Under Pressure

The Golden Globe nominations are out! Sad to say that I haven't seen any of the movies that are nominated--yet. However, in my defense, some of them aren't in theaters (i.e. Miss Potter, Dreamgirls). This makes me wonder whether such films have a chance if they're not out in time for the public to buzz about it and for the members of the foreign press to hear the buzzing.

For example, when Love Actually was nominated a few years back, it didn't win. It's one of my favorite movies! Several critics, who were predicting the Golden Globe winners at the time, said that it wouldn't win because it was a late entry, and the bees weren't making a sound. Love Actually, and other movies like it, definitely have better chances of winning if they come out sooner--with enough time for the voters to actually see it.

To my surprise, Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan snagged 2 nominations: Best Motion Picture and Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical. This goes to show that the award-giving bodies are getting jiggy with it. Quite recently, rap (Lose Yourself by Eminem) and hip-hop songs (It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp) have won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

It's great because the awards shows definitely become more interesting to watch. Hmmm...perhaps, that's why they're handing out these sorts of nominations--to regain lost viewers. Nonetheless, I'm not saying that these type of nominees don't deserve it. Eminem certainly did, and maybe, after seeing Borat, I'll feel the same way about it, too.

Even though I haven't seen any of the movies (Babel leads the pack with 7 nods.), I watch some of the television shows. In this big category, Grey's Anatomy and Weeds are are ahead of the rest. Both are tied with 4 nominations each. Seriously. There are also some first time nominees (Heroes!), which will do wonders for their careers. Penelope Cruz, Beyonce, and Mark Wahlberg are among them--as if their careers are in danger, but every little bit helps, right? Sarah Paulson from Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip received a nod for Best Supporting Actress. NBC is probably banking on her to win one for the team, thus, boosting the show's low ratings.

Moreover, there are several celebrities who are up against...themselves. They include Leonardo DiCaprio (The Departed and Blood Diamond) and Clint Eastwood (Flags of Our Fathers and Letters from Iwo Jima) in the Best Actor and Best Director categories, respectively. Are these kinds of nominations a double edge sword? In the words of Access correspondent, Nancy O'Dell, "will they cancel each other out?" Conversely, is it the more nominations they have, the better their odds are? After all, Helen Mirren (The Queen, Elizabeth I and Prime Suspect: The Final Act) has 3 nominations!

What about those who are nominated for the same role? Johnny Depp is up for Best Actor for reprising his role in Pirates of the Caribbean 2: The Curse of the Black Pearl. Even if he doesn't win (God forbid!), perhaps, the 3rd time's the charm. Look at director, Peter Jackson. He didn't win the Academy Award until the 3rd Lord of the Ring installment came out. It's all politics unfortunately. I mean, I love the Lord of the Ring movies, but I thought the first one was the best.

Also, when I heard Clint Eastwood's response to his loss (He said that his film, Mystic River, was "hobbitized."), my entire face contorted in disgust. I thought, "He's just jealous." Well, as it turns out, he was right. After watching Mystic River, I've got to say that I loved it. It's not necessarily one of my favorite movies, but it was most definitely Oscar-worthy. I couldn't stop talking about it afterwards--even if no one was listening. The twists and turns in that cinematic feat were mind blowing!

Still, no pressure.

Still Addicted

Even as the semester is coming to an end, I find myself still addicted to the media. I am officially hooked on it for life. It is my drug and my anti-drug. It gives me a high, but at the same time, it gives me a reason to not need a rush. There is no cure for what I have. No rehab, no nothing, and yet it is my rehab, my cure.

Still, I'd like to think of myself as a more critical consumer now. I notice and question even more things in the media now. For example, what ads air in the same timeslot as the television shows I watch? Why? I never noticed the short timespam that these ads air and then, suddenly stop. I never really paid attention to the ads on the sides of a webpage. I never heard of Technorati or Digg before this class. So, one could say that I became way more aware of the art of blogging as well.

I managed to learn all sorts of things about all sorts of issues from reading my classmates' blogs. I also learned how to write a good movie review. Hopefully, the movie studios will shell out more good movies for me to watch. In addition, I've become more exposed to websites based on foreign countries. Consider my horizons broadened.

Tis' the Season to Be Giving!

I don't know about you, but I find that it gets harder and harder every year to find the perfect gift for everyone on my list. However, lucky for us (or not), poster ads in malls and commercials on television (i.e. Jamie Lee Curtis advocating boardgames) lend us a helping hand. In addition, several magazines, like Seventeen and People, have also made gift giving easier. In their recent issues (the ones with Paris Hilton and TomKat on the covers respectively), they offer their readers gift ideas. I know, I know. Why would anyone want to buy magazines with those people as the cover stories?

Well, as mentioned before, magazines during this time of year provide gift guides. Plus, many charities will benefit from the magazines' features. So, it's all for a good cause. This is great because you can help out others. In other words, it's a guilt-free trip for spending lots of moolah on Christmas gifts alone. Still, it's not only during this month that magazines feature specific stories annually. For instance, there are back-to-school and prom issues as well. Therefore, the media not only targets different people, but various times of the year, too. When it's Halloween, skulls and pumpkins abound. When it's Valentine's Day, beating and broken hearts are everywhere.

Here are some of the magazines' humble suggestions:
>Design your own Converse shoe here. Five to fifteen percent goes to the fight against AIDS.
>Help out Aldo's campaign to fight YouthAIDS by purchasing this tote.
>Who doesn't love candles? Go over here to pick up some floral candles that will assist UNICEF.
>Get a copy of the book, Two Million Miles by Andrew Macpherson, and a portion will go to the women's cancer research fund.
>Give Mother Nature a hand an buy recycled products like this cute bag made by "a Filipino women's cooperative" or this picture frame made out of bicycle chains.
>How about an indie rock cd? All of the profits go to War Child Canada that helps children in countries at war.
>Snatch up a dog toy here. Everything will go to the Planet Dog Foundation. They "[support] seeing-eye...dog programs."
>Make sure that every season's jolly for your friends. Pay up for The CollegeHumor Guide to College book. Ten percent goes to the pockets of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
>Buy Philosophy's Holiday Blues shower gel at philosophy.com. The Ricky Martin Foundation, "which fights global child exploitation," gets 100%.
>Go here for more gift ideas to benefit the St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, among many others.

Although, my next and last example isn't for a charity of any sort, in line with the topic of presents, I thought I would mention it. What do you give to people you hate the most? This lady has the answer. Happy shopping!

Eenie Meenie Minie Mo

The activities that the campus-wide reading program generates are the perfect opportunities for networking and making friends, especially for freshmen. For instance, there's the book discussion, lead by the Socrates Cafe, that's open to all at the beginning of the semester. The program is also a vehicle for professors to add items to the syllabus. It's not only with MCOM 072, but with other classes as well. However, it would be more apt if the chosen book was an option for extra credit rather than a requirement.

Moreover, the benefits for the book itself are endless, of course. Certainly, it will become more well-known. I seriously doubt that I would have even known about Nickel and Dimed if it wasn't chosen last year. In line with that, the book that the committee chooses shouldn't be one that's already famous. That would be redundant, for one thing. For another, that type of selection would be futile since most people, in and out of the literary community, have already heard of it. Therefore, Bel Canto and Life of Pi are definitely out of the question.

As for Farewell to Manzanar, I had read it for a class (MCOM 136). So, that and any other book on a class's syllabus already should be excluded from the list. Besides, it was fairly boring albeit enlightening on the Japanese internment camps, which I assume is the reason for its consideration. Now, even though I haven't read the other books, from the synopsis of each novel, I would love Donorboy to be 2007's campus reading program title. Oryx and Crake comes a close second if only for the author. Then, there's Drinking Coffee Elsewhere, which is a collection of stories so, if such a book hasn't been picked before, this would definitely be different.

