It's been more than a year since I was one of the many extras in the Madison filming of "The Last Kiss." I got to see the movie a couple of months ago, and I'm finally writing about it.
Living in Madison and being 26, I thought the movie hit down-to-Earth as Zach Braff's character (Michael) and his friends all feel "old" at age 30 because they live in a college town. For me, this is most obvious when going to the downtown bars, most of which are college bars [one of the many complaints about the bar scene here is that there aren't enough bars for 25-35 year-olds].
I really enjoyed the opening scene because it takes place on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and there is a nice view of the Capitol. I also finally see what the "legs" were that were cast when I was an extra. (No one then really knew what their legs would be used for.)
I was quite disappointed by how much of the Madison scenes were cut from the final product. We spent 10 hours at Bascom Hill (starting at 6 a.m.!), but only 15 seconds of that scene were used (and it was cut so poorly that it made the scene somewhat hard to understand within the context of the movie). I think I saw my head in the shot of Bascom Hill facing toward the Capitol, but I'll have to buy the DVD and freeze that frame to know for sure. I thought I had a great chance to see myself walking behind Blythe Danner and Harold Ramis, but that also didn't make it in.
Watching the Union Terrace scene was cool. I didn't partake in the filming that day, but it was neat to see all the people I was with for 14+ hours (including the stand-ins for Zach Braff and Rachel Bilson, both of whom were sitting at the table shown at the end of the scene).
After accepting the disappointment of not seeing myself, I was hopeful that my car would make it in the movie. Afterall, Braff and Rachel Bilson ("Kim") have an argument right in front of it on State Street. In the scene in which Kim visits Michael at work, I was sure my car scene would be next, and it actually would have, but that scene also was cut. Damn! I hope the DVD includes all the deleted scenes.
One other comment: I'm glad they made the dorm room a realistic size, not like a suite in "Saved by the Bell: The College Years."
Good movie overall, and I'm not just saying that because it takes place in Madison or that I possibly could be in it. :-)
Monday, November 27, 2006
Monday, September 18, 2006
MaximExposure Party
RECAP:
Every year, Maxim Magazine throws a party in various cities across the country. It teamed up with Bud Light for this year's MaximExposure party, which for Madison (one of 45 cities) took place Sept. 14 at the Expo Center.
The main ways to get invited were: 1) Know someone connected to this party (i.e. a Budweiser sales rep), 2) Get spotted at the bars by a Maxim/Bud Light talent scout, or 3) Enter your myspace site on Z104.
The party began at 9 p.m. There were apparently a lot of people there rightaway, as many guests went to the pre-party at Madison's, then took the free shuttle over to the Expo Center.
As you entered the building, you had to sign a waiver allowing for Maxim to take pictures and video of you for future promos. After getting checked off on the guest list, your driver's license was scanned and then you were given a blue wrist band.
Past the security (which didn't allow re-entry), you got to pose with two Maxim girls in front of approximately six photographers (like you were in Hollywood--it was neat). Then there was a bar in which they served you Bud Light in the aluminum bottle [free for the entire night].
You then walked through a door made of fog (nice effect) to get to the main party. Several areas were set up for hired women to dress scantily and dance. One area had a bed on which several women danced in their underwear.
One corner had a video shoot where women and their friends could pose; this was televised on several of the numerous video screens placed around the party. This seemed pretty popular as there was a constant line.
Adjacent to that was an inflatable trampoline, which also served as a Twister board. Anyone was allowed to play; many of the female contestants apparently did not care or remember that they were wearing short skirts while playing.
On the other side of the video shoot was an elevated VIP area, with the entrance guarded by security. Besides a few sitting areas, it was not impressive at all. There was another elevated area that was even higher, and it was a good vantage point for the party, but otherwise it was no big deal.
In yet another corner was a photo booth. Like most booths, it took four color photos and spewed them out after a few minutes (also free). The catch was that there was a video camera set up in there as well; either patrons didn't care or realize that everything they were doing could be seen outside on the video screens.
As a whole, the room was decorated nicely. You felt like you were in a nightclub, other than for the fact that there was no established dance area (you just danced where you felt like). Most people danced in the center of the room, despite the obstacles (like TVs).
Other observations:
For more info and pics from the party, check out www.maximexposure.com (make sure to play the photo shoot game!).
