soon....

You've got to admit, the kid has skills...

2009-04-21T14:59:00.001-07:00

In Case of Fire - Enemies

2009-04-20T10:59:00.001-07:00

Well, he was, and still is, kind of a big deal as well...

2009-04-20T10:54:00.000-07:00

One of the most influential musicians of all time

2009-04-19T20:48:00.000-07:00

Hulu coming to an iPhone near you...

2009-04-19T18:44:00.001-07:00

Hulu planning iPhone app

3OH!3 - Don't Trust Me

2009-04-18T22:29:00.001-07:00

Tweetie is coming to MAC on Monday

2009-04-17T09:02:00.001-07:00

Oh boy, another new toy coming to MAC on Monday, and it's all about Twitter. That's right, a new "Tweet Deck" is coming, and if you like style, sleek interface and new toys to play with, time to get your hands on Tweetie. Not sure if Oprah's talking about it today, but I'm sure it's only a matter of time....

Speaking of Oprah, as of 12:00 day, she's already got 85,000+ followers. Clearly she has more friends than I do....

Raise your hand if this story shocks you...

2009-04-16T12:25:00.001-07:00

According to SI.com, Vick is shopping a reality series. The plot: follow Vick around after he gets released from prison. Not surprising, they're reporting a handful of producers are fighting over the rights to this, and it's only a matter of time until a deal is done. This has FOX written all over it. Congrats Vick, you've found a new way to pay off the millions you owe to creditors.

Suggested content? I'm going the easy route: there will be an episode involving a trip to the Oakland Raiders.

The Wall Street Journal on your iPhone

2009-04-16T12:16:00.001-07:00

Another sign of the times: The WSJ is coming to an iPhone near you, with their own application now available on the iTunes store. One solid feature on here is you can save content for later, so when you're on the plane and want to know if you'll have a job when you land, that story you saved about your companies quarterly figures will be waiting for you to checkout at 30,000 feet. You can also access other WSJ sites like Barron's and WSJ Audio to name a couple.

Let's face it people, the day of the newspaper is over, so if you're a big fan of reading the Sunday Times, start getting into reading it online or on a Kindle.

Bob Lange

2009-04-07T17:06:00.001-07:00

Bob was more than just a friend of the family. Bob was the guy that went out with my dad and I on the day my sister was born, the guy that had us all over at his house to watch Union College play in the Division III football championship which would be the only time they were ever televised. He was a tall guy, always in good shape, and great friend to my father. I know that my dad wishes now that they could have spent more time together, but he'll always have the great memories of the times they spent together.

Bob passed on Sunday of a sudden heart attack while he was out for a jog. Click the link below for a great story from ABC about his life as a producer, and as a proud father of three children and a loving husband to his wife Lisa. He will be missed.

Bob Lange

The Gallows - The Vulture

2009-04-06T09:45:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I've posted a lot of music today. Pretty sure most won't appreciate this, but The Gallows are out to save rock and roll.

Ditch the slow uploads to Box.net

2009-04-06T07:54:00.000-07:00

This won't win the Sexiest Device of the Year award, but if you're sick of waiting on slow upload speeds (or even slower downloads) with online file sharing services, this is definitely worth the $100 investment. Pogoplug allows you to instantly and securely share files, video, and photos from your PC or MAC. Need someone to hear a quick mix of a track, send them a link and they can even hit in on the run through their iPhone.

Easy plug in, easy interface (at least on MAC) and well worth the investment.

If you're in NYC, get down to S'Nice for Abztract!

2009-04-06T07:30:00.001-07:00

If you're reading this from NYC, make sure you get down to S'Nice this month to check out the Abztract gallery that's currently on display.

45 8th Ave (@ W 4th Street)

If you're on Twitter, make sure to follow them for updates on guest artists and new deck designs (@abztract).

Ian Axel - Afterglow

2009-04-06T07:21:00.001-07:00

Emerging artist from NYC, and someone I consider a good friend. Long intro, but worth the wait....

Check him out on iTunes!