One Director to Rule Them All

It's a travesty! The New York Times has printed that Peter Jackson, the Oscar-winning director of the incredible Lord of the Ring trilogy, won't be in charge of the big-screen adaptation of its prequel, The Hobbit. Can you imagine someone else being the director of that movie? It really is unthinkable. Jackson has done more than a superb job of bringing J.R.R. Tolkien's novels to life, and the movie studio, New Line Cinema, is casting him aside. What makes it even harder to comprehend is that the studio has rights to the book until 2009 so, why the rush? Jackson explained it all on the website, theonering.net, just last week.

Allegedly, New Line Cinema has yet to pay up for Jackson's work on the trilogy. However, the movie studio claims that Jackson has made more than enough money from the franchise and is only pretending to be the victim. Compounded by the prodding of Jackson's company, Wingnut Films (They sued in February 2005.), New Line Cinema ultimately decided to let go of Peter Jackson to the dismay of his fans. Even The Hobbit producer (Saul Zaentz) and star (Ian McKellan) have released statements expressing their disappointment at New Line Cinema's decision.

One has to ask if Harry Potter 1 and 2 would have been as disappointing as they were had Chris Columbus not taken the job? What if Bryan Singer (director of X-Men 1 and 2) remained as the man behind the lens for X-Men 3: The Last Stand? How will the movie adaptation of The Golden Compass fare when the director of American Pie, Chris Weitz, is not only directing but writing the piece? It is only recently that I realized the importance of hiring the right directors for films. They are the ones with the visions. They are the ones who draw in the star power by the mere mention of their names. They are the ones who make or break the difference between an Oscar nomination and an Oscar win.

Calling All Freshness Lovers!

Recently, I saw a Febreze commercial for their new product, Scentstories. With Christmas creeping on us, I thought that would make a great present for my mom because she loves candles. She keeps them around the house, ever prepared for the blackout that will never come. Seriously though, she just adores the scents. Then, I went back on my train of thought, and I decided against buying Scentstories. After all, my mom's picky, and Scentstories wouldn't be the same thing as candles. She'd be limited to the scents available on the Febreze discs that come with the product. Also, I can't buy her just one because what about all the other rooms in the house? Why, they'd be jealous of the one room she puts the Scentstories in.

However, gadgets such as Scentstories aren't possible arsonists. So, they are safer to use than candles. In addition, a CSI: Miami episode replay that I watched a few days ago may have sealed the deal. Basically, they were able to catch the killer thanks to an aromatic disbursement unit. They already knew who was in the room at what time, but it was the unit that revealed to them the time the murder occurred. (Who knew, right?) Although the Febreze product doesn't have that particular function, if I gave an aromatic disbursement unit to my mom and God forbid, anything happens to her, then at least the police would know who did it. It's like a security alarm in that it helps out the authorities, but it smells good while doing so.

Celebrity Moms: An Oxymoron or Just Morons?

Can you believe Gwen Stefani has a new video out already? It's only been a few months since she gave birth to her son. As if that wasn't enough, she'll have an album to match of course. In addition, she's busy with her LAMB fashion line, which is coming out in the spring of 2007. Not to mention the fact that she has her pre-baby body back. I'm torn on this issue of celebrity moms to say the least.

On one hand, they further girl power, if you will, just like any other career mom. We, as women, deserve to have careers as much as men do. (Being a housewife doesn't count.) On the other hand, what about the kids? Families, in which the moms are at work, certainly have dads in the office, too. So, who's left to take care of the children? They don't belong in a world where there's a party every night. Is it selfish of these celebrities to work and have kids? Or is it admirable?

In addition, celebrity moms put even more pressure on women and the "ideal" body. Supposedly, it's much more understandable when a woman has love handles and cottage cheese after giving birth, but not anymore. Thank you, Hollywood! We kneel down and bow before you.

Yeah, right.

Still, I didn't even know about post-partum depression till Brooke Shields. I always had this idea that having kids would be a blast. Sure, I know it's going to be hard with college tuitions and all, but the really ugly side never occurred to me. As it turns out, Kate Hudson went through post-partum depression as well--albeit with less media coverage. It's like post-partum depression is the incest of our generation, taboo-wise. So, if there weren't any celebrity moms, fewer people would know about this illness.

Perhaps, even fewer women would be motivated to get back in shape after their pregnancy. They may not believe that it's possible, or they don't know where to start. Celebrity moms can help them along in this situation. That is, if you want to look at the brightside of their thinness. Moreover, fewer women would be uplifted by the likes of Courtney Cox-Arquette and Julia Roberts who underwent in vitro fertilization and pregnancy late in the game, respectively.

Al-Jazeera Arrives on US Soil...or Do They?

According to USA Today, the Arab news network, Al-Jazeera will be shown in "70 million housejolds worldwide" in its English format starting this Wednesday. Al-Jazeera understands the importance of a news network with no ties to the government. They cater to the people's thirst for knowledge, and nothing else. They will certainly cover underdeveloped countries, which has been ignored by most mainstream media.

However, the response from the White House and the Pentagon has been cool at best. In addition, "in the USA, most cable firms have refused to give [Al-Jazeera] channel space." In other words, it will be mostly available here. Unfortunately, this isn't much change to those who already surf its homepage.

Why isn't the West more accepting of an Arab channel?

After all, there are a few Caucasian Al-Jazeera correspondents like Dave Marash. If 9/11 never happened, would most Americans still feel this way? Then again, I think that it was 9/11 that sparked most people's interest in international news in the first place. Yes, it was that fateful day that stirred hatred for Arab nations, but it's also possible that if 9/11 never happened, most people wouldn't even be remotely interested in the Middle East. Al-Jazeera will, at the very least, help us know our "enemy" as well as they know us.

Congratulations!

Congratulations to newly engaged couple, Ellen Pompeo and Chris Ivery!

Ivery, 38, proposed to Pompeo on her 37th brithday last Friday.

Unbeknownst to the happy couple, they actually only lived 10 miles apart. However, they've only been dating for three years after they met at a grocery store.

A Dove-ly Website

I was originally going to talk about the website of a Philippine newspaper, but as I was browsing through their articles, I stumbled on one about the Dove campaign (and an interesting one about Lost star, Evangeline Lilly). I was surprised to find out that the Dove campaigns that were going on here were also present in other countries. There's one in Canada, the UK, New Zealand, and many more. Had I been called on, I would have presented this foreign website.

According to the article I read about it, the company distributed surveys at the start of the campaign in which only 5% of Filipinas thought they were beautiful. Later in the campaign, another survey was handed out where 15% felt they were beautiful. I know that isn't very much, but it's definitely a good start. Anyone can share their stories online, read others' stories, and/or donate to the Dove Self-Esteem Fund, which aims to inspire young girls and widen their definitions of beauty.

Unlike the campaign here, the Philipines used 7 local celebrities as their spokespersons. I think that was a smart move because it's hard enough to break down the barriers of society's definition of beauty, let alone with ordinary people, if you will. Celebrities have a better chance of getting through to their audience. After all, majority of them have solid fanbases. Look what they did for being unrealistically thin. Unfortunately, there are very few plus-sized celebrities, if any at all. The only lucrative one I can think of is Queen Latifah.

However, she's already working for CoverGirl. There are actresses, Camryn Manheim (The Practice, Ghost Whisperer) and Monique, but they aren't half as successful or appealing as Queen Latifah. Maybe, with the success of Ugly Betty, America Ferrera, could champion Dove's cause. In the Philippines, 2 out of the spokespersons are plus-sized. In addition, all 7 of them are from different fields--from models to actresses to editors to VJs.

