tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103512882024-03-23T13:36:41.325-05:00Amanda UnBoomedAmandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09329658589231271794noreply@blogger.comBlogger73125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10351288.post-1158651287216525462006-09-19T07:00:00.000-05:002006-09-19T06:52:34.806-05:00No Boom InvolvedThis blog has retired. Please consider this site the Amanda archive from the Rocketboom era. Bye blogspot. You've served me well, but I won't miss you. PLEASE UPDATE YOUR LINKS AND SUBSCRIBE to AmandaAcrossAmerica.com through my ovlov feed.<br /><br /><br /><h1 class="page-title">Subscribe</h1> <p>VIDEO FEEDS<br /><a target="_blank" href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ovlov">quicktime</a><br /><a target="_blank" href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ovlov-wmv">windows media</a><br /><a target="_blank" href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ovlov-flash">flash</a><br /><a href="itpc://feeds.feedburner.com/ovlov-itunes">iTunes / iPod one-touch </a></p> <p><a target="XML" href="http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/mariolibrandi/22639/feeds/rss"> </a><a target="XML" href="http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/mariolibrandi/22639/feeds/rss"> </a><a target="_blank" href="http://www.mapbuilder.net/users/mariolibrandi/22639/feeds/rss">MAP FEED</a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ovlov-comments">COMMENTS FEED</a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://api.flickr.com/services/feeds/photos_public.gne?id=45299407@N00&format=rss_200">FLICKR FEED</a></p> <p>EMAIL UPDATES<br />Enter your email address below:</p> <input name="email" style="width: 140px;" type="text"><input name="url" value="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~e?ffid=497862" type="hidden"><input name="title" value="itunes" type="hidden"><input value="Subscribe" type="submit">Delivered by <a target="_blank" href="http://www.feedburner.com/">FeedBurner</a>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09329658589231271794noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10351288.post-1158547740964939962006-09-17T21:13:00.000-05:002006-09-18T10:03:38.786-05:00AmandaAcrossAmerica.com<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://amandacongdon.com/america/"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://amandacongdon.com/pics/245620092_35ad720d40_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://amandacongdon.com/america/">AmandaAcrossAmerica</a> launches on Tuesday.<br /><br />The party last night in NYC was off the chain. We planned it in 48 hours--maybe even less-- and it was a huge success.<br /><br />Thanks so much to <a href="http://www.paltalk.com/">paltalk.com</a> for sponsoring the event and <a href="http://blip.tv/">blip.tv</a> for hosting the party, and the trip. :) It was super amazing to see everyone... <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/the_thread/blogspotting/techteam.html#heather_green">Heather Green</a>, <a href="http://imdb.com/name/nm1901560/">Kevin Chapados</a>, <a href="http://unmediated.org/">Kenyatta Cheese</a>... I hadn't seen you guys in a while...so awesome to chat... and then THE BIGGEST SURPRISE.... <a href="http://galacticast.com/">Casey & Rudy</a> and <a href="http://stevegarfield.com/">Steve & Carol</a> came all the way down from Montreal and Boston!! I was so shocked!! Thanks also to Joe Cascio for traveling from southeastern CT....you took some <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/76559223@N00/sets/72157594288164389/">great pics</a>, so did <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevegarfield/sets/72157594288496169/">Steve Garfield</a>!<br /><br />Check out the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ovlov/">ovlov photostream</a> as well.... and the <a href="http://flashmeeting.open.ac.uk/fm/fmm.php?pwd=8b0466-5633">flashmeeting</a>. Thanks to <a href="http://apperceive.blogs.com/">Markus Sandy</a> for setting that up!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://blog.blip.tv/blog/2006/09/17/amanda-congdon-at-the-bliptv-party/">Dina Kaplan</a> caught part of my announcement, thanks Dina! Here's Steve's take:<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">click on the video below<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://mirror4.video.blip.tv/Stevegarfield-AmandaCongdonAnnouncesAmandaAcrossAmerica839.AVI" rel="enclosure"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://blip.tv/uploadedFiles/Dina-AmandaCongdonAtTheBliptvParty496.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">here is the <a href="http://blip.tv/file/get/Dina-AmandaCongdonAtTheBliptvParty394.wmv">.wmv</a><br /><br />See you Tuesday on video.</span></span>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09329658589231271794noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10351288.post-1158298625438815872006-09-15T00:04:00.000-05:002006-09-15T00:51:00.030-05:00God Bless Americahit it dad...<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://blip.tv/file/get/Unboomed-godBlessAmericaMov999.mov" rel="enclosure"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://amandacongdon.com/pics/godblessamerica.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />WARNING:</span> do not watch on full stomach... some of the "camera work" is very shaky.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://blip.tv/file/get/Unboomed-godBlessAmericaWmv436.wmv">wmv</a> <br /><br /><a href="http://blip.tv/file/get/Unboomed-godBlessAmericaMov999.flv">flash</a><br /></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09329658589231271794noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10351288.post-1158285505749836952006-09-14T20:52:00.000-05:002006-09-15T14:10:48.213-05:00Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Come One, Come All<pre style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">This is message I just sent to the <a href="http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/videoblogging/messages">Yahoo Videoblogging List</a>...<br />Of course all of you are invited too!!<br />Please excuse the strange font... copy & pasting in Blogger is a bitch.<br /><br />Anyway, here's the message:<br /><br />Hi everyone,<br />Ok, I know it’s short notice but...<br /><br />We’re throwing a party and everyone’s invited!<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><br />Who:</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> Me, the Blip.tv hotties (yes, ladies, Mike WILL be<br />in attendance) and you I hope.<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >What:</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> A Party!<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >Where:</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=239+Centre+Street+ny+ny&ie=UTF8&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;z=15&om=1&iwloc=A">Blip’s new pad in Soho<br />239 Centre Street, #3A<br />between Broome and Grand</a><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >When: </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Saturday, September 16. 8pm<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >Why:</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> To celebrate Blip’s new offices and my move to California!<br /><br />This is a casual affair ... so come as you are. :)<br /><br />There will be high quality liquor, possibly a keg or two,<br />Joe’s Pizza and Magnolia cup cakes (if you live in NYC, this<br />should mean somethingto you...), a couple announcements and<br />lots and lots of videoblogging I’m sure.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.paltalk.com/">Paltalk.com</a> is sponsoring (thanks, Joel!)... those who can’t<br />make the party in person will be able to join in the fun via<br />video chat. More details to follow!<br /><br />No need to RSVP, just show up with your fine self!!<br /><br />UPDATE: Billy's cupcakes. Close second. :)<br /></span></pre>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09329658589231271794noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10351288.post-1158007397202102612006-09-12T12:43:00.000-05:002006-09-12T09:35:17.583-05:00Podcampwas so much fun. OMG.