DORKTOWN

Fresnans and podcasts

2007-11-12T18:23:00.000-08:00

So you're caught up on the latest Dorktown podcasts right?

Like Episode 50 when the Roller Grrls taught us a lesson or two. Or Episode 52 when we said goodbye to Bryan Zera, and Producer Becky fuckin' BROUGHT IT! How about the most current one, Episode 53, when we sold out to "Locked and Loaded" the penis accessory folks.

Get back into the Fresno Dork!

And, if you have caught up, please check out my blog called The Fresnan and waste some time with that while we plan the next show (likely over Thanksgiving weekend).

Thanks for all the damn support Dorks!

-Mikey

mike@dorktown.net

Fresdork moves up to Fresgeek

2007-10-07T15:32:00.000-07:00

I've been writing this blog for a long time (in blog years). It started over here but the Dorktown Podcast took that over and I moved my blog over here.

Well, I'm moving again.

Please check out my new website over at thefresnan.com. There will still be some posts here but all of the posts will be over there and eventually this blog will be just archives.

Sorry for the little hicup and I hope everyone that's subscribed to the Dorktown blog will join us over at The Fresnan.

Less dork, more geek.

HELMET KICKS CLUB FRED'S ASS

2007-10-03T22:02:00.000-07:00

Alt Metal Gods HELMET played Club Fred in Fresno last night and The Fresnan was there. I call them Gods because that's what I think they are. Singer Page Hamilton IS a genius and, after all these years, I finally saw his genius in action, in one of my favorite clubs (and I've got the audio and video proof)

First off, you can download this audio clip of Page telling the Club Fred crowd a story from Helmet's previous visit to Fresno and how they helped a heat-stroked Fresno teen: Page'sFresnoStory.mp3

Now check a metal hair fueled video clip of the show and (most importantly) the moshpit:

Fresno on the in looking outside

2007-09-29T09:50:00.000-07:00

Recently, a neighborhood blogging website called outside.in did a list of America's Bloggiest Cities. Boston and Philly were determined to be the top cities for local bloggging.

Fresno didn't make the top ten. Fresno wasn't even in their top 54.

Boise and Reno were amongst those 54 cities. OH HELLLL NO! They can kick our ass in football, but they can't blog better than us...can they?

This could not stand.

So I took it upon myself to write a smart and scathing email to outside.in...alright, it wasn't smart or even scathing...I just begged them to include Fresno on their website. It worked. This is the quote I got back:

Thanks for the heads up about Fresno! You were right, Fresno is definitely outside.in city-worthy. Enjoy!

Hells yes. Fresno is on the blogging map and gaining ground in the blogsphere. So if you have a Fresno blog that would fit the site or just want to point out some places that should be on the Fresno page, go on over and check it out.

Here we come Boise, you blogging badasses.

---
*Speaking of Fresno blogging, I've started a new Fresno blog, please check it out at www.thefresnan.com and tell me what ya think.
[where: 93704]

Working hard to bring more geek

2007-09-26T22:50:00.000-07:00

Couple quiet days on the Dorktown blog. No, we haven't been reorganizing our comic books.

The Dorks of Dorktown are building a new blog. A better blog ... well a different blog anyhow.

Eventually this blog will turn more geek than dork. Is there a difference? Find out soon.

Go Derby it up next time

2007-09-24T17:31:00.000-07:00

If you haven't been to a Fresno Roller Derby, you've been missin' out. Dorktown went for ya THIS TIME. And took some of our un-famous atmosphere video:

SCRG Video

R U Serious? Possible X-Games in Fresno?

2007-09-20T17:32:00.000-07:00

Rumor around town is the X-Games folks will be looking at the progress of the new Vagabond Skatepark with thoughts of MOVING THE X-GAMES TO FREEKING FRESNO!

This would be gi-fuggin-gantic for Fresno and put us on the hip-city map; and would help in keeping many of the coveted young-creative types.

The city needs to move heaven and earth to help the Fresno X-games a reality. Even MORE then they have done for the Trumpster.

Fresno can now map out where to get buzzed after work

2007-09-18T17:21:00.000-07:00

You're at work. It's 4:45 and you're waisting company time on the internet, trying to figure out where to go eat after work. But wait, you don't just want to eat, you want to get wasted too! But on the cheap.

That means only one thing: HAPPY HOUR!