Last but not least, I'd like to end with a quote from Pam Pastor, one of the Filipina celebrities' who shared her story:

"I've seen beauty in old men with big hearts, in people willing to risk their lives for others, in selflessness, in fearlessness, in perseverance, in people's ability to pick up broken pieces, in a person's strength to turn their back on stability and pursue a passion, in their willingness to share so much of themselves with the world. I see beauty in imperfection, beauty in chaos, beauty in the eccentric. I think it's a big gift to be able to find beauty in the unconventional."

Good Faith

That's what NBC has shown Aaron Sorkin's television show, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. According to E News, the network has ordered a full season despite the show's average ratings. Finally, someone's getting it right.

Herbal Essences Stinks

Yesterday, although I only caught the end of the latest Herbal Essences commercial, I still hated it. Imagine if I actually saw the wretched thing in its entirety! It showed an Asian girl with blonde hair speaking in a Swedish accent. She was talking about how she wanted blonde hair and how Herbal Essences helped her achieve that. I immediately took offense. How can white people be so egocentric? (At least those who made that ad. I would be surprised if an Asian was involved in creating that commercial. They should have had SJSU students in charge.) Hello? Not all Asians want to be more like Caucasians (a.k.a. blondes).

Some of us like ourselves the way we are, thank you very much. Some of us embrace our ethnicity. In the world we live in today, it's hard enough to accept ourselves for who we are. We certainly don't need a commercial like that messing around with our climb up Maslow's hierarchy of needs. What were they thinking? That commercial is just demeaning. It's definitely damaging to every little Asian girl's self-esteem. It sends the message to people that they can't flaunt what they were born with. What else can be expected from a lously tagline like, "Not born blonde?"

Yes, women change their hair color all the time so, why am I taking offense to this commercial and not say, L'oreal? I suppose I'm offended by the Herbal Essences commercial because of the race card. How can I not be? It's akin to someone making fun of my mother. Now, I have nothing against Asian ladies who want to change their hair color to blonde. They can do so of their own accord. That's their right. If they feel that they were born with the wrong hair color, then by all means, pull the ol' switcheroo.

However, this commercial airs nationwide, affecting millions. It imposes the idea on people to go blonde. At least, John Frieda's products in magazine ads cater to redheads, blondes, or brunettes. They target hair colors, not ethnicities. That's the smart way to do it--everyone fits into one of those categories, but not everyone's Asian. Plus, if Herbal Essences intentionally tailored that ad for Asians, they're on the losing end because some, like me, will hate it. Then again, the Dove campaign has been making valiant attempts to smash society's definition of beauty into smithereens. Unfortunately, for every step we take forward, we take two steps back.

Remember, Remember the 5th of November

Remember, remember the 5th of November,
Gunpowder, treason and plot,
I see no reason why gunpowder, treason
Should ever be forgot...

Anyone who's explored a website, seen The Avengers episode entitled November 5, read, or watched V for Vendetta (which I highly recommend) knows what I'm talking about. It was 1603 and Queen Elizabeth I had just passed away. She had persecuted Catholics and her heir, James I, continued the tradition. So, a group of 13 men under Robert Catesby planned to blow away the House of Parliament--literally. Word of their plot reached the ears of the authorities.

On November 5, 1605, Guy Fawkes, the conspirator in the basement with the gunpowder, was put to death. Bonfires were lit that very night "to celebrate the safety of the King." Every year from then on, Guy Fawkes effigies were lit on fire and fireworks were put on display. One can't help but wonder who the English are commemorating--the King or the Guy. After all, the celebration is not only called Bonfire Night but Guy Fawkes Night.

Remember, remember: One man's terrorist is another man's hero.

The Sun Has Set on Studio 60

Sigh. Another one bites the dust. Professor Lilly was talking about Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip today, so I decided to blog about the fabulous show. I first learned of its possible fate last Monday when a Friday Night Lights replay aired in its place. Upon googling the show, I found an online source saying that there are three more episodes to look forward to, but this is more of a "contractual move" on the network's part. Apparently, Studio 60 just can't compete with CSI: Miami. The latter is drawing in twice as many viewers. Also, despite initial rave reviews, the critics have made a 360 and become Indian givers.

They're taking back their reviews.

Some are saying it's just Aaron Sorkin (writer of The West Wing) stroking his own ego. Not true. Can you feel the jealousy? It's definitely in the air. Then, there are those who think that the show isn't successful at making us care enough about the characters to tune in every Monday. Again, I'd have to disagree. For one thing, there's the relationship between Matthew Perry's character and Heather. Given the chance, they could be the next Ross and Rachel. Also, there have been acclaimed guests such as Sting and Lauren Graham (Gilmore Girls).

Others say that it's not funny enough. I guess that's why Studio 60 isn't the success that 30 Rock is even though they're both satires about the innerworkings of a Saturday Night Live-ish show. However, it should be taken into consideration that 30 Rock needs to be funny for 30 minutes only as opposed to Studio 60's one hour. Plus, I happen to find Studio 60 filled with nothing but wit. It pokes fun of religions, politics, celebrities and all that jazz. Even now, America isn't ready for a satire. As Professor Lilly pointed out, the audience just doesn't get that the show is satiric in nature and that's the whole point.

Love Her or Hate Her

We all know the song that plays as a part of the Chocolate cellphone commercial. "Love me or hate me/It's still an obsession/Love me or hate me/That is the question/If you love me then, thank you/If you hate me then, f*ck you..." The question is do you know the voice behind the song.

Name: Louisa Harman
Alter Ego: Lady Sovereign
Fans call her: Sov or S-O-V
Age: 20
Height: 5'1 (a self-described "big midget")
Record Company: Jay-Z's Def Jam
Inspiration: Ms. Dynamite

Her music has been described as "genre bending." Think Missy Elliot's hip-hop, Avril Lavigne's attitude (They both disdain miniskirts and cleavage.), and Eminem's rapping skills. These days, it's getting harder and harder to classify artists and their songs. Many of them can't be confined to the limits of just pop or rock. Thanks to downloading, cds are a dying art. Hence, artists are crossing all genre borders in an effort to revive the endangered media. Only time will tell if this move will appeal or alienate a wider audience.

Lady Sovereign (Sov) chats about the probabilities of her success in America here. She even has her own MySpace page which boasts of 80, 000 friends according to The New York Times. Sov is the first British artist to hold the number one spot on MTV's video countdown, TRL. She is just one of the latest British acts to invade the American music scene. There are a number of breakthrough artists such as Snow Patrol, Corrine Bailey Rae, Keane, James Blunt, and KT Tunstall. Some of the most successful music acts may very well be Coldplay and the Spice Girls.

According to Wikipedia, this movement dates back to the Beatles. The Yoko factor may have put a stop to the fab four, but the British tidal wave continues to head for our shores. Do Americans have an affinity with the Brits simply because they're foreign and by default, fascinating? I'd like to think good music is good music, regardless of who makes it. I never even knew that some of my favorite artists were British, let alone allow that fact to brainwash me into liking them. The songs have voices of their own.

PriMadonna

I had a bout of insomnia last night so I decided to turn on the television. Surprise, surprise! Oprah was on. It looked semi-interesting since Madonna was on albeit via satellite. This made me realize that it's not just serialized television shows that are in danger of extinction due to the latest technology. Even talk shows and award ceremonies have to watch their backs now. More and more celebrities are relying on satellites and web cameras thus, making less and less live appearances. Then again, the new technology could work to their advantage since they can interview celebrities and have them present or accept awards even if they're on foreign soil.

Going back to Madonna, she was talking about her Malawi adoption of a boy named David. At first, David's biological father gave his consent to the singer, thanking her. Then, he recanted saying he didn't realize that giving his son up for adoption meant that he'd never see David again. Some say Madonna shouldn't be surprised at the slow rate this is going. For one thing, the language of Malawi doesn't have a term for "adoption." Let alone established laws on the matter.

