Author: RTOlson

New: Missing UP

This is something I’ve been meaning to start for a long time. For four years, I lived on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Michigan is a state consisting of two large peninsulas jutting out into the Great Lakes. The Lower Peninsula is more well-known because the bulk of the population lives down there (including Detroit).

Map of Michigan from Google Maps
Map from Google Local

Now, one thing that I’ve noticed in recent years is that some people don’t include the Upper Peninsula in maps of the United States or Michigan. Sometimes they clump it with Canada or associate it with Wisconsin.

I don’t know why they do it — whether it’s an oversight, design error or just plain ignorance.

Here’s an example from FOX’s “Family Guy”:

Ollie Williams from 'Family Guy'

The screen cap is from Planet Family Guy. I didn’t see the episode in question, but the character of Ollie Williams is clearly in front of a U.S. map missing the Upper Peninsula.

Some Yoopers get offended by these errors, and I think I can understand where they’re coming from. The U.P. isn’t a relatively tiny island like Long Island (which is often dropped from maps of New York). This is a large landmass about a third of the state andthe size of Denmark.

So to chronicle these goofs, I’ve decided to create a special section on my.RTOmedia.com. Under the “More” section, you’ll shortly be able to find examples from the Internet and TV of the missing Upper Peninsula.

I’ve got a ton of examples saved on my computer from The Los Angeles Times, TextAmerica, the U.S. Weather Service and more. I can’t wait to share them with you.

If you’ve got some examples, zip a message to ryan -at- rtomedia.com

Keep on Rocklin in the Free World

I don’t normally go to Rocklin for karaoke at Rebounds, but I thought of four reasons to travel down there Sunday. A quadruple threat if you will. There was:

  1. Karaoke. It was pretty fun the last time and the singers were good (there was a contest).
  2. Trivia. It’s the closest place to play NTN.
  3. Seeing people. Maybe that girl from Sacramento would be there again.
  4. Supper. Maybe check out Texas BBQ or Old Spaghetti Factory for a bite. Well, I couldn’t find the BBQ place (again). Maybe next time after I’ve looked up directions. So I ended up just going to Garden Fresh.

The karaoke was servicable. It was a new group starting after the old KJ quit last month to start her own company. The bartender said the crowd has dropped off after she left. I hope it picks up. Ultimately it wasn’t that bad of a night. I sat at the bar, playing trivia and reading the Bee in between songs.

  • She Caught the Katy
  • Busted
  • It’s the End of the World
  • Minnie the Moocher
  • Friends in Low Places

While I took the wrong highway (again) to Arden Fair, I did get out of Rocklin in a straightforward fashion, instead of driving in circles.

Empty nest at The Maltese

Like The Grad on Tuesday, there was only a small crowd at The Maltese Wednesday. We think that the low turnout might be due to the Monday holiday. Thankfully, Ari was along to help trade off songs with Ronnie. Joel showed up and seemed to be having a good time (but he didn’t sing).

Eventually, Ronnie declared it was new song night and we all tried our hands at singing different tunes outside our comfort zone. Most of my songs were new to me (aside from two or three “classics”).

  • Thanks for the Memory – rough, rough probably better left to the late Bob Hope.
  • Summertime – Why, oh why did I try this one? It was way too slow and I don’t have the gravitas.
  • She Blinded Me (With Science)
  • Down Under
  • Take the Last Train to Clarksville
  • It’s the End of the World as We Know it (And I Feel Fine)
  • Jump, Jive and Wail
  • Mr. Roboto – Another rough song because I only really knew the first verse and the chorus.
  • Beth – Ronnie tried to get Ari to sing this one, but I jumped in. I didn’t know it and I can only hope that KISS might have enjoyed it if they were present.
  • I Want You to Want Me – Another random song Ronnie picked out.
  • Give it Away Now – Again, it was rough for a bit until I remembered more of the song.
  • Folsom Prison Blues – Ended the night with some Cash.

The Grad’s not glad

Some late posting about my time Tuesday at the Graduate. I was hoping for a good time because of the no-karaoke Monday, but there were only a handful of people. KJ Tim and I traded off songs through the night although newcomer Aaron sang a couple of songs.

