Originally published at The Definitive Dmbosstone. Please leave any comments there.

Right now I’m about to board a flight to take me back home, but I thought I’d leave you guys with a link to the latest 4 Sport Boston podcast. Things were busy last week so we didn’t have a chance to talk- and maybe it was a good thing too because I know I was still steaming after a certain game that happened on November 14th.

But here’s a question- in the podcast I mentioned Madden’s FairPlay option- doesn’t anybody else know it besides me?

4 Sport Boston: We Don’t Punt on 4th and 2 Either

Originally published at The Definitive Dmbosstone. Please leave any comments there.

Photo courtesy Flickr user southerntabitha

As some of you know, I’ve been trying to get over an illness last week. For the most part I’m feeling better now but while I was really sick I considered giving the doctor a call.

I remember when I first moved down here, trying to find a doctor was a pain. Besides trying to find someone that is “in your network,” there really isn’t any simple way to learn more about a possible primary care provider. I remember I settled on a doctor who was nearby and had a website for the entire practice group. It sounds kind of silly, but if you think about it he sold me by making it easy for me to get all the information I wanted on him, his practice, and the office. The group’s website had everything from hours to online background forms I could fill out prior to my first visit.

Sure there are tons of websites you can also consult that rate doctors, and my insurance provider also had some basic information to help me locate nearby doctors, but I appreciated that this physician realized the potential he had to not only establish an online presence for his office, but also help control his online reputation. His site came right up when I ran a Google search for his name.

Medical doctors are embracing new technological gadgets, but on the most part, most haven’t ventured onto the web. I understand there’s a lot of issues they can face if they engage in social media, but I’m talking about something a little bit more basic: just having an online home for your office’s information and policies.

There isn’t anything that we do today that doesn’t spark an online search. Want to find a new recipe? Go online. Want to get an address of the local Old Navy? Go online. Looking for a new doctor? Go online. Offices that are looking for patients need to understand that The Internet is almost always the first step anyone takes when it comes to research.

I can think of three things Physicians should do to establish an online presence:

1. Make sure your practice has a website where patients can go to get information on your doctors and office policies. Think about how much time could be saved if office hours could be found online or if new patient forms could be filled out completely at home before arriving to an appointment.
2. Be aware of what’s being said about you online. Find out which sites people do use for researching doctors and make sure the information is accurate and up to date. Often insurers and state medical boards post complete directories that people can search. Make sure everything is in order.
3. Claim your name on social networking sites. Now engaging in social media is a topic that’s been debated, and some encourage physicians to become more vocal. I’m not saying you have to go out and start a blog, but Physicians should know that social networking profiles like LinkedIn and Facebook are often the top results when someone Googles your name.

I’m curious if I’m the only one that thinks that doctors are slow to get their businesses online- is your Physician online?

Originally published at The Definitive Dmbosstone. Please leave any comments there.

In this week’s post I make fun of Chris Simms, analyze why I traded away Brett Favre, and point out another backup QB I never want to see play.

4 Sport Boston: Fantasy Aftermath: Buyer’s Remorse

Originally published at The Definitive Dmbosstone. Please leave any comments there.

Photo courtesy Flickr user armadillo444

On the weekends I like to take it easy and not cook. Ever. Thus why I have such deeply rooted eating habits that revolve around a variety of different foods. Yesterday I found myself hungry and out of options. Peruvian Chicken? Had it on Saturday. Kebobs? Had it on Friday. As I tried to think what I could possibly eat that was nearby I quickly settled on Five Guys. I was so excited to bring home the greasy paper bag of food. I ordered a little hamburger and a regular side of Cajun fries. Those that have enjoyed Five Guys know that a regular side of fries is ridiculously big and as I poured them from the bag into a bowl I quickly realized what kind of mess I got myself into.

However I was starving and I quickly dug into my meal. One burger and many fries later I was on my couch feeling the full effects of my choices. Did I really need to eat ALL of those fries? Maybe I should of gone to Subway instead. If one was to consult the nutritional information of my meal, you would come to the same conclusion that I have: I made a bad decision.

