Thursday, October 31, 2002
Those Garth Brooks Dr. Pepper ads are back on the air. Sitting on the right side of Garth-and-friends, playing spoons, is what appears to be a wild-haired old man -- or at least someone wearing old man makeup -- in an orange prison jumpsuit, moving as if he has a metal rod for a spine. This individual, whether real or fake, scares the bejesus out of me. (What scares me even more is the fact that the word "bejesus" is actually in the dictionary.)
posted by media_dystopia @ 23:52 [ link | top | home ]
Happy Halloween! Please check your candy for needle marks.
posted by media_dystopia @ 12:44 [ link | top | home ]
Wednesday, October 30, 2002
A lot of people are jumping on the anti-Grand Theft Auto Vice City bandwagon. They are objecting to the level of graphic violence and criminal activity featured in the hit computer game's sequel. Ironically, these people don't seem to have too many objections to games featuring the same amount of violence aimed at foreign soldiers or so-called "terrorists." In a virtual world, what's the difference between stealing a car and assassinating a world leader?
posted by media_dystopia @ 15:41 [ link | top | home ]
Fox News Channel blowhard Geraldo Rivera is not only an ass but likes to sign them. Next time the hubristic celebrity journalist -- an insidious concept in and of itself -- wanders into a Hooters restaurant minutes after reporting on a sniper-related death, maybe he'll look up the words "decorum" and "professionalism" first.
posted by media_dystopia @ 15:12 [ link | top | home ]
When exactly did the Geico gecko go from saying "You've reached the gecko, not Geico!" to praising the company as its spokeslizard?
posted by media_dystopia @ 14:53 [ link | top | home ]
Saturday, October 26, 2002
Word of the day: arrogance (noun) 'ar-&-g&n(t)s -- "a feeling or an impression of superiority manifested in an overbearing manner or presumptuous claims" (source: Merriam-Webster OnLine). You can't watch the news without spotting an abundance of people overflowing with it.
posted by media_dystopia @ 21:35 [ link | top | home ]
October 25's Ottawa Citizen front page had an enlarged picture of the two accused snipers with a large one-word headline: "Caught."
posted by media_dystopia @ 00:57 [ link | top | home ]
Anyone see those television ads for Axe deodorant spray? One guy sprays himself in an elevator and the next guy gets laid because of the left-over "Axe Effect." Pardon my language, but what a steaming pile of consumer culture bullshit. That kind of marketing is just plain insulting. And while I'm talking about insulting things on TV, let's add ABC's The Bachelor to that list. Any show which only serves to pummel people's self-esteem doesn't impress me. What other kind of demeaning programming can these people come up with? And to think, Disney is the parent company of ABC. (Editor's note: I think those week-old raw beans I had earlier today upset my system. I seem to be a little more critical today.)
posted by media_dystopia @ 00:39 [ link | top | home ]
Friday, October 25, 2002
Those television ads for local radio stations are insidious. I don't listen to the stations in question (and never will), but the collages of song and video segments in the commercials hold some abject fascination for me. That despite the fact that my perception of each song is permanently warped. That happens when you only ever hear five seconds at a time, and each little snippet sticks in your head all day long. And because of corporate synergy -- the local cable company owns the radio stations being promoted -- you can't watch anything on TV without being subjected to the ads. I'm not sure whether to go mad, or to start singing along.
posted by media_dystopia @ 18:11 [ link | top | home ]
CNN's American Morning with Paula Zahn and NBC's Today feature street-level New York City studios where the hosts sit facing away from passers-by on the other side of large, hopefully bulletproof, windows. The biggest drawback of network shows with this kind of layout is having to put up with the idiots in the background. What is it with people and television cameras? Point anything remotely professional-looking with a lens at them and the stupid gene kicks in.
posted by media_dystopia @ 15:04 [ link | top | home ]
Between a looming war with Iraq, a sniper on the loose, and now Senator Paul Wellstone's plane crash, I'm getting my fill of breaking news on CNN. I'm feeling somewhat satiated. In a few hours, though, it will wear off and I'll need another hit of my opiate.
posted by media_dystopia @ 14:47 [ link | top | home ]
Thursday, October 24, 2002
Tonight's Lou Dobbs Moneyline featured a segment where a reporter poked a finger into the collective eye of CNN because of the use and abuse of television psychologists and profilers during the network's sniper coverage. (Based on today's arrests, the analyses and profiles were way off-base.) After the segment, Lou Dobbs pointed out, with pride, that his show deliberately avoided using these so-called "experts" because of their "pure guesswork." Pure guesswork? Is that like the market speculation Mr. Dobbs and his ilk use in their business reporting? The same speculation which dropped the ball on the Enron and Worldcom collapses? What a hypocrite. Who does he think he is, the Mr. Clean of journalism?
