Waxing Philosophical about Browsings, Work, and Love

PoddedMeat Stuff
The first and second weeks ratings are in for PoddedMeat. If it were two years ago, and it were the Mark and Darrell Show, I’d be absolutely elated – our numbers exceeded any ratings I’ve ever recieved on RantRadio, AKA, and the podcast feed combined. On the other hand, I was expecting a bit higher debut than where we started.

The upside is that we increased our ratings for the second week by roughly 170%. Again, a bit disappointing for me – even though we’re talking four-digit numbers here, I’m expecting these numbers to eventually rival Laporte’s and Rose’s numbers. Granted, I don’t have a juggernaut like Digg fueling my subscriber numbers, but in time I’m sure I will.

I had some really positive conversations with companies that I’m sure you all have heard of yesterday. I can’t say who they are because we’re just in the preliminary talks, but I can say this: watch closely during the commercial breaks in the coming weeks. The promos for second season should start running soon, and will provide clues for the types of entertainment programs we have planned.

Running a set of talking head programs is a bit more difficult than I envisioned, and it’s taking a few more episodes to bang out what our style is than I expected – on the other hand, I think the shows are coming along quite nicely. I think that NewsCube this week finally found it’s rhythm, and RunTime isn’t very far behind them. RunTime has a lot more variable elements to it, so it’s going to take a couple more episodes before I think it’ll gel properly, but it’s definately getting there. Luke and Laney are finally comfortable in their skins on camera, and it’s starting to show.

Monetization Stuff
As you folks know, I’ve been searching around for different ways to monetize and promote the network of Oblong Box as well as PoddedMeat. I’ve managed ad campaigns for companies (before I dropped everything to work on these content based projects, it was something I did for my clients), so when I was sent a link for a PPC management agency to check out, I reviewed the site with a critical eye.

Honestly, they look legitimate, and their FAQ brings up a number of valid points. As someone who has done this type of work before, I think that a couple salient details should be brought up when talking about this or any other PPC management group:

It’s just as important (if not more important) that the copy of the landing site as well as the structure of the landing site be designed to entice in further and capture information from the potential customer. PPC advertising relies mostly on tricking the customer to give you as much information as possible about them so you can drip on them later with further sales calls, be they email, snail mail, or phone calls.

All in all, I think this is a fairly reputable group, from the sounds of it, but I’m concerned about the method of advertising they utilize to promote themselves … I didn’t find them through a PPC ad. The only other weakness I see is that their copy on their website is slightly less than compelling, but then they may have gone to another school of learning when it comes to how they came upon their PPC skills than I did.

All in all, I’d suggest if you’re going to go with PPC management services, try these guys out on a limited basis.

Quote of the Entry:
[Rizzn's Note: this is just one of the reasons I love this girl]

iris: Love is not an adaquate word I can use to express how I really feel about you… my love for you is more “love itself”
rizzn: That’s beautiful, honey.
iris: cause I am freaking bad ass
rizzn: haha

Major Personal/Professional Issues

Well, I’ll just come out and say it. I fired Darrell today.

It’s been a mighty stressful week, things were tightly scheduled, and if all the cogs weren’t in exactly the right place, the whole structure (much like a jenga puzzle) would come tumbling down.

And once again, Darrell failed to follow through on something. Those that have been following the exploits of Darrell and I over the years will not be very surprised by this. He was the reason the Mark and Darrell show got canned on RantRadio back in the day. He’s probably by far the least prolific blogger on the network, despite the fact he’s had two domain names and three blog designs created for him. He’s also the sole reason we haven’t produced one single episode of LateCast for the PoddedMeat Network yet.

Nevermind the fact that we are two weeks behind schedule on shooting the show – that doesn’t seem to matter to him. Nevermind that I impressed upon him the absolute gravity of the situation if he didn’t perform. Nevermind the fact that he saw how absolutely upset and angry I was the one time Hannah and Sam were no-shows to a rehersal.

He still found a way to blame the whole situation on me, as he did with the MADshow debacle, and as he has done with the blogging situation.

I had reached my fill of this behavior, and when he hung up on me after giving me lip and attitude, I fired him.

Darrell is no longer associated with any of my projects from this point out.

/rizzn

Mark Lives

I just got a call from Mark. Apparently, south Florida is indeed a wasteland, as he was calling me from the only working pay phone he could find. He does have a little money and food for a couple days, but donations are still appreciated. Right now, he needs to find a working gas station in the Pompano Beach area, so if anybody can help out with that, please drop me a line at smokehouse@rantradio.com ASAP!

I'm outta here folks

Well, guys, this is my last post until I get back from the Bahamas.  Next week is guest week… we’re going to have a host of great bloggers to come in and fill your week with Rizzny goodness.  All Blip tech support requests will be redirected to storage and handled upon my return.

