Melissa Times
Global Agenda Has Arrived
It seems like just yesterday when I made my New Year's Resolution for 2009 on "The Bert Show" to have my voice in a video game. That's when Hi Rez Studios responded by giving me the honor of being in the game they were developing at the time, called Global Agenda. I outlined everything from the initial invite, to wearing THE SUIT that put me in the game, to revealing my final character in the blogs "Eat My Virtual Laser" and "You Want Me To Wear What?" that you can check out below.
Now Global Agenda is now up and ready to play! We had the Hi Rez folks in studio today (see below) to talk about the launch during our show, and I'll be doing a little giveaway on my Twitter account. (@MelissaCarter) Now you can get in the game and come visit my character in the market area, where I'll be happy to sell you flair for your uniform. But be careful....I may not like it if you don't make a purchase. *Bwahahaha*
Q100 listeners you get a SPECIAL DEAL on the game! Click here to get your code before buying Global Agenda!
To read the blog, "Eat My Virtual Laser," click here...
To read the blog, "You Want Me To Wear What?" click here...
Bert Weiss, Daniel Lilleberg (Hi-Rez), Me (showing my character on my t-shirt), Michal Adam (Hi-Rez), Mick Larkins (Hi-Rez), Jeff Dauler, and Wendy Adams
The Full Moon Is F***ing With My Schedule
There was a full moon this week, and many times people blame that event on strange occurrences in their lives. Now I'm starting to wonder if they are right.
Trying to be the good girlfriend, and utilizing my skills at planning ahead, I ordered Katie Jo's Valentine's Day flower delivery a couple weeks ago from an online florist I had not used before. So imagine my surprise when I got an e-mail confirming their delivery...IN JANUARY. Katie wasn't sure what to do with them, and wondered if it was a joke or my mistake, but watered them and put the display on her desk at work. After a few harsh e-mails back and forth between me and the FlorisT anD a half-hour on the phone, they admitted it was their mistake and reluctantly refunded my money.
I was set to meet with a non-profit in town for lunch, since they wanted some feedback on an upcoming fundraiser. I volunteered my time between the Bert Show and an afternoon meeting and headed to the restaurant where I arrived first. I picked up a menu, sat at a table, and waited. And waited. For 30 minutes. Salvaging the trip I grabbed some food-to-go and went back to work for the other meeting. I later learned the person I was meeting arrived after I had left, and I'm still not sure why they were so late.
I made back-to-back doctor appointments since they were near each other. The first visit was with someone new and one I expected to be a quick consultation. I filled out the paperwork, donned a hospital shirt, and waited. And waited. I heard the doctor open every door in the hallway but mine and talk to every patient but me. After nearly 2 hours, yes 2 hours, and well past my next appointment, I heard one nurse tell another in the hall that the doctor had not been in to see me yet. The second reacted in surprise and came to tell me that I had been forgotten. I at least appreciate his honesty. I explained I was going to dress and try to save my next appointment. They actually asked me to come back afterward to try and see the doctor then. I did not return.
Individually these would not have been out of the ordinary, since things like a mistaken delivery or people running late can happen every day. But to put them in a bundle makes you wonder if you've gone crazy. And when you look up at the sky and see that bright lunar disc shining on your bizarre experience, you realize you temporarily are. Or everyone else is.
Guest Blogger Charlie Schinderwolf, And How His Band Played The Orange Bowl
People don't always believe me when I tell then that I was in a band back in 1977 and we played a sold out show at the Orange Bowl in Miami.
BUT IT'S TRUE.
Well OK that is not the whole story. In 1977 I was a sophomore in High School and also in the Marching Band. I know that makes me a band nerd but I fought the stereotype all I could.
My high school was among a BUNCH of high school bands asked to participate in the half time show for a University of Miami game and we got to go out on the field and play plus the game was sold out.
I don't remember a lot about that weekend except - The buses smelled, we stayed at a Holiday Inn and we partied at the IHOP after the show (I mean the game). The reason I don't remember much is remember it was the 70's and I think a clarinet player had given me some Quaaludes.