posted by media_dystopia @ 18:52 [ link | top | home ]
Maybe now that the sniper suspects have been arrested, we'll get to see some good pre-election bickering and attack ads. Two weeks before crucial mid-term elections -- the Democrats and Republicans within one seat in the Senate and a dozen in the House -- and it's like the election buzz has been sucked into a black hole.
posted by media_dystopia @ 18:43 [ link | top | home ]
Does anyone else watch NBC's The West Wing with a dictionary? Every episode has a gem phrase which sends me straight to Merriam-Webster OnLine. Tonight's (repeat) episode had "permeating syllogism" for a zinger. I like having access to the Internet while reading or watching TV so that I can look up words and phrases, as well as background information, immediately. Otherwise it slips my mind and find myself baffled all over again in the future.
posted by media_dystopia @ 00:04 [ link | top | home ]
Wednesday, October 23, 2002
Further to the October 3 post: As part of CNN Headline News' plan to use hip-hop phrases to increase its accessibility to younger people, will its reports say that the sniper is going to "bust a cap" in someone again? Just wondering.
posted by media_dystopia @ 23:57 [ link | top | home ]
I have to stop falling asleep with CNN on. I managed to incorporate President Bush's live statement on the new defense bill into a bizarre dream. The president was giving his speech in a mall and I was protecting him from disturbed shoppers and anti-globalization protesters. Suffice it to say, I'll be using the television's sleep timer from now on.
posted by media_dystopia @ 23:42 [ link | top | home ]
The sniper coverage is getting just plain wacky now. CNN's Aaron Brown is getting his "breath taken away" (his words) by the breaking news and is stammering as a result. In the time they've been waiting for the police spokespeople to emerge for a live press conference, they've released the names of the individuals and license plate of the vehicle sought by the police -- without any confirmation. All based on what "sources" -- no names, of course -- have said. All delivered on the fly. Talk about the first draft of journalism. As Brown said, "we're watching sausage being made." (Yes, I'm riveted. However, I have other things to write about so I'll get on with that while I wait for the press conference.)
posted by media_dystopia @ 23:32 [ link | top | home ]
Say, isn't the World Series in progress?
posted by media_dystopia @ 23:28 [ link | top | home ]
Tuesday, October 22, 2002
Say, isn't there a mid-term election in a few weeks?
posted by media_dystopia @ 23:13 [ link | top | home ]
I finally realize why The Osbournes -- currently being broadcast unedited on CTV in Canada -- fascinates and amuses me so much: Ozzy and life's everyday trials and tribulations should be mutually exclusive, but they aren't. The so-called "Prince of Darkness" shouldn't be cleaning up after the dog, putting dishes away, or separating fighting kids -- but he is, and that dichotomy is just plain compelling. And let's face it, damn funny, too.
posted by media_dystopia @ 23:05 [ link | top | home ]
There seems to be two kinds of pundits in the Sniper on the Loose coverage on CNN: those who discuss the sniper's skill and cunning using calm and rational language, and those who call the sniper "coward" and "psychopath" as many times as possible in a five-minute segment. I'm no expert in forensic psychology, but I suspect the latter inflames the situation a lot more than the former. Some journalists have suggested that the police spokespeople have been told by experts to tone down their language and emotion so as to not taunt the perpetrator. Perhaps these experts should be interviewed instead the blowhards who think that calling the killer names is a swell idea.
posted by media_dystopia @ 16:28 [ link | top | home ]
Déjà vu can be a bad thing. Once again I'm watching the live Sniper on the Loose coverage on CNN (the latest information being that a bus driver was shot and killed). A lot of people say that news networks report on breaking or sensational news in order to make money. On the one hand, that's true in that the news media are, for the most part, commercial enterprises governed by ratings and profit. Making money, like with all businesses, is their raison d'être. On the other hand, the bigger the news story and resulting live coverage, the more money is lost by not being able to insert the usual amount of commercials. Just look at the revenue losses as a result of September 11. As for the coverage itself, I think when people are directly affected by an event, or have an empathic reaction -- anyone pumping gas or taking their kids to school has thought about the events in the D.C. area -- they have an insatiable thirst for information. A news outlet does its best to quench that thirst better than the next guy, sometimes at the expense of the truth and journalistic integrity. Without the benefit of MSNBC and Fox News Channel on basic cable where I live, I can only guess how much CNN's coverage is affected by what the other two are saying and doing.
