It's Tuesday, and I'm back in action after a relaxing weekend in Savannah. Here's a few items from LLR headquarters.

1. Went to X-men: The Last Stand on Friday. I guess it was an okay movie. But the more I think about it, the more I loathe it. Pointless deaths. Bad dialogue. Horrible wire effects. Of course, none of that stopped the film from pullin' in a ton of cash, so more power to them, I guess. I'm one step closer to juicing-up my home theater and never going to out to the movies again. Anyone else dislike it as much as me?

2. Went to Neighborhoodies last night to order up a custom tee, and I laughed at all their custom Soul Patrol gear. If I saw a Taylor hicks shirt anywhere else, it'd be completely lame, but somehow they make it all look kinda hip and clever.

3. I can't tell you enough about how much I love SpoilerFix. There's a fresh batch of season 3 Lost news tidbits. It's going to be a long, cruel summer.

Oh man. It's finally Friday (and sweeps is over). I was screwing around in blogger and somehow ended up with a new template tonight. I was looking it over a moment ago, and there's something strangely socialist about it. Anyway, I decided I'd rather have more robot pics than a boring page that validates XHTML and all that computrickery.

I finally got the Freelance Hellraiser remix of the Editor's song "Blood" - it's totally rad, despite the fact I worked my ass off tracking it down only to find out that a superior version of the single is being release in 2 weeks. Aggh! This is why I got out of the whole "buying compact discs" thing. Stupid recording industry.

I haven't done my weekly playlist for a while, so here's a new one:



Oh! And I just remembered that X-Men 3 comes out today! Have a swell weekend everybody.

I stayed up really late last night watching all my Wednesday night sweeps shows. Taylor Hicks winning American Idol wasn't that much of a suprise, and the whole two hour paegent was sort've oddly entertaining.

And then there's LOST. I need to watch it again. Of all the "revelations" in last night show [minor spoiler--->], I thought the broken statue on the beach was the most intruiging.

Moving along...

Below is a video clip sent to me by my pal, Melinda. She sent nothing else, other than the link and a cryptic message that read,"so disturbing." Enjoy!

Tonight's the night for me to cast the winning American Idol vote for Taylor Hicks.

SOUL PATROL!



I'm going to yell that all day tomorrow. In the news room. Out car windows. All day.

Hopefully this will break my losing streak when it comes to predicting the finalists.

Today our station went out in full force to pay our respects to Chris Gulfman.



I snapped the shot above after the service, as our long procesion of news vehicles made its way through town.

Not much to post today. As a diversion from scouring the internet for Lost spoilers, I'm working on a redesign of the blog.

Here's a small photo dump of the robot pics I took tonight:

The last real conversation I had with Chris Gulfman was last Friday, as we painted the photographers lounge. He walked in, and after a moment of sizing up our work, turned to Cooper and I and said, "If this was my house you'd both be fired."

Classic Gulfman.

His passing came a shock to everyone in the news room. I didn't know him as well as everyone else, but I'm sad to see him go. He was a good guy, and he'll be missed.



I'm going to cut this short, but I want to share with you my favorite Gulfman story:

I had just started at WYFF, and hadn't had much interaction with the dayside photogs. So, one day I wandered back into the edit bays to spark up some conversation. I noticed that every photographer was randomly wearing some kind of striped polo shirt (it was really odd). That is, everyone but Gulfman. Jokingly, I turned to him and said, "Oh man, Chris. You must not have gotten the memo. We were all supposed to wear striped polo shirts today." I had no idea what I was in for. He fired back with, "Well if they wanted me to wear a polo shirt than they're going to have to buy me one! Just because it's in a memo doesn't mean I'm going to rush out and get a striped polo shirt. I'm already wearing a channel 4 shirt, and it's not exaclty new. I don't know what they expect..."

There were some guys laughing behind me. One of the other photogs gave me a look, and I realized that I had opened a 'can of worms'. It was quite a rant he was on. I think maybe he thought there was an actual memo. I'm not sure, but it was surreal. It didn't matter. He cut right through all the bullshit, and let everyone know how exactly how he felt about it.

Classic Gulfman.

Thursday our station sponsored a big shred-a-thon event, with live shot locations in several towns. I shot live reports all day from Asheville, NC. No matter how hard I tried, no one was fooled when I attempted to disguise the WXII truck to look like one of ours.



weekend stuff:

1. I want a strawberry Kit Kat...now. I find myself browsing by the candy aisle in stores quite often, searching for what's certain-to-be my new favorite treat. But, unfortunately it hasn't been released here yet.

2. Despite all the negative reviews, I went to the DaVinci Code this weekend. You know, I wouldn't want the 50 kabillion dollars that Sony spent on marketing to go to waste. I liked it. There were some goofy moments and it was little too churchy for me at times, but I thought it was pretty decent. Can't wait for DaVinci Code 2 (you know it's going to happen).

