Oncee@Blogger

Hack3rcon Registration is Open

2010-08-23T22:25:00.002-04:00

Hack3rCon Registration from The 304 Geeks on Vimeo.

Register for Hack3rcon here.

Hck3rCon 2010: Only $40 for the entire weekend. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Hackers for Charity.

Hack3rcon

2010-08-21T16:11:00.001-04:00

The 304Geeks will be hosting "Hack3rCon", the first of its kind Information Security Conference in this State!

http://www.hack3rcon.org

Register Now!

Events:
Ethical Hacking Workshops with the guys that created, teach and develop Backtrack, the most widely distributed open source penetration testing toolkit.

We have a full day of special gust discussion on everything from advanced password cracking in 2010 to detecting and stopping intruders to hands on hacking lads.

That is right, we will be holding a hacking village all weekend. Get hands on experience on our private network. Experience mentor will be on hand to guide you through the exercises. Prizes***

We will also be hold a Hacker's Capture the Flag event! Go against other ethical hackers in an attempt to get all the flags first!!!

*****WINNER GETS A NETBOOK PREINSTALLED WITH BACKTRACK!!!

Special Guests:

Dave Kennedy a.k.a. Rel1k Creator of SET
Adrian Crenshaw a.k.a. Irongeek - Security Researcher
Dennis Boas - **Classified**
Martin Bos a.k.a Purehate - Core Developer Backtrack-Linux
Lee Baird a.k.a. LeeRock - Security Consultant, Ciphent
Mark Baggett - SANS Instructor, Security Blogger - Pauldotcom

$10 Hack3rCon All Access Weekend Pass when you purchase a CharCon weekend pass. (requires pre-registration before the event)

Keep an eye out for technology driven events and contest that will be host by the 304geeks!!

The 304Geeks is a local technology group here in Charleston. It was founded in 2009 by Rob Dixon and myself.

More on Hack3rCon to come!!

West Virginia Needs a Better Hacker Community

2010-06-19T12:09:00.008-04:00

First let us define the term hacker. The word hacker has been adopted by the press to mean someone who breaks the law using a computer. Some hackers are criminals, but most are not. It's sort of like saying all motorcycle clubs are outlaw gangs. Hackers push the boundaries of technology, and sadly some hackers push the boundaries of the law and end up in jail.

Hackers build things. Hackers secure our networks. Hackers built the Internet.

To get hackers out from in front of their computer screens and to start networking I co-founded a technology group called 304Geeks. The purpose of 304Geeks is to give people interested in technology and computer security a way to network. Hackers are not always the most social of people. Since we started the group last year our gatherings have been rather small.

Most gatherings are six or less people. We would like to see that change. There has been some talk of building a hacker space, but we are going to need a lot more people to make that happen.

There are a couple of events this year of interest to hackers. First there is the First Annual AIDE Conference at Marshall University. AIDE is short for the Appalachian Institute of Digital Evidence. The First Annual AIDE Conference is July 27, 28, and 29 at the Marshall University Forensic Science Center. 304Geeks co-founder Rob Dixon and I will be speaking on the first day of the conference.

Rob is also working on putting together a mini-con and capture the flag event in October, and we have a verbal commitment from a computer security a-lister who has spoken at a number of hacker conferences, including DefCon, Notacon, PhreakNIC, and ShmooCon, to come speak and help with capture the flag. I will post more information once we confirm the details.

Rob is also a board member of Hackers For Charity, an organization started by security expert and hacker Johnny Long to match the hacker community with technology skills for people in need. We would like to see 304Geeks get more involved in Hackers For Charity. Rob and I attended a Metasploit class in Louisville in May. The proceeds of that event went to Hackers for Charity. Rob also spent time working the Hackers for Charity booth at DefCon. We are interested in trying One Laptop Per West Virginia Child under the HFC banner.

You can learn more about 304Geeks by visiting us at 304Geeks.com, the 304Geeks Google Group, or by following me on Twitter at twitter.com/oncee or by following Rob on Twitter at twitter.com/304geek.

As for the term "hacker", we're taking it back.

304blogs Social Media Meet-up Wednesday Feb. 17th at 5:15 pm at Capitol Roasters

2010-02-14T09:03:00.000-05:00

304blogs Meet-up Wednesday at 5:15 pm

304blogs Meet-up

Wednesday, Feb. 17 at 5:15 pm

Capitol Roasters

160 Summers Street

Charleston, WV

Leave me a comment if you need directions.

10 Questions

2010-01-03T07:39:00.004-05:00

One of my favorite things I've done since I start contributing to Shouts and Hollers again is 10 Questions. So far I've done email interviews with Flare Baroshi, Rebecca Burch, and Rudy Panucci. Another one is coming soon so stay turned.

Update: Just added an interview with Sharon Lyn Stackpole this evening.

Google Now Personalizes Everyone’s Search Results

2009-12-04T18:50:00.003-05:00

This video explains the change in detail.

Vampire Mafia - Flare Baroshi

2009-10-30T07:39:00.001-04:00

Happy Halloween Everyone!

304blogs Meet-up Today at 5:15 pm

2009-10-29T04:40:00.003-04:00

304blogs Meet-up

Today at 5:15 pm

Capitol Roasters

Summers Street

Charleston, WV

Leave me a comment if you need directions.

My New Favorite Trace Artist Flare Baroshi

2009-10-29T04:15:00.011-04:00

As many of you know I'm a huge fan of electronic music, but Charleston doesn't have much of an electronic music scene. I was happy and surprised to find local trance artist Flare Baroshi in the latest episode of Radio Free Charleston. Her track "The Vampire Mafia" really rocks.

RFC 85

RFC Archives | MySpace Video

You can find more about more about Flare Baroshi on from her YouTube Channel.

I'm hoping "The Vampire Mafia" gets cut into a standalone video.

Remembering My Father

2009-10-12T18:29:00.014-04:00

As many of you know my father passed away on Friday afternoon. My father read this blog religiously. He was always bothering me about posting more. Things got pretty quiet over here once I discovered Twitter and Facebook, two services my father never understood or joined.

As I wrote his obit last night I realized there are many things that needed to be said about my father that don't fit into the obit. My father was a coal miner from the time he was a teenager until he was forced into early retirement due to a back injury. While I was glad he got to retire early, my grandfather Gardner died in a mining accident when my father was 14, and he was in constant pain from the injury for the rest of his life.

My father was a member of the West Virginia National Guard. He worked his way up from Private to Staff Sergeant with Detachment-1 157th Military Police Company based in Richwood, WV. As a member of the Guard he helped rescue miners trapped in a flooded mine at Hominy Falls, was called to keep the peace during various floods in WV and at the State Penitentiary at Moundsville when prisoners took five guards hostage. And he responded with other rescuers to Buffalo Creek to retrieve the bodies and comfort the living. One of my favorite pictures of my father is in his uniform with my little sister when she is about three. (I don't have that picture here or I would post it.) When I was around seven my father purchased me an Army uniform at the PX while he was at "summer camp'. I have fond memories of wearing it in the Cherry River Festival Parade.

157th. Military Police Company Camp Dawson, West Virginia, August 22 to June 1968

My father is far left in the second row

My father was an amateur radio operator. In 1998 and in 1996 he and other amateur radio operators spend tireless hours providing flood relief and communications to Marlinton and surrounding areas. He came up the old way in ham radio. He first built his own Heath Kit radio and learned morse code. When I decided to enter the hobby in the late 1990s he was very proud.

My Father Loved to Cook

My father died young. He was born in 1942. My father had four brothers and two sisters. He also leaves behind my mom, my sister, and a granddaughter. We leaned he had stage IV cancer the first week of July. We all knew this day would come, but we thought we had more time. I've spend the past week sitting with him as he battled cancer. First in a hospital room and finally in a hospice house.