posted by media_dystopia @ 11:06 [ link | top | home ]
Monday, October 21, 2002
I'm watching the live Sniper on the Loose coverage on CNN (the latest information being that two men are in custody and a white minivan has been seized). Like with all breaking news, I'm excited, I'm entertained, I'm amused. It's my opiate. It's my source of blogging fodder. I love witnessing the juggling act of fact, conjecture, and punditry beamed to me live from the scene. I love seeing television shots of out-of-focus Polaroids taken by a passers-by, for lack of any real video. I love listening to witnesses on their cell phones giving amateur play-by-plays as the anchor subtilely encourages them to close in on the mayhem. I love the horror movie feeling of call-ins; you never know whether the person is for real, or whether they phoned in just to yell "Bababooey!" or "Howard Stern rules!" It's time for another live press briefing so I'm going to post this, make some popcorn, put my feet up, and enjoy the show.
posted by media_dystopia @ 12:39 [ link | top | home ]
Sunday, October 20, 2002
Further to the October 7 post: I prefer third-person journalism over first-person journalism. I think this is why travel shows tend to get under my skin.
posted by media_dystopia @ 17:06 [ link | top | home ]
Saturday, October 19, 2002
According to Quebec Premier Bernard Landry, the U.S. is bombarding the planet with its television and radio signals. Quebec and other members of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, currently meeting in Beirut, Lebanon, want protection from the U.S. onslaught. If indeed American cultural hegemony is so dangerous, then the U.S. should air drop Dallas and Dynasty -- two shows Landry singled out in his speech -- videos into Iraq. Throw in some Beavis and Butthead and Saddam Hussein will surrender faster than you can say "Must See TV."
posted by media_dystopia @ 23:51 [ link | top | home ]
During his briefings on the sniper shootings, Montgomery County, Maryland, police chief Charles Moose has been getting a tad annoyed with journalists and their questions. What he and others in his position don't realize is that sometimes the only way to elicit information from an obstinate spokesperson is to ask, and then repeat, dumbed-down questions. Very annoying, yes, but also very necessary for acquiring much-needed quotes for broadcast and publication. It tends to make journalists look stupid -- granted, many of them are -- but it can be very strategic.
posted by media_dystopia @ 23:34 [ link | top | home ]
The Jimmy Dean breakfast commercial is on. I'm not sure which is louder: the sound of the frying fat, or the sound of my screaming arteries. I think I'll stick to my no-name bran flakes and one percent milk.
posted by media_dystopia @ 23:25 [ link | top | home ]
The Maryland gubernatorial race has changed dynamics since the sniper attacks thrust gun control into the limelight. Democrat Kathleen Kennedy Townsend and Republican Robert Ehrlich are skirmishing over the Second Amendment. Townsend's graphic attack ads -- featuring machine guns and flying casings -- denounce Ehrlich's opposition to stringent gun control. Ehrlich for his part is critical of Townsend's exploitation of the shootings for political gain. The race could be won or lost because of the sniper. Welcome to American politics.
posted by media_dystopia @ 01:10 [ link | top | home ]
Friday, October 18, 2002
Just as a side-note to the post below: While I was watching (or listening to) the segment on television, I was flipping back-and-forth between a game window where I was reading player reactions, and a browser window where I was transcribing the comments and editing the blog. Judging from the report, this sort of multi-media multi-tasking should not be possible for an EverQuest player.
posted by media_dystopia @ 21:05 [ link | top | home ]
Further to the October 15 post: I watched "Virtual Addiction" on CBS' 48 Hours, which reported -- just as the CBC report had -- that EverQuest addiction lead to a player's suicide. As the report progressed, I read the visceral reactions of fellow players -- in real-time. One person I play with said: "That show was stupid. [The player who killed himself] was a fucked-in-the-head individual whose mother probably drove him to shooting himself -- and now she has to point the finger at someone. Why does an asshole like that have to give EQ a bad name?" A few moments later he changed the guild's message of the day to: "Guild disclaimer: EQ is a game. Please do not shoot yourself in the head while playing. Thank you." A comment fairly representative of the opinions expressed by players while the segment aired.
posted by media_dystopia @ 20:14 [ link | top | home ]
Ron Silver plays a Democratic presidential election strategist on NBC's The West Wing. Tonight he plays a Democratic pundit -- ironically, filling in for real-life presidential election strategists -- on CNN's Crossfire. I think his Screen Actor's Guild membership card alone qualifies him to speak on behalf of the left. Who's doing the imitating here, life or art?
posted by media_dystopia @ 19:41 [ link | top | home ]
I'm a NoCal man in case you're wondering. I hope NoCal beats SoCal in the World Series. I don't actually know which teams are playing. All I know is that the baseball final is highlighting the differences between Northern California and Southern California.
posted by media_dystopia @ 19:05 [ link | top | home ]
CNN's Lou Dobbs Moneyline is a good news program. Lou Dobbs himself has awful delivery. He makes me cringe at times. What do you expect from a guy with an economics degree from Harvard? (That would be a dig at those who say that journalists should have academic degrees instead of journalism degrees. Subtle enough?)