Jukebox The Ghost - Good Day

2009-04-06T07:17:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday folks. Live versions of this on Youtube as well.

So many tweets, so little time...

2009-04-05T21:04:00.000-07:00

We all know that TweetDeck is the most effective way to streamline how you read all your Tweets, but if you really want to take it to the next level, checkout this link to track trends. Everyone can go on there and post a "Facebook" style comment on the awesome soy enfused cinnamon waffle they're having at their local coffee shop, but the real strength is being able to see emerging trends, and gaining more information. This link will show you 15 of the top ways to monitor those trends.

Happy Sunday everybody, have a kick ass week.

SF to Yuma in one night...

2009-04-01T14:33:00.000-07:00

This year, our friends at Rental Car Rally have decided to take the party to the left coast (don't worry east coast, it's coming back here as well) and while the initial talk was going to Tijuana, the new destination is Yuma, AZ.

Check out bdotsomething for info on last years festivities, it was definitely an experience. Just remember to open the sun roof before trying to stick your hand out and take a picture at aborder... or drink more Red Bull.

It's easy to talk about what's down, so let's talk about something that's UP!

2009-04-01T14:02:00.001-07:00

The IAB Internet Advertising Report for 2008 was released yesterday (conducted by Pricewaterhouse Coopers) and reported that even in our current economic climate, internet advertising was up 10% last year. Granted, it did slow to $23.4 billion overall, which is down from 2007, but the next closest contender was cable advertising at 7.8%, and everyone else was down beyond that. What does this mean in the big picture? Well, in my humble opinion, it shows the strength and value in what advertising (albeit well placed and planned) online advertising, which will only continue to grow stronger in the coming years. Small to medium businesses will also begin to benefit from this in the next year or so, with a handful of companies cropping up that offer affordable packages and promises of geo-placed ads that will attract web surfers to the local little guy, a big plus for businesses that already have a thin margin to advertise with.

Don't believe me, and need something to entertain you on the train ride home, here's the link to the IAB report.

IAB

Have an iPhone? Get Mashed up!

2009-04-01T13:56:00.001-07:00

The best social media guide on the web, Mashable, has come out with their own iPhone application, streamlining the site to an easy to read application, that includes news, Twitter updates, news on events they're holding, and even a page on iPhone apps they think you should have.

Don't have it yet... get it. Don't have an iPhone (or iTouch since you can use this on there as well)... shame on you.

Forgot how good this song is....

2009-04-01T13:54:00.000-07:00

Let's face it, we could all use a little help getting organized.

2009-03-17T13:16:00.001-07:00

It seems like everyone I know is balancing a million things at once, and here's the perfect online tool to keep your life in order. Whether you're the person who's got multiple tabs up on their browser at once, more than one email account and calendar on that blackberry, or just trying to find a way to balance your social life and work life, springpad is where it's at to get everything together in one shot. It's still in BETA, so the mobile interface isn't in top form yet, but it's only a matter of time until that is interfaced as well.

Tech geek or not, this is the perfect tool to put everything together.

Happy St. Patty's Day everybody.

2009-03-17T08:15:00.000-07:00

White Lies - Farewell To The Fairground

2009-03-16T09:02:00.001-07:00

NCAA Tourney is here, but if you live in NC, you'd think it's been going on since January...

2009-03-16T08:30:00.000-07:00

Basketball here is so much bigger than just a sport: it's a religion. Take last Friday for example. Tar Heels are playing in the first round of the ACC tournament. A couple things to note here:

1) it's only the first round game, so it's a big talent mismatch
2) they're guaranteed a #1 seed in the bracket no matter what, so this is a bit of a throw away tourney anyway.

The area comes to pretty much a standstill starting at the 12pm tip off. Schools roll television sets into classrooms to broadcast the games. Employers everywhere see a steep dip in productivity, if there office is still staffed at all, since most of their employees are already at the sports bar in the area knocking back chicken wings and Miller Lite like it's a Sunday in the fall. By the way, those lucky enough to find a seat at their local watering hole were there about 2 hours prior to tip off.