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://flickr.com/photos/stevegarfield/240878894/"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/85/240878894_05313f9f65_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Thanks <a href="http://stevegarfield.blogs.com/videoblog/carol_and_steve_show_2006/index.html">Steve and Carol</a> for inviting me, <a href="http://mariolibrandi.com/">Mario</a>, <a href="http://galacticast.com/">Rudy and Casey</a> into your lovely home.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50773152@N00/240529954/">Casey and I</a> had a blast as the hottest females on the scene ;)<br /><br />Mario and I sadly got insanely lost as we always do when in Boston because it's this crazy labyrinth of "big digs" and cow paths .... so we missed Casey and Rudy's presentation... :(<br /><br />But! We got to watch some of it on video right on Steve's Nokia N93...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/irishhermit/239653489/"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/79/239653489_f0042c056b_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://blip.tv/"><br />Blip.tv</a> was well represented ... Oh, here's Blip's <a href="http://www.dinakaplan.com/">Dina Kaplan</a>, she's sizzling.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://flickr.com/photos/stevegarfield/238965647/"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/88/238965647_b2c2e7b041_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This is wholly surreal.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevegarfield/238965941/"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/87/238965941_dc50d626b3_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />.... and <a href="http://www.mhudack.com/">Huuuuuuuuudack</a>??? (as <a href="http://blogumentary.typepad.com/">Chuck</a> would say)... Mike's from CT too.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevegarfield/240063778/"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/87/240063778_c4257eb0ef_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Also at Podcamp from Blip was the very sweet, <a href="http://www.pokkari.com/charles/">Charles Hope</a>...and <a href="http://linkfilter.net/">Justin Day</a> (who I met for the very first time).<br /><br />This is <a href="http://www.aliveinbaghdad.org/">Alive in Baghdad</a>'s Brian Conley.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://flickr.com/photos/10021142@N00/239940852/"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/98/239940852_9ecfc700b1_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />He's funny. At his session he said something like, "In Boston I'm a white guy. In Iraq, I'm Arab." Such versatility! I wonder if I could use that trick on my next trip to the middle east...hmmm.... Often during his presentation he admitted to being a "madman".<br /><br />And we were lucky enough to chill a bit with the brilliant, <a href="http://artfilmtalk.com/">David Tamés</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://flickr.com/photos/stevegarfield/238969486/in/photostream"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/87/238969486_6eac2c742a_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.rocketboom.com/vlog/archives/2006/03/rb_06_mar_08.html">He was on rocketboom once</a> and I thought he was super interesting.... so I was excited to meet him.<br /><br />I met so many great people... too many to count...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.BestDamnTech.com">Drew Olanoff</a>, who came up with his crew from Philly, and <a href="http://www.scriggity.com">Shauna Paukune</a> who came up from Florida were such nice, creative people.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://flickr.com/photos/stevegarfield/238969230/"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/92/238969230_29cf449a60_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Oh and our rockstar boyfriends were there too, talking videoblogging and website design (we think they are gay for each other).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevegarfield/240880881/in/set-72157594279973670/"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/86/240880881_ebbb21d043_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Witness some more Sunday morning fun, as directed by <a href="http://stevegarfield.com/">Steve Garfield:</a><br /><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/stevegarfield/sets/72157594279973670/"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Carol and Steve Show, re-imagined?</span></a>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09329658589231271794noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10351288.post-1158007645541331412006-09-11T15:43:00.000-05:002006-09-11T15:57:51.210-05:00911I am staying away from the media as much as possible today.<br /><br />I just can't take how they swarm around a day like today as if it were Valentine's Day or something. It feels weird. I understand the need for some people to make or watch media about 9/11 ... I guess as a way to remember. But I remember it well enough without any help.<br /><br />Anyway, I am going to go listen to my dad sing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_Bless_America">God Bless America</a> at the town hall. I will videotape it, but he gets final approval rights-- right dad?<br /><br />I guess I'm making media about 911 too... writing this post... taking that video.Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09329658589231271794noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10351288.post-1158003904371729752006-09-11T14:17:00.000-05:002006-09-11T14:45:04.436-05:00Women Use the Internet??Are you fo' serious? No freaking way. I don't believe it. ;)<br /><br /><a href="http://chickadvisor.com/">Chickadvisor</a> is very new, very cute site that reviews women-esque things like handbags and makeup but also goes as far as cafes and dentists (wtf?). Right now, they only cover Toronto... but promise to cover more cities soon. What I like most about the site is the bloggy-ness of the reviews, the woman-to-woman advice factor and the variety of topics.<br /><br />It's pretty much catered to the girly girl though... so that might turn off some women.<br /><br />All in all it's just in the beginning stages, but it doesn't take much imagination to envision all the fun places Chickadvisor could go. I agree with <a href="http://runningwithfoxes.com/?p=29">Nick</a>... a partnership with <a href="http://froogle.google.com/">Froogle</a> might be great down the line... when more cities are available.<br /><br />Who can resist those adorable floating words on the front page.. you just wanna grab 'em!<br /><br />Nice.<br /><a href="http://runningwithfoxes.com/?p=29"></a>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09329658589231271794noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10351288.post-1157661338944014322006-09-08T13:27:00.000-05:002006-09-08T14:20:57.753-05:00Pop ExperimentsBefore <a href="http://thomasmarban.com/">Thomas</a> and I begin really <a href="http://popurls.com/">popping</a>... I still have a couple experiments to complete to see what works for you guys. Thomas has conducted his survey over at <a href="http://pophub.com/p/amanda-congdon-teams-up-with-popurls">pophub</a>... if you'd like to see what his readers think.<br /><br />Email me your thoughts or leave me a comment to let me know what works best for you... our main goal is to try and figure out what exact # of links, or urls, I should remix.<br /><br />What pops for me today:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.defensetech.org/archives/002723.html">Killer Frisbees?</a><br />New weapons for old problems.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.concisefreeware.com/">Freeware Aggregated</a><br />Not exactly a pretty website to look at, but it gets the job done.<br /><br /><a href="http://blog.guykawasaki.com/2006/09/why_smart_peopl.html">Why Smart People Do Dumb Things</a><br />The "Unconscious Need to Fail" point is particularly interesting.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.epicempire.com/software/youtube-to-ipod.html">YouTube on Your iPod</a><br />I still have a nano, not a video ipod... so let me know how this works. Oh, gosh, I admit it. I'm a YouTube addict. I don't want to be. I just AM.<br /><br />And hence.... our next url...<br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZeq5hs4oVQ"><br />Encourage the Haters</a><br />I have to hand it to "tapedcookie", it's an interesting experiment.<br /><a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2006/09/08/355435-priest-charged-in-madonna-threat"><br />Priest Calls in Bomb Threat to Madonna Concert?