posted by media_dystopia @ 18:56 [ link | top | home ]
Further to the previous post: The sniper crisis has begun to draw out false witnesses. It's one thing if it's a misleading rumor on the Web -- annoying, but potentially humorous -- it's another thing altogether when someone lies to the police. I agree with pundits that this individual should be charged.
posted by media_dystopia @ 10:01 [ link | top | home ]
Thursday, October 17, 2002
The latest idea-virus spreading across the Internet: "Tips for Avoiding Snipers." According to snopes.com, the Urban Legends References Pages: "Each new crisis that reaches national attention seems to bring out at least one widely-circulated Internet message -- penned by a self-proclaimed expert eager to share his credentials and expertise -- offering simple, practical steps the average person can take to deal with and lessen his exposure to danger from the impending threat." CNN has also reported that hoax sightings of the sniper suspect has caused residents close to Richmond, Virginia, to flood switchboards. In the "Talk of CNN" segment, WRVA Newsradio 1140 morning host Jimmy Barrett likened it to yelling "Fire!" in a theater.
posted by media_dystopia @ 07:05 [ link | top | home ]
Further to my October 15 post: Not to be left out in the EverQuest cold, CBC's Marketplace did a report on the addictiveness of the online game. (This is kind of like when Hollywood pumps out three cat superhero movies, just as a speculative example, in the same three-month period -- but I digress...) Certain personalities lend themselves to addiction, whatever it may be. Some people can't stop shopping. Some people can't stop doing lines of cocaine. Some people masturbate 243 times a day. Some people fall in love with prostitutes. People will either fight their addictions, or let them take over their lives. And some, yes, will be put in such a precarious state of mind that suicide becomes viable. How many people have gambled away their kid's college money and blown their heads off? And what does everyone say? "He had a problem. It got the better of him." Singling out one addiction and state of mind because it's "new" to our society, or "just a game," or "virtual," just means the journalism lacks context.
posted by media_dystopia @ 06:08 [ link | top | home ]
Wednesday, October 16, 2002
I am fascinated by the concept of local radio. Individual stations and their DJs say so much about their communities. The U.S. radio market is of particular interest because the entire country is dotted with urban centers, each with a unique radio environment. I was thinking about this because CNN's early morning program Daybreak has a segment, "Talk of CNN," where host Carol Costello interviews radio jocks from around the country. It's one of the best ways to learn about each radio market's talk of the town because the jocks get such visceral feedback from their audiences.
posted by media_dystopia @ 10:54 [ link | top | home ]
I'm getting tired of the way men are being presented in television ads. There seems to be a tendency towards presenting them as confused, unintelligent dolts. (I realize that many of us are indeed confused and unintelligent -- but I digress...) The women in the same ads are presented as the exact opposite, as if it's politically incorrect to do otherwise (the only exception being common stereotypes such as ditsy models). I don't think this trend does anything good for our collective self-esteem. Ad agencies take note.
posted by media_dystopia @ 10:40 [ link | top | home ]
David Letterman was making fun of President Bush's pronunciation of the word "nuclear" -- "new-cue-lar" instead of "new-clear." The President has never denied his lack of speaking skills, so it's not that big of an issue. It would be nice if he could master his own language, but hey, he's the leader of the free world and can't be expected to do everything. Canadians, on the other hand, rarely make fun of Prime Minister Chrétien's frequent errors in diction because we have come to expect a unique mélange of both official languages from him.
posted by media_dystopia @ 10:24 [ link | top | home ]
Tuesday, October 15, 2002
For those of you who play EverQuest, SOE's "real 3D massively multiplayer fantasy roleplaying game," CBS' 48 Hours will be talking about my -- um, your, addiction on Friday, October 18. I'm willing to bet they link addictive gameplay to the D.C. sniper shootings. We all know that slaying orcs with a broad sword in a virtual world is just one step away from shooting people with a rifle in the real world.
posted by media_dystopia @ 07:13 [ link | top | home ]
Which produces the most valid results -- a presidential referendum in Iraq, or a general election in Florida? Just wondering.
posted by media_dystopia @ 07:03 [ link | top | home ]
Monday, October 14, 2002
Further to the previous post: CEO Dennis Laurie confirmed that TransOrbital will be photographing the Apollo and Russian lunar landing sites, ending suspicions that they were faked. Conspiracy theorists will be left with Roswell swap meets and X-Files re-runs.
posted by media_dystopia @ 06:49 [ link | top | home ]
According to TransOrbital Inc., "the moon is open for business." The California-based company has received U.S. government approval to "explore, photograph, and land on the moon" -- the only private company permitted to do so. CEO Dennis Laurie said TransOrbital is returning to the moon "because there are true revenue opportunities there." This includes charging $2,500 to include a business card in a lunar payload. I wonder how much Coca-Cola, for instance, would pay to have an ad placed beside the flag planted during the first moon landing? The Madison Avenue folks must be salivating at the thought of this virgin territory.
