Are You Ready for some HDTV?

I had the honor of writing a couple tech articles about HDTV leading up to the Super Bowl.

Check them out HERE and some buying advice HERE.



I'm happy with my Panasonic 32" LCD.

PrimeTime : Juvenile Corrections set to air 2/23/06

PROGRAMMING NOTE: The Juvenile Corrections update will not air this week. Please standby for a future date.





In August we produced an hour long broadcast on the Arizona Juvenile Corrections Department. We received tons of feedback and viewers asked us to update the progress of the five youth we profiled.


On Thursday, Feb 23rd we will be showing our program again, but with updates on Ashley, Casey, Jerilyn, Jesse, and Conrad.

Make sure to tune in and check it out. ABC News PrimeTime, 2/23/06 at 10pm.

Consumer Electronic Show 2006

I had the good fortune to attend the 2006 Consumer Electronic Show for ABC News in Las Vegas, Nevada. I did some video reporting for ABC News Now and wrote some articles for ABCNews.com.

Check out some of my articles and let me know what you think.

New Kids on the Technology Super Block
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Business/story?id=1489573

A Glimpse at This Year's Tech Wish Lists
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Business/story?id=1489513

Dell, Intel Unveil New Concepts at 2006 Consumer Electronics Show
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Business/story?id=1477380

Sin City Overrun By Tech Geeks
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Business/story?id=1473241



I received a nice mention in our company wide weekly newsletter:

-----Original Message-----
From: Slavin, Paul
Sent: Friday, January 06, 2006 18:49
To: ABCNews ALL
Subject: note


2006 is off to an extraordinary start. Our coverage spanned the globe with strong reporting backhttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifed up by terrific internal coordination and communication among all parts of the news division. This week – we showed what we mean when we say ABC News is available anytime, anywhere.

OF NOTE
ABC News Now provided regular reports from the Consumer Electronic show in Las Vegas with Eric Strauss on “Ahead of the Curve” and “Inside the Newsroom.”

ABC News content will soon be available on the iTunes Music store. Video podcasts will include daily segments from Good Morning America, the new World News Tonight webcast, as well content from ABC News Now.

*** Thanks to all those that helped me on the ground. Special thanks to my host!

Award Season

It's award season in the network news industry and the Juvenile Corrections program I worked on this summer won our first award.


2005 Communicator Awards:
An International Competition Honoring
Excellence In Visual Communications

Primetime
"Juvenile Corrections"
Award of Distinction
Broadcast News/Documentary
In an hour long investigation, Primetime goes inside Arizona's juvenile correction facilities and meets a group of boys and girls at a critical turning point.

Executive Producer: David Sloan
Correspondent: Chris Cuomo
Producers: Eric M. Strauss; Mark Stanoch
Senior Producers: Chris Vlasto
Senior Editorial Producer: Karen Burnes
Associate Producer: Christina Krol
Production Associate: Jack O'Brien
Editors: Vanessa Cochran; Faith Jones; Gina Pampinella

Trapped in the Closet

R. Kelly has produced a Hip Hop Opera in 12 parts available for sale on DVD. It is hysterical. I don't think it was supposed to be, but the situations in the opera are just so silly that it's entertaining. Check it out here or here.



My favorite late night host Jimmy Kimmel has made his own version of the opera which is even more fun. Check out the videos here: (Must sit through a quick commercial)


World Premier of "The Pizza"
Episode #2
Episode #3
Episode #4
Episode #5
Episode #6

Make sure to watch them all as they get better with each video (Less inside jokes and more cameos towards the end of the six episodes.)


SNL: Chronicles of Narnia:
But if you really want to laugh plop down $1.99 and check out this SNL music video:
Andy Samberg and Chris Parnell rap about their Lazy Sunday which includes going to see the movie CHRONIC..(WHAT?)..CLES OF NARNIA and buying cupcakes. They would actualy make my Beastie Boys proud!

Download Saturday Night Live on iTunes

The Rising Tied - Fort Minor - Go get it

I'm a big Linkin Park fan. I may be their only fan who isn't a 14 year old boy, but I just love the music, words, uniqueness, energy, and respect the marketing genius that is LP. I was skeptical when Mike Shinoda, one of the two lead singers, went off and started recording his own side project.

After listening to the album I am really happy that Fort Minor's Rising Tied is actualy a well produced interesting album. Get yourself a copy of the CD. You will be happy too!


Here's a review from a critic:
Fort Minor: Rising Tied (4 stars out of 5) | Orlando Sentinel Review




Here's where to buy it: ($5 off)
Rising Tide $5 Off!

