The Fastpitch TV Show

Some of you may be aware that I started a vidcast earlier this year. As the title of this post says The Fastpitch TV Show is the name of the cast.

The earlier episodes started out as infomercials for my sporting goods stores and websites. Originally I reviewed softball and baseball products, then told the viewers where on the SportJunk.com network they could find these products.

The main idea behind the show was to make money promoting my website on videos. I guess my idea worked. In no time at all I had new customers coming in the store, saying, Hey you are the guy on the video? I had a couple come to the store that has an afternoon layover at the DFW Airport, and buy $500 worth of product. It was clear the show was getting us new costumers.

This summer while at the college world series the fellow next to me said, Have you ever been to Michigan? I said no. He went on and on about how familiar I looked. Then he figured it out. Hey, he said, are you the guy on the softball videos? I laughed and said yes. That same situation has happened to me over and over. It is amazing how often that has happened.

As I said the show started as an infomercial, but has evolved. Now it is becoming more of a news show. I have interviewed Olympic softball player, Hall of fame coaches and hal of fame softball players, and many other people involved in the world of fastpitch softball. My videos on Wikipedia, and some of my videos have been viewed more than 10,000 times.

I really have enjoyed the production side of the show. I have moved fromediting in iMovie to Final Cut. Now I am trying to edit using my green screen. I hope soon that the quality of my show will grow to a more professional level of quality.

If you want to see any of my show, feel free to view them at FastpitchTVshow.com.

Apple Lessons

About a month ago my daughter and I went into the new Apple Store that opened in Ft. Worth, Texas. My daughter wanted a new laptop for Christmas, and could not decide between a PC, and an Apple.

While explaining the Macs to my daughter the sales clerk mentioned the one on one training. This caught my attention, He told me that for $100 I could have a one hour, one on one training session every week for a year.

This seemed like a good price for 52 hours of one on one training. It took me about 1 second to decide and give him my credit card, and buy the lessons.

I had bought Final Cut pro about 2 months before, and thought it would be as easy to figure out as iMovie was. LOL, was I ever wrong. I saw this as the perfect way to learn all the different things I could do with Final Cut.

I was correct. The one on one lessons have been great. Every week I go to the store, and receive training. Then I go home, and edit using the new skills I have learned. This causes me to have more questions, which I ask the next week at my next lesson. It has actually been great, and I really do enjoy going.

Yesterday we started with green screens, and I must admit it was easier than I thought. I have now put up a green screen on the wall in my studio. This weekend I will film, and edit using the green screen. I am really pumped.

I don’t know i it is rare or not to this good of service from the Apple Stores Training, but I think this training is the best service I have had in a long time.

Across The Universe

I am watching the movie across The Universe for probably the 10th time. I saw this in the theater when it came out. Then I recorded it on Tevo when it came out on Dish.

I really do love this movie, and I am not 100% sure why I do. I know all the songs, so I am sure that is a part of it, I love the Beatles, and I am sure that is a part of it too.

I think the main reason is that this movie gives me a real feeling of my younger days. Of life when I was a long haired teenager. When I was a teen ager the voting age was changed to 18. Lots of my friends were in the war in Vietnam. Basically thing were wild, and so were the young people.

The movie Across The Universe is kind of calm compared to the real life times, but it show so much that really represents the times. At least to me it does.

I am not sure why I needed to say this , but I did. If you have not watch the move Across The Universe I hope you take the time to do so.

New Rules For Trick or Treating.

I hate to sound like the Scrouge that stole Halloween, but maybe I am.

Every year my wife and I get excited about Halloween. We buy lots of candy, and set out pumpkins to give our house the full effect. We love looking at the little kids as they come up to the door in their costumes. Some costumes are great, and some are just OK. All costumes are cute on little kids no matter what they look like.

Every year I have someone come to the door that causes me to complain. Due to this I have decided to come up with a list of general rules for trick or treating.

Rule 1. If you can drive a car, you are too old to trick or treat.

Rule 2. If you have children, you too old to trick or treat.

Rule 3. You need to wear a costume to trick or treat. You can’t just wear normal clothing, and say you are dressed up as a teenager.

Rule 3 When the door opens, you need to say trick or treat. Don’t just stand there with your bag open. Open your mouth too, and say trick or treat.

Rule 5 Don’t ask for more candy. When someone drops candy in your bag, just accept it.

Rule 6 Don’t switch masks with your friend, and come back 5 minutes later for more candy.

