Well, it’s been a while since our last visit to this blog to update the worlds on the adventures of Rich in CollegeLand and MeatWorld. Our last posting was over two weeks ago, as you can see below. In the two weeks, we’ve seen the world change greatly.

Saddam is history, having been hanged in what pretty much amounted to a lynching by his adversaries.

Denver has been socked with major snow storms three weekends in a row.

My little hometown of Riverton, Wyoming made the WORLD news with a piece of a Russian Rocket supposedly landing south of town when it re-entered the atmosphere last Thursday (when I was OUT OF TOWN…dang it!) and was captured on video by an airborn TV news chopper live.

One of the local Riverton cops saw it fly overhead as he got the morning paper, and a Wyoming State Trooper found a 3 by 5 foot burned area near the Louis Lake Turnout on South Pass, which I saw a pic of…but no debris was found, even though NORAD has sent pros out to check the story out.

Many other things going on, and the latest is a report in a British Newspaper has reported that Israel has plans to use tactical nukes on the nuke labs of Iran Real Soon Now, although Israel is DENYING it….hmmm.

For me, this is a new year, full of promise, projects, a few classes, and some BIG changes. Future plans include a degree plan change ( to Journalism ), a new college (University Of Montana at Missoula), new business projects (an eBay store, an internet marketing push, adverts in several REAL magazines to sell my two published CD roms), and more.

Another tussel with Windows XP…this time on my laptop. Major errors, blue screen of death, missing XP files, and the XP Recovery Console failed to fix…so, I just removed the drive ( a 2 month old 120 gig sucker), backed everything up to one of my big external drives on the desktop, wiped the drive after backing up all the files, and just finished a FULL FRESH reinstall of Windows. It’ll take me a few weeks to bring it back to full and regular use, after reinstalling all the dozens of programs I use on it, but it should be fine.

At the same time I’ve been installing XP on the laptop, I’ve also been installing Suse Linux on a server I bought at the CWC used computer sale last year. It’s got two 18gig SCSI removable drives, and dual processors, but it’s an older model HP NetServer LPr. I plan on using this rack mounted server as the household media system, with our music and a few movies on it. I’ll add a monster drive (300 gig or more) later this year, after I figure out the media serving systems available for a linux box.

I’m also rebuilding my 75 Jeep Cherokee, with a new full block, new interior, and lots of upgrades. It’s been a few years since I’ve really had some fun doing vehicle work. My last major project was a 1974 Toyota Landcruiser, which I really wish I still had…drats. Before that, it was a 1978 Dodge Van (the cross over year) that I did a full engine and tranny swap on, and before that my original 1974 Ford Van (see a pic here). I spent many years doing work on many vans, and also did conversions and upgrades to cars, trucks, boats, and even an airplane. This year is going to be one that is HANDS ON in many areas.

Many web projects are coming as well. MAJOR upgrade things to SurvivalRing, Civil Defense Now, and more. A few entire NEW projects too, still under wraps. They’ll be announced as they’re ready.

Thanks for checking in. Look for much more frequent updates from me here on Cosmic Echoes!

Rich

Well….THAT sucked…

OK folks…

I’ve had a very long, very bad day….I’m sick, with a stomach virus that is REALLY about to start kicking in (I saw it in action last night in Laramie when we had to pull to the side of the road for one of our tv crew to decorate someone’s yard, and then had to find a newspaper for him to sit on because he blew at BOTH ends)…

…and the video shoot with the vice president went horribly awry with the satellite truck developing hardware problems JUST as the VP’s plane landed, and our regular on-air engineer throwing up in his hotel room and NOT available to fix it, with our backup, less trained engineer arriving only minutes before air time, after a 3 and a half hour drive across the state….well, it become a total cluster (****)….

…and I didn’t even mention the frikking idiots that the state GOP folks hired to do the audio and nicey nice lighting and multimedia INSIDE the 60 or more year old Laramie High School gym…and who could NOT understand how to set the audio feed to us…causing ME to have to FIGHT MY WAY into the gym..AFTER LOCKDOWN by the secret service and the vice president ALREADY in the building, before he came on stage…

…with me getting a full security scan and pat down, and personal traversal by TWO SS agents from the front door all the way through the crowd, to the AUDIO control guys in the BACK of the gym…who had turned our audio feed OFF from the gym to the satellite truck.

