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Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Quotable Quoate
Mike Huckabee
Presidential Candidate Mike Huckabee blew through Greensboro this afternoon to pick up a few checks to finance his campaign effort.
I met him at the door, camera, reporter and gaggle in tow.
The smooth talking Arkansas Governor threw out quotes and quips left and right and sometimes up and down but during his 15 minutes of Greensboro fame he left us with this little beauty that, if not for a writer's strike, would be great late nighte fodder I'm sure.
Huckabee said, "The reason that we're so afraid of Iran is because they've got enough oil money to build a reactor. Do you think they could build a reactor if all they had to sell was rugs? I don't think so. So because of our deopendence upon their oid and the saudi's oil we find ourselves once again scared to death of what they can do with the money that guess where they got it... from us."
I met him at the door, camera, reporter and gaggle in tow.
The smooth talking Arkansas Governor threw out quotes and quips left and right and sometimes up and down but during his 15 minutes of Greensboro fame he left us with this little beauty that, if not for a writer's strike, would be great late nighte fodder I'm sure.
Huckabee said, "The reason that we're so afraid of Iran is because they've got enough oil money to build a reactor. Do you think they could build a reactor if all they had to sell was rugs? I don't think so. So because of our deopendence upon their oid and the saudi's oil we find ourselves once again scared to death of what they can do with the money that guess where they got it... from us."
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
News "Who" Rules?
OK, I deserved it. Karma caught me. And a high school student is probably giggling his little head off tonight. (Yeah, it had to be a guy)
I found this on Unit 15 after a shoot at an area high school this morning.
My problems started the day before. I had an assignment at a high school 50 miles for the next morning and after taking a quick multi-tasked look at the assignment sheet I filed the Wednesday task away in the back of my head.
When I arrived home Tuesday evening I programmed my GPS for the school so I'd know how much time to give myself for an early departure the next morning.
It wasn't until I arrived at the school right on time Wednesday morning that I realized that I had the wrong school in mind. They both started with an "M" and were in the same county in 15 mile radius.
I made my way to the correct school, called them to let them know, and still got the story, no problem.
I found this on Unit 15 after a shoot at an area high school this morning.
My problems started the day before. I had an assignment at a high school 50 miles for the next morning and after taking a quick multi-tasked look at the assignment sheet I filed the Wednesday task away in the back of my head.
When I arrived home Tuesday evening I programmed my GPS for the school so I'd know how much time to give myself for an early departure the next morning.
It wasn't until I arrived at the school right on time Wednesday morning that I realized that I had the wrong school in mind. They both started with an "M" and were in the same county in 15 mile radius.
I made my way to the correct school, called them to let them know, and still got the story, no problem.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
News Car Wars
Fight Fire with...
In response to my recent article about a Durham TV Station's new mobile news gathering vehicle their competition in Raleigh has scrambled to put together their own mobile news gathering machine plus some.
And since their parent company is known for their extra-orbital prowess how fitting that their vehicle is equipped to communicate with the Geo-Stationary orbs that we refer to as the birds.
Here it is....Redneck 1.
I hear it's going to cater to the newsgathering of the far reaches of the Raleigh Market down into Eastern NC, where pickup will let you fit right in.
No word on what kind of technologically advanced equipment is behind the darkened glass but I do hear there's a CB in it.
And since their parent company is known for their extra-orbital prowess how fitting that their vehicle is equipped to communicate with the Geo-Stationary orbs that we refer to as the birds.
Here it is....Redneck 1.
I hear it's going to cater to the newsgathering of the far reaches of the Raleigh Market down into Eastern NC, where pickup will let you fit right in.
No word on what kind of technologically advanced equipment is behind the darkened glass but I do hear there's a CB in it.
Monday, October 29, 2007
My Garage
AKA Man Cave
Here is the source of my lack of blogging as of late...
I've personally built (almost) this whole thing from hand from the ground up. I only hired guys to do the blocks and concrete and then to help me lift the walls and install the garage door.
My neighbor has helped me do heavy lifting, critical thinking(fixing mistakes) and even lets me borrow his tools and traler.
