Best of the Jayhawk Keyboard Coaches & Fans Tweeting for #KUBBALL

I have the very fortunate opportunity to tweet on Twitter (among other social networks) for my client, Johnny's Tavern in Prairie Village, Kansas.  The Twitter address is @johnnystavernpv  We are widely known as a KU love'n bar & grill.  With 22 flat screen TV's we get sports minded fans all day long. However, I rarely see my Jayhawks actually play, for I am on Twitter at game time, watching all the keyboard coaches and fans who use #kubball on their tweets, to communicate with eachother.  Throughout this season, I have RT'd some hilarious tweets using #kubball.  That means I sent the original tweet I saw, back out to our 840ish followers.  Below are some of my favorites.  (Thanks @KUSPORTS for starting the #kubball hashtag.  It caught on quick and easy)

The tweets below are compiled from posts on @johnnystavernpv home page... and I've pulled #kubball posts back through Feb. 12th.  These are merely a fraction of the tweets with #kubball, but they were the one's that made me wet my pants a little from laughing.  Now keep in mind, I've missed many other funny tweets with #kubball on it... but they come in like rapidfire during game time, and it's inevitable I'll miss several...  so enjoy these one's below. I don't want to hear about how you would have organized them either.  I tried... I really did. Then I kept finding more and more.  I'll keep better track during #KCChiefs and #KUfball next season. These tweets below are snarky, sarcastic and tongue in cheek remarks.  If you can't take it... turn away.  These tweeple are clever, witty, charming... and they have a lot of fun even when the game gets dicey. Some are professional sports writers, former coaches, KU students, alumni, all walks of life...  I feel honored to have had a chance to get to know and participate with them through our beloved KU Jayhawk Men's Basketball season.  I hope you can join us on Twitter too.


(Get a sandwich and a coffee... so you can get cozy to read these.  There are a lot and THIS is the short version)


@RckChlkPrincess: Roll Call! Where's my swag biatches at?! RockChalk!#kubball


Game against UNI in the NCAA Tourney.  KU lost by one... trailed the entire game...
@BradyMcCollough #KU band playing "We're not gonna take it" ... hmmm .. #kubball

@TitsOnABoor: My son's face illustrates how I feel about this game #kubball http://twitgoo.com/lb50k   (see photo of crying boy)
@billselfsbrain I have less hair on my head than O'Rear has on his mutton chops. #kubball
@ShellyKramer "I need to focus. And I need a flat screen television" says my husband. A rabid Jayhawk fan. Grabbed beer n ran. #kubball
@BradyMcCollough More mock applause. Hilarious RT @hannah_aileen refs got bored playing for the other team RT @jweb actual foul on UNI
 @ryanmgreene Wonder if the refs are waiting for blood shed before giving #kubball a foul call. None on #UNI in 9:30.
@hannah_aileen it's about that time that i lose 5-10 followers.#kubball tweeting storm!
@Spike_Says  @CoachBillSelf tell the boys that alot of us#kansas alumni are OLD and cant handle the cat/mouse play!#kubball

A mishmash of games through the Big12 Tournament and NCAA Tournament and regular season play...
@corinwallace: Lehighs coach looks like a guy who shops at Mr. Guy. oddly likeable! #goodonyoudude #kubball
@SonnieJHawk: I think I heard Sherron say "Nobody makes me bleed my own blood." #kubball
@Lochdog715 Daggummit Roy doing capital one commercials now? Shouldnt you be preparing for NIT? #idontgiveaflipaboutcarolina #kubball
@phogphans Too many fans in the Ford Center sitting on their hands...feel like I'm gunna get shushed. I will NOT be quiet! #kubball
@robknapp: What better way to start a run for a national title than a dogfight with a No. 16 seed? #kubball
in reference to the Lehigh team: 
@goatjc: we cant lose to a team that has poop & pee colors #kubball
@corinwallace: Lehighs coach looks like a guy who shops at Mr. Guy. oddly likeable! #goodonyoudude #kubball
@gavinesq: Whats the difference between College Station, TX and yogurt? Yogurt has active, living culture. #kubball
@NCTRNL: One of these days K-State will be able to buy the rest of the "man-cat" costume... #kubball
@gavinesq: I'm not gay or anything, but Sherron, if you need anything, I mean ANYTHING, let me know. #kubball
@NYCJayhawk Let's just say being at a wedding in houston with a ton of A&M grads just got better. Guess I did care a bit. #kubball
@SonnieJHawk: Okay, I have a new shirt on. Sorry, guys. That entire first half was my fault. #kubball
@breezybriz Hey Pat KNIGHT, THROW A CHAIR! THROW A CHAIR!#kubball #big12ku
@c_millr Head band put back where I found it. Changed shirts. First one wasn't working out. Time to turn it around Hawks! #kubball #supersticiousmuch
@gavinesq Wow. Bill Self seems remarkably calm. #actinglikeaserialkillerbeforehestabsyou #kubball
@91Jayhawk What's the deal with @ESPN Holly Rowe wearing her pants so high? She looks like she belongs on an SNL skit. #kubball
@fyrwood Is it bad that I schedule feeding my daughter around halftime? #kubball


