John Stewart takes a good look at new media

via Comedy Central

Preface: I apologize ahead of time for those who actually sleep at 3am and have yet to see the Feb. 4th, 2010 episode of The Daily Show. I also apologize that because of this I also do not have video clips to further illustrate my point about what the aforementioned episode taught me. Once a video clip is available I will be sure to edit this post. (EDIT) WordPress cannot imbed videos from Comedy Central so the Feb 4th episode can be viewed here.

Tonight (or this morning as it were) aired the Feb. 4th, 2010 episode of The Daily Show. Once again I was reminded exactly why I watch The Daily Show.

John Stewart delivered a poignant address about the new media: blogging. Stewart emphasized the impact/implications of blog headlines in relation to events that were a far cry from the headlines that heralded them. His key illustration came down to a simple retort between himself and MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow. The so called ’slam’ of Stewart on Maddow occurred after the Jan. 14th, 2010 episode of The Daily Show. Note if you will that the segment with Maddow in it was less than a minute long, and yet a few blogs appeared there after claiming that Stewart ’slam[med]‘ Maddow. A few claimed that Stewart ‘ripped’ Maddow.

via 44-Diaries

For some reason Maddow felt it necessary to have an on air response to this so called ’slam’ which only came back with more blogs about how Maddow ‘retaliat[ed]‘ against Stewart. Once again, keep in mind that Maddow’s address was less than a minute long!

Stewart also pointed out a few other blogs claiming that Maddow had ‘eviscerated’ a few of her guests. Granted this segment was followed by childish (even Stewart admitted to the juvenile) humor, I was still rather enthralled by the thought put into the segment.

Journalism has prescribed to the idea of objectivity, and yet with this new form of media and the demand for ’selling yourself’ or your personality, it seems that objectivity strays further out of reach by the moment. The days of black and white press are quickly being overtaken by new, or ‘disruptive’ media. Granted these changes have afforded the world great outlets and sources for news, at what cost do we adopt new media? Is it not just as easy to think that those who believe every blog they read as fact are the same types of people who would have believed hearsay and word of mouth in the days of printed press? Have we pushed objectivity that much further away? Even know I am straying from journalistic style by asking you (the reader) these questions. Perhaps it is ignorant to believe in any such ‘journalistic style’.

Can structured journalism really exist in the midst of new media?

<a href=”http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/263475/thu-february-04-2010-michael-mullen”>The Feb 4th episode can be viewed here.</a>
2010
02/04
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Jersey Shore – Whine and you shall receive!

Via MTV

They’ve done it ladies and gentlemen!

These eight fake and bakers have fulfilled the MTV-American dream. Before the air date of their first episode (Dec. 03, 2009) they were just obnoxious, self aggrandizing, horribly tanned no bodies. Thanks to MTV now with season two on the way they are well paid, obnoxious, self aggrandizing, horribly tanned reality stars.

After season one of MTV’s hit show Jersey Shore the cast were reportedly offered a $10,000 signing deal and $5,000 per episode. Apparently these “guidos” and “guidettes” are bigger hustlers than MTV realized and the offer was rejected.

According to TMZ MTV already had a contract for another season of the Jersey Shore, yet MTV bent over and gave the cast a better offer. $10,000 an episode for each cast member.

Already the cast is on their way to joining in the ‘celebrity’ swing of things. Cast member Jenni, aka JWOWW, is allegedly working out a deal with Playboy according to a video interview she did with TMZ.

Cast member Nicole, aka Snooki, has launched into her ’stardom’ by being a correspondent for MTV on the red carpet at the 2010 Grammy Awards. According to Nik Richie, celebrity blogger and the face of Thedirty.com, like all ‘celebrities’ Snooki has nude pictures floating around the internet.

Like all reality tv shows ’stars’ always emerge while the rest of the cast falls by the way side. I agree with Richie when he said that ‘Snooki’ and ‘The Situation’ should have received more money while everyone else got paid the same. I agree even more however with John Holmberg, radio DJ on 98KUPD, by saying that MTV caving has these kids thinking that they’re actually somebodies now. What ever happened to the good old days of having TALENT? Apparently now it only takes a fake tan, a drinking problem, and a nickname or catchphrase to be famous. Thanks MTV, thanks a lot.

2010
02/02
CATEGORY
The Boob Tube
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Adult Content in Question

Like everyone with cable who happens to be awake after 10 p.m. I’m sure you have been the victim of a Girls Gone Wild commercial. In fact they play so often it isn’t hard to memorize the aforementioned commercials. Every commercial starts with the following spoken warning: “Warning: This video contains adult content not suitable for children.”

A simple warning. Easy to understand. Or so I thought until about the third time the commercial ran in an hour’s time. Pardon me for making assumptions but I would like to believe that everyone knows what adult content is or at least what it pertains to. Knowing that, why is it necessary to add the line, “not suitable for children.” I would call that redundant.