posted by media_dystopia @ 06:06 [ link | top | home ]
Sunday, October 13, 2002
With the November 5 mid-term elections fast approaching, a great resource site to visit is Project Vote Smart, which calls itself "the last trusted source for political information." Categories include biographical data and campaign finances of state elected representatives.
posted by media_dystopia @ 06:29 [ link | top | home ]
CNN's "Sniper on the Loose" coverage includes daily press briefings by Montgomery County, Maryland, police chief Charles Moose. A few days ago the chief criticized the media for reporting leaked information. Moose now addresses reporters with "sir" or "ma'am" in much the same way an overworked waiter addresses a demanding restaurant patron.
posted by media_dystopia @ 04:35 [ link | top | home ]
Saturday, October 12, 2002
In the art imitating life department: New York mayor Michael Bloomberg won't attend the Columbus Day Parade because organizers objected to two Sopranos stars accompanying him. Believing their presence would perpetuate a negative stereotype of Italian-Americans, organizers went to federal court to bar their attendance. A recent episode of the HBO mob drama featured Mafiosi butting heads with Native American protesters objecting to the celebration of Christopher Columbus, a man they believed caused much pain and suffering for their ancestors.
posted by media_dystopia @ 08:56 [ link | top | home ]
Friday, October 11, 2002
CNN's Nic Robertson toured an Iraqi factory complex with other journalists today, part of an attempt by government officials to refute U.S. claims of the factory's weapons-making capabilities. However, as Robertson pointed out, "it was very, very difficult without specific, technical knowledge to be able to say for sure exactly what we saw, exactly what it could be used for...." This leads to an interesting point. With all the criticism of journalists and their lack of "real" education in "J-school," it is often suggested that they be individuals trained in specific academic fields. Business reporters with MBAs, science writers with physics degrees, and the like. Why not then have trained weapons engineers, military scientists, or other arms specialists on staff as reporters? They would be able to offer insight into the metallurgical goings-on of such a factory. That being said, the plan would be thwarted the moment the Iraqi officials looked into the person's credentials or saw one of their well-informed reports. The reporter's visa would disappear faster than you could say "freedom of the press."
posted by media_dystopia @ 02:18 [ link | top | home ]
I saw a television ad today for the Greater Washington Initiative, an organization which promotes the region encompassing the District of Columbia, Northern Virginia, and Suburban Maryland as an "ideal location for locating or expanding a business." Given the current "sniper crisis" in that area, perhaps the timing of the ad was a little off.
posted by media_dystopia @ 02:05 [ link | top | home ]
You know you're close to war when CNN announces the time in Atlanta and Baghdad at the start of a broadcast.
posted by media_dystopia @ 01:50 [ link | top | home ]
Wednesday, October 09, 2002
I wonder who CNN's Christiane Amanpour ticked off to be refused entry into Iran. Then again, I know people who grind their teeth whenever they're "subjected" to her reports. Perhaps the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Hoseini-Khamenei prefers Fox News.
posted by media_dystopia @ 21:23 [ link | top | home ]
News item: SpongeBob SquarePants appeals to gay men. Not to sound cynical, but this smells like a Viacom ratings scheme.
posted by media_dystopia @ 04:10 [ link | top | home ]
Further to yesterday's post: President Bush's speech on Iraq wasn't broadcast by the "big three" networks, which has raised some eyebrows. I know some Fear Factor fans who were happy about it, though.
posted by media_dystopia @ 03:28 [ link | top | home ]
Tuesday, October 08, 2002
Sharon Osbourne while doing the dishes: "Martha Stewart can lick my scrotum." That's a classic line if ever I've heard one.
posted by media_dystopia @ 22:02 [ link | top | home ]
I watched President Bush's speech requesting the courts reopen the West Coast ports. His reference to the military being affected by the lock-out was a political stroke of genius on the part of his advisors. It was tantamount to saying, "The union leadership has been infiltrated by Iraqi agents."
posted by media_dystopia @ 20:53 [ link | top | home ]
The news networks have launched their Iraq programming. With live segments like CNN's "Showdown: Iraq", they're gearing up for war. Here's hoping Christiane Amanpour runs over Geraldo Rivera on the way to Baghdad.
posted by media_dystopia @ 20:25 [ link | top | home ]
The CNN-Fox News bickering over Paula Zahn and ratings is really getting pathetic. Shame on both of them for engaging in a childish war of words. Apparently this dispute involves adult professionals, but judging from the goings-on, it's really hard to tell. Fox News is winning the ratings war. Fine. You've won. Leave it at that. Taking steps to rub it in in a loud and grotesque way is like shooting a prisoner of war. As AP television writer David Bauder put it: "It would seem to make all the trash talk redundant."