The main part I remember is it was like being in a weird foreign movie when we descended at the IHOP. If you have never been in an IHOP at midnight with a 120 member marching band which included a full complement of Dancerettes and Flag Girls with lacquered wigs, drag queen make-up, capes and tap boots. Trust me it is weird. The closest other memory I have occurred about 10 years later at an intown Krystal on Halloween night at 3:00 AM.
So - I'm Sticking with my story. My Band Played The Orange Bowl in '77.
See the original post on his Blog, "I Am Dazed and Confused," here.
Could The Entire Conan Debacle Be Boiled Down To Simple College Rivalry?
I have to admit, Katie Jo and I were more sympathetic to Conan O'Brien than Jay Leno in the recent "Tonight Show" controversy. Maybe because we thought an innocent bystander (Conan) was getting hit by the bullets of an ego battle (Jay/NBC) and ended up losing the entire war alone. But with over $40 million in veteran's benefits, we think Conan will be just fine.
In the process of seeing it all go down, Katie wanted to find out more about NBC's side and found a detail I didn't hear much about during the sparring: NBC Universal's President and CEO went to school with O'Brien. According to his Wikipedia site, Jeffrey Zucker went to Harvard University and served as the head of their school newspaper, The Harvard Crimson. In that role he had a rivalry with the Harvard Lampoon, headed by none other than Conan O'Brien.
Now of course the first thing I thought was that the love-loss in Cambridge must have translated to Los Angeles! But then I realized since Zucker was promoted to his current position in 2007, he actually helped place Conan in the "Tonight Show" slot, and made the fateful decision to oust Leno from that seat.
Oh well. So much for continuing the drama. But I do find it interesting that two college kids from the East Coast over two decades ago are still entangled in competition today as part of, as the Los Angeles Times called it, "one of the biggest debacles in television history." It pays never to burn your bridges.
Want to See The First Legal Shady Lady Gigolo In The U.S.?
Ladies, he has arrived at work. The first legal gigolo in the country has started working at a brothel in Nevada.
The Shady Lady Ranch recently won approval for their so-called prosti-DUDE, named Markus. He had his first appointments over the weekend.
Read more here....
I Like Piercings, But Do I Have To See Your Mouth In The Process?
I have no problem with piercings, sometimes wishing I were young enough to get more and look cool. But I have to say this window into one's mouth is a little extreme for even me:
What do you think?
What do you think?
Where Did The Gatorade Shower Tradition Begin?
If you were yawning like me this morning, after staying up late to watch the Alabama Crimson Tide beat the Texas Longhorns for the BCS Championship, you also saw the Gatorade Shower of Coach Nick Saban that almost turned into a tackle by the pouring players.
But when did this wet tradition actually begin?
According to Mental Floss, the origins of the Gatorade shower is up for debate but the one who gets the most credit is Jim Burt of the New York Giants. He apparently had the idea for the prank while the Giants were struggling during the 1985 season. Then head coach Bill Parcells had been on Burt before a game against the Washington Redskins, and when the Giants won that game Burt playfully dumped a cooler of Gatorade on Parcells.
Read more about who hated the tradition - and when it turned dangerous - here....
Mother Places Wig On Her Infant
A mother says she got really sick and tired of her baby being so bald.
So she gave her daughter a wig. A lace front wig. According to Mom: "I wouldn't be caught dead without my lace front and my baby won't either."
Read more here....
For a Stress-Free Christmas Get Rid of The Mother-In-Law
That's what Holiday Inn is telling it's British customers, by offering a special room rate for mother-in-laws!
Families who would like to celebrate a stress-free holiday can check their mother-in-law into a Holiday Inn for a 25% discount, effective December 23-29th.
Learn more about it here.
Woman's Letter Returned to Announce Her Son Was Dead
A woman in Minnesota is suing the U.S. Postal Service after she mailed a letter to her son, who is a soldier in Iraq. I was apparently returned with the word Deceased stamped in red ink on the envelope.
She is suing for monetary damages, but the amount won't be determined until she goes to court.
Read more about this here.