Although there's nothing fresh about this issue, what I found new was Madonna's slant on it. She blames the media for all this. She claims that they're the reason why David's father took back his consent. She says that anyone who lives a simple life and is suddenly thrust into the spotlight by the harassing media is bound to cave. Madonna states that her anger is fueled even more because by doing this, the media is discouraging other people to adopt. No one wants to go through the same difficulties she did and that means less children are coming out of Africa to lead better lives.

Although I see her point, I think that most people have their ideas made up about adoption. Either they plan to do so or they don't. Those who are seriously considering it already know that the adoption process is long and difficult whether it's here or abroad. They don't need the press to tell them that. In fact, it's the media that spreads the news about all these celebrities adopting in the first place. Without them, people wouldn't be encouraged further to adopt children from third world countries.

Show and Tell

New televison shows are subject to fickle audiences, steep competition, and the network's ax. A number of fall series have already suffered from all three. CBS' Smith and the CW's Runaway were both cancelled while NBC's Kidnapped and FOX's Vanished are as good as cancelled. In other words, the latter two were exiled to Saturday and Friday timeslots, respectively. On top of that, the networks only ordered 13 episodes of each instead of the usual 22. Some say that it's better than nothing. At least, they're going to finish the season, and they won't dillydally with any unecessary episodes or plotlines.

Originally, I was just going to write about Kidnapped and how other media outlets on kidnapping have been unsuccessful. For instance, the movie Trapped starring Charlize Theron and Kevin Bacon bombed at the box office. It cost $30 million to make, but cashed in under $7 million. Then, I read an article in USA Today about the same thing. However, it expanded the scope of its discussion to why all four of the aforementioned shows failed. The article stipulated that it was because all of them dealt with crime. Also, the audience needed "something they [couldn't] get from CSI or Law and Order." Moreover, the world we live in is already a constant reminder of crime, why do we need to see it on our television sets?

On the other hand, four new shows have been picked up for full seasons. The lucky ones are (Drumroll, please!) CBS' Jericho, ABC's Ugly Betty and Brothers and Sisters, and NBC's Heroes. Coincidentally, I happened to stumble on an article with some insight as to why Ugly Betty and Heroes are successful. Although they're two very different shows, "half the cast of each, including the leads, is a person of color." They boast of cast members who are Indian, Japanese, African-American, and Hispanic. That alone pulls in a very large, diverse audience. I guess they're not the minorities anymore--at least not in the world of television and that's a start.

Yakity Yak Yakity Yak

I've been watching The Megan Mullally Show and for me, it's just not up to par with The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Maybe it's because The Ellen Show has been around longer. Maybe talk shows are like wine--the older, the better.

First off, Megan's stand-up comedy at the beginning of the show is nowhere near as funny as Ellen's. Granted DeGeneres has done stand-up comedy before, what was Will & Grace if not a comedy forum? I suspect the producers of The Megan Show realized this as well since that segment of her show is now relatively shorter than earlier episodes. While I usually skip the first few minutes of shows like Conan O'Brian or Jay Leno because they're boring (I wait for the guests.), I actually enjoy what Ellen has to say during that segment. Plus, she dances! It's an absolute delight to watch her! If for some reason or another, you haven't yet, you should add it to your life list.

In fact, this is the gimmick that's running all season long on The Ellen Show. Ellen is sharing with her audience the life list she made. One of the things on her list is to learn Spanish. She's done this several times on her show and it's hilarious! I'm sorry I can't say the same for Megan. However, one of the few things I like about Mullally's show are the guests she has on. That's when things really get going. Both Bradley Whitford and Laura Linney are recent guests of hers that I enjoyed watching. It could be attributed to Megan's interviewing skills, or more likely, the guests's charisma. Still, if you'll notice, on Mullally's show, they sit on a couch and are physically closer, projecting warmth whereas on DeGeneres' show, they are seated on separate chairs.

Then again, Mullally uses the couch as an excuse to Indian-sit on it while interviewing her guest. I personally find it unprofessional. She should be more aware of the fact that millions of people have their eyes on her. At the very least, you'd think that she'd lure in more people to be in her audience with fabulous giveaways but no. She gives a year supply of meat. Yum! Ellen hands out free Tivos. Is it even a competition? Well, I guess not--since they're on the same network. I suppose NBC ran out of good writers for Mullally. Even the band on The Megan Show is cheesy. I like the deejay on The Ellen Show better. They just replaced DJ Tony from last season with DJ Jonny.

Although I preferred DJ Tony's music selection better, DJ Jonny is a lot more involved in DeGeneres' sketches. So, we get to know him better, and he's quite funny. (As it turns out, he's an actor who's starred in Dead Man Walking, Meet the Parents, etc.) Nonetheless, all the songs he chooses for Ellen's dance segments sound the same--relatively unknown 80s funk. To me, those particular songs he plays are un-danceable to, which is just a tribute to Ellen's dance skills because she works it out. Even when DJ Jonny plays more current music, they're similar songs. For example, in the same show, he played two Missy Elliott songs. Hello? You're a DJ. Music is (supposedly) your repertoire. Give variety.

In addition, one can tell Mullally doesn't quite have her footing yet. She doesn't even have her own website. (The link above is one of the imdb websites of television.) Nevertheless, I learn new things from both Mullally and DeGeneres. Who knew there was such a thing as laughing yoga? Also, did you know that they're coming up with a drink that will give twice the energy as Red Bull? Did you know they're going to call it Cocaine? How apt.

I've also noticed that Ellen is helping people out more and more, which is good but it only dilutes her show as a comedy. Her show's great sense of humor is a major reason why people tune in. If you can't find it in a mate, watch The Ellen Show. Take that away with charity, and all you're left with is the American Red Cross with air time. I think if she wants to use her fame for world peace, she should do it during her time off camera a la Angelina. Breast cancer awareness-themed episodes are fine, but let's not overdo it. In a recent episode, she presented hypnosis as a viable option to quit smoking, overcome phobias, etc. I just hope the hypnotist, Paul McKenna, doesn't become her Dr. Phil or worse, she becomes Oprah.

Technorati Profile

Circus Act

Since we were dismissed early today, I was able to catch TRL on MTV. Christina Aguilera's new video premiered so, I was glad to watch that. The video was for Hurt, the same song that she performed at this year's MTV video music awards. One can't help but admire how Christina is constantly reinventing herself from a pop princess to being Stripped and then, Back to Basics. In fact, she co-directed this latest video of hers with Floria Sigismondi. Sigismondi previously directed Aguilera's music video, Fighter. She has also worked with David Bowie, Sarah Mclachlan, Sheryl Crow, Bjork, Incubus, Fiona Apple, and The White Stripes.

Whew! What a resume! Can you imagine the video now? Allow me to help out a bit more. The song is personal for Aguilera since it's about her tumultuous relationship with her father. Thus, the video shows Christina as a little girl with her dad and how they grow apart over the years. It's mainly set at the circus. It goes back and forth from the time Aguilera was a little girl, watching the show with her dad till the time she grows up and is the star of the circus.

While I was watching it, I couldn't help but notice how much attention the circus is getting in the media nowadays. In a recent episode of America's Next Top Model, the theme for the contestant's photo shoot was the "freak shows" at the circus. On MTV, you may stumble upon a Sweet Sixteen replay where the girl's birthday party theme is Cirque du Soleil. HBO aired the short-lived Carnivale. There was also a book and movie of the same name, The Invisible Circus. Hence, one has to ask, what fuels our obssession for circuses?

Yes, it's not everyday that we see a bearded lady or a contortionist, so when the circus comes to town, naturally, the cat is killed. However, I think it's more than that. It's the same reason why people are captivated with X-men. We can relate to them. In one form or another, we are outcasts, too. Perhaps, we don't have Tivo or we don't find forensic work as interesting as the rest of the world--things like that. Seriously, though, we may not be siamese twins or gigantically tall, but we do differ in our sexual orientations, races, cultures, religions, and more. That's what allures us to the "freak shows." They're us.

