Kasey

YouSendIt to the rescue!

 I am pleased to tell you that I found a reasonably priced (free) website that will host my rather large VCH Radio files.  Go there, download and enjoy me.

Sometime within the next 7 days.  Better do it now just to be safe.  :)

 

http://www.yousendit.com/download/25ktWaxXwLh5TA%3D%3D

"VCH Radio" Status Update (+#11)

  I'm officially an idiot.  I forgot about the space limitations of sending files through e-mail.   Yesterday I recorded a wonderful program that I thought was really great.  I was witty and somewhat engaging and the whole thing came out better than expected.  I really enjoyed doing it and listening to myself.  The problem is that it was an hour and fifteen minutes and the size of the file came in at a whopping 34MB.  After AOL mail failed me, I searched around to try and find if another mail service has a bigger capacity, but AOL is in actuality quite a bit larger than most.  Our Time Warner mail service only allows a transfer of 10MB, same with Yahoo, while AOL allows 16.

I tried compressing the show into a zip file, but that only knocked it down to 31MB.  I tried splitting the recording into two or three parts but I don't know if or how you can do that once the recording is complete.  You can split it while you're recording, but I don't know if you can do it after, so that was no help either.

There are options.  There are services out there that offer ways to send large files to people or at least allows you to post the file, give people a password and have them pick it up at the site.  The free version of this only allows three downloads per file, however.  You have to pay 3 dollars a month for unlimited.  With the tepid response I got to the introduction of my show, I don't think this is worth it.  Clearly, I only have two readers to begin with.  I can't tell you how disappointed I was to get home from work the last two days and have no mail.

Option 2 is probably the way I will go even though I don't want to.  That would be to cut the show down to a half hour or so.  The first half hour I recorded as a test run came in at 13.3MB, which is within AOL's capacity to send by mail. 

It's just a shame that no one will be able to hear the program I recorded yesterday because it was really fun and funny (I actually made myself laugh as I listened back to it.)  If there is anyone out there lurking in the shadows, please join my mailing list and expand my audience so I can justify joining a large file transfer program!  

 ----

  I am so crestfallen right now that I barely have the enthusiasm to tell you that #11 is Snakes on a Plane by Cobra Starship.  I'm not going to upload it because I've done it twice in this journal already and you know what it sounds like from that.  :-P

God, I'm in a bad mood.

The Best of 2006-#12 PLUS Some Exciting News

 #12 is How We Operate by Gomez.

 

One of the reasons I wanted an mp3 player for Christmas (which I got early- thank you, dated rebate) is because I really wanted to make some kind of podcast where I can act as my own DJ and play music.  Yesterday, I gave it  a shot and I think it turned out better than I expected, considering the primitive nature of what I did.  I used the microphone option on the mp3 player, which can record up to 10 hours at once and I just talked into it naturally.  Then when I wanted to play a song, I kept very quiet and held the player up to the laptop speakers.  And I was satisfied with the results.  I even have learned to not hate the sound of my own voice.  So not only is it a great Christmas present for what it is, it also has built my self-esteem up a little.  :)

 

So here's what I'm gonna do.    The BIG NEWS.   I am going to start the audio version of this journal.   "VCH Radio" if you will.  What I want to do, and this is very important so pay attention, is start a mailing list.  I initially wondered how I was going to post an audio entry in here because I don't know how or if this even has the capacity for that.  Then the light bulb went off last night at work.  I'm recording my show as an mp3 file, so I can just e-mail it to anyone who wants to hear it.  Then you can simply download it out of your mailbox instead of having to come to the site to get it.  So that's what I'm going to do. 

 

My e-mail is CaptHappyv2@aol.com.  If you would like to subscribe to the free audio version of this journal, drop me a line and I will add you to my address book Listeners category.  The first episode is in the can and can be sent to you post haste!  Even if you don't like my music, you can very easily fast forward past it and just listen to me talk.  I amuse myself and am full of fun and information, plus my hoarseness is pretty sexy.  I think you will enjoy it. 

 

PS- I won't be wasting any more space in this journal with the countdown after tomorrow and I won't be messing around with failed uploads anymore.  The second episode of VCH Radio will be the Top Ten of 2006. Whoo hoo!  Hope to hear from you.   Yes, you.  In the pajamas. 