Every year, Maxim Magazine throws a party in various cities across the country. It teamed up with Bud Light for this year's MaximExposure party, which for Madison (one of 45 cities) took place Sept. 14 at the Expo Center.
The main ways to get invited were: 1) Know someone connected to this party (i.e. a Budweiser sales rep), 2) Get spotted at the bars by a Maxim/Bud Light talent scout, or 3) Enter your myspace site on Z104.
The party began at 9 p.m. There were apparently a lot of people there rightaway, as many guests went to the pre-party at Madison's, then took the free shuttle over to the Expo Center.
As you entered the building, you had to sign a waiver allowing for Maxim to take pictures and video of you for future promos. After getting checked off on the guest list, your driver's license was scanned and then you were given a blue wrist band.
Past the security (which didn't allow re-entry), you got to pose with two Maxim girls in front of approximately six photographers (like you were in Hollywood--it was neat). Then there was a bar in which they served you Bud Light in the aluminum bottle [free for the entire night].
You then walked through a door made of fog (nice effect) to get to the main party. Several areas were set up for hired women to dress scantily and dance. One area had a bed on which several women danced in their underwear.
One corner had a video shoot where women and their friends could pose; this was televised on several of the numerous video screens placed around the party. This seemed pretty popular as there was a constant line.
Adjacent to that was an inflatable trampoline, which also served as a Twister board. Anyone was allowed to play; many of the female contestants apparently did not care or remember that they were wearing short skirts while playing.
On the other side of the video shoot was an elevated VIP area, with the entrance guarded by security. Besides a few sitting areas, it was not impressive at all. There was another elevated area that was even higher, and it was a good vantage point for the party, but otherwise it was no big deal.
In yet another corner was a photo booth. Like most booths, it took four color photos and spewed them out after a few minutes (also free). The catch was that there was a video camera set up in there as well; either patrons didn't care or realize that everything they were doing could be seen outside on the video screens.
As a whole, the room was decorated nicely. You felt like you were in a nightclub, other than for the fact that there was no established dance area (you just danced where you felt like). Most people danced in the center of the room, despite the obstacles (like TVs).
Other observations:
- The lines for the bars (there was one big bar and one little bar) were never bad, as the bartenders always anticipated your arrival. Although the aluminum bottles were nice because they kept the beer so cold, they also were harder to hold since they were so cold.
- The party had too many men; how some of them (who were old and creepy) got invited still remains a mystery. [They really stood out because Madison is a college town, and most of the guests looked between 21 and 30.]
- Some more sitting areas (i.e. booths) would have been nice. There were some seats, but they were off to the side, away from the action.
- The attire was all across the board. Some men were suits, others wore shorts. Some women had nightclub dresses, others wore a tank top and jeans [that's the problem with a small town like Madison; its residents don't know what to wear to an event like this because most of the bars here are college bars or dive bars]. The most funny thing was seeing half of the men wear the same thing: a button-down white shirt with jeans (be more creative in your outfits, guys!).
For more info and pics from the party, check out www.maximexposure.com (make sure to play the photo shoot game!).
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Madison's New Goodman Pool
Madison finally got a public pool thanks to the Goodman brothers, who donated $2.8 million to get it built. After much debate as to where it should be located, a site near Olin-Turville Park was selected, and the pool opened on Monday, June 12.
Location:
To get there, exit the Beltline at John Nolen Drive, then turn left on Olin Avenue. The pool will be on your left (325 Olin Ave.).
Hours:
Open swimming is from 12:30 - 4:45 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. M-F, 12:30-8 p.m. Saturday and 12:30-6 p.m. Sunday.
Cost:
Adults are $3 (resident) and $3.50 (non-resident), although they never check to see if you are a Madison resident or not.
Children are $2, seniors are $2.50 (resident) and $3 (non-resident). Coupon books and season passes also are available.
The pool is obviously geared toward children. Most of the water is only 3-4 feet deep (with many areas even shallower), and there are plenty of fun structures (i.e. water buckets that tip over once filled, water gun, etc.) with which to play. There also are two waterslides that are curvy and fast, and the lines move quickly.
Competition can be held at Goodman, as eight 25-meter lanes were built (although where spectators will sit remains to be seen, as there's not much room to bring in portable stands). One or two lanes are made available during open pool hours, but the lifeguards do a horrible job of keeping non-lap swimmers out of them.
