All A-Twitter Over Tweeting

There are so many people on Twitter now that the micro-blogging site has become one of the places to go to find out what people around the world are talking about [Not for me, of course. I still refuse].

So Twitter analyzed more than 25 billion tweets and put together a list of the top 10 trends from 2010.

10. Paul the Octopus
Chances are if you don't follow soccer and didn't tune into the World Cup [I realize how high those chances are], you've never heard of this prophetic crustacean. Back in the summer, Paul the Octopus accurately predicted the outcomes to World Cup match-ups. He became so popular that there was even a song dedicated to him.

9. "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1"

HP fans have been tweeting about their plans to see the latest installment... then they tweeted about what they thought of the movie... and let's face it, there are a lot of people out there who wish they were a part of the Hogwarts world. [I have yet to see this, btw]

8. Justin Beiber

Beiber fever swept the world this year, much to many of our chagrins. The pop sensation's many followers tweeted about who he was kissing... who he was hanging out with... his helmet of hair... and, oh yeah, his music. I was like baby, baby, baby OH. Like baby, baby, baby NO.

7. Google's android operating system

Google is slowly taking over the world.

6. Apple iPhone

There were good reviews and lots of bad reviews. So many bad reviews, in fact, that Apple gave lots of their users a case to protect some issue with the antennae. Oh well, you can't win 'em all. Better luck next time, Steve.

5. Vuvuzela

The vuvuzela became symbolic of the World Cup in South Africa. Once again, I realize that many of you will have no idea what this is. It's a horn, and this is what it sounds like:

4. Haiti Earthquake

How could anyone forget this devastation? International aid agencies used Twitter to reach out to people like you and me for donations, and for some victims of the quake the site was the only means of communication they had.

3. "Inception"

2. World Cup Soccer

What can I say? Soccer fans apparently love to tweet.

1. Gulf Oil Spill

 The largest accidental marine oil spill in U.S. history. People turned to Twitter for news on what was going on, as well as to vent their frustrations with BP.

There were a few things that didn't make the list that surprised me, including the plight of the Chilean miners and Mel Gibson's mental breakdown.

Not to worry, I will not be joining Twitter anytime soon to add to the billions of trends that these statisticians keep up with.

The Night Before Christmas

 As told by Peanut.

I must warn you, this is highly inappropriate... which is what makes it all the more funny.

Life of Me VIII: Christmas Edition

I love shopping for other people, regardless of what time of year it is. Whether it's for Christmas, a birthday or just because, I absolutely love picking out a gift that's just right. I get positively giddy over the prospect.

But there is one thing I have to confess...I hate wrapping. And I pretty much suck at it.

I always end up with tape stuck to everything but the package I'm wrapping. I can't cut my wrapping paper straight. Chances are I end up with a paper cut or I pinch my fingers between the handles of the scissors. And making those cool folded things on the ends? You can forget about that. Mine always come out looking like it was wrapped by someone without thumbs.

I'm also bad about giving away the surprise because I get so excited about what I bought. I've already almost told the boyfriend everything he's getting. And I'm super excited about his gifts.

I'm pretty much an impulse buyer when it comes down to it. I always end up spending more than I should because I see things that remind me of someone and I just have to have it!

 That's the fun of it to me, though. Finding something I know you'll use and enjoy.

Happy Holidays

Ashton's Ultimate Christmas Movie Guide

 It's hard to believe Christmas is just days away.

This is my first Christmas out of my parents' house. I've got my own Christmas tree and presents up under it. I'm working Christmas Eve so I'll even be experiencing Santa Claus on my own.

The holidays are a time for family, or at least they're supposed to be. But in this technologically-savvy world we're living in that concept is often lost, especially on the younger generation.

This time of year has become so commercialized. These days it's all about the gifts, and let's face it - many people don't know how to accomplish family time outside of the gift-giving frenzy.

