Happy Birthday, Mike Oz
Today, dear Beehive readers, we at the Hive celebrate the birth of our own Mr. Michael Paul Thayer Osegueda, who is now in the twilight of his years - or, at least, his twenties. From this day forward, Mike, now 29, can start worrying about turning 30.
In honor of this day, I've rounded up some of Mike Oz's greatest Beehive hits:
February 3, 2006: The Beehive was about 14 months old when Mike Oz did his first post, which he began with these words:
"I envision this place turning into a collaborative guide to what's happening in Fresno. Just like the paper, I'm gonna try to report on the goings-on in Fresno and the rest of the Valley. There's a lot we can do online. I picture a forum where people can find out what shows to go see, as well as chime in what they thought about a certain venue or band. I might ask you guys if there's a question you want to ask a band that's coming to town -- or for help with stories I'm working on. Stay tuned, I definitely got some tricks up my sleeve."
From there, Mike introduced features like Did They Just Say Fresno?, Fres-Know, Fresno Firsts, Download of the Week, Degrees of Fresno and The Oz List (whatever happened to that?).
Along the way, he got attention from Entertainment Weekly, The Superficial and Dlisted, incited near riots (while racking up the highest comment count in Beehive post history) by daring to ask who Fresno's Top 10 Unsigned Bands are, and organized the first ever Beehive event, featuring musician John West.
He started the Beehive music podcast (seriously, what happened to that?) and Fresno's most underappreciated public service, Post No Bills. Plus, he promoted the hell out of the Rogue Festival. Two years in a row.
He met 2007 World Series of Poker champion Jerry Yang:
And the greatest 80s villain ever, Mr. William Zabka, aka Johnny Lawrence from "The Karate Kid":
He wished Fresno's Favorite Son™, Kevin Federline, a Happy 30th Birthday:
And tried to start an online staring war:
He invented and organized Fresno's first official Blogger Olympics:
He had lots of fun with Photoshop (or MS Paint, as the case may be):
And even had the balls to incite the wrath of Fresno's bitchiest online villain.
Still, his greatest accomplishment happened when he took a couple weeks off from the Beehive to marry his girl
Missy T:
From his first post to his latest, Mike Oz has been all about making Fresno a better place.
Happy Birthday, holmes. Beehive High Five!
Comments:
Happy Birthday Oz from Mikey and Bells. You've been a great asset to Fresno's blogoshpere and my favorite person to steal post ideas from.
Posted by: The Fresnan at August 1, 2008 12:15 AM
29 again huh?
Posted by: mamatt at August 1, 2008 1:50 AM
Happy Birthday Mike!! Like The Fresnan said, you are a great asset to the people of Fresno. Hope to have you around and enlightening us on the all the goings on for years to come.
Abe Lopez
Posted by: Abe Lopez at August 1, 2008 6:34 AM
i, too, would like to echo mike seay's compliments of mike oz. like helen hunt to jack nicholson, he totally made me want to be a better blogger.
consider my latest post a birthday present :)
Posted by: will at August 1, 2008 6:42 AM
Happy birthday, Mike Oz. The Beehive has a number of excellent voices. But this place wouldn't be what it is without your outstanding reporting and commentary.
I still think The Bee will need to work on developing that pancake breakfast beat for you, especially next year when you turn 30.
Posted by: Jeffresno at August 1, 2008 7:28 AM
Happy Birthday Mike!!! You do a awesome job here and you (along with Hmac and Will) make my day that much more bearable with your postings.
And what? Party at Stones tonight??
Posted by: Michael at August 1, 2008 8:12 AM
Happy B-day, main...as 30 lurks around the corner for the both of us, we need to team up and find a way to kill it. The clock is ticking...
Posted by: brodiemash at August 1, 2008 8:30 AM
Aye, Mike truly has been all about celebrating the Big NO. His continuing contributions are immeasurable.
Happy Birthday, Mike! Cheers and may this year be even better!
Posted by: marcel at August 1, 2008 8:42 AM
Happy Birthday.
I'm not saying that just because every other blogger in Fresno did and I would feel like an ass if I was the only one who couldn't take two seconds out of his day to type a message.
I'm saying it because Famous loves some Mike Oz.
Posted by: Famous at August 1, 2008 9:15 AM
Happy Birthday Mike!!!
29 and feelin fine?
thanks so much for all you do for Fresno!
plus you introduced me to The Beehive where i can talk alot of s**t and no one really knows who i am! i think...
From me and SCRG, HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY!
Posted by: MsJoey at August 1, 2008 9:34 AM
Happy Birthday, Mike!
And thanks for introducing me to the ways of The Hive.
Posted by: felicia matlosz at August 1, 2008 10:04 AM
Happy birthday to the greatest husband in the world! Let the celebrating begin!
Posted by: Missy T at August 1, 2008 10:05 AM
Hey Mike Oz,
Happy birthday and keep up the good work of being your fine self!!
