Finally, a new post! November 16, 2008
Posted by Mike C. in Audiobooks, Books, Bowling, Jazz, Media, Personal, Technology, TV, Video Games.3 comments
I have not posted anything to my blog in a week and a half. So, let’s get a few things out of the way:
1. Last Saturday afternoon, I went to the Barnes & Noble in Carle Place for a book signing and discussion event. The author was Steve Doocy, co-host of “Fox & Friends,” the Fox News Channel’s daily morning show. The book is “Tales from the Dad Side.” I had purchased the unabridged audiobook on Amazon a few weeks earlier, but I bought the book itself before I went up to the discussion area.
When it was my turn to have my book signed, a female employee was nice enough to take a picture of Steve and me:
It was a pleasure to meet him in person. Thank you very much, Steve.
2. Last Saturday night, I bowled another 200+ game playing Wii Sports’ Bowling for Nintendo Wii. You may remember back on August 31, I bowled a 257. On this night, I wasn’t able to match that score, but I did come close: 219. Here’s the final scorecard, as seen from a picture of the TV taken after the game:
3. Though I had said in early June that my computer was working and “back to normal,” nothing could have been further from the truth. The blue screens of death (BSODs) continued, becoming a matter-of-fact occurrence. I would get at least one per day. On some days, I would get up to four BSoDs! I mistakenly believed they were the result of my NVIDIA nForce Serial ATA drivers not working with Windows Vista Home Premium Service Pack 1. Then, in mid-October, it finally hit me: it’s faulty memory causing the BSoDs. That’s what I get for buying four discounted 1 GB (gigabyte) memory DIMMs in late May. I replaced two of them with Dell DIMMs after ordering them from the Dell website. They were made exclusively for my computer, a Dell Dimension E521, based on my Service Tag. I have not had a blue screen since installing them (knock on wood).
4. Since my last pre-order update, I’ve ordered a few more CDs:
Tom Scott, “Desire” (Wounded Bird; re-release)
David Benoit, “Jazz For Peanuts” (Peak)
Kim Waters, “I Want You: Love In The Spirit Of Marvin” (Shanachie)
Saxophonist Tom Scott’s “Desire” was originally released in 1982 on Elektra, but was re-released on October 14. The tracks on the album are: the title track (re-recorded on “Them Changes” in 1990), “Sure Enough,” “The Only One,” “Stride,” “Johnny B. Badd,” “Meet Somebody,” “Maybe I’m Amazed,” and “Chunk O’ Funk.” I’m hooked on “Stride,” and also like “Chunk O’ Funk” and “Johnny B. Badd.”
“Jazz For Peanuts” was released on October 29. Six of the tracks were newly recorded by David Benoit:
- “You’re in Love, Charlie Brown” (Vince Guaraldi); This track features horn player Christian Scott on trumpet.
- “The Great Pumpkin Waltz” (Vince Guaraldi)
- “Wild Kids” (re-recording of track from “Urban Daydreams” in 1989); This track features pianist Taylor Eigsti. 2:16 into the song, David and Taylor kick into a lively improv section. Like Tom Scott’s “Stride,” I’m hooked on this section.
- “Be My Valentine” (Vince Guaraldi)
- “Rollerblading”; This track also features Christian Scott.
- “Re-Run’s Theme”
The non-Benoit tracks were:
- Wynton Marsalis Septet – “The Buggy Ride” (unreleased, recorded for “This is America, Charlie Brown: The Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk”)
- Dave Brubeck – “Benjamin” (from “Happy Anniversary, Charlie Brown!” in 1989; recorded for “This is America, Charlie Brown: The NASA Space Station”)
- Kenny G – “Breadline Blues” (from “Happy Anniversary, Charlie Brown!” in 1989; recorded for “This is America, Charlie Brown: The Smithsonian and the Presidency”)
- Vince Guaraldi [Trio] – “Linus and Lucy” (from “A Charlie Brown Christmas” in 1965)
Kim Waters’ “I Want You: Love In The Spirit Of Marvin” was also released on October 29. I just got this in the mail today. So, it’s too soon for me to review it. But I like the instrumental tracks I’ve heard so far. The “Marvin” is the late, great Marvin Gaye.