Fast food does that to you- have you ever eaten at McDonalds and thought, “you know what? That was a great idea.” No you always feel a little bit unsatisfied, a little bit guilty. These aren’t newly discovered facts, too many of us eagerly walk into these establishments knowing what is to come. So why do we do it then? Because we are hungry.

When you haven’t had anything to eat all day, you stop thinking about what you should or shouldn’t do and instead focus on what you can do to quickly and easily fix it. It’s why you shouldn’t go grocery shopping on an empty stomach, you think too much about what you want and not about what you really need.

So why did I make a bad decision last night? Because I was hungry and I wanted something to eat. I write this post because it easily translates to why we make all sorts of bad decisions.

It’s amazing what you’ll do when you are hungry.

Tags: blog, feelings/reflections

Originally published at The Definitive Dmbosstone. Please leave any comments there.

As Week 11 of the 2009 Fantasy Football season commences, I thought I’d take a moment to let you know that I’ve now moved all my fantasy football rants over to 4 Sport Boston. It makes more sense to write about sports on a sports blog. Here are the first few posts I’ve written over there:

Fantasy Aftermath: Back to Work

Fantasy Aftermath: Freshmen on Fire?

Fantasy Aftermath: MJD Has No One To Apologize To

Tags: fantasy football

Originally published at The Definitive Dmbosstone. Please leave any comments there.

Weird costumes must be a family affair.

Two weeks ago I had the pleasure of having my sister Diana in town to see Rocky Horror. She’s really into Steampunk and stuff like that so of course she was going to wear a costume and in turn I had to dust off my Halloween surprise.

My Rocky get-up has nothing on my sister’s Steampunk fashions- she even changes her eye colors to grey and blue!

So after the show I wanted to show her the best that DC has to offer in nightlife, and we met up with my roommate Maricha at Policy on U-Street. I was too lazy to take off my eye make-up and I hit the town in with eyeliner and eye-shadow on. Oh it was sexy. But that’s the topic for another post…

After Policy I took my sister and roommate to ground zero of PBandTuna: Stetson’s. We then moved on to Adams Morgan, where we probably made the worst decision of the night: walk into Dan’s Cafe. Ever since the first time I experienced the enigma, I always enjoy introducing people to the dirty deal at Dan’s. The price has gone up a bit- $13 from $10 but the deal is still pretty good, an entire fifth of liquor in a glass.

As we each crawl into a booth with our glasses o’ booze, we made a stark realization: we bought too much alcohol. Each of us had a glass of liquor and a can/bottle of mixer. This is part of the reason why you never make Dan’s Cafe your last stop.

To finish it would be certain doom, however we weren’t going to leave a fallen soldier behind, so we had an ingenius idea: sell the our drinks. With half full glasses of booze I saw the booth behind us and challenged Diana to sell her glass. Now you may think it would be a daunting task but I gave her a tip that I think would help lock it in: tell them it’s for a bet. She got up and walked to the booth behind us, told them that she made a bet that she couldn’t sell her glass of booze. When the booth looked over to us we made the appropiate gestures not to buy the booze. They bought the booze. As she walked back with cash in her hand I decided to try it myself, but the group I approached were more into Photo Hunt then my offer. Diana then took my glass and sold it to two other guys across the bar. I was amazed as we recouped our loses on the night, but the three of us felt even more frugal.

As we stumbled across the bridge towards the Metro we looked at our watches and realized we wouldn’t make the last train. So we flagged down a cab, but not before Maricha and I haggled the Taxi driver’s fare to bring us back into Arlington.

Just because you’re having a good time doesn’t mean you can’t save a few bucks either.

Tags: adams morgan, blog, debauchery, family, rocky horror show

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It wasn’t my first closing performance and it won’t be my last.

