First Generation Nerd

I just caught this video clip from Digg and had to pass it along: What Facebook would be like if it were in real life.

This is an incredible article about how some farmers in Vermont and Western Massachusetts (Amherst, to be exact) are experimenting with growing wheat and other crops not traditionally viewed as New England crops. Vermont’s cash crop is dairy, but it hasn’t always been strange to see grain there. With some innovation, both ecologically and financially, these farmers are trying new techniques to beat today’s high grain prices by growing their own. They are also toying with the idea that canola and soybeans can be used to create biofuels to run their equipment. An interesting read!

read more | digg story

I’m not sure why I’ve never seen this reporter blooper before, but I saw it today and had to share it! 

 

We are just over a week away from the (purported) launch of the second generation 3G iPhone, and the buzz generators are working overtime. From solar power to GPS antennae to commercial shoots in NYC, the stories surrounding a single gadget are amazing. As much as people get themselves worked up, then are disappointed when an incremental update is announced, I don’t think we are out to be disappointed. Even if the smallest of the rumors are true, better phone hardware and software are sure to be released. I think that speculation and rumors can make us disappointed because we expect dozens of new updates and features, when it is reasonable for the company to implement some of them.

In the days when MacWorld and PC Magazine were where we got our news, each issue brought wonders of the technological world-one month at a time. Now we get hourly (if not minutely) updates from “insiders” and “sources” who somehow have pertinent information leaked at just the right time to make stock prices rise a few dollars. I don’t want to be disappointed on June 9, but I can’t help searching for all the iPhone news I can, even if it is all speculation and rumor. I haven’t been this excited about a gadget since the launch of the iPhone almost a year ago…just now I KNOW I am getting one, and it makes me even more giddy.

It has been a while since I’ve updated, but this time I come bearing gifts. I have spent some time (with the help of Alicia) compiling the shows from my day of filming at Sony Studios, and have uploaded my appearance to a streaming server. If you missed my show, be sure to watch it here! You need QuickTime 7 to view the clips, and they will load in a QuickTime window when you click on the links.

Click here to see my WOF appearance

My 20 seconds of fame on 6ABC 11:00 News

Wow. It has been a whirlwind week. From being in the newspaper three days in a row to being served a citation for PDA from the college I work for (just for fun :-), I certainly have been enjoying my 15 minutes of fame.

My viewing party has to be, bar none, the coolest viewing party in the history of WOF. My fiancee and two friends threw a party in the college chapel that was attended by more than 400 faculty, staff, and students. The Philadelphia ABC affiliate was there as well as a newspaper reporter and photographer. There were balloons everywhere, and they had a “Congratulations” cake made and dollar sign cookies.

I started off with a greeting, then picked three people to play a game on the big screens (the WOF “Plug it in and Play” game manned by my fiancee). After getting through the bonus round, it was time for the show to air! As soon as I showed up on the screen, the crowd ERUPTED in applause. When I mentioned the college or the town, more applause ensued. As gameplay commenced, they would boo the other contestants (sorry Kim and Courtney!), while cheering me on. During each commercial break, I went up on stage and explained what we were doing (getting makeup retouched, being prepped for the next round). When it came to the end, people were standing up and high-fiving each other as they realized that I would be going to the Bonus Round.

It was almost silent in the room when the Bonus puzzle was revealed, but when I said “Formal Gown,” everyone jumped up and cheered even louder than before. People ran up to the front to congratulate me, and I jumped back up on stage to field a few questions. Alicia and Amy came up on stage as well, and I had them talk about what they were thinking as I went to the Bonus Round. After a few more questions (”How much do you pay in taxes?” “What was up with your hair?” and “Can I have a loan?”), the cake was revealed which had the amount inscribed in icing.

What an incredible night. My sister in Massachusetts had a viewing party, as did my aunt, and before it struck 8:00pm, I had already received more than 50 text messages from my friends and family. I was also congratulated by Nona, Wednesday night’s winner, as she called later that night (we auditioned together and she called me her “good luck charm” as she played her round right before me). The story was at the end of 6ABC News at 11, and the celebration was captured in the paper the next day. My hometown (weekly) newspaper had a feature article on April 24, and is also running a recap this coming Thursday.

Thanks for all of your congratulations as well! It makes me happy that everyone left with at least something; the girls each received a trip and some cash, and we all had a great time overall. I’m making a DVD of the 5 shows this week, as well as the other show taped on March 28 that airs in June. HUGE thanks to Alicia, Amy, and Mary for THE BEST viewing party ever. For those of you wanting to read the official recap of the game, click here.

Tonight is the night!  We are all set for our big viewing party in the chapel at VFCC starting at 7:00pm.  If you’re in the area, please come out and watch with us.  On Monday, news of my appearance made it’s first public viewing, as I was featured on the famed “Greg the Barber’s” barbershop window. I’ll post pictures as soon as my mom sends them to me. Then yesterday I was interviewed by Dennis Wright of The Phoenix, Phoenixville’s local newspaper.  They are running a two-day series about my journey to Culver City, finishing with the viewing party tonight.

Check it out in today’s Phoenix!

Thanks to everyone who has either responded on Facebook, in this blog, or in person.  I’d also like to thank Alicia, Amy and Mary for their support and friendship and for planning the whole party for tonight.  Now we can all wait in anticipation for tonight. YEE HAW!

Well.

We are back from a crazy few days in Los Angeles! What a stinking amazing experience.

Thursday night, we arrived at the hotel (Radisson, Culver City) to find that they did not have the rooms I had reserved. Instead, the girls ended up in a room next to some MTV dance team, and I had a handicapped room that smelled like smoke and had a shower that leaked all over the bathroom floor. Thus ends the bad part of the trip.

Friday morning, I hopped on a shuttle with some of the other contestants for the 15 minute drive to Sony Studios. We sat in our contestant room for most of the day, going over forms and joking around with each other, until Vanna walked in! She was wearing a sweatshirt and no makeup, but she looked great! She wished us all good luck then went to get ready for the day’s taping. We went into the studio (which is way smaller than it appears on TV) and got a tour and practiced spinning the wheel. After makeup (yes, makeup) and more waiting, it was time to tape!

They tape six shows in a day, and my particular show was number 4, which ended up being after lunch. The shows themselves don’t take much longer than they are on television, with each basically taking between 30-45 minutes to complete. After a lunch break, it was my turn! I played with a girl, Courtney, from Worcester, MA and another girl, Kim, from the Chicago area. I won’t reveal how we all did, but watch us on APRIL 24, 2008 to find out!!

After the taping, we went to Santa Monica Pier and drove around Hollywood for a while until we were tired. Here are a few pictures from our trip (none of the , and don’t forget to tune into WHEEL OF FORTUNE on APRIL 24!!!!

So today is it! We are heading out to Los Angeles this afternoon for tomorrow’s taping at Sony Studios in Culver City, California. The crew is me, my fiancé Alicia, and our friend Amy. Alicia and I are flying Southwest with one stop, while Amy got a non-stop that leaves an hour after us, but gets in only 10 minutes after we do. We aren’t allowed to bring cell phones or cameras into the studios, so my photos will be limited of the actual event, but I’ll try to post other pics from the trip when I can.

Wish me luck!!

Ben Stein has embarked on a new journey: a journey to bring back validity to intelligent design. The trailers to the film look very interesting, and feature segments of interviews with top scientists from both sides. As part of the film, Stein interviewed scientists who have lost their jobs, tenure, and professional credibility simply for their views on intelligent design. The film will be released on April 18th…check out the trailers!