Side note:  most of the regulars couldn't stand announcers @ESPN's Brent Musburger and Bobby Knight, which lead to this tweet among others... @davehiggins1: Visit www.byebyebrentandbob.com to register your opinion of the announcers #kubball #big12

@SonnieJHawk: you wear that sacred shirt tomo, I'll pull my 1988 Final Four souvenir sweatshirt, hat, and cup out of mothballs! #kubball
@billselfsbrain Weather sucks.Wanted to watch the game in my snuggie,but #CindySelf poured me a thermos of Irish Coffee and told me to sack up. #kubball
@billselfsbrain Bryan Davis is old enough to be Sherron's father. #kubball #bryandavisisold Can I have #dannymanning suit up, too?
@tullycorcoran: B.J. Holmes with one of the least creative tattoos of all time. Left tricep: "B". Right tricep: "J". #kubball
@ BaileyMcC: "If you win the first half and win the second half youre gonna win the game" -Bob Knight uh, duh.#kubball
@littlescottie: TX must not want to win. How else can u explain Rick Barnes refusing to let Colt McCoy run the point?#kubball
@jasontarwater Did Clark Kellogg really just describe #mizzou as a sloppy joe? "Tasty but messy?" Did I just hear that? #kubball
@jchsloan Clark Kellogg makes me miss Billy Packer (spurtability? sloppy joe?) and that's hard to do. #kubball#clarkshouldgobacktostudio
@breezybriz: Dexter Pittman looks like he could eat Cole #kubball
@gavinesq: @breezybriz No, Pittman looks like he HAS EATEN Cole. #kubball
@billselfsbrain I'm grateful every single day #Mizzou chose Quinn Snyder over me. #kubball #ku
@JessiaSott Cole Aldrich has a haircut you can set your watch to. I love this team, y'all. #kubball
@jleib Wish #KU would have hired Frank Martin as our new football coach. #jayhawks #kubball
@chrissa21 Wheres the tums? Tied Game? fugggghhhhetaboutit! On to scotch! #kubball
@jasontarwater Whatever KU's defensive philosophy is today is so complicated it looks like they're not playing any defense. Very clever. #kubball
@RckChlkPrincess APB out for Cole Aldrich....if anyone sees him tell him we are playing a game right now #kubball

Game against Future NCAA Champs (wishful thinking since they beat Jayhawks) University of Northern Iowa  UNI...
@BradyMcCollough Not sure if this is coming across on CBS, but Bill Self has turned into a fire-breathing dragon named Selfior.#kubball
@JLangford KU fans spread out, main KU section is made up of what looks like williams fund donors #kubball #theydontcheer
@Spike_Says @CoachBillSelf tell the boys that alot of us #kansasalumni are OLD and cant handle the cat/mouse play! #kubball
@hannah_aileen it's about that time that I lose 5-10 followers.#kubball tweeting storm!
@Jayhawk96 Seven cars/trucks/SUVs at Mom & Dad's... ALL are either crimson or blue. Coincidence? #jayhawks #kubball
@KUMarkMadness If you've never sat courtside: It's impossible to describe how physical, fast the game is. And I still hear fans scream, "Push it!" #kubball
@ruralocity I can't decide whether March snowstorms or 3 point-chucking mid-majors make me angrier today. #kubball
@MarsVars I'm not sure whether to cry, throw up or drink a lot. COME ON, JAYHAWKS #kubball
@billselfsbrain I have less hair on my head than O'Rear has on his mutton chops. #kubball
@kben_ears i am currently wearing TWO jayhawk t-shirts. it better be worthwhile. #kubball
@TitsOnABoor: My son's face illustrates how I feel about this game #kubball http://twitgoo.com/lb50k
@BradyMcCollough #KU band playing "We're not gonna take it" ... hmmm .. #kubball
@FunnyMrBiggs To the #kstate fan I was giving a hard time last Saturday... I am sorry. Now please God let us turn this around.#kubball
@MisterHirsch Is there such a thing as the ref ending a game early because the home team is being embarrassed on their own court? #theyshould #kubball

@KansasHoops The NCAA has just given out the award for the most quiet home fans to Missouri #kubball

@FakeColeAldrich Ostertag just sent me a text sayin i should pose for playgirl! idk if "i" could fit on one pull out page #kubball

When the game is very close or we are losing...

