Know Velocity

People do not watch enough television. Did that get your attention? It most likely did in this day and age of babysitting via the boob tube and blaming the obesity epidemic on sedentary habits (read: sitting on one’s ass watching TV). Well, despite your personal opinion on the issue, I stand by that statement. While I am sensitive to many social issues plaguing this country, my concerns do not rest with what many perceive as a medium rotting our minds. I’m much shallower than that – I just want my favorite shows to survive and thrive for many seasons to come.

You see, I am a professed television junkie, and very proud of it. I’m the person who thinks TiVo is the greatest invention to surface in my lifetime (followed closely by plasma screens and sports bars). And if people don’t start watching more TV, the programs I dearly love (okay, that may be a bit strong – and strange) will not garner the required ratings to earn industry respect and remain on the air. That’s not an outcome that sits well with me. So, I have taken it upon myself to spread the gospel of some shows that have thus far avoided the network executive axe known as cancellation, though their existence remains precarious.

My viewing habits are not solely restricted to ratings-challenged shows, but it seems the ones I like the most are constantly ignored by the majority of television viewers (which says a lot of the tastes of the masses). My addiction is dependent on getting more eyeballs to the TV screens. My social life (or lack thereof) be damned, I need these shows to stick around for a while…

Gilmore Girls

How can one resist the wittiest writing on television today, coupled with a perfectly eccentric cast led by the lovely (and underrated) Lauren Graham? Sure, it airs opposite the rating behemoth that is “American Idol,” but that amateur sing-along contest is loaded with boring fluff (and bad singers) and is better viewed with a fast-forward button (read: record it and blast through it in 20 minutes, or less). For those macho-type guys out there, don’t be off put by the title and the premise of a mother-daughter relationship – it’s so much more than that. There are plenty of funny moments that can be appreciated by both sexes… plus Lauren Graham is really hot.

Currently my favorite show on the air (and possibly of all time), “Gilmore Girls” has been lauded by critics throughout its five-year run (though some argue that the fourth season was below its usual level of excellence). Critical acclaim doesn’t mean squat when it comes to attracting viewers (as pointed out in the aforementioned slam on viewing tastes). However, this quirky little show has benefited from airing on The WB where the standards of ratings are lower than those of the Big Four (ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX). Because of this, “Gilmore Girls” is in no danger of cancellation; my rant resides with the fact that it gets little-to-no respect and has been completely snubbed by the Emmy committee year after year. On any other network (save UPN), Graham and her co-stars would have racked up a slew of nominations by now. Maybe with a larger audience, the powers-that-be would stand up and take notice of quality television, regardless of it airing on a network they refuse to acknowledge.

Veronica Mars

UPN, the other bastard-child network, boasted one of the best new programs of the 2004-05 season, giving “Desperate Housewives” and “Lost” a run for their money in the critical acclaim department. “Veronica Mars” was one of the lowest rated shows on television, but mercifully, UPN opted to renew it since it’s one of the only programs to get positive press in the network’s brief history. With an enticing mystery that ran throughout the entire season, and original weekly subplots, “Veronica Mars” is like a cool blend of “Twin Peaks” and “Beverly Hills 90210.” The premise of a high school girl working with her private investigator father might sound a little “Scooby Doo-ish,” but the show’s creators avoid the standard pitfalls with exemplary writing and creative plot twists. The acting is top-notch, led by the cute and perky Kristen Bell in the title role (who is enough to get me watching), and even the most hated characters (Logan) can be endearing over time.

Arrested Development

This FOX comedy, narrated in a hilariously deadpan style by the one-and-only Ron Howard, is the perfect example of a show in search of an audience, but is still showered with accolades. Whereas few take notice of “Gilmore Girls” and “Veronica Mars” over on The WB and UPN respectively, “Arrested Development” has become the darling of the Emmys, winning Best Comedy last year and earning another nod this year. The critical success of this laugh-your-ass-off sitcom has saved it from extinction – there is no way FOX could give up so easily on a show of this caliber. Emmy wins aside, the audience has to take more of an interest in the antics of the Bluth family. If not, the network will be forced to pull the plug and replace it with ratings-generating crap, like another night of ‘American Idol” or some reality show concoction that demeans some segment of the population… and no one wants that!

About the Author

SwapThing.com is a site focused on building a strong swap community online. The ShareThing program helps non-profits get access to item & cash donations as well as volunteers and professional services.

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Filed at 5:52 am under Movies + Stuff
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Plasma TVs are the latest in entertainment advancement . They offer a lot more than standard television sets. But there is also a lot more training that is required for plasma TV installation. It’s not that plain either.

Plasma TVs are flat. They can be mounted on the wall or on the ceiling. This furnishes a better visual experience rather thaner than putting it on a TV stand or entertainment center. You are able to make the most of the flatness of the TV only when it is installed on the wall or ceiling. This way you can really show off your television.