I walked into The Armory in Kensington this past Saturday with only one thing on my mind: getting things set-up for another show. I was busy trying to clean up the house after Rent callbacks, getting make-up put on, and secretly putting on my costume so I could impress some friends that were coming to the show that night.

I didn’t have any time to realize that it was our last show. It started to creep in my mind as Amy stopped me by the costume rack to tell me how sad she was. By intermission I was trying to sweep the stage in heels for my adoring fans. I didn’t even have time to think about it as the show ended. I was standing by the curtain, ready to shut it after the bows when I was pulled on stage for an encore of the Time Warp:

Now you know why I don’t act, I can’t dance to save my life.

I tried to take a moment then to let it all sink in but the entire cast and crew then had to immediately start striking the set and clean up the entire place. Four hours later we were all laying down on the now spotless floor of The Armory, too tired to move.

When the strike was all finished we eventually left, we exchanged hugs and kisses as we all slowly filtered out of the theatre. It was disappointing that there was no strike/cast party. There would be no going to Ted’s house, no trips to Bonnie Eagle Lake. For some of us, walking out of that theatre would be the last time we’d ever meet again.

It didn’t hit me until I crawled into my car. I started the engine and stopped for a minute. I already turned in my keys to the theatre, there was nothing left for me there anymore. It wasn’t til I was in my car that I started to feel sad that my show was already over.

For some it was more of a feeling of relief, it was a long, tough run with many challenges along the way. I also have my share of relief that I can once again see friends and enjoy life.

This wasn’t my first show, nor was it the show where I had the most success, but I do have to put this show down as one of my favorite shows.

I take a minute to reflect on the culmination of my entire fall as it comes to an end- but I can’t reflect for long. Just like every closing performance I did in high school, I am already working on my next play- excited to see what this new show may bring.

Tags: blog, feelings/reflections, rocky horror show, theatre

Originally published at The Definitive Dmbosstone. Please leave any comments there.

It seems like forever since I’ve blogged right? Well the same could be said about Metblogs…

• Known for featuring blogs around The District, I noticed that DC Blogs took a moment to speak out on a couple of issues.
• I got to meet Bill Simmons (The Sports Guy) this past month at a DC book signing. It was so cool that he signed my book, “Patrick, sorry div 3 stats don’t count!” A clear homage to FSC (Bill went to college at nearby Holy Cross, a division 1 school.) Also in attendance was B.S. Report regular Joe House, who lives in DC. I also got him to sign my book, telling him I always think of him when I go to Subway.
• Chris Cooley breaks his ankle and gets his injury news scooped by Adam Schefter.
• I talked with Frank Warren of PostSecret on his new book.
• The Real World DC Cast is long gone but video from their media day finally surfaces.
• Shameless plug: Have you seen Rocky Horror yet?
• Reagan National is named one of the best US airports.
• I almost forgot to vote in the election this year.
• I entered the White House Tree Lighting lottery and I scored some tickets!

Tags: dc metblogs

Originally published at The Definitive Dmbosstone. Please leave any comments there.

DJ noticed I’ve been quiet lately, and it’s been for a good reason: I’ve progressively gotten more and more sick since last Thursday’s corruption of Michael Anthony Gregorio. But that story is for another time, bottom line is that I’ve been with a fever for a couple of days now and while I’m not sweating or chilling I’ve tried to stay in bed. I’ve even been too sick to watch The Price Is Right, which is something you do when you’re sick.

However I couldn’t let me friends at 4 Sport Boston down, and I tried my best to host a podcast despite have no voice and a fever.

4 Sport Boston: Lots to ‘Tek About

Tags: blog

Originally published at The Definitive Dmbosstone. Please leave any comments there.

When you record a podcast about Boston sports, watching the Yankees on the brink of their 234546th World Champion is something you don’t want to do. At least it provided some fodder.

4 Sporton Boston: Casting Pods and the “Checking Facebook Statuses Game”

Tags: blog

Originally published at The Definitive Dmbosstone. Please leave any comments there.