Kristy
Posted by: Kristy at August 1, 2008 10:14 AM
Happy Birthday Mike!
Posted by: Denny at August 1, 2008 10:46 AM
HEY Happy Birthday!!!!! You have done an amazing job supporting and getting the word out! Thanks dude!
Tacos for you! :)
Posted by: Renee N at August 1, 2008 11:04 AM
Happy Birthday Mike! Hope the new house is going well.
Posted by: Nick G at August 1, 2008 11:20 AM
Mr. Oz
-happy day, man.
(...and I still think the shot of you and your honey under the fresno sign stands out as one of the greatest I've seen, like ever...
(...one of the few times where myself, (decidedly non-rapper,)
sees it?
smiles,
laughs,
says 'aw yeeeeeah,'
and hears beats out of nowhere...)
I can't begin to tell you how you've made this place not just bearable, but enjoyable.
Dude, I owe ya.
-Eric
Posted by: wet towel at August 1, 2008 11:28 AM
Happy Birthday Mr. Oz!
Thank you for all your support, and i appreciate everything that you have done for us at Love, the Captive and what you are doing for everyone else and making Fresno a lot more enjoyable place to be and be entertained.
turtle
Posted by: Turtle at August 1, 2008 11:38 AM
I didn't start out as a MikeOz fan. I thought he was arrogant and frankly I was jealous that he knew everyone in town.
Now I'm a total fan. He's done more for local music in this town than any other reporter/person in my 23 years living here.
His 'under-appreciated' PostNoBills is NOT under-appreciated...I use it each and every week to decide what to do and where to spend my money.
He has proven himself tireless, talented, and has always been one of the most loving people I've observed (He has NEVER not let his MissyT know that he loves her, every single time I see them out).
His music knowledge is underground and aboveboard all at the same time, and I applaud that he'll accomodate any style in his writings.
Most importantly, he's kept true to his initial vision by including all of Fresno in his work...he selflessly takes advice and keeps all of us in his work-loop with his posts here on the Beehive.
I'm a solid fan, and I wish him nothing but the best on his birthday (and every other day). My only birthday wish for him is that he never leave Fresno, even tho the better offers are clearly out there for him.
Posted by: Stephen at August 1, 2008 11:42 AM
Thanks everyone for the kind words.
They are much appreciated.
Thank you, Heather, for the very nice post.
Posted by: Mike Oz at August 1, 2008 12:00 PM
So, Heather, old pal, are you gonna do something like this for me on my birthday tomorrow? I'll be 29, too.
Posted by: Russ M at August 1, 2008 1:00 PM
happy birthday mike oz!
and, at a CSUF journalism camp a long time ago, (well, just a year, but to a teen like me that's 1/18 of my life!) you were one of the people who got me interested in journalism which I'm thinking of pursuing a career in....so thank you...
and i love your blog!
Posted by: A. Nonymous at August 1, 2008 1:47 PM
Happy birthday man. We're you the brains behind the Blogger Olympics too? I didn't see credit there if that was the case.
Posted by: adam at August 1, 2008 1:55 PM
Twenty-nine? I have shaving scars older than that.
Posted by: Jim Boren at August 1, 2008 2:29 PM
Happy birthday to the Great Mike! Long live the King! Your present is in the mail. I now am broke because it is a present fit for a King. But it was worth it for the King Mike.! Whooo hoo!!!!! Only one year to 30! Yea boye!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Flava at August 1, 2008 2:32 PM
Good call Adam. I'm on it (that's what she said).
**Post will be edited to include Blogger Olympics shout out.**
Posted by: Heather at August 1, 2008 2:48 PM
Happy Birthday Mike. You do good work. It is appreciated.
Hope your year is a great one.
--Blake
Posted by: blake at August 1, 2008 2:49 PM
I woke up this morning and was immediately overcome by this strange feeling that something wonderful was going to happen... the sun seemed to shine brighter, the birds seemed to sing louder-- even my Jamba Juice tasted sweeter.
And then it hit me-- It's Mike's birthday!!!
Have lovely, happy day...
--Graciela
Posted by: Graciela at August 1, 2008 3:09 PM
Mike Oz! Happy Birthday, man!
May you have MANY happy returns of the day. 29 is good. I'm finding 39 is even better.
I'll drink to you when I'm overdoing it on the wine tonight while watching Sin City.
Posted by: joyunconfined at August 1, 2008 5:51 PM
I would like to be the SECOND member of the Action News team to wish Mr. Oz a Happy Birthday!
Have a great day brother.
Jason Martinez
Posted by: Jason Martinez at August 2, 2008 2:59 PM
Great, can you please bring Maureen Naylor and Ashlee Tate back to the Action News team? That would be greatly appreciated by like the whole viewership of the weekend broadcasts who agree with me. Thank you.
Posted by: Jim at August 3, 2008 1:42 PM
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