My favorite tweet this season too... @gavinesq Attention #kubball fans: Go immediately to your lucky rituals and await further instruction.

@corinwallace: This is because I watched Kell on Earth instead of the first half!! DAMN YOU BRAVO!#kubball

@gavinesq: Now I cant see out of my left eye.#amihavingastroke #kubball

@KansasHoops Should I change my shirt? I have my @joe_college shirt on "It does not take 140 characters to say Texas A&M Sucks" #kubball

@chrissa21 I'm kinda pissed right now cuz of bad calls. So just sent a text to Knight to throw a chair for me. #kubball
@gavinesq Which #kubball fan is ignoring their lucky rituals? What is wrong with you?

Games at the Big 12 Tournament...

@tullycorcoran Well, it's that time again. A MU fan just yelled at somebody to perform a sex act on him. #kubball#youknowitsablowoutwhen

@chrissa21 In case u didn't hear me last week, I LOVE YOU MORNINGSTAR! #kubball

@c_thibodeaux I'm drenched with unwarranted boos. #kubball

@SonnieJHawk Went to Mizzou arena for my cousin's HS graduation. Get this- they have banners just for making the NCAA tourney. I laughed. #kubball

@MisterHirsch: I would rather have a sister in a whore house than a brother that's a Mizzou fan. #kubball

@scotthamele Why was Missouri late for so many games last year? Everytime they passed a sign that said "Clean Restrooms" they did. #kubball #jayhawks

http://twitpic.com/17053v - I saw this girl during lunch today... check out her Jhawk tattoo! #KUbball  (photo of the back of girl with two Jayhawks n sunflowers)

@friesner Who sits in the fieldhouse???!!! RT @RockChalkJBlog: These seats aren't meant to sit in for 2.5 hours. Ugh #kubball

@BradyMcCollough After that missed free throw, K-State fans must feel like Mr. Belding when his brother Rod(ney) ruined the school rafting trip. #kubball

@jleib Wish #KU would have hired Frank Martin as our new football coach. #jayhawks

@DScottFritchen The crowd is booing. Apparently they wanted Samuels to be choked into submission.

@KCSuzy Now I'm tearing up. <3 RT: @KUSports: A touching photo of #sherroncollins welling up with coach Self pregame http://bit.ly/9f9T1a  #kubball 

@chrissa21 Wheres the tums? Tied Game? fugggghhhhetaboutit! On to scotch!#kubball

@ swonder44 Turge-on?? Suddenly Brent goes French?#kubball

@kundaic Well this is wierd. Every1 around me is discussing toxins in food. I can't stop thinking about what the hawks need 2 win. #kubball
@KCJetSetter: To the kid right behind the #kubball bench playing a PSP and not even watching the game, lets trade places.

Oklahoma State Game...

@megfie: a little bummed I cant consume enough alcohol to get me through this half#kubball

@RckChlkPrincess APB out for Cole Aldrich....if anyone sees him tell him we are playing a game right now #kubball

@jasontarwater: Wife just asked: "Is OSU playing that well or is KU playing crappy?" My answer: "Yes." #kubball

@StopHawk: I blame the headbands the cheerleaders wore from the last home game. #kubball

@chrissa21 Maybe just the color orange in general is bringing the Jayhawks down. A little nauseating in that quantity. #kubball

@corinwallace: Im pulling out the plan to listen to "friends in low places" backwards.#kubball

Missouri Game regular season... 

@Topcitykid5 Hey big money donors get back in your seats damnit, game is not over!!! #kubball the students are still there.

@scearstower I want to sue ESPN for cruel and unusual punishment...Bob Knight is the worst thing to happen to sports commentary #kubball

@MCG5: Cole Aldrich's brother and Eric Chenowith... separated at birth, apparently. #kubball

@91Jayhawk It's hilarious watching all the C-team #kubballplayers watch the pop up video on the scoreboard at AFH instead of listening to their coach.

