Good news and bad news, and good news
Good news and bad news:
Good news: G4 did the official switch from Pong to real programming at 12AM EDT this morning. My show, Arena, even has it's own page on the website now. I just checked it out, and they've added TONS of stuff to that page. You can click the little 8-bit picture of me, and see all sorts of spiffy stuff.
Bad news: I am officially sick. I have some sort of sinus infection thingy. My head is so stuffy and my throat hurts so badly, I may have to go see a real doctor (I much prefer those guys who dance around you and chant, while shaking a stick that has a complete set of A-Team dolls tied to the top of it.)
Even though I was feeling like hell last night, I went out to our official launch party, where everyone from Comcast down to the janitor in our building watched the programming switch from Pong to Blister. It was a strange feeling. I felt like we've been pushing this rock up a hill for months, and we've totally been able to control where the rock is going, and how fast it's rolling...and now it's over the top of the hill, and on it's way down, and we just have to keep up with it, and hope that it doesn't roll too far away from us.
It's still a bit surreal to me, because Arena evolves heavily from our first episode to our fourth, and we're just now hitting our stride...so it won't be until the third or fourth show is on the air that I'll feel that sense of accomplishment and excitement that I always feel when a something I've worked on is put in front of an audience.
The thing that's totally new and different for me is that I'll be constantly producing new material, so I won't get to sit back and think, "Man, Episode 107 was GREAT!" Because Episode 108 is right around the corner.
It's good though, one thing I've never liked to do is sit back and rest on my laurels.
Oh! One last thing before I go back to bed: I drove over a screw a few days ago, and my tire was going flat yesterday, so I took it back to the tire shop, and got a free replacement, because I'd bought that stupid road hazzard insurance for like 8 bucks. Hmm... 8 bucks or 200 bucks? I was happy to save the 200 bucks.
So I bought myself a cool new shirt for 25 bucks (Or should I say, Vega$ bought me a shirt?! Oh YEAH BABY!), and called it even.
Thought For Today comes from the Tao:
"The sky is everlasting
And the earth is very old.
Why so? Because the world
Exists not for itself;
It can and will live on.The Wise Man chooses to be last
And so becomes the first of all;
Denying self, he too is saved.
For does he not fulfillment find
In being an unselfish man?
Comments
Can it be, am I the first?
(I didn't realize I was so competitive.)
Posted by: jamese | May 1, 2002 12:51 PM
Get plenty of rest and feel better. We'll be here for ya when you have the energy.
Congrats on G4's transition... I'll have to get the channel in my area... maybe ask them to replace the NASA channel with G4.
8 bucks is such a great investment over $200. Makes you feel like patting yourself for thinking ahead, doesn't it? :-)
Posted by: Liz | May 1, 2002 12:52 PM
Hey, feel better ya bastard. :P
Posted by: Pmacca01 | May 1, 2002 12:52 PM
Umm... in my haste to be first I forgot the important part -- much sympathy with the sickness. I've got a pretty good Hanibal-Witch-Doktor if you want to give him a try. And I've been working on the ritual use of purring cats to heal head colds.
Posted by: jamese | May 1, 2002 12:53 PM
There's a write-up on G4 in Entertainment Weekly. I didn't have enough of a lunch hour to read it, but I did see Uncle Willie's little TV pixiled face in a corner of the graphic box.
Anyone read that?
Posted by: Interplanet Janet | May 1, 2002 12:55 PM
Hope you feel better, Wil. I'll send some Mr. T mojo your way, for that awesome line about the A-Team dolls.
And good luck with Arena! I've gotta see if my local cable company is going to carry G4...
Posted by: Jon | May 1, 2002 01:01 PM
Sorry to hear you got a sinus infection Wil. I've been where you are plenty of times, and I got to say that its not picnic (but of course you know that). Get well soon!! :)
Posted by: Debbie | May 1, 2002 01:02 PM
Sorry to hear you got a sinus infection Wil. I've been where you are plenty of times, and I got to say that its not a picnic (but of course you know that). Get well soon!! :)
Posted by: Debbie | May 1, 2002 01:03 PM
Hang in there Wil, hope your feeling better soon! Congrats on for you and the team at G4 for getting everything up and running over that hill.
