9.28.2007
WOW Signal Part Deux?
9.25.2007
Top 5 Internet Memes of 2007
There's a meme born every second. Some are funny, some are lame, and most are instantly forgettable . However, there are a few that elevate themselves above the rest, gaining the ability to stay in our collective conscience for more than a day or two. The below list represents the five most impactful and visible internet memes of 2007, for better or for worse.
Perhaps the most annoying of the recent memes is the continued destruction of original thought and desecration of the written word. Half of all posts on any message board or forum will contain one of these four phrases/acronyms. These one word responses are used in lieu of actual thought and/or creativity, as our ADD + caffeine-addled brains can't seem to process much more than that. At this pace, we'll be reduced to grunting and staring at pretty colors in no time.
nother video in a long line of freaks of the week. What made this one stand out was its ability to escape the internet and hit the mainstream. Coworkers that could barely find the Start button were singing it in their cubes. People were asking how to get the CD, or what radio station was playing the song. 
It is true that lolcats have been around for a while now, but 2007 has definitely been the breakout year. So much so that I can't stand them anymore. I don't even participate in Caturday anymore.9.21.2007
Calamity List
It's time for the weekly look at what is going to Bring Down America. They say that sex sells, but so does impending doom.
1. The Loonie
The Canadians are gonna take over the world! Ok, maybe not, but that was my Pavlovian response to the latest drudgereport headlines.
So, what is the real deal behind this parity with the Canadian dollar? No more cheap prescriptions for the old folks hightailing it to Thunder Bay. No more cheap Molson. More Canadian tourists at Disneyland.
On a serious note, parity doesn't mean much of anything. When looking at the currencies individually, it may be a bit unnerving to see a weaker US dollar. When looking at those dollars in a macro sense, the US dollar is light years beyond the Canadian dollar in terms of purchasing power, personal income, and over economic influence worldwide.
In addition, the Canadian dollar is inflated in value due to the decline in the US dollar, not because of exponential growth in all things Canadian. When the US dollar bounces back, the loonie will return to normal levels rather than maintain parity.
2. Ahmadinejad vs. Ground Zero
I may be missing the point about all this hoopla surrounding Ahmadinejad's desire to visit Ground Zero. There are two major memes floating around the internet that are quite disturbing. First of all, Iranians are Persian. Are they Arabian like the internets seem to believe? No. Second of all, Iran has never been complicit in the events of 9/11. The current thinking seems to be Osama=Iraq=Iran. Not only is this a major fallacy in thinking, it is a deep misunderstanding of world cultures.
However, I do have misgivings about Iran in that they are supporting terrorism in their own right. How can we rightfully allow this man to visit the most sacred memorial on American soil - a site that is a direct result of terrorism?
The answer is that we allow him to visit because we are America. Despite our tensions with Iran, we are still America. Just the thought of us allowing a diplomat from a terrorist-supporting nation to visit Ground Zero is a testament to our openness and freedoms. Are we the land of the brave or the land of the meek? By not allowing Ahmadinejad to visit Ground Zero, we have given in to our fears.
3. OJ Simpson
The Great American Bogeyman is back, but not with the same flare as before. I guess robbery just doesn't capture the zeitgeist as a good old-fashioned murder.
Despite the overall indifference from everyday Americans, the media is trying their best at hyping this is OJ Trial 2008.
There are just too many "wtf?" moments about this entire episode. Why did Riccio call up OJ, suggesting they go get his stuff, then turn around and stab him in the back a la TMZ.com? Setup much? What the heck is going on with that other guy that stormed the breach with OJ, pretending to be a cop? Wasn't OJ just trying to get his stuff back? All these questions and more will most assuredly be answered in the coming weeks.
Until then, as Tupac once said, "...free like OJ, all day."
9.17.2007
We Can Read Friedman Again!
And I was this close to signing up for Times Select. No, seriously.
More info here
Ode to Sunday Night HBO
I've been a holdout, refusing to give in to conventional wisdom and concede that HBO is over. However, after last night, I've grabbed my hammer and nail. The coffin that is HBO Sunday Night is coming along quite nicely.
Tell Me You Love Me (Sun. 9pm EST.)
As with every new HBO show, I'm giving it a shot. Even though I saw the previews and caught the blatant Sopranos-inspired therapeutic theme, I figured there had to be som
The root cause behind this boredom is the fact that I loathe these characters. All of them. Every scene is a depressing look at domestic life at various stages. There is no happiness here. There are no lighthearted scenes filled with loving banter and knowing glances that help character development. Every scene is a downer filled with whiny people. Any good drama would intersperse these tension-filled moments strategically, enhancing their impact as they develop. What this show does is bludgeon you over the head with whiny, depressing situations...over and over again.
Again, I enjoy high drama when done right. There is some realism to these couples and the inner workings of real relationships. The key for the show is to juxtapose their issues with other aspects of their lives. The viewer has nothing to contrast these characters with. As it is, we're left with comparing how the couples handled one argument over the last.
Which brings me back to the sex scenes. Since we have no emotional interest in these characters and know nothing of them other than their problems, the steamy scenes feel out of place. And sure, there may be a bit more nudity, but come on, we all have the internet. Nothing new here.
Perhaps these scenes are meant to be cold and lifeless to reflect the overall health of their relationships. If so, mission accomplished. But it's leaving the viewer bored.
Curb Your Enthusiasm (Sun. 10pm EST.)
After two episodes into the new season, I'm already afflicated with the same concerns I had with last season: the notion that I've seen this before.
The situations may not be exactly the same, but it's hard to not to get that deja-vu feeling. That Larry, at it again! I hate to bring out the f-word here, but Curb Your Enthusiasm is feeling forced.
I remain a humble servant of all things Larry David, so I will continue to tune in. I am just hoping for more. I know the newness of the premise is long gone, but there has to be something better than getting laughs out of innuendos and misconceived ideas that lead to uproarious misunderstandings. If I wanted that, I'd fall back to the masterful duelings of Jack Tripper and Mr. Roper.