5. Tomorrow, I turn 27 years old (or young).
I think that covers everything that needs to be covered for now. Hopefully, it won’t be another week and a half until the next post.
Slightly good news: Cablevision adds more HD channels. October 16, 2008
Posted by Mike C. in Media, Personal, Sports, TV.add a comment
I went to the Cablevision About page to see if there was any new news and maybe a certain business channel added. Nope. That would be silly, of course. But five more HD channels were added this week:
BETHPAGE, NY, October 14, 2008 — Cablevision Systems Corp. (NYSE: CVC) today announced the addition of five new free high-definition channels to the iO TV digital cable lineup, which now offers customers 65 HD channels across Cablevision’s entire service area. The new channels, MTV HD, VH1 HD, CMT HD, Fuse HD and NHL Network HD, present leading music, pop culture and sports programming and will launch over a three day period from October 14-16.
Well, I had wanted NHL Network HD. So, at least I get that. Meanwhile, still no Fox Business Network. It doesn’t matter how many times Neil Cavuto says of FBN, “If you’re not getting it, demand it.” Cablevision doesn’t seem to care. Or does it? Toward the end of that link:
Sources close to negotiations indicate that FBN is closing in on a deal with one of three main holdouts: Dish Network, Cablevision and Cox.
My pessimism indicates that one of three is actually one of the two: Dish Network and Cox. I really hope I’m wrong.
11/19/09 UPDATE: FBN has finally come to Cablevision!
Presidential debate at Hofstra tonight October 15, 2008
Posted by Mike C. in Golf, Personal, Politics, Sports, TV.add a comment
The last of the Presidential debates between Democratic nominee Barack Obama and Republican nominee John McCain will be held tonight at Hofstra University in Hempstead. Last night, I actually considered going over there this afternoon, but I need credentials. So much for that.
A venue I was able to get into – after buying a ticket, of course – was the PGA Champions Tour’s Commerce Bank Championship, which was held at Eisenhower Park’s Red Course. As I documented in the post I’ve linked to, I appeared in a few crowd shots toward the end of Golf Channel’s coverage.
Back to the present, this was basically a post I felt obligated to make since the debate is about 25 minutes away from my house…barring heavy traffic, which there no doubt is.
Summer pre-order update #2 August 27, 2008
Posted by Mike C. in Audiobooks, Books, Media, Personal, TV.add a comment
For the first time in the 3 1/2-month history of these pre-order posts, I’m reporting that I’ve pre-ordered something other than a music CD. I have pre-ordered a nonfiction book and unabridged audiobook (CD):
Bill O’Reilly, “A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity: A Memoir” (9/23)
Courtesy Amazon.com
Here is the book synopsis:
In 1957, in the heart of the Eisenhower years, in the third grade classroom of Sister Mary Lurana in Saint Brigid’s parochial school in Westbury, Long Island, was a mouthy, obstreperous kid by the name of William O’Reilly. Quite a handful he was, and so one day Sister Lurana bent over him in exasperation in response to some piece of mischief and told him to his face, “William, you are a bold fresh piece of humanity.” Little did she know that she was, early in his career as a troublemaker, defining the essence of Bill O’Reilly and providing him with the title of his brash and entertaining issues-based memoir.
In his most intimate book yet, O’Reilly goes back in time to examine the people, places, and experiences that launched him on his journey from being a working-class kid to an immensely influential television personality and bestselling author. Readers will learn how his traditional outlook was formed in the crucible of his family, his neighborhood, his church, and his schools, and how his views on America’s proper role in the world emerged from covering four wars on five continents over three-plus decades as a news correspondent. What will delight his many fans and surprise many others is the humor and self-deprecation with which he handles one of his core subjects: himself, and just how O’Reilly became O’Reilly.
The Crusaders on the DNC P.A. today; Jeff Lorber again August 26, 2008
Posted by Mike C. in Jazz, Media, Personal, Politics, TV.add a comment
Once again, I have “Your World with Neil Cavuto” on. And once again, contemporary jazz is playing on the Pepsi Center’s public address system in the moments before today’s DNC festivities begin. At this moment, 4:37 PM Eastern, “Shotgun House Groove” by The Crusaders is playing. The song is from their 2003 album “Rural Renewal.” What is it with 2003 music at the DNC?