The rest of the eight lanes are divided in two: one part for diving off either of the two 1-meter boards, and the other half for water basketball (good luck trying to use it, though, as at least a dozen kids are playing on it at any given time).
Since you can't bring in your own food, you have to buy it from the concession stand. The selection is limited but not overly expensive. Among the items: Hot dogs are $2, brats are $2.50, nachos are $2, a 20-oz. soda is $1.25 and water is $1.50.
As nice as the pool is, there are other quirks. For some reason, a sand pit was built about 10 yards from the pool. This is just asking for trouble, as many kids will play in the sand and then jump in the water, bringing the sand with them.
Also, there are far too few lounge chairs. Many people have to sit on the ground or in the grassy area past the locker rooms. Speaking of the locker rooms, the changing area is tiny. At closing time, this area can become overly crowded.
Lastly, the "rest time." Most pools have this, a period in which the pool is closed to children for 15 minutes so adults can finally have a chance to swim. Unfortunately, the staff closes the pool to everyone. The point of this is unknown.
Despite these flaws, the pool is a nice and inexpensive place to spend an afternoon. For more info, check out http://webapp.cityofmadison.com/parks/pool/index.cfm.
Location:
To get there, exit the Beltline at John Nolen Drive, then turn left on Olin Avenue. The pool will be on your left (325 Olin Ave.).
Hours:
Open swimming is from 12:30 - 4:45 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. M-F, 12:30-8 p.m. Saturday and 12:30-6 p.m. Sunday.
Cost:
Adults are $3 (resident) and $3.50 (non-resident), although they never check to see if you are a Madison resident or not.
Children are $2, seniors are $2.50 (resident) and $3 (non-resident). Coupon books and season passes also are available.
The pool is obviously geared toward children. Most of the water is only 3-4 feet deep (with many areas even shallower), and there are plenty of fun structures (i.e. water buckets that tip over once filled, water gun, etc.) with which to play. There also are two waterslides that are curvy and fast, and the lines move quickly.
Competition can be held at Goodman, as eight 25-meter lanes were built (although where spectators will sit remains to be seen, as there's not much room to bring in portable stands). One or two lanes are made available during open pool hours, but the lifeguards do a horrible job of keeping non-lap swimmers out of them.
The rest of the eight lanes are divided in two: one part for diving off either of the two 1-meter boards, and the other half for water basketball (good luck trying to use it, though, as at least a dozen kids are playing on it at any given time).
Since you can't bring in your own food, you have to buy it from the concession stand. The selection is limited but not overly expensive. Among the items: Hot dogs are $2, brats are $2.50, nachos are $2, a 20-oz. soda is $1.25 and water is $1.50.
As nice as the pool is, there are other quirks. For some reason, a sand pit was built about 10 yards from the pool. This is just asking for trouble, as many kids will play in the sand and then jump in the water, bringing the sand with them.
Also, there are far too few lounge chairs. Many people have to sit on the ground or in the grassy area past the locker rooms. Speaking of the locker rooms, the changing area is tiny. At closing time, this area can become overly crowded.
Lastly, the "rest time." Most pools have this, a period in which the pool is closed to children for 15 minutes so adults can finally have a chance to swim. Unfortunately, the staff closes the pool to everyone. The point of this is unknown.
Despite these flaws, the pool is a nice and inexpensive place to spend an afternoon. For more info, check out http://webapp.cityofmadison.com/parks/pool/index.cfm.
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Madison Roller Derby
Looking for something out-of-the-ordinary to do?
The Madison Roller Derby--aka the Mad Rollin' Dolls (http://madrollindolls.com)--held Saturday nights at Fast Forward Skate Center (4649 Verona Rd.), is definitely worth a visit. But before the review, a little background:
The four-team league competes in six-regular season bouts from January to May, and it holds a championship at the end of the season (this year it's June 10). All four teams compete on each competition date, so fans get to watch two bouts with one admission.
Tickets are $10 in advance (they always sell out the advance tix) and $12 at the door. Seating is limited, but you are allowed to bring your own folding chairs. Many fans sit ring-side, where they can get in on the action (more on this later).
