The Channelization of the Internet

Earlier this year, I wrote about voyeurism and losing our souls to the internet.  The premise of the post was that the representations that we make of ourselves online can eventually replace other people’s actual/real perceptions of us – and that it can destroy your soul, basically.

I’d like to continue this conversation by pointing out that the internet has been going through a dramatic change.  In the technology industry we call it “Web 2.0”, but no one really knows what that actually means… so let me try to explain what this is and what I see it doing to our society.

Continue reading The Channelization of the Internet

Keep Your Right-Wing Nuttery To Yourself

Last week in Sunday School, I had another one of those shake-your-head-and-sigh-out-loud moments.

We were discussing… uhh.. God… and related subject matter (in other words I have no clue what the context of the discussion was) when this lady – out of the blue – raises her hand and reminds us that the ‘real battle’ is having accurate information as to what is really going on in the world, and that the wickedly-liberal-Satanically-run-news-media is always just trying to lead the world into a moral black hole.  Then, in the same breath, she admonished us to rely on her favorite conservative ‘news website’.  (Turns out, the website is just a political action website, using cherry-picked propaganda from past church leaders.  So instead of even talking about current events, she was really just pushing her political agenda at church…. UGGGGG…)

Continue reading Keep Your Right-Wing Nuttery To Yourself

The Olympics Needs Some Comic Relief

Have you been sucked in by the Olympics?  Can’t seem to turn the TV off, even when it’s 2am and your eyes are slamming shut?  Does all the intense drama, excitement, blood, sweat, and tears have you on the edge of your seat?

I just hope you didn’t miss this stunning performance…

[flashvideo filename=/video/funny-turner.flv /]

Really… it’s no fair that the women have different events than the men.  Plus, they get to wear cute little hair accessories.  I say, “Equal Gymnastics Rights for Men!”

(Thanks, Erika for sharing the hilarious video)

Someone Go Get Bob out of Mothballs

So, I finally caved in and started watching a few Olympic competitions.  NBC is, of course, still the HNIC of broadcasting anything Olympic.  In fact, when I was younger, I remember NBC’s peacock logo beign synonymous with the Olympic rings, and substituted the John Williams Olympic theme for the NBC sound (you know, the three xylophone/bells/marimba tones…)

But for all of the Olympic staples (the music, the rings, the McDonalds sponsorships), nothing surpasses the ubiquity of Bob Costas.

Continue reading Someone Go Get Bob out of Mothballs

Crazy Uncle Albie

gore.jpgI apologize in advance for another quick blog about America’s favorite crazy Uncle Albie.

Last night on 60 minutes, they devoted an entire segment to yet another story on how Uncle Albie is going to save us all from the “Global Climate Crisis.”

I swear I saw that same story like 3 months ago. Does he have some kind of appearance contract with CBS?

But whatever… causes are awesome. I think everyone should have at least one…

Here’s the part that absolutely floors me: Continue reading Crazy Uncle Albie

The Fonz and The Theory of Modern Coolness

fonzie.jpgI was driving to work today and, while stopped at a stoplight, peered in my rearview mirror to see none other than THE Arthur Fonzerelli driving a car directly behind me. Yes, the actor’s real name is Henry Winckler, but I’m not sure if it was actually Henry Winckler back there. All I know is I looked back and saw The Fonz!

Which brings me to today’s subject, coolness.

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Come on down!!!

0_61_barker_bob.jpgLast year, one of my television idols, Bob Barker, finally retired from hosting “The Price is Right.” Ever since that day, I have been mourning in denial of his absence. But now, my grieving has ended, and when I saw “The Price is Right Primetime Special” on my program guide, I decided I would give Drew Carey, the new host, a shot.

Drew is just missing one irreplaceable quality of Bob’s… Continue reading Come on down!!!

The Future of Digital Media

TV, Movies, and Music have undergone major changes in the last decade, a revolution brought on by high quality digital compression (mpeg 3 and mpeg 4), which have made high quality video and audio a reality for distribution over the internet.

We now store gigabytes of music, movies, and television shows on our home computers. We can micro-target the content we enjoy, while filtering out that which we don’t. This is a far cry from the ‘olden days’ of buying a whole CD, cassette, or LP just to hear the one good song on the album.

We now ‘time-shift’ all our TV programming, watching what we want when we want. We can now download movies on demand through our cable providers or online services.

Continue reading The Future of Digital Media