The end of the night was marred by an employee coming out from the back and writing an extremely rude message on the request sheet. We were apparently “killing” him and others. I know karaoke isn’t everyone’s cup but sheesh that seemed a little rude.

Here’s the rundown:

  • An Old-Fashioned Love Song – Still working on that three-point harmony.
  • Ballad of Gillian’s Island – Drat, there’s a mostly unheard second verse.
  • Don’t Get Around Much Anymore – Trying another swing song.
  • Are You Gonna Go My Way – Experimenting with Kravitz.
  • Blue Moon
  • Rawhide
  • Bust A Move – the song that broke the back of the employee. It was rough but I thought it was all right (well, probably not).
  • Hey Ya!
  • Just the Way You Are – I don’t think I sang it well, but the people cleaning the kitchen recognized it and sang along for a bit.

What about that sexy audience?

My two friends currently living in Connecticut happened to be in the audience of the episode of “Late Show with David Letterman” that aired Friday.

I was trying to spot them in the audience throughout the episode, and I quickly grew anxious. The show was dragging quite a bit.

Who cares about whatever the heck guest Billy Crystal was talking about? Where’s the handsome — and possibly sexy in places — audience? Show more of them.

After the broadcast, I went back to the one (one!) time the audience was shown on the screen and spotted them.

The show was recorded a week prior and it showed — the delaying tactics were really obvious. How can they do a “Week in Review” segment and not talk about Supreme Court nominee Alito? No Scooter Libby mention either, but they had plenty of time for the “wacky” antics of Letterman and his cast.

It also seemed like Crystal’s segment lasted 700 Sundays. OK, it wasn’t that bad, but it seemed much longer than it needed to be — the whole show did.

I also wish I was a bigger Ryan Adams fan, but nyeh. I just got very anxious during the song too and took a short break. I did tap my feet watching the segment the next day, but only a little.

However, it would be fun to be in a live television studio audience one day. I can either sit quietly or use my patented guffaw (patent pending).

The trick’s on me

I wouldn’t have had much time for karaoke tonight because I’m working on a live blog for ChicoER.com. I had hoped to sing one quick song before going about my business. Alas, there’s no karaoke tonight — the Madison Bear Garden closed early at 10 p.m. for Halloween. It makes me sad on the inside. Just kidding, I’m really busy right now.

 

Attention shoppers

My pro blog has received a much-needed infusion of a couple of posts, including a brief word about two ex-Gazetters moving on in the world.

Spooky

I was browsing around on Comcast’s On Demand service last night. I was surprised to discover they have a karaoke section where people can sing along to the same songs one might find at the local taverns.

So what’s scarier — that Comcast has such a section for its viewers or that I tried to sing along to some of those songs in the darkness of night?

Night in Paradise

Well, part of it at least. Had a good time at Alan and Donna’s party in Magalia and met a lot of interesting people. Donna’s food was extremely good (like six-layer dip — it didn’t need a seventh layer) and creative (the spooky and zombie cheese balls were cool looking and the caramel apples were sweet treats). Stopped briefly at the ol’ Optimo. It was enough time to sing “Sink the Bismark” (which received a decent amount of applause) and watch an entirely pointless and brief fight break out in the seat next to me. Nightcap on foot to Duffy’s to chill with Ari (who was also at Alan’s). Coming in, I saw the aftermath of another fight. There were six police cars on hand to patrol the aftermath. I saw blood on the sidewalk near an abandoned costume consisting of aluminium foil and padding. Oh and all three stops were costume parties. Many of the outfits were creative (like the husband-wife power plug-socket combo I dubbed “Shock and Awe”). Some were classics — like women in school girl outfits. I was woefully underdressed for the occasion, but still had a good time.

 

‘Sports. Johnson.’

this is an audio post - click to play

After a small intro, I have an even smaller exchange with departing E-R sports editor John Johnson whose last day was Friday. Although Johnson’s traditional greeting is only two seconds long, I think it was worth preserving for a lifetime. And I’m only partly kidding.

I wish I had the chance to chat with him on the phone for a little longer.