@gavinesq: I keep asking this but is this an ass kicking or an ass pounding? #kubball

@scotthamele They are handing out the jumper cables at Missouri basketball arena right now. #kubball

@TKatherman: Kansas, I love you but those head bands... very head-wound-harry-ish. #kubball

@kgenhull No way. Tebow=abstain. Collins=3 kids. RT @RockChalkJBlog: Digger Phelps just compared to Sherron Collins to Tim Tebow. nooo. . . #kubball

@UDKbasketball Serious question:Has Xavier Henry stopped smiling since the Texas game? Havent seen it yet #kubball

I get a lot of facts and stats from #kubball fans too...

@KUSports @bmart24 #sherroncollins has only lost 2 games at Allen Fieldhouse, both during his freshman year 2006-07 (Oral Roberts/TA&M) #kubball

@mikegone  I see a theme: Syracuse, bucknell, okie st, Tennessee. Stop playing teams in orange? #kubball

@UDKbasketball: 3 by Marcus means I get to bring out my favorite stat. Jayhawks are undefeated when he hits a three.#kubball

@HH57 Bill Self has the same number of Big XII titles as he does losses at Allen Fieldhouse. Six. Stud. #kubball

@scotthamele KU's all-time 2,001st win feels pretty good. Moves into the the no.2 all-time wins spot #kubball #kansas

@jasontarwater And Kansas is also the only team to not lose within a week of being named No. 1 this season.#kubball

@mikekatzif Looks like Kansas might need a little extra 2nite against Tex A&M. Good thing I practiced my 10 ft jumper#kubball

@phogphans Congrats to @CoachBillSelf for victory #400...here's to many more ahead! Rock Chalk Jayhawk! #kubball

@UDKbasketball Scouts from the Heat and Grizzlies just left the building. Not much left to see. #kubball

@UDKbasketball According to pop up video, Withey chose number 5 because Danny Manning wore it with the Clippers. Suck up. #kubball

@tullycorcoran Fun Fact: Thomas Robinson voted "Most Likely to Suffer a Concussion" by a media panel. #kubball

@breezybriz Let's all watch Cole and 3 others hit half court shots again... #kubball   

@bobfescoe damn its good to be a Jayhawk I freaking love this place #kubball

How to Keep Me Coming Back for More

Despite being able to shop online, at my convenience, in my underwear at 3AM, if I choose... I'm still an "in person" product browser.  I'm in the minority of people that enjoy walking through Blockbuster Video because truth be told, I don't really know what I'm looking for and even if I do, I can be swayed into getting something else.  So when it comes to shopping for items for my home, I'm happy to piddle around a store and just look.  Besides nothing replaces a truly helpful hint or piece of advice from a smiling human being.  Lord knows I love a great salesperson too!

Last Friday, I stopped by Nell Hills in Briarcliff Village, Kansas City, MO.  I had been reluctant to swing on by, because I had heard this location carried primarily big furniture.   However, as I walked in, I was thrilled to see it's much like the original Nell Hill's in Atchison, KS... but with more room! All decked out with Spring decor, there were lots of tchotchkes reasonably priced, yes there was large unique furniture, but it's the store's incredible merchandising I find inspirational.  Right away, I was so glad I came in.

I was greeted by none other than the owner, Mary Carol Garrity and her COM, "Chief of Merchandising", Becky Taylor.  We chatted a bit about the new location and I told her this was the first time I had come to this location and she seemed genuinely happy for me.  I was a little surprised that in light of her busy schedule, the growing amount of other customers coming through the door and my lack of the "I've got a discretionary income" appearance I was sporting, she still gave me plenty of undivided attention.  

I actually thought in that moment... this will never get old.  This will never go away.  One on one, when done right, is the main attraction in selling.   She wasn't outright selling anything, but rather she was getting to know me.  Even with  social media... keep it personal, keep it genuine and be engaged in the conversation.  Much like Mary Carol does, in person.

Here are some shots I took with my phone ...  I sent this first one to my friend Susann who is looking for pink flowers for her daughters rooms.  I loved these big pink peonies!  I thought I sent them to her, but turns out I sent them to my husband, Matt, who I had just dropped off at KCI airport.

  My husband quickly shot back a text asking "Where are you?"      *gulp*

I text'd back "Nell Hills.  Not the one in Atch.  It's great!  Look, we could have a room like this one..."

"very masculine.  And check out the shoe-shine chair..."

Matt texted back "No mas!"      LOL!  "But honey, look at these shelves!"

"or a booze on wheels beverage cart!"   (insert cricket chirps from my husband)

The nicest thing about the new space is, you can really check out the paint colors Nell Hills offers!  The large windows and open spaces really showcase their true colors. My daughter would adore this green apple color on the wall.

I hope to head back to Nell Hills in Briarcliff this week some time... with my 8 year old daughter in tow.  She'll choose the green apple, which I will probably have to barter with Matt a bit, to get him to paint her walls.

