No laughing matter February 26, 2011
Posted by Mike C. in Internet, News, Personal, Politics.add a comment
Earlier this week, far-left blogger Ian Murphy made news by prank calling Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker (R). In the call, Murphy posed as billionaire David Koch (“Coke”) and engaged in a 20-minute conversation with Gov. Walker, trying to bait him into saying something incriminating. Depending on your ideology, Murphy either got nothing out of the prank and Walker didn’t say anything new, or Murphy is a hero for trapping the sinister Walker.
The Daily Caller made note of Murphy’s past. Besides a fervent anti-war position, he went to a creationist museum while pretending to have Asperger Syndrome. The title of his post on the experience was very offensive: “Let There Be Retards.” (It hurts to write that.)
As someone that actually has Asperger Syndrome, Murphy’s representation of AS was an intolerant caricature. I doubt even my fellow Aspie friend Jason Ross would act like that. Worse yet, that caricature appeared to be for the sole purpose of screwing with a creationist museum. I don’t think I’m a creationist. I rely on what I learned in science classes from elementary school in Freeport to middle and high school in Wantagh to college at C.W. Post. But my grievance is over his mockery of a stereotypical Aspie.
One symptom of Asperger Syndrome is hypersensitivity in many areas, including emotion. Murphy’s mockery and slurs an emotional response out of me. They hurt. I took them personally. Can you blame me? AS is no laughing matter. It isn’t something to pretend to have and then mock later on online.
If I get attacked personally for this somewhere on the internet, so be it. I’ve unfortunately been attacked before. I’m sure that can be said for many people. For all the positive things on the internet, there are some harsh negatives.
New blog header January 11, 2011
Posted by Mike C. in Internet, Personal.add a comment
After seven months, here is the new blog header:
I had trouble getting a good smile in all the pictures I took tonight. This is the one I chose.
2010 in review (WordPress post) January 2, 2011
Posted by Mike C. in Internet.add a comment
I received an e-mail today from Team WordPress and the Stats Helper Monkeys. They gave me the option of posting the stats in the e-mail to The Mike Chimeri Blog. I chose to do that:
The stats helper monkeys at WordPress.com mulled over how this blog did in 2010, and here’s a high level summary of its overall blog health:
The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads This blog is on fire!.
Crunchy numbers
A Boeing 747-400 passenger jet can hold 416 passengers. This blog was viewed about 8,800 times in 2010. That’s about 21 full 747s.
In 2010, there were 37 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 180 posts. There were 1039 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 6gb. That’s about 3 pictures per day.
The busiest day of the year was January 27th with 280 views. The most popular post that day was Bold & Fresh Tour at Westbury!.
Where did they come from?
The top referring sites in 2010 were tesh.com, homepage.mac.com, facebook.com, olbermannwatch.com, and magicisland.com.
Some visitors came searching, mostly for joyce cooling, empty stage, ken navarro, john tesh radio show, and gib gerard.
Attractions in 2010
These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.
Bold & Fresh Tour at Westbury! January 2010
3 comments
John Tesh Tilles Center concert recap July 2009
8 comments
SJFS recap April 2008
11 comments
RnR concert recap June 2008
1 comment
Long Island Radio & TV Day 2009 April 2009
12 comments
Peter White Christmas 2010 at B.B. King’s December 5, 2010
Posted by Mike C. in Internet, Jazz, Music, Personal.2 comments
Last night, Peter White took his annual Peter White Christmas tour to B.B. King’s in New York City. Unfortunately, I was not there, but my friend Katherine Gilraine was:
… Now, here’s an interesting factoid: despite my atheism, I rather like Christmas music, especially Christmas music done right. So naturally, where would I be today but with Peter White, Mindi Abair and Rick Braun for the Christmas special?
The first show, the one that I had my ticket for way in advance – since before the Big Cruise, mind! – was sold out. How I got the seat right next to the stage, I will never know, but you cannot beat that view. And what is first but Rick opening up with Little Drummer Boy? Muted trumpet, brushes on the snare – a light, simple-but-classic take on this holiday favorite. And soon enough, Peter and Mindi come on up as well and the rest of the band, standing by, joins in as well, turning an easygoing tune into something rousing.
You know, seeing that trio on stage together is something interesting, considering the stylistics. Rick Braun is almost old-school in his handling of the trumpet – and he handles it to perfection. Peter White is deceptively straightlaced, and is immensely playful when he’s on stage. Mindi – all attitude, sharp and energetic. But put them together, and the creativity on stage is infectious. …
Read the full recap here.