For sports fans, roller derby is quite an entertaining sport (especially initially). Teams of five have a jammer who tries get past the pack and score by doing laps around the track. Three blockers try to make room for their jammer while trying to prevent the other team's jammer from getting past. Meanwhile, the pivot sets the pace of the pack.
The blocking is what is the most entertaining. Just like in hockey, checks are legal (from the side, not the back). You'll often see competitors getting knocked down, often into the fans since there is no wall (oddly, there's no warning to fans that they could get hurt like in hockey or baseball). But these women are tough! They always get up immediately and skate right back into action.
After the first half of the first bout (16 minutes each period), the other two teams arrive and compete in their first half. That's followed by a overly lengthy halftime competition (more than 30 minutes) by the teams' mascots. Ten minutes would have been plenty for this unamusing performance, which completely deflated the crowd energy. [Note: halftime entertainment changes from date to date. For example, in the past they've had a bellydancer.]
The final two halves are then held. Total time is about 2.5 hours or more (which is long considering the bouts have a mostly running clock).
The sound system is horrible, making it difficult to understand the M.C. or the interviewees.
There are concessions available, including $3.50 16-oz. cans of PBR. Some fans even tailgate in the parking lot, which fills up quite quickly (you may have to park down the hill at Walgreen's).
The Mad Rollin' Dolls boast a large number of sponsors. Four Star Video offers a free non-new release rental with your ticket stub, so hold onto it! Also, after every competition, the teams have an after-party (check out the pictures online, especially of the underwear party). These parties, which cost $7 to get in or free with your stub, also feature live bands. Wait at least an hour after the competition to show up, though, since it's a late-arriving crowd.
Finally, the debate on whether the roller derby is a family affair. The competitors are dressed rather skimpily, but there isn't any swearing or violence beyond the checking. So yeah, bring your kids.
The Madison Roller Derby--aka the Mad Rollin' Dolls (http://madrollindolls.com)--held Saturday nights at Fast Forward Skate Center (4649 Verona Rd.), is definitely worth a visit. But before the review, a little background:
The four-team league competes in six-regular season bouts from January to May, and it holds a championship at the end of the season (this year it's June 10). All four teams compete on each competition date, so fans get to watch two bouts with one admission.
Tickets are $10 in advance (they always sell out the advance tix) and $12 at the door. Seating is limited, but you are allowed to bring your own folding chairs. Many fans sit ring-side, where they can get in on the action (more on this later).
For sports fans, roller derby is quite an entertaining sport (especially initially). Teams of five have a jammer who tries get past the pack and score by doing laps around the track. Three blockers try to make room for their jammer while trying to prevent the other team's jammer from getting past. Meanwhile, the pivot sets the pace of the pack.
The blocking is what is the most entertaining. Just like in hockey, checks are legal (from the side, not the back). You'll often see competitors getting knocked down, often into the fans since there is no wall (oddly, there's no warning to fans that they could get hurt like in hockey or baseball). But these women are tough! They always get up immediately and skate right back into action.
After the first half of the first bout (16 minutes each period), the other two teams arrive and compete in their first half. That's followed by a overly lengthy halftime competition (more than 30 minutes) by the teams' mascots. Ten minutes would have been plenty for this unamusing performance, which completely deflated the crowd energy. [Note: halftime entertainment changes from date to date. For example, in the past they've had a bellydancer.]
The final two halves are then held. Total time is about 2.5 hours or more (which is long considering the bouts have a mostly running clock).
The sound system is horrible, making it difficult to understand the M.C. or the interviewees.
There are concessions available, including $3.50 16-oz. cans of PBR. Some fans even tailgate in the parking lot, which fills up quite quickly (you may have to park down the hill at Walgreen's).
The Mad Rollin' Dolls boast a large number of sponsors. Four Star Video offers a free non-new release rental with your ticket stub, so hold onto it! Also, after every competition, the teams have an after-party (check out the pictures online, especially of the underwear party). These parties, which cost $7 to get in or free with your stub, also feature live bands. Wait at least an hour after the competition to show up, though, since it's a late-arriving crowd.
Finally, the debate on whether the roller derby is a family affair. The competitors are dressed rather skimpily, but there isn't any swearing or violence beyond the checking. So yeah, bring your kids.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Bad Parking Design at Woodman's
Has anyone been to Woodman's on the west side of Madison in the past year? The grocery store resurfaced its parking lot and stupidly decided to make the rows of parking run parallel (instead of perpendicular) to the store.