In today’s technologically-savvy world, technology is quite often the perpetrator behind all those nonexistent family times... So why not use the very technology that's keeping us apart to bring us back together this Christmas?

 I've put together a list of 10 timeless Christmas movies that span all the genres. They range in age from the 1940s to 2006, and I'm sure you’ll find one that appeals to everyone.

Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)

Directed by Vincente Minelli, this heart-warming tale of the Smith family was based on an actual family living in St. Louis at the turn of the century. The four Smith daughters learn lessons of life and love in the middle of preparing for a reluctant move to New York. The movie isn’t just about Esther Smith’s (Judy Garland) relationship with the boy next door, John Truett (Tom Drake). It’s a story involving the entire Smith family, and you’ll even get to see Judy Garland sing Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas for the first time.

The Holiday (2006)

Written and directed by Nancy Meyers, this romantic comedy revolves around two women with guy problems, Amanda Woods (Cameron Diaz) and Iris Simpkins (Kate Winslet). Amanda, who lives in Los Angeles, and Iris, who lives in Surrey, England, swap homes for Christmas to escape their problems and have a guy-free holiday. However, the two meet and fall in love with their male co-stars, Graham Simpkins (Jude Law) and Miles (Jack Black).

Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1968)

It may have started out as an animated television special based on the popular children’s book bearing the same name, but this special directed by Chuck Jones is a must for all Christmas movie playlists. Narrated by Boris Karloff (who also provides the voice of the infamous Grinch), this movie sweeps viewers into the world of the Who’s during Christmas and takes them down the path of the Grinch who steals it all away. But never fear, for the Grinch has a change of heart and catches the Christmas spirit in the end.

The Santa Clause (1994)

This movie, directed by John Pasquin, takes readers along Scott Calvin’s (Tim Allen) journey to becoming Santa Claus after he inadvertently kills Santa on Christmas Eve. Scott’s son, Charlie (Eric Lloyd), goes along for the adventure-filled night of magic and elves at the North Pole. This family-oriented comedy is sure to have you in fits of laughter as you watch the reluctant Santa Claus take on his role while bringing his family back together.

White Christmas (1954)

This movie, starring Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye as Bob Wallace and Phil Davis, is based around the popular Christmas song White Christmas. It’s post-World War II and Wallace and Davis have just left the army and teamed up as a song and dance duo. They meet sisters Betty (Rosemary Clooney) and Judy Haynes (Vera-Ellen) and follow them to an inn in Vermont that happens to be owned by their former commander. The movie, directed by Michael Curtiz, follows the quartet in their romantic adventures as they help to save the inn.

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

The Muppets gang takes on the task of retelling the classic Dickens’ tale of Ebenezer Scrooge (Michael Caine). They bring their own unique personalities to the classic characters recognized around the world. With Kermit the Frog as Bob Cratchit and the other Muppets taking on the roles of the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future, it’s sure to bring a little Christmas cheer to all.

Miracle on 34^th Street (1947)

No Christmas is complete without a miracle. Directed by George Seaton, this classic Christmas tale makes Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn) a more personable Santa Claus. After getting a job as Santa Claus in Macy’s, Kris Kringle tries to convince everyone that he is the real Santa, an act that gets him institutionalized. But not everyone, including lawyer Fred Gailey (John Payne) and Susan Walker (Natalie Wood), thinks the nice old man crazy. Gailey defends Kringle in court by arguing that he is indeed the real Santa Claus. With the talents of Maureen O’Hara as Doris Walker, this movie is sure to bring a miracle to all who believe.

A Christmas Story (1983)

Directed by Bob Clark, this movie is a tribute to the all-American Christmas. All 9-year-old Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsley) wants for Christmas is a Red Ryder BB gun, but every adult he approaches with the subject, including the Santa Claus in the mall, quickly tells him, “You’ll shoot your eye out!” Between his little brother and the bully at school, Ralphie isn’t sure he’ll even make it to Christmas day, but someone may have a surprise waiting on him.