Now there's a website you can go to and find where the happy hours are in town. Just try mappyhour.com and click the Fresno pin and you're all set to drink - Just make sure to get off the streets before the checkpoints open for business, amigo.

Unfortunately, there's only a couple of locally owned businesses on there so far, so I encourage you owners and managers out there to change that.

Buttoms Up time with Van Halen, Fresno

2007-09-17T23:18:00.000-07:00

It has been hinted at, but now it's official: Break out your assless chaps because Van Halen is coming to Fresno November 29th.

Saturday. 10:00 AM. Save Mart Center. Tickets. Get Them. (Even if Eddie has turned sober asshole to Mikie.)

Too bad the show isn't going to be at Selland Arena, like it was in 79.

"BOTTOMS UP" in 79!

Now check out "Beautiful Girls" 07 style. Wolfie is no Mikie with the vocals:

Curfew annoying dancing in River Park

2007-09-17T14:04:00.000-07:00

Fresno, what would be more annoying to walk through at River Park? Groups of loud asshole teens, or groups of loud salsa dancers? Dude, I'd say the dancers. YOU DECIDE:

Does umm...River Park have a dance permit?

[where: 93720]

Mustache giving Bee critic bad advice

2007-09-16T22:52:00.000-07:00

The Bee's Rick Bentley is showing his age. It's time for Heather or somebody with some young critic blood to help Old Grey Mustache out.

Rick disagreed with "30 Rock" winning an Emmy for best comedy:

Maybe it was a dream. Please someone wake me up. "30 Rock" could not have been named best comedy. Alec Baldwin is the only funny part of the show and he did not win. The win by NBC's "30 Rock" makes the dream about being in front of a class, naked and without your homework seem rather tame.

Sorry Greystache, but "30 Rock" is funny as hell and it's been a long time since a woman as smart and funny as Tina Fey has hit comedy. Even longer then it takes to trim that stache.

I got "pinched" at the Alice in Chains concert

2007-09-13T19:28:00.000-07:00

Dude I got caught Wednesday night. Caught trying to sneak my camera and mini-recorder into Selland as I attempted to get into the Sparta, AIC, Velvet Revolver show. So I have no video clips, pictures or audio liked I'd planned for this blog.

But I have gathered some opinion of how the bands did:

SPARTA
They were great...from what I saw of them. I was late getting into the arena due to my botched equipment sneak-in so I only saw one song. But, they must have played for only fifteen minuets because they were done by 7:20. What the hell? I know they're the opening band but give them some time....geezzz. Sparta is a real underrated band. I hope for great things for 'em (yeah, like they need my hope).

ALICE IN CHAINS
New singer William Duval was dead on. And it didn't feel like he was trying to mimic Layne, it just sounded good. I closed my eyes a couple times and it sounded like I was at a Chains concert in '93 or something. It made me want to bust out my AIC box set. Still, that being said, nobody can replace Staley. The band's performance also confirmed what I already knew: Jerry Cantrell is the heart and soul of AIC. He is actually the one member they could not go on without.

VELVET REVOLVER
They came out to a half-empty Selland Arena that consisted of mostly Alice and Chains fans and put on a good rock show. It was the first show I've been to where there were less people for the headliner then an opening band. Slash, Weiland and the rest of Revolver stuck it out though and gave Fresno a good ROCK show.

I imagine if Axl was there to sing that night, he would have took one look at the half filled arena and told everybody "FUCK OFF! NO SHOW FOR YOU FRESNO!"

Here's something for the fellow AIC geeks out there that weren't at the show. Alice in Chains' set list from the Fresno show:

AGAIN

GRIND

WE DIE YOUNG

THEM BONES

DAMN THAT RIVER

RAIN WHEN I DIE

NUTSHELL

DIRT

ANGRY CHAIR

MAN IN THE BOX

WOULD?

ROOSTER

If you'd like to read some more reviews of the Fresno show, check out the comments on Mike Oz's blog. Or, how about this? Leave us your own review, or just your AIC feelings, as a comment to this blog!

MORE CONCERT REVIEWS:
-My Type of Crowd
-Gynocide
-Ed Stew'
[where: 93704]

Velvet who gives a shit

2007-09-11T23:18:00.000-07:00

Dorktown is damn excited to see Alice in Chains tomorrow. We're even excited to see new singer William Duvall. From everything I've heard, he sounds pretty damn good.