Stop and think for a bit. Can you name ANY store (department, grocery, mall, etc.) that has parking designed this way? Of course not, because it is a major inconvenience to the customer!
Take a look at diagram 1: If you are parked where the red dot is, and all the adjacent stalls are taken (as they usually are at popular Woodman's, thus no short cuts for you) ...
... you have to walk all the way down the end of the row and then back to get to your car (diagram 2). And if you do cut through, often a car is trying to turn into your spot and may not see you (especially at night and when there are a few other parked cars around to block the driver's view), thus jeopardizing your safety!
Look what happens if you park at the red dot in diagram 3 (and assuming the adjacent slots are filled and you can't cut through).
That would be a lot further walk then if you were at the same point in a correctly designed parking lot (diagram 4). This is why 99.9 percent of all parking lots are designed this way.
So, who are the geniuses that designed this lot, and who are the idiots at Woodman's that agreed upon the design? I took an Engineering Design class in high school, and we spent one measly unit learning parking design. In those couple of weeks, I learned all there was and designed my own (easily getting an "A"). Sadly, someone must've gone to college for this, and they still screwed up.
Next time you go to Woodman's, keep all of this in mind. Don't get suckered in parking in the middle (it seems closer by real distance) at busy times; park near the ends (shorter actual walking distance).
Additional rant: Have you ever noticed people who park outward (facing out) at grocery stores? Seeing how most people put groceries in their trunk and/or back seats, why would you make it more difficult to do so by parking this way? ALWAYS park inward at grocery stores!
One more rant: For places with angled parking, why drive through to park outward? It's a bigger inconvenience to get out because now you have to make a more than 90-degree turn to get out. Use your head!
Stop and think for a bit. Can you name ANY store (department, grocery, mall, etc.) that has parking designed this way? Of course not, because it is a major inconvenience to the customer!
Take a look at diagram 1: If you are parked where the red dot is, and all the adjacent stalls are taken (as they usually are at popular Woodman's, thus no short cuts for you) ...
... you have to walk all the way down the end of the row and then back to get to your car (diagram 2). And if you do cut through, often a car is trying to turn into your spot and may not see you (especially at night and when there are a few other parked cars around to block the driver's view), thus jeopardizing your safety!
Look what happens if you park at the red dot in diagram 3 (and assuming the adjacent slots are filled and you can't cut through).
That would be a lot further walk then if you were at the same point in a correctly designed parking lot (diagram 4). This is why 99.9 percent of all parking lots are designed this way.
So, who are the geniuses that designed this lot, and who are the idiots at Woodman's that agreed upon the design? I took an Engineering Design class in high school, and we spent one measly unit learning parking design. In those couple of weeks, I learned all there was and designed my own (easily getting an "A"). Sadly, someone must've gone to college for this, and they still screwed up.
Next time you go to Woodman's, keep all of this in mind. Don't get suckered in parking in the middle (it seems closer by real distance) at busy times; park near the ends (shorter actual walking distance).
Additional rant: Have you ever noticed people who park outward (facing out) at grocery stores? Seeing how most people put groceries in their trunk and/or back seats, why would you make it more difficult to do so by parking this way? ALWAYS park inward at grocery stores!
One more rant: For places with angled parking, why drive through to park outward? It's a bigger inconvenience to get out because now you have to make a more than 90-degree turn to get out. Use your head!
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Lakers vs. Kings in Sacramento
Talk about a fan-friendly environment! I went to the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Sacramento Kings game on March 14 at Arco Arena, and it was a lot of fun (despite my Lakers losing). Other teams, not just in the NBA, should take a page out of the Kings' book. I see completely why they have sold out an NBA-record 301 consecutive games (yes, they are the only thing in town, which helps, but still!).
Tickets were being scalped at a markup similar to that of playoff games. For example, I heard of two lower-level seats going for $800! Even the top tier was more than $100. Here's why:
Before the game, there are promotions galore. SuperCuts is a sponsor, and it offers FREE haircuts before the game. Plus, if you get a haircut, you enter your entire section to win a free haircut.
All fans get a free program. It's not comprehensive, but it's still a quality publication that gives you just what you need to know about the game.