Die Hard (1988)

Bruce Willis stars in this action-packed Christmas thriller as New York cop John McClane. Directed by John McTiernan, this movie single-handedly remade the image of Christmas movies. McClane gives a group of German terrorists a taste of their own medicine as he fights to rescue the people they’re holding hostage on the 30^th floor, including his wife Holly (Bonnie Bedelia). This movie is packed with classic one-liners and non-stop action that is guaranteed to have its viewers on the edge of their seats this holiday season.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Written by Tim Burton and directed by Henry Selick, this contemporary masterpiece casts a dark light over Christmas when Jack Skellington tries to take over the holiday. Skellington is the Pumpkin King of Halloweentown and the most feared creature in all the world, but he’s grown tired of the same routine and accidentally discovers a door to Christmastown where he quickly falls in love with a holiday he doesn’t fully understand. Skellington then decides that he’s going to take over for Santa this year, launching the viewer into a Christmas nightmare.       

Aim for the Horizon

I've always wanted to fly somewhere in a hot air balloon. Actually start in one place and end up in another, not just go straight up and right back down.

It's at the top of my list of things to do before I die.

I took this, by the way, last weekend while on the way to a 3-year-old's birthday party. The sun had just popped over the horizon when I spotted the balloon out the window.

It was like a promise of a great day.

Can't Always Get What You Want

Apparently today was "Yell at Ashton Day".

And no one told me.

So I was completely taken by surprise when it happened... multiple times... for things I had no control over.

Oh well. You can't always get what you want, right?

People and their power trips. Geez.

Just Another Day

A gunman turns his pistol on himself after taking the male members of the Bay County school board hostage Tuesday afternoon.

That was the lead sentence of my lead story at 10:00.

This story broke just after 2:00 p.m. when 56-year-old Clay Duke walked to the podium, pulled out a pistol, released all the women from the room and took the men hostage. He was angry that his wife, whose position with the school system hasn't been released, had been fired and the man who signed the termination papers was at the meeting.

Using a can of red spray paint, Duke drew a large V inside a circle on the wall, much like the symbol for anarchy, and then told the members of the board, "Somebody is going to die today."

One of our sister stations, as well as other stations, had a reporter at this meeting so the entire incident was caught on tape. Below is video of the incident shot by WMBB out of Panama City followed by a clip from CNN finishing out the scene. The second clip is very graphic so if you have a weak stomach, please don't watch it.

I hope you noticed the would-be heroine. While her bravery is to be commended, the fact that Duke didn't shoot her point-blank is amazing.

For those of you that chose not to watch the second video, here's what happened. Once Duke fired the initial shots at the board members a security guard rushed into the room and exchanged shots with him, after which Duke turned the gun on himself.

Fortunately none of the board members were injured.

A tragic story with a somewhat happy ending, but combine it with all the other crime news we had and the political mumbo-jumbo, the first part of my show was pretty depressing. So I decided to liven things up a bit at the end by running a story about YouTube's top 10 videos of 2010.

So here for your viewing pleasure is the #1 video of 2010, straight from Alabama.

Worker's Comp

It's official.

All the stairs in all the world are out to get me.

I slid down a set of three at work today.

Results: badly bruised shin, scraped knee and jammed/possibly broken finger.

You know what this means, don't you?

I will never in my life own a stairmaster.

Just Hit Pause

Ain't that the truth?

I was looking for inspirational pictures when I came across this. Upon seeing it, I found myself nodding in agreement.

Who of us hasn't found ourselves wishing we could rewind time to spend more time with someone we love or have lost? Even if it's just to tell them goodbye.

Who of us hasn't wanted to fast forward through a difficult or trying situation? Wouldn't it be nice if "what doesn't kill us makes us stronger" could be an instantaneous thing...

And who of us hasn't found ourselves in a moment so perfect that we wanted to pause time and savor every second?