Now it's time for the big dance. I'm expecting the hysteria to be dialed up a few notches... if that's possible.

Twitter

2009-03-07T12:11:00.001-08:00

Since I haven't been able to figure out how to get Twitter interfaced into my blog (Blogspot is killing me), I've decided to post up my Twitter info so you can keep up with me.

Follow me @tbsimon

I'm pretty homesick today...

2009-03-07T05:50:00.001-08:00

Every year, Hoboken has their annual St. Patrick's Day parade a couple weeks ahead of the real deal. Some say it's so they won't have to compete with other parades looking for people to perform. Others say it's because local businesses feel like they get a better shot at making some real money if they assign it to a Saturday every year instead of worrying about it falling on a work day.

Either way, it's one gigantic, raucous, party filled with people wandering around everywhere in green, carrying solo cups filled with "just diet coke", parties in every building, lines 45 minutes long to get in to a bar that has a 10 minute line inside just to get to the bar and more. The old school, original Hobokenites, hate it, but every year, at 7am, I was up using a mixture of vodka and orange juice to trick my body into thinking it was ok to have alcohol that early, while knocking down a couple bagels chased by shots of Jameson.

This year, I'm forced to watch it all go on through the posts my friends put up on Facebook, and the occasional Tweet about it: and it's killing me. I'll miss my green bagel, people coming in and out of my apartment that I've never met nor plan to ever see again, Guitar Hero tournaments, and the list goes on...

Everyone have a great time today, and have a pint for me. Shout out to my good friend Alex (Happenstance and Serendipity ), I know he's missing it as badly as I am right now.

Have an iPhone and Photoshop? This is your new must have app!

2009-03-06T06:28:00.000-08:00

This app is fantastic. If you dock your iPhone close to your MAC or PC, then this is a great feature to add on to Photoshop. No delay, all toolbar icons react well, and it's one less thing on the screen while you're working.

Photokey

New Belgium has arrived!!!

2009-03-04T06:17:00.001-08:00

I picked up a 22oz of 'Fat Tire' last night, and tonight it's off to The Flying Saucer to get a pint, and keep the glass!!!

I'm obsessed with this brewery, and totally stoked that they're now covering the Raleigh area.

Ahhh... Jersey...

2009-03-01T09:02:00.001-08:00

This might be the most highly posted item on Facebook (next to the "why I now hate Facebook" posts) this week, and if you can afford to spend 6 minutes of your life watching this (best not to do at the office), you'll understand why. As a proud Jersey native, I can confirm the authenticity of this video, and the people who participated in it. If you don't believe, take a trip to Jenkinson's Pavilion this summer, and see for yourself. It's pretty amazing...

Looks like someone broke into the portrait studio at Sears.......

2009-03-01T08:53:00.000-08:00

... because there is no other reason I can think of for why these gems would be out on the internet. Yeah, it might be a "little cruel", but it's still funny.

Shout out to bdotyoung for this one!

Sexy People

Graphic Designers: Get paid for your work!

2009-03-01T08:35:00.001-08:00

It's tough out there, no denying it, but there are still ways to help line your pockets and keep your head above the water. Checkout the link below to a great story on mashables.com that all designers should be looking at. Yeah, most are probably already your radar, but I doubt all 40+ are, and as long as you're smart about protecting your work, there's no reason not to try and monazite your content in as many locations as possible. I have my photography up on 10 commercial sites now, but I did my homework on all and made sure there were no hidden fees or what I like to now term "Facebook" rules..

40+ ways to Sell Your Design

Snow??????

2009-03-01T08:23:00.000-08:00

Seriously??? It's MARCH!!!!! Well, I guess it has to happen once in a while, but come on.... I left the Northeast to avoid all this! According to people that have been here for a long time, snowfall has a local reaction which rivals an impending apocalypse... Really looking forward to that.

At least it's going to be 70 degrees at the end of the week.

Blog of the Week

2009-02-24T15:38:00.001-08:00

This is brilliant. Thanks JB!

www.fmylife.com

Sent from Tom's iPhone

First assignment for lax.com is up!