However, not excited to see Revolver and Roses. Notice how not many people are giving a shit about them? Everyone is talking about Alice. Too bad Mike Oz interviewed Slash instead of Chains guitarist Cantrell.

Look to this blog Thursday night for a Concert wrap up. Meantime, here's some raw video from a recent AIC set:

Fresno with a side of insecure Fresnan

2007-09-09T20:25:00.000-07:00

Call me an insecure Fresnan but I love finding out what other people think of Fresno or, in this case, of Fresno State.

The Houston Chronicle's Ben Solomon wrote today how Fresno was robbed of a game they were supposed to steal.

And some Fresno exerts from Red State Diaries (Who knew red state folk could write a non-political blog?). He wrote a live blog about on the day in college football:

5:24 p.m. Fresno State has the ball inside the Texas A&M 10, down eight in the fourth quarter. Do this one thing for me, Pat Hill.
6:27 p.m. After roughly 30 years of instant replay, Fresno hits a field goal, and we go to double OT at A&M.
6:34 p.m. Touchdown, Fresno State! The team not coached by Dennis Franchione takes the lead. And there was much rejoicing. Except from Jackie Sherrill, who is still in the broadcast booth.
7:01 p.m. Heartbreaker for Fresno State. A&M hangs on to win in three overtimes, 47-45. As good as the Bulldogs are, though, Oklahoma isn't Fresno State. Neither is Texas or Texas Tech, for that matter. Franchione has some long days ahead of him if the Aggies don't step it up. Somehow, I'll hold back my tears.

Lastly, there's this ummm, I guess, "character" named Coach FuManchu.

Smog City Dorks

2007-09-04T19:58:00.000-07:00

Friday night, find a computer, grab a beer and watch as Fresno's own Roller Grrls, Smog City, appear before the Dorktown Podcast's microphones and Webcam, live.

This is a unique online event that shouldn't be missed. You can even join a live chat room and ask the Grrls (or hosts Mikey and Bells) questions of your own. And, if you know host Bells and you know the Roller Girls, the questions should get rude...we hope.

*(Contact mike@dorktown.net with any questions about the show.)

The "Grrls" will be drinkin' with us and talking about this:

Shields 97 Cent Store fire

2007-09-03T17:56:00.000-07:00

Video and pictures of the 97 cent store fire that happened Labor Day:

Video of the fire

Picture stream of the: 97 Cent Store Fire

Funky Fresno State atmoshphere

2007-09-03T13:12:00.000-07:00

Dorktown sucks at recording videos. I admit it. They are not so much for look-at-our-quality-of-production, more for atmosphere. One day we'll get all professional and stuff.

Until that day, here's some atmosphere from the Fresno State vs. Sacramento State game this past Saturday: Fresno State Game Video

FRESNO ST. TAILGATE BLOG: UPDATE 2

2007-09-01T14:08:00.000-07:00

Nerd blogging experiment alert! Trying our first timeline blog from the parking lots of Fresno State, before the Sac' State vs Fresno State game. If (and that's a big IF) we can get some internet connections. Refresh this blog throughout the day, up until tonight's game.

TIME: 2:15 BEERS DRANK: 0 HOT LADIES SEEN: 0 COACH FUMANCHU SIGHTINGS: 0
Heading out to purchase some fine beers and pickup Reggie the Caruthers Connection. Hope the next blog comes from Dorktown's tailgate party. If you see nothing updated below this post by five, then it didn't work...and we suck.

TIME: 12:10 AM - SATURDAY NIGHT:
Yes, well aahh, obviously, the live blogging didn't work. There was actually free WiFi but I couldn't get my official POS Dorktown Laptop to connect to it. So there ya go.

The Bulldogs won. Pat Hill's the most boring play caller in history. Enough said.

A season of blogging and beer begins...maybe

2007-09-01T00:57:00.000-07:00

Saturday, Dorktown's gonna begin a season of blogging from our Fresno State football tailgates. I hope to be doing it live, but that's unlikely. We are starting out in the Library lot then moving on to the North Gym lot. If I can pick up some magical wireless Internet in one of the lots (real doubtful), I'll be doing a timeline blog from our tailgate.

I will try to start close to 4:00. If you're around your computer before the game, check it out, you might find some nerd blogging as he downs Negra Modelos.