Guest Bloggers
Monday – Jon Thomas Wilson aka thelinesbegintoblur
Tuesday – Matthew Finkelstein aka matthewtheunhumbled
Wednesday – Art Lindsey III aka smokehouse
Thursday – Darrell Thomas aka ndmovies
Friday – RICR

Make your guest bloggers feel welcome.  Tip your waitstaff, they work hard for you, etc, etc.

Sprint Nextel sues providers in patent spat
Sprint Nextel is suing VoIP providers Vonage Holdings and Voiceglo Holdings, accusing the firms of infringing on seven VoIP technology-related patents. The suit, filed in federal court in Kansas by a Sprint Nextel subsidiary, seeks an injunction that would bar the defendants from using the communication company’s patented technologies. The suit also seeks unspecified monetary damages.

Sprint Nextel claims its patents protect a series of innovations that allow the processing and delivery of voice and data communications via packets over the Internet. The company says that these methods also encompass VoIP. The suit, however, doesn’t explain how the companies are violating the patents.

Michael Rupert Ruminations
I think I’ve figured out my problem with Michael Rupert.  I’ve really been trying to like the guy, find some common ground with him, see if there’s slivers of anything I can grab onto in his writings.  The more and more I read, the less and less I feel that dream will ever become a reality.  The guy has a whole worldview that’s miles apart from where I could ever see myself.  He’s horribly entrenched in an idea of apocalyptic nightmare (not in the TFTA amusing sort of way), and miles away from being able to admit the problem.  Every article I read for the last two months is either MSM tripe or an article by him that paints a picture based off of MSM tripe of what his fantasy apocalyptic world will be like.

I don’t buy it.  He’s not providing hard data.  He’s not convincing me.  The hard data he does provide is likely as not to be fallacious.  When it’s not fallacious, he’s as likely as not to draw a conclusion that doesn’t logically follow.

Joel sent me his most recent article, and I was re-reading it on the way to the bank and the landlord today, looking for a shred of anything I could exposit upon positively, and suddenly I read the sentence I must have skimmed over fifty times before.

In my earlier presentation and throughout the day today, it should be growing clear to you that official preparations for Peak Oil have been underway for some time.  And – as I document in “Rubicon” – they include the attacks of September 11th, 2001 and all US government foreign policy initiatives since then.

There you have it. I’m sorry – and I know I’m going to offend at least three people in the RIC with this one – if you entertain fleeting notions anymore that September 11th was a government conspiracy, and not a bunch of jackasses from the Middle East playing God, then you aren’t playing with a full deck.  Popular Science a year ago devoted a special 60 page edition issue of their magazine to debunking every myth about that.  It’s now considered common knowlege that there was no government conspiracy to blow up the twin towers.

This sentence was in the introduction to his paper. His premise is predicated on a myth.  I simply can’t take anything this man says seriously.  If anyone wants to use Michael Rupert to convince me of anything at this point, they’re going to have to work real hard at it.

Some Predictions of the News
Since I won’t be here to report the news, I’m going to take some guesses, and we’ll see if I fare better than the National Enquirer.  Any takers on this bet?

Liz Taylor Dies Alone, Leaves Everything to her Cat – every entertainment pundit this week has moved Liz to the top of their deadpool.  I’m taking that bet and raising – I’m gonna say she dies this week. Additionally, the cat will immediately die from perfume overdose.
House and Senate Hand Out Corporate Welfare to Oil Refineries – all this talk of Peak Oil, hurricanes, and damaged rigs (oh my!) this week will be the final push that Congress needs to draft some legislation giving the oil industry some odd billion dollars of handouts.
Rove Testifies for Grand Jury
Whitehouse Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove is going to testify on a grand jury, and roll over on a senior or mid level administration staffer.  There’s no way the man would walk in there knowing he’s going to get charged.  The only way he’s going in there is if someone else takes the hatchet.  In the head.
Following Apple’s Video iPod Debut, Adam Curry “invents” Vodcasting
Despite the fact that Vodcasting has been a term in use for years now, Adam Curry will claim to invent Vodcasting on his sattellite radio show, “the Podshow.”  He’ll also continue being a jerk, and he won’t mention BlipMedia one time.
Tropical Force Disturbance Xanadu will Hammer Key Biscayne
Since the hurricane season is dying down, and there’s no hurricanes, tropical storms, tropical depressions, or what they’ve now taken to calling ‘tropical waves’ to report on, The Weather Channel will invent a new classification called “Tropical Force Disturbance” to indicate when the tropics “…think about getting nasty.”  NOAA Hurricane Center Director Max Mayfield adds: “In my pants.”
Kidnapping in Aruba Remains Unsolved
By Greta Van Susteren, anyways.  Everyone else in the world is pretty sure Natalie Holloway is dead.