So how do you acheive the best plasma TV installation ? The best and easiest way would be to get someone to do it for you. But this would cost more compared to doing it yourself. It’s not that big of a problem if you know what you are doing and obtain good help in the form of friends or family.

So what are the components needed for plasma wall installation? Well, you will need a couple of things.

First, the right tools are very imperative. You will need the following: A hammer, a good set of screw drivers, a set of nails and screws, and a spirit level. You would also need a step ladder if you are installing it at a height.

Then the other subsidiary equipment is also important. You would need a reasonable length of wire to connect your TV to the electric plug points. In most cases these cables come with the TV, but be sure you have the right cables before starting. You would need a wall mount or ceiling mount. This is the most expensive component. Then you would also need wire clips or zip-ties to secure the wires together and make it look tidy. And then based on your situation you would need other stuff like plaster, or wallpaper etc. Once you have decided where you are going to install your plasma TV, you can go about sourcing your equipment.

So now you know that installing your TV is not very difficult; it is a process that can be made painless by having a few necessary pieces on.

Filed at 9:27 pm under Hall Of Music, Movies + Stuff, Multimedia Resources
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If you’re a fan of Taylor Kitsch and Lynn Collins in a few years you’ll have the privilege of seeing them bring to life one of the greatest romances in pulp adventure fiction. The Disney Studios and Pixar Animation are teaming up to bring Edgar Rice Burroughs’ John Carter and Dejah Thoris to the silver screen in “John Carter of Mars”. Kitsch plays Carter and Collins plays Dejah Thoris.

The John Carter books launched one of science fiction and fantasy’s earliest and most successful franchises. The first book, A Princess of Mars, started out as four novellas published in pulp magazines. Several other books in the series followed by 1924. Burroughs, however, went on to create Tarzan and other characters. Although Tarzan eventually overshadowed John Carter, both characters were drawn into a much larger “world” in which many of his pulp heroes lived. Even Burroughs himself was part of that fictional world.

The Disney/Pixar film is scheduled for release in 2012, although principal photography begins in Utah in November 2009. The intervening time is necessary for all the special effects the live-action movie will require. There has been a lot of John Carter of Mars forum discussion on fan sites around the Web. Many media sites have also covered the impending film’s release, squeezing fan sites about the John Carter of Mars movie out of normal search results.

Although there is much hype and anticipation over the upcoming movie, there are relatively few Web sites (yet) that collect all the John Carter of Mars information in one place. One reason this seems to be the case may be that the Google search algorithm does not pay much attention to hobbyist Web sites. That’s too bad.

Filed at 10:45 am under Movies + Stuff, Warlocks Lair, Wired Blogs
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Charles Schultz cast the gold standard of annual holiday classics with his 1965 creation of A Charlie Brown Christmas. This animated, made-for-TV special features all the familiar Peanuts characters, although I’ve always wondered why the comic strip was titled Peanuts and not Charlie Brown. Lucy, Snoopy, Schroeder, Linus, Sally, Pig-pen, and Woodstock all make appearances. However, the enduring popularity of this holiday classic stems not from its original storyline, but rather its vivid invocation of childhood nostalgia and memorable Christmas music. It seems everyone on earth has heard the song the characters sing in the closing credits, and it’s become a Christmas classic in-and-of itself.

For those who need refreshing, because I don’t know anyone who hasn’t seen it, A Charlie Brown Christmas covers title character Charlie Brown’s search for the true meaning of Christmas. When neighborhood friend Lucy dispenses her usual five-cent advice, she encourages Charlie Brown to take on the job of director in the school Christmas play. But none of the other kids take their new director seriously, and when Charlie Brown passes over several Christmas trees which he believes embody the commercial exploitation of Christmas, and brings back a sagging relic of branch instead, the other kids fire him as director. Meanwhile, Snoopy is involved in decorating his doghouse with colorful flashing lights and other knick-knacks in an effort to win first-prize in a Christmas decorating contest. In the end, the other kids feel they’ve been too hard on Charlie Brown, and fix up his tree into a brilliant display of Christmas beauty. Linus reveals the true meaning of Christmas by retelling a segment from the Gospels that recounts the story of the birth of Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, Charlie Brown is disillusioned when his idealistic attempt to decorate his humble Christmas tree ends in absolute failure. As a result, only a Christmas miracle can save Charlie Brown from the depths of holiday disaster…

One of the better parts of this television special is when Charlie Brown goes hunting for a Christmas tree. Some of the trees are aluminum, which you rarely see today, especially those trees with the rotating colored lights underneath. Simply put, A Charlie Brown Christmas is a breath of fresh air – a thoughtful, funny, and highly entertaining show which the entire family can enjoy. It connects parents and children through the shared experience of its annual holiday viewing, and parents don’t have to worry about the foul language and adult content that so often permeates today’s television programs. Overall, A Charlie Brown Christmas is as close to perfect as a Christmas television special can be.

About the Author

Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, a blog where you can find more reviews like this one of A Charlie Brown Christmas (DVD).

Filed at 3:31 am under Movies + Stuff
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