Posted by: Marie | May 1, 2002 01:09 PM
Ugh, it's sounds like the icky cold/flu like thing going around that starts out feeling like a sinus infection. Try to rest and play plenty of video games. ;-) *hugs*
Posted by: Rachel | May 1, 2002 01:16 PM
Congratulations and Congratulations. First for your show and second for your new shirt. Rest is always the best medicine, so dont post anything till tomorrow, maybe you need THE CURE right about now.
Posted by: ze-mag | May 1, 2002 01:21 PM
Congratulations and Congratulations. First for the show and second for the new shirt. Plenty of rest and Simpson reruns are THE CURE.
Posted by: ze-mag | May 1, 2002 01:25 PM
First- Get well soon! Sinus infections really suck!
Second- Website did not work for me I put in my zipcode and nothing happens when I hit the go button. (I'll try again later)
Third- I loved the thought for the day! :D
~Take Care
Neph
Posted by: NephraTari | May 1, 2002 01:28 PM
Like everyone else,I hope that you do get better soon. Good news is always nice. Way to go on the tire. And keep the good news coming.
Posted by: angry penguin | May 1, 2002 01:45 PM
I hope you feel better soon! Doctors aren't that bad, they give you medicine so that you can sleep.
Congrats on your show!!
Posted by: Robin | May 1, 2002 01:56 PM
Eek, sorry to hear your sick man - my mate has a similar infection and is going through hell, just chill and get better etc. :)
Posted by: Andy Taylor | May 1, 2002 01:56 PM
Looks like things are working out for you. Cool, really really cool. Vegas is the kind of place that will drain you of whatever it can, you may have walked out with more cash but now you're sick...
200 bucks for one tire? Man my entire set was 200 bucks, but I drive an old Probe. I never get those warranties, but now I think I'll reconsider. Except for computer stuff.
Interesting quote. I haven't read the Tao Te Ching in a while, maybe I should before Helter Skelter breaks loose later this month. Anyway, put the rest of your winnings into medical care. Seems kinda like some form of karmic balance in a way. I better stop this before I start eating granola and hugging trees...
Posted by: tskll | May 1, 2002 02:03 PM
Looks like things are working out for you. Cool, really really cool. Vegas is the kind of place that will drain you of whatever it can, you may have walked out with more cash but now you're sick...
200 bucks for one tire? Man my entire set was 200 bucks, but I drive an old Probe. I never get those warranties, but now I think I'll reconsider. Except for computer stuff.
Interesting quote. I haven't read the Tao Te Ching in a while, maybe I should before Helter Skelter breaks loose later this month. Anyway, put the rest of your winnings into medical care. Seems kinda like some form of karmic balance in a way. I better stop this before I start eating granola and hugging trees...
Posted by: tskll | May 1, 2002 02:03 PM
Wil, take some Motrin and hang out on the couch for a couple of hours.. get a power-nap in. 2 of my son's are having the same thing.. one went to the emergency room.. wierd virus going around, doc gave him Motrin and he's been fine after the initial sweat-down..
:)
Posted by: DrArkaneX | May 1, 2002 02:07 PM
Dude bring your flats to Discount tire company they fix flats for FREE!!!
Yea dog.
Posted by: hops | May 1, 2002 02:13 PM
Hey Wil,
Sorry you are feeling sick. Drink lots of orange juice. Orange juice always helps. Also, i know what will cheer you up. I sent you an email about the softball team that we named after you. check it out. Feel better!
Posted by: Rachel | May 1, 2002 02:23 PM
Will the Tao come on down and "persuade" Mediacom that it should be one of the first to carry G4?
I thought not. Drat. :(
Someone record Arena for me!
Posted by: bluevangogh | May 1, 2002 02:24 PM
Hey Wil! I hope you get better really soon!
Posted by: Michelle | May 1, 2002 02:29 PM
Congratulations, sir. Until I take over the local cable concern, I'm afraid that the good people of Putnam County will have to go without the awesomeness of G4.