Isn’t all adult content unsuitable for children? That IS why they call it adult content is it not?

I began thinking that perhaps I may have been off base. Perhaps I had the wrong impression of what adult content really is. In the pursuit of knowledge I scoured the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)’s web page in attempt to find a definition for adult content. 40-something pages later I came up with nothing. As a matter of fact only two out of the 40 pages even contained the word adult, and it wasn’t even in reference to what constitutes adult content!

Which led me to wondering, is there some form of adult content that is suitable for children? If anyone out there in cyberland finds the answer PLEASE let me know what it is.

2010
01/31
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Blog Feature – The Show List

It's me! I believe I have finally found a use for the RSS feeder featured on my right sidebar! I call it: The Show List! The show list is a list of the shows I watch regularly that update regularly (IE. don’t just regurgitate hundreds of re-runs *cough*Family Guy*/cough*). The names of the shows are also linked to their respective pages so that you can take a look and see if it’s a show you might like.

I will update the list as new shows come along and I attempt to branch out of my usual television comfort zone.

If you have any recommendations please don’t hesitate to let me know.

2010
01/29
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Repo Men – Repo repackaged

Repo Men! Coming to theatres April 2nd

Let the rape of a classic (by my standards) begin!

For the Jude Law loving population you will be pleased to know that April 2nd he will be staring in the action-thriller Repo Men! The movie is about Americans who purchase organs to keep them alive. The problem with purchasing anything is that it is subject to repossession. Enter the Repo Men! But wait! Hold on to your horses! Original plot twist! What happens when one of their best repo men is in need of an organ transplant? What wackiness will occur when he can’t make the payments and is hunted down by the company he once worked for?

Before I launch into my diatribe allow me to preface this by saying that the concept, excluding the obvious plot twist, is amazing. It’s intriguing and well thought out.

It was even more intriguing when Repo! The Genetic Opera did it in 2008! Two years later they’ve changed the scale, the characters, the ending and dropped the singing.

I will be the first to admit that I am a hypocrite in a sense here because not even Repo! was the first to create the concept of organ repossession. In fact the makers of Repo! repackaged the idea from a musical by the same name. The original music was written and created by Terrance Zdunich. The 2008 movie version was a collaborative effort between Zdunich and Darren Smith. Zdunich is only guilty of stealing from himself! I retract my previous statement about being a hypocrite, in this sense.

While I may not be a huge fan of musicals I would like to believe I know a good, well conceptualized musical when I hear/see one. Repo! was that musical. It featured great actors (and Paris Hilton) who are known for their singing ability (Sarah Brightman! You can’t argue with pipes like hers)! The visual work was stunning and the concept was (at the time) original. Even the back story was well thought out and explained.

I suppose it would be foolish of me to think that a movie so wonderful could be left alone. It was foolish for me to believe that someone wouldn’t come along and say, “Hey that’s an amazing concept! I think I’ll take it, redress it, and stick someone attractive in the lead!”

I honestly believe after Repo Men comes out it will only be a few years before someone else comes along and repackages that too.

For the record, there is no better repo than Anthony Head! Mr. Law, you have mighty big shoes to fill! Mighty big!

2010
01/27
CATEGORY
The Big Screen
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Celebrity Rehab 3 with Dr. Drew – Enter Sizemore!

This Sunday marked the 3rd episode of VH1’s third season of Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew (which will be referred to as CR3).

Show Overview: Nine celebrities (or former celebrities as it were) check themselves into the Pasadena Recovery Center under the care of Dr. Drew Pinsky. They battle with their addictions to everything from drinking to methamphetamine while VH1 broadcasts it for the world to see.

Actor Tom Sizemore

Episode Summary: Welcome Tom Sizemore! The addict and former actor joined the cast this week four days into their recovery. Like most addicts he came in ready to go until the weight of his decisions sent him running. According to Sizemore he was not informed by his agent that he would be surrendering and checking in that night for the duration of treatment. The episode concludes with Sizemore getting back into his car claiming that he was on his way to see his children.

The real kicker is that Sizemore’s former girlfriend Heidi Fleiss is already a patient in treatment at the recovery center. For those who don’t know, Sizemore was charged and convicted in 2003 for assault and battery against Fleiss. The two were informed beforehand that they would both be occupying the residents and undergoing treatment together.

This might explain why Sizemore was so adverse to entering the house, aside from the apparent drug use. The first meeting between Fleiss and Sizemore seemed amicable despite Sizemore’s vehement disapproval of being in a home with Fleiss. The question comes from deciphering Sizemore’s incoherent babble: “I loved Heidi and that’s where this whole thing started.” Sizemore also went on to say that he “forgave” Fleiss. I do believe that’s the first time I’ve ever heard a man guilty of assault and battery say that he forgives the woman he beat.