Show Offs

"In every generation, there is a chosen one. She alone will stand against the vampires, the demons, and the forces of darkness. She is the slayer." Buffy the Vampire Slayer is the late, great television show on the lives of Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and the Scooby Gang composed of her best friends Willow (Alyson Hannigan) and Xander (Nicholas Brendon) as well as her watcher, Giles (Anthony Stewart Head). Knocked off by some as television's guilty pleasure, Buffy is definitely much more than that.

All the demons she encountered were manifestations of whatever problem she was going through at the time. Over the first four seasons, she not only deals with the bad guys but everyday high school teenage angst and all that entails. The show tackles issues that matters: family dynamics, betrayal, homosexuality, suicide, friendship, relationship problems, death, and redemption, just to name a few. In addition, Buffy reeks of girl power and that's a powerful thing. The show's success gave other Joss Whedon's (Buffy's creator) noteworthy works and similar, equally valuable shows (i.e. Joan of Arcadia and Veronica Mars) a fighting chance. Buffy also led to a spin-off series, Angel, which dealt with the same important issues. Moreover, Buffy has spawned multiple pop culture studies.

House is centered around the smart talking doctor of the same name (Golden Globe winner Hugh Laurie) and his medical team composed of Cameron (Jennifer Morrison), Chase (Jesse Spencer), and Foreman (Omar Epps). Even though House is what health professionals would officially diagnose as a jerk whose antics are as radical as several feminists, Cuddy (Lisa Edelstein), the head of the hospital, and House's best friend, Wilson (Robert Sean Leonard) try to keep him in check. Keyword: try. On top of that, House is the hospital's resident genius, never stumbling on a case he can't solve, which is the only reason they keep him on staff.

House isn't only one of the best dramedies (that's drama and comedies combined) on television, it's also a mystery show. The culprit is the disease and House is Sherlock Holmes except...more badass. I think that what they do on the show is metaphorically beautiful--the "bad guy" is within us whether it be cancer or a parasite. House differs from other medical dramas such as ER because the latter only shows the loss of blood as a result of car accidents, shootouts and the like. The illnesses that House's patients have are much more rare and complex but not any less real. The writers base them on actual sicknesses that people have suffered. So, in that sense, it can be classified as an educational show--just another part of its importance and charm.

For example, I never knew that cancer can be cured, or at least delayed, if the patient is infected with a certain virus. Knowledge like that may come in handy, but hopefully, I'll never have to use it. It's also enlightening how, in practically every episode, House asserts that everybody lies. Just when the you think the patient doesn't have any reason to lie, it turns out that House is right. Hence, the show also deals with ethical dilemmas. It raises questions, challenges the audience to think. Whether or not House is justified for giving a heart to his bulimic patient, who could easily abuse her body after the transplant, having the organ go to waste is a testament to that.

Gilmore Girls tells the tale of Lorelai Gilmore (Emmy-cheated Lauren Graham) and her daughter, Lorelai (Rory) Gilmore (Alexis Bledel). We're in on their love lives, school, work, family, and friends. The show is important because it affirms the strength of a single parent. More importantly, it encourages a mother-daughter relationship akin to best friends. It has actually garnered the approval of the Family Friendly Programming Forum, which is a breath of fresh air amidst all the media violence. Other than that, since Gilmore is set in a small town, it serves as a window to the world of kooky characters and cat funerals.

Additionally, Gilmore delves into the sensitive issue of social status whenever Lorelai butts heads with her well-off and estranged parents. Rory isn't spared from the clash of the titans, either. Her current boyfriend is also from a well to do family who, safe to say, doesn't approve of the match. Seeing as the show is broadcast in over 30 countries, people abroad are able to obtain some insight on American culture at its best. As a matter of fact, Gilmore's dialogue is filled with informative and fascinating pop culture references. This has only made the show more important seeing as it has furthered the career of its mother hen, Amy Sherman-Palladino, who is now working on a new sitcom involving two sisters brought closer together because one of them is carrying the other's child.

Furthermore, both Gilmore Girls and House have introduced the world to amazing and unconventional music, which is only the international language. Last but certainly not least, I enjoy watching all of the above for its dialogue drenched in wit and sarcasm. It's also one of the reasons why they're the most important television programs ever produced because they prove that intelligently written shows can bring in the ratings. Thus, networks will dish out more shows like them in the future.

BUFFY-ISMS
Buffy: When the apocalypse comes, beep me.

Xander: I'm just gonna go home, lie down, and listen to country music. The music of pain.

Buffy: You know, I always say that a day without an autopsy is like a day without sunshine.

HOUSE-ISMS
Wilson: Did you know your cellphone is dead? Do you ever recharge your batteries?
House: They recharge? I just keep buying new phones.

House: Are you comparing me to God? I mean, it's great, but so you know, I've never made a tree.

GILMORE-ISMS
Emily: Obviously you have a maid.
Christopher: Actually, I have a maid-nanny combo.
Emily: Ah, how McDonald's of you.

Rory: Oh my God!
Lorelai: What?
Rory: He hired Brennon Lewis.
Lorelai: And?
Rory: Ew!
Lorelai: He doesn't look that bad.
Rory: He's the boy who dissected the frog, did not wash his hands, and then ate a sandwich.
Lorelai: Ew!
Rory: He's like the lost Farrelly brother. He's so stupid. He watched The Breakfast Club and decided to tape his own butt cheeks together.

Someone Should be Stern with Howard

Howard Stern is the mirror image of quite a few things that are wrong with society today. The first issue is two-fold. For one thing, he swears a lot. Let's face it. The 'ol "if someone jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge, would you?" doesn't really stick, no matter how much it rings true. Why, a smart alec, in true Howard Stern fashion, could reply, "But I live in Ohio!" Thus, Stern's French only encourages people to curse, which is especially damaging to the youth. On top of losing car keys, do they have to lose their innocence? What kind of message is Stern's radio show sending if that message is swear like a sailor and you'll reap nothing but the benefits: money, fame, and eternal glory? After all, Stern's going to live in infamy in the oh-so-expensive textbooks.

Secondly, because he is never actually punished for cursing on air, it gives the impression that it's okay to have a foul mouth. Well, the "it's what God gave me" excuse doesn't work here the way it does for hips and thighs, bringing me to the second fold of the aforementioned issue. The absence of a spanking clearly shows that not everything that's legal is right. The only reason Stern isn't getting a time-out from the FCC is because profanity is legal. (Apparently there's a difference between profanity and indecency like there's a difference between tomato and tomato.) Yes, Howard Stern may show that our constitutional rights are still intact. However, for me, he is a primary example of what's wrong with the freedom of speech: people, like him, who abuse it to no end.

Sidenote: I'm appalled that the same symbol of what I believe is the civil rights movement (a closed fist pumped in the air) is on Stern's website. It should be a lyric in an Alanis Morissette's song.

The Face of a Bad Movie

If you're fan of the movie, Shattered Glass, why not watch A Face in the Crowd? It's basically the 1950s version of the fallen hero. Glass reflects the ultimate downfall of Stephen Glass while Face depicts Lonesome Rhodes flush down the toilet. Both Glass and Rhodes are involved in the media, print and broadcast journalism respectively. While only Glass is based on a true story, it doesn't make Face any less real. Face has a point to make and although the movie does get it across, I think it could have been more effective.

Face starts off in a prison cell where a disc jockey by the name of Marcia Jeffries discovers and eventually recruits Lonesome Rhodes. Her gamble pays off because the radio listeners love him; they send him fan mail by the hundreds. Soon enough, Lonesome signs on to be on television. The film shows what would happen to the career and love life of someone in the same shoes as the Rhodes character.