My father had many friends, but I don't think he knew how many friends he had. In the end my father wanted no funeral nor flowers. As we prepare to bury him in a private ceremony tomorrow, thanks for taking the time to help me remember my father In lieu of flowers we ask you make a donation to Bowers Hospice House in Beckley, WV.

My father always said he wanted someone to sing 'Sweet Beulah Land' at his funeral. Since in his last days he requested no funeral, this one is for you dad:

Yuenos & Wings Blues Things at Power Park

2009-08-24T20:39:00.001-04:00

New Art at the Restore

2009-08-24T20:08:00.000-04:00

Protest bad East End commerical development

2009-08-24T19:57:00.003-04:00

Not everyone is happy about Charleston developer Bill Ellis' plan to build a new Dollar General store on Washington Street East near Ruffner Walk.

CURA approves unpopular East End store

Amy Williams Sewing Classes at Taylor Books

2009-08-24T19:46:00.002-04:00

I've also heard Mark Wolfe might be teaching an iPhone class.

One Laptop Per West Virginia Child

2009-06-19T08:20:00.006-04:00

While we have done a pretty good job of putting computers in West Virginia classrooms and getting broadband in the rural parts of West Virginia. We have done nothing to put laptops in the hands of every West Virginia child.

The economic reality is that not all WV families can afford to buy there children laptops. This is a disservice to the children of WV, and I call today for a private/public partnership to fund this project.

One laptop per WV child can be achieved with inexpensive netbooks running either Windows XP or linux. With this laptops children who do not currently have access to their own computers at home could write, make music, learn to program, and do homework.

If public funds are not made available, this project could be funded with private money from the WV blogging community, or from some other online donation model.

Please leave you suggestions as to how we can achieve one laptop per West Virginia child in the comments.

New Works by Sharon Lyn Stackpole Opening Next Week at The Purple Moon

2009-06-18T07:05:00.004-04:00

Excited to see new works from one of my favorite artist, Sharon Lyn Stackpole, scheduled to open during next weeks FestivALL Art Walk at the Purple Moon. '3 Art Openings - 1 Night' will also feature 'Hard Times: a new dollar for america' and Dario Cardenia from Italy back for another FestiALL show.

'A Better West Virginia Challenge' 2009

2009-06-17T17:09:00.003-04:00

Jason Keeling has posted a new challenge for West Virginia Day this year. Keeling who has the A Better West Virginia blog, hosted a challenge last year were WV bloggers changed WV stereotypes. This year Keeling challenges WV bloggers and Twitter users to identify challenges and obstacles facing West Virginia and offering solutions.

Jason writes:

"I am working various media channels to promote the challenge and greatly appreciate your potential contribution, no matter how large or small. Last year we countered stereotypes. This year the objective is to facilitate conversation about obstacles and solutions in West Virginia.

Thank you for your consideration and feel free to contact me with questions.

Sincerely,
Jason Keeling
p.s. – For those on Twitter, you can update thoughts there using the #aBetterWV tag, which allows everyone’s comments to be tracked.
__________________________________

Keeling Strategic Communications
P.O. Box 7423
Cross Lanes, WV 25356

Mobile | 304.989.3262
jason@keelingstrategic.com
Visit our blog at aBetterWestVirginia.com

It's Almost Time for FestivALL

2009-06-17T06:54:00.004-04:00

When A City Becomes A Work of Art

This years list of events are too long to list here. For the complete 2009 schedule see the FestivALL website. The events run from June 19 until June 28 this year.

Are you part of the Underground?

2009-04-18T04:25:00.002-04:00

http://24theunderground.wordpress.com/

“Y” I Give to the YWCA

2009-04-08T18:18:00.001-04:00

http://24theunderground.wordpress.com/

Art Walk Video

2009-03-26T06:30:00.002-04:00

Great Art Walk Video by Jerry Fugate.

Jerry we'd like to see your stuff on Shouts and Hollers.

304blogs on MyZ 10 pm News

2009-03-26T06:05:00.002-04:00

I was interviewed via Twitter for a feature on 304blogs for MyZ 10 pm News. It will air tonight.

Sharon Lyn Stackpole at the Purple Moon

2009-02-27T05:41:00.003-05:00

Looking forward to attending the opening reception for "Filters of color, words & light" Works by Sharon Lyn Stackpole" tonight at 6 pm at The Purple Moon.

Are you ready for 10 digit dialing

2009-02-27T05:17:00.000-05:00

The new 681 area code goes into effect on Saturday. No one will be assigned the new area code right a way. Only new numbers will receive the new 681 area code. All old number will keep the old 304 area code.

The big change is you will now have to dial 304 + the seven digit number to dial a local numbers.

CharCon - This weekend

2008-10-18T10:00:00.002-04:00

This weekend gamers will gather at the Charleston Civic Center for two days. For more info go to charcon.org.

Jesco White at the Empty Glass tonight

2008-10-18T09:48:00.002-04:00

Jesco White returns to the Empty Glass stage tonight for the first time in a long time. Some of you might remember Jesco from the documentary Dancing Outlaw.

Here's a sample from Dancing Outlaw:

Sorry about the audio.

If you go it's important to remember that Jesco is a real person. He isn't a character made up by an actor like Unknown Hinson. His jokes can be corny, but laugh anyway.

iPhone APP RjDj: A Soundtrack For Your Life

2008-10-14T18:44:00.000-04:00

This iPhone application is hard to explain. Let just say I'm addicted to it now. I downloaded it last night, but it was a little too quiet to test. I used it on the way to work this morning and really enjoyed it.

I agree with TechCrunch , "The application is difficult to describe and on paper it sounds sort of silly." Check out the video below for more details.

Virgil's New Project

2008-10-12T16:45:00.001-04:00

Charleston restaurateur Virgil Sadorra wants to help people live downtown. Virgil, owns and operates Cilantro's in the old Delish spot on McFarland Street and Delish Express on Washington Street East wants to add another title to his resume: loft developer.

Why is Sadorra's project different? First is the price point, he said. A move-in-ready, 1,000-square-foot, two-bedroom, two-bath loft will start at about $200,000, he said.

His price is based on what people are asking for, he said. He's targeting the young professional crowd, who, in some cases, are already paying $600 to $800 a month for apartment rents, he said.

A $200,000 mortgage wouldn't cost that much more - in the $1,000 to $1,200 range, he said.

"And you own it," he said.

His plans call for movable walls so residents can change the layout if they choose, he said.

There will be on-site parking and other amenities, including a rooftop pavilion and workout room. Also in the plans are a tenant grocery store and room service, he said.

The grocery store will feature carryout pastas and Sadorra's signature sauces once featured at the McFarland Street Delish.

Why do this project now?

Sadorra admits that downtown living isn't for everyone. With a wife and two small children it doesn't make sense for his family anymore.

But the want is there, he said.

He points out that the recent downtown loft walks by the Charleston Area Alliance's Generation Charleston, a young professional's organization, have had 100 attendees.

For now, Sadorra is finishing up details with a contractor and architect. He doesn't have a start date on the project, but he wants it done sooner rather than later.

I wish Virgil all the luck in the world hope he see results soon on this really cool project. I also look forward to seeing what he does with revamping the Vandalia Lounge on Hale Street.

www.visitappalachia.com

2008-10-01T20:31:00.002-04:00

I get a few press releases. None have turned into posts until now. Today I received a email about www.visitappalachia.com.

Dear Mr. Gardner,

I'm working with the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to get the word out about a new website devoted to travel in Appalachia, www.visitappalachia.com, and I think readers of "Oncee@Blogger" would appreciate a chance to see what this site has to offer.

Not only does www.visitappalachia.com provide information about the 13 states that make up Appalachia, it also includes access to the recently released Appalachian Driving Tours Map. Commissioned by the ARC, the map features 28 driving trails throughout the Appalachian region, each of which leads to a broad array of historical, archaeological, cultural, and scenic sites.

