I am still very interested in music, and not just listening to the favorites of my youth but also current music from new acts as well as favorites. So far this year, three songs have stood out as my favorites and one of these three songs will be my “Song of the Year.” Â That “criteria” will be based somewhat on my iTunes/iPod play counts but also how well the song holds up over time.
Franz Ferdinand “No You Girls”
Their single from earlier this year and still sounds great. Their Tonight album is still the best of the year.
Pet Shop Boys “Love, Etc.”
The lead single from their “Yes” album (their strongest in at least 15 years) is also one of their best.
Editors “Papillon”
A late entrant into the race but a very possible dark horse for song of the year. In the first day since I bought the song I listened to it ten times and set it as my default ringtone on my phone!
I can’t take credit for this awesome photo of my son Quinn. It was taken by Galen Cook, a Boy Scout and son of our Cubmaster Robert Cook. This was taken at our end of summer BBQ last week. More photos of the event on the Pack 163 blog.
If you didn’t catch Sarah Palin’s rambling farewell speech you certainly missed one of the best trainwrecks of the year. If you’re a fan of copy-editing you might like Vanity Fair‘s take on the speech.
This post isn’t intended to ridicule Sarah Palin (though it happens to be a wonderful side benefit). Instead, let’s highlight another example of the Creative Genius of William Shatner. Seriously.
Conan O’Brien needs ratings for his Tonight Show, so when Palin’s speech hit the airwaves there were many ways that Conan could employ to use this event for comedic effect. Then, a brilliant idea stuck.
Call Shatner.
Now!
The clip speaks for itself. But I’d like to highlight the vast and thunderous applause Shatner gets when introduced. And let’s also acknowledge another brilliant performance from everyone’s captain, William Shatner.
Update:
Shatner made a return appearance to read Sarah Palin’s Twitter messages.
Here’s a fun and informative video featuring my father Frank Crossman. Check out the enthusiasm as he tries out the Mesh Grill-Top Chef’s Pan from Williams-Sonoma (a Father’s Day gift). I filmed this on my new iPhone 3Gs and edited in iMovie HD.
Here are the best photos from the California and Oregon portions of our recent vacation. Mount Shasta was quite impressive, as was it’s baby brother Black Butte. Â After being underwhelmed by Medford, OR we thoroughly enjoyed our time in Winston’s Wildlife Safari. It was a great time including seeing baby ostrichs (not pictured). We spent a couple nights coming and going in the Portland area, and the boys had fun in the fountain until Quinn slipped and skinned his knee.
As a member of Toastmasters I’m interested in improving my public speaking skills, so I have a keen eye for those who do this well and those who don’t. As such, Steve Jobs is well known for his “Steve-Note” keynote presentations. And Steve’s had thirty years of highlights as a public speaker. But none have topped the introduction of the iPhone at MacWorld Expo in January 2007.
Steve was really in the zone on this presentation. He knew he was going to blow people away with the product but his delivery had it all: effective gestures, dramatic pauses and vocal variety, and a killer multimedia presentation. Â He was well-rehearsed and didn’t fumble any lines. He had a great set of product demos as well. I love the part where Steve calls Starbucks live and orders 4,000 lattes to go.
If you ever want to see what great technical speeches look like then this is a great place to start. And be sure to see the guest speaker from Cingular (now AT&T), Stan Sigman. The guy was following Steve’s best keynote every and read his speech from large note cards! Â The guy is probably better know as “note card guy” than for being the President of AT&T.
There’s probably not a month or two that goes by when I don’t rewatch part of this presentation; it is truly inspiring and I am still in awe of how great it was. Apple has kindly made it available for download and replay.
Another great outcome of the speech was a remix from Simon Bachofen called “Who Wants a Stylus.” It plays off the part of the presentation where Steve says that Apple is releasing three products, an iPod, a Phone, and an Internet Communications device – only to reveal it is only one device! The remix was so great that someone made a music video out of it. Check it out!
One of primary hobbies is podcasting: listening and producing. I started a podcast for the Frat Pack Tribute back in April 2005, though the publishing schedule has been highly irregular for a little over a year now. That’s mostly due to my duties as the cohost of the That’s What She Said podcast about NBC’s The Office. The original cohost quit and after a trial period I was named the official cohost. Matt Sommer and I have a great time talking about The Office each week, and though Matt is very much the main man behind TWSS, I do some of the show editing and collecting of news and listener feedback.
