I am so sated with knowledge at the moment, I am euphoric.In this case, the sentence is complete and uses proper English. And because no one I know would ever actually write a subject line like this, I can immediately identify the message as Not From A Real Person. Thanks.
Monday, April 30, 2007
satiated spam
The amusing thing about spam (if you can manage any amusement from something so unwelcome and overwhelmingly annoying) is how it often utilizes bizarre or unbelievable subject lines:
Friday, April 27, 2007
it's about time we quoted that guy from "Shaun of the Dead"
Today's Friday quote:
"The truth is always the best place to start from."TGIF, no? Have a good weekend. And don't forget to get a copy of the new Prerogative issue. It has some good stuff inside.
— Simon Pegg of the new film "Hot Fuzz," in an interview over at The A.V. Club
Thursday, April 26, 2007
serial killers
I am mildly surprised that Fox rushed (or should I go for the pun and type "raced"?) to cancel "Drive" already. It's annoying particularly when you consider that a couple more episodes have been taped and have not yet aired. I read they may run on Fridays in May.
ABC said it would make unaired episodes of the canceled "Daybreak" available on its website. NBC was supposed to run the full story arc of "Kidnapped" on Saturdays after it was canceled and bumped from its mid-week time slot. I remember shortly after "Daybreak" was pulled from TV, viewers complained that the new episodes were not materializing online. I see now that they're there. "Kidnapped," on the other hand, I don't see a hint of it on the NBC website, and I don't think all those episodes aired on Saturdays either.
It sort of feels like the networks don't feel any loyalty whatsoever to their viewers, particularly when you compare the value of a few million viewers to the monetary worth of ad time. If "House" reruns rate higher on Mondays at 8 p.m. than "Drive," then nevermind the people who are actually watching the show, and the actors and writers and producers and crew who put their time into the show. The people whose good graces you want to stay in, and who will always earn your loyalty, are the advertisers. So what if you alienate viewers who feel betrayed? So what if you earn a reputation for bailing out on shows that deserved a greater chance, be it "Dark Angel" after two seasons (which I suppose is quite a run, relatively speaking) or the poster child of ill-used shows that were MUCH better than Fox deserved, "Firefly," which only made 11 episodes (not all of which aired, of course). Shows of varying degrees of quality, but with storylines that require several episodes to reveal their mysteries, are tossed with no regard for the good faith of their viewers. See "Vanished," "Reunion" and now "Drive" on Fox alone.
The thing is, advertisers don't want to buy ad time during shows that have fewer viewers. And some viewers declare personal boycotts of networks who continue to mistreat them and the shows they like. If Fox will cancel shows A and B without giving them time to find an audience (while holding onto junk; see some of the sitcom schedule), why should I bother to watch any new drama that network puts on? Especially when it's a serial, which means it's more likely than not to end unresolved?
What should networks do, then, in the case of serial shows? Maybe they should continue online or in comic books ("Dark Angel," while not a serial like "Lost" or this season's defunct "The Nine," ended way up in the air and felt perfect for the comic book treatment). What do you think? Why don't networks at least run unaired episodes on Saturdays at 8 p.m. or something?
ABC said it would make unaired episodes of the canceled "Daybreak" available on its website. NBC was supposed to run the full story arc of "Kidnapped" on Saturdays after it was canceled and bumped from its mid-week time slot. I remember shortly after "Daybreak" was pulled from TV, viewers complained that the new episodes were not materializing online. I see now that they're there. "Kidnapped," on the other hand, I don't see a hint of it on the NBC website, and I don't think all those episodes aired on Saturdays either.
It sort of feels like the networks don't feel any loyalty whatsoever to their viewers, particularly when you compare the value of a few million viewers to the monetary worth of ad time. If "House" reruns rate higher on Mondays at 8 p.m. than "Drive," then nevermind the people who are actually watching the show, and the actors and writers and producers and crew who put their time into the show. The people whose good graces you want to stay in, and who will always earn your loyalty, are the advertisers. So what if you alienate viewers who feel betrayed? So what if you earn a reputation for bailing out on shows that deserved a greater chance, be it "Dark Angel" after two seasons (which I suppose is quite a run, relatively speaking) or the poster child of ill-used shows that were MUCH better than Fox deserved, "Firefly," which only made 11 episodes (not all of which aired, of course). Shows of varying degrees of quality, but with storylines that require several episodes to reveal their mysteries, are tossed with no regard for the good faith of their viewers. See "Vanished," "Reunion" and now "Drive" on Fox alone.