Autumn is the best time of the year to visit Appalachia, and taking one of the tours found on www.visitappalachia.com is a great way to catch the foliage and to learn more about the multitude of sights the region has to offer; the website is as useful whether you're journeying across the tree-lined roads of West Virginia or down along the river in Mississippi. What's more, visitors can search for drives by state as well as by theme. As a result, www.visitappalachia.com can just as easily help you plan a trip through Tennessee as through Pennsylvania, while pointing out sights of interest whether you love music or history.

In addition, www.visitappalachia.com has a Google maps feature to help travelers plan their next driving vacation to Appalachia, as well as links to the 13 Appalachian state tourism offices for additional information.

I noticed that your blog speaks about Appalachia so I thought your readers would be interested in www.visitappalachia.com. As such, I was wondering if you would be kind enough to post a link to the site. I can provide you with a button or banner to use for your link.

The Appalachian Region possesses a wealth of scenery and culture and the driving maps featured on www.visitappalachia.com are a great way to discover both. I hope you'll look around the site and pass the information along to your readers.

All the best,
Joe Killiany
Breakthrough Strategies
Joe@btsrategies.com

Creative Communities Under Construction: Richwood, WV

2008-09-26T00:03:00.005-04:00

Richwood, WV: My home town. Ramp Capitol of the World. The Lumber City. Richwood is many things, and it is also a Creative Community Under Construction.

Photo by Oncee

Richwood is named for the large timber holding around the town. It was once home to the largest saw mill in the world. It was also at the regional center of a coal boom in the 70s. While Richwood is still the Home of the Lumberjacks, the Big Mill isn't so big anymore. The train tracks have been replaced by hiking and bike trails.

Why is Richwood a Creative Community Under Construction? Richwood has "Quality of Place". Richwood is the Gateway to the Monongehela National Forest. Three tributaries of the Gauley River (Williams River, Cranberry River, and Cherry River) all flow wild within the forest. The Cherry River flows through the town. These rivers has home to some of the greatest trout is the nation.

The forest is also the home of the Highland Scenic Highway, Hills Creek Falls, Summit Lake, and Cranberry Mountain Visitors Center are a few miles east at the intersection of WV 39 and WV 150, which is close to the Cranberry Glades Botanical Area and the Cranberry Wilderness, and some of the best biking and hiking trails in the nation. The Cranberry Glades Botanical Area is the southernmost Canadian bog in the world.

A hour drive to the east is Snowshoe Mountain Ski Resort, the National Radio Astronomy Observatory at Green Bank, which is home to the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope, the world's largest fully steerable radio telescope and the world's largest land-based movable structure, and Cass Scenic Railroad State Park.

"The Sterling Spencer Memorial Sculpture Garden replaced a dilapidated vacant hotel that had partially collapsed near the center of town. The park is named in honor of a respected wood sculptor from Richwood." (Source: Wikipedia)

For a list of other Creative Communities Under Construction see www.createwv.typepad.com or www.abetterwestvirginia.com

See the No Pants Players this weekend

2008-09-02T22:15:00.002-04:00

Everything Fiesta Tent Sale

2008-08-23T20:24:00.002-04:00

This is my first time at the Everything Fiesta Tent Sale. The crowd was huge. I took us an hour to checkout.

The sock on the right hand is used to wipe away dust to look for imperfections.

The price list.

The crowd was huge, and the sound of clinking china was deafening.

Check out my other photos on my Flickr stream.

Obama made a mistake picking Biden

2008-08-23T08:39:00.001-04:00

I usually don't write about politics, but I think Obama pick of Joe Biden as a running mate was a mistake. Obama has the chance to make history by picking someone to take his message of change forward, but instead he goes for the old white guy who has been in the Senate for years. He could have picked a woman, a latino, or a war veteran, but we get more of the same old Washington establishment pick.

Having lived through the 80s I also remember the Biden plagiarism scandal, which caused him to drop out the 1988 race for President. Opponents haven't rolled out the plagiarism scandal yet, but it won't take much a Fox News talking head to do a Google search to dig it up.

In 1987, Joe Biden ran as a Democratic presidential candidate, formally declaring his candidacy at the Wilmington train station on June 9, 1987. In his speech, he challenged Americans to step beyond the materialism of the Reagan years. When the campaign began, Biden was considered a potentially strong candidate because of his moderate image, his supposed appeal to Baby Boomers, his fundraising appeal (Biden's $1.7 million raised in the first quarter of 1987 was more than any other candidate, including the then front-runner, Gary Hart), his high profile position as chair of the Senate Judiciary committee during the Robert Bork confirmation hearings, and, perhaps above all, his soaring oratory. Biden often seemed to try to inspire the same hope and idealism associated with 1960s liberals such as Robert Kennedy, especially as related to civil rights. He received considerable attention in the summer of 1986 when he excoriated Secretary of State George Shultz at a Senate Hearing because of the Reagan administration's support of South Africa, which continued to support a system of Apartheid. By August 1987, however, Biden's campaign had already begun to lag behind those of Michael Dukakis and Richard Gephardt.

Then in September 1987, the campaign ran into serious trouble when he was accused of plagiarizing a speech by Neil Kinnock, then-leader of the British Labour Party. Though Biden had correctly credited the original author in all speeches but one, the one where he failed to make mention of the originator was caught on video. Within days, it was also discovered that, while a first year law student at Syracuse Law School, Biden had plagiarized a law review article in a class paper he wrote. Though the then-dean of the law school, as well as Biden's former professor, played down the incident of plagiarism, they did find that Biden drew "chunks of heavy legal prose directly from" the article in question. Biden said the act was inadvertent due to his not knowing the proper rules of citation, and Biden was permitted to retake the course after receiving a grade of F in the course, which was subsequently dropped from his record when he retook the class. Biden also released at the same time the record of his grades as an undergraduate which were C's and D's with the exception of two A's in physical education, one B in a course on English writers and an F in ROTC during his first three semesters. His grades improved later in his undergraduate career but were not exceptional. Further, when questioned by a New Hampshire resident about his grades in law school Biden had claimed falsely to have graduated in the "top half" of his class, (when he actually graduated 76th in a class of 85) that he had attended on a full scholarship, and had received three degrees. In fact he had received two majors, History and Political Science, and a single B.A., as well as a half scholarship based on financial need.

Faced with these revelations, Biden withdrew from the nomination race on September 23, 1987, saying his candidacy had been overrun by "the exaggerated shadow" of his mistakes. After Biden withdrew from the race it was learned that the Dukakis campaign had secretly made a video showcasing the Biden/Kinnock comparison and distributed it to news outlets. Dukakis fired John Sasso, his campaign manager and long-time Chief of Staff.

Charleston Tweet-up Pictures

2008-08-19T21:34:00.003-04:00

Thanks to everyone who came to the Tweet-Up. Paul McNeely told me the gathering was so large that the staff at Capitol Roasters asked us to warn them the next time.

Blair and David

Nick and Heather

Heather, Mona, Dan, and Mark

Jason, Robin, Mike, Paul, and Rachelle

Mike, Robin, Rick, Rachelle, David, Nick, Mark, and Dave

Paul and Mike

Mark and Dave

Paul and Blair

Jason and Rick

Thanks to everyone who came. We hope to do another one soon.

The new 304blogs

2008-08-19T15:22:00.000-04:00

We rolled out a new version of 304blogs this morning. If you have any question or suggestions, please put them in the comments.

304blogs in today's Charleston Gazette

2008-08-19T15:21:00.000-04:00

I did this interview with a couple of weeks ago Five questions: Bloggers in search of bloggers

The print version includes pictures of David and myself.