Posted by: Radiofreewill | May 1, 2002 02:32 PM
The Wise Man chooses to be last
And so becomes the first of all;
Denying self, he too is saved.
For does he not fulfillment find
In being an unselfish man?
and that fits with....
"everyone from Comcast down to the janitor in our building"
....how?
Let's not dis the janitor with talk of superior position.
Posted by: Cheryl | May 1, 2002 02:36 PM
Okay, so I'll bite the troll, since long-time readers know how elitist I am.
I meant that everyone who has anything to do with this network, from the Comcast heads who pay us, to the janitors keep our building clean, were there to celebrate and feel good.
Nice to see that uber-sensitive political correctness is alive an well in the '02.
Posted by: wil | May 1, 2002 03:09 PM
Wil,
tried the site again and put in a different zip code and it worked fine! Good luck with this new show! :)
Posted by: NephraTari | May 1, 2002 03:16 PM
Thought I'd check out the Arena web page and guess what??...NO JOY! (methinks it has something to do with the fact that I am a Brit and we wont ever get to see the show in the flesh so to speak. I mean we STILL havnt seen the Star Trek WL, and we invented the show Dagnammit!!)
Ah well, heyhoe. One will have to invisage that the dude with the long hair, the muscles, the Viva Zapata! moustache and the rather large....gun is Wil!!
By the way, hope your sinus problem heals soon and dose yourself up. We cant be having you ill now, can we??
*puts on her nurses uniform, just in case!*
Posted by: Foxychik | May 1, 2002 03:33 PM
200 bucks for ONE tire? Dude what do you drive?
Posted by: eric | May 1, 2002 03:54 PM
G4
I'm thinkin' it might not be Mac-user friendly. Please. Say it isn't so...
Posted by: Taerna | May 1, 2002 03:57 PM
Send feedback to the G4 website. I'll mention to the guys that they should have a "this site needs X" notice.
Posted by: wil | May 1, 2002 04:10 PM
Sinus infections suck.
TV station launch parties don't suck.
Take whatever medication you are given. In addition, the generic anti-sinus headache medicines are great.
Right then. Stupid sinuses.
Posted by: KJB | May 1, 2002 04:15 PM
First off, congrats on the launch. Second, you could always do what a friend of mine used to do to get rid of a cold in a hurry...drink half a bottle of Nyquil and drink a beer right after that and go to bed. Damnest thing I ever saw, He got out of bed the next morning just fine and went to work. I have never personaly tried it, but it worked for him.
Posted by: Patrick | May 1, 2002 04:16 PM
Go see your doc (a real one that charges you lots of money for the privilege) and get something for that nasty infection. Get well soon!
Posted by: Lynn | May 1, 2002 04:18 PM
Congratulations on the launch of G4 and your new show! I'm about to go home from college for the summer, and that means no cable. :( I won't get to watch until this fall!
As for the sinus stuff - I feel your pain! The last sinus infection I had, the doctor looked at my x-rays, said "Oh wow!", and called in other doctors to marvel at how bad it looked. If your sinus woes are allergy related, ask your doctor to put you on Clarinex. I could do a commercial for that stuff.
Posted by: thecooley | May 1, 2002 04:30 PM
Yeah, the G4 website is NOT Mac friendly. Heads will roll, I tell you!
The sinus infection thingy is certainly working its way up and down the coast. I think I may have come upon it on my long plane ride anyways. I need someone to blame this on!
Posted by: Courtney | May 1, 2002 04:48 PM
Wil:
Try this:
A lemon based HOT tea w/ 2 crushed aspirins, 2 to 3 lemons squeezed and left in the cup plus honey.
I hate to sound like Martha Freakin’ Stewart but this little bit worked wonders for the wife recently who had your symptoms. Feel better, bud!
Be good,
sam
Posted by: sam | May 1, 2002 05:02 PM
$200 for a TIRE?? What kind of car are you driving man?? Corvette? Off road mud vehicle? I mean, really... $200?!?!?!
