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Obama on Egypt

Important poll finds people would like to do things they can't do

Most Americans would rather read minds than fly, a super poll of super powers conducted by the super people at the super Marist Institute for Public Opinion in Poughkeepsie has found. Super.

An equal percentage of people who want to read minds, 28 percent, said in the poll they'd like to travel through time.

Among other super powers in the poll were teleportation and, my personal favorite, "unsure," a super power chosen by 8 percent of Americans, who were probably unsure why they were being asked such questions by the influential polling institution.

But don't ask me. I don't read minds.

Up, up and away!

Jimmy Fallon's mole removed by Dr. Oz

In this publicity photo released by Sony Pictures Television, talk show host and Saugerties High School grad Jimmy Fallon of NBC's "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon," center, reacts as he is treated for the removal of a potentially pre-cancerous mole called a blue nevi from his hand as host Dr. Mehmet Oz, left, speaks and physician Arthur Perry, M.D., assists during a taping of "The Dr. Oz Show," Tuesday in New York. The segment will air nationwide on Feb. 23, 2011. (AP Photo/Sony Pictures Television)

JRC Chat at noon

As it is now becoming tradition, members of the Journal Register Company Idealab (yours included) and anyone interested are going to be holding our weekly Twitter/CoverItLive chat at noon.

Today will be talking about the AOL/HuffingtonPost deal, since it potentially can or may affect and/or influence smaller news organizations. We'll also be brainstorming some ideas for super reporting - meaning how to accomplish covering an event in a variety of platforms if there's only one of you.


 
The feed is also posted below.

As always, don't forget to bring your links. 

Darth Vader Super Bowl commercial featured two kids

Apparently, Max Page, who was revealed as the kid behind the Darth Vader Super Bowl commercial (and who looks like Luke Skywalker), was not the only one playing the Sith Lord for Volskwagen. This, according to Felice Povill, mother of David, writer of viral Darth Vader Super Bowl ads.

Felive Povill wrote:

You might want to know that there were 2 boys in the Darth Vader ad. They copywriter, my son, David, feels badly that one boy is getting all the buzz and the other goes unnamed and unrecognized!

UPDATE: Our friend Anonymous reports in a comment that the second boy's name is Aiden Lewis. Inside Edition has reported the same. Meanwhile, little Max met with The Voice on Monday. James Earl Jones, who voiced Darth Vader in "Star Fights" or whatever the movies are called (Local tangent! He lives in Dutchess County), met with Max, as you can see from the photo above (I don't know who's who, so you'll have to figure that out).

As for Aiden, he appeared in the scene with the dog, according to Inside Edition. I somehow couldn't tell.

Melissa Leo criticized for promoting Melissa Leo

Deadline Hollywood reported on Friday that Stone Ridge actress and Oscar favorite Melissa Leo personally paid for ads in the Hollywood trade press.

“I took matters into my own hands. I knew what I was doing and told my representation how earnest I was about this idea. I had never heard of any actor taking out an ad as themselves and I wanted to give it a shot."

“I am quite certain I have not overstepped any boundaries of the Academy," Leo told Deadline's Pete Hammond.

The snarky guys at Gawker are not happy, though: "she seems like a secretly vain person who now finally has a reason to go public with it," wrote Richard Lawson.

Ouch.

Leo also has a website now.

UPDATE: The New York Times chimes in: "as the front-runner in her category, why did she risk overreaching?"
Her response to the gray lady?

"This entire awards process to some degree is about pimping yourself out."

Meet the boy behind the Darth Vader Super Bowl commercial

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

What was your favorite Super Bowl ad?

Super Bowl commercials not in Super Bowl

Uncensored E-trade baby


Bud Light's 'Severance Package'

Old Spice guy

Audi's 'Startled Smart' teaser

Kingston personalities caught in Common Council chambers panorama

Tweet-up live at 3 p.m.

Your friends at DragonSearch Marketing are going to be at the Emerson Resort on Route 28 at 3 p.m. and will be livestreaming a 'Tweetup.'

Purpose?

Learn to Use Social Media to help Phoenicia! Join us at the Emerson on 2/4/11 for a Social Media workshop and How to Twitter primer. Tweet-Up participants will learn how to best use social media for promoting local events.

How to Promote “America’s Coolest Small Towns” Votes for Phoenicia, NY Through Social Media Networking

Phoenicia, if you need to know, wants to be the coolest small town in America.