Charleston Twitter Meet-up this Tuesday

2008-08-17T20:21:00.001-04:00

Date: Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Time: 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Location: Capitol Roasters
Street: 160 Summers Street
City/Town: Charleston, WV

304blogs welcomes 17 new blogs

2008-08-04T22:06:00.009-04:00

David updated 304blogs today to included 17 new blogs:

Shouts and Hollers
West Virginia Business Blog
Appalachian Greens
The Glamorous Life of a Hausfrau
Martin Bowling.com
The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra Blog
Jennyville
All Click, No Point
kitchen geeking
Jason Means Photography
Ron's Thots
wventrepreneur
Family Voice
Pimp My WV
Mountain State Motherhood
NONAME
this and that

A guide to biking in a safe and civil manner

2008-08-03T13:42:00.004-04:00

With more people using bikes to save gas, I have been thinking a lot about bicycling lately. Not just cycling, but cycling safely.

This morning I followed a guy, not wearing a helmet, weaving down Capitol Street. Over the past few weeks I have almost been hit by bicycling citizens on Capitol Street. Almost all of them are not wearing helmets and are riding ill fitting bikes showing they care as much about their safety as they do yours.

Before everyone thinks I'm a cycling hater, I'm a avid mountain biker who has many miles under his belt. I advocate biking in a safe, civil manner.

In the interest of educating riders, I point to the State of West Virgina Bicycling Safety page which includes sections on helmets, bike size, hand signals, and first aid.

First there is the helmet. It's for the riders safety, and it should fit correctly. If you decide not to wear a helmet, that's fine. It's your head. On one occasion a helmet probably saved my life. I know it saved my head. I kept the cracked helmet around for a number of years as a reminder to always wear one.

Second there is the bike size. A bike like a suit should be sized correctly. A good bike is like a good suit. Getting it sized correctly, while you might have to make a few adjustments, it will serve you for many years.

Third there is hand signals. Without signal lights and brake lights you really need to let cars, walkers, and other bikers know what you are doing.

Last there is first aid. If you ever take a header, you needed to know how to patch up yourself or your friends. Hopefully you will never need to use it, but you should learn it.

As well as endangering themselves, some riders might be breaking the law. The WV Code sections on bicycling addresses who must wear a helmet and the duties of the person riding a bicycle on public roadways.

§17C-11-2. Traffic laws apply to persons riding bicycles. Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this chapter, except as to special regulations in this article and except as to those provisions of this chapter which by their nature can have no application.

§17C-11-5. Riding on roadways and bicycle paths.(a) Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable, exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction. (b) Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall not ride more than two abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles. (c) Whenever a usable path for bicycles has been provided adjacent to a roadway, bicycle riders shall use such path and shall not use the roadway.

§17C-11-7. Lamps and other equipment on bicycles. (a) Every bicycle when in use at nighttime shall be equipped with a lamp on the front which shall emit a white light visible from a distance of at least five hundred feet to the front and with a red reflector on the rear of a type approved by the department which shall be visible from all distances from fifty feet to three hundred feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful upper beams of head lamps on a motor vehicle. A lamp emitting a red light visible from a distance of five hundred feet to the rear may be used in addition to the red reflector. (b) No person shall operate a bicycle unless it is equipped with a bell or other device capable of giving a signal audible for a distance of at least one hundred feet, except that a bicycle shall not be equipped with nor shall any person use upon a bicycle any siren or whistle. (c) Every bicycle shall be equipped with a brake which will enable the operator to make the braked wheels skid on dry, level, clean pavement.

§17C-11A-4. Requirements for helmet use. (a) It is unlawful for any person under fifteen years of age to operate or be a passenger on a bicycle or any attachment to a bicycle used on a public roadway, public bicycle path or other public right-of-way unless at all times when the person is so engaged he or she wears a protective bicycle helmet of good fit, fastened securely upon the head with the straps of the helmet. (b) It is unlawful for any parent or legal guardian of a person under fifteen years of age to knowingly permit such person to operate or be a passenger on a bicycle or on any attachment to a bicycle used on a public roadway, public bicycle path or other public right-of-way unless at all times when the person is so engaged he or she wears a protective bicycle helmet of good fit, fastened securely upon the head with the straps of the helmet.

I can't find any City of Charleston regulations for bicycles. Can anyone share a link?

304blogs swag

2008-07-31T22:44:00.002-04:00

Visit the 304blogs cafepress store for all your 304blogs swag needs. Products include shirts, stickers, magnets, and mouse pads, and they make great gifts. We are selling everything at cost (we are not making any money off the sales).

Thanks to everyone for your continued support.

Parkersburg has an anonymous crocheter

2008-07-30T13:17:00.001-04:00

Just saw this story on the Parkersburg News and Sentinel site.

An anonymous crocheter has placed colorful crocheted creations in different spots around town, including in City Park by the horseshoe area on a one-way sign, outside the downtown parking garage on a lightpost and by the Wood County courthouse steps on a directional sign to Blennerhassett Island.

In an e-mail sent to The Parkersburg News and Sentinel this morning, a person claiming to be the artist responsible for these creations describes what she is doing by making Parkersburg cozier.

Her work was created to get people to change the way they think of handicrafts, cozies, graffiti, and light poles.

Each piece has a tag which reads "Public Art Courtesy of Los Crochet Locos" and a web address for a blog about the graffiti cozies.

It's good to see the idea of knitted and crocheted graffiti making it to other cities in West Virginia.

304blogs blog button

2008-07-30T10:14:00.001-04:00

Chuck Hamsher, aka Just a Modern Guy, has crafted a very nice 304blogs button for use on blogs listed by 304blogs.com.

Please host his image on your own site. No hot linking please, and the link on the button should be http://304blogs.com.

Thanks to Chuck for doing this for 304blogs.

Sohovich lauches new restaurant

2008-07-29T10:26:00.000-04:00

Soho's and Blossom owner Bill Sohovich is getting ready to launch a new restaurant: Billy's

Sohovich, the owner of Blossom and Soho's, has leased a building in the Southridge Centre off Corridor G, a space once occupied by the barbecue restaurant Smokey Bones.

He is set to open his new restaurant, Billy's, right after Labor Day, in the spot near a Red Lobster, an Olive Garden and a Quaker Steak and Lube.

It's quite a departure for the man best known for serving up osso bucco and beef carpaccio to the lawyers and lawmakers who dine mostly within a mile of so of the state Capitol.

"I'm a downtown man, I am," says Sohovich, 56. "My heart and soul is there. I fought coming up here for a long time, what with the traffic and everything, but, man, this is like hitting the lottery. I walked in and I just knew. This was just it."

What is "it?"

Well, don't call it "home cooking" or "comfort food."

Sohovich plans to open soon after Labor Day.

Chickens in the Road author profiled in the Daily Mail

2008-07-29T08:56:00.002-04:00

The Charleston Daily Mail profiles Chickens in the Road blogger Suzann McMinn.

The sad saga of Marketing Genius from Maple Creative, and the happy ending

2008-07-25T11:19:00.001-04:00

The Charleston Daily Mail has an account today of how the Marketing Genius from Maple Creative blog got taken down, how the deleted blog was then used by spammers, and how it got restored by Google.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Skip Lineberg lost his blog.

Lineberg is the chief creative officer with the local marketing firm Maple Creative. He has a site on the Web known as Marketing Genius, which he uses to discuss marketing strategies.

Skip Lineberg has started a more in-depth account of the events on the restored Marketing Genius from Maple Creative blog.

Fork You has an account of the Underground Kitchen

2008-07-25T07:38:00.000-04:00

The fine folks over at the Fork You blog has an account and pictures from the recent Underground Kitchen gathering.

10-digit dialing practice

2008-07-24T10:47:00.000-04:00

The West Virgnia Public Service Commission wants you to start practicing 10-digit dialing so you will be ready when it becomes mandatory in February of next year: Practice Makes Perfect Dialing

Breaking News: Marketing Genius from Maple Creative is back online!

2008-07-23T15:52:00.003-04:00

Marketing Genius from Maple Creative has been restored to its former glory.