There also is plenty to watch on the videoboards once you sit down. The night I was there, they interviewed one of the members of the dance team.
One neat thing for the fans: just before tipoff, they announce who on each team did not dress. This seems trivial (and I haven't heard of any other arena doing this), but it's great if you're a fan of the game and want to know who made the 12-man dress list.
The in-game promotions are entertaining, too. One had a contestant shoot free throws, and the more they made, the more bins they could open for a chance to win $5,000 (I can't remember the exact amount). The non-grand prize bins had nice prizes like jerseys, autographed balls, etc.
There were plenty of other contests during the timeouts, including the fan of the game and a pizza giveaway. In other timeouts, the dance team performed, and they were spectacular.
By the way, Arco Arena is designed well. It has two tiers with luxury boxes in between. There is really no bad seat as far as I could tell. The second tier has club seats in the first few rows of each section. Every seat, except those on courtside, has a cup-holder.
Fans really get into the game, as much as some college arenas. It's really neat to see a pro team get that much fan support. No cow bells this time, fortunately.
Random info: Former UNLV/Fresno State coach Jerry Tarnkanian was in attendance.
Other info: Arco is in a new neighborhood (new houses and new restaurants). There are no bars and other great hangouts in the area.
The arena is surrounded by a giant surface lot ($10 to park). After the game, the police direct traffic and do a good job of it, because I didn't notice any congestion. You do want to drive--I took public transportation and it was a pain; there are no taxis, either.
If you don't want to try a scalper, the ticket office sometimes gets returned/unused tickets that they open to the general public. Unfortunately, some fans wait as early as 10 a.m. to try to get these last-minute tickets.
I didn't eat in the arena, but supposedly has a nice restaurant on the top floor. There were plenty of concession stands throughout the arena, and vendors came by every now and then, although not as frequently as they should have.
Tickets were being scalped at a markup similar to that of playoff games. For example, I heard of two lower-level seats going for $800! Even the top tier was more than $100. Here's why:
Before the game, there are promotions galore. SuperCuts is a sponsor, and it offers FREE haircuts before the game. Plus, if you get a haircut, you enter your entire section to win a free haircut.
All fans get a free program. It's not comprehensive, but it's still a quality publication that gives you just what you need to know about the game.
There also is plenty to watch on the videoboards once you sit down. The night I was there, they interviewed one of the members of the dance team.
One neat thing for the fans: just before tipoff, they announce who on each team did not dress. This seems trivial (and I haven't heard of any other arena doing this), but it's great if you're a fan of the game and want to know who made the 12-man dress list.
The in-game promotions are entertaining, too. One had a contestant shoot free throws, and the more they made, the more bins they could open for a chance to win $5,000 (I can't remember the exact amount). The non-grand prize bins had nice prizes like jerseys, autographed balls, etc.
There were plenty of other contests during the timeouts, including the fan of the game and a pizza giveaway. In other timeouts, the dance team performed, and they were spectacular.
By the way, Arco Arena is designed well. It has two tiers with luxury boxes in between. There is really no bad seat as far as I could tell. The second tier has club seats in the first few rows of each section. Every seat, except those on courtside, has a cup-holder.
Fans really get into the game, as much as some college arenas. It's really neat to see a pro team get that much fan support. No cow bells this time, fortunately.
Random info: Former UNLV/Fresno State coach Jerry Tarnkanian was in attendance.
Other info: Arco is in a new neighborhood (new houses and new restaurants). There are no bars and other great hangouts in the area.
The arena is surrounded by a giant surface lot ($10 to park). After the game, the police direct traffic and do a good job of it, because I didn't notice any congestion. You do want to drive--I took public transportation and it was a pain; there are no taxis, either.
If you don't want to try a scalper, the ticket office sometimes gets returned/unused tickets that they open to the general public. Unfortunately, some fans wait as early as 10 a.m. to try to get these last-minute tickets.
I didn't eat in the arena, but supposedly has a nice restaurant on the top floor. There were plenty of concession stands throughout the arena, and vendors came by every now and then, although not as frequently as they should have.
Friday, February 10, 2006
My New Talk Show
It's been a hectic two weeks, but today (Friday, Feb. 10), my talk show made its debut on uwbadgers.com. The show is called "Inside Badger Sports," and each week I have coaches and players from various sports as guests. You can view the show through live streaming, or you can download it as a podcast and watch it on your PC or video-capable device (i.e. iPod).