It would appear that Sizemore blames Fleiss for his addiction. Oddly contradictory when he even stated that he was a heroine addict prior to meeting Fleiss.

Stay tuned for more on CR3.

2010
01/27
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Students tell tales to amuse, educate children

April 18th, 2009 The Art of Storytelling class and Club Ed hosted an event known as the “Festival of Tales”. This Nov. 14th they will be hosting the event once more with a little help from the H.A.N.D.S. (Helping to Advocate fir New Diverse Students) club.

The “Festival of Tales” will take place in the KSC building from 10am to 1pm. Teachers and students will be able to bring their children to listen to student told stories, win free books, and participate in story related activities such as creating characters from stories using arts and crafts items. Children will be able to win free books by participating in a book version of what is commonly known as a cake walk.

Meggin Kirk, teacher of the art of storytelling class, is helping to run and organize the event and says that she is very excited to be working with the H.A.N.D.S club this time around. Kirk believes that this run of the festival will be all the more successful due to the support from faculty and student dedication. For more information about the “Festival of Tales” please contact Meggin Kirk.

2009
11/08
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Old Stories
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Secret Girlfriend: So far, SO good!

Preface: Allow me to begin this by saying that I have an addiction. I am addicted to crappy television. I love juvenile comedy and at times I even enjoy “potty” humor.

Knowing this you can understand my love of the new show on Comedy Central, “Secret Girlfriend”. The show is from the first person perspective which is supposed to be you, the viewer. You have two male roommates (Phil and Sam) who fit the roles of tail-chasing, idiotic, nerds who in my opinion are the best part of the show. You also have a psychotic ex-girlfriend (Mandy) who doesn’t know about your new love interest: Jessica.

When I say psychotic ex-girlfriend, I mean she is your typical crazy wench who refuses to accept the fact that you two are in fact broken up. It is my opinion that the only reason we continue to see her is because she’s a model and “great in the sac”. Mandy’s the type of schizo skank that applies to be on the latest season of the Real World and checks your cell phone when you’re not looking after breaking into your apartment with the forged copies she made of your house keys. Don’t believe me? Watch for yourself: Mandy’s Love Song

If that’s not enough to catch your attention I suggest watching the show for yourself Wed nights 10:30pm/9:30c. Guys, you’ll thank me.

2009
10/21
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“Lets Eat so Horses can Help!”

Oct. 14th 20 percent of your food bill can go to helping the organization Horses Help.

Horses Help (HH) is an organization off of Cave Creek and Rose Garden Lane that utilizes therapeutic horse rides to help children and adults with special needs. HH volunteer and PVCC student Amber Wilkinson (featured in the October issue of the Puma Press) has found a way to combine her on campus activity with her off campus volunteer work. With the help of her service learning group on campus Amber has helped to organize a fundraiser through local Italian Eatery Babbo.

The Babbo on the corner of Tatum and Cave Creek will be donating 20% of all of Wed’s bills to HH. For more information about how you can help HH simply subscribe for their mailing list: Horses Help Mailing List.

Photo Courtesy of HorsesHelp.org

Photo Courtesy of HorsesHelp.org

2009
10/13
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Student Christian Association would like to welcome you!

Tonight I attended a club meeting unlike any other on campus. This club, or association as it were, is an array of students brought together by faith.

The Student Christian Association (SCA) has been present on campus since the inception of PVCC (approximately 1986). The association is led by advisor Sam Trommler who is joined at every meeting by his wife and son, Rebecca and Micah. The presence of Trommler’s family really gives the meeting a familial atmosphere.

Student Dina Smith has spent three years with the SCA and absolutely loves it. “It’s more like a family than a group of strangers,” said Smith who heard about SCA from a campus club fair. “It’s not like your average ‘click’ of Christians.” It was easy to see what she meant as I watched the students interact with one another as though they had been friends for years.

SCA hosts various events to build unity among the group, in addition to an annual retreat they have with ASU and U of A students. Their retreat this year is to the Grand Canyon and will be taking place this Friday and Saturday. SCA also has plans to go bowling Oct. 3rd and will be doing their annual corn maze sometime later this fall.

Mr. Trommler said that SCA’s goal is to help college students find their place in a safe environment, especially during such confusing times. Their focus is on Christianity as it is laid out by the bible and not what society/contemporary culture has made it. It would seem that SCA’s message has been received loud and clear by it’s members who may not have been able to stay for the entire meetings but still find time to spend among their peers.

To learn more about SCA and how you can get involved, visit their page on the campus website: http://www.pvc.maricopa.edu/clubs/sca/

Stuedents council one another and share advice on current issues.
Stuedents council one another and share advice on current issues.


2009
09/24
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