Food Network

What a great network. The Food Network is one of my favorite thing to turn on when flipping through channels. They somehow manage to make everything look so delicious and make me miserable for not having it. It's really a bittersweet experience to watch this channel. One of my favorite shows is Everyday Italian with Giada De Laurentiis. Not only does the food look amazing (who doesn't like Italian food) but Giada doesn't look so bad herself. Besides possibly being one of the reasons for America's obesity problem, the Food Network is one of televisions greatest accomplishments. 

I got a fever.. and the only prescription..not cowbell.

The recent uproar of the swine flu has caused much discussion and panic throughout the world. 

The media has been all over this issue. Every channel you switch to, swine flu is usually the discussion. Hospitals have been flooded with people in fear they might have the swine flu because of symptoms similar to that of a cold. This disease has killed already, but it seems like the severity of this flu is being exaggerated. The regular flu kills people every year, and there are people with the swine flu right now in fine condition. While it is, no doubt, a serious issue, the media seems to be blowing it out of proportion and causing a fear for everyone to believe they have this swine flu because they have a cough or runny nose. Although the media is putting everyone on high alert for this flu, I guess in the end you're better safe than sorry.

Radio

In the past decade or so it seems like radio is on the downfall and might just be a matter of time until it's in the same boat as newspapers. With the development of mp3 players that can do the same thing without annoying commercials or music you don't like, many are giving up on radio.  For me, the only time I ever listen to the radio is when I'm in my car and I forget to bring my iPod with me, otherwise I hook my iPod up to my car stereo. There are definitely certain benefits to radio.. including talk shows that people tune into daily and hearing new music, but it seems like a much more casual media than say television or internet. Do you think radio will eventually get pushed aside by developing technologies? or do you think radio will always be here and booming in business?

The Late Night Crowd

I've always been a HUGE Conan fan. I think he is hands-down the most entertaining of the late night bunch. His self-aware awkwardness makes for a hilarious hour of comedy, as well as stupidly funny skits and a fan-favorite personality. I can't wait for him to take over his new spot next season, but until then I will settle for Jimmy Fallon. I was a little skeptical at first but I think he's been doing a great job, especially since this is his first time being fully in charged of a show. His first night was a little rough, you could see how nervous he was,  but he's really warmed up and become comfortable with his position as host. I think one of the best parts of his show is The Roots as the house band. I am a huge fan of The Roots and it's really cool to be able to see them live every night. I hope to see Fallon successful in his new role and I can't wait for Conan to come back on air with his ridiculous antics. 

The Media and President Obama

So here we are just months into the presidency of Barack Obama and already the media is talking about his downfall. Many think he's running the country poorly and not providing the change he promised. Let me repeat, we are just months into his presidency. Change takes time. Everyone is jumping the gun on accusing him of messing up the country. He inherited a lot of work from the last president and it's not going to disappear overnight. I think it just shows how impatient Americans are, maybe we're just accustom to looking down at our presidents from the last two terms of presidency. Whatever it is, people need to be patient and let Obama's plans go into action, it's really too early to foresee a complete downfall when there has been no real results, good or bad, yet. 

Politics vs. Hollywood

Lately I've noticed an annoying trend on sites like CNN.com and other political news websites. I find they've been reporting a lot more on what's going on in celebrities lives, instead of using their time and resources to report on important political news and events. Just today I've seen stories on home pages about TI's jail time and Rhianna's new tattoo. Leave it to the gossip shows to report on these events, CNN, don't pollute your stature by becoming a gossip network. Okay, so I might be exaggerating a tiny bit when I say they're heading toward becoming a gossip network, but I don't think it's doing them any good reporting these kinds of things. Do you think they just bust out these stories on slow news days or are they heading in a new direction as to possibly appeal to a different audience? Whatever it is, it's annoying. 

Recycling Music

So the other day I went through my old CD's that by now I'm embarassed to have. I decided to sell them back to Newbury Comics and try to get at least a little bit of cash back for them. I brought back 6 CD's and hoping I would get AT LEAST 5 bucks for each of them, I walked away with $15.75. I sat in my car and though, I must have got ripped off, there's no way that's right. I went home, hopped online and searched for prices of the used CD's I sold back and sure enough it was about 2 dollars for each of them. I feel like I totally got ripped off, spending $12-$15 for a CD and getting $2 dollars back for it (and no, they weren't scratched at all, they looked brand new). There's really not much you can do but either keep them in your closet and forget about them or sell them back and get a stick of gum or two. Oh well. 

Sex In The Media

Sex is a very big part of todays media. It's becoming much more acceptable in society than ever before. Film uses sex to draw in viewers, as it can get away with a lot more than television's censorship. But where is the line between art and sleaze? This is going alone with our discussions on art films vs. mainstream films. It seems that art films get away with a lot more sexual scenes because they aren't trying to exploit sex, but rather depict it in a certain light, whether it's a good light or bad. Mainstream films seem to exploit sex, providing many sexual instances just in their trailers alone. Even certain roles in mainstream film require a stereotypical sexy girl/guy, an example that comes to mind is main or secondary characters in horror films. Are mainstream films just as entitled as art films to use sex in their story? Do they both use the same motives for including sex in their films or are art films more just in their use of sex?