The Best of 2006- #13

 #13 on the Best of 2006 Countdown is Alive With the Glory of Love by Say Anything.

I have news I am very excited about and it involves me, this journal and my early Christmas present.  I will have full details in the next entry which is coming up as soon as I'm done writing this one.

 

 

 

 

The Best of 2006- #14

 #14 is Smile by Lily Allen. 

 

 

  I know that every company in the world tries to cash in on the Christmas rush and I may have even mentioned this before in here, but I always get a laugh when things are described as the perfect gift, when clearly they are not.

  Unless someone specifically asks for a Swiffer mop, then it is not a great gift and it would be justifiable for the recipient to beat you with it.

  And nothing says 'I don't give a crap about you' quite like a McDonald's gift card.

  That's all I can think of this early in the morning.  Feel free to add any "great" gifts you've seen advertised.

The Best of 2006- #15

#15 is But It's Better When We Do by Panic! at the Disco.  They've blown up pretty big on the pop scene, so I'm sure you've heard this song by now.  No need for me to upload it.  Also, the upload didn't work.

I got my Christmas present early and I like it very much.  It's an mp3 player.

So I got up at 6 yesterday and started ripping all my CDs.  Remember when I mentioned that I needed an mp3 player because I couldn't fit my whole year end list onto a CD?  Well, in 2003 I actually made a second disc (40-21).  Guess how many tracks I ripped off that CD yesterday.  Four!  I just didn't like the rest of them anymore.  I thought to myself, well that's why I never made a Disc Two before- they don't have the staying power.  Then I moved on to Disc One (20-1) and I only took 6 off of there.  My point is that I just couldn't believe that my music tastes move so quickly and change so much that songs I liked three years ago I don't even like anymore.  This time next year will I hate Franz Ferdinand or Interpol??  It doesn't seem possible!

Survivor +#16

 #16 is Hands Open by Snow Patrol.

  I thought last night's twist in Survivor was a good move.  Having three people in the final vote actually made it a better final two.  It eliminated the possibility of Ozzie voting out Yul and taking Becky to the final, which would have been completely anticlimactic.  This way, the worthless Becky became an afterthought as she should have been and the vote really came down to the two most worthy people.  It was a close vote and both people deserved to win so it ended up being a good show. 

The Best of 2006- #17

 Waaaaaaaay behind on my entries.  I will make a big update when I get caught up on the music list. 

#17 is Let's Make and Listen Death From Above by Cansei De Ser Sexy (aka CSS).  I think the grammatical error is intentional or lost in translation because they're Portuguese.  Still, this song is pretty funky, bad English or not.

 

 

 

The Best of 2006- #18

 Not a lot of time here, but since I'm already a day behind, I figured I'd stop by to tell you that my 18th favorite song of 2006 is Fraud in the 80's by Mates of State.  Yes, they're married.

 

 

 

 

The Best of 2006- #19

 #19 is Wraith Pinned to the Mist and Other Games by Of Montreal.

You may have heard the bastardized version of this song on commercials for Outback Steakhouse.  It's really Of Montreal singing, so I guess it's okay to bastardize your own song.  I prefer that to selling away the rights.  :)

The Best of 2006- #20

 #20 is Catastrophe Keeps Us Together by Rainer Maria.

I can't believe we've already reached the CD portion of my countdown.  These will be the songs I hear almost every day when I get frustrated with the radio and pop in my Best of 2006 CD.

 

 

The Best of 2006- #21 (and TAR grumblings)

 #21 is Cobrastyle by Teddybears.

Three things that annoyed me about The Amazing Race finale last night:

1. The finale was anti-climactic YET AGAIN.  It seems almost every season they work so hard to keep things close and bunch everyone up so no team runs away with it.  People are having trouble with challenges or directions and getting passed all the time.  Yet for the last episode, there is no point where the leaders can get tripped up.  How are you supposed to pass someone skydiving?  And tailoring a shirt?  What was that?  The whole thing becomes so frustrating when people win a million dollars because their cab got someplace first.  The family edition may have sucked, but at least they had to do that tough puzzle before they could hit the final mat.  Last season's flag challenge was good, too.  If they had the problem solved, why didn't they stay with it?