posted by media_dystopia @ 04:03 [ link | top | home ]
Further to the October 3 post: Some people behind-the-scenes at CNN Headline News aren't too impressed with the recent decision to add hip-hop terms to the network's vocabulary. One producer said it was "a desperate attempt to become relevant and mainstream, and also pretty pathetic." Amen to that. (NOTE: nytimes.com requires a one-time registration to view articles.)
posted by media_dystopia @ 03:58 [ link | top | home ]
Monday, October 07, 2002
Whenever NBC previews any of its shows, I have to change the channel or pull a "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" routine while humming to myself. Those of us with a modicum of intelligence can figure out the entire plot of the episode just from the 15-second preview. It ruins it for us. Half the fun of watching Law & Order, for instance, is following the clues to the person who gets charged and put on trial. If the preview shows that person or, worse, the person who really did the crime, then what's the point?
posted by media_dystopia @ 20:45 [ link | top | home ]
I'm watching President Bush's speech on Iraq. Very interesting. He -- that is to say, the speechwriter -- covered all the bases. Even quoted JFK, which was a nice touch. There's no denying the shrewd political timing of the anti-Iraq rhetoric (launched in September, a few months before crucial mid-term elections in November), but there's also no denying the potential threat. "We will act with our allies at our side." Has anyone told Canada yet? I think they're too busy with the Queen's visit and ministers who can't figure out the word "timing." (I'm surprised Her Majesty didn't ram that puck into John Manley's mouth -- but I digress...) Back to the topic at hand: Bush did a good job on the speech.
posted by media_dystopia @ 20:20 [ link | top | home ]
I have a great new "reality TV" show to propose to the networks. You create a camera harness which can be locked onto a participant, specifically a person you kidnap in the middle of the night. Before locking the harness on, you dress the person according to that week's theme. Then you dump them somewhere fun and exciting and enjoy the show. Week one: "The Gaza Blues." Participant dressed in an Israeli army officer's uniform and dumped in downtown Gaza. Week two: "Orange and Blood Red." Participant dressed in Orangeman parade colors and dumped in a Catholic neighborhood in Northern Ireland. Week three: "The Gong Show." Participant dressed in Falun Gong protester garb and dumped in Beijing's Tiananmen Square. This is the real Survivor.
posted by media_dystopia @ 18:18 [ link | top | home ]
Further to the September 6 post: Be still my heart! The woman in the Home Depot tiling commercial, who I am in love with, now appears in a Fannie Mae commercial.
posted by media_dystopia @ 18:05 [ link | top | home ]
I've been listening to Art Bell's show on my local talk radio station. Imagine X-Files meets Larry King. I'm still trying to figure out whether he actually believes the all paranormal mumbo jumbo, or whether he's the most objective journalist on the planet. Since I don't believe myself, I try to figure out his shtick. Makes for an interesting radio experience.
posted by media_dystopia @ 03:11 [ link | top | home ]
I think I'm ranting a lot today because I'm a little under the weather. I'll try to get back to my usual succinct self as soon as possible.
posted by media_dystopia @ 02:29 [ link | top | home ]
I believe in the concept of "media tourism." (Can I coin that phrase?) Part of the attraction of any given place you visit is exposure to their unique local media: rock stations, news radio, cable channels, news broadcasts, commercials, newspapers, billboards, and so on. You can learn so much about a place just by letting yourself absorb the media around you. You can even judge a place by its media. Most people only visit tourist attractions (traps?). They think that turning on the TV is a bad thing: "We can do that at home!" They're missing out on learning about the local culture through the media. Knowing where people get their information and the quality of that information says a lot about them. Little things like the availability of high-speed Internet speak volumes. The energy or vibe of a community can be felt through its radio stations. A rock station's morning hosts are ambassadors of sort; they represent the thoughts and feelings of a particular demographic. Comparing broadsheet and tabloid headlines gives you an idea of what people are concerned about. And it's not limited to populated areas, either; the lack of media says a lot as well. I wouldn't necessarily want to live in such a place, but as a "media tourist" I would find it fascinating.