But today I’m not here to talk about how big of an “iCelebrity” I am. I’m here to talk about the podcasts that I actually listen to. And given that I probably listen to about two hours of podcasts a day, it’s certainly a big part of my life and something I’ve invested a lot of time in.Â
I just really love the idea of podcasts as a distribution medium. I subscribe to a bunch of audio and video shows and when the new episode is released it downloads automatically. Then I listen to it whenever I want, such as doing housework or when I’m driving in the car.
Currently I am subscribed to over fifty podcasts, but here are my top 10. Â The ranking is based on how soon I’ll listen to the show after it downloads. Shows that can wait a few days are lower on the list. Shows that’ll get me to go to work early just so I can start my commute and listen to the podcast are at the top.
Audio Podcasts
Filmspotting – Great movie review show from Chicago. There’s probably not a day that goes by when I don’t use (or wish I used) their catch-phrase “I hear what you’re saying but you’re completely wrong.”  I was sad when original host Sam Van Hallgren left the show (after giving me my donation-inspired Filmspotting nickname “Captain Bullseye” after Vince Vaughn’s line in Wedding Crashers). But the show has improved with the addition of Matty “Ballgame” Robinson who manages to give cohost Adam Kempenar a hard time each and every week.
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I had a good-natured war of sorts with Filmspotting back in spring 2008, as I complained about their movie marathons that were not accessible (lots of foreign directors). There’s a running gag about this in Filmspotting #202 that culminates in a great “outtake” at the end of the show.
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MacBreak Weekly – Leo Laporte’s show about the Mac, iPhone, etc. I like hearing the pundits talk about what’s happening with Apple.Â
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This Week in Tech (aka TWiT) – Leo Laporte’s general technology review show. I really like hearing John C. Dvorak and regular guest Jason Calacanis. Â
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WDW Today – a shorter show that most I listen to, running 15-25 minutes (despite the “give us 5 minutes and we’ll give you the world” tagline). Each show discusses something about Walt Disney World, and their Wednesday listener question shows are fun. There’s great chemistry with the hosts on this show.Â
The best show they ever did was called “Snack, Sip (and Sick)” – a show where they ate or drank something in each pavilion at Epcot’s World Showcase. Hilarious!Â
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Creative Screenwriting Magazine – I’ll be honest, I don’t listen to every one of these episodes. If the movie is of interest then I’ll listen. These are interviews with screenwriters of current theatrical release, and the insights are often fascinating. Host Jeff Goldsmith does a great job with this one.Â
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Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History – This doesn’t come out very often but when it does it is riveting stuff. I’ve learned about the Romans, the cradle of mankind, and WWII.
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Inside the Magic – the longest running Disney podcast and though it is based in Orlando there is good coverage of Disneyland, too. Host Ricky Bregante produces an informative podcast with the latest news, features and reviews, guest contributions, and more.Â
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The MacCast – the longest running Mac podcast is still going strong. Adam Christensen covers Mac news and answers listener questions. Lots of great information.
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Savage Love – Dan Savage’s sex advice column translated into audio format. I love how frank Savage is with some of this callers and of course his battles with the “tech savvy at-risk youth” who help him produce the show. More entertaining than titillating.
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Countdown with Keith Olbermann – the audio version of his MSNBC show. I do like “repurposed” content along with the traditional “homegrown” podcasts, so this is an example. Â I don’t always get a chance to watch the show, so this is a good way to catch up.
Video Podcasts
Tiki Bar TV – Often hilarious look into “drink culture” and LaLa is simply breathtaking. One of the first video podcasts and still the best.
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Midwest Teen Sex Show – Informative and hilarious. These guys just got a gig on Comedy Central. Should be required viewing for impressionable teens. Frank and honest advice.
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Cranky Geeks – John C. Dvorak’s pundit show run a crisp 30 minutes and is often insightful.
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Kelloggs came through as promised and have reintroduced Mother’s Cookies back into stores in Western States. According to their press release:
Crestfallen cookie lovers once again can enjoy the sweet symbols of so many fond memories. Mother’s(R) cookies, the long-time family favorite, are making a comeback. With the same great taste fans remember, Mother’s(R) cookies made their highly anticipated return to store shelves in the Western region of the United Statesstarting on May 4 – just in time for the 95th anniversary of Mother’s Day as well as the Mother’s(R) brand.