This is the post that will finish any hopes I have for running for any kind of public office. As we know if you want to be President of the United States you have to dress up like a middle-aged parent.

I did not do that for Halloween.

While some people dressed up like trashy ice skaters, sexy genies, or clever puns; I did something a little more unorthodox. I’m not talking about forming a tracksuit mafia, changing my religion, or going back home.

I spent my Halloween putting on a midnight performance of the Rocky Horror Show (still going on for two more weekends!) I knew that Halloween, midnight, and Rocky Horror meant a big crowd and lots of costumes. Most of my cast arrived to the stage in costume, only to take them off and put on their show costumes. The director showed up looking like the belle of the ball. I was dressed in grey dress pants and a grey T-shirt.

But I had an ace up my sleeve.

First I had to get some make-up on, so I went downstairs and got the cast to put make-up on my face, citing I had no costume for Halloween. The cast was glad to help and I sat down and each cast member took some of their make-up and put it on a different part of my face:

Step One: Make-Up on Face

Next was the more nerve wracking part, earlier in the week I asked our costumer if she had any extra costume pieces I could wear for Halloween. She agreed to help me out and would pass by the stage before the show. I nervously waited in the upstairs loft for her to arrive. 20 minutes til curtain and no sign of her yet. Finally she arrived with a large bag full of pieces. The heels barely fit and the corset was way too small. But like Tim Gunn I made it work.

My sound guy and light board operator walked in on me getting undressed with the costumer, they wanted to take a photo of me in my boxers but I convinced them they would get a better photo if they waited 10 minutes. After I put on the fishnet stockings I got at Hot Topic earlier that day they got their photo:

Step Two: Hot Tranny Mess.

I was so hot. It was also very breezy, never wore anything that short before.

So I put on a long coat I brought from home and went downstairs to the dressing room. I was about to call the five minute warning and a few people noticed my legs and knew something was up.

I strut into the dressing room and yell, “Ladies and Gentlemen, this is your five minute warning!”

And with those lines I take off my coat to the roar of the cast.

I called the entire show in costume, walking in heels wasn’t too bad except for a few moments I almost took a spill. During every intermission I walk out on stage to sweep up the stage, that night I got a few calls from the audience.

There’s a reason I’m not a performer: I can’t act, sing, or dance. But I will tell you- I didn’t mind being on stage at all in that moment. Dressing up is part of the Rocky Horror Culture and I totally enjoyed being a part of it for a night.

Tags: blog, holidays, rocky horror show, theatre

Originally published at The Definitive Dmbosstone. Please leave any comments there.

Best thing to tell a woman at the end of the night? I have to go record a podcast with my friends.

Oh yes this is probably why I’m still single.

So forget about fixing me up with your friend, just go ahead and listen to the latest podcast, or perhaps subscribe to us on iTunes!

Originally published at The Definitive Dmbosstone. Please leave any comments there.

Aw man scoring all those touchdowns must make a top draft pick hungry. The rookie quarterback for The Jets found himself in some lukewarm water as he was caught eating a hot dog in the final seconds of this past Sunday’s game against the Raiders:

I hope that was a good frankfurter, Sanchez’s snack attack became the fodder for quite a few blogs. He made amends today by donating 1,000 hot dogs and hamburgers to a local soup kitchen. Now that hot-dog gate is over on to Week 7.

Patriots Pride

Heading into last weekend people looked at the International match-up of the Patriots and the Buccaneers and predicted blow-out. They were right as the Pats took it to the Bucs 35-7. Tom Brady is continuing to look more and more like the Tom Brady we all know and love with his 308 yards and 3 touchdowns; however the 2 interceptions were a surprise for a QB who only threw eight picks in 2007. I’d write it off as a fluke and move on.