Here is where to download a couple of the songs for free:
Download Remember The Name / Download Petrified

Disney Shopping 20% off

I work for the Walt Disney Company. If you are looking at my Blog you must be a friend or family. Why not follow my special link and take 20% off all your purchases? Just in time for the holidays!

That's right kids. 20% all your purchases at the Disney Store Online.

DisneyShopping.com has everything you need to make your holiday special. All you have to do to start saving is click the link below.

Special link for 20% off!

So don't miss out -- this event ends December 15!

How to redeem your Friends & Family Coupon:
1. Click here start shopping:
2. Place one or more eligible items in your
Shopping Cart.
3. Click the Friends & Family banner in the
Shopping Cart.
4. Apply the promotion in the Special Discounts
and Offers Box.
5. Continue Shopping or Begin Checkout.

Disney Honors Tulane Football

Disney's Wide World of Sports Honors Tulane University

Tulane University will be taking home an unexpected award on Thursday — one which they never dreamed of during preseason practice.

The school's football team has been named this year's winner of Disney's Wide World of Sports Spirit Award, given annually to college football's most inspirational student-athlete or team.

NFL Hall of Fame player Kellen Winslow, Disney's director of Sports and Recreation Planning and New Event Development, will present the award to Tulane head coach Chris Scelfo and seniors Matt Traina and Brandon Spincer as part of ESPN's live broadcast of The Home Depot 2005 College Football Awards. The 15th annual awards show at the Walt Disney World Resort will take place 7-9 p.m., ET.

Specifically, the team is being recognized for its resilience and its indomitable spirit in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the team's home city of New Orleans last August.

Mother nature forced the team to abandon its campus, and Tulane played 11 games in 11 different stadiums, including "home" games in six different cities. The team endured countless logistical challenges in an effort to fulfill the request of university president Scott Cowen to "carry the torch, be the face and represent the name" of Tulane University.

"The Tulane University football team handled these incredibly difficult circumstances the same way we would hope that we would if faced with the same challenges — with fortitude, resolve and unwavering optimism," says Disney Sports and Recreation Vice President Reggie Williams, a former Cincinnati Bengals linebacker.

"Their determination amid such extraordinary circumstances is a testament to the character and leadership within their football program, and is reflective of the very ideals that led us to create Disney's Wide World of Sports Spirit Award."

Cliche Nation

There are only so many words in the English language, but surely we can come up with more original phrases than they do on NBC's The Apprentice - Donald Trump edition.

I was just catching up on season 4 when I noticed two ridiculous cliches repeating themselves. Surely, at the end of the day the contestants can step up to the plate and think of some alternative colloquialisms to use.

cli·ché = a trite or obvious remark

My College ID: Tulane

I graduated from Tulane Univeristy and loved my time in New Orleans, before it was flooded.


Yesterday I was cleaning out my drawers and I ran across this old memento - my college ID. It struck me how much personal information was placed on it in the mid 90s. I wonder now with identity theft a concearn of the common man if they still have photos, signatures, date of birth, social security numbers and a simple sticker that allowed me to post grocery charges to my parents back home.

If you are confused by the computer center sticker... Maybe you think AOL invented the internet or that you were cutting edge when you started IMing your grandparents back in 2002.

Asking what Gopher and Mosaic is? If you don't know - you don't know. It's what Al Gore, Marc Andreesen and I used to create the internet.

Cell Phone Photos

Check out some of my photos taken with my Moto v600 cell phone.

Click to see them all here

ABC News PrimeTime: Safety

I Co-produced a show about what to do if you are a female and caught in a dangerous situation. It's good information to really help you. Check it out. PrimeTime, Thursdays at 10pm/9 Central on your local ABC channel.

Check out expert advice online too:

American Express Rewards

Ok, so anyone who knows me knows that I am a miles horde. I have been saving up miles on my American Express Card, Marriott, Starwood, Multiple Airlines. I don't think I've ever even cahsed any in *.

I see now that AMEX must have lost their mind and they are giving away prizes like 5 day rafting trips for 1000 points. http://exclusivesevent.membershiprewards.com/

The trick is you have to log on at 2pm EST and be the first to claim the prize. I've been trying to figure out how to get the goods, but have had no luck. Anyone already claim a prize and wanna let me know how you did it?

- Browser? Time you signed in? Were you sitting on a prize and just hit redeem? Did you have to refresh right at 2pm? Ia their 2pm my 2pm (Fast or slow)? There could be a bonus in it for any leads that work!

This guy seems legit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/getofab/54421997/ Maybe he will help.

Elisa on Martha Stewart Apprentice

Did you catch my famous pastry sculptor sister on NBC?


If you didn't you may want to sign up for her mailing list. She is starting a newsletter about her company. She has a book coming out soon and more TV appearances.