posted by media_dystopia @ 01:36 [ link | top | home ]
While I'm ranting about shows and people who piss me off, let me get some shots in on critics. Movie critics, book critics, music critics; all those blowhards who get paid to put down that which they would be unable to create themselves. All forms of art are subjective, so it's up viewers, readers, and listeners to be their own critics. To have a professional who's sole function in life is to point out what people should or shouldn't enjoy is just plain silly. For example: I went to a Tool concert recently. I had a wonderful time due in large part to the fact that Tool is my favorite band. Judging by the joyous screams of the crowd, I suspect that most of the audience felt the same way. Why else would we be there? Why else would we pay exorbitant amounts for tickets? Why else would we subject ourselves to pot-addled teens who think that mosh pits are swell places to hang out? But I digress... On the radio the next day, some schmuck who professed to be a Tool fan said their performance was lousy. What is the point of a radio host saying that? To make sure the band never comes back? To prove his superior music appreciation skills? There is no point -- and that's the point I'm trying to make.
posted by media_dystopia @ 00:57 [ link | top | home ]
I'm not a big fan of "reality TV" -- and I use the word "reality" in the broadest sense possible. Any show with a contrived camera-filled environment, vote-off system, and wanna-be actors is just plain bothersome. Even the losers get more than 15 minutes of fame, which really doesn't reflect well on the media. Given that the participants use the shows as career stepping-stones -- Playboy centerfolds, movie roles, commercial endorsements, Hollywood party invites -- you can be guaranteed that their behavior is anything but "real." You can't throw people into a socially stressful situation and call their reactions "reality." Sometimes it's entertaining, but most of the time it's just plain annoying. I do, however, have a great deal of respect for shows that are journalistic documentaries, the human subjects of which educate people about their jobs, lives, activities, hobbies, whatever. (This is why the shows tend to be on cable-only networks: not enough entertainment for the big networks.) Some good examples are Life Network's Pioneer Quest, Zoo Diaries, Paparazzi, Casino Diaries, English Teachers, and Circus, and the various TLC shows I've mentioned before.
posted by media_dystopia @ 00:30 [ link | top | home ]
I'm getting tired of travel shows. I used to like them, but now they just annoy me. I don't need to live vicariously through people with fun and interesting television jobs who, as a fringe benefit, get paid to travel around the world and tell the rest of us about it. I would, however, love to be hired to do exactly that. References are available upon request.
posted by media_dystopia @ 00:04 [ link | top | home ]
Sunday, October 06, 2002
It's my belief that the world discriminates against people with bad handwriting. I think keyboards should be provided to those of us facing this insidious form of prejudice. We should also be issued with handwriting exemption cards to be showed to people when asked to write anything by hand. "Sorry ma'am, I'm exempt. You're going to have ask someone with non-keyboard-centric wrists and fingers so that I am not subjected to emotionally damaging criticism of my, to quote you people, 'chicken-scratches.' Have a nice day."
posted by media_dystopia @ 20:24 [ link | top | home ]
Note to self: the word "media" is plural, as in "The news media are keeping people informed." It's good to air one's stylistic dirty laundry every once in a while.
posted by media_dystopia @ 20:14 [ link | top | home ]
If you believe the hype in the press, Google has become the world's most popular search engine. I'm not one for hype; that often turns me off a product or movie -- I have yet to see Titanic for that reason -- or whatever else is the subject of way too much ink. But in this case, the praise is well-deserved. Google has created an excellent search engine packed with great tools. This is ironic considering there was a time when I thought the site was worthless. An even bigger irony is that in 1999, when I was using other now-defunct meta-search engines, Google had the for-sale sign up on its site. I have to give credit where credit is due and congratulate the new owners on the turn-around.
posted by media_dystopia @ 19:32 [ link | top | home ]
The Department of Defense Almanac has some great sites to demystify U.S. officer and enlisted rank insignia. Canada's Department of National Defence has a section on Canadian Forces Rank and Appointment Insignia. Just an FYI.
posted by media_dystopia @ 04:36 [ link | top | home ]
The Learning Channel (TLC) is turning into the best network on television. In addition to my aforementioned addiction to A Wedding Story, I'm head-over-heals for While You Were Out, Trading Spaces, and Junkyard Wars. They're perfect shows to have on in the background while blogging.
posted by media_dystopia @ 02:18 [ link | top | home ]
I hate hardcover books. Not only do I hate the heavy, awkward books themselves and their silly, loose-fitting, easily damaged dust jackets, but I hate the fact that hardcover editions come out a year or more before the softcover ones. I know there is some form of perverse marketing logic behind this. However, not being Mr. Spock, I can't figure it out. In the meantime, I'm left waiting for Bernard Goldberg's Bias: A CBS Insider Exposes How the Media Distort the News, Leonard Downie Jr. and Robert G. Kaiser's The News About the News: American Journalism in Peril, and other intriguing publications to be released in paperback.
posted by media_dystopia @ 01:09 [ link | top | home ]
Speaking of books, William Gibson's Pattern Recognition is scheduled for release in February, 2003. It's the first book of his set in the present -- which, frankly, doesn't thrill me -- and could be the start of a new trilogy. The last one, the Bridge series, involved a near-future world which didn't sit well with me -- most likely because of my love for the quintessential cyberpunk Sprawl series (Neuromancer, Count Zero, Mona Lisa Overdrive, and selected short stories from Burning Chrome). Regardless of my skepticism, I will buy the new book to maintain a complete Gibson collection.