2. I'm sure I'm not the only one who forgot about the football game overrun.  We need to invent DVRs that know when shows are actually starting and ending instead of relying on pre-determined times.  It was some sort of cosmic joke that our recording cut off just as TAR was doing their weekly suspenseful edit as to who would come in first.  At least I was able to find out and learn that it was as predictable as I assumed.

3. Finally, I'm mad at myself.  I was going to pick the two model guys because two males are almost always the winners.  Yet in their opening, they had to go and mention that they were models and formerly addicted to drugs.  I thought they were weak.  I should have known better.  If I had just stuck with my original formula instead of going with my guy, I would have had another successful prediction!

The Best of 2006- #22

 #22 is Stay by Small Sins.

I had so much fun answering the TV survey the other night, that i went trolling through myspace to find more to do.  I got this Year End one from my sister's bulletin and I thought it fit nicely with my countdown theme.  Here we go.

WITH 2006 COMING TO AN END, HAVE YOU...

1. Have you had any relationships this year?
With everyone I know to some degree or another.

2. Have you had your birthday yet?
Yes, and it was quite depressing.

3. Cried yet?
When I found out Lance was gay.

4. Been on a diet?
YES!  Between that and exercise, I lost 50 pounds this year.

5. Pulled an all nighter?
I'm so old I don't even know what that means

6. Drank Starbucks?
No, I've never had any kind of coffee ever.  It smells nasty.

7. Went Camping?
  yes, over the 4th of july.

8. Bought something(s)
Nope. Thank God I made it through an entire year without buying anything.  It was close a couple of times, though.  Sometimes I really want food.

9. Met someone special?
Nope, but I don't go out of my way to meet the mentally handicapped, so it's not surprising.

10. Been out of state?
Vacation in NJ

11. Gone Snowboarding?
No

12. What are you thinking about?
Trying to think of a wittier response to the snowboarding question.

13.) Hugged someone?
Only complete strangers at the grocery store. 

14.) Slept in someone elses bed?
yes, and couches sometimes too

15.) Any alchohol?
No.  Not even on cuts.

16.) Loaned out money?
Nothing substantial

17.) Gotten in a car accident?
Nope, but I know some people who have.

18.) Gone over your cell phone bill?
Not my department

19.) Been called a whore?
Probably.  Men can be so cruel.

20.) Done something you regret?
Never.  I only look forward with my foot on the gas, baby

Last Person you hugged?
Your mom.

Last Person to call you?
No one calls me.

When was the last time you felt stupid?
When I forgot to close the lid on the washing machine so it just filled up and did nothing.

Who was the last person you danced with?
The devil!

Who did you last yell at?
probably kasey

What did you do today?
Christmas party, babysitting, grocery shopping

TEN FACTS

01. Hometown?
Wood-ridge, NJ
02. Natural hair color?
brown

03. Initials?
KB

04. Hair style?
buzzzzzzzz

5. eye color?
red 

06. Height:
5'9

07. Pets:
pets backwards is step

08. Mood:
mood backwards is doom.  now i'm freaked out

09. Where would you rather be?
at the movies

10. Last thing you drank?
a half full glass of soda that my wife left by the computer 8 hours ago.  Sad, but true.


TEN THINGS ABOUT YOUR LOVE LIFE:

01. Have you ever been in love?
yes

02. Do you believe in love?
yes

03. Why did your LAST relationship fail?
Incompatibility

04. Have you ever been heartbroken:
yes

05. Have you ever broken someone's heart:
Anything's possible. 

06. Have you ever fallen for your best friend?
I don't have any friends.

07. Have you ever loved someone and not told them?
yes, but most of the time, they're not real anyway.

08. Are you afraid of committment?
Yes, because I'm not that crazy.

10. Have you had more than 5 different serious relationships in your life?
Nope

5 EMOTIONS

01. Are you missing someone right now?
Nope, everyone is accounted for.

02. Are you happy?
Not until the Shins' new album comes out in January

03. Are you eating anything?
you wish

04. Do you like someone right now?
I like everyone!

That's only four.....

Oh well.

 

The Best of 2006- #23

#23 is The Number by Pretty Girls Make Graves.  I can't find a copy of this song anywhere, so you'll just have to take my word on its goodness.

-I recently received a compliment, believe it or not.  One of Kasey's friends came over after school while his mom was at work and later he told his mom that Kasey is very lucky because she has such a nice daddy. 