Heck, he even came over one day when I was at work and put a roof panel or two in place hoping I could join him and finish before the monsoon set in this week. No such luck and it got really wet in there!
Now I have to hire guys to put the shingles on, but the rest is all on me. Insulation, Electricity, trims and I'm finishing the upstairs to make it a home office/ man cave.
There's still a long way to go but I hope to have it done by Christmas.
I've personally built (almost) this whole thing from hand from the ground up. I only hired guys to do the blocks and concrete and then to help me lift the walls and install the garage door.
My neighbor has helped me do heavy lifting, critical thinking(fixing mistakes) and even lets me borrow his tools and traler.
Heck, he even came over one day when I was at work and put a roof panel or two in place hoping I could join him and finish before the monsoon set in this week. No such luck and it got really wet in there!
Now I have to hire guys to put the shingles on, but the rest is all on me. Insulation, Electricity, trims and I'm finishing the upstairs to make it a home office/ man cave.
There's still a long way to go but I hope to have it done by Christmas.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
BREAKING NEWS 1
The title of this blog is not an event that's causing chaos in the greater Piedmont Triad, it's the name of a new, yellow, not a taxi-cab, news gathering beast. See Picture now.
The Toyota FJ belongs to WTVD ABC 11 in Durham and we got a sneek peak here in High Point as Ron Wick was headed back to Durham after getting a fresh new set of decals here in town.
The vehicle is equipped with a police/fire scanner, two dash mounted lipstick cameras, microphones, a switcher and other accessories to enable Televsion broadcasting.
The lipstick cameras are mounted on the dash, one forward looking, one facing the passenger seat. They are switchable on the fly and a microphone is hooked inline and it all feeds to a laptop computer that can feed the video and audio via a wireless broadband internet connection.
I don't know if the photogs at WTVD are lining up to be the first to go live at 70 MPH, but it does sound interesting to me, but I'm a classic AV geek. :)
The ICEE is not included in the standard package.
The Toyota FJ belongs to WTVD ABC 11 in Durham and we got a sneek peak here in High Point as Ron Wick was headed back to Durham after getting a fresh new set of decals here in town.
The vehicle is equipped with a police/fire scanner, two dash mounted lipstick cameras, microphones, a switcher and other accessories to enable Televsion broadcasting.
The lipstick cameras are mounted on the dash, one forward looking, one facing the passenger seat. They are switchable on the fly and a microphone is hooked inline and it all feeds to a laptop computer that can feed the video and audio via a wireless broadband internet connection.
I don't know if the photogs at WTVD are lining up to be the first to go live at 70 MPH, but it does sound interesting to me, but I'm a classic AV geek. :)
The ICEE is not included in the standard package.
Friday, October 05, 2007
blackberry blog
I need to blog more. Maybe I would if I had a blackberry.
I am writing this using Caron's new blackberry.
I might have to get one.
----
Sent from caron's blackberry.
I am writing this using Caron's new blackberry.
I might have to get one.
----
Sent from caron's blackberry.
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Chris Daughtry
NASCAR Fan?
I was please to see Chris Daughtry performing Saturday Night before NASCAR race in Richmond. Kind of fitting for the Chevy Rock n Roll 400.
But it was less than a year ago when Chris Daughtry himself scoffed at the idea of singing his tunes at a NASCAR Race.
It was back in October while I was in Los Angeles shooting the segment on Daughtry putting the finishing touches of his album that this fact came to life.
The Phoenix race was on TV that night and the guys in the band weren't really watching anything so we tuned in to the race.
But with a little further discussion I found out that that Chris Daughtry, North Carolina southern boy, from right here in NASCAR Country, had never really followed, cared for or worried about NASCAR. Neither did the rest of the crew.
I think my comment to him at that point was something like, "You need to go to a race, you'll love it" and "NASCAR fans would love you."
I think I may have been on to something. Hmm.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Anchorwoman
Cancelled!
After mucho hype, marketing blitz mania and a ton of $$ spent promoting "Anchorwoman", it was cancelled after it's first two episodes that both aired back to back Wednesday.
