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Archive for October, 2009
That convention over in Tampa…
03 years ago
by Tom
in Conventions
So there has been a lot of Internet buzz in the past 24 hours about a certain convention owner/chair/CEO for a certain anime convention that takes place in the western part of the state of Florida.
Since I’m getting asked so much about it (emails, phone calls, etc.) I’ve decided to make a “public post” so folks can understand exactly how (I feel) this should be viewed. To be honest, though, I don’t know anything more than what I’ve been pointed to and read on the Internet coupled with scuttlebutt from phone calls I’ve received.
1. A crime was allegedly committed and the court system has decreed what it deems as appropriate penance. We all choose to live where we live – and we are at the mercy of the local laws of that city/county/state/country. Arguing the right and wrong of the issue is moot.
2. The person who brought up charges was, according to law, a victim. I wish her the best and hope she can move on with her life beyond this.
3. The person that was allegedly convicted yesterday will now have to register on a public searchable database for his crime. His life of attending events and conventions will now be restricted based on the age of the attendees at the event… which cuts out ninety percent of all Florida fan conventions. His life is changed forever based on an allegedly bad decision… in the end, it seems, he too is a victim.
4. The convention will go on without him and (I would guess) will not be impacted by this. The masses shop at Walmart without regard of the negative impact the company and stores have on small businesses and local communities. People buy things that are made in China – and there is no secret about their violations of human rights in the past. The event will go on as other (larger) events have done so in the past.
Behold the power of Facebook…
0Have you heard the one about how social networking is destroying IRL (“in real life”) person to person interaction? There are articles that pop up from time to time about the evils of Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and the like – and to be honest, it tends to get annoying.
Social networking sites are like many other objects of question in an individual’s life: they are tools. How you choose to use said tools is based (honestly) on your intelligence and personality.
With the busy lifestyles so many friends of mine (and I) have, Facebook and Twitter have helped create IRL interactions that would NEVER have happened otherwise. In short: my friends and I know how to use our tools
Last weekend I went to see Robin Williams perform in Orlando, Florida (phenomenal show, BTW) with a group of friends and I saw on my Facebook that another old friend of mine that I had not see in seven years was also going.
(WARNING: TECH GEEK MOMENT) – My Palm Pre (cell phone) integrates my Facebook information into my contact list. When we got to the arena in Orlando, I looked up the aforementioned friend in my contacts and (tada!) I had his cell phone number. I called him and we got to meet up and hang out at the show.
Social networking moment of win.
In the past year, that has happened a number of times. Here are some other examples:
- One of my friends from high school that I had not seen in person since 1995 was in town a few months back. I saw this in Facebook – and we were able to meet up for dinner in one of our favorite pizza places in the town we grew up in together.
Side note: I think I’m eating too much pizza based on this post.
Those are just moments I remember. There are a bunch of “were going here tonight” moments where folks have found out through Facebook/Twitter – allowing me to spend more time with friends in the real world.
‘Nuff said.
Casting of the Pods…
2In case you missed it over the weekend, we quietly started work on bringing back the Snack Time Online pop culture podcast. The episode that is posted is number “episode zero” because it is a test to see how well integrating live calls works.
Yup. We took live unscheduled calls while recording.
Did it work? Listen and decide for yourself:
Direct mp3 Link: http://www.greenmustard.com/snacktimeonline/STO000.mp3
Feedburner Link (subscribe): http://feeds.feedburner.com/joeysnackpants
Social Networking connect the dots…
0So I checked into the “wiring” of all the social network type websites I am plugged into. Here’s how it all works thus far:
I update Blogger (TomCroom.com) and, when I do, the info then feeds into HootSuite. At the same time, Blogger also updates LiveJournal.
HootSuite then updates Twitter including a link to Blogger in the post.
Next, Twitter updates Facebook and MySpace.
Then there are the “satellite” websites. For example: if I updated Flickr remotely (from my phone) – Twitter will automatically update and (in turn) update Facebook and MySpace.