Today I shot a series of live shots with my sports anchor Geoff. It was pretty- run-of-the-mill, but I have the following observations:

1) I really wanted to shoot at clay pigeons. But, I don't think they would've let me if I had asked.

2) I also really wanted to get better angles than the "stay safely behind the marksmen" vantage point. 'Better angles' would've required me standing in front of the 12 year-olds wielding massive shotguns. Luckily, my live shot cable wasn't long enough, or I probably would've wandered out in that direction.

3) There was non-stop shooting during our live shots. The whole time I kept thinking, "I wonder how this sounds on TV?"

4) Geoff is a terrible marksman.


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Other stuff:

1. I REALLY want to buy a photojournalist action figure that Lenslinger just got. Then I want to order my custom made head from these people. Seriously, I'd have the most awesome stop motion movies EVER. I team up with my Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Captain Kirk dolls figures, and go kick plastic ass.

2. Yesterday, I gave a little update about the photographer lounge. I just realized that I have photographic evidence! Here's Mark Lyon and Cooper getting ready to show off their mad painting skillz.



3. I have a favorite new word. I just saw a soundbite on the local news from a guy who got sick when he was out hiking. He said, "I felt all swiminated" before passing out. Swiminated? I just looked it up, and (sadly) it's not a real word. That will - in no way - stop me from using it at least 3 times tomorrow.

Anyway, I'm gonna end this post now. I'm starting to feel a little swiminated, and what not.

Move over Little Lost Robot, there's a new blogger in town. His name is JL Watkins and he's got a weird, little video blog on his station's website.



Okay, I'm done with talking in 3rd person. Starting today, I joined the ranks of my station's website bloggers, with my very own blog page, "Click on JL". Right now the posts (which showcase video blogs) are mostly tie-ins to some sweeps projects that we're working on. But, eventually I'll be hitting all the hard issues: gadgets, computer electrickery, and internet stuff. No dancing robots, I'm afraid.

I wasn't sure about doing a station blog at first, but everyone has been really supportive and are basically letting me be myself - and the posting schedule is pretty felixible. All in all: pretty rad. [still, no dancing robots]


Monday update:

1. Less than one week left to read The DaVinci Code before it hits theatres. Probably not going to happen - not with all the kick-ass sweeps television shows that're on. [Also, from all the relentless trailers and tv spots, I've already figured out that Ian McKellen is probably a villain.]

2. This is the line where I talk about how fanatical I'm getting about "Lost".

3. Our photographer lounge project at work has entered phase two. [We moved junk from one room to another]. Take that all you naysayers!

4. I'm think getting addicted to World of Warcraft.

That is all for now.
Robot out.

Tonight was some interesting television (and other things I'm thinking about):

1. My American Idol theory crumbled, as the bald guy Chris Daughtry (I refused to learn his name until tonight) was given the axe. Also, watching people's dreams get shattered and stomped into the ground on national television is so much more vivid in HD! At least Taylor Hicks is still in the game. Soul Patrol!

2. Is it just me, or did the last quarter of tonight's Lost remind anyone of the end of Matrix Reloaded? That whole Architect guy, and that stuff.

3. I'm kinda weirdly intruiged by that Cingular wireless commercial - the one with the impersonators. I don't know why. Although, I am unnerved at the version where the "can you hear me now?" guy has a close-up - then I hate it.

4. My favorite E3 coverage has been the Sigil games blog. They're a small game production studio (publishing the soon-to-be mega RP game Vanguard), and they're blogging all the behind-the-scenes stuff from their booth on the showroom floor.

5. There's a press release at my station from some marketing folks that encourage us to run clips from X-Men: The Last Stand along with our weathercast. Apparently, the scenes of Storm (Halle Berry) conjuring up severe weather would be a nice fit along with the 7 day forecast. I can see where someone might think it's clever (if not completely unrealistic). Seriously, what station would do that? I'm guessing none, unless it was in the Gotham City or Metropolis markets.

Today's assignment revolved around the presentation of a new billboard, aimed at helping solve a cold murder case. Now, if there's one thing I like to get creative with, it's promo teases - especially in sweeps.

So, that's how my reporter Marc Willis found himself wearing a wireless microphone, safety harness, and a genuine look of terror as he climbed the (maybe) 100 ft pole up to the billboard.



Once he got up there (and this was after some serious convincing), he did some outstanding teases and stand-ups. And when he came back down, he wanted to strangle me we both agreed that it would be a great element for our story.

But, there was so much other interesting stuff in the show that there wasn't time for our teases. Doh!

That's sweeps for ya!

Driving home from Atlanta this weekend, I reluctantly pulled-over at a truck stop to fuel-up on diesel and drink caffeine. While I was walking around the store in a daze, I strolled past the ubiquitous aisle filled with Nascar merchandise and civil war memorabilia. My eyes scanned past dozens of porcelain confederate soldiers, and were preternaturally drawn to the end of the aisle - where I found the most out-of-place item:

The Rock'N Robot!