Once they pushed the button, and I got back out to the truck, they were blowing the WORST sounding audio I’ve ever heard in my short TV career….at least 20-40 DB…and we were receiving audio feed into our mic set for -50DB…using XLR mics with balanced stereo levels….and I was NOT about to go through that fight again to get back inside to slap the snot out of them.

Holy Mary Mother of God….

Can my day have been ANY worse?

And, I’m just now posting this, because the “director” of WyoPTV chose for us to stay at the Motel 6…which did NOT have wireless access …or net access at all…so I’m a DAY behind now…and this is the FIRST thread I’ve read and caught up on since arriving home, hugging my wife, playing with my grandson Hudsin, and taking a deep breath…

I’ll have a more detailed report later this week, on the entire event.

For now, understand this….

Cheney gave pretty much the same stump speech he has been giving across the entire Western US…almost word for word…

Cubin did the same thing I’ve heard her do several times now while working television coverage of these political races….blowing smoke….standing on a not so hot 12 year career..with NO goals of what she WILL be doing for our state.

The other REPUB candidates (gov, dept of edu, etc, etc) all gave somewhat lukewarm speechs, and the crowd (less then expected I heard), was there for the sparkly lights and big names, but little else.

As we were heading to the satellite truck to power up for the day, we passed a block long procession of protestors marching toward the high school from a couple of blocks away. I got some handy cam video of them as we passed.

A few got in…and one was forcibly carried out…after interrupting Cheney a couple of times with screams of FASCIST!

Sheesh…..

What a frikkin’ day…

That’s the world of political posturing, main stream media, and little people….

…all rolled into one hour long, tripe filled, security laden, vomit smelling, and incredibly intense Saturday morning in Wyoming.

Less you think I am anti-republican, anti-Cheney, or anti-anything, let me say this…

I am an INDEPENDENT.

I vote for the MOST qualified, intelligent, and trained person for the options available. I am a Constitutionalist, and have been for a long time.

But, you just have to see some things for yourself to make that final decision on WHO deserves…ney….EARNS your vote.

AND, for the love of ALL that is great and just in our country…PLEASE vote this Tuesday.

THIS is what our men and women in uniform the world over, have paid for with their blood, and lives, ever since the founding of our nation.

Each of us is welcome to our own choices, decisions, and lives…

Voting is how we help shape our own futures, and the futures of all that come after us.

Thanks for reading, and thanks for those posting on this thread in shows of support…I appreciate it…

Rich

So, I was hanging out with Vice President Cheney the other day…

…and he didn’t shoot me…or anyone else…

A first hand report on Cheney’s First Public Speech…since…”The Shooting”…
By Rich Fleetwood

The events of Friday, February 17th, 2006, in Cheyenne, Wyoming went off without a hitch at the State Capital Building for me, Wyoming Public TV (based here at Central Wyoming College), and the rest of the state.

It was a big day. VP Cheney came to town…to give a little speech, here in his home state of Wyoming. Stood right there on the floor of the State of Wyoming House of Representatives, and reminisced about his years in Wyoming, with his high school and college years, his first baby steps in politics as an intern for Senator Al Simpson in the State House, his many trips to Washington and powering up the political ladder, and many other personal and sometimes a bit private memories. Thankfully, he didn’t drop off first at F.E. Warren Air Force base…where one of the largest Nuclear Missile Commands in the world, with siloes all round us, resides on the west side of town here in Cheyenne…to load up for bear…or any other small furry mammals.

And, he started it all off by letting the world know that his target…er..um…his friend, Harry Whittington was doing fine and up and around (he was in fact giving his own short news conferenence at almost the same time down Texas way). Of course, all this is old news to the world THIS week.

But, last week, the media WORLD was hanging on a thread…waiting…salivating…tensed to pounce…on what Cheney’s words MIGHT be, in this…his FIRST public speech since the near fatal wounding…ok..the attempted..er…uhm…the “accidental” wounding…of Harry, the Lawyer…which gets me to thinking of that old Shakesperean quote,

“The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers.” [Henry VI, Part 2]”

..sorry, disregard that quote…a bit off topic…back to the story.