The thing is, advertisers don't want to buy ad time during shows that have fewer viewers. And some viewers declare personal boycotts of networks who continue to mistreat them and the shows they like. If Fox will cancel shows A and B without giving them time to find an audience (while holding onto junk; see some of the sitcom schedule), why should I bother to watch any new drama that network puts on? Especially when it's a serial, which means it's more likely than not to end unresolved?
What should networks do, then, in the case of serial shows? Maybe they should continue online or in comic books ("Dark Angel," while not a serial like "Lost" or this season's defunct "The Nine," ended way up in the air and felt perfect for the comic book treatment). What do you think? Why don't networks at least run unaired episodes on Saturdays at 8 p.m. or something?
Friday, April 20, 2007
Happy early Earth Day
I am actually not at work today, but thought I should come through anyway with this Friday's quote:
What about you?
Most human beings have an almost infinite capacity for taking things for granted.True, no? This seems fitting, too, considering that Sunday is Earth Day. The links here at Oprah's page really are helpful, regardless of whether you're an Oprah fan. My Earth Day challenge to you is to pick at least one simple lifestyle change that you'll try out. I'm planning to start using fluorescent bulbs, not get receipts at the ATM machine and start taking my tote with me to the store (to use in place of plastic bags).
-- Aldous Huxley
What about you?
Monday, April 16, 2007
the first day
Yesterday the big news was the weather. All sorts of minor accidents left cars roadside, as rain was followed by hail and finally snow — in mid-April.
Yesterday is far, far away now. Snow in April is nothing compared to 31 people being shot to death on a college campus in Virginia, just down the road from Bluefield. In our modern Internet- and TV-fed culture, the news feed is nonstop. Talk about it, watch news reports about it, read updates about it on CNN.com — it's easy and tempting to maintain a steady diet of information overload in an attempt to satisfy our shocked wondering.
It seems like we should be able to answer the questions already: Who was the shooter? Who has died? What exactly happened? The most intriguing question, I think, is "Why?" But even with the Internet and the constant coverage on TV, some things will still take time: the answers to all those questions, and the dealing with grief and loss. It's a long road ahead.
Yesterday is far, far away now. Snow in April is nothing compared to 31 people being shot to death on a college campus in Virginia, just down the road from Bluefield. In our modern Internet- and TV-fed culture, the news feed is nonstop. Talk about it, watch news reports about it, read updates about it on CNN.com — it's easy and tempting to maintain a steady diet of information overload in an attempt to satisfy our shocked wondering.
It seems like we should be able to answer the questions already: Who was the shooter? Who has died? What exactly happened? The most intriguing question, I think, is "Why?" But even with the Internet and the constant coverage on TV, some things will still take time: the answers to all those questions, and the dealing with grief and loss. It's a long road ahead.
Friday, April 13, 2007
quotation celebration
Don't you like a good quote? I've happened upon a few good ones recently and thought hey, why not share? Even better, why not start Culture Club's first-ever official running series? I welcome you, then, to the inaugural Super Friday Quote (yes, the creativity of that name practically knocks me over, too):
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."— Mark Twain
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Coach Taylor! Veronica!
Looking over the TV viewer ratings from last night, I started thinking about shows returning next season. "Jericho" was third in its time slot, but still ahead of "Friday Night Lights," which placed behind all other network shows at 8 p.m. but still gained almost 1 million viewers compared to last week (if I'm reading that "gained ... week to week" sentence correctly). "FNL" ended its season last night and the buzz is pretty good about its return next season. I'm hoping for a) a second season renewal of the show, b) an Emmy nomination for Kyle Chandler and c) and Emmy nomination for at least another player — Connie Britton as Mrs. Coach Taylor? Gaius Charles as Smash Williams, even? Back during shows that featured Smash's mom a lot, I also entertained the idea of giving Liz Mikel a nomination.
So "Friday Night Lights" is obviously on my Please Renew This Show list. It isn't my favorite show, but it's worth spotlighting. The acting, writing, characters, mood, character dynamics — all worth noting. If you have Bravo, I hear there are "FNL" marathons to behold. I hope NBC reruns the first season over the summer so y'all can catch up.
Which shows stick around and find success (commercially, critically, award-ally) can influence network decisions. I don't know all the details, but I figure the proliferation of junky reality TV shows has something to do with people watching reality TV shows. Success spawns imitation. So why not give something of a bit more quality a look? In case you haven't heard, "Friday Night Lights" isn't just for football fans.
