The extinction of magazines?

With all of the new technologies invented in this generation people are finding less and less use for the old- fashioned printed magazines. Magazines have been in existence since the 1700s and they do not seem to be going anywhere.

Magazines have several new audiences every day. Magazines like "Seventeen" and "Teen Vogue" draw younger audiences as "W" and "The New Yorker" draw older audiences.

Magazine companies make more than ninety three million dollars each week on subscriptions alone and that does not include the occasional "pick-up" at the grocery store or pharmacy.

Magazines will remain because they know exactly how to evolve along with the rest of the world. They go from family magazines to romance and fashion magazines. It's not the excessive use of technology that's hurting magazines, it's the amount of sponsors and advertisers that are constantly declining.

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The "Michael" controversy.

I can’t believe that it’s only been about a year in a half since Michael Jackson has pasted, time really flies by. Since his death people have made tons of money off of items with his name on it. From the movie This is it to the Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour show by Cirque du Soleil. And now Sony has released a posthumous album called Michael. When Sony released the first single off the new album called “Breaking News” back in November, some of Jackson’s fans, and family members questioned whether the vocals three on the tracks are really Jackson’s. Jackson’s estate released a statement about the tracks that are questioned claiming that they have “conduct an investigation regarding the authenticity of the lead vocals.” While the estate says the vocals are really Jackson’s, some family members haven’t changed their mind on the subject. Other artists have also questioned whether the Michael Jackson would have wanted this album to be released at all. Quincy Jones, who worked on Jackson’s biggest albums, said that Jackson was a perfectionist and wouldn’t have wanted it to be out without his final touches on it. In my option I love the album, even if it is unclear whether those three tracks are full Jackson vocals. So what do you guys think, are they real MJ vocals ?

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Get Out of My Facebook!

It's amazing to me that the creator of the world's most popular and successful social network can be such a socially awkward imbecile. Of course, he's probably the most intellectual idiot in the history of America, so who am I to bash someone who's making more bank than the rapper Lloyd has in his last name? Well, he may be the one racking in the trillions of dollars, but I'll be dissing him anyway.

It was just recently brought to my attention that the man I am referring to, Mark Zuckerberg, father of Facebook, was deemed Time Magazine's 2010 Man of the Year...uh...cricket, cricket. Is anyone else as speechless and mogadored by this as I am? What the fligga has he done in 2010 that was so incredible? Changed Facebook to the hideous layout that it currently is right now? My dog is more deserving of the title "Man of the Year," and my dog is a female.

I could maybe understand if this was awarded to him when Facebook was first introduced to the world, but why now? About three-quarters of my Facebook friends stalk people via computer all the time like he did, so if they created a social network for the sake of stalking, maybe they'd receive the title "Man/Woman of the Year." I never knew it was that simple to make it seem like you're a great person. If it was an award that required a speech after receiving it, then I guarantee it would be ripped out of Zuckerberg's hands because the dude just gives everyone the heebie-jeebies. He reminds me of Keanu Reeves-you don't really mind them until they open their mouths and start talking. By the way that Zuckerberg, or Suckerberg, converses, you would never guess that the kid is rolling in the dough like Pillsbury.

Maybe I'm being too biased because I'm not exactly on the best terms with Facebook right now. I mean they allow me to change my name to "CGal NotSeagull" and "Caroline Galeotachocolatemilk," yet my real name gets rejected by the automated approval system, and I'm told that it does not exist. Excuse me, but I think I know my own name, and I'm pretty sure I'm here, and I do exist, so listen up, Suckerberg, your website is seriously mistaken. Honestly speaking, though, I can think of an endless list of people who would be more worthy of "Man of the Year" than Mark Zuckerberg. I'd even put Kanye West above him, and I know Taylor Swift would undoubtedly agree with that one.

I just don't understand why Time Magazine would do such a thing. He is the youngest chosen Man of the Year since Charles Lindburgh in 1927, but back then, the guy actually deserved it. Zuckerberg, please do me a favor and get yourself out of Time Magazine, refuse to take the title of Man of the Year, and get your socially awkward self out of my face...book. Oh, and by the way, thanks for Frontierville. That's just about the only thing I appreciate from you.

