Assemblog: May 3, 2013 – The Future Of Streaming And Television?
Published on May 3rd, 2013 in: Assemblog, Movies, Science and Technology, Streaming, The Internets, TV |
New this week on Popshifter: Jeff praises The Armoury Show’s “gorgeously slick cathedral Goth with strangely danceable grooves” in the Cherry Red reissue of Waiting For The Floods; Danny calls the new Meat Puppets album, Rat Farm, “the band’s most playful and diverse offering since 1985″; Melissa B. laments the passing of George Jones in her review of the CD reissues of George Jones Country and You’ve Still Got A Place In My Heart; I describe the “geographic grandeur” of the full-length, self-titled debut from Big Black Delta; describe how no-budget, sci-fi flick Manborg “comes from the heart”; explain the “nuanced, complicated” joys of A Royal Affair; congratulate Melvins on their excellent album of covers, Everybody Loves Sausages; and get excited and photo-happy about the upcoming Vicki Berndt art show in Los Angeles.
TV Is Dead, Long Live TV: March 8, 2013
Published on March 8th, 2013 in: Streaming, The Internets, TV, TV Is Dead Long Live TV |
Whatever I watch on my iPad has better resolution and color than the television I grew up with. Note the number of choices one has by just searching on “television” in the app store.
With Big Data making big news for Netflix, I’m hoping that more Americans ditch cable for streaming television. I’ve received several questions from readers of this column asking why I think streaming services are so much better, and why I advocate throwing over cable completely for Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, and the rest of our new media overlords. There are lots of reasons we should throw away the current model of cable and satellite subscription services.
Here I’ll list my top five; if you really need more reasons than these, you’re either a Comcast employee or use your television as a tool for self inflicted pain.
Assemblog: February 22, 2013
Published on February 22nd, 2013 in: Assemblog, Books, Copyright/Piracy, Feminism, Film Festivals, Gaming, Horror, Movies, Science and Technology, The Internets, Trailers, TV |
Inside Llewyn Davis
New this week on Popshifter: Paul takes Men’s Rights Advocates to task in his article on Women in Gaming and tells tales of pro wrestling redemptions; Chelsea loves Lady Lamb the Beekeeper’s first full-length album RiPLEY PINE; I fawn over new releases from Parenthetical Girls, Dawn McCarthy & Bonnie “Prince” Billy, and Iceage, share the latest from Big Black Delta, and review French Horn Rebellion’s newest EP Love Is Dangerous; and Hanna admires both the humor and scientific methods found in The Marriage of True Minds from Matmos.
Women In Video Games Benefit Us All
Published on February 18th, 2013 in: Feminism, Gaming, Over the Gadfly's Nest, The Internets |By Paul Casey
Anita Sarkeesian
John Walker, the co-editor of video game website Rock, Paper, Shotgun has written something rather good about women in video games, and the ongoing obfuscation from “male rights activists” (MRAs). You should read it, as it is one of the best recent bits on the most important issue in video games of the last year, and probably 2013, too. Walker raises some interesting points from his perspective working on Rock, Paper, Shotgun:
“What’s interesting about the nature of the MRAs is that they take this behaviour, and whether consciously or not, subvert it. So when they encounter an article describing a negative treatment or depiction of women, they adopt the agenda-driven irrational response: because you have written this you don’t care about men’s issues. Not because they believe that, but rather because it proves the fastest route to diverting attention away from, and derailing discussion of, sexism or misogyny. The real goal, of course, is to prevent the discussion of such matters.”
As Walker points out, this can be seen as a tactical move to frustrate any attempts to make progress on issues they for some reason or other can’t stomach. Over the past year there have been some shameful acts of intimidation and stupidity from various sectors of the “videogame community” towards women who dare have an opinion on their representation. It is also fairly common, though, to find deep confusion when a man takes interest in the same issues.
Assemblog: February 15, 2013
Published on February 15th, 2013 in: Assemblog, Film Festivals, Horror, Movies, Music, Science and Technology, Science Fiction, The Internets, Trailers |
Kiss of the Damned (full poster)
New this week on Popshifter: I reveal a behind-the-scenes video on the making of the upcoming What The Brothers Sang album by Dawn McCarthy and Bonnie “Prince” Billy and weigh in on Suede’s new single and video; Paul praises Spotify but has stern advice for Prince; Cait has the scoop on the terrific new Omnivore Recordings George Jones United Artists singles compilation; and Elizabeth reassures us we can still call television “television.”