</a><br />At least use a payphone or throw away cell phone, smarty.<br /><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20060907/sc_space/studywhyteensdontcare"><br />Why Teenagers Don't Give a Sh-t</a><br />"We think that a teenager's judgment of what they would do in a given situation is driven by the simple question: 'What would I do?'" Blakemore said. "Adults, on the other hand, ask: 'What would I do, given how I would feel and given how the people around me would feel as a result of my actions?'"<br /><br />Umm... most adults....<br /><a href="http://theodoregray.com/PeriodicTable/Posters/"><br />A Downright Gorgeous Periodic Table</a><br />Although ... Iodine kinda looks like a red blood cell.<br /><a href="http://www.netscape.com/viewstory/2006/09/07/we-must-tackle-antisemitism-rise/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.sky.com%2Fskynews%2Farticle%2F0%2C%2C30000-1233277%2C00.html&frame=true"><br />Anti-Semitism is Unacceptable</a><br />This article focuses on hate crimes in the UK, but rest assured, yes, I'm directing this at you, Mel. And to everyone else, yes, Mel reads my blogspot blog. ;)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.jacksonholestartrib.com/articles/2006/09/08/news/wyoming/e32c424c0ef12693872571e30004d097.txt">Viva All The Pretty Horses!<br /></a><span class="storydetail">I had no idea this was even going on.<br /><br />"It is one of the most inhumane, brutal, shady practices going on in the U.S. today," said Rep. John Sweeney, R-N.Y., a sponsor of the ban.</span><a href="http://www.jacksonholestartrib.com/articles/2006/09/08/news/wyoming/e32c424c0ef12693872571e30004d097.txt"><span class="storydetail"><br /></span><br /></a>Thanks in advance for sharing your ideas with me!!Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09329658589231271794noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10351288.post-1157560337050875972006-09-06T11:29:00.000-05:002006-09-06T11:41:54.783-05:00Back on the HorseI had sooooo much fun yesterday! Can't wait to see the cut!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://amandacongdon.com/pics/firstday3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://amandacongdon.com/pics/firstday3.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://amandacongdon.com/pics/firstday2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://amandacongdon.com/pics/firstday2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09329658589231271794noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10351288.post-1157425987051529072006-09-04T21:58:00.000-05:002006-09-04T22:35:13.043-05:00Ok, It's OfficialI love my new mac!! I never thought I would fall so hard. I'm in lovvvvvvve. Seriously I can't put it down, and that's saying a lot given it has one drawback: it's a freaking heavy motha f-er.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.goodmagazine.com/">Good Magazine</a> hits magazine racks tomorrow with their debut issue. Yours truly is profiled on page 47 (check out the CT backdrop, sweet) next to pal <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimbo_Wales">Jimmy Wales</a>. It was insanely hot that day-- I wasn't actually going for the melted look....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://amandacongdon.com/pics/goodmag.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://amandacongdon.com/pics/goodmag.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Oh, check out <a href="http://www.lalaque.com/critiques.html">La Laque</a> if you are into <a href="http://myspace.com/lalaque">indie hipster new wave french rock</a>. I saw them play at the <a href="http://www.mercuryloungenyc.com/">Mercury Lounge</a> in Manhattan on Friday... I went there to support <a href="http://myspace.com/murdermysterymusic">Murder Mystery</a> and was pleasantly suprised with La Laque's performance...Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09329658589231271794noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10351288.post-1157398983005748472006-09-04T14:19:00.000-05:002006-09-04T14:56:58.416-05:00Stepping Stone?My bud, <a href="http://chartreuse.wordpress.com/">Chartreuse</a>, aka <a href="http://chartreuse.wordpress.com/about/">Prince Campbell</a>, has an <a href="http://chartreuse.wordpress.com/2006/09/01/the-web-is-not-a-stepping-stone-or-things-to-keep-in-mind-as-you-try-to-crossover-into-mainstream-media-or-why-most-videobloggers-hate-this-blog/">interesting post</a> on his blog about videobloggers crossing over to the mainstream. You already know my <a href="http://amandaunboomed.blogspot.com/2006/08/dear-old-media-om.html">take</a> on that subject. What's yours?<br /><br />Can't wait to finally meet in person in Santa Monica next month, Char!!!<br /><br />Oh, check out Char's main gig, <a href="http://www.thebloggingtimes.com/content/">The Blogging Times</a>-- hot stuff... and their new videoblogtress, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXEViriFqUw">Erin Fetherman</a>-- hotter stuff... ;)<br /><br />We go <a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=bGoqFV4Kn14&search=rocketboom%20chartreuse%20">way back</a>, right Char? Feel free to skip to the end...Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09329658589231271794noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10351288.post-1157256292404933652006-09-02T22:50:00.000-05:002006-09-02T23:37:26.656-05:00AndrewMy brother left for study abroad in Madrid yesterday. Man. After spending all summer with him... it's just weird around here without him. :(<br /><br />Thanks <a href="http://pawntakes.blogspot.com/">Andrew</a> for working with me and <a href="http://mariolibrandi.com/">Mario</a> this summer. You were one hell of a book project manager. I'm quite certain we will get absolutely nothing done without you.<br /><br />1 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BlackBerry">blackberry</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackberry"></a><br />1 failed business relationship<br />6 new business relationships<br />1 <a href="http://node101.org/">Node 101</a><br />1 visit from <a href="http://stevegarfield.com/">Steve Garfield</a><br />1 visit from <a href="http://galacticast.com/">Galacticast</a><br />1 micro <a href="http://money.cnn.com/blogs/browser/2006/08/ex-rocketboom-star-pops-up-at-popurls.html">announcement</a><br />4 flat tires (I'm serious: Andrew-3, Amanda-1, Mario-0)<br />1 <a href="http://blogher.org/">BlogHer</a> Conference<br />21 meetings in NYC<br />148 conference calls<br />1 failed vaio<br />1 macbook pro<br />1 <a href="http://blogumentary.org/">Blogumentary</a> screening<br />2 concerts<br />and lots ahead...<br /><br />Summer of 2006 out!Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09329658589231271794noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10351288.post-1156971929883673972006-08-30T15:42:00.000-05:002006-08-31T02:20:17.403-05:00Blogumentary On The Big Screen!!Join <a href="http://marioscope.blogspot.com/">Mario</a> and me tonight to see blogger/vlogger/flickr addict/storyteller/all around funny dude <a href="http://mnstories.com/">Chuck Olsen</a>'s documentary on the blogosphere, <a href="http://blogumentary.typepad.com/">BLOGUMENTARY</a>, tonight at 9pm the <a href="http://www.twoboots.com/pioneer/">Pioneer Theater</a> in the East Village!!<br /><br />If you are in NYC and you don't stop by I'll be mad at you...<br /><br />Check out this fun <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blogumentary/228739453/">pic</a> of me and Chuck taken yesterday!!Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09329658589231271794noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10351288.post-1156875170603794172006-08-29T13:06:00.000-05:002006-08-29T14:00:09.826-05:00The McDan TourWe went to see <a href="http://www.steelydan.com/">Steely Dan</a> and <a href="http://www.michaelmcdonald.com/MichaelMcDonaldHome.html">Michael McDonald</a>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://amandacongdon.com/pics/mcsteelyfuzzy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://amandacongdon.com/pics/mcsteelyfuzzy.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />...the bikes<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://amandacongdon.com/pics/mcsteelymotor.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://amandacongdon.com/pics/mcsteelymotor.