BillTV Style: Camp, Teachers, and Radio

So, I'm pulling a Charlie McDonnell and doing a little blog post going a bit further into some things I discussed in this week's video. Enjoy!

Camp
One thing I originally mentioned in the video but ended up cutting out of the final version was the problem of geese and their deposits on the grounds on the camp. Yes, they were annoying and something to keep an eye out for at all times. "Where are the geese? Where is their poop? Where are the campers? Where are the campers in comparison to the geese? In comparison to the poop?" ... And so on.
There was also the problem of dirt/dust and playing with it, especially in the area where all the campers waited to be picked up at the end of the day. That area was the dustiest spot of the entire camp and where most of the campers (or most of mine, at least) got the dirtiest every day. You couldn't imagine how dirty their bags were. Their parents had a harder time imagining how their children's bags got so dirty.

Teachers
Thank you to:
- my 3rd grade teacher who had us incubate chicken eggs and raise hermit crabs.
- my elementary school Band teacher who got me started and kept me going on trumpet. ... And he had a rad ponytail, too.
- my 5th grade Social Studies teacher who threatened to defenestrate things out of the window by his desk ... and ended up throwing out a fake rat. The custodian played Spider-Man and rescued the fake rat.
- my 6th grade Math teacher who once brought in a slab of ground beef to explain division.
- my elderly and spry 6th grade English teacher who did handstands.
- my 7th and 8th grade Band teacher who kept me playing trumpet.
- the other middle school Band teacher who encouraged me to stay in Annie, Get Your Gun even though I had a bit part.
- my 8th grade Social Studies teacher who wore sandals with his toenails painted the colors of the Italian flag.
- my 9th grade English teacher who was into Spongebob ... and who did pick some cool books (The Count of Monte Cristo, The Baron in the Trees, To Kill a Mockingbird, and What's Eating Gilbert Grape, to name a few)
- my 9th grade World History teacher who taught us about the sexual side of world history (ancient fertility statues, Cleopatra myths, and the Etruscans, to name a few).
- the high school English teacher who suggested I try out for one of the fall plays. And I got a lead role in the understudy cast.
- the high school English teacher who suggested I join Debate Team. I did ... and didn't really do much.
- my 10th and 11th grade Spanish teacher who let us do video final projects.
- my 11th and 12th grade AP US and AP Gov Pol teacher who loved talking about his kids and making pop culture references and more or less getting me to where I'm currently attending college.
- my 10th grade Physics teacher for making physics fun.
- my 10th grade English teacher for picking such a great reading list for the year (Fahrenheit 451, Lord of the Flies, Anthem, The Tenth Man, The Kite Runner, and Night, to name a few)
- my 11th grade English teacher who brought his bagpipes in on one occasion ... and who also picked some good books for the year (The Old Man and the Sea, Killer Angels, Catcher in the Rye, The Great Gatsby, Macbeth, and Inherit the Wind, to name a few)
- my 12th grade AP English Lit teacher who picked a fantastic book list for the year (Frankenstein, Hamlet, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, and Invisible Man, to name a few)
- my 12th grade AP Environmental teacher who kept his turtles in class and was always up to talk Lost with a few classmates and me.
- my Peer Leadership teacher.
- the head of the TV club who got me interested into broadcast journalism.
- my high school Band teacher. Never a cooler guy.
- my Experimental Film professor who got me to think outside the box ... just a bit ... and appreciate film as art.
- my British Spy Fiction professor for getting me back into spy novels ... and inspiring a killer spy flick idea.
- my Evolution and Cinema professor for broadening my understanding of human actions, especially the actions taken in films and what those actions suggest for the viewers.
- my Journalism professor for reading and liking my columns in the campus paper.
- my English professor who brought her dog to class ... and had us read Sandman: Dream Hunters and the first volume of Y: The Last Man.
- my Music professor who got me back into older rock.
- my Shakespeare professor for getting me back into Shakespeare.
- my Poli Sci professor who broadened my interest in political ideologies.
- my English professor who helped me to see the symbolism of popular culture.
- my Cinema professor who showed me so many great classic flicks.

Radio
Um ... nothing more to add on the topic of radio royalties.

Well ... I'm off to watch Rushmore. Allons-y!

BEDA 13: An Interesting Conversation

During my show today, I received an IM from an online listener partway through Max's (my apprentice) block of music. I'll let the conversation speak for itself. Screen names have been replaced for privacy, of course.