The last time I saw Peter White Christmas was in 2008 at IMAC. You can check out my recap of that show here.
Last day of CJazzPlus tomorrow December 1, 2010
Posted by Mike C. in Internet, Jazz, Media, Music, Personal, Radio.add a comment
Tomorrow is the last day of operation for my Live365 internet radio station, CJazzPlus (station link). Listen in from 12PM to 12AM Eastern.
In its two-month existence, CJazzPlus (blog page link) has struggled to get listeners, but it’s been an honor (I know, I always say that) to run it, playing my favorite instrumentals from my personal collection. I don’t know what will come next for me, but there must be something.
Mike C. November 16, 2010
Posted by Mike C. in Internet, Jazz, Music, Personal, Radio.add a comment
Starting today, I’m shortening my display name from “Mike Chimeri” to “Mike C.” Since this is The Mike Chimeri Blog, you’ll know what the “C.” stands for.
In other news:
- My 29th birthday is tomorrow.
- CJazzPlus continues to chug along and I have an eye on expanding listening hours next month. Stay tuned.
- My grandfather, Arthur Rose, passed away on November 5. May he rest in peace. Thank you to those that have expressed condolences.
20,000 views!!! November 1, 2010
Posted by Mike C. in Internet, Personal.1 comment so far
This afternoon, The Mike Chimeri Blog passed 20,000 views! Thanks to all of you that have dropped by since April 2008. You’re always welcome here.
CJazzPlus debuts September 28 September 18, 2010
Posted by Mike C. in Internet, Jazz, Media, Music, Personal, Radio.add a comment
On September 28, I will launch a new Live365 instrumental music station doubling as a weekly show: CJazzPlus. It’s contemporary jazz plus traditional jazz, jazz fusion, latin jazz, instrumental pop, and new age.
CJazzPlus will be on the air Tuesdays at 1PM Eastern and Pacific, with encores Thursdays at the same times. A given month’s shows will air a final time on the last Saturday of that month. Check back here for times.
Not all sub-genres will be played on each show, but I think you’ll like what you hear.
(Cross-posted on the new CJazzPlus blog page.)
9/27 UPDATE: Shows will now premiere Tuesdays at 2PM Eastern and re-air Thursdays at the same time. A given month’s shows will not re-air at on the last Saturday of that month, but will re-air on weeks when there isn’t a new show.
Fan phone call! September 1, 2010
Posted by Mike C. in Comedy, Internet, Interviews, Jazz, Media, Music, Personal, Pets, Photography, Radio, Sports, Technology, Travel, TV.add a comment
Since March, I have been a semi-regular viewer of Alison Rosen’s weekly internet show, Alison Rosen is Your New Best Friend, on the website UStream. One of the segments on her show, which streams through a webcam on her laptop, is Fan Phone Call. Phone numbers e-mailed to her by fans are taken out of a pot at random. The lucky fan is then called. If there is no answer, Alison leaves a funny voicemail and picks another number. If there is an answer, she interviews the fan. I e-mailed my number in March but it was never picked. So, I e-mailed it again on August 1.
This Sunday, my number was finally picked. You can see the call here. Scroll ahead to 27:40. I also recorded my end of the conversation in Adobe Audition with my mic in hand. I later mixed Alison’s end and my end together. Here’s the end result.
As you listen or watch, keep the following in mind:
- I bear no malice toward WCWP or any of the management. I have nothing but fond memories and best wishes. I’ll have more on my Homecoming show in a later post. (9/25 UPDATE: The show is not happening, but I will be at Homecoming. 10/16 UPDATE: I’m not going, but should be on hand for WCWP’s 50th anniversary next year.)
- I didn’t notice that Alison and her friend Dustin Goot were referring to the former JetBlue flight attendant Steven Slater as they were pressing me on my departure from the station.
- I was speaking generally when I said I’ve stormed out of places in the past, later coming back and apologizing. It comes with having Asperger Syndrome. I may regret writing this publicly.
- As you’ve seen in a few concert recaps on this blog, I do take pictures of street signs, highway markers, and exit signs. I used to have Hagstrom’s New York City, Western Suffolk, and Eastern Suffolk atlases. Now, I only have a recent Nassau atlas. With sites like Mapquest and Google Maps with printable directions, there’s less of a need to rely on atlases.
- Despite the heat, I kept my word and went for a walk 20 minutes after the call.
New blog header June 3, 2010
Posted by Mike C. in Internet, Personal.add a comment
It’s been over seven months since I updated the blog header. Here’s the new one:
MikeChimeri.com 
