OK. That’s a trick question. ABC / Disney is taking the lead again by offering several of its popular primetime programs available for free download the day after they are shown on the ABC network. This follows their earlier use of Apple’s iTunes music store to offer paid downloads of shows. Will viewers prefer to pay $1.99 for Lost, Desperate Housewives, and Commander and Chief uninterrupted, or free downloads with commercials that they can’t interrupt?
How much would you pay for a free TV show download?
Physics, Opera, Funny Costumes and PodZinger
These all came together last night…here’s how. We went to see the Boston Lyric Opera production of La Traviata last night, and happened to sit next to my former Quantum Physics professor Claude Canizares (now Associate Provost); head PodZinger honcho Alex Laats had him as a Prof as well. Last night however, I discovered that the seats on our other side belonged to his old physics professor making three generations of Physics students in a row, at the Opera.
As I was chatting with my Prof. about PodZinger, the gentleman in the row in front of us turned around and said “I’ve heard of that – I think it’s really very important!”
So how do funny costumes fit in, aside from the performers? I helped organize a gala a few years ago which happened to be within a month and very similar in theme to a Boston Lyric Opera fundraiser. I saw fellow committee member Mindy Garber last night as well, as well as some other attendees such as MIT Professor Stuart Madnick and his wife. So I figured I’d post some funny costume photos.
Here are some links to Opera Podcasts:
- NPR: Music Podcast
- Footnote Podcast
- PRI’s The World – Geo Quiz - about a cafe to which Puccini went to get fancy drinks (Starbucks of the time) - even with an accent, we got it!
- Inspired Minds including an interview with Renee Fleming
- WNYC’s Soundcheck
Gary Coleman’s career died for your sins
The former “Facts of life” star may have found his ultimate role, savior. While his Hollywood stardom has reached a point of singularity, PodZinger has bigger plans for the diminutive former child actor. Entering “Gary Coleman” in the PodZinger search engine returns this audio from a recent Grace Christian Assembly Podcast, “This is my being crucified as a substitutionary atonement for your sins” as “This is my being crucified as a substitute Gary Coleman Pearson” . Probably not worth the sacrifice.
Podfading: Don’t quit your day job
The production quality and content of podcasts ranges from primitive to professional. While some folks literally “phone it in”, creating stream of consciousness podcasts that are far from entertaining. Ryan and Jen Ozawa, creators of The Transmission were not in that camp. Their Lost obsessed Podcast was well produced and very popular, but the realities of life came between them and podcast stardom. Wired.com reports that the Ozawas and other podcast creators face “podfading”, the inability to continue to juggle the demands of work, life, and podcasting. The Transmission signed off for the last time, but you can find many other “Lost” fancasts at the Lost Podcasting Network.
Ravenna, OH Police Expose Terrorist Cell
On April 1, 17 mysterious boxes wrapped in gold with question marks on them showed up in the town of Ravenna, OH. Alarmed residents reported them to the police department, who then called out the bomb squad and hazardous materials squad. The boxes were found to be empty. Five 16-17 year-old girls claimed responsibility for deploying the boxes. Ravenna Police Chief Randall McCoy referred the case to the county prosecutor’s office for possible criminal charges.
Department of Homeland Security Deputy Press Secretary Brian J. Doyle says that he will personally interview these girls to see if they should be held as enemy combatants. DHS officials will consider boosting the per-capita homeland security grant to Ravenna, already at 27x New York City’s, even further to combat the city’s mounting terrorist threats, such as terrorists masquerading as actual delivery people to leave dangerous boxes around town in suspicious-looking boxes with “Amazon” printed on them (clearly a terrorist cell marking).
Check out the local news coverage [1, 2] and the extensive list of links on Topix.net.