These are fun.  I could do these all day long, but no! It’s time for the …
RICR #3
There were two main topics that dominated the RIC list this week: Who’s going to do the guest columns, and the QCF debacle.  I encourage you, if you are in any way interested or have listened to, or know the culture of internet radio or rantradio, to go read that forum thread.  I laughed non-stop for a good thirty minutes.  It’s just comical.  It’s sad to see a good show go, but when you break the rules, you get in trouble.  I know that better than anyone.

In other news, Darrell released Haunted Road, a short film.  For every shoe in the road, there’s a story.  Go see this one, it’s pretty neat. Elsewhere, Smokehouse posted a few times, a few of them about the QCF thing, as well as a short post about nappy stripper teeth.

Kelly went on vacation and Jon celebrated a birthday.  It’s too late to look smart, but you can still look friendly – go wish him a happy belated. He also firmly believed that Serenity was better than Star Wars. Meanwhile, my buddy Rob experienced an eclipse followed by extreme wetness out in Africa, all the while finding time to change his site design.  Again.

Lastly, but not leastly, MC Chris posted his new tour dates.  See him, then go see him again!

I’m out guys – See you in a week.

/rizzn

A little bit of everything before I get back to work

If you emailed me between about 4:00 PM and 5:30 PM yesterday, I need you to email me again, as I had a minor workstation crash that I spent the better part of the evening recovering from. In other news, I’m getting pretty excited about my upcoming adventure a few weeks from now in iRP, where my little kobold is going to lead a band of adventurers to the northern Temple of Bianesse.  So far, the party looks like it’s going to contain the following assorted characters: a junkie Kei’Dyn (a catlike race – this one’s poison is catnip), a one-armed ameteur dwarven mage, a cross dressing Urdon, and possibly a female halfling troubadour, all led by my character, a 3’9” ninja kobold.  I’m not sure if this is going to be a comedy or a tragedy, but it will definately be one or the other. 

I’ll check with the GM and see if there’s any interested in just observing if I can give out the server info here on the blog.  If you’re interested in participating though, just head on over to the site.

The fabled Blip migration should be done by the end of the day.  We’re going to flip the DNS switch tonight, assuming all goes well.  Some podcasts may not be available for a short period of time, and we may have some weird outages for as many as three days, but it’s the weekend, and it’s typically a slightly lower traffic time for the site.  By Monday we’ll definately have all this straightened out (famous last words, yes, I know).  All this means is that I’m going to be harder to get a hold of this weekend than normal, but I do want you to report to my email any irregularities you experience, as I’ll be relying on you guys to tell me how the DNS propogates.

Michael Brown of FEMA and his Statements
I wonder how many of you read your homework last night like I told you to…  probably not many, and I don’t blame you.  That is one long winded opening statement.  There are, however, some passages from it that I’d like to point out to you that have been completely glossed over by the MSM, and to a large extent the blogging community (if only because no one broadcast the statement in its entirety except C-SPAN, and only then just the first time, no repeat).

There is this prevailing opinion of late that Michael Brown is part of some crony network, an old friend of the Bush family or something that got the job by being the friend of a drunken cokehead bound for presidency at the right place at the right time.  I think what the hearings and especially his opening statement shows is that this is not true at all.  Don’t get me wrong, there is examples of this in the Bush cabinet for instance, but the director of FEMA was qualified for his job, as it turns out.  This is simply an example of the press piling onto the wrong guy, and supressing the evidence of their mistake.

FCC blinks again on VoIP disconnects
For a second time, the FCC has postponed a deadline affecting VoIP providers that failed to get all of their customers to acknowledge 911 service limitations. Customers that hadn’t responded to their providers’ notifications faced termination of their service last Wednesday. The agency on Tuesday agreed to extend the deadline by another month, acknowledging the work many of the providers had already done to inform their customers of the limitations of 911 over VoIP. The original deadline set by the FCC was Aug. 29.

The FCC now says it won’t begin enforcing the rule until Oct. 31. Many VoIP providers have already submitted reports, and the FCC has felt encouraged so far by the level of compliance. In a public notice, the FCC said that 21 companies had received notices of 100 percent compliance, and at least 32 others had heard back from more than 90 percent of their customers.

From the “Privacy is Dead, Get Over It” Department
All over Canada, local police departments are making use of fake recycling bins to trap speeders in residential zones, according to numerous email reports we’ve been getting.  One rizznite sent photographic proof (ostensibly taken by a the local media) of police officers setting up one of these trashy speed-traps.

They basically use radar guns to track your speed, and if you exceed the limit, take your photograph. From the emails I’ve recieved, they appear to be in use in Alberta, as well as Calgary.  I used to think this type of stuff only happenned in Britian, but now it’s creeping into North America.  The United States is next.  Several cliched quotes come to mind.  If we don’t say something about it, we’ll all have to drive the speed limit soon! According to my research, ones very much like these units have been used in South Australia and Germany as well. 