The shows that will play in the timeslot for the next 3 Wednesdays are RE-RUNS of "Til Death". (!)(Re-runs, really, why?)
I liked "Anchorwoman". It was silly and slightly perverse, but like I wrote before, it is a malgomation of all things 'newsy'.
I guess the public just isn't ready for a behind the scenes look at Local TV News.
Hopefully they will be by the time Lenslinger writes that book. ;-)
The shows that will play in the timeslot for the next 3 Wednesdays are RE-RUNS of "Til Death". (!)(Re-runs, really, why?)
I liked "Anchorwoman". It was silly and slightly perverse, but like I wrote before, it is a malgomation of all things 'newsy'.
I guess the public just isn't ready for a behind the scenes look at Local TV News.
Hopefully they will be by the time Lenslinger writes that book. ;-)
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Anchorwoman
Real Reality
I watched, I laughed, I liked.
No, it may not the best idea to portray the inside baseball of a serious newsroom to your TV Audience, but I didn't see a single part of that show that hasn't happened to me in real life at some point, somewhere.
Several years ago here, a new weekend anchor/reporter was brought in, almost fresh off another reality show and other than the boobs, the blonde hair and mini-skirts, he wasn't much different than "Anchorwoman". Just like Lauren Jones, Jeff Varner had to learn news gathering from the ground up.
His first few times in front of the prompter were rough, his news gathering and writing in the field were raw, but his ambition and willingness to learn the craft outshined other reporters who came and went while he was still here. There were certainly some awkward moments just like in this show.
But by the time he left back in April, Jeff was a polished pro, reading his weekend news like a machine, and chasing other offers that were bound to come with his matured style. But on day one, we were all rolling our eyes at the 'Survivor' just like the the CBS19 employees in the first episode of "Anchorwoman".
Another colleague of mine came to mind watching "Anchorwoman". When Caron Myers started here in 2002 she had been out of TV for a while and her TV experience was mostly NASCAR related. She had to learn news gathering 101 from yours truely and when I saw Wilton take Lauren out for her first solo story I had to chuckle. The very first story that I took Caron out on when she started was to High Rock lake.
Caron was in high heels, we had to walk crazy distances to get the shots, and Caron got a taste of what real news gathering was all about.
It was tough at first for Caron but she did exactly what the Photog in "Anchorwoman" said. She listened and watched and learned, though I can remember Caron doing some of the same silly, "newsy" things that Lauren did on here first two stories.
But Caron learned quickly and today not too many reporters in the piedmont can hold a candle to her news gathering prowess.
I think it's fair that the one Anchor in the show is all worried about integrity, but in real reality this is how most young reporter/anchors get in the business. It's usually just behind the scenes in really small markets, there aren't ordinarly cameras following your every move and they aren't usually supermodels.
That usually trumps being a news anchor.
No, it may not the best idea to portray the inside baseball of a serious newsroom to your TV Audience, but I didn't see a single part of that show that hasn't happened to me in real life at some point, somewhere.
Several years ago here, a new weekend anchor/reporter was brought in, almost fresh off another reality show and other than the boobs, the blonde hair and mini-skirts, he wasn't much different than "Anchorwoman". Just like Lauren Jones, Jeff Varner had to learn news gathering from the ground up.
His first few times in front of the prompter were rough, his news gathering and writing in the field were raw, but his ambition and willingness to learn the craft outshined other reporters who came and went while he was still here. There were certainly some awkward moments just like in this show.
But by the time he left back in April, Jeff was a polished pro, reading his weekend news like a machine, and chasing other offers that were bound to come with his matured style. But on day one, we were all rolling our eyes at the 'Survivor' just like the the CBS19 employees in the first episode of "Anchorwoman".
Another colleague of mine came to mind watching "Anchorwoman". When Caron Myers started here in 2002 she had been out of TV for a while and her TV experience was mostly NASCAR related. She had to learn news gathering 101 from yours truely and when I saw Wilton take Lauren out for her first solo story I had to chuckle. The very first story that I took Caron out on when she started was to High Rock lake.
Caron was in high heels, we had to walk crazy distances to get the shots, and Caron got a taste of what real news gathering was all about.