Some shows are a given for next year, and many have already been renewed. My top three — "Lost," "The Office" and "Heroes" — are planning another happy season on TV. Others aren't so sure. Some should go, I think, even if I do like them.
Return to me:
• "Veronica Mars" — It took me a few episodes to really warm up to the show, but now (when it's on) I really look forward to it. It's all noirish and mystery-oriented, and Veronica is a surprise of a lead character. She's dark(ish) but not gloomy, quippy but not lame. And Tina Majorino is on the show!
Eh, whatever:
• "Jericho" — A show that, some of the time, is cool for the whole family. Profanity is light and sexual content almost nonexistent. Violence creeps in now and then, as guns (unlike gasoline, food and hot water) are aplenty. The writing is mediocre and the whole thing — premise, characters, actors — could be utilized much better than it is. But I don't hate it or anything.
• "Gilmore Girls" — I don't think it's the wretched mess of a show that some fans see. It's funny and I love, love, love moments with Paris, who can be counted on to make me laugh out loud whenever she's in an episode. I'm just sort of less enthused about it than I used to be. It always irks me when a marriage is tossed into a show and then tossed out, like it's only as serious and respect-worthy as, say, the decision to paint your toenails dark purple instead of bright pink ("Oh no, that looks dreadful ... oops! I'll have to start over. La-dee-da.")
Side note: I don't like plotlines being introduced that you know will follow the obvious course without surprising you, either: Lorelai married Christopher (soon to be followed with Lorelai and Christopher break up)! Major Character's life is in jeopardy (to be followed next week with Major Character rescued/makes full recovery quickly after operation/not shot after all).
• "Crossing Jordan" — If Jerry O'Connell and Miguel Ferrer are on the cast lists for new fall shows, does that mean they don't think "CJ" is returning?
What about you? Any "maybe" shows whose renewal petition you'd sign? Any you wish would just go away already?
So "Friday Night Lights" is obviously on my Please Renew This Show list. It isn't my favorite show, but it's worth spotlighting. The acting, writing, characters, mood, character dynamics — all worth noting. If you have Bravo, I hear there are "FNL" marathons to behold. I hope NBC reruns the first season over the summer so y'all can catch up.
Which shows stick around and find success (commercially, critically, award-ally) can influence network decisions. I don't know all the details, but I figure the proliferation of junky reality TV shows has something to do with people watching reality TV shows. Success spawns imitation. So why not give something of a bit more quality a look? In case you haven't heard, "Friday Night Lights" isn't just for football fans.
Some shows are a given for next year, and many have already been renewed. My top three — "Lost," "The Office" and "Heroes" — are planning another happy season on TV. Others aren't so sure. Some should go, I think, even if I do like them.
Return to me:
• "Veronica Mars" — It took me a few episodes to really warm up to the show, but now (when it's on) I really look forward to it. It's all noirish and mystery-oriented, and Veronica is a surprise of a lead character. She's dark(ish) but not gloomy, quippy but not lame. And Tina Majorino is on the show!
Eh, whatever:
• "Jericho" — A show that, some of the time, is cool for the whole family. Profanity is light and sexual content almost nonexistent. Violence creeps in now and then, as guns (unlike gasoline, food and hot water) are aplenty. The writing is mediocre and the whole thing — premise, characters, actors — could be utilized much better than it is. But I don't hate it or anything.
• "Gilmore Girls" — I don't think it's the wretched mess of a show that some fans see. It's funny and I love, love, love moments with Paris, who can be counted on to make me laugh out loud whenever she's in an episode. I'm just sort of less enthused about it than I used to be. It always irks me when a marriage is tossed into a show and then tossed out, like it's only as serious and respect-worthy as, say, the decision to paint your toenails dark purple instead of bright pink ("Oh no, that looks dreadful ... oops! I'll have to start over. La-dee-da.")
Side note: I don't like plotlines being introduced that you know will follow the obvious course without surprising you, either: Lorelai married Christopher (soon to be followed with Lorelai and Christopher break up)! Major Character's life is in jeopardy (to be followed next week with Major Character rescued/makes full recovery quickly after operation/not shot after all).
• "Crossing Jordan" — If Jerry O'Connell and Miguel Ferrer are on the cast lists for new fall shows, does that mean they don't think "CJ" is returning?
What about you? Any "maybe" shows whose renewal petition you'd sign? Any you wish would just go away already?
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