I’m of the opinion that our country’s personal transport system is oppressive enough.  Just by joining the driver’s club in most states, you waive several very important civil rights, subject yourself to the high cost of moving yourself around the distances that our advanced society requires, as well as risk being harassed routinely by whatever local yokel street beat cops you may be nearby to.  The United States (and I would imagine Canada as well) can’t afford too many more significant barriers to private transportation before it has a significant negative impact on the economy.

Consider the cost of insurance, car maintainence, gas, and now guaranteed ten or so speeding tickets a year?  Think about it.  How often do you go 20 mph in a 15 mph or 40 mph in a 35 mph?  No matter how much negative reinforcement that goes to your pocketbook a year for minor infractions, a lot of us have a lead foot that gets away from us on occasion, no matter how hard we try.  The camera won’t care if you’re going 5 of 35 over the speed limit, and since these things are so cost effective, it won’t take long before they spread to 80% (or more) citywide coverage.  They’re cash machines for a city.  Think about it!

Fetuses found at Bogota Airport
In a very disgusting turn of events, Colombian police have found the bodies of three human foetuses hidden in statues destined for the United States. The discovery was made by officers searching for contraband at Bogota Airport on Tuesday.

The corpses were wrapped in plastic and concealed inside statues of Christian icons, which were smashed open. According to Colombian police chief Gen Jord Alirio Varon, the four- to five-month-old foetuses could have been intended for use in Satanic rituals. He said officials are trying to find out who sent the packages, which came from Barranquilla in Colombia and were destined for Miami in the US.

Of course, I’ve read by a lot of liberal bloggers who’ve blogged this that it was more likely they were on their way to be used for stem-cell research.  What these bloggers fail to recognize is that stem-cell research isn’t illegal, just not government funded.  There would b

e no reason for the dead babies to be smuggled in, as there is a ready supply in America of our own to use. Gen Varon said the foetuses were found alongside crucifixes and medals, which is what probably gave rise to the ritualistic angle.

RICR #2: The Next Generation
It’s Friday again, so this must be the Rizznite Inner Circle Roundup.  Of course the really big news is that Smokehouse got a smokin’ hot chick to DJ on Rant by the name of Soccergirl. I’m sure all of us rant heads are going to enjoy the sexy goodness on the Talk station now.  I mean, come on guys, how long has it been a complete sausage fest over there.  It’s a good thing.  In other news, Kelly turned into an aunt (of sorts) as her ‘homefrye’, and best friend Jayne had a baby. 

Lucas Dwayne A——. (last name withheld) was born sometime on September 25, 2005. Jayne was heard saying, “ Kel! I have a healthy baby boy and he is so awesome. Yeah:) YEAH!!!!”

The next day, Darrell was pitched into the throes of a horrendous depression after viewing a ‘very special’ Daria episode, only to be fully recovered three days later.  Jon, on the other hand, has decided to take a zen-like approach to his social and personal life in order to suppress the depression typically brought on by failed romantic endeavors or sad episodes of Daria.  As if this upturn in his approach to life wasn’t enough to make us all want to be Jon, he too (much like myself on Tuesday) was invited to go pre-screen the nunreleased movie Serenity.

Also, as an aside to Jon, you know my policy with Hot Chicks and Rizzn.com – they have to be together as often as possible – which is why I’m stealing this picture from your entry and putting it here.  Bwahahaha.

Finally, from the RICR mailing list, not a whole lot of activity again this week, but a few comments came in from Matthew and VikiBabbles.  Regarding the Michael Brown transcript, Matthew said:

Wow, Rizzn, I am glad I had an opporitunity to read this transcript. I found it very enlightening. I had just assumed that he was another suit latched onto Bush’s crony network. That part about FEMA’s real function and the size of it’s budget, is gold. In particular, where Brown goes on TV and tells the people of New Orleans to just get out despite what their Mayor is saying… That is very vindicating. Good job defending the underdog, you made a true believer out of me, because I would never have seen this on CNN. I’m sure it went totally unreported minus that. At least the CNN crowd knows whats up… all 50 of them.

Regarding the Walken for President Hoax Confirmation, VikiBabbles had this to say:

This is hilarious. I was just searching for myself (yes, I’m that vain), and I came back across this comment I left. WTF was I thinking? I do appreciate ham n eggs sticking up for me. yeah, that’s right, I meant Jeb!

Actually, I meant the Bush machine, whoever they put on as the face of it in 2008.

I’m so laughing at myself right now, I can’t even believe it. It’s good that I’m as drunk now as I was when I left that comment.

That’s the RICR for this week.  Head on over to Rob’s website and welcome him to the inner circle.  Until later guys.

/rizzn