With Sammy Morris and Fred Taylor out of the Patriots running back stable, we looked to Laurence Maroney once again to hopefully produce some points for our fantasy teams. Given his spotty hit-or-miss history, you had to pick him up knowing there was a good chance he’d still do nothing despite getting the majority of the carries. 13 carries for 43 yards sounds like an L-Mo bust but luckily he found the end zone to minimize the usual disappointment owners get when they start Maroney. I picked him up for a team this week and stuck him in my flex spot- and I dusted off my Patriots jersey (a Laurence Maroney one) to wear this past Sunday. I’m happy for the 10 points he scored me but the 3.3 yds/carry tells me I should start shopping for another jersey.

It’s no surprise that the Patriots surprised everyone a previously undisclosed injury, Bill Belichick will do that for you. With the emergence of Julian Edelman put on hold with a forearm injury, names like Brandon Tate and Terrance Nunn were thrown around as possible candidates to become 3rd in line to Moss and Welker. The ball was instead thrown to Sam Aiken and he caught it (twice ) for a total 66 yards and a touchdown. However before you go rushing to pick him up, realize he only had three total targets and with two stars ahead of him- I’d write it off as a fluke unless we see something more.

Reading The Box Scores & Watching The Highlights

• Ryan Grant looked good and has consistent in the points he scores but maybe now is the time to sell high looking at his schedule down the road.
• Donald Driver continues to look better over Greg Jennings. Jennings is still getting the targets, but does that mean you should buy low on Jennings or sell high on Driver?
• Mohamed Massaquoi maybe young, talented, and the team’s #1 target; but it doesn’t make Derek Anderson a better quarterback. I’d let him be somebody else’s problem
• It’s funny that Michael Crabtree (5 receptions/1 game) already surpassed Darius Heyward-Bey (4 receptions/7 games), I’m not ready to say Crabtree is ready to be the top pick he was drafted to be- I always have a bad feeling on holdouts.
• I’m getting tired of the Shaun Hill or Alex Smith debate, at least fantasy owners can stay away from both. Too bad Mike Singletary has to pick one.
• Vernon Davis already has a career high in TDs and is close to racking up more receiving yards than last year. However how much of his 3 TD game part of Alex Smith? He’s looked respectable in his last four games and could be worth a pick-up.
• Why did Philip Rivers and Vincent Jackson look so good last weekend? Because of the fantasy death of LT.
• LJ needs to stop tweeting. It won’t be long before Charles is in charge.
• Steven Jackson continues to be a beast. You may look at him and complain about the lack of TDs but I blame it all on the terrible Rams offense.
• Favre looked good in the passing game but it his turnovers that cost him the game, now this is the gunslinger Minnesota needs to watch out for.
• Sydney Rice stepped up in Berrian’s absence and looked great. I love him as a pickup this week.
• Mike Wallace is another name that looks like a hot pick-up but he’s still 3rd on the depth charts, maybe for deeper leagues but it all depends on who you already have.
• Last week I employed a new strategy: pickup the defense that plays Jake Delhomme. So far so good.
• A typical TO stat line this season: 3 rec for 27 yards- wasn’t this the same way Torry Holt died?
• Today was a day of QB switches, Gradkowski came in and showed why he’s Bruce Gradkowski.
• When I hear Fibula poking through leg, I think your season is over. Shonn Greene was a big sleeper because we thought Thomas Jones was done this year (he isn’t yet) but Greene is now going to get some time with Washington done for the year.
• Carson Palmer flashed some leather against a weakened Chicago secondary, he threw TDs to Ochocinco, Coles, Henry, Foschi, and I believe the ball boy.
• Cedric Benson also took it to his former team, I can’t believe he already has a league leading 720 yards and 5 TDs.
• In other news Matt Forte is having quite the sophomore slump.
• Despite what I wrote, it looks like Miles Austin is for real.
• Felix Jones looks like he’s ready to eat more time away from Barber and to make Tashard Choice irrelevant.
• Eli finally came back to earth- just in time for his annual 2nd half collapse.
• Hakeem Nicks is quickly making people wonder if he’s the guy you want after Steve Smith.
• In a shootout, the Saints look like they could seriously run the table, which makes me afraid for the Pats.
• Ricky Williams is still a viable RB2 compared to his fantasy season last year, as long as he’s playing in the Wildcat he will always have a good chance to score.
• Mike Bell got a lot of mop up time in the 2nd half of the game so I’m not going to say he’s the guy you want, but will he end up being the goal-line back?
• As someone that lives in DC, I can tell you that we all think that the Redskins are a mess, but it doesn’t mean they are totally fantasy irrelevant.
• Remember in previous years when Brian Westbrook would get injured and people would scramble for Correll Buckhalter? Well it’s the same thing but replace Correll Buckhalter with LeSean McCoy.

