While surfing the web after a crazy week (like next week will be any better, anyway…) I came across this article on both LAist and the LA Times of the OC: “Panelist Duped by Fake News Show are not Amused”

Apparently the show gathered a group of voters for what they thought was a panel discussion, but instead got lampooned by a newsman in full “Ron Burgundy” Mode (”You Stay Classy Orange County…”). The panel was taped at the Tustin Racquet Club and the topic was on the media’s coverage of politics. During the event the “newsman” was trying to provoke the panel, but they didn’t get the joke.

“Dog Bites Man” is getting some good publicity out of this. Maybe the reason why the President of the Orange County Federation of Republican Women was so irate is that the crowd took their pot shots on “Dear Leader” in Orange County (yes, not all of us are Republicans, especially in the AH). I’ve been yelled at a number of times in Tustin (On the freeway, standing in line waiting for a lady to order her “venti-soy quad 1/2 caf 127 and 2/3 degrees 2 1/4 pump say a chant and pray it doesn’t spill” chai, and at the person who “slams on their brakes due to the yellow light so they don’t get a ticket from the robo-camera on the border with Santa Ana”) so saying that “we don’t just start yelling” is rich. (But your miliage may vary and not every discussion will be civilized.)

Here is the kicker, some on the panel contacted their lawyers regarding the appearance on the show and want to find a way to keep the segment from being shown on TV. But each of the participants signed an agreement in advance of the taping of the show allowing for their image to be used.

I for one can’t wait to see it. That is if it ever makes it to TV.

Last week my son and I flew up to the Bay Area on Alaska Airlines for an open house at the California Maritime Academy. I’d scheduled a flight out of John Wayne at 7:15 am and talked my wife into dropping us off around 6:00am. I should’ve know things were off to a bad start when, checking in via one of the electronic kiosks, my reservation couldn’t be found. The counter agent checked and her first words were “I’m not sure you’ll make your flight.”

“Why’s that? It’s only 6:15am - I have an hour yet.”
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A few notes and reminders:

In the menus over to the right, check out the new “events” box (under ‘Photos”). It pulls relevant local events from upcoming.org, and ranges from classic rock concerts to film festivals to conferences to religious events. Check it out!

A reminder that the next meeting of the Orange County Atheists will be held on Thursday, April 13 at 7:30pm at the International House of Pancakes at 18542 MacArthur Blvd in Irvine, near John Wayne Airport. See the original post here.

It’s a friggin’ beautiful day out there! Go out and enjoy it!

Whoa. Nothing says a FU to all those BMW’s and Mercedes like this guy’s hoopty. Gold with pink racing stripes and what’s this? His myspace url, right there, spraypainted on the side. Awesome.

Today was a continuation of a family tradition: Opening Day. The rush of cars into the Angel Stadium of Anaheim parking lot in the early afternoon singled the official start of the major league baseball season.

Since I couldn’t stay for the whole game (I don’t get paid enough, I probably should have stayed) I went to the ballpark at 5:30 just to catch a little bit of batting practice, pre-game festivities, and warm-ups. Out in the parking lot the New-Era Cap Company had a trailer with a display of the 22 stages in the production of their ball caps. It was one of those neat, “how do they do that” type of things. One plus of waiting through the line was receiving a custom baseball card. Some of us in line joked that it reminded us of waiting in line at Disneyland.

Anaheim took on the dreaded ten-ton gorilla of baseball, the New York Yankees, in their home stand debut. Just to rub it in the faces of the Yankees (just a little bit), the Angels hoisted their 2005 Division Champs banner in the outfield. Wally Joyner threw out the ceremonial first pitch of the season. Anaheim’s own and Former American Idol contestant Lisa Tucker sung the national anthem and a fly over of Navy F-16s rocked the place.

Vlad blasting the cover off the ball got the scoring off to a start and the Angels went on to win. What a way to start the season: A record crowd of 44,221 and a victory at home over the Yankees.

The next meeting of the Orange County Atheists will be held on Thursday, April 13 at 7:30pm at the International House of Pancakes at 18542 MacArthur Blvd in Irvine, near John wayne Airport. A map to the location is available here. If you’re planning on attending please RSVP at our website forums. More information and discussion is available there as well.

If you consider yourself an atheist, an agnostic, a freethinker, a humanist, or are just curious, check out this month’s event. We always welcome new members, will give you a name tag, and want to hear what you have to say! More info is available at the Orange County Atheists website. Hope to see you there!

… in the public domain.

On Tuesday’s Rocketboom, Amanda Congdon covered the story of a person who was “parking challenged” at the Irvine Spectrum. The person parked their brand new “girly car” (Amanda’s words, not mine) right in the middle of two spots.

I’ve seen a Lamborghini parked sideways in three spots, just to laugh my ass off as the guy can’t pull out of the spot due to the poor turning radius of the front tires. I’ve seen “Mud-Runners” (big trucks with huge mud tires) take up so much space in a parking spot that you have to get out of your car NASCAR style. In addition, I have seen the always-popular parking in a handicap space when they don’t have a handicap placard (That one always pisses me off).

But now that this guy/gal is getting social justice due to their poor parking job, and in an international form of a Vodcast, I don’t feel sorry for them one bit.

The first Tuesday of every month is Beer Appreciation Night at the BJ’s Brewhouse in Brea. This month’s event is tonight, Tuesday, April 4 at 7:30 pm, but get there early because it can fill up quickly. The restaurant’s at 600 Brea Mall Drive in Brea (click for map) and costs $18 per person, which includes all beer samples, handouts and souvenirs (usually a glass). Designated drivers get a free mini pizza and drink.

The theme this month is Beers of Pennsylvania. Yours truely starts his childbirth classes with the girlfriend tonight, so I won’t be able to make it. Hope everyone has a great time!

On Sunday, April 23, Taste of Huntington Beach will be held at the Hyatt Regency to benefit the children’s wing of the Huntington Beach library. For those not familiar with the format, a number of local (and semi-local) restautants, wineries and breweries show up and offer samples of their wares. Tickets are $50 untll April 16th and $60 thereafter. More information can be found here.