Face had a message to deliver: corruption rears its ugly head among those behind the media and those consuming it. I admire the risk the director, Elia Kazan, took to get his point across. It's comparable to Michael Moore's criticism of the Bush administration in Fahrenheit 9/11, and Aaron Sorkin's Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, an expose on the innerworkings of a television network. However, for someone who supposedly specializes in method acting, Kazan didn't do a very good job with the cast, which included Andy Griffith and Patricia Neal.

The scenes where Neal had to cry was so fake it made me want to cry. Also, I noticed that practically everyone's laugh was the same. In one word, it was weird. Still, I'll give the actors the benefit of a doubt. Maybe, they were suppose to laugh like the people in Arkansas (assuming people over there laugh like that). After all, the screenplay was written by Budd Schulberg who hails from the state of Arkansas itself. We could all do better with some knowledge of the state that spurted out the Clintons, but the movie isn't even giving us that much.

On top of that, Face dragged on way too long. It was over two hours! A film with such a short and simple premise doesn't need that much time to unravel itself. I don't care how important a message it is, this is not The Lord of the Rings. Kazan loses his audience with too long a running time. For me, it was nowhere near the league of Tears of the Sun in its pure effectiveness or Nine Lives in its glorious subtlety. A Face in the Crowd, effective much?

It's a Girl!

Elle isn't only a nice name for a baby girl, it's the name of a pretty nice magazine. Elle is targeted to women, but not just anyone--women with enough cash to spare on a Vera Wang gown or Manolo Blahnik heels. Also, the magazine is approximately $3.50 per issue. The amount is small in retrospect, but for a magazine? Some people won't even bother. Even though I am unfortunately not one of those women, I still enjoy reading it. Perhaps, even the fashion savvy transvestite will pick up a copy. After all, there are ads for Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton, among others.

Suffice to say, I'm a happy and proud consumer of Elle magazine. They have all kinds of contibutors under their belt. Each of them is an expert in their field. A standout article I recently read was written by Jennifer Weiner. She's the author of "In Her Shoes," which the Cameron Diaz starrer is based on. The article was about the so-called genre dubbed as chick lit. It was as refreshing as it was interesting. Weiner supports her ideas with the chick lit currently in print, and her mentions of the books makes me want to devour them with my eyes.

There have been four other notable articles that I've read in Elle. Granted they were all about celebrities, the articles enlightened me on things I have yet to read elsewhere. First, I learned more about Channing Tatum and life after Step Up, which involves an upcoming movie where he gets to display his acting chops. Second, who knew that Ellen Page stole Ben Foster from right under our noses? I didn't until Elle came along. Truly, ignorance is bliss. (Both were in X-Men 3 playing Kitty Pride and Angel, respectively.)

Third, how much does Ashton Kutcher love his wife? Too much! I've never been a fan of his or his relationship, but now I kind of am. (He has two new movies opening this weekend: The Guardian and Open Season, and I mention this for no personal reason whatsoever.) For one thing, he said that most people don't know how their wives are going to look like 20 years into their marriage but he already does and he loves it. Insert "aww..." here.

Fourth, a rave review on the work of a relative unknown actress caught my eye. She's so unknown that I forgot her name, but I can't wait to see her performance in We Are Marshall, a movie based on real life events. It's about a plane crash that killed members of a football team in Texas I believe. It chronicles how the remaining players and coaches rise from the ashes. The aforementioned actress plays the fiancee of one of the late players. The Elle article brings up the scene where she returns the engagement ring to the boy's father. Prepare the Kleenex!

It should stop surprising me that everytime I have a new interest and then, I happen to be flipping through the pages of Elle dating back a month or more, I find an article about it. For instance, right now, I'm liking Joshua Radin's songs. As I was flipping through an old issue of Elle for this assignment, lo and behold, there was an article about him I never noticed before! Normally, I don't like surprises, but I'm willing to make an exception for the kind that Elle springs on me.

I'm Taken

Danger lurks around one of my favorite new television shows, Kidnapped. Admittedly, by its name alone, it is sort of ironic. Anyway, 7.3 million is a big number...depending on what you're talking about. In terms of dollars, it's huge! Anyone can retire with that amount of cash in their pockets. However, in terms of the number of viewers tuning in for a show, it's relatively low. So low, in fact, that USA Today didn't even rank it in their top 20 for that week or the top 20 for ages 18-49. (Why they even rank the latter is beyond me.)

PLEASE WATCH IT!!! Or at least, turn your television sets on to channel 3 (NBC--It's not even on cable so, no excuse!) on Wednesdays at 10 pm. The show revolves around Leopold (Will Denton), the kidnapped son of the wealthy Cain family. Upon receiving the cliche of a note that says, "Don't call the police," Mr. Conrad (Timothy Hutton) and Mrs. Ellie Cain (Dana Delany) go on to hire Knapp (Jeremy Sisto), a rogue specialist. Privacy be damned, the FBI (Delroy Lindo) gets involved so, they always clash, which makes for interesting television.

Until tonight's episode, the Leopold's older sister was missing as well. (That was just the second one so, there's time to catch up! Plus, they have a quick review at the beginning of the show for those just coming out of their caves.) All the actors are relative unknowns but they're good, and they could be great given enough buzz. Hint, hint. I dont know if I can take this clash of the networks anymore. Quite a few of my favorite shows have been cancelled in the past. Most notably, Reunion on FOX, a mystery show that was cancelled half-way (Not even. Maybe, 1/4 way?) through the first season. Cancelled mystery shows are especially hard to take.

Going back, Kidnapped will keep you on the edge of your seat. You can't help but feel for the characters. You root for Knapp, the reluctant hero (Think Nicolas Cage in Con Air or Dustin Hoffman in Accidental Hero.) and Leopold who's anything but the victim (like Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone 1 and 2 but sleeker). I could go on, but it's more important for the show to go on, so keep your eye on the boobtube!

Same Difference

For this assignment, I opted to read the Saturday issue of the San Jose Mercury News. Call me old-fashioned, but I prefer to read the newspaper in print. Yes, it leaves annoying black smudges on the fingers, but trust me, the newspapers here are better than the ones abroad--at least ink-wise. In other countries, some of the newspapers in print are like squids, just squirting away black ink.

In spite of this, print is better because one can find all the articles regardless of member registration/subcription. Additionally, since people can share print newspapers, they carry bonding value--bonding with friends, family members, and even one's spouse. I address all this and more in the list below.

THE DIFFERENCES
1. The ABCs of completing a story:
a. Online, the story can be read on a single page after clicking on one or more links.
b. In print, one has to turn pages in order to finish reading the story.

2. There are more options online.
a. People can listen to audioplay.
b. They can watch an audioshow versus looking at still pictures.
c. Readers can search the archives for more information on stories they find interesting.
d. People can post their comments regarding the articles.

3. In Living Color
a. All the ads online are in color as opposed to those in print.
b. The pictures online are colored as well, unlike some of those in print.

4. Online, a number of stories are restricted to subscribers/members only (i.e. "The Kindness of Strangers Exemplified" by L.A. Chung). Print newspapers, on the other hand, aren't limited to the direct subscribers alone. For example, SJSU housing subscribes to the San Jose Mercury News, but students like me can get a copy of it.

5. Readers of the print editions end up with dirty fingers whereas four eyes await online readers.
6. People at say, a breakfast table, can share the newspaper if it's in print, but not if it's online.

7. Online, they read articles in one direction only. With print newspapers, some sections such as the Real Estate or Entertainment, have to be turned up from its side before anyone can read it upright. Also, the latter can be folded up.

THE SIMILARITIES
1. Stories are the same--word for word.