I Rock At Fantasy Football

After Week 7 I went 3-2 in my leagues.

4 Sport Boston League: W (4-3)

DC-Boston League: W (4-3)

Couch League: W (5-2)

James Bond League: L (5-2)

Fantasy Football Librarian League: L (4-3)

Tags: fantasy football

Originally published at The Definitive Dmbosstone. Please leave any comments there.

Tonight is a very exciting night for me, but it’s also a very scary one.

After a week long hell of technical rehearsals, tonight I make my debut as a production stage manager in Kensington Arts Theatre’s production of The Rocky Horror Show. For the past three months I’ve lived a life of 14 hour days between Virgina and Maryland, and while there were fun times and memories during the rehearsal process- those feelings of fun were replaced with high tension and sensitive feelings coupled with a few nights of sleeplessness. It’s the kind of stress that makes you question why you signed up for this thing in the first place.

For me it’s been very stressful because it’s my first tech run (and now performance run) as a stage manager. I’m no stranger to theatre, the best moments of my high school career was producing over seven plays in my last two years at CHS; however producing and stage managing are two totally different beasts.

I really tried my best not to seem totally inept at the position. I read books, made tons of lists, and tried to go above and beyond every-time I could. It was helpful that I knew what to do during the rehearsal period since I had some experience on a show that shall not be named. Despite this, the past week has been very tough on me- because I’m not used to failing. As much as I tried to not act like a complete rookie, I blew cues, mismanaged actor calls, and got in the way of the tech designers I’m trying to help. A stage manager needs to be cool at all times- and I was boiling over as I couldn’t handle everything that was being thrown at me.

But that’s ok.

The great Matthew Berry once said that, “If you are trying to do something and you haven’t failed at it yet, you aren’t trying hard enough.” After dress rehearsal last night where my video projector malfunctioned and communications headset died and I was finishing last minute videos until five minutes before places; I drove home thinking what a terrible job I’ve done this week. I wanted things to go perfect this week and I’m learning that things never go perfect on a tech week.

Why d0 I want things to be perfect? Because I want everything in my life to go well. Generation Y has been brought up as overachievers that believe we can do anything we want, and if we don’t get it right immediately we panic. Everybody gets a blue ribbon and everybody is coddled to think they can succeed- which is good but it needs to be grounded in values of hard work and the occasional failure along the way. I want to be a good stage manager, I want to earn the praise, respect, and acceptance from my peers. When you were in school it wasn’t that hard, except in the real world, you don’t always get that the TLC you were fed as children. As a result it takes me a longer to not take criticism personally, I can’t help but feel that I’ve become more incompetent when I work my ass off just to get new note on my performance.

In the end however I stop and realize why I care so much? It’s because I want to be good- I want to be a great stage manager that people can count on. That means I need to make mistakes and I need to learn from them. I can’t help but imagine there’s a whole generation of people that will graduate college and quickly realize that real life isn’t as coddling as it once was. There are going to be moments where you fail, sometimes terribly. In that case you have to ask yourself how bad do you want it?

Because if you aren’t failing, you aren’t trying hard enough.

Tags: blog, rants

Originally published at The Definitive Dmbosstone. Please leave any comments there.

In the latest episode of the 4 Sport Boston podcast, we discuss the Patriots shutout of the Titans and what to-do when it comes to catching Boston sports away from New England.