Like most robot toys, the Rock'N Robot is manufactured in China. But, what sets this guy apart from all the rest of his emotionless robot-communist friends is what's branded right there on the package: "Everyone will go nuts over him!" and "Watch him bust a move!"

But, rather then sit here and try to describe the robot's rump-shaking to you, I decided to YouTube (is that a verb now?) a little video of me trying to make it dance.



As you can see, it only "busts a move" for around 2-10 seconds at a time. But, I'll reluctantly gladly add him to my growing collection of dancing robots.

Several things on this partly-sunny Monday afternoon:

1. The Southeast regional 2006 Emmy nominations were announced on Friday, and this Robot has been tagged for two nominations this year (out of my station's freaking NINETEEN!).

2. I've been dying to get into the beta testing for this years most anticipated MMORPG, Vanguard, and I finally found a way in (thanks to the most recent issue of Computer Gamer). Yes, I read a magazine called Computer Gamer - I'm that much of a computer dork.

3. I received a little present in the mail today from my newest MySpace friend, KillerCrochet :



Some kick-ass shrinky dinks made just for me! Thanks! She's quickly making her way up my "favorite readers who send me stuff" list (the top position is still firmly held by my pal, Mac.)

4. I'm obsessed with The Editors, and I've been (slowly) hunting down all the rarities and remixes I can find. Recently, I came across this totally rad cover of REM's "Orange Crush" [download mp3].

5. Can't wait for Lost this week! I'm avoiding spoilers whenever possible, but I do check for little hints from SpoilerFix from time to time. That, and I watch the preview clip over-and-over again...

6. The goose is back. I didn't kill it with Pringles.

There's always something weird going in my apartment complex. There was the devil doll, the crazy iPod lady, and now there's the goose.



At least I think it's a goose (I don't know birds all that well). He just showed up one day at your complex, and has claimed an area between the security gate and the Reedy river as his own.

At first I was kinda, "Stupid bird" or "What's that stupid bird looking at me for." But, now I've grown quite accustomed to seeing him hanging out by the gate when I get home.

I think he might be some kind of reincarnated businessman (or television lackey) who died in recent years, and is now spending his second life as a goose. I say that because, after a hard day's work, I drive through the gate and he gives me a look that says, "I hear ya man. Believe me, I've been there."

I can't really remember the day he first showed up, but I was kinda disappointed that he wasn't around when I got home today. Also, I certainly hope it doesn't have anything to do with me feeding him several "Pizzalicious" flavored Pringles.

Been a week since I posted. I know. I know. But, I have an excuse. It's the same one I have at the beginning of every NOVEMBER, FEBRUARY, or MAY (and the occasional JULY).

Sweeps.

Time for special projects (that I can't speak of), and interesting developments (that I can't talk about) and all sorts of semi-clandestine stuff.



I'll be posting some "interesting" stuff later, I promise.

Random business:

1. If you happen to be running around Argent Dawn server of WoW, then feel free to mail Evander the night elf hunter, some gold pieces for magical pants and a sword to kill giant spiders with.

2. The new Marvel comics summer crossover, "Civil War" hit store shelves today. Captain America threw down. This one issue will probably be better than half the blockbuster movies that come out this summer.

3. I missed American Idol tonight. I don't think I care anymore. (I still predict the bald guy winning).

4. Tonight's Lost was AWESOME! If you haven't seen it - go do it now. If you don't watch Lost, then...well...you need to start. After the episode aired, I went over to the various fan message boards and everyone's minds were so blown that they could only type in nothing but ''smilies'' and 13 year-old-girl-chatroom-speak: OMG! STFU! :0

The other night I was running around in World of Warcraft, and just as I was about to log out I was sent a private message from one of my Elven kinsman. "Her" name was Alyydienne (or something like that, since Elven names are ridiculous in that way).



Anyway, she needed help fighting off a band of evil tree people, and I was happy to go lend my dagger to the cause. Afterwhile we fought our way out of the forest, through a gauntlet of nasty virtual monsters. My newlyfound sidekick was handy with a bastard sword, but there was something "off" about her/him.

Eventually my mission was complete, and we parted ways. But, as I ran down the path I heard again from my Elven friend.

"thank u 4 helpin me"
"sure. no problem. best of luck" I replied.
"u r nice. thank u."

A moment later I got another message:

"how old r u?"
I pause for a moment, and then answer, "30"
"oh." was the reply - followed by:
"oh.................."

There was a long pause, I was about to write, "What?"
But, a moment later Alyydienne replied with, "i'm 10"

WTF!? Ten? It was almost midnight and there was a ten year-old running, killing monsters online, and chatting up strangers. And did I mention the kid was ten?

I wrote back, "Seems like you're doing a great job, kid. later!" and then I logged out, right there.

Jeez.