Sign up by sending a blank email to: cakenews-Subscribe@confetticakes.com

This is her cake company's site: Confetti Cakes, hand sculpted, edible, works of art.

Collectibles

Need a gift in a flash for me? My new interest is emergancy rescue vehicle models. Code 3 Collectibles is where they can be found. The smaller the better. 1/64 scale is what I like.

My Member number is:
C3A1486

http://www.code3.net/

Juvi Corrections on ABC TV

I've been working a good part of the summer on a program that is scheduled to air this Thursday on ABC: PrimeTime Live at 10pm. We visited the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections and watched as they tried to reform incorrigible youth.

Please check it out and let me know what you think. This Thursday at 10pm on ABC. Spread the word.

See the stories online here here here here and here.
Buy the program here.

CHRIS CUOMO TAKES AN UNPRECEDENTED JOURNEY INSIDE A JUVENILE CORRECTIONS CENTER AND MEETS SOME TROUBLED TEENS WHO HAVE ONE LAST CHANCE TO CHANGE THEIR WAYS

“Primetime” Airs Thursday, August 4 at 10pm E.T.

They start out like most children – bright, loving, eager to please -- until something goes terribly wrong. Across the country, some 104,000 troubled teens are locked up in juvenile correction facilities. In an hour-long “Primetime” report, Co-Anchor Chris Cuomo goes inside two of these facilities in Phoenix, AZ, and meets a group of kids at a critical turning point – they have one last shot to either change their ways or face the prospect of doing time in an adult prison. “Primetime” was granted unprecedented access to Arizona’s system for juveniles and spent nearly six months following these teens as they wound their way in and out of the system. Along the way, they share their shame, their secrets and their dreams. They show their pride and promise. And in the end, they reveal that behind the behind the tough talk and bravado, they are still just kids. “PRIMETIME" airs THURSDAY, AUGUST 4 (10:00-11:00pm ET) on the ABC Television Network.

Do Not Call list

I recently received a message at work suggesting I register my cell phone number in the DO NOT CALL LIST.

"The national directory of cell phone numbers is about to be published. Once this happens telemarketers will have access to your cell phone number! In addition to being a disruption, these calls will also use your cellular minutes.

If you wish to avoid this, register your cell number on the National Do Not Call list , managed by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, as soon as possible. You can do this by going on-line to <http://www.donotcall.gov> or by calling 888-382-1222 from the phone you wish to register."


I will not be registering my number with the DO NOT CALL list. There have been a lot of legal challenges to the whole notion of the do not call list and I feel like there is a chance that the list will be given to telemarketers eventually.

I don't like the idea of the gov't having my numbers in a database. Our protectors have been known to slip up and post information on web sites by accident. Plus, an enterprising gov't employee making $9 an hour may copy the database and sell it to an unscrupulous telemarketer.

From the best I can tell the cell phone directory is years away and will be "opt-in" meaning you will need to give your cell phone carrier permission to publish your number. It will also be a directory service where you have to call an operator and ask for a specific number instead of a phone book that people can copy from.

My $.02,

-EMS

Election Day Fun

See who your neighbors donated to: http://www.fundrace.org/neighbors.php

Don't know where your poling place is: http://www.mypollingplace.com

Eminem's colorful Music Video about voting: http://www.gnn.tv/content/eminem_mosh.html

Making Noise

It's nice when something that airs on our program, ABC NEWS PRIMETIME LIVE, brings attention to an important topic.

"North Carolina Congressman Walter Jones says he has no plans to take down a display outside his Washington office showing pictures of American service members killed in action.
Jones, a Republican, and Rep. Rahm Emanuel, a Democrat from Illinois, have memorialized the troops killed in Iraq and Afghanistan by placing photographs in the hallway outside their offices.

Frank Tiscone, the House buildings superintendent, asked the two congressmen to take the photos down, saying they were not permitted under House rules to show "any device which brings into public display any person, party, organization or movement."

Jones and Emanuel replied in a letter saying, "While we will not be removing the displays, we are more than willing to listen to suggestions of other methods to present the display should the staff wish to share them."

Jones, meanwhile, is asking the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee to investigate concerns aired on an ABC News "Primetime Live" report about 4,000 American troops who returned from Iraq severely wounded.

"Something is terribly wrong when U.S. soldiers are telling their superiors that they are 'better off dead financially, for their families, if they died as opposed to coming back maimed,' " Jones wrote in a letter to Rep. Duncan Hunter. "This should never happen in America."

Win us $100,000

Click on my link for Vote or Not and register.

http://es11fga.VOTEorNOT.org

Two web producers are giving away the money to promote the importance of voting. I looked into it. It's 100% legit. Sign up and win us some money!