But all we really need to do is press play and take things as they come. After all, how can we ever move forward if we're constantly rewinding time? And how can we create meaningful relationships or memories if we're constantly fast-forwarding through the rough spots? And how are we to have more perfect moments if we never leave the one we're in now?

One single experience does not define who we are. It's those rough spots that come to define our character. And it's the sum of those perfect moments that makes it all worthwhile.

Weathering the Storm

As I've told you all before, we get a lot of viewer feedback, whether it's by phone, on our website or through email. The feedback varies from viewer to viewer.

We hear everything from "We love how you handled such and such"... to "[insert anchor name] was showing too much cleavage tonight"... to "Your coverage of so-and-so event was horrible."

We have habitual callers, like Paul from Enterprise, and people who only call when they hear the wind blow harder than normal.

In the past two days, I've been the lucky team member to answer the phone for angry and/or rude viewers.

First, I get the lady who can't tell the difference between a newscast and a commercial. She insisted that we did a story on a scholarship foundation and demanded that I give her contact information, when in fact what she saw was a commercial for said foundation. When I told her I couldn't give her any information and directed her to their website, she became affronted that I should even suggest that she maneuver the intricate workings of the world wide web. She became even more aghast when I told her that what she saw was indeed a commercial that we were paid to air and that we had no affiliation with the foundation.

Then I get an irate parent who apparently just wanted someone to yell at. A bomb threat was called in to an area school, at which point the students were taken outside until the threat was either confirmed or proven to be false. This parent was angry that her child had to wait outside for two hours in sub-freezing temperatures and that she was not personally notified of the situation. So she called us and proceeded to yell at me without taking a breath or allowing me to interject a single comment. I finally had to be firm and tell her that we had a reporter on the scene but they wouldn't let him in and she could see further details on our 5:00 show. Then I basically hung up on her, after telling her to have a nice day.

New Producer Training Round 2, Part II

It's day 4 of new producer training, a.k.a. flying solo day.

On day 1, we were introducing a new format to the show. What that means is that I didn't really go into too much depth with the whole teaching process. In fact, other than talk my way through what I was doing, I didn't go into any depth at all. I was more concerned with getting all the kinks and wrinkles ironed out of the show, and honestly just watching the process on the first day can be pretty overwhelming for an hour-long show.

On day 2, I introduced her to the process in a more intimate way. I had her help me choose what stories would go into the rundown and the order they would run. She also helped me edit scripts and watched as I slowly edited videos. Then when it came time for the show, she checked the tape list and ran the server.

On day 3, she chose the stories for the show and I helped her rearrange them. Then she edited all of the scripts. Then I talked her through editing the video. And once again, she was in control backstage.

Today, day 4, is essentially me clipping her dependency on me some more. She had to choose all of the stories and decide where they would run. After she did that, I checked to make sure she understood the concept. Then, she had to edit all of her scripts. Of course I was reading behind her though just in case. And right now, as I type, she's in the edit bay cutting her videos. Once she's done, I'll check them to make sure they're alright.

Tomorrow is the final day of training, a.k.a. 'you're on your own, kid' day. She's going to completely produce the show by herself, and I'll only check things when she's done.

Then on Monday morning, she's completely on her own and I'm back to the evening shift.

Producer Training Round 2

When I decided to take a blog vacation last week, it didn't cross my mind that I would be training a new producer this week. So the time I usually devote to writing in the morning has been reassigned because, long story short, I'm a perfectionist. I want to make sure the new producer is all set for when I go back to days next week. So I've been making step-by-step lists for every process that goes along with the show, and that's no easy task because there's so much that goes into the morning show. It is an hour long, after all.

But the format change that went into effect this week is working out well. It's nice to see something you planned coming to fruition, especially something as huge as a show.

So what should you be taking away from this post?

I'll have the new girl producing on her own by the end of the week, which means I'll no longer be a vampire next week!