The first rule of Underground Kitchen is...

2008-07-22T20:12:00.002-04:00

...don't talk about Underground Kitchen. The second rule of Underground Kitchen is...(Oh you get the idea.)

Go read Scrabble Crush: NOW there's so much I CAN Tell You About the Underground Kitchen to learn more about the latest Underground Kitchen event, but no talking about Fight Club.

Local adults using Facebook for business networking

2008-07-22T08:29:00.005-04:00

The Charleston Daily Mail has a story on how local adults are using Facebook to network. I know quite a few West Virginians who are using social media to expand their social and business connections.

Skip Lineberg, 42, is chief creative officer at Maple Creative, a Charleston marketing company. He said Facebook has helped him network, recruit, promote events and notify his friends when his company blog is updated.

Lineberg was a member on LinkedIn, a professional networking system. A friend recommended Facebook, saying it would someday take over the business-networking site.

"I still use both," Lineberg said. "To me, LinkedIn is more of a chamber of commerce atmosphere. It's more professional. Facebook is business after hours."

The fun format and interesting ways of staying connected also appeal to the adult crowd.

While many opt for MySpace, the other major social networking site, Morgado believes that site appeals to a younger crowd. He also finds the design unappealing.

He said Facebook is more aesthetically pleasing and its users have more power over their pages.

Maple Creative responds to the hijacking of the Marketing Genius blog

2008-07-21T10:39:00.009-04:00

Jason Keeling helped Maple Creative develop this statement, which has also been released at the ABetterWestVirginia.com blog.

Here is Mapple Creative's entire statement:

Bloggers Beware: Award-Winning Site Hijacked

July 21, 2008 (Charleston, W.Va.) – Since 2004, marketing firm Maple Creative has been sharing professional insights and gaining national recognition via its “Marketing Genius” blog (marketinggenius.blogspot.com). This week, however, Internet cyber-jackers overtook the site and stripped its original content.

Maple Creative’s award-winning blog is now infected with solicitous ads that may be part of a phishing-type scam, according to Skip Lineberg, chief creative officer. He is warning the public not to click on any of the site’s links at present. “Even though I knew what to look for, they still duped me, and I lost my domain,” admits Lineberg. “I am urging all bloggers to be extra careful. I have always been very skeptical of email scams and bogus claims.”

Lineberg says the hackers may have portrayed themselves as Blogger.com representatives, and over the course of several correspondences, they somehow gained control of the “Marketing Genius” blog. Maple Creative is working to regain control of the site, which was hosted by Blogger.com, a subsidiary of Google, Inc. Lineberg contacted Google several days ago to assist in confirming what occurred and helping to rectify the situation. At present, he is still waiting for a response. ”We are going to use this as an opportunity to recover, rejuvenate and re-launch our marketing blog,” Lineberg promised. “Let me be perfectly clear. We will not be deterred by this incident. Instead, we will harness the power of social networks and call upon the tremendous voice of all our friends across the online community to help us prevail. ‘Marketing Genius’ will be up again, soon and stronger than ever.”

For now, readers are advised not to visit the site to avoid potential harm or exposure to malware that spammers have recently placed upon the domain MarketingGenius.blogspot.com. The company plans to notify readers when the blog is re-launched.

About Maple Creative
Maple Creative is a full-service marketing firm based in Charleston, West Virginia. To its diverse clientele Maple delivers comprehensive solutions, which comprise a strategic blend of marketing, advertising, public relations, lobbying and e-business services. Recently, “Advertising Age” recognized Maple’s “Marketing Genius” blog on its Power 150 listing of the most influential media and advertising blogs in the world.

For additional information, please visit MapleCreative.com.

If you had you blog taken over by spammer or if you know someone who had a blog taken over by spammers, please leave a comment or email me. I would like to talk to you.

David and I have left the listing of 'Marketing Genius from Maple Creative' on 304blogs in the hopes that Blogger who respond to Skip's request to give him his blog back soon. For now 'Marketing Genius from Maple Creative' is a listing on 304blogs with no post.

Marketing Genius Blog MIA

2008-07-15T07:46:00.003-04:00

I noticed last night while looking at blogs on 304blogs.com that the Marketing Genius Blog has gone missing in action. I pinged Skip Lineburg last night via Twitter, but it appears this morning that the blog is still down. Skip's Facebook status simply reads, "Dealing with adversity (again) but I'm getting good at it!"

I hope skip and the fine people at Maple Creative gets this figured out soon. I just sent Skip an email in case he wasn't aware of the situation.

Update: Skip has posted an update via Twitter: "Looking for MarketingGenius blog? It was cyber-jacked. We're working to remedy."

ArtWalk

2008-07-15T07:30:00.002-04:00

ArtWalk is this ~~Friday~~ Thursday. I'll be out of town for a wedding, but I encourage you not to miss ArtWalk.

Update: Thanks to Blair for pointing out my mistake.

Fork You reviews Kaifu Japanese Cuisine and Sushi Bar

2008-07-14T22:30:00.001-04:00

Blair and I make an appearance in this Fork You... review of Kaifu Japanese Cuisine and Sushi Bar.

Ten-digit dialing coming to a phone near you

2008-07-07T23:07:00.002-04:00

Until Feb. 28 you can only dial seven digits and still get connected, but the whole thing is rather complicated. The Charleston Sunday Gazette-Mail reports:

Starting July 26, phone customers in West Virginia should begin dialing 10 digits (the area code plus the seven-digit phone number) whenever a local call is placed from the 304 area code.

Customers who forget and dial just seven digits will still be connected. But this "permissive dialing" period will end Feb. 28, 2009, when customers must use the 10-digit dialing procedure for all local calls. After this date, if customers do not dial 10 digits their call will not be completed. A recording will instruct them to hang up and dial again.

Beginning March 28, new telephone lines or services may be assigned numbers with the 681 area code.

This is all part of the transition to a system whereby the state will have two area codes: 304 and 681.

AT&T sent information about the transition to some business customers last week. Verizon is enclosing a brochure about the transition in its July bills. Byron Harris, director of the state Public Service Commission's Consumer Advocate Division, said information about the transition will be on the division's Web site, www.cad.state.wv.us, next week.

We took a chance when we named 304 Blogs with the new area code coming soon, but 304 will be forever be West Virginia's area code as far as most are concerned.

Are you a blogger if you read blogs?

2008-07-07T22:11:00.002-04:00

More and more I hear people refer to people who read blogs as bloggers. Here's an example from WSAZ-TV.

West Virginia has below-average public transportation

2008-07-07T07:32:00.002-04:00

The Associated Press reports West Virginia is one of 26 states that have below-average public transportation.

West Virginia is one of 26 states that have below-average public transportation service, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service. That lack of service is felt hardest in rural states; the federal agency reports that 40 percent of rural counties nationwide have no public transportation at all.

"On average, rural Americans drive older vehicles, more fuel-thirsty vehicles, and they travel farther to work and to shop,'' said Brian Dabson, president and CEO of the Rural Policy Research Institute in Columbia, Mo.

With few other options, rural Americans have to drive, which can mean a much bigger expense in areas where per capita income is below the national average.

Central City Cafe Follow-Up

2008-07-03T15:04:00.002-04:00

The Central City Cafe has seen an increase in customers after being featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Drives.

The comfortable eatery is expanding its business - now selling to customers trekking to town just to eat there - all because of a short clip that aired on the Food Network's "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" earlier this month.

Luther said he owes thanks to another local eatery - Hillbilly Hotdogs.

"(The Food Network crew) was here filming Hillbilly Hotdogs and Rocco's and the truck stop in Olive Hill, Ky., and they asked the people at Hillbilly Hotdogs where they could film another place in the area and they sent them down here, so we're very thankful for that," Luther said.

The clip originally aired on the Food Network on June 15, and Luther said he's seen a bit of a change in the amount of customers he's had.

