Houston.BloggersPub

Any fan of television or radio news will like this 1965 documentary about KPRC Channel 2 and 950 AM in Houston. It’s hosted by veteran newsman Ray Miller who passed away this year and features a young Steve Smith who you might remember as the anchor of Channel 11 KHOU also in Houston.

I figure they made it to showcase local television news which at that point was a relatively new programming offer. KPRC was known as the Houston Post station back then.

And they didn’t hold back. In this documentary, you follow a reporter to a murder scene at Westheimer and Weslayan where the body is filmed under the sheet…the feet are sticking out. You will also see a cop trying to get a suspect under control in an unusual manner. Lots of great glimpses at the technical side of news gathering and television.

WATCH THE FOLLOWING CLIPS:

PART 1
PART 2
PART 3

(Thanks Hector!)

This video is so good that it almost makes me cry every time I watch it. Get a hold of yourself man! It is a video and photo montage of little James McGuff’s first months.

We all owe Michael A. Carl a big debt of gratitude for putting it all together. Once again he has outdone himself. Fantastic job. No surprise, it is a big hit in our household!

The Basics: Kenny and I are in good health, still at the same jobs, same home. We celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary this past October. How time flies!
We did sadly lose a canine companion this summer, though. Heidi, MaMa & Papa’s beloved cockapoo, passed peacefully in early September, just 2 months shy […]

I want to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas from all of us at mikemcguff.com!

About a month ago I read Life on Planet Rock: From Guns N’ Roses to Nirvana, a Backstage Journey through Rock’s Most Debauched Decade by rock journalist Lonn Friend.

Friend was editor of RIP magazine which I used to devour as a teen. For the younger readers, there used to be a time when news about your favorite band wasn’t just a mouse click away. You had to rely on MTV, radio and of course magazines. RIP always had the best interviews and photos.

Friend recalls his times with some of the biggest names in rock from the late 80s to the early 90s. If you like the following bands, then read this book:

Guns N’ Roses
Metallica
KISS
Bon Jovi
Nirvana and other grunge era bands

Friend’s chapters on Axl Rose are very revealing. You might better understand Axl’s late night online chats of late.

(Image courtesy of Flickr user Don Patterson)

Oh as they say…kids say the darnedest things, right?

Here is video of a child telling his mom what he really thinks of her. Good thing she is laughing about it.

WATCH IT

(Thanks Natalie!)

The past few weeks have been busy as the holiday approaches! We’ve been busy with various events, big & small but the two more notable have been the snow that fell in Houston on December 10th and my birthday on the 13th (which included our annual holiday party).
The “blizzard” we had was shirt-lived but fun! […]

I really enjoyed The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell. So now I can’t wait to read his latest book Outliers: The Story Of Success:

[It] examines people who achieve the highest levels of their chosen fields—the Bill Gateses, Wayne Gretzkys, and Nobel Prize winners of the world—and argues that their accomplishments reflect not so much their intrinsic genius as the conditions that happened to govern their lives. READ MORE

The Onion’s AV Club conducted an interview with Gladwell.
He also appeared on Charlie Rose last Friday night.

Some very smart soul posted links to old Houston television commercials on HAIF the other day. Then others started to add to the list!

CLICK HERE TO WATCH

Here is what you will see:

Thunderbolt commercial
Westwood Mall (1989)
Cal Worthington Chevrolet (1990)
Colonial House apartments
Houston Post from 1986
Astros - Burger King tie in
Astroworld from 1980
Mossy Olds from 1985
Stevens & Pruett circa 1987
Clear Lake Dodge (remember this guy?)
93Q/John Lander and the phrase that pays
Astroworld 1980
Tillis Whataburger commercials
Jose Cruz
A-1 Mobile Homes
Superior Waterbeds
Elvin Hayes for Yellow Cab

Did Axl Rose Swindle Guns n’ Roses and Steal Slash’s Song? A Guide to Rose’s Online Rants
Axl Rose didn’t give any magazine or TV interviews to herald the release of Chinese Democracy, but he went online…a complete guide from RollingStone.
- Axl Rose Posts About Keeping the Gn’R Name in New Message Board Chats
- Chinese Democracy Leaker Enters Guilty Plea
- Duff McKagan Says Axl Rose ‘Sounds Amazing’ On ‘Chinese Democracy’
- Brian May Not Feeling Snubbed By Axl Rose

- Should Led Zeppelin Record New Album With Guest Singers?

- Review: The Pownce.FM You’ll Never See

- Disc Makers spins into Houston

- Expert Says Headbanging Is Dangerous

- Techcrunch: LaLa just may have the right formula

- No Doubt Postpones Album! Booooo!