There’s 20 minutes to go. If I hear anymore songs, I’ll list them.
4:52 PM UPDATE: “Under Wraps” by Jeff Lorber again; second day in a row. The music hasn’t been as loud today. So, it’s been hard to identify.
4:58 PM UPDATE: I give up.
Spyro Gyra at the DNC? Jeff Lorber, too! August 25, 2008
Posted by Mike C. in Jazz, Media, Personal, Politics, TV.add a comment
This hour (4PM Eastern Time), I’ve had on “Your World with Neil Cavuto” on Fox News Channel. The show is airing from the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado, the site of this year’s Democratic National Convention.
As I listened closely to the background noise, I couldn’t believe what I heard blaring over the public address system. Spyro Gyra! Whoever is in charge of the P.A. has their 2003 “Original Cinema” album playing on shuffle. So far, I’ve heard in order: “Extrovertical,” “Big Dance Number,” “Funky Tina,” and “Getaway.”
There’s another 10 minutes in the hour. If I hear anything else, I’ll provide updates.
4:51 PM UPDATE: Neil commented that the music is so loud he can hardly hear himself.
4:53 PM UPDATE: Now, we’ve switched to Jeff Lorber! “Under Wraps” is playing, from “Philly Style” in 2003.
4:54 PM UPDATE: “Gigabyte”
4:55 PM UPDATE: Neil, tossing to a commercial: “The formal kickoff with Howard Dean and this shindig really gets started, and the music really gets loud, after this.”
4:58 PM UPDATE: “Philly Style,” the title track
5:01 PM UPDATE: The music has faded out and the convention is underway. But it’s always great when contemporary jazz gets played at a mainstream venue, even if it’s just a P.A. warmup for the main event.
Mentioned at HotForWords! August 20, 2008
Posted by Mike C. in Media, Personal, Technology, TV.add a comment
The latest lesson at HotForWords – a website run by Marina Orlova, a Russian-born philologist – was partially inspired by yours truly, Mike Chimeri.
It all began in the comment thread – where my profile name is MCLIJazz (as it is nearly everywhere else) – for a blog post promoting her latest appearance on “The O’Reilly Factor”, the primetime opinion show on the Fox News Channel hosted by Bill O’Reilly. I am a big fan of “The Factor” and Bill himself. In the post, Marina reminded visitors to e-mail Bill to let him know how much they liked her appearance on the show:
Also.. after you watch it, please email Bill and thank him for having me on. Here is his email: …
So, I left the following comment:
Marina, your second appearance on “The Factor” rates as an A+. You were excellent.
And if anybody is going to write to Bill, include your name and location (”name and town”) in the signature, and write about one to three short, punchy paragraphs or sentences. Or as Bill would say, “keep it pithy.”
So, the latest video lesson is on the origin of the word “pithy”:
I get the “hat tip,” as we say in the blogosphere (typically abbreviated h/t), 40 seconds in:
MCLIJazz, mattym, annuddermale, prospero811, and mergatroidal have been using the word “pithy” all over my website. What exactly is “pithy” and where did it come from? HotForWords decided to investigate.
Watch the video for the investigation. (Warning: Scary image beginning at the 2:30 mark.)
Cablevision Derangement Syndrome August 12, 2008
Posted by Mike C. in Media, Personal, TV.2 comments
I just got off the phone with a Cablevision customer service representative, got the same apathetic attitude regarding adding Fox Business Network, and hung up on him. (He deserved it.) So, I’ve coined a new term: Cablevision Derangement Syndrome.
Those with Cablevision Derangment Syndrome are Cablevision customers that are sick of the company’s arrogant attitude–reflected in customer service and advertising (see Optimum TV ads)–and unwillingess to add channels that many other cable companies, and phone and satellite operators have already added!
Symptoms include anger, frustration, helplessness, envy toward customers of other providers (DirecTV, Verizon FiOS TV), and a yearning to switch providers. Alas, a person with CDS realizes that switching providers means no more News 12, no more News 12 Traffic & Weather, and no more localized Local Forecasts on The Weather Channel (in SD). They also realize that their parents and sister don’t care about the lack of certain channels, are content with what they have, and refuse to switch providers just to please their son/brother. (As you can tell, I’m indirectly referring to myself.)