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />...the stage<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://amandacongdon.com/pics/mcsteelystage.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://amandacongdon.com/pics/mcsteelystage.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />... the vids<br /><br />Mike McDonald opened up for Steely. He is so magically smooth.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://blip.tv/file/get/Unboomed-mcsteelyTourMcdonald542.MOV" rel="enclosure"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://blip.tv/uploadedFiles/Unboomed-mcsteelyTourMcdonald542-992.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />And Steely rocked the house. As you can see, Mike played with Steely, just like the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steely_dan">old days.</a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://blip.tv/file/get/Unboomed-mcsteelyTourSteely133.MOV" rel="enclosure"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://blip.tv/uploadedFiles/Unboomed-mcsteelyTourSteely133-886.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09329658589231271794noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10351288.post-1156646075267512802006-08-26T21:21:00.000-05:002006-08-28T01:54:02.203-05:00I'm SOOOOOOOOOOO Popurl!!!!Wow!! My <a href="http://popurls.com/">popurls</a> collaboration is getting quite the attention. Never did I imagine my fun little side project born Friday morning and blogged about Friday evening would find its way to scobleizer. <a href="http://scobleizer.wordpress.com/2006/08/26/ex-rocketboomer-joins-popurls/">This</a> would make sense if it were my "announcement". Endeavor's publicity team will be handling that with a press release and I will announce personally with a video, of course!<br /><br />My brother's take on <a href="http://pawntakes.blogspot.com/2006/08/could-you-take-this-back-please-i.html">it</a><a href="http://scobleizer.wordpress.com/2006/08/26/ex-rocketboomer-joins-popurls/">.</a>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09329658589231271794noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10351288.post-1156533958892303602006-08-25T17:21:00.000-05:002006-08-27T02:27:12.893-05:00My New Favorite VideoblogI've always liked the little rascals. I love the pseudo-British accent of Buns and the Paris Hilton squeak of Chou Chou.<br /><br />Anyway, when I met the very sweet and charming <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_McVicar">Daniel McVicar</a> at <a href="http://blogher.org/">BlogHer</a>, I just knew that I needed to see what the rabbits thought. So I sent in a request to see their mctake on the <a href="http://danielmcvicar.blogspot.com/">McVlog</a>.<br /><br />I recently received this <a href="http://www.rabbitbites.com/archive/mcvlog.html">link </a>from them with a short message: "Heya Kid. Your wish is our command."<br /><br />Check it out! <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/">Arianna</a> and <a href="http://surfette.typepad.com/">Lisa</a> make appearances.<br /><br />Watch this week's K-FED episode <a href="http://www.rabbitbites.com/">here</a>. Best ep yet!! K-Fed profiled like never before! Believe me, you wanna see this one.<br /><br />P.S.: I'm still figuring out how to do a screenshot on this mac thingy... or I'd give you a nice image of buns and chou chou.<br />P.P.S.: (I got the link, Steve, thanks!)<br /><br />LATER: The rabbits sent over this cute image!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://amandacongdon.com/pics/rabbit%20pic%20q%20copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://amandacongdon.com/pics/rabbit%20pic%20q%20copy.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09329658589231271794noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10351288.post-1156543921786318142006-08-25T17:04:00.000-05:002006-08-25T17:45:56.496-05:00popurls + amanda!It's all right <a href="http://pophub.com/">here</a>.Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09329658589231271794noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10351288.post-1156386930593629232006-08-24T14:41:00.000-05:002006-08-24T14:47:27.866-05:00Link Lovin': The Popurls Remix<a href="http://thenonist.com/index.php/thenonist/permalink/hot_library_smut/">Hot Library Smut?</a><br />Libraries are sexy.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2006/08/24/338249-lists-of-best-selling-books">Best Selling Books</a><br />Anyone have any favorites to recommend?<br /><a href="http://veryfunnyads.com/ads/24861.html"><br />Canceling Casual Fridays</a><br />Don't worry. The real ones are coming back. ;)<br /><a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/446235p-375656c.html"><br />More Crazy from the Cruise Camp</a><br />Hollywood stops taking his crap. Finally. Do it yourself, Tom!<span class="bodytext"><br />"The Brooke Shields thing really turned women against him," a source close to the studio told The News. "It was the last straw."</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.improveverywhere.com/mission_view.php?mission_id=59">Home Depot Invasion</a><br />More performance art from Improv Everywhere.<br /><br /><a href="http://positivesharing.com/2006/08/a-devious-trick-to-handle-chronic-complainers/">Kill a Complainer</a><br /><a href="http://positivesharing.com/2006/08/a-devious-trick-to-handle-chronic-complainers/"><span class="down" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_CreateLink" title="Link" onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 8);ButtonMouseDown(this);"></span></a>This actually sounds like a handy solution! Try it out and let me know if it works.<br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/20/arts/design/20kenn.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&pagewanted=1&adxnnlx=1156259116-9ipy7ZHS0c+EL6zJqUpCAg"><br />30 Rock Gets a Bean?</a><br />It's just a beautiful big shiny bean. I wonder if it will play a role on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/30_Rock">30 Rock</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2006/08/24/338112-hitler-restaurant-to-change-name">"Some Indians regard Hitler as just another historical figure and have little knowledge about the Holocaust"?</a><br />Is this fo' serious?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2006/aug/23settlement.html">Apple and Creative truce</a><br />Took long enough. Ah, bureaucracy. It's thick. I know-- I'm in it.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.forbes.com/home/2006/08/23/Marriage-Careers-Divorce_cx_mn_land.html">"marrying a "career girl" seems to lead to a fate worse than tangling with a hungry cougar"!</a><br />I think it's just funny that he got away with using the term "career girl" in Forbes...<br /><br /><a href="http://abc.go.com/primetime/desperate/quiz/">Which Housewife Are You?</a><br />Go on and take it even if you're a guy, c'mon! I'm not even married but I got "Gabrielle". Yikes!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/24/business/24cnd-drug.html?ei=5094&en=28338d648119cd8f&amp;amp;hp=&ex=1156478400&adxnnl=1&partner=homep&adxnnlx=1156442973-cD/Q4T525KkhleoP5YIItw">RiteAid Steps Up </a><br />My favorite pharmacy tries to stop being a loser.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/aug2006/tc20060823_809079.htm?campaign_id=rss_topStories">Yes, Dell Sucks</a><br />Bet Jarvis got a kick outta this one.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.idiots-guide.org/badday.htm">Sympathy Vote</a><br />If you thought you were having a bad day...Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09329658589231271794noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10351288.post-1155847937257154582006-08-24T11:09:00.000-05:002006-08-24T11:31:25.986-05:00I'm Switching Over to the Dark Side, Mr. Jobs<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://amandacongdon.com/pics/IMG_0233.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://amandacongdon.com/pics/IMG_0233.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />My computer history:<br /></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">8 years old</span>: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_IIGS">Apple IIGS</a>. I called it the "Apple <span style="font-weight: bold;">L</span>GS" at the time.