-Speaking of good parenting, I'd like to pass on a note to other parents.  Cinderella.com: not what you think it would be.

Survey Thief

Stole this from the real J-Lo's journal.  I'm sure it was originally stolen from myspace anyway, so I don't feel bad.

List 6 of your favorite TV shows, then answer the questions. 

1. Veronica Mars
2. The Office 
3. LOST
4. Heroes
5. Prison Break
6. Arrested Development

1. Who is your favorite character from #2?  

Hmmm, tough one.  I'd have to go with Jim.

2. Who is your least favorite character from #4? 

Nicole/Jessica.  She was intriguing at first, but lately seems too detached from the big picture.  Besides, having a split personality doesn't even make you a super hero. 

3. What would a crossover between #1 and #5 include? 

Veronica Mars: Fox River Bounty Hunter 

4. Who is your favourite ship from #6?  

George-Michael- Maebe!

5. If you were to set one person from #3 and one person from #6 on a blind date, who would they be?   

George Sr. and Kate seems natural since they've both been on the run from the law.

6. If you could meet one person from #4 and spend the day with them, who would it be, and what would you do?

I would spend the day with Hiro, over and over.

7. If you could change one thing about #2's plotline, what would you change?   Make Jim act more like he just got a big promotion.  That seems like it should be a bigger deal, especially to Dwight (though he is a little distracted by Andy)

8. Explain a relationship between two people (not necessarily romantic) from show #3, and why you like the relationship between them.

Jack and Ben.  Even though they are the leaders of opposing factions, you can tell that, even if they can't admit it to themselves, they are falling in love. 

9. If the lead title characters (first name in the credits) from #1 and #5 were both drowning, and you could only save one, who would it be?  

Although I'm sure they could both rescue themselves, I'd have to save Veronica.  She's not a criminal. 

10. If you could change the title characters' order in the credits for #6, what order would you choose?

It was pretty spot-on, I thought.

11. If you were able to add a new character, any kind of character you wanted, to the storylinefor #4, what would the character be like and what would their role be?

They add new characters pretty much every week, but I guess I would add a robot monkey to be Nathan's sidekick that makes sassy comments.  

RM:  Nate, you so fly!

Nathan:  Keep it down, Robo-monkey!

RM: Quit acting like you gay, yo.   *I believe you can FLY!*

Nathan:  Dude!

RM: Maybe you ARE gay.

That would be awesome.  I should write shows.

12. What happens in your favorite episode of show #2? Now I have to think about which was my favorite.  Most of them are great.   

13. If you could kill off one of the characters of #1, who would it be and how would you do it?    The dean

14. If you got the chance to visit the set for either show #3 or show #5, which would you choose?    LOST.  It's in Hawaii.

15. So, I saved the best for last. If you could date anyone from any of these shows, which show and which person?   

 

The Best of 2006- #24

 #24 is Wildcat by Ratatat.

  If you had told me at the beginning of the year that one of my very favorite songs would be something with with no lyrics other than roaring, I would have giggled.  But there you go.  My tastes have gotten crazy.  :-)

 

 

 

The Best of 2006- #25

  My twenty-fifth favorite song of the year is New English by Ambulance LTD.  Unfortunatley, I have never ever been able to find a decent copy that I can play.   I direct you to the band's myspace page, where you can hear this sweet little two minute song.  Good day.

www.myspace.com/ambulanceltd

The Best of 2006- #26

 #26 is Long Distance Call by Phoenix.

Can you believe the countdown is half way over already?

 

 

 

 

 

The Best of 2006- #27

 #27 is Cheated Hearts by Yeah Yeah Yeahs.  Of the songs off the Show Your Bones album, this is my favorite.

Here are my favorite songs this week, independent of the year end countdown.