Blog Vacay

I'm taking this week off. I have extra stuff going on at work, the week started off pretty somber with a funeral, Thursday is Thanksgiving and Friday I'll be slammed with live shots.

I will try to keep up with all you guys' stuff though.

Happy Thanksgiving!

In Remembrance

Very few people have the good fortune of knowing one of life's great people. I'd like to consider myself one of the lucky few who have had that pleasure not once, but twice. In both instances, those great people were taken away too soon. And I didn't get to say goodbye. Selfish of me, I know.

The first was my teacher, my mentor, and my friend. Prof was truly one of the greatest men I think I will ever know. He passed away during my senior year of college. 4 years doesn't seem like enough time, but in that short time he taught me so much. He encouraged me, criticized me and made me better at what I do.

When he passed, I wrote this:

Prof, I hope you knew how many lives you touched during yours and how much inspiration and encouragement you spread to others. You were truly one of the greatest people to have graced my life with their presence, and for that I thank you. Thank you for believing in me, encouraging me, and just being there when things weren’t going my way. You will always be an inspiration.

I still miss him, and those words are still true.

The second was the first director I worked with. Joe. The 40-year tv veteran who played such an integral role in my transition from the world of print into the world of broadcast.

He got sick at the beginning of the year. Cancer. But he was so stoic and strong, I was sure he'd beat it. But life doesn't always work the way we think it should. Joe passed away around midnight.

With the exception of the newest reporters, everyone at the station worked with Joe. He was a great director, and he taught me a lot.

Joe, you were truly one of the greats. I was watching you before I even knew who you were on Fishing With Red. You helped shape who I am as a producer and I will always be grateful for your guidance in those first weeks. I know I wouldn't be as successful as I've been without your help. The station just won't be the same without you.

Weekly Internal Clock Changing

Fridays on the vampire shift are always tough, even if they are the gateway to the weekend.

You get home from working all night and all you want to do is crawl in bed and sleep the day away, but you know you can't do that if you want to have a normal weekend, i.e. one where you actually see the light of day.

So you try to stay awake all day, maybe with the exception of a one-to-two hour nap thrown in the mix somewhere, running the risk of being a complete and total jerk by the time a normal person's bedtime rolls around. [that last part could just be me]

So what should be an early start to the weekend turns into a race against time as your body shuts down more and more as the day progresses.

Eating helps. So does caffeine. But not sugar, surprisingly. I think it's the crash factor - it intensifies with sleep deprivation or something. Who knows? [it's a good thing I don't eat a lot of sweets]

Sometimes a nap is beneficial, but you've got to get it in there pretty early in the day. Otherwise it's just a tease and your body will rebel against you. For example, last Friday both me and the boyfriend tried to stay awake all day after working all night. We both fell asleep while watching TV at his place that afternoon and woke up about three hours later only because the phone rang. After that, neither of us had any motivation to do anything else. I just laid on the couch in a semi-vegetative state until about 8:00 p.m. when I drug my butt to bed and passed out for good.

Luckily for me today, I have a meeting later this morning to discuss the upcoming morning show reformat. So I'm going to go home, take a shower and nap until I have to be back here. And then I'm going to keep my fingers crossed that my little power nap will get me through the rest of the day so I can have a semi-normal weekend.

Wish me luck!

Falling in Love

Do you believe in love at first sight?

Or do you scoff at it?

Used to I'd tell you that it takes more than a look to know if you're compatible with someone, but what if I was wrong?

What if one look, one moment was all it took to fall in love with someone? That moment when your eyes first meet and for just a second you feel as if you can see into his soul?

Sounds far-fetched doesn't it? But it's not.

Science has proven that it takes only a fifth of a second, a moment, for the brain to react after setting eyes on the right person.

When you're falling in love, a dozen parts of your brain release chemicals like dopamine.

So when you meet someone and things just feel right, maybe they are.

