Category: TV

Adbusters – get mad about corporate disinformation

On By Rick McIn economics, philosophy, product endorsements, TVLeave a comment

I have long appreciated Adbusters.

Adbusters offers … activist commentary from around the world addressing issues ranging from genetically modified foods to media concentration. In addition, our annual social marketing campaigns like Buy Nothing Day and TV Turnoff Week have made us an important activist networking group.

Ultimately, though, Adbusters is an ecological magazine, dedicated to examining the relationship between human beings and their physical and mental environment. We want a world in which the economy and ecology resonate in balance. We try to coax people from spectator to participant in this quest. We want folks to get mad about corporate disinformation, injustices in the global economy, and any industry that pollutes our physical or mental commons.

Big issues. Surprisingly, Adbusters has a sense of humour.

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I want to make clear that adbusters is not really about “busting ads”. They have their own website visuals that almost look like ads:

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Adbusters are about educating folks about useless consumption. Stupid consumption. Manipulating children to empty consumption.

As for me, I actually want better advertising. For example, I really want to know when new Lonely Planet travel guidebooks are published. But in 2006 neither the Lonely Planet website nor Amazon offer this functionality. I wish they would email me a daily advertisement on new travel guides.

Instead I get a daily dose of an ad for Clean and Clear zit cream with my MTV video podcast. A waste of their time and mine.

helping the homeless

On By Rick McIn economics, government, philosophy, TVLeave a comment

Is money the answer?

What would happen if you gave homeless man $100,000?

That’s the question posed by a Showtime documentary called Reversal of Fortune. Ted Rodrigue lives under a bridge in Pasadena and agrees to participate in a documentary about the homeless, though he doesn’t know he’s goint to get any money.

He finds it unexpectedly in a dumpster half way through the film.

Reversal of Fortune (2005 film) – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I quite liked Ted Rodrigue before he got the money. He had adapted to decades of living on the street and had a “life” of sorts.

As you probably guessed, money was not the answer for Ted. You could say it ruined his life.

TV – Marg Helgenberger is hot

On By Rick McIn TVLeave a comment

I was a huge fan of China Beach. Mainly because of Dana Delany and Marg Helgenberger.

Helgenberger is the best character on the most successful TV show, CSI Las Vegas.

On China Beach she was something of a “madam”. In CSI, a reformed striper. What a career!

Marg Helgenberger Online – Ultimate Marg Helgenberger FanSite! Your Best Source For Shared Photos, Video Clips, Articles And More!

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IMAX theatre

On By Rick McIn economics, movies, product endorsements, TVLeave a comment

A hotel I’m at has on demand video of all description: movies, award winning TV, documentaries. All commercial free, pay per view.

On demand video, when and where I want, is essential.

Next on my list is quality. In future, video content must be more interesting. Happily, this is already here.

I love IMAX cinema.

I just saw Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag, the largest aerial war games in the world. Fantastic experience! (though the film is not as accurate as it could be).

IMAX quality is the future. I can’t understand why it has never achieved the kind of popularity it deserves.

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TV network advertising on eggs

On By Rick McIn good news, humour, TVLeave a comment

I hear that TV viewership is at low ebb.

Good. The current model supported by contemporary commercials (that suck the oxygen out of my lungs) needs to die.

TV executives will be testing alternative forms of advertising. But what comes first, the chicken or the egg?

Boing Boing: Advertising TV shows on supermarket eggs
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Jon Stewart on Net Neutrality

On By Rick McIn audiocasts, bad news, humour, internet, TVLeave a comment

It seems the traditional American media near ignored the astonishing lack of understanding of Ted Stevens, chairman of the US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.

Gladly, we have one “journalist” putting this dinosaur’s feet to the fire.

I say again, the USA is in trouble because of their legislative process. Perhaps they should try democracy and free market economics.

The TWITs weigh in on their podcast.

TV – Futurama returning in 2008

On By Rick McIn humour, TVLeave a comment

The original cast members of Futurama have signed to make 13 new episodes.

It will air on Comedy Central in 2008.

I love the concept. And this time round I expect the quality to go up as it did when Family Guy was resurrected.

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TV – alternatives to sitting through commercials

On By Rick McIn economics, TVLeave a comment

A 30min TV show is about 17min long if you strip out the commercials. You don’t have time to sit through lengthy ads for products you will not buy. How does this inefficiency persist?

Neil Kjeldsen posted the definitive article on the alternatives to TV shows supported by traditional commercials:

… Business models need to change. Content producers cannot rely on network deals, 30 second advertising and, later, dvd sales, to pull in the revenue. Shows will have to stand on their own, and will probably need to be free for the first few episodes to pull in viewers who may eventually be willing to pay. Frankly, I look forward to the day that a show, ignored by the networks, first decides to launch itself on iTunes and go straight to consumers. The press around it would be overwhelming. The first to do it will have a big advantage.

TechCrunch » Blog Archive » Download Your TV – The Current Options
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Homer named philosopher of the decade

On By Rick McIn humour, philosophy, TVLeave a comment

Men’s Health UK magazine Top 10 Men of the Decade

HomerPhilosopher – Homer Simpson
Activist – Bob Geldof
Sportsman – Lance Armstrong
Musician – Damon Albarn
Manager – Sven-Goran Eriksson
Visionary – Jonathan Ive
Designer – Sir Paul Smith
Writer – Ian McEwan
Scientist – Craig Venter
Chef – Jamie Oliver

I’m not sure about the other nobodies, but the Brits got the philosopher right.

Details on BBC News.

I’ve often felt that The Simpsons gives one a reason to live.