2. Both versions have the weather forecast on the very first page.

3. They both have listings on the left side, which serve as previews of other articles.

4. Ads are everywhere.

I'm in Love with a Stripper

Fall is here and new television shows are popping up right and left! Last night, I watched the premiere of the critically acclaimed "Studio 60 on Sunset Strip." The show's been on every critic's top ten list and for good reason!

The show is so good! Yes, I know that I keep saying "good" and I should stop but really, that's the adjective to describe the show. "Nice" may be overrated but sometimes, it's the only word to describe something/one. I admit "Studio 60" wasn't on my list to watch, but I'm glad I did.

It's about the inner workings of an SNL-like show. "Studio 60" boasts of a star-studded cast that includes Matthew Perry ("Friends"), Bradley Whitford ("The West Wing"), and Amanda Peet ("A Lot Like Love"). The show also has bragging rights to Aaron Sorkin, the writer and executive producer of the show. Whitford, who worked with Sorkin on "The West Wing," claims that Aaron is "the best writer in television."

"Studio 60" is witty, suave, and oozing with charisma. Whitford and Perry work well together. They're both rubber bands just bouncing humor off of each other. It was genius, pure genius, casting those actors on the show. Perry brings in the "Friends" audience while Whitford draws in "The West Wing" crowd. After all, ratings do matter and disappoint they did not. The pilot hooked over 13 million viewers.

Not bad for a bunch of strippers.

Y/N

I think Arnold Schwarzenegger is trying to break the Guinness Book of World Records for the most number of propositions over the course of a governor's term. Prop 87 is his latest venture. You've seen the commercial. It's otherwise known as the Clean Energy Initiative, but you and I know that names can be deceiving. The proposition is about California's oil supply, which is of course, related to the ever increasing gasoline prices.

If people were to vote yes, they would be making oil companies pay--literally. There are going to be taxes imposed on oil production itself, which is approximately $200-380 million. That big chunk of change is going to go to good use, specifically towards alternative fuel research. So, Prop 87 is definitely better for Mother Nature. In turn, it will lower cases of lung cancer and other related diseases.

Who knows? Any day now, our cars could be running on water--like Jesus, only faster. Perhaps our motor vehicles will operate on helium (the type of gas in balloons), then we'll really fly just like every first grader imagined they would in the future. Aww...

What's the catch? Well, some people argue that gasoline prices are still going to be on a high, despite Prop 87, because oil companies will keep it that way. They'll import oil from foreign countries, which aren't subjected to heavy taxes, and keep charging on.

Yes or no? Simple answers to a not-so-simple question.

The Art of Publishing

I'm a trendy person but...not. Allow me to explain. There are some things I'll do because they are so popular that I want to try it too, if only for the experience. However, there are some trends that I feel no desire to follow. Call it schizophrenia, rebellion, or just plain normality. I mean, people just like different things. Let me provide an example. I read "Harry Potter," but I have no plans of reading "The DaVinci Code" or "The Alchemist." Believe it or not: I'm not the only one. My best friend won't read "Harry Potter" because she believes that it's against her religion. I have another friend who's with me on "The Alchemist." Her reason is that she hates the people who read it and suddenly think they're all philosophical.

I think if I wasn't given an iPod as a gift, it would be one of those trends I despise. I heard a classmate talk about it once. She was saying that she doesn't understand the iPod explosion and won't be buying one for herself. However, I've grown to love my iPod. (My fourth grade teacher would be so disappointed in me. She said that it's gramatically incorrect to say you love something. You can only love someone. For things, places, and the like, one should say that he/she likes it. Example: I really liked fourth grade English.)

Anyway, the reason I brought this up is whatever despise exists for the iPods can't last for long. I read not one, but two, articles on even newer trends as related to the beloved Apple gadget. First, more and more museums are offering audio tours that you can download at your convenience-legally and everything! This may be old news to some, but it's certainly news to me. You can download them before you go to the museum, or you could download them at the museum, or you can borrow an iPod already equipped with the audio tour at the museum.

Some of the museums that offer or will offer this service are as follows: Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA), Akron Art Museum in Ohio, Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washinton D.C., Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, San Francisco de Young Museum, Orange County Museum of Art, Newport Beach (CA), and San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

Second, according to the New York Times, "public domain books [are] ready for your iPod." Books, whose copyright has expired (i.e. published before 1923), are being made into audiobooks by everyone from amateurs to professional voice actors. Even you can submit one! This is all made possible by Project Gutenberg which supports the following services: LibriVox, Telltale Weekly, Spoken Alexandria Project, and LiteralSystems. Listeners can have their pick of the litter--anything from theBible to the Declaration of Independence to Jane Austen. Each audiobook title has different versions. Librivox, for one, has three versions of the Gettysburg Address.

There has been a lucrative market for audiobooks and downloading the actual book on one's computer, but now, there's the downloading of audiobooks onto one's iPod. I think this is the new direction that publishing companies are going to take. Perhaps they'll sell them on iTunes for 0.99 cents.

In line with this is an article in this semester's Reed magazine, "A Conversation with James D. Houston." He was asked how things have changed in the publishing business over the last 50 years. The noted author replied, "When I first started publishing books, there were probably 30 or 40 separate publishing houses in New York, and now they've one by one been bought up by larger conglomerates or merged with other publishers...The business is more and more controlled by, not a literary mentality as it used to be, but by corporate mentality."

Unfortunate but true. I have to agree with Houston. It saddens me that publishing companies are all about the business behind the books and not the books behind the business.

Season of Zits

I read an article in the New York Times that explored whether or not "acne is affected by changes in season." According to the article, "many dermatologists say it is generally thought to flare up in the winter and improve in the summer." The article then goes on about two studies that were conducted in 2002, but they both came up with different findings. One agreed with most dermalogists while the other said the opposite: more outbreaks occur in the summer than in the winter.

Who to believe?

Well, one problem with the studies that found more acne rear their ugly heads in the summer is that "they were based largely on participants' own reports. "

Going back, the reason why pimples lay low in the summer is because of the "increased exposure to sunlight. Studies have found that light, particularly ultraviolet light, destroys an acne-causing bacteria called porphyrins." A study that was out in 2000 claims that light works even better than traditional acne medication such as benzoyl peroxide.

However, according to Dr. Sumayah Jamal, a dermatologist at NYU, warns against excessive sunbathing just to relieve one's self of a constellation of zits. Instead, one should go to a dermatologist who can provide harmless light to remove the pimples.

One Way or Another

I think that one way advertising companies could persuade people to stop illegally downloading music is by having actual people, who've been convincted and punished for doing so, speak out. They could air commercials, print ads, and make billboards with people from all walks of life tell their stories about how they thought music piracy was harmless until they were fined large amounts of money.

In addition to that campaign, they should have celebrities encourage their fans not to produce or purchase illegal cds and/or DVDs. Product sales increase when a certain celebrity endorses it, why won't piracy decrease? Advertising companies will have no problem getting anyone and everyone from Hilary Duff to Sean Penn to Coldplay to Michelle Williams. By helping end piracy, celebrities would be furthering their cause and ultimately, their careers.

The musicians could continue to do their part by making quality cds through and through--not just put out 2 or 3 good songs out of 15 in a cd and expect people to buy it. Likewise, actors should consistently shell out great movies. This way, consumers would buy the original cd/DVD and never resort to illegal downloads.

One more thing (and I must say that I like this the best): celebrities should hand out free cds and DVDs. The more they give out, the more people won't get the pirated copy. Also, if they like it, they'll tell their friends to buy the original as well. This will in turn, increase the celebrity's sales.

MEGA-zine

I've been meaning to read a copy of Access magazine, and today, I finally did. I didn't read all the articles--just the ones I found interesting. I liked the articles on page 6: "How Will You Survive?" and "Come and Get It." The first one talks about how you can avail of free stuff on campus. I thought joining the spartan squad was funny just because "there's a free t-shirt involved [and] you can quit after that day."