The same applies for posting/sharing info from Digg and YouTube. (i.e. Twitter to MySpace & Facebook)
Finally – there is Raptr. Raptr updates Twitter (and the chain) based on my activity on Xbox Live. I have a funny feeling, though, that when the Twitter interface in the new Xbox 360 update comes that Raptr will no longer be needed.
In short: when I update this blog – a lot of other stuff gets updated, too. Don’t even ask me about the Christmas tree style “wiring” I’ve put together for Wasabi Anime… LOL
Fringe – The X-Files 2.0?
23 years ago
by Tom
in Television
I started watching Fringe last season and after three episodes stopped. I explained to my wife that while the show was clever – I like it better in the nineties when they called it the X-Files.
Oh yeah – and Agent Scully is MUCH hotter than Agent Dunham.
For those who have watched both shows, ponder this:
Peter Bishop = Fox Mulder
Olivia Dunham = Dana Scully
Phillip Broyles = Walter Skinner
Walter Bishop = The Lone Gunman
Nina Sharp = CGB Spender
Both series run monster of the week episodes mixed into a larger story line about a conspiracy.
Yup.
My wife kept raving about it, though, so I picked up Season 1 on Blu-ray and further confirmed my theories. That said – Season 2 seems to finally be taking a step away from the X-Files formula. Hopefully comes more into its own over time.
For now: the truth about the pattern is out there. 
Autographs of folks we’ve met…
43 years ago
by Tom
in Conventions
My wife and I were sitting in my office yesterday morning and we started talking about all the autographed photos we have hanging on the wall – so I figured the list was long enough to include blog entry. As a bonus, I’ve even included signed books (noted accordingly.) Keep in mind, I started collecting these when I was 16 years old.
Aaron Douglas
Alan Ruck
Andy Hallett
Anne Rice (book)
Avery Brooks
Beau Bridges
Bianca Lawson
Brent Spiner
Brett Weaver
Brian O’Halloran
Bruce Campbell
Carey Means
Carl Hiaasen (book)
Charisma Carpenter
Charles Fleischer
Claudia Black
Dan Aykroyd
Dana Snyder
Darwyn Cooke (book)
Dave Barry (book)
Dave Wolverton (book)
David Prowse
Devi Derryberry
Doug Smith
Douglas Adams (book)
Ernie Hudsen
Ethan Phillips
Everclear (the band)
Gates McFadden
George Lowe
George Takei
Greg Grunberg
Gregg Berger
Grey DeLisle
Hayden Panettiere
Henry Winkler
James Marsters
James O’Barr
Jay Edwards
Jewel Staite
Jim Belushi
Joe Flanigan
John Billingsley
John de Lancie
Jonathan Frakes
Julie Benz
Juliet Landau
Kathy Reichs (book)
Kevin Conroy
Kevin Smith
Kristy Swanson
Leonard Nimoy
Lynn Flewelling
Margaret Weis (book)
Marina Sirtis
Mary McDonnell
Mercedes McNab
Michael Dorn
Michael Hogan
Michael O’Hare
Michael Stackpole (book)
Michael Trucco
Patricia Albrecht
Patrick Stewart
Peter S. Beagle (book)
Phil LaMarr
Ray Park
Rene Auberjonois
Richard Horvitz
Ridley Pearson (book)
Rikki Simons
Rob Granito
Rob Paulson
Ron Perlman
Sean Schemmel
Stan Bush
Steve Bennett
Stuart Woods (book)
Tara Strong
Terry Farrell
Tim Dorsey (book)
Timothy Zahn (book)
Torri Higginson
Tracy Hickman (book)
Tracy Scoggins
Wil Wheaton
William Katt
William Shatner
Zachary Quinto
The Things We Do for Charity…
0
This took place in an office event today to raise money for the Alzheimer and Parkinson Association of Indian River County (www.alzpark.org). Employees got to buy and throw pies at the managers in the building.
Feel free to point and laugh – I did.