Rule 7 Say Thank You. It is a nice thing to say , so say it.

Rule 8 The most important rule of all is Have a good time.

Scott Sigler - I Love This Guy

I have been listening to Scott Siglers Podcasts ever since the first episode of Earthcore was released. That seems so long ago now. A lifetime in podcasting years. I am a true Sigler Junkie, and have enjoyed every podcast he has created.

Even though I have been a fan since day one, nothing had me ready for the death and brutality known as Nocturnal. I am not saying this was his best podcast so far. I am not saying it had more death, blood, and guts than all the rest of his podcasts. I am not even saying Scott did a better job than normal with all the voices (which he did).

So what am I getting at, you may ask. I am talking about the way I listened. I started listening Friday morning, with episode 1 of course, on my morning walk last night I listened to episode 31. Yes listened to all 31 episodes of horror over the weekend.

In the past I have always listened to his podcasts as they came out. Waiting each week for the newest episode. They just could not get to me fast enough. This time I was so busy I had not kept up with them. When I started listening there were 31 episodes. At first I was overwhelmed with how many episodes I had in my iPhone, but it only took a few episodes to see the beauty of what I had accidentally done.

While I have enjoyed every podcast Scott has recorded, listening to all of them back to back was wonderful. It truly made it an exciting experience, and the best podcast so far. The only problem is that he has not completed all the episodes of the podcast. I think there are 3 more episodes to come. Now I am in the same boat as the rest of you. Next time I will need to wait a little longer.

Oh, Scott I have a message for you. Yes for you my sick, perverted and twisted friend. Keep Up the great work. Nocturnal was another masterpiece of horror. I also love how you used Junkies names in the story, and unlike my character in Infected they are alive. Poor Gary Leland died in the opening chapter of Infected (Oh, yea you better keep him in the book).

If you are not familiar with Scott’s work, check it out at http://www.scottsigler.com/

I Need Your Help!!

I need your help in the form of a vote. We are putting together a panel for the upcoming 2009 South by Southwest (other wise known as the SXSW Interactive Festival) in Austin Texas. We have proposed a panel called “Using Social Media to Create a Buzzing Podcast.”

It is easy for you to help. Just click the following link, “Using Social Media to Create a Buzzing Podcast.” Once there take the 30 seconds to sign up and then vote for the panel, with a little luck, maybe we will be chosen to speak again this year at the conference.

Currently there are two people on the panel. Myself and Mark Linder, from the podcast Bedtime Stories My Kids Love. There are plans to add others to the panel and once their attendance is confirmed, I will notify you promptly.

Again, your vote for our panel suggestion “Using Social Media to Create a Buzzing Podcast” is greatly appreciated.

Welcome To The New Millinium

Wow, things seem pretty wild in my life. My youngest daughter is getting married. This is the first of my two daughters to get married, and a brand new experience for me. I guess I am seeing the view of a wedding and marriage from the other side.

At times I am feeling like Steve Martin, when he played the role of the overwhelmed father, in the movie Father Of The Bride. I use to laugh at, and quote the line Fraun said to Steve in the movie “welcome to the 90’s sir”. Now I know just how the father in the movie felt. I have not pulled my old tuxedo out of the closet to try on yet, so I guess that means I am handling it better than Steve did.

The world of weddings is amazing to me. The costs of things, and the new things you can have at your wedding to make it cost even more. A candy bar for $1000.00 for example. Do people really need a $1000 worth of candy at a reception. I am not going to list all the costs that seem high or unneeded to a 53 year old guy, who got married a long time ago. I know things have changed since I got married, but I was not prepared for how much they changed. That is enough of that boring stuff for now. I can spend more time on that in future posts.

On the bright side let me state that my daughter has found a truly great guy. He is the kind of guy everyone hopes their daughters will meet. He adores her, loves her, and treats her like an angel. Isn’t that what every father, and mother want for their daughter? I really believe he is a great guy. A guy who wail take care of her, and treat her like a lady.

Well, there is a year to go before the wedding happens. It seems like a long time, but I know it is not. It will be a ride of happiness, excitement, joy, and a lot of cash thrown in to make it all end up as close to perfect as we can make it.

Wish me luck. I think I can survive without having a stroke.

Pickleman finds PodCamp San Antonio Day 4

Podcat Pickle enjoys the Riverwalk Day 3

From the guys at Podcamp San Antonio, another day for the Pickle Man

Podcamp San Antonio & The Pickleman Day 2

Here is the second video in the series from Podcamp San Antonio