travelogue – Key West, Florida

On March 20, 2006May 11, 2015 By Rick McIn photos, travel, travelogues, TVLeave a comment

… Homer: Florida?! But that’s America’s wang!

… Plant Psychiatrist: They prefer “The Sunshine State.”

I first learned about Florida from Miami Vice.

Sonny Crockett was the coolest cop on TV. He drove a Testarossa!

I wanted to put on expensive shoes (without socks) and drive that Ferrari to Key West. In the end I managed to drive a Chevy Nova rental — but without socks!

map

Ernest Hemmingway's house from 1931-1940. Descendents of his 6-toed cat still live here. — Ernest Hemmingway’s house from 1931-1940. Descendents of his 6-toed cat still live here.

See annotated photos of the southern most end of the USA by jumping to my photos on flickr.

I know what you are thinking. What ever happened to Rico Tubbs? (Philip Michael Thomas)

TV – Michael Palin on travel

On January 30, 2006 By Rick McIn books, travel, TVLeave a comment

Michael Palin

Palin became famous as one of the Monty Python comedians.

But I like him even better for his excellent travel series:

» Around the World in 80 Days (1989)

» Pole to Pole (1992)

» Irish Railway Journey: Derry to Kerry (1994)

» Full Circle (1997) circumnavigating the Pacific Ocean

» Hemingway Adventure (1999) retracing Ernest footsteps

» Sahara (2002)

» Himalaya (2004)

He is credited with a “Palin effect”, where places he visits immediately see increased tourism.

Michael Palin’s profile on Wikipedia.

TV – Curb Your Enthusiasm

On January 14, 2006 By Rick McIn humour, TVLeave a comment

I have been watching the HBO cable hit Curb Your Enthusiasm. It is painfully funny.

Season 1 is on my laptop. I assume it got there legally.

Most interesting to me, however, is that this is the kind of TV show that anyone could produce with a camcorder.

hmmmmmm

Larry David

2007 – predictions from 7 (if you count Balmer) thinkers

On January 4, 2006 By Rick McIn books, internet, TVLeave a comment

The one I like best:

Chris Anderson is the editor in chief of Wired magazine

I’M WILLING TO bet that 2007 is the year that somebody figures out how to make video advertising work in a YouTube world. And if I’m right, the TV industry is going to get very rocky, very fast.

I doubt that the same disruptive force will hit movies, however. The big-screen home-theater boom created a market for high-def films, and that factor-of-10 increase in downloading time bought Hollywood another five years or so to figure things out.

I also think that this will be a big year for video gamers, and not just because of the delightful game-play innovations of the Wii and the power of the Xbox 360. (I can’t wait for Halo 3.)

Equally important is the fact that all of the current generation consoles now have built-in Internet connections. Their role as a bridge from the Net to the TV isn’t just a big deal for gaming, it’s also potentially a breakthrough moment for online video of all sorts.

We knew gaming competed with television for time, but now we’re learning that mainstream acceptance of networked gaming may also create the greatest competitor for the broadcast distribution model itself.

What will they think of next? – Los Angeles Times

(via Boing Boing)

The Long Tail: Why the Future of Business Is Selling Less of More

2007 – Year of the Widget ??

On January 2, 2006 By Rick McIn internet, TV, videocastsLeave a comment

What?

Widgets are gimmicky little computer programs that I almost never use.

They are novelties.

If 2006 was the Year of YouTube — and it was — then 2007 is the year of TV delivered on-line.

Of course we already have TV on-line. But in 2007 the general public will finally catch on in numbers.

It will only happen if on-line video and TV are effortlessly delivered to our existing televisions. That will happen in a big way in the coming year.

That big monthly payment you make for crappy cable TV is an attractive target for entrepreneurs.

If for some reason that glad revolution is delayed … then 2007 will be the year when RSS finally starts to catch on with the great unwashed.

Widgets?

Give me a break, Newsweek.

TIME magazine’s man of the year is “You” and if that is the case, then widget is a good way to express yourself. Newsweek is declaring 2007 “Year of the Widget.”

GigaOM » 2007, Year of the Widget

TV – The Simpsons

On December 27, 2005 By Rick McIn humour, philosophy, TVLeave a comment

40 Rods to the Hogshead?

Ralph My theory stands unchallenged that all LIFE is to be found in the archives of The Simpsons.

They have changed our language. They have changed our lives.

Me fail English? That’s unpossible.

List of neologisms on The Simpsons

TV You’ll Want To Pay For

On November 6, 2005 By Rick McIn economics, internet, product endorsements, TVLeave a comment

Rick’s opinion: TV is ripe for a fall. We pay $50 a month or more for a service which with we are generally dissatisfied.

Apple’s Steve Jobs personally reinvented the music industry with iTunes. The winners are recording artists & the fans. The losers are the middlemen.

I don’t think Apple will reinvent the television industry. But they will be remembered as the company who first alerted the general public.

TV You’ll Want To Pay For – How $2 downloads can revive network television. By Ivan Askwith

Dead Like Me – TV show

On November 3, 2005 By Rick McIn TVLeave a comment

Friends in Saskatoon turned me on to a quirky, philosophical show about grim reapers. The central character is Georgia, an 18-year-old killed by a toilet seat falling from space.