It is currently on eight place.

Watch live streaming video from dragonsearch at livestream.com

Kingston common council meeting highlights, kind of

After Thursday's "Mayor's Message,' the city of Kingston's Common Council meeting took place.


It was riveting. And, after watching the clips below, you'll agree that I don't know the meaning of the word "riveting."

I enlisted a reluctant Paul Kirby (he was working on a report, after all) to explain to me what was happening while the meeting was taking place.

So if you go to the city of Kingston's Common Council meeting, these are some of the things you might witness (without the narration).

* Resolution to hire a person to rescue kitty cats for $2,000. Passed.




* Resolution to appoint Clark Richters to lead Public Access. Passed.



* How to speed things up. All passed (really fast).

Kingston native writes, produces Darth Vader Super Bowl commercial

And the ad has gone viral already.

The Darth Vader Super Bowl commercial, by Volskwagen, was written and produced by Kingston native David Povill, we are told by Mario Catalano, relaying a message from Gary Povill, the ophthalmologist with an office in Aaron Court in the city.

Catalano added, "Go Packers."

The ad has been viewed 1,776,836 times on Youtube as of this writing.
UPDATE: The 2011 Super Bowl ad now has more than 16 million views as of Monday, Feb. 7.

According to Mashable, 'The Force' is schedule to run in the second quarter.

Funny snow business in Kingston

 



I contacted Kingston Alderman Hayes Clement, via e-mail, to comment on an issue reported on SeeClickFix, in which a West Chestnut resident allegedly got ticketed after momentarily moving her car to clean up her driveway. As of this writing, this issue has been viewed 379 times, commented 65 times and voted on 29 times.

I asked Clement if he thought this, if true, was a fair administration of the Snow Emergency policy:

If the facts and narrative that Julie Ballou presents are accurate, then, no, I don't think this was a reasonable or just application of the policy.  The street had been plowed, the car was not impeding a plow and the car's owners were plainly visible and could have been advised to move the car immediately. No one likes to get a ticket and issuing them is no fun either, I'm sure, but it has to be done with some sense of fairness and reasonableness.

If you feel you were issued a parking citation unfairly, contact your alderman for advice or fight it in City Court. I think you're going to be seeing lots more of that, with $100 citations in this economic climate.

This issue has also been gathered 19 comments on this post, which has the city Snow Emergency regulations.



From all the comments and issues raised, here's what you need to know:

* A snow emergency is declared when there is 3 inches or more of snow accumulation.

* You can't park on the streets when there is a Snow Emergency declared in Kingston.
But, you rightly ask, how am I going to find out if there is a Snow Emergency in the city, you crazy person?

It works like this: You can visit the city of Kingston's website. However, as I found out today, the information there might be outdated. (Click on image at right for larger picture)


So I called the city to inquire about how can citizens find out if there is a snow emergency or if it has been lifted. Your best bet is to call the Department of Public Works at (845) 338-2114.

The city has also updated its website now.

The Snow Emergency, by the way, was lifted at 8 p.m. last night, and I wish I had known this because I parked on the municipal parking lot three blocks from my place. Which brings me to the next point.

* During a snow emergency, you can park on free municipal parking lots. And you cannot park on the streets even if the roads are plowed.

If you risk it, you might get your car towed ($135 even if it's two blocks from the towing place) and ticketed (another $100). This, I hate to say, has been confirmed by experience.

* Funny business:

A. You can park on the street between midnight and 8 a.m., but only if there was no snow accumulation over 3 inches before midnight.

B. After the snow emergency has been lifted, DPW has a 24-hour window to clean the streets. But you still can't park within that time frame if your road hasn't been plowed.

Let it snow — somewhere else

Kingston snow emergency regulations: Blah blah blah MOVE YOUR CAR!

City of Kingston, Snow Emergency regulations

The snowstorm, FROM SPACE!

NASA Satellites Capture Data on Monster Winter Storm Affecting 30 States

360-degree view of the Freeman's parking lot

JRC Chat live at noon

(Some) members of the Journal Register Company Idealab (yours included) and anyone interested are going to be holding our weekly Twitter/CoverItLive chat at noon.

Today will be brainstorming some ideas for crowdsourcing, from Egypt to the Super Bowl.

The feed is also posted below.

Don't forget to bring your links.