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Between 10-14</span>: My family didn't have a computer. I got a B+ instead of an A- on my 7th grade history term paper because the PC at my school crashed and I lost it. So I had to turn in the paper a day late. I never handed anything in late before so it was a hard lesson for me (plan ahead cuz computers are assholes sometimes). Poor me! It's a hard life. ;)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">High School</span>: Random, thrown together PC parts united to create a giant piece of doody!<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Freshman Year of College</span>: Dell. We all make mistakes.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Senior Year of College</span>: WinBook. Nothing exciting to say.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Since college</span>: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaio">Sony Vaio</a>. I loved it. I really did. We just needed some space. I'll miss the little 4 lb cutie. I'll miss it a lot. Just wasn't meeting my video needs, but I stood by it. THEN it crashed. :(<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://amandacongdon.com/pics/IMG_0184.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://amandacongdon.com/pics/IMG_0184.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Now</span>: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macbook_pro">MAC BOOK PRO</a>! WHOA NELLY!<br /><br />I've come full circle... and, I'll say it, I'm scared-- AND I LIKE IT!<br /><br />This is my first blog post with my new compy. So far, it's full of awesomeness. I still miss right click though. My right ring finger keeps reaching to click dammit! MUST TRAIN TO STOP!<br /><br />Pics I just took while unwrapping my new puppy:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://amandacongdon.com/pics/IMG_0234.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://amandacongdon.com/pics/IMG_0234.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://amandacongdon.com/pics/IMG_0236.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://amandacongdon.com/pics/IMG_0236.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://amandacongdon.com/pics/IMG_0237.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://amandacongdon.com/pics/IMG_0237.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://amandacongdon.com/pics/IMG_0238.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://amandacongdon.com/pics/IMG_0238.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://amandacongdon.com/pics/IMG_0239.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://amandacongdon.com/pics/IMG_0239.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://amandacongdon.com/pics/IMG_0240b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://amandacongdon.com/pics/IMG_0240b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://amandacongdon.com/pics/IMG_0242.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://amandacongdon.com/pics/IMG_0242.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://amandacongdon.com/pics/IMG_0246.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://amandacongdon.com/pics/IMG_0246.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://amandacongdon.com/pics/IMG_0245.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://amandacongdon.com/pics/IMG_0245.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09329658589231271794noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10351288.post-1156384570614499922006-08-23T20:51:00.000-05:002006-08-23T20:59:08.543-05:00Emails & ExperimentsJust a housekeeping note to let you know two things:<br /><br />1) If you sent me an email between Monday Aug 14 - Monday Aug 21 please resend. During the server change I lost all my emails (except any that went to the unboomed gmail addy). Super sorry for the inconvenience.<br /><br />2) Right now during this transitional period I am experimenting with UnBoomed to see what works and what doesn't. This will help a lot when I launch my new blog in September.<br /><br />Thanks!Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09329658589231271794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10351288.post-1155765432565504412006-08-23T11:28:00.000-05:002006-08-23T13:14:14.206-05:00Katie, The LadySorry to be a little <a href="http://media24a.libsyn.com/aXdqeJR2bXuUeGh5aHtvqZesY3OY/podcasts/theclipshow/TheClipShowEpisode06.mov">MIA</a> these last few days... a lot of stuff is going on. Jeesh, I'm sick of saying that. Can't wait until I can spread the word!<br /><br />Until then...<br /><br />I really enjoyed reading <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/14/AR2006081401194.html?style=tgr">this</a> article by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Kurtz">Howard Kurtz</a> ...then I thought... Howard Kurtz... how do I know that name.... ah, yes, we <a href="http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0606/11/rs.01.html">met in June</a>, Howard.<br /><br />Anyway, onto the article. I've meditated on it for a few days... actually I don't meditate but I have let it stew.<br /><br />First off, before I begin, let me just say that I am not a Couric fan. Although this is pretty funny:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.smartalecmusic.com/Katie_Couric.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.smartalecmusic.com/Katie_Couric.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I still prefer Diane. Classy, smart, and warm (oh, and added bonus points for her normal looking mouth, sorry Katie).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://hometown.aol.com/badlandsbooker/images/good%20morning%20america%202004%20-%20badlands%20wirh%20diane%20sawyer.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://hometown.aol.com/badlandsbooker/images/good%20morning%20america%202004%20-%20badlands%20wirh%20diane%20sawyer.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/MARIO/LOCALS%7E1/TEMP/moz-screenshot-2.jpg" alt="" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I do, however, admire how Katie is going about this monster transition. I for one can't wait for September 5th. Below I've documented my reactions to the article. Some responses are thoughtful... and others are downright superficial. :)<br /><h1>Up Close And Too Personal</h1> <h2>Katie Couric, Center of Attention, Says She Just Wants to Do Her Job</h2> <p><span style="font-size:85%;"><div id="byline">By <a href="http://projects.washingtonpost.com/staff/email/howard+kurtz/" title="Send an e-mail to Howard Kurtz">Howard Kurtz</a></div>Washington Post Staff Writer<br />Tuesday, August 15, 2006; Page C01</span></p> <div id="article_body"><p>NEW YORK, Aug. 14</p><p>She is already the most heavily scrutinized, psychoanalyzed and gossiped-about anchor in network history, and she hasn't yet uttered a single "good evening" on a CBS newscast.<br /></p> <p><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Of course, she's a powerful woman ("woman" being the operative word) making a big move.</span><br /></p> <table style="width: 1px; height: 1113px;" align="right" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td width="10"><br /></td><td width="228"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>Katie Couric's wardrobe has been analyzed by the Wall Street Journal, her makeup assailed in USA Today, her dating life examined by Parade magazine, her fitness for nightly news duty debated by columnists, cable combatants, bloggers and bloviators.<br /></p> <p><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Ummm, yeah? Of course. She's a lady. "Bloviators", eh? I had to look <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/bloviators">that one</a> up.</span><br /></p> <p>"I'm really focused on work and trying to tune the other stuff out, because it could potentially drive you absolutely out of your mind," Couric says in a conference room down the hall from the new set being constructed for her Sept. 5 debut.<br /></p> <p><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">You go girl! Good luck with that.</span><br /></p> <p>When she takes the helm of the "CBS Evening News," Couric's challenge to NBC's Brian Williams and ABC's Charlie Gibson will mark the first such three-way showdown since Dan Rather, Tom Brokaw and Peter Jennings initially went at it in the early 1980s. But the media landscape has shifted dramatically since then, leaving this trio fighting for a shrinking slice of the audience and increasingly taking their battle online.<br /></p> <p style="font-style: italic;">I find Brian Williams neither endearing nor sincere.