Through the amazing realm of satellite TV where you have more channels than you can defiantly do anything with. I discovered in my downtime at work, a favorite. Channel 366, Current TV, which can also be found at current.com. Current is an independent media channel that is a partially user and viewer run news channel. On Current viewers and users can submit “pods” which are short programs that can last anywhere from three to fifteen minutes, and can be on an endless array of topics. Current which is an Emmy award wining program was formed by former Vice President Al Gore and businessman Jole Hyatt in their disgust to existing news programs. (CNN, Fox News, Etc.) Current is a fast moving news program that examines anything that people think is news worthy. Many of the stories are focused on world events, and events that are going on in other countries. Some may affect us as Americans politically, financially, or even through our economy, others may be events that are effecting other countries in these same categories. Some are stories that are happening right in our own neighborhoods, and some are just meant to be purely for entertainment. For example yesterday I learned about the uprising in Turkey between the PKK(which stands for the Kurdish Workers Union and have been basically labeled as a terrorist organization) and Turkish military, and how if not careful, the U.S. could possibly find its self in between or even involved in another conflict in Iraq with the PKK. Who have moved into northern Iraq since the U.S. Iraqi conflict started. On the lighter side I also saw a segment in a section called Info Mania where Current showcased the recent phenomenon and the many reenactments spurred from the catch phrase “I drink your milkshake, I drink it up” From the movie There Will Be Blood.
Current is a television network that defiantly appeals to me. Its widespread outlook on events that are happening, and the failure of other news channels to bring this information is a very attractive source. Even though the channel runs “Pods” which usually run fifteen minutes or less, you might think they wouldn’t be able to get enough into depth. But they do, they are able to give enough information to inform you, as well as where you can find out more information on the existing topics. The reporting is defiantly done along professional standards along with being directed to a somewhat younger audience. The limited commercial interruption, and the ability to comment and possibly expand a story is even more alluring about the channel, unlike the many programs who show one and only one side of a topic. Also because of the constant update of what’s coming up next the channel can become rather addicting, where you wind up not wanting to pull yourself away just so you can see that next story. I think anyone who is interested in local, national and world event at any age could get into Current TV. The only thing is your going to have to find somewhere that has satellite TV, which is the one unfortunate aspect. As far as I have seen so far Current.com is pretty good as well, which is a good source for all of us non-satellite TV people.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
The Chronicle
The Columbia Chronicle,
The Chronicle, our very own Columbia campus newspaper. I usually end up grabbing a copy of the Chronicle each week, even if it’s just to pass some time in between classes. The Chronicle is our student run newspaper that graces our buildings each week.
The Chronicle is very good at keeping up with current events that are happening in and around Columbia. If you are ever interested if knowing what’s going around Columbia the Chronicle is a good source for you to look at, as well as given with a student perspective.
There are basically four sections to the Chronicle, the campus news section, the arts and entertainment section, a review section, the commentary section and the city beat section. Within the campus news section you can find your hearing about not so in depth campus polls, I think it would be more interesting to hear what more than three people thought about a topic. You can also read about debates on all different issues that have or will be happening, articles on Columbia students who have made big achievements in their careers or soon to be careers. This is the section of the paper where you will find many different issues pertaining to student issues on campus hence Campus News. The paper seems to do well with this section not every article can be of interest to everyone.
The arts and Entertainment section of the paper is by far the largest section containing lots of photographs and many articles derived from happenings in TV, film, and music, to local happenings and even articles with local artists who have shows or instillations that can bee seen. Or just have a story to tell.
The review section, well I guess I should have more to say about this section since well its what we are doing. But the fact is there isn’t much to this section, four categories print, movies/dvd/tv, music and random. It is here where they three picks for each category and give it a one to two sentence review and give it a rating of a smiley face. This also the section where you’ll find the horoscope, crossword and sudoku puzzles.
The Commentary section is where you will find many editorials and responses to stories this is also a very small section of the paper.
On to the City beat section of the paper, this is a pretty interesting part of the paper you’ll find many articles of different happenings in the entire city. This section might let you know about city political events or policies. Basically this section focuses on what’s going on and making news in Chicago.