I was approached by 4 different sales associates/designers the entire hour I was there.  Each in their own professional and very approachable way, subliminally sold me.  They did not sell anything but rather struck up a conversation with me to discover what I like and why I liked it.  Mary Carol has cloned herself.  She's made more of her and they do exactly what she does... build relationships!   

I did not buy anything this trip, but they all know, I'll be back... 

with friends.  

Brilliant.

5 Awesome Examples of Augmented Reality I Want To See More Of...

Do you remember this scene from Star Wars (chapter IV I believe... the first one that came out in 1977), where Luke is watching a 3D message from Obiwankenobi, relayed out of R2D2?

Well my friends... it is here. 

This foreward thinking Star Wars image, is what I think of as I am watching the exciting technology of Augmented Reality become a powerful tool.  It's been around for a few years, but at ridiculous costs and labor intensive hours.  Now however... we can download our own software and it comes in the form of a 2.5" x 2.5" code.  All you need is a computer, with monitor and a webcam.  It's being used for entertainment, as teaching tools for students, for marketing the most ordinary of products, as "thank you's" and as greetings.  The opportunities to use this jaw dropping technology are endless.  Here are a few ways I think it's going to be a lot of fun to watch... and fun to market.

Being a music lover, I am thrilled at the endless opportunities I can foresee augmented reality being used in that industry.  I would love to see my favorite band, TRAIN, code their tickets with an augmented reality concert.  Can you imagine, getting your ticket(s) in the mail, holding them up to your webcam (after quickly uploading the software from http://www.trainline.com/) and watching a 2-3 minute recorded live concert of their latest release, in 3D !!?? Better yet, I can already imagine how the clip of "Drops of Jupiter" or "Hey Soul Sister" could look!  Getting better... what if different tickets had one of 4 different songs?!  Some live, some music videos, some studio recordings!  Of course, they'd have to put the code on the stub so we can take it home, watch it forever and enjoy TRAIN'S awesomeness in 3D at our leisure.  Ahead of the game, John Mayer's group HAS used augmented reality.  Here's a music video using the technology.  I'd like it more if John looked more "real", recorded on a green screen, or however it has to be done to not be graphicy.  Great thinking from Mayer camp.  Music video John Mayer "Heartbreak Warfare" released in Fall 2009.

Do you have a baseball crazed fan in your life?  It's just about that time of year. This Topps 3D trading card will make them squeal!  No matter what age they are...  

Robert Downey Jr. who had "Sherlock Holmes" coming out in December, teamed up with Esquire Magazine for this issue from November of 2009... viewer video:

and Esquire's video tour of what this issue can do:

Hallmark Greetings has augmented itself with their popular Hoops & Yo Yo line. Check out this augmented reality Valentine greeting that became available for purchase in January.  The thought of this type of greeting card during the Christmas holidays relieves me a bit, so we all won't have to "Elf Ourselves" one more time through Jib Jab only, anymore.  Thanks to Ryan of The Digital Lifestyle for trying this out: 

Here's my friend, Whitney Mathews, from the Social Media Club of Kansas City, demonstrating one of the Hallmark Augmented Reality Valentine cards handed out at a recent club breakfast (that I missed!).

Clothing is getting in on the game too. Adidas has come out with 5 pairs of shoes with an imprinted code on the tongue of each shoe, so you can see the augmented reality city they have created on your screen via your webcam. 

Here's the teaser they sent out in January of 2010:

Brights and Stripes has come out with KIDS CLOTHING that come to life! Check out these fun clothes for kids... talk about sparking imagination! These kids are little, but I see where teens would love to have an enhanced look... emo kids, or gothic kids, athletes who can appear to have a football helmet with pads and jersey from their favorite team on... or look as though you're on a stage, or behind the President of the United States desk... Wow!

I found augmented reality T-shirts that play you in countless games of  paper, rock, scissors with what appears to be a 3rd arm coming out of your chest!  As well, there are LEGO products, that allow you to print the coded form out on paper from their website and hold it up to your webcam for your child to admire the 3D end result.  There's even augmented reality business cards to really stand out from the crowd.

I am excited and encouraged by what I am finding with this technology.  Time is in warp speed.  We look back at the industrial revolution as the most dramatic timeframe that had the biggest changes in our world.  I dare say, the last 5 years has been our most adventureous...   I don't think we've begun to scratch the surface as to what we will have in our hands in the next 5years.  If you have found some jaw dropping augmented reality uses, pah leeeese let me know.  I can't get enough of it!