The second article names reasonbly priced restaurants nearby. Honestly, I didn't know any of them until today. I guess that's mainly because I was on a meal plan during my freshman year here. So, I was limited to what and where I could eat. (In the long run though, I think having a meal plan is cheaper than having to buy and cook, or in my case, microwave food. But more delicious? I think not.)

I thought the Access staff did a good job with picking stories that SJSU students would find relatable. "Among the Elite" talks about how SJSU can be in a league of its own albeit not the Ivy League. Then, there's "From Grades to Glory," which chronicles the lives of 4 famous Spartans.

Then again, none of the articles were really all that current int its topics, which I would have liked to seen such as Steve Irwin's death and Suri's debut, just to name a few. I know that the magazine only comes out once a semester and the staff has to shell out timeless articles so they won't be out of date by the time it's available campus-wide. They managed to do that with more articles on marrying young, myspace, the environment, music, yoga, and weight issues.

Access saved the best for last. My favorite article was "Dirty Little Secret." The various postcards were both hilarious and heartbreaking to read. However, I thought the front cover could use some work. It didn't really catch my attention. I only got a copy because I needed it for a class. If I was majoring in anything else, I probably wouldn't have picked it up. They need more catchy headlines and highlight all of them.

Still, you've got to love the fact that the magazine was printed with soy-based ink and is recyclable. Also, if you pick up a copy, there's coupon at the back for 15% off any food purchase at Lee's Sandwiches on E Santa Clara and 6th St. ;)

Ahoy Matey!

The word, piracy, probably came from the fact that pirates stole treasure from people. In connection with that is music piracy. People who ilegally download music participate in this movement, if you will. They steal from the artists and the recording companies. Still, just like with the pirates, people have a fascination for music piracy.

I agree with what the professor said in class that record companies just don't get it. They should be coming up with new ways to distribute the music since that's the business they're in. They should realize that their business isn't in hot water. Everybody listens to music; lots of people love it albeit different types. Instead of scratching their heads for a new technology to put a stop to file sharing, they should be inventing something to expand it for everyone's benefit.

This whole issue also goes to the heart of how good (or bad) of a thing is technology. It is what's at least partly responsible for music piracy. In this situation, the advantage of technology goes to all the music lovers out there. Innovative technology has made it much more affordable to get their favorite songs on their iPods and what have you. The downside is that the hard work of the various record companies and artists go to waste.

Addicted

I'm an addicted media consumer. First of all, I am almost always in cyberspace. In order to stay in touch with my friends, I e-mail and chat with them. I also read their blogs and update two of my own. Let's not forget my friendster, multiply, and myspace accounts.

Secondly, I watch tv practically everyday. Some of my favorites still on the air are Gilmore Girls, House, Grey's Anatomy, and Veronica Mars. To fend off my reality show cravings are American Idol and America's Next Top Model. Though I was sad to see Sex and the City and Friends go, I look forward to this fall's new shows such as Heroes, Ugly Betty, 6 Degrees, and Kidnapped.

In connection with that, I like to watch movies. The most recent movie I watched was Step Up, whose soundtrack is way better than the movie. However, I think Invincible and The Covenant will be well worth the money, and I absolutely can't wait for Eragon!

Whenever I have the time, I enjoy reading books and magazines. For the latter, I like to read Elle, Seventeen, People, TIME, Newsweek, In Style--anything really. As for the former, the last one I read was Eldest by Christopher Paolini. (They're coming out with a special edition of that on Sept. 26 although I have no idea what the difference is going to be.) I was planning on reading Traveling Mercies next, but I guess I have to put that off for The Kite Runner, which I had heard about before but never planned on reading.

Last but certainly not least, I love to listen to music. I carry my iPod whenever and wherever I can. Some people think it's overrated, but I don't think so. It's convenient because you can put all your favorite songs in one place and carry it around anywhere. It's even adaptable to your car. Plus, depending on the type of iPod you have, you can put music videos and episodes of your favorite TV shows.

My Bad

I read two articles in the New York Times today. First, NBC has apologized for their introductory skit, which involved a plane crash. They acknowledged that it was insensitive to the fact that roughly 50 people died in a Kentucky plane crash recently. This brings up the question of when is the right time? Some people thought it was too soon for movies on the 9/11 attacks ("Flight 93" and "World Trade Center") to be shown in theaters. The same goes for television shows albeit on a different level. Should we move "Grey's Anatomy" to TV's big night, Thursday or keep it in its original timeslot of Sundays? What is the right time?

Second, Britney Spears is stirring up some controversy all the way in Japan. Her photograph on the Japanese Bazaar edition has had an on again, off again relationship with the Tokyo Metro (a subway station). As of today, it's on again after commuters complained about the Tokyo Metro's request that the magazine conceal the picture below the elbows.

I don't think that giant ads like that are appropriate, but there are hundreds, if not more, of them out there and to only condemn Britney's is wrong. You're probably saying, "Well, it's going to be on magazine stands everywhere anyway. What's one more place?" The difference is that those who buy the magazine are actually interested in things other than the cover whereas the commuters see the cover and only the cover. On the flipside, it's good to know that the people's opinions are being heard--even though it's in the east side of the world. Take comfort in the fact that we are not the only country fussing over Britney Spears.

Then again, this whole incident only brings to light how majority perceive the human genitals as taboo. We can most likely put the blame on parents teaching their kids that either their penises are birdies or their vaginas are flowers. It sends the message that they should be ashamed of their sexuality and that it's not okay to call sex for what it really is, let alone talk about it. Thus, the kids look to other sources for information such as the media, which is often worse than having the parents do the actual talking. So, really, the reason that the parental units are trying to protect their children is bogus. If I have kids, I'm telling them that their penises are penises and their vaginas are vaginas just like their heads, shoulders knees, and toes are heads, shoulders, knees, and toes. Will you join me?

Conspiracy Theory

Whenever I go to a GAP store or just by pass by one, I don't look for clothes anymore. I look for Chris Evans's ("Fantastic Four") picture. He's one of the latest spokepersons for the GAP t-shirts. (the black and white photos.) I already saw one in the window of a GAP store in San Francisco and on the side of a bus. However, today, I went to the Valley Fair mall and the GAP had the lieu of black and white photos on their walls, but lo and behold, the Human Torch wasn't there!

Sacrilege!

I mean, they have a bunch of people up there who I don't even recognize (and I'm sure most people won't know either). Sure, there's Mia Farrow (who honestly, I wouldn't even know if not for Tyra Banks's constant references about Farrow's hairstyle in "Rosemary's Baby," which is awful of me considering all her charity work), Jeremy Piven of "Entourage" and Pete Wentz from Fall Out Boy, but come on! Evans hurt his leg and was on crutches the day of the photo shoot and he still killed it. He worked one of his crutches into the picture, for goodness sake.

Well, I guess all the other t-shirt spokepersons' pictures were displayed more often because they were not as famous. I learned in high school that most advertisements use ordinary people because it makes their product/s all the more relatable to the consumers. That's probably why GAP uses everyday citizens in their denim commercial. This technique also provides better chances to models who are just starting out.

However, I'm short on ideas why GAP changes their celebrity spokeperson so often. Hmmm... I guess it depends whoever is the new "it" thing. Hollywood is so fickle.

Btw, do you know the number 1 cause for smoking?

Billboards!

Can you believe that? A professor mentioned that a town conducted a survey and believe it or not, that was the result. Then again, that same town had a not-so-hidden agenda to eradicate all the billboards in their area. The bottomline is you have to follow the money and then you'll have a better informed idea of what's really going on.

Take GAP for example. The agencies of the not so famous t-shirt spokepersons are probably paying bigger bucks to get their clients more exposure than say, Chris Evans's agency.

*lightbulb*

It's a conspiracy.

No, seriously. It is.