Tuesday, June 23, 2009

iPhone 3Gs Review

iPhone 3Gs Review.

It's very simple, the iPhone I had was the original one. Which meant I couldn't utilize 3G. So my review is easy, if you don't have an iPhone or only have a non-3G iPhone, I would recommend getting the 3Gs. There are countless features I can now take advantage of especially speed. The 3Gs operates much quicker and faster than my original one in every aspect. This is most useful when using Google Maps which essentially works as good as a GPS now.

Some very cool features that are greatly improving my iPhone usage.

Voice Command - This is a huge help when wanting to call someone in the car (or really do anything iPhone related)

Shake to Shuffle - very cool that you can shake the phone to shuffle to the next song instead of launching the iPod app, etc...

Voice Memos & Video Capture - These are huge additions. I used to use an app for Voice Memos but it was so complicated. The video capturing is a great reason to upgrade. Although I haven't done a ton of "editing" on the iPhone, it's a great feature that was also added. It's very nice to trim scenes you shoot.

Compass - is Fun

There are some very cool things coming soon as well like the "bump" feature where you can just bump another persons iPhone to share info via Bluetooth. As well as the pics in SMS messaging.

So just as I stated in my first paragraph. If you don't have a 3G iPhone, it's worth the upgrade.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Top 10 Reason Why Back to the Future, Part 2 is Really Really Bad



My wife runs like a maniac- Multiple marathons, daily miles, random 5ks, etc...
She slowly got me to start running. Although it's been years and I still can't go very far or very fast. That being said, I have progressed. This year was the first year that I learned how to run on a treadmill. I could never do it before. It was just so boring and not the same as being outside. A couple of sub zero degree winter days, a TV moved to the basement and DVD player have now changed that. I can finally run on the treadmill as long as I have a DVD to watch. Of course, I don't have many great DVDs. This has forced me to often watch some bad old movies. My intentions were noble last week when I started watching Back to the Future. A simple mindless and enjoyable popcorn flick. Perfect for running. However, I got a little lazy and didn't change the DVD after it was completed. And the DVD was the whole B2F Trilogy. So I resorted to Part 2. Which leads me to today's post.-

TOP 10 REASONS WHY BACK TO THE FUTURE PART 2 IS REALLY REALLY BAD.

10 - They switched Jennifers. Somehow Elizabeth Shue becomes Marty's Girl. A step up I suppose but they didn't think we'd notice?

9. Michael J. Fox in drag. The future Marty McFly has a son (played by MJF and oh yeah a daughter not played by Elizabeth Shue, but by Michael J. Fox again in drag. I guess the McFly genes are the dominant ones)

8. Flea. Why is Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers in this film? I suppose this could be the 8th reason the film is good too?

7. Cowboy Billy Zane. Yep, Billy Zane is in the sequel as one of Biffs cronies. Not sure what's worse the movies he's done before Titanic or after.

6. No Crispin Glover. That wacko is a genius. Suppose that's why he chose not to be in the film.

5. The closer we get to 2015 this movie just keeps getting worse. Transparent ties?

4. Way too much time travel. They travel to the future, then Biff goes to 1955, then Biff coms back to the future, then Marty and Doc go back to alternate 1985, then Marty & Doc go back to 1955 to stop alternate 1985 from happening. There's even a chalkboard explanation by Dr. Brown.

3. LOST the TV show. Now that we have a new canon on time travel Back to the Future 2 becomes more irrelevant.

2. Teen Wolf. Let's face it Teen Wolf came out right after Back to the Future Part 1. That was a good enough sequel for me.

1. No Huey Lewis tune.

Monday, April 6, 2009

How's it going?

The business of life has been unbelievable. Like many of us, I'm just trying to keep work moving. Things have slowed down a lot in the marketing and advertising business as they have everywhere else. I notice nowadays you have to work that much harder for less lucrative projects and scenarios.

As well, I've gotten involved in my local town and have been either attending meetings, volunteering, campaigning or just supporting something every day of the week.

Then on top of that "Hometown Tales" has been really busy as well. More requests for shows, more email than ever and even a lot of sponsorship interest. The only problem is both Bryan and I have been so busy. Bryan has a blossoming family with kids that just keep growing.

I do have a wife as well they oddly enough still enjoys my company. I'm looking forward to finally just having some good ole' fashion fun. Hopefully this summer.

Of course, all that being said - Life is still fun.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

The Venture into Local Politics

The Venture Into Local Politics

I like to be active. I like to be involved. Pretty much whatever I do in life, I can't help from getting more involved in what I'm involved in. Whether it be a hobby, work or association, there is a certain energy that brews inside of me that likes to "get things done". For most of my career and professional life I've been a self-starter so when I think things should be done a certain way I like to get up and do something. Fortunately, or maybe unfortunately, there are a lot of us like this.

Several years ago, I began regularly attending my local town council meetings. There was buzz of the cliques on the council,- the alliances, who was with who and who wasn't. But frankly, I didn't care. I didn't really pay attention. What interested me more was moving forward. I then supported a candidate for mayor that didn't win but I was still open to the new mayor, Ted Hussa, who was elected. I was quick to offer my volunteer services to the new mayor.

There was a vacancy on the council (the mayor's former spot). So 3 appointees went before the council to be chosen. I thought the choice was so obvious. There was one guy who clearly had the right attitude, experience and demeanor to be a council person. Guess what? They didn't choose him. I was shocked. Instead they chose a woman who seemed to be a nice enough lady and a generous volunteer. However, I didn't think she expressed good decision-making ability. She didn't seem to understand the business aspects of local government. She just didn't feel right. The alliances on the council also became evident. Three voted one way, three the other and the Mayor broke the tie on appointing this person to council.

I knew then I would someday run for local office. I actually reached out to the council President, Tom Andes, who I had met and worked with before, to ask how the whole thing worked. I realized that a candidate could run against the recent appointment but I was hoping the first appointee would run instead. Eventually, the council person who was appointed for Ward 3 of town, Laurie Toth was defeating in the next public election. Now the 3rd Ward is represented by Bob Grant, an active and vocal Democrat in a mainly Republican town.

While political affiliation is not as relevent on many local issues, I still believe my town is in need of fresher, newer and less polarizing representation. Democrat Bob Grant has his own history of politics and polarization. So I'll give it my go as a new voice.

For the past 8 years, I've been very busy with Hometown Tales, an online brand, radio show & video program featuring strange history and tales from all over the world. I'll still continue my collaboration with my colleague Bryan Minogue on this highly enjoyable and entertaining venture. However, I assure any followers of the program that I won't be flooding you with political mumbo jumbo. I'll may plug an occaisional donation to my campaign here and there but just because I've revealed my affiliation don't think that it will effect my views on topics of the show. Like many of us in today's day and age, I still consider myself a pretty independent-minded individual. My campaign for my Council is much more about the town than political affiliations, alliances or petty politics.

Of course, I've already learned that local politics can be a lot nastier than the stuff we see on TV. There's a lot of back-room negotiations, gossip and personal attacks that are already popping up. I do expect that I'll first run against another candidate in the June primaries then hopefully move on to the general election. I am ready for the ride.