"We've had a small increase in the number of people coming," Luther said. "I'm excited about the phone calls I get...I've gotten calls from St. Louis, Denver - you name it. People just say they're going to be in the area and they want to stop by and they want to know my menu. I don't have fax machines or anything like that so I try to explain to them over the phone what we have here. It's exciting to know that people 2000 miles away are thinking about you."

I wonder how long it will before we see the Rocco's footage?

Six new blogs and one photostream have been added to 304blogs.com

2008-07-01T22:56:00.001-04:00

Six new blogs and one photostream have been added to 304blogs.com.

WV State’s Douglass Institute Blog
Mitch's Random
DC Comictician on Star Trekiology
Reversing the Numbness
Have Your Pill Today?
Communities United Against Hate
Flickr: The HUNTINGTON WV Pool

If you want to be added to 304blogs.com comment or send me an email.

Twummize.com

2008-06-28T19:53:00.000-04:00

Bummed that Twitter replies are not working. Try Twummize.com - For all you lazy bastards ;-) - Powered by @martinbowling & @rustyfelty

This is another example of two West Virginia guys doing some really cool tools in the world of Web 2.0.

There is nothing like a Monty's pizza

2008-06-28T09:58:00.003-04:00

I thought my favorite pizza place from college, Monty's Pizza, had closed. According to the Herald-Dispatch Monty's is alive and well and has expanded to several locations. Monty's servers New York-style pizza unlike any other I've ever had in West Virginia. Take my advice and order a large bag of another West Virginia favorite, Mister Bee's Potato Chips to go along with your large Monty's pizza.

A home-sick Billy Crystal, who came to Marshall on a baseball scholarship but left after a year because the program was suspended, is said to have spent most of his free time at Monty's. He said their pizza reminded him of home.

Huntington Bloggers Meet-up Update

2008-06-27T12:09:00.001-04:00

Update: The venue has changed from the Java Joint to FlapJacks on 15th street and 3rd Avenue.

Time and Place
Date: Saturday, June 28, 2008
Time: 11:00am - 1:00pm
Location: FlapJacks
Street: 15th Street and 3rd Ave.
City/Town: Huntington, WV

For more information contact: misfitina@gmail.com or visit her blog at Maura's Bliss Adventures.

Free East End wireless up and running

2008-06-25T07:56:00.003-04:00

I've been using it one of the test sites at the Bluegrass Kitchen for a couple of weeks now. There will be a press conference on Thursday to announce the other phases of the project.

Some residents of Charleston's East End already have free wireless Internet access, and the rest should have it by the end of the year, the program manager for East End Main Street said Tuesday.

After months of delays, the free wireless Internet has been in testing mode for the last month, Ric Cavender said.

On Thursday, East End Main Street officials, along with Gov. Joe Manchin and Charleston Mayor Danny Jones, will announce more details about the project. The news conference is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Thursday in front of the East End mural in the 400 block of Elizabeth Street. Attendees should bring laptop computers, Cavender said.

About 200 users have logged on to test the East End wireless network in the last 2 1/2 weeks, he said - pretty good considering East End Main Street didn't announce the test.

The other half of 304blogs.com, David Epp, AKA The West Virginia Optimist, is a volunteer on the project.

New blogs added to 304blogs.com

2008-06-23T23:00:00.002-04:00

We have added eight new blogs to 304blogs.com this evening. If you are not on 304blogs.com and don't see you blog below and want to be added, email me or leave a comment.

Underground Kitchen
Mythology
Destinaion Unknown
Staying Connected
Chickens in the Road
Point, Click, Shoot
Direct Online Marketing
Buzzardbilly: Appalachian Being

304blogs.com in this week's Graffti

2008-06-21T21:27:00.001-04:00

Thanks to Bryan Stealey who wrote a very nice piece about 304blogs.com in this week's Graffiti.

It should be pointed out that 304blogs.com is a join project with David Epp, aka Dave, aka The West Virginia Optimist. David is responsible for all the coding, updating, and maintaince of the site, and the idea for the site was as much his as it was mine. Without David there would be no 304blogs.com.

David and I are currently working on a new project which should launch soon. Stay tuned.

Huntington Bloggers Meet-up

2008-06-21T17:53:00.003-04:00

Update: The venue has changed from the Java Joint to FlapJacks on 15th street and 3rd Avenue.

Time and Place
Date: Saturday, June 28, 2008
Time: 11:00am - 1:00pm
Location: FlapJacks
Street: 15th Street and 3rd Ave.
City/Town: Huntington, WV

For more information contact: misfitina@gmail.com or visit her blog at Maura's Bliss Adventures.

All bloggers welcome regardless where they are from.

I have a lot of things going on next weekend but I'm going to try to attend.

FestivALL interactive map

2008-06-21T01:05:00.001-04:00

It's FestivALL time again. Be sure to check out the Charleston Newspapers FestivALL interactive map.

Building the New WV Stereotype: Technology

2008-06-19T20:56:00.004-04:00

Jeff James says to overcome old stereotypes we must build new stereotypes.

When most people think of West Virginia they might think of our white water rafting, skiing, fishing, biking, or sightseeing. The truth is West Virginia is full of some very smart people working on some very cool technology.

Many know the FBI has a facility near Clarksburg where they process all the bureau's fingerprints, but did you know the Department of Housing and Urban Development processes all of its data at the former Union Carbide data center in South Charleston. When you go to hud.gov, make payments to HUD, receive payments from HUD, or do any other sort of transaction with HUD, it is all processed in South Charleston.

Wheeling is the home of the National Technology Transfer Center. The National Technology Transfer Center works with universities and government to move technology from the lab to the commercial world. Their clients include NASA and MSHA.

West Virginia schools score high in their use of technology in the classroom. In March, the state received an overall score of 95.3 in a national report.

But technology in West Virginia isn't just about government agencies or quasi-governmental agencies. It's about people like Kevin Smith. Kevin is a 20-year-old student at Marshall University who built SecretTweet.com. SecretTweet.com is a service, much like Post Secret, that lets people post anonymous secrets to Twitter.

Paul Helmick is the entrepreneur behind State Newsline. State Newsline is a nationwide news aggregation site that puts news sources for each state on one page, so you can conveniently scan news headlines. Paul calls himself a serial entrepreneur. In the past 15 years he has help found eight companies. He was a co-founder of CityNet. CityNet is West Virginia's first and largest internet service provider. CityNet has grown to service 17 states and Washington, DC.

Then there is Dr. Lee Kraus. As Jeff James points out in another post, Lee is a nationally-known expert in e-learning and a progressive "Web 2.0" guru.

These are just a few examples of technology in West Virginia. Add yours in the comments.

Happy West Virginia Day everyone!

Follow me on Twitter

2008-06-19T07:54:00.001-04:00

http://twitter.com/oncee

Bloggers unite to confront stereotypes

2008-06-19T07:30:00.001-04:00

The Gazette story about the A Better West Virginia project to combat stereotypes is in this morning's paper. Thanks to Jason for putting all of this together. I will post my part this evening.

304blogs.com briefs

2008-06-18T05:16:00.002-04:00

Picture West Virginia has gone on hiatus. The moderator Bryan Stealey says: "This blog hasn’t quite worked out like I expected it to, so I’m going to put it on hiatus for a while. I have an idea for a version of PWV that might work out much better, and I’m going to be thinking about that for a while. In the meantime, feel free to stop by my personal blog at Reversing the Numbness."

Josie over at Create West Virginia asks What's the Fuss About Bilingual Signs?: "Buzz around Charleston regarding the recent signage in Spanish and English for FestivALL has brought about some interesting conversation. Some people are offended, others are saying 'it's about time' and many are apathetic."