It was tough at first for Caron but she did exactly what the Photog in "Anchorwoman" said. She listened and watched and learned, though I can remember Caron doing some of the same silly, "newsy" things that Lauren did on here first two stories.
But Caron learned quickly and today not too many reporters in the piedmont can hold a candle to her news gathering prowess.
I think it's fair that the one Anchor in the show is all worried about integrity, but in real reality this is how most young reporter/anchors get in the business. It's usually just behind the scenes in really small markets, there aren't ordinarly cameras following your every move and they aren't usually supermodels.
That usually trumps being a news anchor.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Signs - Hot Days
It's freakin' hot.
I wonder if the guy who made this sign made it on a day like this.
I'm not sure there is such a thing as a "GUAGE". I do know that it's supposed to be "Narrow Guage Road". (Edit -Damn, the heat must be getting to me...The correct road name is "Narrow GAUGE Road") It's wrong on both sides of this sign. The one on the next intersection is correct!
That was Wednesday. Thursday I shot one that read 107!
The official reading at the airport was 102.
It got really hot when sitting in one place too long. But even rolling down the road the temp only dropped to 100.
I wonder if the guy who made this sign made it on a day like this.
I'm not sure there is such a thing as a "GUAGE". I do know that it's supposed to be "Narrow Guage Road". (Edit -Damn, the heat must be getting to me...The correct road name is "Narrow GAUGE Road") It's wrong on both sides of this sign. The one on the next intersection is correct!
That was Wednesday. Thursday I shot one that read 107!
The official reading at the airport was 102.
It got really hot when sitting in one place too long. But even rolling down the road the temp only dropped to 100.
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Essential Duties that Interrupt Sleep
Journalism is by no means a 9 to 5 job. Television Photojournalism is a step further from the daily bank hour grind. So I am awfully grateful that I've been lucky enough to have been a dayside photographer for 9 or so years now.
But I still get pleny of nightime and early morning assignments. You see, that's when the action is. The typical daytime, middle of the day stories are not as riveting on the surface. It generally takes a little more work to make daytime stories pop.
A lot of times I get my nightime action throught the on call system. It can be a blessing and a curse. It's an easy way to acrue a bit of O-T but it also can lead to sleep deprivation.
Just yesterday I got called out to yet another Greensboro shooting (2 in a week for me alone) at 4AM. The problem was in the fact that I was already planning a short sleep session having hit the sack at 2, only 2 hours prior to my callout.
The shooting was a robbery where the victim chased down the suspects, the suspects shot the victim and THEN when they fled they crashed into a brick wall.
It was easy stuff, I was done by 5 and I probably could have went back home and slept some more but I needed to finish some editing so I spent the next 3 hours editing. Finishing that around 8 I walked into my next assignment by visiting our assignment desk. They were about to call the other on-call guy when I spoke up to head that way.
A man fell asleep at the wheel and his pickup truck crashed head on into a church group headed to a beach retreat.
A woman from the church group was killed and 2 teens were seriously injured.
I wrapped up that shoot in about 45 minutes and handed off the video to another crew and headed towared home.
With only 2 hours sleep I was done and headed home. Unfortunatley I had a bunch of things to do around the house and I didn't get to bed until midnight. It was something like 36 hours with 2 hours of sleep.
But I still get pleny of nightime and early morning assignments. You see, that's when the action is. The typical daytime, middle of the day stories are not as riveting on the surface. It generally takes a little more work to make daytime stories pop.
A lot of times I get my nightime action throught the on call system. It can be a blessing and a curse. It's an easy way to acrue a bit of O-T but it also can lead to sleep deprivation.
Just yesterday I got called out to yet another Greensboro shooting (2 in a week for me alone) at 4AM. The problem was in the fact that I was already planning a short sleep session having hit the sack at 2, only 2 hours prior to my callout.
The shooting was a robbery where the victim chased down the suspects, the suspects shot the victim and THEN when they fled they crashed into a brick wall.