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They Don't Make 'em Like They Used to

Isn’t it a shame? They really don’t make movies like they used to, they being, the directors, editors, and actors of the world today. It is hard to argue that movies weren’t better 10, even 20, years ago. Hits like Saving Private Ryan, Forrest Gump, Goodfellas, Scarface, The Shining, Pulp Fiction, Silence of the Lambs, The departed, just to name a few. These movies are all hits, movies that wont just be something thrown by the way side and forgotten about. These movies people will always remember for Tom Hanks’ award winning performance, or Jack Nicholson’s break through performance as a good husband and father gone deranged due to a haunted hotel. These movies will live on through people, these movies will remain on people shelves. Movies today are just not the same as they used to be for so many reasons it would be near impossible to go down the whole list, but here are few to really think about.

1) Most adults over 40 don't seem to be able to understand or relate to a lot of movies that are coming out now. The humor in movies today is too much for them to handle, they are too dry, and too dirty. Also, special effects are out of control, they are very unrealistic, and to most adults it is ridiculous. 2) Less and less people are going to the movies. the economy is doing poorly which im sure has a lot to do with it but couldn't it also maybe have to do with the quality of movies today? Plus the convenience of watching them at home, people decide that the movie is not worth going to the theater for and thus never get around to even seeing it. 3) I see more and more people walking out of movie theaters. Coincidence? I think not. 4) More and more movies are coming out in 3D and IMAX. This is of course to try and draw in more people. IMAX has been around for a while but it has never had so much emphasis put on it until now. Why would the movie industry want people to see their movies clearer and larger these days i'm not quite sure. 5) Directors are becoming seemingly lazy and less creative. Movies that have recently come out such as Machete are terrible in every aspect of the word. The acting is terrible, the storyline is weak, need I go on? 6) Movies (like machete) are being cheapened by too much blood, guts, and sex. 7) Peoples expectations are higher then ever given all the technology we have today, we are literally spoiled. 8) With that, The world is changing and directors audience's are changing making it harder and harder to pin down what the people want. However, this is no excuse for the garbage that is being pumped out of Hollywood these days. I hope that this changes, but who really knows. I predict that they will keep making hits it will just be very few and far between.

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The Phone Powered By Coke

Have you ever had your cell phone die during the middle of the day? It's a catastrophe not being able to text your favorite people, use the facebook application, or even browse the internet. Finding a way to charge your phone while your out and about is also a problem that cell phone users are faced with. Car chargers are effective, but not everyone spends their entire day in their car. Wall chargers are also effective, but not everyone carries their wall chargers around with them on a daily basis.

This problem that cell phone users are faced with is being taken into consideration by Chinese designer, Daizi Zheng, who is bringing new ideas to the table. Zheng proposes the use of a "Bio Battery" which will be powered by sugary drinks. The phone is said to run on a battery that uses enzymes to create electricity using carbohydrates.

This project is being overseen by Nokia, which has first dibs on releasing this new concept. Phone batteries these days are expensive to manufacture, and pose a problem for eco-friendly disposal. Theidea is to use a bio batter which will create a pollutant free environment. Simply unscrew the top of the phone, as shown, and power your phone as you drink your coke with lunch.

The Bio Battery has a potential to operate for 3 to 4 times longer on a single charge than most lithium batteries today. The battery also produces oxygen and water as a bi product, unlike regular batteries which just get thrown into land fills. This picture shows the phone with a full charge, just after being filled up. Will this new technology catch on in the US? It's doubtful, seeing as the phone doesn't have a touch screen, GPS, BBM, Internet Browser, Facebook, a camera, or many other features that people have grown accustomed to having on their phones.

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Magic Talking Computer

With technology advancing, it can have its advantages and disadvantages. The magic talking computer is one of the newest inventions that although can be very helpful to those with special needs can also become a major negative. It is a multi purpose application that helps people to communicate with their software in ways that has not been done before. For example, it consists of voice commands, mouse movement and control, short cut key command control and automatic reading and text. Although this might sound like such a great invention and can really help those who aren't capable of working computers, it can also be a negative because those who do not have a disability can take major advantage of this. Advancements in technology have also greatly affected certain sectors of the industry and have even forced certain businesses to shut down for good because there is no more demand for that type of work.
As a result, people are becoming more lazy, and they don't feel the dire need to step outside of their home to find entertainment and fun in things that used to be.

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Miley Cyrus...How far will she go for attention?

I'm sure everyone knows Disney Channel superstar, Miley Cyrus. She's been catching the attention of the media with every little thing she does that has an affect on the little kids that look up to her. In the begining, she seemed quite harmless...look at who she has become now. First it started with the green bra picture, then the cover of Vanity Fair, dating guys that are older than her..at some point she seemed to stop having issues with the media..then her music video for "Can't be Tamed" caused quite the controversy...and now she was recently seen smoking Salvia out of a bong..on camera. Salvia is a natural herb that has an affect of hallucination. The "drug" is legal in a few states including the star's home state of California. A video was taken by a "friend" at a party during the week of the star's eighteenth birthday.



