Election

Posted on September 22nd, 2008 by mike.
Categories: rants.

All the candidates are bobbleheads. Discuss….

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The Emmys. akward!

Posted on September 22nd, 2008 by mike.
Categories: Uncategorized.

First congrats to the folks at Mad Men and 30 Rock for the well diserved wins.  Hope it’ll translate to more viewers, but I doubt it.

But secondly-that was a bloody horrible awards show.

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Podcasting Equipment?

Posted on September 22nd, 2008 by mike.
Categories: werks.

OK, aside from the rant about the endless stream of podcasts- I do have some thoughts about possibly doing  maybe a show or two myself or pitching shows to sites I write for.  And I’ve also recently mentioned a few upgrades to the office studio.

But I’m on a shoestring budget- but I want a quality sound. I also want to uitlize Skype or some sort of phone recording technology to have guests on.

So-here’s my current setup:

1 Windows XP desktop - which currently handles most of the production/ recording functions. I’m using Spacial Audio’s SAM 3 webcaster studio to record and mix live to file. I’m also using a mic / headphone combo from Logitec.

2 Windows XP Laptop- which I’d like to use to be the recording machine. Possibly.

3 iMac- I’ve been playing with Garage Band for mixing, but it seems to only work well with files you create / record in GB. I’ve found Importing doesn’t work so well.

So, once you’re done laughing at my gear- Gimme some advice. I think I’m just a quality mic away from where I want to be, but I could be wrong….

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Methodologies…..

Posted on September 19th, 2008 by mike.
Categories: rants, werks.

While I’ve been off having a life (which is going very well, actually-thanks for asking)- I have been attempting to re-think how I do what I do.

In short: I make public observations. That’s the sum of it in a nutshell.  Which its sometimes rather difficult to do at times when:

A) I don’t feel like sharing….at least not with you.

I’ve previously viewed all of this (both in the print and electronic eras) as having a conversation.  Having conversations with the random internet viewer is much easier when you aren’t having that same conversation with the people around you.

And admittedly, my social circle has changed rather dramatically- going from only having a few people in my circle who even knew what I was talking about half of the time to having a rather large pool of folk who not only know excatly what I’m saying, but will be intensely interested in furthering that conversation.

Therefore, the need to have the same conversation with you-random internet viewer- feels like a re-run. Because I’ve already done this, have already said it, and moved on. The urge to type it up has not- in the recent past- felt satisfying enough or worthy enough to do, because I feel like many of you have already had that same conversation, too.  And I have to feel like maintaining that conversation is worth the time not doing something else.

B) I have no opinion.

Sometimes I simply don’t have an opinion on anything.  Observations somewhat require these.

So…it’s nothing against you, really.   It’s me.  And the matrix has us all.  Go figure.

Also, I’ve noticed the content memes have gravitated from actual compositions of length and weight to an endless stream of podcasts, lists,  and posted videos from somewhere else. I mean, they do loosely fulfill the content part of the equation- but it’s really not what I do.

The Internet effect cascades into reality which then cascades back to the internet.

I observe. I compose that observation. It requires thought. It requires time. Spitting back press releases, pointing at a goofy you tube clips, or dropping a list of my favorite canceled Fox shows….really doesn’t.

Other people do that. Lots and lots of other people do that. So I’m not about to join the endless dogpile.

It’s taken me time to balance everything out personally and figure out what my place in the scheme of things are. I’m still working it out. And perhaps it has taken more time to do so than I -or any of the folk who openly commented about it-wanted or expected.

But at the end of the day, if you want better- you have to create it yourself. And I fucking hate lists….

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Dragon Con Schedule

Posted on August 22nd, 2008 by mike.
Categories: werks.

Here it is, folks-

Dragon Con is almost upon us. And I have been informed some of what I’ll be doing Labor Weekend in Downtown ATL- surrounded on all sides by cosplayers, unearthly creatures of bad taste, Mickey Dolenz, and-in this year’s extra layer of awkward- Alabama and Clemson fans (who have NO idea what they’re getting into…)

Meanwhile, NeedCoffee dot com will be providing our usual madness including:

-Gonzo Sound+ Vision- the long awaited evolution/ return of the Film Fest

- Joel Hodgsen and the Gang from Cinematic Titanic will be screening their latest, “The Wasp Woman”

-Doc Hammer & Jackson Public from the Venture Bros.

-Dana Snyder from Aqua Teen & Venture Bros.

-The Nuts On the Road Panel show.

-Live performances from Paul & Storm

- And, in my own personal moment of the awkward, Torchwood’s Gareth David Lloyd WILL be part of our Whoniverse panel.