</p><p style="font-style: italic;">Yes, they will all need to battle online as well as on TV to remain competitive. Somehow I think Katie would do very well with a video blog. She's very connected with her peeps.<br /></p> <p><span style="font-style: italic;">Who wins in this showdown. I do. We do. We get better news. News that is FORCED to reinvent itself and move the medium of television forward. News that has no choice but to fully integrate itself with a new medium altogether, the internet.</span><br /></p> <p>Because Couric is both the first woman to serve as a solo nightly news anchor and a big-time celebrity, some are casting her debut as the biggest event of the fall television season. After 15 years as a popular morning personality at NBC, she is armed with some new ideas -- including a regular soapbox segment for advocates and activists-- to jazz up an evening news format that sometimes seems set in concrete.</p><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I think it's cool that Katie is adding a segment for advocates. Of course she decides who's worthy enough ... and that's a whole 'nother can of worms... but it's still a step into the right direction.</span><br /><p>After conducting town meetings in a half-dozen cities last month, Couric concluded that "people are hungry" for more positive stories. She is, for example, working on a piece about an Alexandria foundation that teaches juvenile delinquents how to build boats and helps them get high school equivalency degrees.</p><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Of course television news is, for the most part, currently fear driven. It will be interesting to see how and IF Katie can change that. It's hard for me to see how she can do it, but I am hopeful. I just pray it doesn't get too corny and feel-good. It's really a fine line.</span><br /><p>"Sometimes when you watch the evening news, it's all gloom and doom -- and some of it has to be, because the world is a complicated and pretty scary place right now," says Couric, 49. "But there has to be a place for more hopeful stories."</p><p><span style="font-style: italic;">Yes!</span><br /></p><p>But, she adds, "it's not going to be smiley-face happy news."</p><p><span style="font-style: italic;">We'll see. I hope not. Although some smiling is appreciated. :)</span><br /></p><p>What viewers want is a constant topic of discussion among the staffs of the evening newscasts, which still reach a combined 25 million viewers but have seen their share of the total audience gradually decline for nearly three decades. Whether Couric can revive interest in the genre is the focus of considerable debate.</p><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Well Katie did an amazing thing even if it doesn't work or doesn't fully represent what the viewers want. She ASKED. She got her little butt out there and asked them! Requesting viewer input by slapping an email address on your site is kinda half-assed. This is the standard network way of doing things. Who reads those emails anyway? Has anyone ever gotten a response?? Katie put in the time to get to know people.</span><br /><p>Williams, who has occupied first place since succeeding Brokaw at "NBC Nightly News" 21 months ago, calls her a "great communicator" who "brings to the job an already established personal relationship with millions of viewers. She will be formidable competition, no ifs, ands or buts. . . . Like any product launch in the marketing world, an introduction is going to get sampling. I think that dies down rather quickly."<br /></p> <p><span style="font-style: italic;">Touché. But not if she's good. Then you may find a portion of your audience is gone permanently... and my guess? Katie will find some new fans that don't currently even watch network news-- or at least not regularly.</span><br /></p> <p>But Williams, 47, sees no need to tinker with his newscast, saying: "We're the established industry leader."</p> <p><span style="font-style: italic;">Yes. And your numbers are still shrinking along with everyone else in TV news.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">But your videoblog is pretty cool. Still a little too "internet TV" for me (so very NBC-ish).</span><br /></p> <div id="article_body"><p>Gibson, 63, who took over second-place "World News" in June after Bob Woodruff was sidelined by injuries suffered in Iraq and ABC reassigned co-anchor Elizabeth Vargas, has said the showdown should be focused on news, not personalities.</p><p><span style="font-style: italic;">I wonder why ever he would think that...hmmm... ;)</span><br /></p> <p>"I believe competition is good for all of us," says Jon Banner, executive producer of "World News," who calls Couric and Williams tough rivals. "It brings more attention to the evening news, which lots of people determined some time ago was going to go away. Charlie's move to the evening and Katie's move to the evening give the lie to that. The only challenge we've had is to make sure they know he's on in the evening now."<br /></p> <p><span style="font-style: italic;">No one with half a brain really thinks the evening news is going to "go away". That's just a way to spin things to make headlines. You must know that-- you're in this business! You aren't going nowhere, buddy... you're just in a position where you've got to make some changes. Apparently, you know that since you've brought on Katie. TV and the internet will become fully integrated, your numbers will level out to something that accurately represents the public's interest (now that they have other options with the internet) and, in the end, the only thing that will matter will be the content. </span><br /></p> <table align="right" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="238"><tbody><tr><td width="10"><br /></td><td width="228"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>Public fascination with the anchors has reached the point that Gallup recently polled about them, as if they were presidential candidates. Couric led the trio with a 60 percent approval rating but, with 23 percent disapproving, had the highest negatives as well. Gibson got positive marks from 55 percent of those surveyed and thumbs down from 8 percent, while 47 percent approved of Williams and 7 percent disapproved.</p><p><span style="font-style: italic;">Why the high disapproval rating, Katie? Could it again be because you are smart, attractive WOMAN (oh! the horror!). No one disapproves of the others because they are just so damn bland! There is nothing to like or dislike.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Or is it just that society finds women easier to hate than men? Hmmm.</span><br /></p><p>CBS has done its part to stoke the interest in Couric as she takes the reins from Bob Schieffer, who will return to his Washington job after having boosted the "Evening News" ratings during his 18 months as Rather's interim replacement. The network has launched a promotional campaign and tapped Academy Award-winning composer James Horner to write new theme music for the broadcast.</p><p><span style="font-style: italic;">Oh! That's exciting! I love a catchy news jingle. </span><br /></p><p>CBS News President Sean McManus says he sees a media "feeding frenzy" over Couric's new role and is surprised by "this unbelievable thirst for information" about her life. "It's a good thing that everyone is talking about the 'CBS Evening News' right now," he says. "The downside is that people are going to be so quick to jump to conclusions after one broadcast. Some things are going to work and others aren't going to work."</p><p style="font-style: italic;">It'll be rough around the edges, but I'm sure Katie will help make any awkwardness charming. Give us Americans a little faith. We understand you'll be fine tuning things, that it will be CBS Evening News beta for a little while.<br /></p><p>One of those elements is the new commentary segment, dubbed "Free Speech," which will give a 90-second platform to outsiders -- some prominent, some not -- and will also include a weekly essay by Schieffer.</p><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">This sounds cool if it doesn't get too hokey. Again, it will largely depend on who Katie and her producers select.</span><br /><p>"People are sick of the lack of civil discourse," Couric says, with guests "screaming and interrupting each other and trying to stay on message and berating the other person. They want us to get away from sound bites from inside the Beltway and roll up our sleeves and hear from real people."