It was easy stuff, I was done by 5 and I probably could have went back home and slept some more but I needed to finish some editing so I spent the next 3 hours editing. Finishing that around 8 I walked into my next assignment by visiting our assignment desk. They were about to call the other on-call guy when I spoke up to head that way.
A man fell asleep at the wheel and his pickup truck crashed head on into a church group headed to a beach retreat.
A woman from the church group was killed and 2 teens were seriously injured.
I wrapped up that shoot in about 45 minutes and handed off the video to another crew and headed towared home.
With only 2 hours sleep I was done and headed home. Unfortunatley I had a bunch of things to do around the house and I didn't get to bed until midnight. It was something like 36 hours with 2 hours of sleep.
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Ojects Closer Than They Appear
OUCH!!!
Cameraman HIt at X Games
That right hand mirror on your car says it and the same can sometimes be applied to working through a viewfinder.
"Objects are closer than they appear."
Not that the cameraman in the following Clip from ESPNs XGames had much of a chance of dodging this one.
Someone once said, "If your pictures aren't good you aren't close enough."
He was doing his job for sure.
Like I said OUCH!
"Objects are closer than they appear."
Not that the cameraman in the following Clip from ESPNs XGames had much of a chance of dodging this one.
Someone once said, "If your pictures aren't good you aren't close enough."
He was doing his job for sure.
Like I said OUCH!
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Vacation 2007
Done
I spent 2 weeks on vacation, returning to work just yesterday (Monday) and during the course of my time off I spent relatively little time watching TV, let alone seeing any news.
I didn't even have my laptop computer due to technical difficulties. (My kids broke it)
But I was in my hotel room Friday night and my heart sank when I saw the news from Phoenix and the helicopter crash.
I got caught up on all the details when I got home, watching and rewatching all the clips and analysis.
My heart certainly goes out to the families of those four.
I saw an interview today with the 14 year old son of Rick Krolak. That kid is holding up well. He loved his father and said he'd rather have 14 years with his father than 70 with anyone else. Wow!
I didn't even have my laptop computer due to technical difficulties. (My kids broke it)
But I was in my hotel room Friday night and my heart sank when I saw the news from Phoenix and the helicopter crash.
I got caught up on all the details when I got home, watching and rewatching all the clips and analysis.
My heart certainly goes out to the families of those four.
I saw an interview today with the 14 year old son of Rick Krolak. That kid is holding up well. He loved his father and said he'd rather have 14 years with his father than 70 with anyone else. Wow!
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Garfield's Birthday
Not the Cartoon
Today was Garfield's Birthday. Not the cat in the cartoon, but the kitty at the clinic.
Garfield arrived, abandoned actually, at the Guil-Rand Animal Clinic about 6 years ago. He was suffering from a BB Shot wound to his back and suffered nuerological injuries that kept him from being able to stand up without falling over.
Whoever left Garfield at the Clinic never came back for him and Garfield became the new King of the Clinic. It must have been fate because the previous clinic cat "pee'd on everything" and so he went to a new home.
Somehow the birthday party tradition was started and grew bigger everyear, with Garfields favorite humans coming to celebrate with him and while he get's trippy on the catnip and feather toys, the people have pizza, cake, chips, drinks and other snacks.
Garfield did rack up on the toys and treats. And the good news....all of his old toys, cushions and beds get donated to the rescue cats that call the clinic their temporary home.
Watch the Garfield Story HERE
Garfield arrived, abandoned actually, at the Guil-Rand Animal Clinic about 6 years ago. He was suffering from a BB Shot wound to his back and suffered nuerological injuries that kept him from being able to stand up without falling over.
Whoever left Garfield at the Clinic never came back for him and Garfield became the new King of the Clinic. It must have been fate because the previous clinic cat "pee'd on everything" and so he went to a new home.
Somehow the birthday party tradition was started and grew bigger everyear, with Garfields favorite humans coming to celebrate with him and while he get's trippy on the catnip and feather toys, the people have pizza, cake, chips, drinks and other snacks.
Garfield did rack up on the toys and treats. And the good news....all of his old toys, cushions and beds get donated to the rescue cats that call the clinic their temporary home.
Watch the Garfield Story HERE
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