Dorktown's braving the heat like good Fresno soldiers. Lets hope it doesn't bring folks down like it did last year when EMTs had to get involved:

I'm not the only one blogging about Fresno State today. Check this crazyass blog I found: Coach Fumanchu Blog

Late night Beyonce action

2007-08-29T23:09:00.000-07:00

I'd always wanted to have a blog that just posted crap late at night, with a running timeline. But I immediately realized: Nobody would be there to read it dumbass!

Mike Oz proved Tuesday that a late night ~~nerdy~~ bloggy idea can be done, all with somebody actually reading it. In fact, Mike's running timeline from the Beyonce concert in Fresno was so popular, I'd say its the most commented on, uncontroversial type blog, outside of Lost Fresno, in Fresno blogsphere history.

Maybe I'll try MY late nite blog idea. Guess all I need is some Bee reporter clout, Beyonce aaand talent.

New FresCast to check

2007-08-27T20:22:00.000-07:00

Fresno band The Overdubs has started podcasting. This one is all for Overdub fans, and it's a nice and simple idea.

Singer, Ryan Townsend, plays a new Overdubs song, talks about the song and there you go: Overdubs Blogcast.

Fresno bands take note! This is easier to do than you think. Hell, even Dorktown has figured out how, and it's ~~mildly~~ wildly successful.

Train holds Fresno hostage

2007-08-26T20:01:00.000-07:00

Don't ya just hate it when ya come up to a train-crossing and the train is stopped. Just stopped, right there, in your path and you don't know what the hell is going on.

Maybe it's waiting for another train, or it's derailed (it happens), maybe a baby has wandered on to the tracks, or Butch and Sundance are robbing it.

Doesn't matter. Now, you've got to ask yourself "Do I just sit and wait? That guy is leaving. Does he know something I don't? But you know if I leave now the train will start moving. Who knows how long this train will be sitting here. AHHHHH ASS!"

Video proof of the train holding Fruit to Sheilds hostage today:

Block that bastard August sun

2007-08-26T13:13:00.000-07:00

Fresno has cloud cover in late August? What the fuaaaack? No, it's not just smoke from the Zaca Fire this time. And, there are some crazy rumors going around town that it sprinkled today.

Wish it was going be like this for the Fresno State football opener Saturday. Won't be though. We might be looking at a 104 or so for our tailgating enjoyment. Dorktown will be tailgating for the game Saturday and if we can manage pick up some FS WiFi (doubtful), I'll be bloggin' from the game, live. More to come this week as we build to kickoff of the 2007 season.

Last days of the Grizzlies

2007-08-21T19:05:00.001-07:00

The Fresno Grizzlies are done for the year - at "The Chuck" anyway. Below is a slide show of some shots Dorktown got from Saturday night's game.

I've noticed at the ballgame, over the past few years, true baseball fans are ignored at the stadium (that's reflected in the pictures). It's all about between inning shtick and pleasing people that don't give a shit who the starting pitchers are.

Many times the players and umps are ready to start an inning but the shtick is still going. Players are forgotten to be announced when they're substituted in. Out of town scores only occasionally get shown. The park runs out of hotdogs in the fifth inning...it goes on and on.

And these kind of things happen every game, no matter what goofhead thing the Grizzlies promotions department has going on.

How about THIS for a promotion next year guys: BASEBALL FAN NIGHT!

slide show

Fresno, check out Portland today

2007-08-18T15:18:00.000-07:00

Fresno is Portland Oregon's leading importer of hipsters. There seems to be some sort of link going on with these two cities, hipsters or not. Maybe it's just like that with all Westcost cities and Portland lately and Fresno is no different.

Someday soon, Fresno will be the one importing, but not today.

Speaking of today, check out this webcast (live all day and night Saturday) of the Tour de Fat hitting Downtown Portland. What the hell's the Tour de Fat? Check it:

New Belgium Brewing's annual Tour de Fat, a ballyhoo of bikes and beer, with environmental sustainability at the very heart of it all, is headed to Missoula, Montana once again. The cycling circus spins into town on September 1, 2007. The tour will hit 12 cities throughout the summer, while traveling on B100 biodiesel fuel.

Maybe Fresno will be hip and...bicycliee...enough to host this. For now though, you can watch.

*Check the Portland webcast [click the menu in the box on the right of the profile page for choices of watching the webcast.]