What will the media say about this? When will Miley ever learn that she is supposed to be a role model for young kids? This doesn't sound like a role model to me. I know that she is trying to break away from Disney, but honestly there are other ways out. Putting herself out there in the media only causes more attention. It's obvious that she likes attention and will do anything to get it.

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Internet is Switching on TV Revolution

     It seems as though every day there is something that comes out to advance the ever changing media and internet revolution.  First is was the introduction of home desktops and the internet, then the cell phone revolution caught on, next the internet based smartphone, following Facebook etc.  Now the news trend in internet technology comes from a TV.  Google recently introduced their internet based TV.  Their TV offers quick and easy access to Netflix, Facebook, the weather, and ever Android applications to download.
     Because of this trend, millions of mainstream consumers, spurred by advances in technology and falling prices for high-tech televisions, are switching off cable and turning to the Internet to watch their favorite programs and films.  The trend is expected to accelerate in the next few years, profoundly altering everything from the TVs we buy to the entertainment industry itself.
   Not only is Google jumping into the TV revolution but now Amazon, Apple, and Netflix and driving in for a piece of the pie.  From a business standpoint this could be the end of standard cable as we know it.  Consumers would save hundreds of dollars a year on high cable costs by switching to internet based TV, plus they will have access to tons of online resources.  Not to mention most internet TV's come with standard 3-D technology.  Move over Cable theres a new TV revolution waiting to boom!


URL: TV Revolution

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Snapstick Revolution

     Viewing Internet content on HDTV is a painfully tricky affair these days but Snapstickthinks they can succeed where others have crashed and burned. Forget Google TV, Boxee Box, and Apple TV for a moment. Snapstick’s whole philosophy seems different and that’s where it might have a chance.

Rather than relying on a box connected to the TV (Note: there’s still a box connected to the TV) for navigation and discovery either through a painful onscreen keyboard or a clumsy full size keyboard, content for Snapstick is found either via a computer or iOS device running the Snapstick app. Once you find the video, you physically snap the phone and *bam*, it starts playing on the TV.

The creators say that this method drops any barriers that others like Google TV and Boxee Box must deal with. If you can find the content on your phone or computer, Snapstick will get it onto your TV. Or so they say.

     All in all Snapstick media is making it a whole lot easier for older generations and the like to get connect to their internet based TV more easily then ever before.  The more complex the internet gets the more difficult it will become to use, lucky companies like Snapstick are making things a whole lot easier for people to get connected.
URL: CNET Snapstick

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Game Tech

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New Times!!!!

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Time To Pay Up????

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For years the telephone has been the main source of communication. the main problem has always been white noise or what is known as interference. Sometimes important messages don't get relayed because the lost of translation. Another problem that people face is loss of hearing. The older we get the harder it is to hear messages on the phone. For the elderly it can be really difficult for them to hear phone conversations. Recently there has been an invention that fixes all these common problems. CapTel is a revolutionary way of having phone conversations. while in loud areas it can be very difficult to hear what is being said but with CapTel all that is fixed. While one person is talking the person at home or the office that has CapTel is comfortably listening to the conversation and reading it as well. Trying to listen to someone and not being able to hear them can be very frustrating but with CapTel all those problems are solved.

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Movie Theatres Going Green?

While browsing through the AOL news I came across an interesting article that I thought fit well with our past class discussions. There seems to be a mobile movie theatre circulating around England and is known as Sol Cinema. This movie theatre is actually set up in a tiny trailer and runs completely on solar energy. The article explains that although the U.K. is not famous for sunny days, it still manages to get enough sun to run the entire trailer and all its necessary appliances. The company never has a utility bill to pay and basically has the ability to perform anywhere and at anytime.

Although the theatre is not very large due to its housing it has played 400 films since its debut this year. It uses an LED projector, powered by solar energy. The theatre shows a wide variety of genres and tends to show more independent films rather than "Hollywood" films as they call them. They also do not show anything too mainstream or anything that encourages violence. It unfortunately only has seating for eight, but it has already won awards. One of the advantages of being housed in a trailer, they have the ability to move around and go to different places. With that said, the founders have planned a tour schedule throughout Europe and may be coming nearby to Los Angeles in the upcoming year.