So…There we were, Wyoming Public TV, with our big, shiny, and packed satellite truck, parked all by its lonesome on the private driveway to the back door of the Capital Building…

The street in front of the capital building is lined with over a DOZEN other satellite news and microwave trucks. Reporters with cameras working for CNN, FOX, NBC, and many more media wonks are lined up and down the sidewalk doing their pre-rolls and other B-roll stuff.

A couple of the biggies have run cables across the grounds to our truck, as their video feed to THEIR networks and stations, for this event, are coming DIRECTLY from us. Our WPTV cameras are literally going to be feeding the event live to satellite…to the rest of the world….wowsers…THIS is ONE of the reasons I decided to go into media…

As my previous posting states, we had it all set up and ready Thursday night. Cameras and cables and audio installed and tested by 10pm. Everything’s good. Time for dinner and a short night of sleep. We have to be back at the capital at 6:30am Friday morning for the secret service to scan and sweep the truck.

Up at 5am…a quick breakfast, with a pissy waitress at the Little America hotel on I-80. We jump in the CWC Vans and zoom on over to the Capital Building. The two other WPTV employees that are going inside with me, Jackie D. and Kyle N., the station’s main producer/director, go through the entire security process…wands, dogs, and not quite friskings…in the main entrance area near where the truck is parked.

We head upstairs and onto the house floor, to power up cameras, check the audio and video connections, and make sure all cable runs are securely taped down. We’re in for a few minutes and see all is well, and then the secret service empties the east wing of the Capital to do a final sweep.

Did I mention it was FREEZING yet? The high temperature of the day is only minus 9 degrees. Teeth are already chattering…I’m wearing slacks and a sport coat and tie…required of anyone who’s going to be in the House chamber…not enough to stay warm.

I hang out in the satellite truck for the hour or so while the sweep is going on, while the rest of the crew is doing some prep work in the other building next door for our televised legislative report at seven this evening. It’s an interesting period of time.

All I will say is this…the truck was hot..the cameras were on…and security was doing their job on the House floor. Very interesting stuff…and only *I* got to watch. (I’ll share a little video clip later. One of the unfortunate issues with doing this is that I couldn’t take my Sony Handicam into the building…a rule against electronic devices is being enforced…drats).

Later, we’re heading back inside…sweep is done, and ALL the state congressmen, senators, legislator wives, and a few more folks, are on the second floor…lined up dozens deep…going through the security process all over again, more wands…a metal detector to walk through with lots of pretty flashing lights..and many visible, and not quite visible, weapons…just in case.

Finally, we’re inside the huge room of the House…I go to my television camera, set up on the second floor, and put my headphones on. Kyle and Jackie do the same. And we wait…for over an hour.

Each of us, during that time, get checked more than once for our photo ID, by the secret service, and are ok’ed again. Finally, a few minutes late, the entourage shows up, the crowd gets REAL quiet…and about 5 minutes later, the show starts…and the rest is history.

Cheney’s speech came off well. Our coverage and camera work came off beatifully. Our WPTV logo soared around the world in news clips for the next 24 hours, as reference was made to the speech by media wonks on every continent.

And Cheney DIDN’T resign…as many folks were thinking might happen.

No, I didn’t “really” get to PERSONALLY hang with him, since I was on the second floor. But, Kyle ALMOST got to shake his hand, while running the camera from the back of the house floor, next to the walkway between the seats Cheney strode down glad-handing all the congressmen as he headed out to catch the next flight out of Cheyenne, for places much more populated.

One can only assume that he had more hunting on his mind…possibly using the mini-guns mounted under the wings of Air Force 2, to strafe unsuspecting pronghorn antelope on the windswept plains of central Wyoming.

Here is the coolest part of this whole entire event for me…I did get to be the hands running the camera for the wide overhead camera shots of one of the most powerful men in the world…as he shakes off a bad week, and comes out ready to get to work again.