2009-02-23T06:02:00.000-08:00

I was in Chapel Hill yesterday to cover UNC vs Colgate for Lax.com, my first assignment in 2009! Hit the link below for story and photos, full shoot to be posted tonight on Flickr.

Lax.com

Former NiN Drummer Takes Album Promotion A Step Further

2009-02-22T15:33:00.000-08:00

Former NiN Drummer Takes Album Promotion A Step Further

Oh the funny things parents say...

2009-02-20T08:17:00.001-08:00

I stumbled across this site earlier today thanks to a post on Twitter (thanks @embablog). They're up for an award at SXSW, which means I'm probably one of the last people to actually find the site, but that's ok, it's still funny. Go straight to the 'Best Of' section for a quick laugh, then you can work your way through the rest of the site to find other hidden jems.

Postcards From Your Momma

The bright side of the recession

2009-02-19T21:49:00.001-08:00

In order for Chrysler to get money from the Treasury department, they had to submit a viability plan which included cuts to it's current line of vehicles. One of these victims, is the PT Cruiser, and I couldn't be happier. Now 1000's of computer nerds still living in their parents basement will need to buy a new model of car to put those bitchin' flame decals on, and small businesses everywhere will be forced to find another obnoxious vehicle to wrap their companies logo (or if you're here in Raleigh you only have to look as far as the Rudino's delivery vehicles) around.

I know it's probably wrong to cheer small victories in the current economic climate that we're all facing, but I think all of us need to find a small glimmer of a silver lining somewhere, so yippeee to mine...

File this under "things that don't surprise me"

2009-02-19T13:08:00.001-08:00

Weezy pushes back the release of Rebirth to May 19th (originally scheduled for April 7th). Who wants to throw down $20 that this thing doesn't come until July...

Tracks are out there, so go find them. I don't need a Pirate's Bay situation on my hands right now...

DSLR and what you REALLY need to know

2009-02-18T15:23:00.001-08:00

There's a lot of talk out there about what kind of camera people should be getting, how many megapixels, brand, etc, and Gizmodo came out with a great article to help you streamline that approach. Of course, if you're just looking to shoot for recreation, then a point and shoot will do fine, but if you want to get a little more involved, DSLR is the way to go. Hit the link below to help you narrow your search, and remember the most important thing: DSLR is great, but it's all about attachments. So, the camera body is a start, packages are nice, but the fancier you want to get, the more you'll have to shell out.

Gizmodo

TweetDeck

2009-02-18T09:29:00.000-08:00

For all my fellow Tweet nerds, hit the link below to get the newest version of TweetDeck. It combines everyone you follow onto one program, as well as allows you to format columns by groups, Direct Message, Replies, etc...

TweetDeck

Oh yeah, and if you aren't already, start following me!

@tbsimon

Elbow to open for Coldplay!!!!!

2009-02-18T08:52:00.000-08:00

Still not sure it's worth the price of admission to have to sit through Coldplay, BUT, on August 6th, Elbow will be opening up for Coldplay here in Raleigh. Not sure if it includes other stops along the way, but for those of you that got tickets, make sure you get there EARLY!

Blog Of The Week

2009-02-18T08:46:00.000-08:00

As I carve out my own little space in the blogosphere, I'm looking to find ways to pass along information people might actually use, and by people I mean the three people that are probably reading this now.

Drum roll please, introduce my Blog Of The Week segment.

mmmm.... beer

Skype Comes to Nokia Phones

2009-02-17T14:17:00.000-08:00

Skype Comes to Nokia Phones

Announcing Mashable NextUp NYC Events - Tickets on Sale

2009-02-16T09:55:00.000-08:00

Announcing Mashable NextUp NYC Events - Tickets on Sale

Now I contribute to the social makeup of Raleigh as well...