Over all this newspaper is full of lots of good information from the articles to the advertisements given by the school or outside business. Everything here is directed for the student so pick it up maybe you’ll find something useful if not throw it in the recycling bin.
The Chronicle, our very own Columbia campus newspaper. I usually end up grabbing a copy of the Chronicle each week, even if it’s just to pass some time in between classes. The Chronicle is our student run newspaper that graces our buildings each week.
The Chronicle is very good at keeping up with current events that are happening in and around Columbia. If you are ever interested if knowing what’s going around Columbia the Chronicle is a good source for you to look at, as well as given with a student perspective.
There are basically four sections to the Chronicle, the campus news section, the arts and entertainment section, a review section, the commentary section and the city beat section. Within the campus news section you can find your hearing about not so in depth campus polls, I think it would be more interesting to hear what more than three people thought about a topic. You can also read about debates on all different issues that have or will be happening, articles on Columbia students who have made big achievements in their careers or soon to be careers. This is the section of the paper where you will find many different issues pertaining to student issues on campus hence Campus News. The paper seems to do well with this section not every article can be of interest to everyone.
The arts and Entertainment section of the paper is by far the largest section containing lots of photographs and many articles derived from happenings in TV, film, and music, to local happenings and even articles with local artists who have shows or instillations that can bee seen. Or just have a story to tell.
The review section, well I guess I should have more to say about this section since well its what we are doing. But the fact is there isn’t much to this section, four categories print, movies/dvd/tv, music and random. It is here where they three picks for each category and give it a one to two sentence review and give it a rating of a smiley face. This also the section where you’ll find the horoscope, crossword and sudoku puzzles.
The Commentary section is where you will find many editorials and responses to stories this is also a very small section of the paper.
On to the City beat section of the paper, this is a pretty interesting part of the paper you’ll find many articles of different happenings in the entire city. This section might let you know about city political events or policies. Basically this section focuses on what’s going on and making news in Chicago.
Over all this newspaper is full of lots of good information from the articles to the advertisements given by the school or outside business. Everything here is directed for the student so pick it up maybe you’ll find something useful if not throw it in the recycling bin.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
TV
Tel·e·vi·sion n. - a system of capturing images and sounds, broadcasting these via a combined electronic audio and video signal, and reproducing them to be viewed and listened to. (Encarta World English Dictionary) First it was the written text, then it was little beeps going from one place to another, and then it was voices coming across the air waves, finely along with these voices came a picture.
Television being a word coming from mixed Latin and Greek roots which actually means far sight. Television and its many other names, TV, The Tube, The Box, The Small Screen. Has been Since the 1930’s in all of our homes, and we have become accustomed to having this neat lavishly looking picture box for so many things. What once had been sign of success and or wealth in having a TV in your house, could not have been blown any further from the truth now that we can carry them in our pockets and the average American family has 2.24 TVs .
We have become a media driven society with messages all around us much of this made possible with the invention of the TV. No longer do we just have to read, listen, and use our imaginations to build up great visions of all sorts, we now have something to show us. Yes what is a great tool for getting out valuable information in the news, which has helped educate and sculpt our minds or given the recent sense I don’t know if you can say sculpt.
Which brings me to quote Roland Barthes in Wine and Milk “wine (TV) will deliver him from myths, will remove some of his intellectualism” I liked this quote because it immediately made me think of the new genre of TV that we have fallen into. As well as the fact that you could almost compare the falling into the drunkenness of a beverage, to the drunkenness of mind numbing TV. You know the whole lets pick a suitcase game show catwalk reality drama TV series, that we all can be mindlessly sucked into only to be awaiting that moment where we snap out of it going what the heck and why am I watching this.
Ok I am lost again, I don’t really remember how I started this, or how I can end this, so…. I guess I’ll just go watch some TV now.