Follow-up: Pattern review.
posted by media_dystopia @ 00:22 [ link | top | home ]
Saturday, October 05, 2002
Dr. Phil scares me. I can't really explain why. He just does. In fact, I get freaked out anytime I see a self-help guru's grinning mug on a book cover. I don't have an issue with their methodologies. For all I know, they may be therapeutic geniuses. It's just that they have this feral gleam in their eyes. Makes me feel like mental prey.
posted by media_dystopia @ 23:29 [ link | top | home ]
If you hang out with programmers, whether or not by choice, you will be subjected to a certain amount of geek-speak. At some point you may have to excuse yourself from the conversation (before your eyes glaze over), locate the nearest computer with Internet access, and visit NetLingo or the Jargon File to get a handle on some of the buzzword-laden technobabble.
posted by media_dystopia @ 02:47 [ link | top | home ]
Friday, October 04, 2002
The Rev. Jerry Falwell has opened his mouth again. Remember the last time he did that? I believe in free speech, as guaranteed by the U.S. Bill of Rights, Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and similar national legal instruments. I also believe that journalism has a responsibility to the truth -- even when that means quoting individuals who use free speech as a pulpit for their bigotry, hypocrisy, and condescension.
posted by media_dystopia @ 04:44 [ link | top | home ]
Speaking of military techno-jargon, here's the Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms. Very useful if you're a fan of JAG. Also useful is the United States Navy Fact File, one of many sites listed at DefenseLINK.
posted by media_dystopia @ 01:10 [ link | top | home ]
Thursday, October 03, 2002
You can tell where Canadians' priorities lie when they flood the national broadcaster with thousands of e-mails and jam radio call-in shows over a hockey show host's contract talks. I'm not saying that's a bad thing mind you. It's nice to see Canadians enthusiastic about something in the news. When else are you going to happy people with placards cheering at a press conference?
posted by media_dystopia @ 23:19 [ link | top | home ]
A manager at CNN Headline News has proposed using hip-hop phrases to make the news more accessible to younger people. If you're going to use street slang, then why stop there? Why not political double-speak? Or military techno-jargon? Or good old fashioned Orwellian Newspeak? Why not bury the entire newscast under euphemistic circumlocutions? To paraphrase George Carlin, there needs to be simple, honest, direct language -- but that shouldn't mean pandering to people who think they're "da bomb" because they "get jiggy" with the English language.
posted by media_dystopia @ 21:05 [ link | top | home ]
Newseum has launched the online version of its Today's Front Pages exhibit, which displays the front pages of select newspapers from around the world. This kind of vicarious journalism allows news junkies to see through the eyes of others as they open their doors in the morning or stop by newsstands on their way to work.
posted by media_dystopia @ 01:40 [ link | top | home ]
Wednesday, October 02, 2002
I was shocked to see Fred Dalton Thompson on Law & Order tonight. The Republican senator from Tennessee (who is not seeking reelection in November) has replaced Dianne Wiest in the role of Manhattan district attorney. Typically actors in political or legal roles haven't actually been in politics or practiced law. On that basis alone he will be a welcome addition to the series. Plus, anything is better than his predecessor. (One question though: how can a sitting senator join the cast of a TV show? Shouldn't he wait until he leaves office in January?)
posted by media_dystopia @ 23:43 [ link | top | home ]
Blonde journalists may have more fun, but they don't check their facts.
posted by media_dystopia @ 14:52 [ link | top | home ]
I picked up the latest edition of The Week, one the best news magazines on the market. Not the biggest event in the world, I realize. It's just that I haven't seen it for sale in Canada until today. Even then it was a specialty magazine store.
posted by media_dystopia @ 12:30 [ link | top | home ]
The Christmas album ads have begun. 'Tis the season of Hallow'een.
posted by media_dystopia @ 02:36 [ link | top | home ]
If CNN merges with ABC News, will Disney package the news on special-edition limited-time-offer videos and DVDs? Just wondering.
posted by media_dystopia @ 00:56 [ link | top | home ]
Tuesday, October 01, 2002
A few days ago, several news organizations quoted a World Health Organization report which said that the blonde hair gene would be extinct in 200 years. Tonight, CTV News apologized, saying that no one at WHO commissioned the report and that it was most likely a hoax. Too late; it's all over the Web thanks to the tipping blog. Luckily the ideavirus this time was something completely innocuous, even to blondes (like me).
posted by media_dystopia @ 23:41 [ link | top | home ]