1. Naive- The Kooks

2. Between the Moon and the Ocean- Bon Savants

3. Test Pattern- The Thermals

4. Treasure- Papercranes

5. Long Way Home- Tom Waits

6. Hang Me Up To Dry- Cold War Kids

7. Painted By Numbers- The Sounds

8. God Knows- El Perro Del Mar

9. Wildcat- Ratatat

10. Just Stay- Kevin Devine

Bad News! + #28

   #28 is Love Me or Hate Me by Lady Sovereign.  This song contains foul language so if you are a prude, you should hit ESC now.  :)

 

  So the bad news is that my team has already been eliminated from the 2007 World Series of Pop Culture.  My brother tried to register and was informed that NYC was already booked to capacity.  This is just not right.  Know why?  Because I registered at VH1.com to be informed when casting began.  And I have not received any notification whatsoever as of this moment.  I had to see it in an ad in a magazine and by then it was too late.  Needless to say, VH1 will be receiving a strongly-worded letter from me.  The only matter left to decide is how many exclamation points to use.

The VCH Television Awards II

It's time for the second annual VCH Television Awards!  Before we get started, let's travel back in time to one year ago and look at my ten favorite shows from 2005.

1. Arrested Development   -canceled!

2. The Office  -still awesome!

3. LOST       -still awesome!

4. My Name is Earl     -nosedive!

5. Project Greenlight    -canceled!

6. Survivor        -still good, but not awesome!

7. Grey's Anatomy       -better than ever!

8. Pardon The Interruption      -work schedule prevents me from watching it!

9. Prison Break         -still awesome!

10. Reunion     -canceled!

  And now, break out your tux for this year's ceremony.  Here are my ten favorite shows from this year:

1. Veronica Mars (The CW)- Yeah, I know.  I was surprised, too.  But I realized a couple of weeks ago that VM is actually the best show on television.  It's got everything.   A wittiness to match any of the best comedies.  The mystery solving and cool gadgetry of CSI and company. The 'don't care if you get it right away or not' attitude of Arrested Development.   The healthiest and best parent-child relationship on TV.  And of course, a hot girl as the lead...

     

Yes, the VCH loves Veronica Mars.   As a friend.

2. The Office (NBC)- With AD gone, The Office inherits the spot as the best comedy on television.  And my God is it funny.  Like 'having someone drawn into the room wondering what the heck you are watching that could possibly be so funny' funny.  And, as I said last year, despite its zaniness, the characters are so real.  Michael Scott is a surprisingly complex character.  In the season three premeire, he made me laugh, cringe, and truly feel sorry for him all in the span of twenty-two minutes.  And don't even get me started on the Jim-Pam thing.  I think it could be the gateway into getting my wife to watch the show.

3. LOST (ABC)- OMG!  Michael just shot Ana-Lucia and Libby!  I know most of the media attention is on the controversial hiatus and the off-camera activities of its cast, but LOST is still the most dramatic, amazing roller-coaster ride on TV and still the only show that has literally dropped my jaw.  I don't get home from work until very late, and if there is a LOST recording waiting for me, I can't go to bed until I've watched it. 

4. Heroes (NBC)- The best new show on television this fall.  I was a little on the fence about watching this one, as the previews didn't look too terribly captivating, but I am so glad I did.  It's fast-paced, action-packed and yet still character driven.  How can anyone not fall in love with Hiro?  Or Heroes for that matter.

5. Prison Break (FOX)- Who would have thought this show could have kept up its pace and its crazy twists into a second season when the title of the show had already been achieved?  Yet the show didn't miss a beat and I found myself being interested and talking about it even more than I had the first season.  Of course, that might have been only because of physical therapy where Kate and I would do nothing but talk about it.  Good times!

6. The Loop (FOX)- The best of last spring's mid-season comedies and the only one to not be canceled- technically.  Last I heard, it was coming back again this next spring, only with more focus on the workplace part of the show, which was the best part.  Check it out if it ever does make it back on the air.

7. The Nine (ABC)- And now the sad part of the list.  The shows that were canceled or practically canceled and never given a proper chance.  God forbid a show should be put on the air that uses character development almost exclusively to move a story forward.  Maybe The Nine doesn't have all the twists and turns that other shows have, but it was still telling an intriguing storytelling before being yanked.  Let's hope ABC comes to their senses and let's this one play out. 

8. Kidnapped (NBC)- The biggest travesty of the new season.  I can't believe I got duped by a network again.  I drooled at the mere announcement of this show.  I looked forward to it all summer.  I watched the premeire with glee.  And then I got hosed by an impatient network once again.  I voiced my displeasure to NBC in a non-angry, sensible e-mail and this is what I got:

Thanks for your email. NBC values your comments, but unfortunately, due to the volume of emails we receive, we cannot respond to each one. Please check our FAQ section to see if your question is answered there:

http://www.nbc.com/faq/

Since we cannot accept unsolicited scripts, show ideas, or other creative material, any such submission by email will be deleted without being read.

