Parallel Johnny

Its a packed weekend, even with 2 extra days.  I had the day off yesterday, so I used the day time to get a haircut and do some homework.  Eric called me, asking if Lauren and I would like a pair of tickets to the game.  Of course I said yes.  It was a great game, with great seats; second row between third base and left field.  Every foul ball went are way.  We won 8-3 with Granderson hitting a bases-loaded triple.  After the game, there was a 20 minute fireworks show.

Afterwards, we went to McGee’s to celebrate Lauren’s birthday.  It was a big turnout.  I’d say nearly 30 people showed, despite about 5 of the regulars being in VA.  Tonight, we’re going up to Roger’s Roost.  Its kind of for Lauren, but mostly for Kevin M., who leaves for Iraq in a few days.  If you want to say hello, the Roost is at 14 1/2 and Schoenherr.

Tomorrow, Adam is having a pot-luck dinner, then I’m debating on going to the DEMF.  I really only want to go to see The Orb.  Theres a few other acts as well, but none as important to be as Orb.

Monday is Lauren’s actual birthday.  I may come down in time for the parade.  If not, I’ll be over her house in time for some BBQ.

Now I need to find time to finish my homework before Tuesday.

They can be a little funky or the can be really funky. You know. like Detroit funky.

Alton Brown of Good Eats talking about aged cheeses.

You know I’ll have mine.

Holy crap.  It just took me an ahour and a half to get home.

Luckily I had the Tigers to keep me company.  They made me proud again tonight with their final innings magic.  We were behind until the 7th where we took the lead with a final score of 8-5.  That makes us 31-14, thats 1 game ahead of the Sox with a .689.

Pistons lost, so what.  Its baseball that I love.  Everyone talked about the possible double championship going into the playoffs.  Parker and the man asked callers which would they prefer if tehy had to choose one.  Now we may not get either.  Wings knocked out in the first, Pistons almost out in the 2nd and already off to a bad start in the 3rd.

No one talked about the Tigers.  Even after their amazing record breaking start.  They lost the Sox series and everyone said, “See, they’re no better.  They’re gonna fail just like the past seasons.”  Pardon my french, but I said “F*** you, you nay-sayers!  Don’t be telling me how ‘you knew it all along’ 30 games later when they took the MLB’s #1 postion and have kept it to date”

First:  Our thread about WDET on Metroblogging Detroit was mentioned on the news.

OKay, now on to camping.  If you are interested in attending this summer’s camping trip on July 28-30, you need to go to http://paralleljohnny.com/camping for all the information.  I was told by Brian that I sound mean in what I wrote.  I didn’t mean to, I just want everyone to be clear on what needs to be done in the next couple of weeks.

Got called from GD.  I start Monday.

Tigers won last night making them #1 in the Major Leagues

Mom is feeling better.

Going to Julies track and field regionals today at 4.

Later tonight is Chrissy’s Relay for Life bowling fundraiser.

This post has ADD.

I like nuts

Shared bookmarks for del.icio.us user paralleljohnny on 2006-05-17

• How to Pirate a Vinyl Record —
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I’ve been meaning to write this for a while now. See, I have this theory of how Coleman planned to make the format changes without losing approval. This is pretty much copied word for word from my comment on Metroblogging Detroit. Go there for the whole discussion.

When Coleman came to WDET he tried something different with the pledge drive. Rather than the normal drive (ask until you reach your goal), he limited it to about 2 weeks. The “nag time” was also limited to only a few hours a day and — if I remember correctly — weekends were left alone. Soon after, they held an emergency drive to try and reach their goal. You would think a plan that resulted in failure wouldn’t be tried again.

Fast forward to the last drive before the big changes. Does anyone else remember this drive lasting only a week? I recall turning on the radio hearing a thank you and thought to myself, “Wow, they’re done already. They must have reached their goal pretty fast.”

The fact was they didn’t reach their goal by a long shot. That motivates people to try a something new and here comes Coleman to save the day. He tells everyone, in short, cut the music, add more news and profits will rise. And to help prove they will, he held the pledge drive for longer than its been in a few years.

But the plan backfired a bit. He wasn’t expecting the outrage. Sure, there were only a laughable few in the streets protesting, but that didn’t mean the non-approvers were still planning on pledging their support. Sadly, if the last drive raised more than last fall, that’s enough proof to the Board that Coleman’s format change was the right choice — regardless of the fact that the spring drive lasted much longer.

From one of the recent people laid off this past week:

Well that’s history now and we can’t go back. It’s a shame it had to work out this way. I hope Irv Reid, Steve Brown, Michael Coleman, Harvey Ovshinsky, and Marla Stone enjoy the shell of a radio station they will have left when it is all said and done.

Know this for sure, the six of us let go in last Thursday’s bloodbath will not be the only employees to leave WDET. Whether voluntarily or by further lay-offs the bleeding will continue. As one of my former co-workers (one who got to stay) told me privately Thursday: “I used to like working here, now it is just a paycheck until something better comes along.”

I just got my phone call.  I should be employed by the 30th at the latest.  Got a raise for being a senior.  Even though I was moved to a new department, my old boss moved as well, so I get my old boss back, without having to do the same thing as last year.

If anyone is up for 1/2 off pizza tonight, I’ll be at Gilbert’s around 11.  You can’t beat 1/2 off pizza!