If you are a Cablevision customer and are afflicted with CDS, please leave a comment to this blog post. That way, I will know that I am not alone.
8/16 UPDATE: I guess I am alone on the Cablevision Derangement Syndrome front. That’s what happens when you make terms up – no one else knows what the hell you’re talking about, nor do they care. Am I right? Or am I just impatient in waiting for a response?
Cablevision adds new HD channels today! July 28, 2008
Posted by Mike C. in Media, Personal, TV.add a comment
Well, today’s the day. Cablevision has added the 15 HD channels that I posted about earlier this month. Only 10 of the 15 were announced at that time. The bad news is Fox Business Network and ESPNEWS HD are not among the other five channels being added today. (Will they ever be added?) The good news is these are the channels being added:
AMC HD Animal Planet HD Discovery Channel HD Fox News HD FX HD Hallmark Movie Channel HD IFC HD Nickelodeon HD Science Channel HD Speed Channel HD Spike HD The Weather Channel HD TLC HD Travel Channel HD WE HD
So far, I’ve taken a look at the Science Channel, The Weather Channel, and Fox News Channel. It was quite a difference in picture.
7/30 UPDATE: Originally, I had a different link because the Cablevision press release was not yet available on their website. Now, they do and the link has been changed.
Quite a compliment July 14, 2008
Posted by Mike C. in Media, Personal, Sports, TV.2 comments
Today, I left a few comments to a blog post on Alisyn Camerota’s (“Fox and Friends,” Fox News Channel) Greenroom blog. Audra Floyd, Alisyn’s summer intern, posted while Alisyn is on vacation. In one comment, I referred to my Saturday post on the passing of Tony Snow and Bobby Murcer:
[R]egarding Tony Snow, I was saddened when I heard he had passed away on Saturday. I posted about him – as well as Bobby Murcer, who died of brain cancer on the same day – on my blog. Click on my name to go there or click on the link below to see my post:
One of the regular commenters at the Greenroom blog was a man named Brad. He left quite a compliment for me:
Mike C-
Awesome blog, it should be nominated for a Webby Award, just like this one
I heard about Bobby M[u]rcer from a sports channel I was watching the other day. He was a legend in the NY Yankee organization. It’s really sad and tragic. God bless him and his family.
In the three months that this blog has existed (three months ago tomorrow), I never thought I would even be considered for a Webby Award. I’m just a humble blogger. It’s an honor just to be told The Mike Chimeri Blog should be nominated. I thanked Brad in the comments to Audra’s post, but I’ll repeat the thanks here. Thank you very much, Brad.
7/15, 2:30 PM UPDATE: I originally had video of two commercials Audra appeared in for motorcycle dealerships in Arkansas and Oklahoma. But after a comment in today’s Greenroom blog post where I linked to this post was removed, I feel that, as I had feared last night, I overstepped my bounds. So, I have removed the videos. I am very sorry I gave Audra too much exposure. I wish her the best in her future endeavors and wish Alisyn the best as she returns to “Fox and Friends Weekend.”
7/15, 4:40 PM UPDATE: I have decided to give up commenting at any Fox News blog. I’m better off focusing my energy on other things. I’m repeating myself, but I am very sorry for being a bother in any of the comment threads I’ve been a bother in.
Now, let’s get back to talking about jazz or any venues I’m going to.
7/18, 10:50 AM UPDATE: Today was Audra’s last day as an intern. Again, best of luck to her.
7/18, 3:40 PM UPDATE: Oh, what the heck? I’ll put them back. If I get any complaints, I’ll take them down again. Here’s the ad for Sunrise Honda in Searcy, Arkansas:
And the ad for Shawnee Honda in Shawnee, Oklahoma:
Let me know what you think.
7/25 UPDATE: On Tuesday, I had added video of Audra last Friday morning as she helped Steve Doocy with the weather, or the Foxcast. I made the clip in RedLasso, which I had just joined the day before. Unfortunately, access to the site has been suspended, likely forever as I don’t see that company ever reaching agreements with networks. So, I have removed my clip.
7/26 UPDATE: I published my recording of the above to YouTube. This is the first video I’ve ever uploaded there.
3/10/10 UPDATE: I’ve deleted the video from my YouTube account. Sorry.
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