The folks over at Fork You review Cafe Cimino in Sutton, WV. Susan says: "Who would have ever thought a place like Café Cimino could be found in the little town of Sutton, West Virginia? I had heard a lot of hype about this place and finally had an opportunity to dine there at the end of a day on the nearby Sutton Lake with friends."

For more great WV blogs and photostreams check out 304blogs.com.

WV Blogger meet-up with the Charleston Gazette

2008-06-17T21:25:00.004-04:00

Some WV bloggers got together at Capitol Roasters today to discuss Jason Keeling's A Better West Virginia project for West Virginia day. Jason sent a email yesterday about the project to the bloggers that attended Saturday's meet-up.

June 16, 2008

Dear W.Va. Bloggers:

Saturday’s meeting to prepare for the June 20 “aBetterWestVirginia Day” blogging project was very productive. After much discussion of West Virginia’s image, attendees recognized our blogging effort should serve to “define West Virginia from the inside out” and create “new stereotypes” of the state.

Your involvement is welcomed, and should you feel compelled, HERE’S THE BREAKDOWN:

· PREPARE a simple blog post that communicates your vision for a “NEW STEREOTYPE” of West Virginia. Feel free to discuss initiatives, events, people, places, opportunities, etc., that help to positively “DEFINE WEST VIRGINIA FROM THE INSIDE OUT.” There are no right/wrong answers. Your individual thoughts and perspective serve as the fuel for this effort.

· PUBLISH your blog post evening of June 19, or preferably, during early morning on June 20.

· NOTIFY me via email (jason@keelingstrategic.com) soon as you’ve posted. I’ll create a central listing of “aBetterWestVirginia Day” blog posts at www.aBetterWestVirginia.com, and news media across the state will be referred there.

Sincerely,

Jason Keeling

p.s. – Feel free to circulate this message to other bloggers and know that I am available for your questions/comments.

Today a few of us had a follow-up meet-up where we were interviewed by Sarah K. Winn of the Charleston Gazette.

Jason Keeling, Sarah K. Winn, and my MacBook Air

Chip Ellis and Sarah K. Winn

Sarah K. Winn and Todd Beane

Bob Coffield and Sarah Cooper

Emily Bennington and Rick Lee

The story should run in Thursday's Gazette.

Sarah Cooper has already started a discussion about West Virginia stereotypes on her blog.

Update: Rick Lee and Sarah Cooper also have photos. Rick's photos are here. Sarah's photostream is here.

Central City Cafe on 'Diner, Drives-ins and Dives'

2008-06-17T07:56:00.002-04:00

I think I got the date wrong. The show aired on Sunday night. I though it had aired last Sunday.

We got it on Tivo. Guy and the crew spent two whole minutes highlighting the corn bread and white chili.

For some reason WSAZ-TV reports it aired last night.

Books for bloggers

2008-06-16T23:21:00.003-04:00

On Saturday there was some conversation about books for bloggers. Especially those who are new to blogging or need to sell blogging to the others in the organization.

5 Influential Books All Bloggers Should Know is a nice round-up. My favorite is The Cluetrain Manifesto. It is the bible to those who started blogging in the 90s. "Market are conversations."

One book that is missing from the list is The Wisdom of Crowds.

What books do you recommend?

Marketing Genius named to AdAge Power 150

2008-06-15T09:15:00.001-04:00

Congrats to marketing geniuses skip Lineberg and the other folks over at Marketing Genius blog, who have been named to the AdAge Power 150 list of most influential advertising and media blogs.

Charleston's Underground Kitchen

2008-06-14T20:08:00.006-04:00

I've heard rumors and overheard conversations about a underground dining club in Charleston. I just discovered that they are less underground than I first thought. In fact they have a website and a blog.

You can find out how it works at this link, and sign up for the next one by following this link. They also have a recipes page.

They says:

The UNDERGROUND KITCHEN is not a restaurant. It's like a giant dinner party with great friends you haven't met yet. And a surprise menu prepared from local ingredients by hometown gourmands.

They say their first event was a success on all counts:

Our goal was simple: lure unsuspecting charlestonians to an undisclosed location, feed them a delicious meal, and have enough fun that we feel like doing this again. Charleston’s very first UNDERGROUND KITCHEN was a success on all counts.

A Better West Virginia blogger meet-up

2008-06-14T17:34:00.005-04:00

Great meet-up today with several West Virginia bloggers to discuss a project for Jason Keeling's A Better West Virginia blog, and to discuss blogs, Twitter, and other new media in general.

Rebecca Burch, Jason Keeling, and Rick Lee

Rick Lee and Skip Lineberg

Bob Coffield and Jeff James

Mona Seghatoleslami and Todd Beane

Update: Rick Lee has posted his photos of the meet-up. He also got a link from instapundit yesterday as well, which might explain the increase in traffic I've see in the past 24 hours.

Loft Walk

2008-06-13T07:28:00.000-04:00

Generation Charleston took a loft walk yesterday. They looked a lofts in the old Kanawha Banking and Trust building and loft properties at on the Boulevard. I live downtown, and it's good to see other interesting in living downtown. There are a number of building ripe for loft development.

Midway Drive-in Re-opens

2008-06-12T07:15:00.000-04:00

As noted on the West Virginia Hot Dog Blog last week, the Midway Drive-in re-opened Wednesday in Huntington. Some say they make the best hotdog in town. Huntington has a long tradition of great drive-ins. There are other wonderful drive-ins still opened in Huntington. Of course there are the various Stewart's Hot Dogs locations, and my favorite, Frost Top, on 16th street.

Midway Drive-in is on West Sixth Avenue beside Colonial Lanes.

Press 2 for Spanish

2008-06-11T21:45:00.001-04:00

Press 2 for Spanish is a city-wide installation piece from local artist Amy Williams for FestivALL.

FestivALL 2008: A City Becomes a Work of Art

2008-06-10T21:43:00.001-04:00

As Bob Coffield points out, it's almost FestivALL time again. With such a full schedule of events it will be hard to see it all. While I can't seem to find it on the official schedule of events, the Unknown Hinson comes to town on June 22. I've never seen him, but I've been told Unknown puts on a heck of a show. Unknown's website list the Empty Glass as the venue, but I saw a flyer this weekend that list the performance at Coonskin Park. Can anyone shed any light on this?

Many of you might know Unknown Hinson as the voice of Early Cuyler on the Adult Swim show The Squidbillies. Unknown has toured with Hank3 and the Rev. Horton Heat. He lists Billy Bob Thornton and Matt Groening among his fans.

The dying tie industry

2008-06-08T11:14:00.001-04:00

Gallup reports only 6 percent of American men wear ties to work, down from 10 percent in 2002.

WASHINGTON -- There's alarming news on the cultural front. After 60 years, the Men's Dress Furnishing Association, its membership down from 120 to 25, is disbanding. The association is the trade group of American necktie makers.

This could leave us naked to the looming menace of foreign neckwear, but that doesn't seem to matter much anymore because a key reason for the group's demise is that men no longer seem to be wearing neckties.

All of this was front-page news in The Wall Street Journal, whose readers constitute perhaps the last great bastion of tie-wearers in the United States. But, according to a Gallup poll cited in the story, only 6 percent of American males wear ties to work, down from 10 percent in 2002.

That seems low to me but maybe not. On MSNBC's "Morning Joe," host Joe Scarborough doesn't wear a tie nor do any of the other males on the show except conservative voice Pat Buchanan, very much a traditionalist and maybe the exception that proves the rule. When a conservative Republican ex-congressman eschews a tie it means this trend has struck deep into the body politic.

Walking along Capitol Street you will see many professional men not wear ties. Some wear suits without ties. I don't wear a tie because in the computer field it can be a safety hazard.

Yet the Gallup Poll results seem high to me. Is the tie dead? Do you wear a tie? If not why not?

Central City Cafe on 'Dinner, Drive-Ins, and Drives' this weekend

2008-06-06T02:36:00.002-04:00

Hillbilly Hotdogs isn't the only Huntington restaurant to get the Food Network treatment. Dinners, Drive-Ins, and Drives also made a visit to Central City Cafe on 14th Street West.