The world is being seen TRULY through my eyes, as I keep the television camera aimed and focused, with my unwavoring hands of steel, and the confident gaze of a trained broadcasting graduate playing his small role in the earth shattering (not) din of a SLOW news day, keeping the little hash camera aiming marks on the black and white video screen on top of my camera centered…just like that laser powered scope on Cheney’s quail gun.

In other words, the week, and day, from hell for me, in getting down to Cheyenne to take part in this event, was all worth the pain and tears. It was a world changing day for me…and for Cheney, as well as for Wyoming.

As soon as Cheney left, the crew and I went to work immediately. We tore down the cameras and tripods, ripped up the taped down cables, rolled things up and move the whole shebang next door, and setup an entire set with painted backgrounds, four cameras, 6 wired mikes, and a full bank of lighting kits…to prepare for the evening’s live broadcast of the Legislative Report on Wyoming’s Budget Session, all in one of the Hearing Rooms in the Herschner Building.

Later that night, after the Legislative Report was broadcast, we packed up the truck, rolled up HUNDREDS and HUNDREDS of feet of audio and video cable, moved the truck to its assigned parking space behind the Capital building, and lock everything up. Teeth are chattering like beavers in a fresh pine forest.

The temperature is down to minus 28…and we are literally freezing to death in mere moments…finally finishing everything right before the first death occurs…and we head out to eat at the Outback Steakhouse near I-25 and I-80…to warm our innards AND our out-tards back to health.

Sheesh…I strongly dislike extremely cold winter weather in Wyoming! You know it’s cold when you try to talk to someone, your words come out and freeze in mid air and fall to the ground, and you have to pick them up and take them inside to thaw them out…to finish the conversation…

Let’s see how things go from here on out for him, and us…

Rich

Just got back late Monday night, from a short trip to Cheyenne, Wyoming. I went as a production assistant with Wyoming Public TV, to set up and help produce coverage of the state Of Wyoming’s opening session with the state legislature, which we broadcast live via our satellite truck.

Interesting weekend, a frantic morning before the beginning of the broadcast, and precise coverage and camera work on the fully packed house floor and peanut gallery balcony during the 2 hour opening session. Got to meet the Governor again, Dave Freudenthal, and many of the state congressmen and senators. Overall, a breathtaking experience to be ON THE FLOOR of the statehouse while they’re working.

Hard part is tearing down and packing all the equipment, rolling up 2000 feet of audio and video cable, and repacking the truck.

Guess what? I get to do it again this Friday.

Seems that Vice President Dick Cheney is going to be giving a speech of some kind to the State of Wyoming house and senate audience on Friday. I’ll get to be on camera again, after running around setting up all the hardware EARLY Friday morning.

I must say this is going to be exciting. I’ll have my own Sony handicam with me as well, to try to get some interesting video before and after the event. Assuming of course that my little background check passed with flying colors..and it should.

And, yes…I WILL be wearing Hunter Orange colored clothing.

Being a political event, and seeing what is going on the rest of this week in his response to his lil “incident”, I can’t wait to see what humor he might share on this topic with “fellow politicians”.

Rich

…nothing major, really…no disasters or events to worry about.

What I refer to is the UPGRADE to SurvivalRing’s overall look and feel, style and presentation, and complete and total makeover.

Last time I did a MAJOR change to the site, I was driving cross country, and then wound up homeless . I did most of the redesign work in the front seat of a pickup truck, parked at truckstops across the country, with my laptop hanging off my steering wheel with a “truckers desk”. This was around the spring of 2001.

A lot has happened since then. Constant content addition, new downloadable documents, one two career changes, a return to college, and an earned college degree have been done in the timeframe we speak of.

This change to a new content management system for EVERYTHING offered on SurvivalRing means that things will load faster, be easier to find, and much easier to navigate around for everyone.

For a sneak peak of the new look, visit here…not much content yet, but you can see what the new style will be.

Over the next many weeks, the current site content will be moved to the new system, and then the old pages will become pointers to the new system. New tools for download management, ecommerce, affiliate management systems, membership management, and digital downloads are already installed, and will be integrated into this new web design.

Finally, putting my hard earned NEW web skills to work for my BIGGEST web project to date. Your feedback is MOST appreciated.

Rich