We would also like to hear more of your opinions about television and the programs you watch. If you would like to share your feedback with us by becoming part of our viewer panel, please visit the following link:

http://www2.rresults.com/1809998/index.cfm?s=50

Once you join, you'll occasionally be invited to take Internet surveys, which are fun to do and usually take about 5 minutes to complete. The informationyou give will have an impact on the television programs you enjoy.

Thanks for logging on to NBC's websites.

Thanks.  That makes it all better!

9. Grey's Anatomy- Yeah, yeah, yeah.  I watch a girl show.  Sue me!  It's still pretty funny.

10. Monk- (USA)- There's a reason Tony Shalhoub keeps winning the acting Emmy for this show.  He has created one of the best television characters of all time.  Like VM, Monk blends mystery with comedy flawlessly.  Only Monk is not as hot.

 

---Okay, that's it!  My favorite shows of 2006 whether they're on the air or not.  I highly recommend checking all this stuff out because if I like it, it has to be good.  I have impeccable taste.  Now I'm off to watch my WWE recording.

The Best of 2006- #29

 #29 is Fire Island, AK by The Long Winters. 

  This is why I need an mp3 player.  My Best of the year CD only fits 20 songs so great songs like this get put in the high twenties and forgotten.  I listen to the CDs all the time and it burns them into my memory.  I know what #15 was on my 2005 list, but I do not know what #29 is.  Making the cut on the CD makes a big difference in my brain.  If I had an mp3 player, the whole list would fit on there.  And I would memorize it!

 

Coming up later- my second annual Top Ten Best of Television list.  And there's a new number 1!   (Since Arrested Development is not on anymore)

Oh, guess what!  I was flipping through the channels and AD was on G4 something or other channel-I've never heard of it.  Tonight they are showing 4 more episodes.   They're out of sequence, but still, it's AD on TV!!!

The Best of 2006- #30

 

I love, love, LOVE this song.  Which is why it's tearing me up that the whole songs are not playing.  I am hoping maybe it's just my problem and you can hear it, but I doubt it.  The pain will only get worse if I can't play this stuff for you.  Obviously, every day we get to a song I like better than anything before it.

Oh yeah, #30 is Sundress by Ben Kweller.

 

 

 

...well, this one seems to be playing.  Who knew that crossing your fingers works?

  Tomorrow I am going to write a really long entry that will not be all about music.   That's for all the complainers!  :-)

The Best of 2006- #31

 

#31 is Munich by Editors.

I think I've mentioned how I like wacky covers.  The other night I heard the Editors covering Feel Good Inc. by Gorillaz.  Instead of doing the rap parts the singer would start putting the lyrics to this song in there.  It's funny.  Anyway, I don't know why this song is called Munich, but I like it. 

 

 

 

 

 

The Best of 2006- #32

 Ok.  Everything is back to normal here.  Phone.  Check.     Internet.  Check.   TV.  Check.   Feels great to be reconnected with the world.

  #32 is Gold Lion by Yeah Yeahs Yeahs.   At first I hated this song, but it didn't take long for me to remember that the Y's rock.  Sometimes I just don't listen to new stuff right away and it takes me a little while to catch on.

  I really don't want to stop uploading songs on here, but it better start playing the whole song!   Hulk getting mad.

I'm back...again! ( + The Best of 2006- #33)

UGH!   I haven't had the internet for three days!  Tuesday at noon, the cable went out and when it came back, the net didn't.  On top of that, the cable guy was just here for two hours trying to fix our reception and the net.  He pulled out all kinds of old wires in the basement and found a lot of wires that led nowhere and all kinds of crazy crap.  The people before us really went nuts with wires and splitters and it really screwed everything up.  The net problem is another story.  Apparently, there is an outage in 60% of our area.  The weird thing is that the modem works on the desktop, but if I hook up our router and Vonage, it stops working.  This problem is supposed to be fixed today and if it's not, there is of course a number to call.

  Anyway, #33 is Better by Regina Spektor.  I don't have this song (thought I did) so here is the myspace page:  www.myspace.com/reginaspektor