The episode that features "Comfort Food" will show host Guy Fieri showcasing the Huntington cafe's cornbread, as well a Baltimore cafe with a variety of French Toast, a third-generation family place in San Antonio with comfort food Texas-style and a bakery-turned-restaurant in south Florida.

You can catch Guy Fieri's visit this Sunday at 11 pm or June 15; 2 a.m. and 10 p.m., Monday, June 16; 1 a.m., June 17; 4 p.m., June 22; 9 p.m. June 27; midnight June 28; 1 p.m. June 30; 10:30 p.m. July 21, 1:30 a.m. July 22.

Update: I missed it. Did any one get to see it and have a reaction?

304blogs.com

2008-06-04T17:19:00.002-04:00

Today David, aka The West Virginia Optimist, launched a new site with the idea of bringing all the good West Virginia blogs together to one easy to read and navigate web page.

Leave a comment if you want your blog to be added or if you have any comments or suggestions.

The Charleston Gazette adds comments for stories

2008-06-01T10:16:00.001-04:00

The Charleston Gazette has enabled comment's on stories. This mornings story about the continuing flap over the degree scandal involving the governor's daughter (linked above) has 14 comments so far this morning.

Morgan Spurlock goes underground

2008-05-31T11:23:00.000-04:00

West Virginia native Morgan Spurlock goes underground for the first episode of the third season of "30 Days". The new season starts on Tuesday June 3 on FX.

FX will open the third season of its documentary series "30 Days" by sending creator Morgan Spurlock underground.

In the first of two installments Spurlock will participate in, he'll return to his home state of West Virginia and work in a coal mine for a month. He'll work both above and below ground in Pineville, W. Va., and live with a mining family. The show is scheduled to begin its third season on Tuesday, June 3.

Mothman attacks

2008-05-26T23:52:00.000-04:00

If $4 Gas Is Bad, Just Wait

2008-05-26T23:49:00.000-04:00

If $4 Gas Is Bad, Just Wait - MarketWatch

The price of gas could continue to climb. In a worse case scenario reported by MarketWatch a gallon of gas could cost $6 to $7 in the next six months to two years. All of this depends on oil going up to $200 a barrel.

Many analysts consider $4-a-gallon retail gasoline across the U.S. a foregone conclusion this summer driving season, a period of typically peak demand, but those estimates take only current record-high oil prices into account. Thursday, light, sweet crude futures breached $135 a barrel, more than double the price a year ago.
If oil hits $200 a barrel, which is the upper end of Goldman Sach's prediction for prices over the next six months to two years, the gasoline picture changes quite dramatically. At $200 a barrel, crude alone would cost $4.76 a gallon. Add on the costs of refining and distributing as well as taxes, and pump prices could rise to a range of $6 to $7 a gallon.
U.S. drivers haven't radically changed their behavior, and it is unclear at what price it becomes unprofitable for Americans to go about their usual day-to-day activities, said Eric DeGesero, executive vice president of the Fuel Merchants Association of New Jersey.

Many American drivers already think it is too expensive to go about their daily business. The price of diesel has already topped $5 a gallon. Most goods are shipped via trucks. Trains run on diesel. Now would be a bad time to be in the shipping business. Look for the rates for shipping for both food and books from Amazon.com increase because the price of fuel will be passes along to consumers. Inflated fuel prices will speed inflation in other sectors of the economy.

The only thing drivers can do now is drive less: less demand will help bring down the cost of gas. And hope and pray we never see $7 a gallon gas.

Vacation in your own back yard

2008-05-26T13:08:00.001-04:00

The Charleston Gazette's guide to taking a vacation in the Kanawha Valley.

Jake the dog

2008-05-26T12:56:00.000-04:00

Abe and Mary Lincoln at the Vandalia Gathering

2008-05-26T12:54:00.000-04:00

Business owners flood health department with smoking ban questions

2008-05-26T12:39:00.000-04:00

Business owners flood health department with smoking ban questions

Some business owners are trying to get around the ban by building outdoor decks. I know of another that is turning their bar area into a private club. According to this article neither will get them around the ban.

SecretTweet.com

2008-05-26T12:34:00.000-04:00

SecretTweet.com - Post your secrets anonymously to Twitter is a site by a 20-year-old Marshall University student. It's good to see someone doing a cool project locally.

New Southern Kitchen owner wants to reopen

2008-05-26T12:33:00.003-04:00

New Southern Kitchen owner wants to reopen

Let's hope it will be as good as it used to be.

MinniPurl on vandalism vs. art

2008-05-17T18:38:00.000-04:00

Graffiti: Vandalism or Art? By MinniPurl

Here are a couple of local election stories that the local press missed

2008-05-13T10:58:00.001-04:00

Wonkette: Barack Obama Plays Pool in West Virginia!

AP: Clinton's rise and shine surprise

A visit to Hillbilly Hotdogs

2008-05-10T21:15:00.006-04:00

We visited Hillbilly Hotdogs today at their original Lesage location.

Thanks to the recent visit by the Food Network, the lines are long.

Oncee was here.

People risk life and limb and park across Rt. 2.

Parking was a mess. The place has a very small parking lot.

According to the website, you can know own your own franchise.

The hotdogs were ok. The sauce was a little spicy, and the slaw was a little too creamy for my taste. The whole dog had a salty taste to it.

Bill Clinton loves mothers and Blenko Glass

2008-05-10T09:00:00.001-04:00

Former President Bill Clinton arrived 90 minutes late for an appearance in St. Albans yesterday because he insisted on shopping at Blenko Glass in Milton for Mother's Day gifts.

The former president spoke to about 400 people in a hot gymnasium, starting about 90 minutes late. A spokeswoman said Clinton was late because he insisted on shopping at the Blenko glass factory in Milton for Mother's Day gifts.

Clinton reportedly found plenty of gifts, and he also found an enthusiastic crowd, not yet ready to hand the Democratic nomination over to Illinois Sen. Barack Obama.

Fine dining in Craigsville

2008-05-08T01:51:00.000-04:00

The Charleston Gazette - Food & Dining - There's fine dining in the pastures of Nicholas County. I hope to try this place soon.

(Bloody Butcher corn has been grown by the Meadows family for seven generations, ever since an ancestor brought some home when she escaped from Indian captivity. The Meadowses grew it every year, made corn bread or slopped it to the hogs. Then several West Virginia chefs suggested that the cornmeal be ground finer, for polenta. Now The Greenbrier and other fine restaurants offer it on their menus.)

Lunches include rosemary foccacia topped by a mix of portabellas and goat cheese with drizzles of honey and balsamic vinegar. Salads come with a variety of dressings, including their own strawberry vinaigrette.

And there's that famous Bloody Butcher polenta - with a twist: Riffle mixes it with goat cheese, then sautés it in garlic butter. There are sandwiches, wraps and burgers, including one with a half-pound of buffalo meat.

Lunch desserts include sister Susie's double-layer double chocolate cake, and family patriarch Edgar Meadows' favorite, the banana creme tort, with flaky pastry and strawberry sauce.

But we came at sundown, when the Greek salad caught the eye of our friend, who shared it with me. Red onion, kalamatas, feta and romaine all made a pleasant start for her raspberry creme lamb chops.

Schwabe-May to close May 17

2008-05-08T01:48:00.000-04:00

After nearly 130 years in business, Charleston clothing store Schwabe-May to close May 17.

After nearly 130 years in business, Schwabe-May is closing on May 17, owner Lynne Schwabe said.

"I'm very sad," she said Wednesday. "The business has been with some part of the Schwabe family since the 1880s. I'm very sad for our employees and very sad for our loyal customers."

The changing retail habits of customers and Schwabe's personal issues have made the closure necessary, she said.