What if that moment when you lock eyes and the world stands still isn't just a saying anymore? What if it turns out to be true?

OMG!

Did you guys know requesting an old friend's phone number because you somehow lost it and asking how he/she is doing from time to time is inappropriate?

Not to mention disrespectful to his/her significant other as well as your own?

Well, I guess you do now.

Oh, and apparently I'm both inappropriate and disrespectful.

So now that friend whose number I requested, while saying 'I hope you're doing well', has been permanently deleted off of facebook instead of just put on a hidden list.

And his significant other has been blocked, after I told her to get over herself.

Take that, world!

Do I Provoke You?

Occasionally we get viewer feedback regarding the inappropriateness of some of our shows' content.

[OK, so it's more like we get a lot of viewer feedback on that subject.]

Older ladies will comment on the slutty suggestive clothes our female anchors wear. And this will happen on days they wear button-up shirts buttoned up to the collar or turtlenecks. Once a lady complained that the morning anchor showed too much leg. [this could have been on a day she had on pants for all I know] Men don't usually complain about stuff like that...

Getting back to the subject at hand: provocative news. To read our viewer feedback, you'd think that's all we cover sometimes. It's too violent, too suggestive, and the list goes on and on.

Remember when all the gay marriage stuff was happening out in California? Of course, we had to include it in our national coverage, and of course we got hate mail because of it. Stuff like, I don't want my kids exposed to issues like these. Newsflash buddy: your kids are being exposed to this in way more places than the news.

We get told that we should censor our coverage of certain things. In this area, anything with sexual leanings is especially targeted, and the earlier in the day it plays the more responses it will get.

In the words of my director, grow up. Get with the times, people. Things are changing, have already changed in a lot of instances. It's not always for the better, but a lot of it is here to stay, i.e. open homosexuality, violence on TV, and racier content. For a television station to stay competitive in today's market, they've got to embrace those risque topics. And let's face it, if they didn't no one would watch their station, including the small-minded people who constantly send in their complaints about the very coverage they can't get enough of.

Rainy Tuesday

That's what today feels like.

Life of Me VII

Life has gotten exponentially better within the past 24 hours. 

Thursday morning I didn't get home 'til about a quarter to noon from a meeting with the general manager, news director and executive producer. We were discussing the complete and total transformation of the morning show that's about to transpire in the next two weeks.

It seems like we just reworked the show, and we did. But that was just a little rearranging and doesn't compare to what we're in the process of doing. It's all very exciting.

We basically took the show and blew it up and gathered all the parts into a pile. It looked like what you have when you start a new jigsaw puzzle.

Then we had this three-sheet long timeline broken down into blocks. Currently we have six blocks every hour. When we're done, we'll have nine. That's two more breaks per hour. The current 20-minute long first block will become two blocks.

In essence, we were starting from scratch with the show. Maybe I'm a nerd, but I loved figuring out the layout of the entire show, establishing flow from block to block. It was a throwback to when I would layout the paper in high school or when I established the ladder for the yearbook in college.

My thought process on the whole thing is probably very different from most people in broadcast given my prior history with print. When I'm stacking my show, or in this case creating a show, I envision the transitions as the turning of pages. My goal is to get the viewer to keep turning the pages.

This whole process is just the first step in a much larger goal for the show. Right now, the show is two hours long with the first hour repeating for the second. The goal is for the second hour to eventually become its own show, meaning that hopefully a second producer will be hired for the morning show specifically to produce the second hour.

Finally the higher-ups are standing behind the advancement of the morning show.

And now for the icing on the cake.

Christmas and New Years schedules have been made and displayed on the newsroom door. I checked mine when I got to work Thursday night to make sure of what days my holidays would fall on, and guess what I saw.

Ashton King - pr 6/10

Do you know what that means? I will be off the vampire shift by at least the week before Christmas!

I danced around the hallway in celebration.