Sheit..
Posted by: Godzilla | May 1, 2002 05:39 PM
witch doctor here...garlic garlic garlic...I said it 3 times -GARLIC! Crush it and apply to soles of your feet- add thick socks - order a pizza so the smell has some competition and relax while your sinuses open and the infection is KILLED!
Oh and I live in Vegas and let me tell ya- this town WILL kill you!
Arena looks cool- saw the crappy piece they did in Entertainment rag-azine so Pffft on them.
Feel Better-
Samalee
Posted by: samalee | May 1, 2002 05:39 PM
I have Comcast! Why don't I have G4?! Well, like all the new cool stations it'll take at least a year before it reaches me.
Thanx to Interplanet Janet for letting me know there is a write-up in EW about G4. I have a huge stack of magazines on my desk & now I know EW is the next one to read.
Hope you feel better soon, Wil!
Posted by: jl | May 1, 2002 06:00 PM
Try all the recipes Will and then get yourself a Star magazine rag mag and put your hand on the power healing star thingie he he he. Can you feel the power? Can you feel the heat? :p
Posted by: Parilesemonster | May 1, 2002 06:13 PM
Damn, I knew I shouldn't have hacked on my keyboard. I wonder how many other people I infected with the sinus infection from hell. My sincerest apologies, and I would share all the drugs they gave me for it if I could...
Posted by: Thumper | May 1, 2002 06:43 PM
As Dennis Leary once chanted, "NyQuil NyQuil NyQuil we love you, you giant fucking Q!"
Yeah, what they all said.
Good luck with the G4 project.
Posted by: delphine | May 1, 2002 08:14 PM
feel better dude... drink lotsa water....
Posted by: E | May 1, 2002 08:34 PM
Get Well Soon and maybe when you are cured you will find your funny back with your health
Posted by: Mike | May 1, 2002 08:45 PM
So, like, is a sinus infection way more serious than a cold? Cause for cold symptoms Echinacea and Thymus for a week is good along with a lot of OJ for the Vitamin C. And if you're tired, hook up with the pseudoephedrine (Sudafed). Take a 12-hour one or three of the 30mg ones.
Posted by: Whodat? | May 1, 2002 09:20 PM
I dreamt of wil naked on a horse singing "toxicity" by SOAD.. does that mean I'm gay?
Posted by: hops | May 1, 2002 09:51 PM
Yes. Those kind of dreams *always* do.
Posted by: KJB | May 1, 2002 10:17 PM
The G4 site is also Mozilla 1.0 RC1 unfriendly. I'd bet money it's the JavaScript's fault.
Posted by: Robert Hutchinson | May 1, 2002 10:51 PM
Wil, get some REAL CRANBERRY JUICE
it will help you and your sore throat..then
start eating blueberries.. find some old bloomcounty cartoon books and remember old times
with Opus, Milo and the U.S.S. Enterpoop!
Posted by: wade | May 2, 2002 12:42 AM
**Note to self: call local cable operator and ask for G4.
{{{{{{{Major Healing Mojo}}}}}}}
Straight to the zookeeper.
Yeah, being sick really sicks. How do I know this? I don't believe I've ever been fully healthy. Get well soon Unca Willy.
...I wanna play pong...
Posted by: ayngil | May 2, 2002 01:39 AM
Hey Wil,
I'm really sorry your ill. I often get sinus problems. I really sympathise. Get plenty of Vit C, so oranges are great. I usually crave oranges and pure orange juice. The whole thing with oranges is so funny because I hate oranges, and I sit there eatting them by the truck load, knowing I hate them usually.
Well done with your show and all I get the impression it's a really big deal, not being an american I don't really understand, but you seam happy sp I'll congradulate you. Being happy is good for you, and it'll help you feel better sooner.
Doctors have actually done a study and said that smiling does indeed inprove your health as well as your mood. Keep that in mind.