4 Sport Boston: Podcast Episode 7

Tags: blog

Originally published at The Definitive Dmbosstone. Please leave any comments there.

Since I’m well into tech for Rocky Horror, I haven’t had a whole lot of social plans- however Saturday night I battled the endless rain when tech ended so I could attend the blogger event of the year. Pretty much every blogger I knew or heard of (and some real life friends) was in attendance at Stentson’s last night and with all the tweets about the event, it was like my timelime came to life last night.

I was really overwhelmed the minute I walked in, I sent a tweet that I got out of the cab and when I walked up to the bar Maxie and others were waiting for me. I haven’t seen so many people in the our bloggy circle at one place at the same time. It took me 20 minutes to get to the other side of the bar just to say hello to the LiLu, who was clearly excited that she pulled off yet another stellar event.

It was a very memorable night out, and I could try and list all the twerps that were there but it would be a very valiant, yet incomplete effort. Check out Lilu’s “guestbook” for complete details.

After seeing all my blog favs I swung by Ben’s Chili Bowl to say hi to Ms. Chanelle was also in the neighborhood celebrating her birthday as well. I’ve never really stepped into Ben’s before and it was the mess I expected it to be. I didn’t have time to sit down for a half-smoke however, I’ll have to save that for another time.

I’d like to say that I then ended my night with a traditional trek back home and passing out in a mess, but I actually had some work to do (it is tech week after all.) I proceeded to edit videos til 6:30 AM. I was pretty tired and sober at the end, and three hours later I was up and back on stage for another tech.

Because sometimes you have to play hard then work hard.

P.S. It looks like I wasn’t the only one playing hard- is it just coincidence that now every blogger is now massively sick? Did they all get swine flu or something?

Tags: blog, debauchery, fun times with friends, rocky horror show, theatre, u-street

Originally published at The Definitive Dmbosstone. Please leave any comments there.

It’s been a long time since I’ve put a show through tech week. Earlier this year, when Cat On A Hot Tin Roof went into tech it meant long hours but I haven’t felt so much stress and pressure since I was producing shows in high school. My first tech week as a stage manager is going to be a really interesting experience.

That being said you probably won’t hear from me for a week (or two), I’ll still be on Twitter sending out my regular Rocky photos of the day.

And if you are in the area, I hope you do come out to support my show- it’s going to be a truly special event and I think its going to be tons of fun once its up.

Tags: blog, cat on a hot tin roof, rocky horror show, stress, theatre

Originally published at The Definitive Dmbosstone. Please leave any comments there.

As you know I’m always a fan of celebrity iPhone apps, and when my co-worker tweeted about Chad Ocho Cinco’s new iPhone app I just had to see what it was all about.

The app costs $4.99 and  apparently, “gives you an exclusive behind-the-scenes look into the life of the most interesting football player, Chad Ochocinco, aka Esteban Ochoccinco, aka Chad Johnson.”

I mean just look at some of the features the program touts:

• The Ochocinco Soundboard in English and in Spanish. (Good thing because we all know he’s into the Hispanic heritage.)
• Exclusive videos & pictures of Ocho.
• Pictures of Ochocinco fans around the world. If you have a nice tailgate in Cincinnati, we will find you and upload select pictures on the app.
• What would Ocho do? Submit questions to Chad and he will select a few and answer them within the app.
• Ocho’s Family. See pictures of Chad with his family & closest friends. (And by closest friends they mean his entire entourage.)
• News feed on Ocho, NFL, Bengals and everything else that Ocho loves.
• Follow Ocho’s Twitter timeline and see what he is up to.
• In the bio section, see things you never knew about Ocho.
• Follow Ocho Cinco on a map. (Screw GPS, all I really need to know is where Ocho is at all times.)
• See Ocho’s music on his iPod in Ocho’s Jams. The same music in the locker room, his car and when he works out.
• Cincinnati Benglas 2009 – 2010 schedule.
• Ocho’s stats for the 2009 – 2010 NFL season

While it doesn’t surprise me that he’d have his own iPhone app, I am surprise he’d go ahead and make one. Who will be the next celebrity to demand their own iPhone app?