Music In Commercials

Almost every commercial you see uses music, whether its music created specifically for the commercial, or popular music. Sometimes the music merges so well with the commercial that every time you hear the song, you're reminded of the commercial. I find this happens a lot, but I have mixed feelings on it. From a television standpoint I think it's a great way to advertise and give something familiar to the viewer to relate to. From a musical standpoint, I think it's annoying that whenever I listen to the song it makes me think of the commercial! Even though it's a show, one example is The Who on CSI. Whenever the songs come on it makes me immediately think of CSI. It kind of puts a damper on the song when you relate it to a completely different entity on TV. It is, however a great way to advertise and I think television uses music as a great asset to sell and entertain. What do you think and what are some examples you've noticed of popular music that makes you think of a specific show or commercial every time you hear it?

Annoying.

 The only time anyone really enjoys watching commercials is during the Superbowl. They are best used for bathroom or food breaks in and between shows. Money is spent on ways to get around watching commercials (for example, TiVo). It's one thing to advertise during an allotted time in the show, but I find one of the most annoying new methods of advertising on TV is DURING a show. Some stations are worse than others, but these ads will appear on the screen in the middle of the show and sometimes take up up to 1/2 the screen. They can be animated and be very distracting to what's going on behind it, not to mention you cant even see the show thats on! I hate this new way of advertising and I think companies should stick to the basic full-screen commercials and not take away from the entertainment of their programming.

Yarr

Piracy. It seems to spread wider and wider throughout America every day. Music companies have been the main target in the past but in the last couple years especially, film has been taking hits. The film companies are losing big time from people downloading torrents or from websites. But really, who can afford to go out to the movies anymore? I can spend $10.50 to see a movie one time, or wait 2 months and buy it for that price, or less. I think that the theater experience is the best way to view a film, getting your full attention and submerging you in the story through the large screen and booming audio, but once you get past the ticket booth, you have to spend 4 bucks for a kiddy size soda? Are people right to stay in and just download movies on the internet. Granted, I'm sure Hollywood could do without the money they lose to this new-age "pirates," but is it right to steal these films that people work so hard to develop and shoot? Personally, part of me wants to say if they don't play fair and charge decent prices, then why shouldn't I just take it for free, but looking at it from a business and directorial standpoint, I know it's wrong. I don't think most people download EVERY movie they watch, but the movie industry has definitely taken a blow from downloaders. What do you think? Is it justified to "steal" movies online? Or should downloaders be penalized?

Connecting Media

After watching Rungu, I realized the connection between communication's mediums. The one in particular was music and film (and also television). They play off each other so well that one without the other seems empty. For example, music is used to build suspense and fear in Ringu, as well as help to assert that final punch of jump-out-of-your-seat fear. The piercing violins make you squirm and prepare yourself for a scare. I noticed one scene in Ringu, in the well when the girl grabbed the hand of the woman, where they didn't choose to use backing music, and it wasn't nearly as scary as it could have been with musical support. This also works the opposite way. Film compliments music very nicely as well. Have you ever seen a music video that, after seeing it, puts a completely different perspective on the song? I love how the two play off each other to create new meanings and feelings. Feel free to share some of your favorite scenes that incorporate music in them. One of mine would have to be the scene with Simon & Garfunkel's "America" from Almost Famous. 

The Downside of Technology

It seems like every time you turn around another form of technology is coming out. As soon as you buy a computer, software or a phone a month or two later they come out with the new updated version, that works twice as good. Do you think companies do this on purpose for their own gain?Or, do you think technology is evolving so rapidly that these companies can't keep up? Another issue I would like to get your take on is planned obsolescence. Do companies make their product only last for a certain amount of time before they fail, causing the consumer to have to go out and replace the product? Personally, I have experience this through Apple's iPod. I am on about my fourth iPod in about 5 years (not to mention the screen is cracked on the one I have now). From my experience, around the one year mark they fail. My second iPod actually failed a week after the one-year warranty was up, go figure. So do you think companies plan the short-term life of their products or is it just natural ware and tear that break them down?

Crackberry

Today, people depend on technology at every moment of their life. They can't go out anywhere without being connected to the internet. Websters Dictionary named the newly coined term, "Crackberry," the word of the year. The blackberry allows you to e-mail, instant message, and oh yeah, it's a telephone too. I think its becoming ridiculous that people feel like they have to be in the know about everything at all times of the day. Put down your phones and concentrate on what's going on in front of you. Instead of learning, people are checking their e-mails and chatting in class. From personal experience, one of the most frustrating things is when you're trying to have a conversation with someone and they can't go 5 minutes without picking up their blackberry. Technology is taking the place of real life for so many, people need to stop and take a look around them.