My Tentative Schedule:

Title: They did WHAT to my favorite book/fandom?
Description: Come join the NeedCoffee crew - the snarkiest band around
- as they talk about what Hollywood - big and small screen - is
planning (or has done recently) to your favorite sci-fi books and
fandoms!
Time: Fri 08:30 pm
Length: 1 Hour

Title: NeedCoffee.com vs. The Whoniverse
( Need Coffee + Gareth David Lloyd )
Description: The folks at Needcoffee.com are known for their high
standards and intense scrutiny. See what happens when these pop
culture rogues turn their towering intellects and biting humor towards
their beloved Time Lord and his spin offs.
Time: Sat 02:30 pm
Length: 1 Hour

Title: Nuts on the Road: Gonzo Sound + Vision
Description: The rumors are true. The wackos who brought you the Gonzo
Film Fest have returned. Needcoffee.com and QuickStopEntertainment.com
have been working overtime in their lab to bring about the next step
in Gonzo evolution-the result? An injection of live music into their
usual audiovisual assault on your peace of mind. Surprises, prizes and
more. Saturday night at Dragon*Con will never be the same.

Time: Sat 8:00 pm- Sun 4:00 AM
Length: 8 Hours

Title: Aliens of Torchwood (Brit / X-Track)
Description:

Time: Sun 2:30 pm
Length: 1 Hour

Title: Make the Bad Men Stop
Description: Come hear from the NeedCoffee Crew about the plans for
Hollywood to ruin the comics, cartoons and stories you love.  They’re
ruining your childhood; shouldn’t you know about it before you’ve paid
$10 to go to the theater?
Time: Mon 10:00 am
Length: 1 Hour

 

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The Matter of Pitchfork’s Black Kids Review

Posted on July 31st, 2008 by mike.
Categories: rants.

Pitchfork is a curiously annoying website. Their news section has become increasingly narrow in scope. And their jokey editorial stance of late makes Wizard look like Pulitzer Prize material.

As Indie Rock in general is having a bit of an identity crisis, so too is Pitchfork. And nowhere is this more evident that its album review section. 

(more…)

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Hey kids! Do you want a Doctor Girlfriend T-Shirt?

Posted on July 25th, 2008 by mike.
Categories: Uncategorized.

Sorry I didn’t mention this earlier in the week, but since its Friday and some of you might have money now….

Jackson & Doc (with help from Widge) have released a Doctor Girlfriend T-Shirt into the wild.

Go Here: http://astrobasego.com/shirtoftheweek.html (sorry, my link plug in is being wacky)

If you dig the Venture Brothers, you know you want it.  You have until Tomorrow Night at midnight to make it yours.

Godspeed, you crazy kids…..

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Welcome to the world stopping….

Posted on July 19th, 2008 by mike.
Categories: werks.

…otherwise known as “mike finally writing another post”.

I can only say that I have been busy getting things in order and upgrading a few things. Mostly, though- working a lot.  I’m in the process of transitioning into a new position at the dayjob and some non-profit webwork which has sucked a hole through my spare time for the last few months.

I’ve also taken up biking. Don’t laugh.  No Really, biking…

BUT the collective House of Werks (M+K) has been upgrading the gear as well. Namely, we have joined the Cult of the Macs, and it is very nice.

Everything is fine, I’m just out having a bit of a life- as I like to do every now and then. But I’m inching back torward that blinking cursor, if only to start everything up again.

So, be sure to look for series 3 of the Playlist to begin; more ConEtiquette as we grow oh so close to Dragon Con; the resumption of regular transmissions at Need Coffee, My Twitter feed,  and Ning relatively soon. Y’know, in case you were wondering….

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ConEtiquette entry one: A word about T-shirts….

Posted on May 26th, 2008 by mike.
Categories: Uncategorized.

Sometimes, the sensory overload of Science Fiction Conventions can overwhelm one to the point of making irrational judgements of fashion, or behavior. 

In an attempt to streamline and further make the Con going experience more enjoyable for all involved, I shall attempt-in this series of observational sketches- to exhume these lapses of reasoning. This, mind you, is being done in the name of education and science. Not to mention, for a cheap laugh.

Welcome, friends, to ConEtiquette. (more…)

2 comments.

Time Gate props….

Posted on May 26th, 2008 by mike.
Categories: werks.

Want to quickly throw out a few thanks to Rob, Alan, Caro and the gang at Time Gate for a lovely weekend. Thanks to everyone for coming out and listening to me blather on about Doctor Who, Torchwood, and assorted stuff.

And oh yeah, just wait for DragonCon!!

More random thoughts about the Con experience will follow shortly….

 

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