2009-02-14T09:46:00.003-08:00

I'm not going to say that I give the best reviews, or that I'm really all that active yet, but thanks to Yelp, I feel like I'm giving back a little. Not on Yelp? You should be, especially if you're in a big city with too many options, or if you're a transplant like me who has absolutely no idea where to start. Getting honest reviews is far more interesting and honest to me than going on to Zagat and trying to decifer their codes, not too mention the personal reviews are typically pretty bland...

My Raleigh Yelp

Blink 182

2009-02-13T19:06:00.000-08:00

Best news of the week. Totally stoked for the new album.

Blink 182

Thomas Pridgen

2009-02-13T18:55:00.000-08:00

This shouldn't really be filed under the "new" section, but for those of you who don't know Thomas Pridgen, consider the video clip below your education...

The guy needs to be checked for machine parts.

The music scene is getting stronger

2009-02-13T08:04:00.001-08:00

I was told that one of the biggest problems I'd have when I relocated was that my access to great music would disappear. I fought this theory, pointing out that this is a young and growing city surround by universities, and am happy to say that a series of shows that have hit the radar this week have helped debunk that theory.

Here's who has been announced this week:

The Decemberists - June 4th (Memorial Auditorium)

Modest Mouse - March 11th (Disco Rodeo)

Kings of Leon w/The Walkmen opening up - April 28th (Koka Booth)

The National - May 28th (Meymandi Hall)

I'm not gainfully employed, so these all fall under the "can't spend that kind of money quite yet" category, but it's great to see bands like this popping up here, and makes me optomistic of who else they're going to land!

Oh yeah, and James Taylor apparently played a free concert here once a few years back, that might have been cool to see...

Kings of Leon

2009-02-09T07:54:00.001-08:00

Not only did this band have what I thought was the album of the year last year (whatever Grammy's), but they're coming to Raleigh on April 28th. If you don't have the album yet, go get it now, and if they're coming to a town near you and you don't have a ticket yet, better get that as well.

NC State Lacrosse

2009-02-08T16:59:00.000-08:00

I got a chance today to go out and do something I love: shoot lacrosse games. This was for me, not for any publication, which made it a little less stressful and I got to experiment with some different settings and lenses. These guys are really talented, especially for being in a conference that breeds champion teams (Duke, UNC, UVA). They may only be a club team on paper, but they've got great talent and their teamwork on the field is second to none, varsity or not. Looking forward to the next game.

Flickr

Lake Johnson

2009-02-07T14:18:00.000-08:00

This is minutes from our apartment, and another big reason for why I moved
here.

Flickr

A true southern delecacy

2009-02-06T19:10:00.000-08:00

Fried pickles. They are delicious ( and you can make the arguement that they're "healthy").

Radio sucks...

2009-02-06T16:08:00.000-08:00

One of the things I have to get used to now is being in my car all the time. Not that it's a bad thing, I actually enjoy being in my car and having some time to myself, and once I have a job, I can talk about enjoying the commute... but I'm getting ahead of myself here.

One thing I've come to find: commercial radio is awful. I know, this seems a lot like jumping on the "radio sucks" bandwagon, but coming from the NYC area, and using mass transportation, I haven't relied on radio for years. Colbie portable CD players, first generation iPods all the way up to the iPhone, this was how I got my music during the long commute to work. Even when I was taking NJ Transit from central NJ, I was never in a car longer than 10 minutes, and usually with a couple guys I commuted with, so we didn't turn on the radio. Same songs over and over again, rock stations with boring DJs telling you how cool Dokken still is and all their most recent misadventure at the local bar and the subsequent hangover they were suffering through because of that night. Then, you have the morning guys. I had to drive out to Durham (25 minutes from my apartment) on Tuesday morning, at around 6:30am, so it was a little early for me to listen to music. I threw on one of the local Top 40 stations, and spent the remainder of my ride being bored to death by the DJ and his two sidekicks, talking about why they aren't really comedians and they're favorite things to get at Golden Corral (I'm not making this up). Holy shit guys, who cares??? Apparently, they're in a good position to do this, because half comatose pre coffee zombies like me are actually willing to leave this on as background fodder. This afternoon, I got to listen to the DJ call the front desk over, and over, and over again to quiz the new assistant (slug, or fuzz bucket, whatever his name was) about why he's suddenly decided to send daily inspirational emails. This conversation lasted about 10 minutes, and ended with the Fuzz Nuts apologizing for not answering her first three calls, and promising not only to continue to send these messages, but to Google more to find even deeper messages. Awesome.

