The Internet: part 2

My Favorite Blog

 

“Secret Public Journal”

 

Mike Birbiglia- Stand-up comic, blogger, and self-labeled awkward individual.

 

I discovered Mr. Birbglia and his hilarious blog via “The Bob and Tom Show.”

 

Mike is my favorite comic, and favorite blogger. His entries, regarding the most ridiculous things, and his awesome videos, keep me coming back for more absurdity.

 

Birbiglia titled his blog “My Secret Public Journal.” Mike shares his “private thoughts” with his journal… and it just so happens that he lets us (the public) read along.

 

Mike is an entertaining writer… he often proclaims his love for pizza and his ability to make awkward situations even more awkward.

 

The fact that Birbiglia is a performer, and has a team behind him, makes his blogs multimedia components great. 

 

The blog posts many videos via YouTube, and many pictures via Flicker. The videos and pictures make the blog feel like… well feel like a blog created by one individual. The videos are great because they allow new fans a way to see some of his stand-up sets, and get to know him via his video journal entries. The blog also uses the comedian’s homepage as a form of multimedia connectivity.

 

Birbiglia also links the blog to the iTunes store, to show his very own “celebrity play list” as well as his three albums for sale there. So the multimedia components of the blog are well done, and serve a purpose in terms of publicity for Birbiglia’s stand-up career. 

I Love Convergence: Television: part one

The following is an excerpt from a conversation taking place in my mind:

 

            Teacher: What is convergence?

                           Yes, Joe?

 

            Joe:  “Media convergence is the merging of technologies, industries, and content, especially within the realms of computer, telephone, and mass media.”

 

            Teacher: why yes you are absolutely correct! Congratulations reader and regurgitater of textbook definitions. But what does it mean to you?

 

            Joe: “um… it means you can watch T.V and stuff on your computer and phone.”

 

            Teacher: Yes Joe, that is correct. But let us go a bit further.

 

Convergence is transforming the landscape of television. Convergence is made possible by the Internet. It is changing when we view, and how we view our favorite shows.

 

The major networks like NBC, CBS, and ABC are creating highly interactive web pages that allows viewers to not only view full episodes anytime after it’s original air-date, but also interact with their favorite shows.

 

For example NBC’s home page is highly interactive. My favorite show “The Office,” has a web page within NBC’s home page in which you can view old episodes, view webisodes, and even keep up with your favorite characters via blogs. An “official” Dunder Mifflin web page is also setup, here you can apply to work for the fine company that is Dunder Mifflin.

 

All of these interactivities allow the viewer to be more connected to their favorite shows, creating a global community of office viewers. Convergence of television and Internet is allowing more individuals to view the Office than would be possible with only television broadcast on Thursdays. Now I can view the newest Office episode after I work on Thursday, and avoid hearing what happened before I get to view the Halloween episode.

 

I also have the option of using Hulu.com to view many different shows that I have missed. For example I watch “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” because I discovered it via Hulu. Hulu, created by News corp. and NBC Universal, streams free video of NBC and Fox shows, and web syndicates to AOL, MySpace, and even Yahoo.

 

Hulu is free because of their multiple 30 second, unavoidable web ads. However some of the ads are actually somewhat entertaining, and they are short enough that they do not create an interruption as much as the 3 minute TV ad breaks.

 

Take a few minutes and enjoy the 100’s of television shows available for your viewing pleasure thanks to convergence of Internet and television. Check out Dougie Houser… it was on before I was even born… but it is so cheesy it’s funny.

 

Hulu, and NBC’s web pages are great examples of how the Internet and television are like members of the “Super-Friends” uniting to protect the world from missing out on important media happenings like the latest episode of the Office… or possibly a presidential debate. 

 

Convergence of television and Internet allows for ultimate media coverage. Meaning no longer are we stuck to simply view our favorite show, now we can view webisodes, blog with our favorite characters, and even discover new shows via the web that we can watch via the normal means of television.

