PingWi-Fi man cannot live on rock shows alone. He muth have coffee … and Wi-Fi, so finally I did some hotspot exploring in St. Louis. First stop — Park Avenue Coffee.

When I finally found the coffee shop, it was very easy. It was in the last place I looked, as the old adage goes. But when I first set out, armed with Yahoo Maps instructions … ha … I ended up a few miles away, following their simple directions step by step. Go figure.

Talan, Zach ... Good Peeps

Anyway … at first glance, I thought about passing by Perk I mean Park Ave. There were no people inside, even though it was a cold, perfect coffee night. But, I recalled several nice reviews of the place on the Web. So, I decided to be that guy … the one who would break the ice and be the first to sit in an empty establishment.

That brings up the old retail adage … it takes butts in seats to put butts in seats … I am just full of adages …

So, not to worry. The place filled up as soon as one brave soul grabbed a chair. My butt did a community service, I suppose.

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Keller Killing It

I won’t lie. I was wearing a Mexican Baja hippie hoodie — in rastaman red-green-gold — before most of his fans were born … but it was all about the music at Keller Williams’ show at the intimate Pageant Theatre the other night in St. Louis.

I mean, who don’t love a Phish-ish, Grateful Dead-esque par-tay?

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There is no telling how many times I have mentioned my love of random concerts in cities where I travel. Those are the best.

Last summer, I stumbled upon Cracker playing outside on the banks of the Ohio River in Louisville, Kent. Many years ago there was a chance sighting of Echo & The Bunnymen in Rome. Then there was South African Johnny Clegg in Washington, DC. Snoop Dog at Sundance Film Festival, etc. I met 311 in a hotel bar in Kansas City … but can’t count that one because they had already played …

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What’s a “yahyah” anyway?  Isn’t that from a Rolling Stones’ recording … “Get Yer Yahyahs Out,” or something like that.

Well … we’ve only just begun and already I digress …

What could be better than a Gogo Wi-Fi hotspot on board my sweet American Airlines ride at 40,000 feet?  Just one thing — THREE open seats all to my lonesome AND Gogo!  And so i blog …

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Twice in my career, I have interviewed for the top communications position at my alma mater, Texas Tech University. (The first time, several years ago, somehow I came in #2. Incidentally and sadly, that is the same high mark in the national rankings achieved by former Red Raider Coach Mike Leach.)

I have been vocal over the years because my school interviewed me, asked for ideas, took notes, didn’t hire me and then implemented some of my ideas, regardless. LOL.

I used to be bitter.

Today, I think I am forever grateful that I didn’t get the job. You see … I can’t imagine dealing with the nightmare of negative public opinion surrounding Texas Tech right now. The “Guns Up” university now is the butt of jokes around the country for a self-inflicted head wound — firing the most winning, quirkiest, most famous head coach in the school’s history.

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People ask me what PingWi-Fi.com is all about.  Well, I guess we’re about breaking all the rules.  EVERYONE says that rule #Uno of blogging is to stay concentrated on one area of interest.  LOL.  Can’t do it.  Too much tickles our fancy.

I mean … Wi-Fi is our holy grail.  Literally, when people ask me “What is PingWi-Fi?,” this is the elevator spiel:  “We are a travel blog using Wi-Fi as the common denominator because it is everywhere.  And because you can say only so much about Wi-Fi, we mix in pop culture:  technology, music, film, sports … even peace rallies.” Yep.  That what I say.

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Starter Potts And Trophy

After giving up the lead just minutes into the third quarter, Tech finally finished off Michigan State in a game that saw several lead changes in the second half.  Final score, Texas Tech 41, Michigan State, 31.

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The Ladies of Planet Sunglasses Want Their Leader Back

So … standing there on the sidelines of the Texas Tech, Michigan State game, tweeting my own business when someone rifles a pass over the sidelines.  Thank goodness it skipped before it hit me. LOL … I was like all trying to be cool and not jump or pass out or whatever.  I tried to stop it with my foot soccer style.  It caromed on around the corner.  I won’t be getting any soccer scholarships any time soon.

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Distressed Signal

It’s game day, just before noon. I strolled through the parking lot of the Alamodome in anticipation of the Valero Alamo Bowl which features the Michigan State Spartans vs. the Texas Tech Red Raiders tonight on ESPN, 8 p.m. Central.

(The PingWi-Fi team will be reporting and tweeting live from the sidelines and blogging from the pressbox — Wi-Fi permitting — during the game, here in San Antonio.  Follow us on Twitter: @pingwifi.)

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The Colors

So, when was the last time you saw a football game with back to back kickoff returns for touchdowns, to start the second half of a bowl game? We just did in Fort Worth in the 40-degree Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl.

Air Force Gain

The PingWi-Fi team is scattered around the sidelines and the pressbox … tweeting … sampling the Wi-Fi … typically standing close to the hotdogs … with great views. Note to self (and readers) … be careful on sidelines. I was hit when a Houston player throuigh the kicking tee back to the

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