</p><p><span style="font-style: italic;">Yes, I would concur. It's cute when Jon Stewart disagrees with someone (he does comedy, c'mon) but it's less than charming when the American public is subjected to the likes of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tucker_Carlson">Tucker Carlson</a>-- who is supposed to be a newsman, am I wrong?-- getting his smug on. He needs to bring back the bowties-- his only attraction. And I don't always even disagree with him. He has the rare talent of being able to piss me off even when I agree.</span><br /></p><p>On immigration, Couric says, CBS might interview a restaurant owner about illegal immigrants or a recent emigre from Guatemala. "Sometimes in recent years there's been such an effort to bend over backwards to placate both sides of the political aisle, and that on-the-one-hand-this, on-the-other-hand-that approach has left people a little bit cold," she says. "Sometimes they want more analysis and fact-finding and critical thinking."</p><p><span style="font-style: italic;">YES! YES! YES! DO IT LADY. Anything to save us from the "on the one hand this, on the other hand that" syndrome all your collegues seem to have... once you do the research take the next step! Make an assessment! I want you to figure it out and tell me what the deal is. Then I will choose to think you are right or not... but at least I will think you are a human being and not some kind of droid.</span><br /></p><p>On the other hand . . . one planned segment will also feature author Nora Ephron expounding on plastic surgery, a subject of her new book. "They're not all going to be super-heavy," Couric says.</p><p><span style="font-style: italic;">Oh, God no. The one thing America doesn't need is any more shows about plastic surgery. Seriously, the shows out there really seem to cover all the bases and in many cases overlap.</span><br /></p><p>Executive Producer Rome Hartman describes the changes as evolutionary. "People watching the first night will know it's a different broadcast, but it's not going to be outside the tradition or form of the 'CBS Evening News,' " he says. "It's not going to be one of these radical remakes."</p><p><span style="font-style: italic;">Really? It sounds pretty freaking radical. And to be honest, that is JUST what we need. SOMEONE to just be radical.</span><br /></p><p>CBS executives are trying to tamp down expectations of a dramatic boost for their last-place newscast. "The ratings movement might be slow and very gradual," McManus says. "Moving the needle takes a long time, I don't care who your anchor is."</p><p><span style="font-style: italic;">Cover your bases! Cover your bases! Just in case it's a flop. ;)<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-style: italic;">Nah, that's true. An anchor needs to become part of someone's routine, and changing routines doesn't happen overnight. This will be an especially slow transition for those who don't typically watch television news at all. These new-to-the-news types (think: young people) and those who have decided to give network news another chance (think: people of all ages who usually get their news elsewhere) will need figure out how to integrate Katie into their schedules-- if they like her.</span></p><p>Despite <i>he</i>r years of experience interviewing presidents and world leaders on the "Today" show, Couric has faced skepticism rooted in her singing, dancing, cooking and other morning high jinks -- even though press reports about Gibson rarely mention the lighter shtick he did during 19 years on "Good Morning America."</p><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The lady thing again, naturally. Men can be multifaceted, women... not so much. Society wants us to be one thing, or another or they cannot process the information. It's not personal.</span><br /><p>"She's America's cutie pie," says Robert Lichter of the Center for Media and Public Affairs. "She's bringing star power to a job that has been a black hole in terms of losing viewers. She's a devil to people who think TV news is losing its soul, and an angel to people who think TV news needs shaking up."</p><p><span style="font-style: italic;">Yes, she will perform CPR on television news, and, one way or another, will certainly shake things up.</span><br /></p><p>Couric's presence will be felt beyond the anchor desk that, as press reports frequently note, was once occupied by Walter Cronkite. She is already working on two pieces for "60 Minutes," one of which is related to Sept. 11. She will host a prime-time documentary on the fifth anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks the night after her debut. She plans to appear daily on CBS Radio and blog at least once a week for the network's Web site, fielding questions "if people have a beef with us. It just adds to the transparency we're trying to promote. We just want to let viewers in a little bit on the process of how a newscast is put together and what decisions we make."</p><p><span style="font-style: italic;">A blog is good. More frequency would of course be better... but my hope is that with some encouragement, she'll ease into it. Of course, I want video. I think if Katie can master the videoblog she could change everything. Bring an entirely different dimension and depth to formal news reporting. That's not to say there isn't a time and place for a buttoned up newscast... but it would be nice to see a different side of her online. And! my guess is that it would help her newscasting too... it would train her to relate to the camera (and thus her viewers) in a whole new way.</span><br /></p><p>In that regard, CBS is a step behind NBC, where Williams has been writing a daily blog since last year, and ABC, where Gibson anchors a 15-minute afternoon webcast that was downloaded nearly 8 million times in June. CBS recently cut a deal with the online site WebMD to contribute to medical segments.</p><p><span style="font-style: italic;">Yeah, CBS really needs to kick it up a notch. My guess is that they need to focus on Katie now and further online integration efforts will come next.</span><br /></p><p>With the average age of evening news watchers about 60, and the total number of viewers having dropped by half since 1980, network executives see the Internet as a new forum for reaching younger people accustomed to watching news and video online.</p><p><span style="font-style: italic;">Uh, yeah.</span><br /></p><p>"It's easy for people our age to dismiss a generation with a broad brush," Couric says. But, she adds, it would be nice if more younger viewers knew "as much about the state of the country as they know about the state of Britney Spears's marriage."</p><p><span style="font-style: italic;">Ok, this I find insulting. Now I've read the surveys which say that young people are totally uninformed about the world around them... and I sure as hell know ALL about the state of Britney and K-Fed's marriage... what godloving ;) American citizen doesn't? But this unforunate statement by Katie ignores all the young (and old) people who just choose to get their news elsewhere. People don't NEED to watch TV to get news, clearly. And she is not going to win us over by acting like we're all like dumbasses. Come to us with a compelling program and speak to us like we're smart and informed. If you relate to people like they're smart and informed, they'll either love you because you aren't talking down to them or will be encouraged by you to *become* smart-- or at least informed-- because you've set the bar high. </span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-style: italic;"></span>Couric's life may not draw as much attention as Spears's marriage, but it is surely dissected more fervently than those of most journalists. That is in part because of her celebrity status and in part because she often shared personal experiences with the "Today" audience -- particularly after the 1998 death of her husband, Jay Monahan, turned Couric into a crusader and fundraiser for cancer-related causes. With a salary of $15 million a year, she moves easily among Manhattan's jet set.</p><p><span style="font-style: italic;">I've said it before and I'll say it again. This woman needs a videoblog.