Being that we have been discussing movies for the last few classes I saw this to be fit for a blog discussion. I think the idea is great, it just goes to show you that you can go green and keep the environment healthy without having to give up things you enjoy doing on a daily basis. It seems to be not only environmentally friendly but also economically friendly. Who doesn't love to save some money every now and then? With the expenses that movie theatres put into showing films based on electric and things of that sort it seems obvious why movie tickets have risen to such high prices, well besides the greedy factor in many people today. But, it makes me wonder, if all movie theatres found a way to go green, I am sure they would be able to lower the prices of their tickets. With all the money they would be saving without having to pay an electric bill every month it would be simple for them to lower their prices a few bucks. I think this would result in happier customers as well as owners.

With this small trailer becoming more and more popular and word reaching us here in the U.S. maybe it is possible we will see some more of these popping up. I think it is an interesting idea for major movie theatres to consider and I think it would result in positive outcomes all around!

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Army Recruitment Via Video Games?

Taking a step back to the PBS video we watched in class, I found the new recruitment technique that the army has began to use very interesting. They have recently opened an army experience center where people are able to come and experiment with the war-like simulator as well as play video games, such as Call of Duty. Through this center the army hopes to encourage young people to sign up.

However, a problem has arose from this new center. Some parents have expressed concern with this action that the army has taken and personally I can not help but agree. It almost seems as though these young children, mostly boys, are being somewhat tricked. Sure these children love to play these video games and are certainly not being forced to attend these centers and play these games but is it ethical? These children enjoy these games mostly for the challenge of fighting off the enemy, but can an eight or ten year old boy or girl really tell the difference between a video game and reality? In a video game if you are shot and killed you have other lives or you can restart the game, however, this is clearly not the case when it comes to war and the army. Once you are shot and killed at war there are no do-overs or extra lives and certainly no restart button. This seems like a very important aspect that these young children may not fully be aware of. I am almost certain to say that no one at these centers are making the attempt to even try and explain the difference between these video games and actual war.

These centers have recruiters which are constantly walking around telling these children how well they are playing and that they are the "best" player they have seen yet. From here they may be encouraged to try the simulator to see how good they might be in an actual war-like situation. After trying this, they may be told the same thing as before, that they were very good at it and would make an excellent candidate for the army. If they are not told again, they may just start to believe it on there own with all the encouragement they have been getting up to this point. It is only natural for one to want to continue doing something they are good at and especially when you have someone watching and cheering you on. How can these young children be expected to know the difference between these innocent video games and the danger and reality of actual war?

I can not help but agree with these parents that have expressed concern. If I were a mother, I would not want my young child going to these centers and being told every day how great of a soldier they would make. Of course we need soldiers to fight for our country and defend us and we always will, but I think it is best to let those people decide on their own. The experience of war and killing another human being is not something that someone should be pressured or manipulated into. I do not think it would work out well for anyone mentally or even physically.

Don't get me wrong, I think this center is a great place for people to attend to learn more about the army. However, I think it is a great place for those who are already interested in joining or have questions about it. The simulator seems like a great idea for people who may be entertaining the idea of signing up for the army. It provides a better idea of what you will be likely to experience and maybe figure out if it is something that is really right for you. This is just another example of the many technological advances our world is experiencing today.

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FAME

Her meat dress was pretty disgusting and her justification a little far-fetched, but nothing less is expected from the Media Queen that is Lady Gaga.

Some people call her crazy, weird, insane, "out there," and just simply living on another planet, but there is something that screams "genius" about her. She manages to keep herself in the media at all times and by whatever means necessary. She absolutely uses the media to her advantage and clearly has no shame. She's been in every form of media one way or another: newspapers, magazines, television, radio, movies, and yes, even books (biographies). She is able to stay in the public eye by doing, saying, and wearing bizarre things.

Lady Gaga has a huge following consisting of her "Little Monsters," she being the "Mother Monster," who would do just about anything for her. In South Carolina, a 48 year old man claims to be of her millions of "Little Monsters." He has traveled the world to see her perform more than 28 times; he met her 5 times; and he owns 300 copies of her record on vinyl. He also runs a Lady Gaga fan site. But what is even more baffling is that this man is a professor at the University of South Carolina at Columbia and he has created an entire course devoted to Lady Gaga and her fame. The class is titled: "Lady Gaga and the Sociology of Fame." He hopes that she will pay his class a visit...I wouldn't be surprised if she did.

Her Monster Ball continues into next year, making at stop at Nassau Coliseum on April 23rd...who's going?

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