The Mother’s(R) cookies returning to the Western region of the United States include:
Chocolate Chip
Circus Animal(R)
Cocadas(R)
Double Fudge
English Tea(R)
Iced Lemonade
Iced Oatmeal
Macaroons
Oatmeal
Taffy(R)
Vanilla Creme
I have given the new cookies a taste taste and I’m very pleased to report that these are the genuine article. They taste exactly the same as the Mother’s Circus Animals we’ve loved over the years. The packaging of the Mother’s brand is basically intact as well, with the addition of the call-out “Your Favorites are Back!” Indeed they are!
Mother's Circus Animal Cookies Are Back!
Nabisco tried to get onto the “iced animal” bandwagon with their sub-par Nabisco Classics Iced Animal Cookies but failed miserably. Now, there’s no reason at all to purchase the inferior brand! So, get a bag of Circus Animals or whatever your favorite Mother’s Cookie is, and support this brand so they never disappear from store shelves again.
I recently competed in some Toastmasters speech contests. I won my club and Area contests but didn’t win at the Division level. It was a lot of fun even though my speech wasn’t the typical “inspiration” speech that is de rigor for these contests. My speech was The Secrets of Successful Service and here is a summary of my main points.
This topic was selected because we perform service all the time. Not just at work, but also at church, for an organization, home, and (especially for the target audience for the speech) Toastmasters! All of us are in this role at some time or another.
What is this and why should I care?
What’s the most important thing I should know about the service. Make sure the most important information is right up front, and tell me what’s in it for me! Â Every organization’s website should indicate what they’re about and what kind of service or benefit the website should provide. Â For example, the podcast I cohost has the info right on the header of the site: “That’s What She Said” – A Podcast About NBC’s The Office.
View the service or organization with the eyes of a brand new customer
Assume I know nothing about your service or organization, so don’t start throwing jargon at me. Too many people mention acronyms or other terminology that all current members know about – but what about new members of an organization? They have no idea what this is and why it is important. So, when you’re describing an upcoming event or a service, tell people what this actually is.
If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself
If you don’t like something go out there and change it! Â I don’t want to hear you complain. Fix it! Everyone has new and fresh ideas but it is up to you to put those ideas out there. Of course, this doesn’t mean you are stuck doing it forever. Change it, set an example, and train the next generation. Then pass on responsibility to someone else.
Although my passion for the subject has waned, I’ve always been a big Star Trek fan. You know those kids in the 1970’s who made Star Trek, well, “STAR TREK”? Â I was one of them. I watched the show on TV in the afternoons. I watched the animated series. And every day when I was in third grade we played “Star Trek” on the playground. Each kid had their part. Mark was always Captain Kirk. Ariel was always Mr. Spock. Greg was Scotty. Me? I played the alien who would stand behind a tree until the gang “beamed down to the planet.” Then I’d jump out from behind the tree and scream and yell before being blasted in a haze of phaser fire.
Yep, that was me. I was Mugatu 25 years before Will Ferrell made the role famous for avid Trekker Ben Stiller.
Of course I have seen all the movies. But, importantly, I’ve seen them all on opening day. Which means that you get to see the movies with all the rest of the hardcore “Trekkies” (my preferred term). It’s a streak I’ve kept alive since the first film in 1979 and continued to the last one in 2002 or whatever year it was (can you tell when my interest in the franchise waned?). It was good for Star Trek to take a break. But I’m glad it’s back.
Cut to the best TV ad I’ve ever seen for a movie.
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Not. Your Father’s. Star Trek.
Perfect.
Of course, I’m keen to see the new Star Trek movie and it looks great. And I’ll be there on the first day.
It just so happened that I’ve started to rewatch some of the old movies, including Star Trek: The Motion Picture that I haven’t seen since it first came out in 1979. Not a great movie, and I was watching the updated DVD version with improved special effects.Â
So, here’s my list of the best Star Trek movies:
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan – anyone who says this isn’t the best Star Trek movie is a Star Wars fan
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home – (yes, the one with the whales)
Star Trek: First Contact – best “Next Generation” movie (and, yes, an “even numbered” Trek film)
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier – not as bad as it’s rep, and would be really good if they could redo the effects in act three.
Free Enterprise – the comedy film about two Trek fans who befriend “Bill Shatner”. Way more of a “Star Trek” film than many real Star Trek films
Star Trek: Generations
Star Trek: Insurrection
Star Trek: Nemesis
Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Trekkies – lots of fun
We’ll see where this year’s Star Trek film fits in when it opens on May 7th.
Update: I’ve rewatched Nemesis and TMP and have switched their positions in the list.
One of primary hobbies is podcasting: listening and producing. I started a 