</span><br /></p><p>Couric, who has two teenage daughters, sparked a debate after saying in May that as a single mother she might not be willing to travel with U.S. forces in Iraq. The entertainment show "Access Hollywood" later recycled the quote, erroneously, as applying to whether Couric would have gone to Israel to cover its war with Hezbollah. She says such matters would have to be decided on a case-by-case basis, but she is not apologetic about hesitating to parachute into any war zone.</p><p>"I'm not saying I'm going to be totally blowing off my family," says Couric. "That's a very important role in my life, that I'm a mother."</p><p>Asked why her comments generated so much attention, she says: "Probably there's still a lot of consternation in this country about people trying to balance work and family. . . . It's a sticky wicket. People applauded the fact that I was going to put my [foot] down at some point and say no.</p><p><span style="font-style: italic;">I think it's terrific that she said no. She isn't just going to go for all the publicity.</span><br /></p><p>"If it's going to advance the story -- if I get an interview with an important figure in said hot spot -- obviously I want to go. Do I want to go just to put on a flak jacket and front a news show? Not necessarily. Viewers are smart. They understand when someone really needs to be there and when it's more of a show."</p><p><span style="font-style: italic;">Again, good for Katie for not going just to go... for refusing to play the part. I think it is actually bad form and in poor taste for reporters to jet off to wherever the trouble is carte blanche and slap on some khaki. It very often minimizes the very real danger of the situation. When it's just for show, it shows. Katie's right.</span><br /></p><p>Couric, who left "Today" at the end of May, sounds a bit impatient to get on with it, telling reporters on a conference call Monday: "It's been an out-of-body experience to watch these major news events unfold in my pajamas." <span style="font-style: italic;">Haha. Sounds like my life.<br /></span></p><p>But in the interview in the first-floor conference room, she cautions against the idea of a personal transformation.<br /></p> <p>"I don't want to lose who I am, in terms of how I communicate with people," she says. "I'm not going to become a different person. The downside of all the attention is to suggest I'm going to single-handedly save anything. I'm just going to try to be a contributor with a great group of people who are already in place."</p><p style="font-style: italic;">And so I root for Katie and her efforts to "advance the story". Maybe she will answer the question of <font><span style="font-weight: bold;">What Will Happen to Network News.</span> Or maybe not... but she will, undoubtedly, and, yes, *single-handedly* (because ultimately it was her decision and her decision alone to take this challenge) change the landscape of media forever. I'll read her blog and will certainly be tuning in on September 5th. Good night, Katie, and good luck.<br /></span></p><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><p><span style="font-style: italic;"><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font><font>Oh gosh, what a cheeseball! I couldn't resist.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p></div></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09329658589231271794noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10351288.post-1155844747924802422006-08-17T15:05:00.000-05:002006-08-18T09:52:11.450-05:00Geriatric1927A new You Tube star has been born. <a href="http://connecticutblue.blogspot.com/">Joe Cascio</a> points us to a widower living alone in the English countryside:<br /><br /><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9in-eYkvU_4"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9in-eYkvU_4" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="350" width="425"></object><br /><br />I found most interesting the comment he made explaining why he isn't interested in attention from the MSM: "You and all You Tube members are now my friends and as friends I can talk with you in an uninhibited way and tell you all my secrets. And that's the way I like it to be. I have nothing to say to the world in general."<br /><br />I think I'll shoot him an email about the <a href="http://www.midnightpublishing.net/wordpress/?p=65">perils</a> of putting videos on You Tube. He seems like more of a <a href="http://blip.tv/">Blip</a> guy. :)<br /><br />Yay though for diversity in videoblogging! Variety is so much more fun. I think maybe I should try to get my <a href="http://www.rocketboom.com/vlog/archives/2006/02/rb_06_feb_14.html">matchmaker</a> on and hook him up with <a href="http://mymomsblog.blogspot.com/">Millie Garfield</a>.Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09329658589231271794noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10351288.post-1155749793305549232006-08-16T16:07:00.000-05:002006-08-16T16:48:49.290-05:00Gettin' a Little Linky<a href="http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8JH57RG0.htm?sub=apn_tech_down&chan=tc">ABC Leads The Pack</a><br/>(and cbs follows)<br/><br/><a href="http://www.quizmeme.com/color/quiz.php">Silly Quiz: What Color Are You?</a><br/>I'm green.<br/><br/><a href="https://www.theclimateproject.org/Grassroots_Training_Program.html">Be Al Gore's Bitch!</a><br/>It's for a good cause...<a href="http://www.goodmagazine.com/blog/">via the Good Magazine blog<br/></a><br/><a href="http://wayofthemind.dehumanizer.com/2006/08/15/16-common-myths-about-atheists/">Myths About Atheists</a><br/>I'm not one (but I'm not a believer in organized religion either).<br/><br/><a href="http://www.polarimage.fi/video/vidAuro.htm">Aurora Videos</a><br/>Because they are purty.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19125633.100-drugdanger-league-table-revealed.html">Booze & Cigs More Dangerous Than E & Weed?</a><br/>Check the graph!<br/><br/><a href="http://www.newscientist.com/data/images/archive/2563/25633101.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://www.newscientist.com/data/images/archive/2563/25633101.jpg" border="0" width="300"/></a>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09329658589231271794noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10351288.post-1155697241743995062006-08-15T21:52:00.000-05:002006-08-15T22:00:41.776-05:00My Bro is Now a BloggerWith a great deal of pride I introduce you to <a href="http://pawntakes.blogspot.com/">Pawn Takes Queen</a>, my brother Andrew's new blog. It will be great to keep up with him while he travels to Madrid for study abroad in September. Enjoy!Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09329658589231271794noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10351288.post-1155582923832457762006-08-14T14:13:00.000-05:002006-08-14T18:41:47.603-05:00Trip to NYCOn Saturday we took the train into Manhattan. First we stopped by <a href="http://node101.org/">Node 101</a> and hung out, ate some mini carrot sticks, watched some vlogs,<br />and chatted with some cool peeps like <a href="http://newmediacollective.org">Melanie Morgan</a> and <a href="http://mnn.org/">Ivettza Sanchez</a>.<br /><img alt="" src="http://amandacongdon.com/pics/node101.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />Then we headed down to the <a href="http://www.flatironlounge.com/html/history.html">Flatiron Lounge</a>, one of my favorite little spots in NYC. It's home of my favorite coctail eva, the <a href="http://www.drinkboy.com/Cocktails/recipes/JamaicanFirefly.html">Jamaican Firefly</a>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://amandacongdon.com/pics/amandamollyemily.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://amandacongdon.com/pics/amandamollyemily.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />That's Molly in the middle and Emily (Emski) on the right. Molly and I have been super tight since freshman year of highschool when we were both 14. We'd cut study hall to go to Molly's house which was nearby and eat Ramen and watch Sweet Valley High. Emski and I were college roommates. I am trying to convince her to work on one of my upcoming projects with me (I think she's going to go for it!).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://amandacongdon.com/pics/lukemario.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://amandacongdon.com/pics/lukemario.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />And last we have Luke and Mario... check out Luke's Power Move! The Pretzel!Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09329658589231271794noreply@blogger.com6