Spike
14.19 GMT
Posted by: Beastly_spike | May 2, 2002 06:19 AM
Get well soon.
ps your raves about the George Foreman grill stuck in my head ... I finally bought an indoor/outdoor grill. It's bigger and better than your puny Foreman grill, though. :)
Posted by: synchronicity | May 2, 2002 06:36 AM
Hey Wil,
Well, look at it this way. When you didn't post, I thought you have died!!! O.k. no I didn't haha. but I was pretty worried!
Totally sucks that you have a sinus infection, please please don't be one of those people who denies their health and pushes themself past their limits! Get some rest, stay home, take a day off, whatever!!! Cause we're all looking forward to seeing you on tv... and possibly in Star Trek Ten. You still on for that?
Lily
Posted by: Lily | May 2, 2002 06:55 AM
I just got over being sick. I tell you that Tylenol alergy sinus is the best! works fast and won't make you too drowsy..As for the G4 site..it's not just Mac unfriendly it's Opera unfriendly too. I can't get the site to load at all.:-( But I'm sure your section must be pretty sweet!
Posted by: Robin | May 2, 2002 07:13 AM
Congrats on the actual programming launch of G4!
It was a cool little write-up w/UW in EW, but for bob's sake, couldn't they have picked a picture where you don't look like a bewildered transvestite? (Not that there's anything wrong w/transvestites, per se, it's just that UW isn't one.)
Posted by: dake | May 2, 2002 08:31 AM
Our revered ancestors had a little known remedy for this type of illness:
WHISKEY AND LOTSH OF IT!!!!!
Doesn't cure you, but it does make you feel better about the whole thing.
Posted by: MrsVeteran | May 2, 2002 08:50 AM
Outstanding quote at the end. I think the quotes are my favorite part of each blog.
Claritan dude............Claritan
Posted by: Doug | May 2, 2002 09:22 AM
Doctors evil.
Herbs good.
RUN to the Health Food Store and buy ALL
the ECHINACEA that you can carry!!
Also GOLDENSEAL.
FEEL BETTER!!!
Doctors bad.
HERBS good.
Posted by: bluecat/redblanket | May 2, 2002 09:44 AM
About the thought for the day... it raises a question I have been struggling with a lot lately. Is there really such a thing as an unselfish act? Even if someone puts others first, is that not in an effort to feel better about oneself, and thus inherently selfish? OK, I'll shut up now.
Posted by: bmc132 | May 2, 2002 11:35 AM
:)
I am versed enough to recognize the thought of the day as chapter 7 of the Tao, but this is a particularly beautiful poetic translation and interpretation (despite it's obvious MAN-biases).
Might a mere monkey minion dare to ask Uncle Elitist for a second appearance in one journal entry, and, to whom this interpretation is credited?
ps. bmc123: well, that's the whole point. it is _only_ an unselfish act, if, consciously & unconsciously, self-gain plays no part of the act (and thus, makes them so rare). but that's just my 2¢ philosophizin'.
Posted by: Maia | May 2, 2002 12:25 PM
Much as I hate to admit it, I find that Socrates had something going when he said (paraphrasing here) that he knew nothing, nobody knew anything, and that as he knew that he knew nothing, he was the smartest man on earth.
While that kind of thinking makes my head hurt, I'm gonna go with it.
For more on Eastern philosophy, try The Cartoon History of the Universe Vols. 8-13. Larry Gonick did it and it fucking RAWKS.
Posted by: KJB | May 2, 2002 01:17 PM
Wil,
Ya gotta do me a favor. Get the guys a G4 to allow the screen to be resized. I'm at work and can't watch the darn thing with it on fullscreen. I need to be able to shrink it down to about 1/2 size. Thanks. I'll spend some more time on the site tonight, at home, when there's no danger of the boss walking by.
Ruger
Posted by: Ruger | May 2, 2002 01:18 PM
Our cable company just notified us: G4 will join the digital lineup (to which I subscribe) in a couple of weeks. Yay!
Posted by: TimDC | May 5, 2002 10:40 AM
Um. Maybe I should have mentioned (in case it isn't obvious) that I'm in our Nation's ahem Capital.
Posted by: TimDC | May 5, 2002 10:42 AM