Tags: blog, chad johnson, ipod

Originally published at The Definitive Dmbosstone. Please leave any comments there.

Unlike Andre, I'm not celebrating this post-season

It’s a sad week as we see the Yankees roll through the playoffs and the Sox swept out in the first round.

Baseball has been long over for me, fantasy baseball ended with the regular season- here’s how I did this year:

DC-Boston League

Beltway Bandits (258-190-146)

3rd place in the playoffs

The playoffs fell pretty much in line with regular season standings. After finishing in 3rd I ended up placing third in the playoffs.

Best Draft Pick: My last round pick? Andre Ethier. W huge bargain for 31 HRs, 106 RBIs, and an average that didn’t kill you.

Worst Draft Pick: It’s a tie between my second round pick of Alfonso Soriano and third round pick B.J. Upton. I expected strike outs but not a .240 average. You both suck.

Best Waiver Wire Pick-Up: Mark Reynolds and Kendry Morales became every day starts for me after the Chris Davis experiment crashed and burned.

Ami League

A-Roid’s Cousin (141-98-25)

4th place in the playoffs

Oddly enough the same thing happened in this league too, an uneventful playoffs as mostly everything went chalk.

Best Draft Pick: While my team always had starting pitching problems, Wandy Rodriguez really came out to be a top starting pitcher this year. Good thing I grabbed him in the late rounds.

Worst Draft Pick: This one is hard to tell but I think I paid too high for Alexei Ramirez in the 5th round.

Best Waiver Wire Pick-Up: He isn’t a big waiver wire name but Miguel Montero quickly replaced Chris Iannetta, now I have to think if I am going to up Iannetta for next year.

Well that’s it for baseball this year, maybe next year the Sox (and I) will do better.

Originally published at The Definitive Dmbosstone. Please leave any comments there.

Just before I spoke at the WWPR Media Roundtable a couple of weeks ago, there was a considerable amount of buzz surrounding the new Social Media Guidelines put out by the Washington Post. These guidelines were pretty stern in limited what a Post Journalist can say in fear of expressing bias on a topic or issue:

Post journalists must refrain from writing, tweeting or posting anything—including photographs or video—that could be perceived as reflecting political, racial, sexist, religious or other bias or favoritism that could be used to tarnish our journalistic credibility. This same caution should be used when joining, following or friending any person or organization online. Post journalists should not be involved in any social networks related to advocacy or a special interest regarding topics they cover, unless specifically permitted by a supervising editor for reporting and so long as other standards of transparency are maintained while doing any such reporting.

I understand the point that Journalists for The Post represent a bigger name at all times, in fact it’s a point I mention in my earlier post on the new FTC guidelines for bloggers. However Stephen Baker brings up a great point that such actions also prevents writers from developing their own personal brands:

It seems that the Post wants all the good stuff from blogs and social networks—extension of their brand, traffic to their site—but without any of the problems that come from losing control. Yet the power of these social tools grows from the very freedom of expression that the Post editors are trying to rein in.

Here’s the way I see it: Social Media allows us to develop personal relationships with the people behind the stories, which in turns gives us more interest to identify people we want to read. Think of the fans of Tony Kornheiser and Micheal Wilbon that read The Post, half the reason I’ll read a Bill Simmons article on ESPN is because I’m a fan of his podcast. Writers today need to find different platforms to expose themselves so they don’t become another faceless name on a by-line. Not everyone can have a TV show or a radio show, but they can interact on Twitter.

The Washington Post has to admit that the news has an inherent bias, haven’t you watched Fox News? Limiting writer’s expression on Social Media negates the benefits that it brings in developing your brand as well as a writer’s brand.

So lighten up, opinions aren’t just for the Editorial pages.