Since November, I've been wanting to do my own podcast (audio only). But two weeks ago at a staff meeting, I learned about our Internet Services staff's video capabilities, so I decided to do my own talk show. It's set up with a desk and two chairs, and the background is a green screen that we can digitally insert any image we want.
I've been pretty busy booking coaches and athletes, coming up with scripts, doing on-location shooting (b-roll, featurettes, etc.) and just doing whatever to stay on schedule.
The show, which is filmed every Tuesday and airs every Friday, is meant to increase the publicity of UW sports. In the premiere episode, the softball coach and starting pitcher are the guests.
The show will see some improvements as it progresses. We plan on having new backgrounds, some music and add other elements to make the show more entertaining.
So far, I've had a good time being a producer, writer, camera man and host. The show's director/editor has done an outstanding job putting together the final product.
Check it out on www.uwbadgers.com. Look for the "Inside Badger Sports" link under "Sidelines" on the right-hand side of the page.
Since November, I've been wanting to do my own podcast (audio only). But two weeks ago at a staff meeting, I learned about our Internet Services staff's video capabilities, so I decided to do my own talk show. It's set up with a desk and two chairs, and the background is a green screen that we can digitally insert any image we want.
I've been pretty busy booking coaches and athletes, coming up with scripts, doing on-location shooting (b-roll, featurettes, etc.) and just doing whatever to stay on schedule.
The show, which is filmed every Tuesday and airs every Friday, is meant to increase the publicity of UW sports. In the premiere episode, the softball coach and starting pitcher are the guests.
The show will see some improvements as it progresses. We plan on having new backgrounds, some music and add other elements to make the show more entertaining.
So far, I've had a good time being a producer, writer, camera man and host. The show's director/editor has done an outstanding job putting together the final product.
Check it out on www.uwbadgers.com. Look for the "Inside Badger Sports" link under "Sidelines" on the right-hand side of the page.
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Vacation in Orlando
Whether you're by yourself or with a family of four, first thing's first: Orlando is an expensive city, so be prepared to shell out some serious dough.
The two busiest times of year are from Christmas through New Year's, and most of March when kids have their spring breaks. Thus, if you want to avoid the crowds, come at any other time.
Rent a car if you can. The buses are okay, but because traffic can be horrendous, a simple 15-min. trip from the south part of the city (near SeaWorld) to downtown (where the arena and stadium are) can take 1.5 hours! There's a trolley called the I-Ride, but it only goes up and down International Drive.
SeaWorld
Plenty of fun for all ages. Most of the shows (i.e. dolphins, Shamu, etc.) last around 20 min., but you have to get in line early to get a seat. On the more crowded days, Shamu can draw a line an hour before the show begins!
Also, you can get very wet at the shows, so don't sit in the front rows (known as the "Splash Zone") if you want to stay dry. You can also get wet on the rides.
Great tip: SeaWorld is owned by Anheuser-Busch (the place can remind people of "Duffland" from the "Simpsons"). If you look closely on the park map, there is an A-B hospitality area in the northeast corner of the park. It's two free beers per person, but usually you can get away with a lot more.
CityWalk
Excellent restaurants and bars are located here (you have to go through this area to get to Universal Studios).
The bars include: Bob Marley (Jamaican), CityJazz (features entertainment of all varieties), the Groove (dance club), Pat O'Brien's (has dueling pianos similar to Howl at the Moon), Margaritaville and the NASCAR bar.
The restaurants include: NBA City, Hard Rock Cafe and Emeril's. The latter is fine dining, and you usually need to make a reservation at least one week out to have any chance of getting a table.
There's also some nice shopping at CityWalk: Cigarz, Fossil, etc.
Universal Studios/Islands of Adventures
These are two distinct parks. Universal Studios includes non-rollercoaster rides, such as Jaws (you ride a boat as Jaws attacks you), Back to the Future (you ride a Dolorean in front of an Imax screen) and Earthquake (you are in a subway car in the middle of an earthquake.
Islands of Adventures, meanwhile, has all the rollercoasters, such as the Incredible Hulk. The Jurassic Park ride in which you hang from the air in a pteranodon-like vehicle seemed pretty fun.