Don't get me wrong, part of being in this area means I have access to some great college stations, but that's always hit or miss. Coming from a college radio station background, I know first hand that there are countless hours during the week devoted to bad music, and DJs who are even worse than Fuzz Bucket.

What have I learned here? I've got a 6 disc CD changer in the car that I need to work on reloading, and to use my iPhone more as a music device in the car.

Disclaimer: the names in this blog were fictitious, but I'm pretty sure I was close on Fuzz Bucket...

First Friday

2009-02-06T08:14:00.000-08:00

Apparently I now live in a city that encourages its citizens to come out and see what's new by getting businesses to open up their doors, offer discounts on food and beverages, showcase new galleries, and sample some of the local fare. The jury is still out on this one for me, but everyone says it's a good time, so we shall see. I'll let you know tomorrow!

If you're interested in seeing what I may or may not be able to checkout, here you go.

First Friday

My first days in Raleigh

2009-02-05T21:02:00.000-08:00

I've only been here for a couple weeks, but I finally got a chance to go out and take a few pictures. Check the link below to my Flickr account, I'll be adding more soon.

Raleigh

Sunday brunch on a budget

2009-02-01T12:56:00.000-08:00

The Flying Saucer does a free brunch for Beerknurds (explanation to
come in future post) as long as you spend $5 on beer. For me, this is
amazing. I get to try a new beer out, and get free brunch as well. I
can get used to this...

Raleigh

2009-01-31T13:05:00.000-08:00

Basketball rivalries are huge here. Today I'm at Tobacco Road for a
UNC/NC State basketball game. Coming from a market where professional
sports rule, it's strange to end up somewhere that revolves around
collegiate sports. Different energy, different fans and a new reason
to spend a Saturday afternoon at a bar.

Unemployment media is everywhere.... time to switch it off.

2009-01-30T13:05:00.000-08:00

Switch on the TV: Job cuts, budget deficits, highest percentages ever

Go on the internet: Drudge Report, Twitter, even Facebook is becoming a debby downer now.

Ok folks, we're in a recession. They made it "official" in December of 2008 (as if being in one for all of the previous year wasn't official enough) and since then, it's been one depressing moment after another. I have Time Warner cable now, and when you switch on your cable box, the first channel it takes you to is the local NBC 24 news channel. I think in the past week, every time I switch on and that channel comes up, the same story is being repeated, over and over again.

Look, it's obvious that this is real and cannot be avoided. I'm not saying we should hide from it, or shouldn't worry, but I think everyone could use a bit of a break from the doom and gloom. Some of us are living in it, some of us are living in fear that we're next, but none of us need the constant reminder.

Watch the Super Bowl on Sunday, relax for a little while, and maybe put it on mute just in case...

"Happiness is different from pleasure. Happiness has something to do with struggling, enduring, and accomplishing."

Welcome to the World....

2009-01-30T09:53:00.000-08:00

Here it is, my official blog. The flow of this will be a work in progress, but I'll get there. I'm going to talk about music, new gadgets and gizmos, my obsession with my dog Dexter, and most importantly, my new journey in life.

For the past 8 years, I have worked in the music industry. For some, it looked like the experience of a lifetime, and for those of us who have been it, well, it's a different story all together, but that's not what this is about. Now, I'm in Raleigh, NC, in the midst of a recession, trying to start a new career. Challenging is an understatement, but I'm here now, so it's up to me to make the best of it and keep my head above water.

Things going on this year:

Relocate
New career
Turning 30
Getting married
Best man in a wedding the weekend after mine

As you can see, not a whole lot going on....

Stay tuned, more to come, lots of ramblings, video links, toys I can't afford, and my input on music you should be checking out.