Television being a word coming from mixed Latin and Greek roots which actually means far sight. Television and its many other names, TV, The Tube, The Box, The Small Screen. Has been Since the 1930’s in all of our homes, and we have become accustomed to having this neat lavishly looking picture box for so many things. What once had been sign of success and or wealth in having a TV in your house, could not have been blown any further from the truth now that we can carry them in our pockets and the average American family has 2.24 TVs .
We have become a media driven society with messages all around us much of this made possible with the invention of the TV. No longer do we just have to read, listen, and use our imaginations to build up great visions of all sorts, we now have something to show us. Yes what is a great tool for getting out valuable information in the news, which has helped educate and sculpt our minds or given the recent sense I don’t know if you can say sculpt.
Which brings me to quote Roland Barthes in Wine and Milk “wine (TV) will deliver him from myths, will remove some of his intellectualism” I liked this quote because it immediately made me think of the new genre of TV that we have fallen into. As well as the fact that you could almost compare the falling into the drunkenness of a beverage, to the drunkenness of mind numbing TV. You know the whole lets pick a suitcase game show catwalk reality drama TV series, that we all can be mindlessly sucked into only to be awaiting that moment where we snap out of it going what the heck and why am I watching this.
Ok I am lost again, I don’t really remember how I started this, or how I can end this, so…. I guess I’ll just go watch some TV now.
Monday, February 11, 2008
MoCP
I attended the photography exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Photography (MoCP) right here at Columbia College in the 600 N Michigan building. The Photography exhibit was titles “This Land Is Your Land”
“ This Land Is Your Land This, Land Is My Land comes from a song written by Woody Guthrie in 1940 in response to what he felt was the overzealous glorification of the country in the lyrics of Irving Berlin’s song “God Bless America,” released in 1938 and wildly popular. Guthrie, who has grown up in a farming family in Oklahoma, was reacting to what he believed was a disconnect between the exalted adoration of the country in Berlin’s song and the reality of the social and economic problems that produced the Great Depression and were then amplified by it.”
This was a direct quote taken from a sign on the wall giving insight into what the exhibit is showcasing and the points that are being made. Where as Woody’s reaction were to the song that had been written years ago, this exhibit is reacting and making points of the many different actions and policies that have been implemented in the United States, many being sparked from the events of the attacks on the World Trade Center. The artists that are involved in this exhibit are showing us their views of different practices, policies and different forms of culture within the United States. The artists even choose to share their views with some satirical works of art.
I would defiantly recommend taking some time to stop by this exhibit to look around. The pieces are well done and some can be rather thought provoking. This is a rather small exhibit so it is something that could fit perfectly in the schedule of trying to spend some time checking out something interesting in between class, as well as trying to stay out of the cold. There are seven total artists in the exhibit some who have done photographic displays, and the others who have constructed a video that you can watch. All in all i thought it was a good experience.
“ This Land Is Your Land This, Land Is My Land comes from a song written by Woody Guthrie in 1940 in response to what he felt was the overzealous glorification of the country in the lyrics of Irving Berlin’s song “God Bless America,” released in 1938 and wildly popular. Guthrie, who has grown up in a farming family in Oklahoma, was reacting to what he believed was a disconnect between the exalted adoration of the country in Berlin’s song and the reality of the social and economic problems that produced the Great Depression and were then amplified by it.”
This was a direct quote taken from a sign on the wall giving insight into what the exhibit is showcasing and the points that are being made. Where as Woody’s reaction were to the song that had been written years ago, this exhibit is reacting and making points of the many different actions and policies that have been implemented in the United States, many being sparked from the events of the attacks on the World Trade Center. The artists that are involved in this exhibit are showing us their views of different practices, policies and different forms of culture within the United States. The artists even choose to share their views with some satirical works of art.
I would defiantly recommend taking some time to stop by this exhibit to look around. The pieces are well done and some can be rather thought provoking. This is a rather small exhibit so it is something that could fit perfectly in the schedule of trying to spend some time checking out something interesting in between class, as well as trying to stay out of the cold. There are seven total artists in the exhibit some who have done photographic displays, and the others who have constructed a video that you can watch. All in all i thought it was a good experience.
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