 

Convergence is allowing for a greater audience to view a single show with very few commercial interruptions online, while allowing for greater, and sometimes, immediate ad response via direct links to said product. I believe this is only the beginning of the convergence between these two great means of information dissemination. Soon, I believe, we will see interactive television-sets. I envision “television sets” that are basically computers, or computer connected devices allowing customized advertisements, and customized “prime time” line-ups. 

 

            Teacher: Joe, does that answer your question… Joe are you watching Hulu on your laptop during lecture...?

 

            Joe: … um no… I was … doing research. 

I found a new hobby ! 

Really excited about my newest discovery that is skeet shooting. 

Was never really one for guns... until I tried my hand at skeet shooting. 

I truly enjoyed that  small orange clay target to smithereens with a 12 gauge. 

This may seem to say that I am destructive... well possibly... however it is simply a sport... yes it is indeed a sport. 

I will always remember the first shot... setting up on station 1, seeing the low target sail across the field in a low tight arc, catching it in line with the barrel of the 12 gauge and yanking the trigger to see the first target explode into a large cloud of dust about 15 yards away. 

I am hooked... and yes safety first!!

You’re in the way of my script

 

--Nashville Tenn. Tom Brokaw to OBAMA and MCCAIN

 

 

 SNL might as well support McCain… because Sarah Palin (AKA TINA FEY) is boosting those poor ratings for which SNL has been receiving in the past few years.

 

While I am avoiding the issues and focusing on the “funny side” of this election how about  “Crazy Lady” yes that is her given name!! You know to who I’m talking about… that woman in the blue pant-suit (no not Hillary) sitting in the “D section” of Tuesdays debate who obviously had no idea what was going on but continued to smile and not change her facial expression the entire time OBAMA was speaking. SNL here’s some more comedic gold.

 

So any way I would say I digress… but truthfully I have written nothing to digress from.

 

So lets get political … political… Madonna – she thinks she’s British!?!?

 

I was never very interested in politics… that is until I turned 18 and was allowed to participate in the greatness that is choosing our great nations next leader. Now that I am allowed suffrage I find this history making election rather… lackluster. Now mind you I was expecting fire works… both literally and figuratively (I know I should be interested in the figurative fire works that are the facts and platforms… but I am not). Thus needless to say the most recent Presidential debate was rather tedious.

 

I have always heard “vote for the lesser of the two evils,” and I hate that… it angers me that many Americans are voting by default. That is picking the lesser of the two evils, voting for the other major party’s candidate simply because you hate the other.

 

This election features a well-spoken, polished intellect versus a more hardened, veteran of Vietnam and Washington.

 

The debate was a place for Obama to use his polished speaking skills. And I saw McCain as quite well spoken, though not as polished as Obama. Obama and McCain are indeed politicians; therefore they have a knack for avoiding the questions.

 

Analyzing the first question regarding the best way to help Americans suffering from the economic crisis it is seen that Obama has a well thought out plan… a bit too much like an outline… and we all know we never quite follow that outline that is written for the paper we are going to write. Obama lays out a plan yes, but what about the things that go in between bullet points. That is the true importance.

I believe he gave a great answer, however I believe McCain did a better job talking to the people, the voters. He has a more average feel about him… he is not overly polished. McCain stated his points of energy, home values, tax cuts, in a more conversational tone, allowing Americans to feel as though he was talking to them.

 

The McCain campaign focuses on Main-street America, and it shows from his selection of Sarah Palin, and McCain’s choice of Meg Whitman… an unheard of CEO. I believe this what

America needs… An American White-house full of people for the people. What our Country was founded on.

 

I truly do not feel like I am voting for the lesser of two evils… I feel as though America would be safe voting for either candidate. I believe Obama could do great things… McCain as well… but only time will tell.

 

NEXT DEBATE :  OCT 15 – HACK THE DEBATE