Whichever you choose, buy the ultra-expensive Express Pass ($37). That allows you to take a shorter line, which can save you literally hours of wait. One other way to get in front is to use the single rider line, which puts you with two others in a three-person row.
Disney World
This place is gigantic! It will take you days to see it all, as it is divided into four areas: Magic Kingdom (similar to Disney Land), Epcot, MGM and Animal Kingdom.
You can't buy express passes here, but you can get a free Fast Pass at each ride. They tell you to come back at a certain time and go to a separate line. Unfortunately, many people do this, so on crowded days, if you were to get one at say, noon, it might tell you to come back at 7 p.m.!
Other Places of Interest
-->If you like cigars, go to the Corona cigar store on Sand Lake Road west of International Drive. The entire store/bar is basically a humidor, and the prices are outstanding (it's like the Best Buy of cigars). You can smoke what you buy and have a drink, too!
-->The Orlando Magic don't sell out, so you can always buy a decent ticket the day of the game. They play at the TD Waterhouse in downtown.
Please note: this page on Orlando will be updated in the near future
The two busiest times of year are from Christmas through New Year's, and most of March when kids have their spring breaks. Thus, if you want to avoid the crowds, come at any other time.
Rent a car if you can. The buses are okay, but because traffic can be horrendous, a simple 15-min. trip from the south part of the city (near SeaWorld) to downtown (where the arena and stadium are) can take 1.5 hours! There's a trolley called the I-Ride, but it only goes up and down International Drive.
SeaWorld
Plenty of fun for all ages. Most of the shows (i.e. dolphins, Shamu, etc.) last around 20 min., but you have to get in line early to get a seat. On the more crowded days, Shamu can draw a line an hour before the show begins!
Also, you can get very wet at the shows, so don't sit in the front rows (known as the "Splash Zone") if you want to stay dry. You can also get wet on the rides.
Great tip: SeaWorld is owned by Anheuser-Busch (the place can remind people of "Duffland" from the "Simpsons"). If you look closely on the park map, there is an A-B hospitality area in the northeast corner of the park. It's two free beers per person, but usually you can get away with a lot more.
CityWalk
Excellent restaurants and bars are located here (you have to go through this area to get to Universal Studios).
The bars include: Bob Marley (Jamaican), CityJazz (features entertainment of all varieties), the Groove (dance club), Pat O'Brien's (has dueling pianos similar to Howl at the Moon), Margaritaville and the NASCAR bar.
The restaurants include: NBA City, Hard Rock Cafe and Emeril's. The latter is fine dining, and you usually need to make a reservation at least one week out to have any chance of getting a table.
There's also some nice shopping at CityWalk: Cigarz, Fossil, etc.
Universal Studios/Islands of Adventures
These are two distinct parks. Universal Studios includes non-rollercoaster rides, such as Jaws (you ride a boat as Jaws attacks you), Back to the Future (you ride a Dolorean in front of an Imax screen) and Earthquake (you are in a subway car in the middle of an earthquake.
Islands of Adventures, meanwhile, has all the rollercoasters, such as the Incredible Hulk. The Jurassic Park ride in which you hang from the air in a pteranodon-like vehicle seemed pretty fun.
Whichever you choose, buy the ultra-expensive Express Pass ($37). That allows you to take a shorter line, which can save you literally hours of wait. One other way to get in front is to use the single rider line, which puts you with two others in a three-person row.
Disney World
This place is gigantic! It will take you days to see it all, as it is divided into four areas: Magic Kingdom (similar to Disney Land), Epcot, MGM and Animal Kingdom.
You can't buy express passes here, but you can get a free Fast Pass at each ride. They tell you to come back at a certain time and go to a separate line. Unfortunately, many people do this, so on crowded days, if you were to get one at say, noon, it might tell you to come back at 7 p.m.!
Other Places of Interest
-->If you like cigars, go to the Corona cigar store on Sand Lake Road west of International Drive. The entire store/bar is basically a humidor, and the prices are outstanding (it's like the Best Buy of cigars). You can smoke what you buy and have a drink, too!
-->The Orlando Magic don't sell out, so you can always buy a decent ticket the day of the game. They play at the TD Waterhouse in downtown.
Please note: this page on Orlando will be updated in the near future
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