(2:01:59 PM) Listener: are you guys singing in the radio station?

(2:03:54 PM) Me: No, this is a CD.

(2:04:19 PM) L: can you change the song i dont like this one

(2:04:35 PM) L: the skip button doesnt work in winamp

(2:04:54 PM) M: It's live radio. The skip button shouldn't work for live radio.

(2:05:03 PM) L: so can you change the song?

(2:05:13 PM) M: The song is over in about 30 seconds.

(2:05:17 PM) L: i thought live radio takes requests

(2:05:31 PM) M: Yes, we do, but not usually to end the song while it's still playing.

(2:08:51 PM) L: was that RBF?

(2:08:56 PM) M: Yup!

(2:09:11 PM) L: now whats this mexican shit?

(2:09:18 PM) M: ... This is Bruce Springsteen.

(2:09:26 PM) L: was he mexican

(2:09:33 PM) M: ... No. He's from New Jersey.

(2:09:46 PM) L: they're mexicans in jersey you racist

(2:10:18 PM) M: I'm not being racist. All I'm saying is that he's from New Jersey and from my knowledge of him, I know that he isn't Mexican. He got his start in the early '70s.

(2:10:38 PM) L: i see, there werent any mexicans here in the 70s

(2:12:08 PM) L: do you think bruce springstein's initials BS is ironic?

(2:12:46 PM) M: No.

(2:13:30 PM) L: what country are you from?

(2:13:55 PM) L: NO MORE BRUCE

(2:14:26 PM) L: are you from the UK?

(2:14:33 PM) M: Was my accent that good?

(2:14:44 PM) L: not really

(2:14:54 PM) L: sounded like a uk'sh accent

(2:14:58 PM) L: couldnt really tell

(2:15:02 PM) L: thats why i had to ask

(2:15:21 PM) L: so you were trying to put on a british accent?

(2:15:28 PM) M: Ah ... well ... thanks, but I'm from NY, but I quite like faking accents.

(2:16:07 PM) L: thats retarded...

(2:16:30 PM) M: It's retarded to have an appreciation for another country's culture and to try and emulate it?

(2:16:58 PM) L: its retarded to emulate another countries culture and try and make others think you're a foreigner

(2:18:12 PM) M: That's the fun of being on the radio. Nobody knows who the DJ really is.

(2:19:10 PM) L: you're a student from binghamton

(2:19:37 PM) M: That's a logical conclusion. But that's all you could deduce.

(2:22:41 PM) L: are you playing BS out of spite?

(2:23:26 PM) mistaali is offering to send file 02 - Red Rocking Chair.mp3

(2:23:32 PM) L: can you play this song instead?

(2:24:29 PM) M: No, I'm not playing Bruce in spite. And my show is just about over. Sorry.

(2:24:47 PM) L: can you give me a shoutout

(2:25:00 PM) L: to your only listener

(2:25:07 PM) M: I have other listeners.

(2:25:15 PM) L: yeah which ones?

(2:25:31 PM) L: you've been playing BS the whole day

(2:25:49 PM) M: All I know is that I have other people listening online. And no, I've only been playing Bruce for 10 or so minutes.

(2:26:06 PM) L: seems like an eternity when it sucks

(2:26:28 PM) L: did you just give me a shoutout?!

(2:26:36 PM) L: OMG I WAS ON THE RADIO!!!!!!

(2:26:43 PM) L: THANKS!

(2:26:47 PM) M: You're welcome.

(2:26:48 PM) L: i love BS

(2:26:55 PM) L: im a fan

(2:27:03 PM) L: love his shitty voice

(2:27:11 PM) L: have a nice day

(2:27:13 PM) L: see you next week

... ... ... Okay then ...

Until tomorrow! Allons-y, Alonso!

My Saturday the 13th

First off, let me say that this was a long day. I started off by having brunch around 11. I did some homework until about 3:30, when I grabbed a bit to eat, then headed over to the radio station for my first apprenticing lesson/radio slot.  The time passed quickly and was quite enjoyable.


The map of listeners worldwide.


At the guest mic.

And I have a rocking show!

Afterwards, I headed back to the dorm, did a little more work, and grabbed dinner. Then I headed back to the dorm, split up and posted the videos you see above, and headed out around 9:30 for Pirates vs. Ninjas Capture the Flag.  It was fun.  It was exhausting.  It was tiring.  It was wet.  It was rainy.  Now, I'm back here, in the dorm.  God, do I need sleep!