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Fringe a new show on Fox had just premiered. The show, created by the same dude who does one of my favorite shows, Lost, is about, well I don't really know, which is probably why my head hurts. Basically, its about fringe science, or pseudoscience, or something that is science but not really, like mind reading and teleportation.

Similarly to Lost this show (based one its first episode) blows my mind while also forcing me to sit at the edge of my seat, which I literally was doing for half the show. I mean, how can anyone not like a show that stars a smart, strong, and dangerous woman, and a cute, old, genious, and mentally insane old man?

What I liked about this show: Unlike Lost, this episode of Fringe started off with a crazy event and then it was solved and the story ended. It did not leave lose ends to solve in three seasons. I don't know if I could handle two shows, I would just confuse the two. I also liked the premise, it is sort of X-Files'ish but not dealing so much with alien stuff. The music and camera work also was done in a way to perfectly compliment the action in the show.

What I disliked about the show: Certain parts of the show seemed a bit to unnecessarily over dramatic. Also, there were points where the female lead seemed unnecessarily (I like that word) rude to the people she was talking too. I have a feeling though that was a situation specific thing that may not occur again.

In conclusion, if you missed the premiere it very much recommend you go watch it, it is definitely worth a shot and if you don't like it than no harm no foul. And do not be concerned the show starts with a plane in turbulence, the show is not a Lost 2.

Labels: Fringe, Lost, review, tv

  ¶ 9:40 PM -  3 Comments - Links to this post

This is just a funny video that was on Jimmy Kimmel. Basically they censor random words and blur things out in sesame street and give it an all new meaning. Not being a fan of censorship myself, I think this video shows how ineffective a blur or a beep is because our imaginations can fill in the blank pretty easily.

Labels: tv

  ¶ 12:26 PM -  1 Comments - Links to this post

During the Superbowl, I think two years ago, Snickers released the following commercial that many did not like (including myself) because of the standards it places on men and how it restricts the flow of gender, so to speak.

The commercial starts of pretty funny then the whole "do something manly" and hair ripping is ridiculous and only strengthens the hegemonic standards of masculinity.

With the amount of negative feedback they received from the commercial you think they would have learned their lesson, but instead they recently released another commercial which also attacks men (literally) who may not be so confined by gender. Take a look:

Hearing someone say a guy has to do something like a "real man" is like hearing nails on a chalk board because people should be able to do whatever they want to do, so long as it does not hurt anyone else, without fear of being insulted or assaulted.

Unfortunately that will never happen, but you can always boycott companies that promote crap like that. Everyone loves a good boycott.

Labels: consumer rights, hegemony, lgtbq, tv

  ¶ 9:13 AM -  1 Comments - Links to this post

I have been recently watching a lot of The N, a TV channel for teens. What can I say, I still like Saved by the Bell. Anyway, I cannot believe how much commercials advertise those cell phone txt services. For example, I can txt 22122 (made up, so please do not txt it) and ask "Does Allison think I'm Hot?" (now that was a direct quote from a commercial). This service costs a whopping $10/month. A MONTH! Not only that, you can only ask it six questions a month and every question after is $2. And not only that, for me to get these prices I had to read the very very fine print that briefly shows at the end of a commercial (thank you DVR). Essentially, if you sign up for this, so called, service, you are paying a ten dollar a month fee for a magic eight ball. Well, here, I will save you all a lot of money, just go here for a free magic eight ball: http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~ssanty/cgi-bin/eightball.cgi I asked it if Allison things I am hot, apparently the answer is "No Way!" As sad as the answer is, at least it was free!

The MAIN problem with this is that it is advertising directly to teenagers, most who probably have little concept for money, and most who probably do not even read the small white words at the bottom of a screen. This is scary, if I had teens I think I would turn of their txt service just because I would not want to end up paying a ridiculous fee for some stupid questions my kid asked.

It is required by law that, if a prescription drug is being advertised on tv and it says the benefits of taking it, then it must also say the side effects. I think it needs to be law that these rip off services need to verbally state the cost in the commercial and must include the price of the service in a txt response when signing up, which then needs to be accepted again before they can start charging for it. I asked the free magic 8 ball, according and according to it: "Outlook not so good." Damn, I wonder what Obama has to say about it?

Labels: kids, Obama, school, technology, tv

  ¶ 8:08 PM -  4 Comments - Links to this post

I recently went on a voyage to Jack-in-the-Box (or JITB for all you cool cats) and inside the car in front of me I noticed two things that are very wrong:

One: The car had two children in it.
Fast food, as we all know is unhealthy and children should simply not eat it. If fast food was a once-a-month treat than that may be acceptable but I have to assume that it is an all to regular occurrence for this family because it is an all to regular occurrence for a lot of children. Being an overweight child has more than just social problems but short term and long term physical health problems that a healthy and balanced diet can fix.

A second problem with children eating fast food is that it means there is not a family dinner time. Having the time to sit around the table as a family, with no TV, helps the family stay connected and will have long term benefits for the kids: it raises their self-confidence and helps them in school, all because it creates a balanced lifestyle for the kids and a balanced, stable lifestyle is what all children need.

Two: The Kids were Watching TV in the Car!
I cannot prove it but kids are watching to much TV. TV definitely has a place in every person, regardless of age, yet when TV is used as a means of control (the kids will stay calm in the car or in the house) then there is a serious problem. A growing number of kids have ADHD and cannot focus in class. No wonder! If they need a TV on a short car trip then of course they are going to have attention problems!

Labels: food, health, kids, school, tv

  ¶ 1:10 PM -  1 Comments - Links to this post