TV Is Dead, Long Live TV: Why We Should Still Call It Television
Published on February 15th, 2013 in: Science and Technology, Streaming, The Internets, TV, TV Is Dead Long Live TV |
I think the moral lesson behind The Booth at the End is: Don’t over think things. It’s also worth noting that while neon signs still use tubes to convey messages, this is no longer true of modern TVs.
Two weeks ago I wrote a piece acknowledging Netflix as our new media overlords for the occasion of the premiere of House of Cards. The success of the first independent series produced by Netflix, along with the continued success enjoyed by web series and Hulu-produced content, has some scratching their heads about what to call this new viewing experience. I have an answer to this question: when enjoying The Booth at the End on Hulu or MyMusic on YouTube, one is watching television.
This search for another name for what we are doing while we enjoy Very Mary Kate or Husbands is pointless. That many consume this entertainment via a screen on what we now call a computer rather than on what we have traditionally called a television is immaterial.
The Age of Permanent Prosperity: Spotify is the Greatest Thing
Published on February 12th, 2013 in: Current Faves, Music, Science and Technology, Streaming, The Internets |By Paul Casey
When I had a talk before about why compilations needed to die, I was concerned about their tendency to solidify tastes rather than challenge them. I would stick to a handful of albums and obsess about arranging them, producing classy covers, and finding people to absorb my musical missives in good humor. Even though I have made attempts every few years to shake myself up and haul in new music to replace old, it was still such a costly exercise that I was rarely satisfied.
For those who have had Spotify available to them for several years, please forgive me for pointing out the obvious: It is possibly the greatest thing ever. Here in Ireland, being a largely backwards outfit, we have only recently been given the chance to put an ear towards such a severe streaming catalogue.
Ten euro a month is nothing for the quality of the service provided. Twice as much could be charged and it would still be an obscene bargain, especially for those humans who are still attached to the idea that financial recompense is a fair deal for created things. There are problems and quirks with Spotify of course, and a lingering question over whether this kind of subscription service can ever provide a living for artists. Seeing as the Internet has made solipsism the thing with music, I will ignore these for the moment and expand on how I have personally benefited from this service.
Assemblog: December 7, 2012
Published on December 7th, 2012 in: Assemblog, Canadian Content, Feminism, Movies, Music, Science and Technology, Streaming, The Internets, Theater |
Despite The Gods
New this week on Popshifter: Danny is not very fond of the film 360, out now on home video; Chelsea is over the moon about the new Big Dipper album, Big Dipper Crashes on the Platinum Planet (and shares their new video for “Robert Pollard”); Lisa voices unpopular opinions about It’s A Wonderful Life; Cait raves about the new white vinyl 7″ from Concrete Blonde; I express admiration and frustration for Take This Waltz; and Elizabeth talks about Community, Disney, Netflix & Verizon in a new installment of “TV Is Dead, Long Live TV.”
TV Is Dead, Long Live TV: December 7, 2012
Published on December 7th, 2012 in: Media, Science and Technology, Streaming, The Internets, TV, TV Is Dead Long Live TV |By Elizabeth Keathley
In his keynote speech to the XOXO Festival this past September, Dan Harmon, creator of Community, had this to say about the death of television:
“You don’t want to monetize the Internet. You’re having fun right now because it can’t be monetized. You’re getting away with murder on the Internet. You’re doing wonderful Rodenberry-ish things on the Internet because it has eschewed money and all the crappy people are back on TV wasting everyone’s time while Rome burns to the ground.”
I disagree with Harmon about several things he said in this speech, but I’ll start with the money thing because it’s so easy to disprove.
Dan Harmon created a great television show, but now says TV is dead.
A video of his speech is at the end of this article.
Assemblog: November 30, 2012
Published on November 30th, 2012 in: Assemblog, Copyright/Piracy, Holidays, Horror, Music, The Internets, Trailers |
Dark Skies
New this week on Popshifter: I give thanks and praise to “Echoes From The Sleep Room,” the last lecture in The Black Museum’s series and explain how shaking off the movie Excision is a lot harder than I thought it would be.