Thunder is Coming… April 10, 2008
Posted by TimTheFoolMan in Blogging.2 comments
Yes, bad weather is looming, but the thunder I’m looking forward to is strictly man-made.
You have probably seen a fireworks show before. However, if you live in the US and haven’t been to “Thunder,” you’ve basically seen a grown-up version of what your neighborhood association might do for the 4th of July.
From the official site description:
After more than a decade, the show remains the largest annual pyrotechnic display in North America. Seen by millions worldwide via a July 4th rebroadcast on the Armed Forces Network to more than 150 countries, it is the state’s pride. A Discovery Channel documentary on fireworks shows says it best, “Thunder is the Grand-daddy of them all!”.
The pic above shows both barges, which launch mirror-image shows on either side of the 2nd Street bridge across the Ohio river. Because of this (and the natural amphitheater the banks create), even the biggest crowds (upwards of 800,000 people) can have fabulous seating for an amazing show.
Oh, and this year will add a bonus: The countdown and ignition of show will be assisted by some “offsite” folks.
Three Rules of Public Speaking March 12, 2008
Posted by TimTheFoolMan in Blogging.Tags: George Costanza, Mark Zuckerberg, Performing, Presentations, Robert Scoble, Sarah Lacy, SXSW
7 comments
According to Robert Scoble, the audience at SXSW that panned Sarah Lacy’s “Keynote Interview” with Mark Zuckerberg (founder/creator of Facebook) is “a bunch of Twittering Assholes.” Much has been made about what went wrong with this event, and some (like Robert) have even tried to be helpful by highlighting what should have been done differently.
Several people have suggested that the response has been overblown. Much has been made about the behavior of the audience at the event. Rather than rehash the various issues with that particular interview or taking the audience to the woodshed for their “childish” behavior, I’d rather approach this from the opposite side. What makes a good live presentation?
I have done a little public speaking myself (presenting at technical conferences and church/community groups with audiences of a few hundred to upwards of 5,000), along with other types of public performances/presentations (community theater, lip-sync/pantomime for live audiences and syndicated TV, singing telegrams, and so on). I state that here, not to try to impress someone, but simply to present some basic credentials. I’m familiar with both ends of the spectrum in terms of results: I have been successful in presenting to large audiences, and I have bombed.
I have noted that successful performances have some interesting similarities. I have identified three rules for a successful live presentation. (more…)
Beautiful, Dangerous, Frustrating, and Mystical February 22, 2008
Posted by TimTheFoolMan in Blogging.Tags: beautiful scenery, ice, pictures, snow, weather
4 comments
I suspect that, aside from Windows Vista, the words in the title of this post are not usually used to describe the same thing. This morning, those are the words that came to mind when I saw this:
and this:
and this:
Such is the scene along my commute and outside my office on the morning after a Kentucky ice storm.
Back to School: Year 2 August 20, 2007
Posted by TimTheFoolMan in Blogging, Celebrities, Coaching, Discipline, Exercise, Family, Fitness, Flatulence, Food, Football, Love, Nutrition, Parenting/Children, Sports.3 comments
Once again, we’ve taken our oldest son back to college, moved him in, and said our “goodbyes.” Though I would have presumed that sending him off to school would be easier this year, it wasn’t.
What made it harder? The myriad of ways we spent time together this Summer. (more…)
Can Houston911Truth Handle the Truth? August 7, 2007
Posted by TimTheFoolMan in Blogging, Flatulence, Politics, Voting.6 comments
Although my knee-jerk reaction is to dismiss conspiracy theorists pretty quickly, I try to give them the benefit of the doubt by doing a little research into what they’re saying. Accordingly, when people started suggesting various plots behind the 9/11 destruction of the WTC, I did my homework, and came to the conclusion that they were looking for conspiracy where it simply didn’t exist.
Such is the case with the various “9/11 Truth” sites. They invariably point to flawed research, connect dots from hearsay, and use faulty logic to make a case for “the official report isn’t really what happened.” One characteristic that is particularly noteworthy of such sites: They will not tolerate critical thinking to be applied to their “facts.” (more…)
