I wanted to backtrack real quick on a few things for yesterday, mostly, MORE INTERNET!
The reason I showed up in the "favorites" feature in the iHerald yesterday was not pure narcissism. (There is no shame in just a little self-love) We did it because part of where we want iHerald to go is featuring more content submitted and created by people like you.
The Internet is crazy with possibilities for self-publishing (photos, stories, videos, etc.), so why not have a place where people in the Portland area can do that?
So hopefully from looking at my favorites you've learned a little more about me and what I’m into. At the same time, I had a hard time putting the list together because there are so many different sites I go to regularly for all sorts of reasons.
Here’s a few that did not make the cut:
Penny-Arcade. I’ve been following this Web comic for a long, long time. I can only describe it as gaming geek comedy. These guys have built a strong following over the years, have made visits to the San Diego Comic Con, E3 and have been able to establish their own gaming convention, PAX. They’re also working on their own video game now.
The Onion A.V. Club No longer just a great source for interviews, the Onion A.V. Club Web site is like a toy store of all things pop cultural. I’m a big fan of “The Hater” blog, which seems to have the same response most of us do to all the bizarre things that go on in the celebrity world.
Pandora I first heard about Pandora during an interview a few weeks back. Here’s the idea around Pandora: you make your own internet radio station. Sounds good, right? Well it is, because you immediately get to accept or kill off any new songs that come your way. For example, I type in Lily Allen, which gets me some of her new songs, but then Pandora adds in Metric, Regina Spektor, and the Sounds, three bands I have not listened to extensively. A great way to find new music and listen to music at work.
Also, I’m in the process of thinking up some new features and ideas for the blog. One of which is the NEW RELEASE DAY watch.
As some of you may know, Tuesdays are regularly the new release day for new DVDs and CDs.
For example, did you know that "Hot Fuzz" and John Woo’s "Hard Boiled" were both recently released on DVD (or re-released in the case of "Hard Boiled")?These have to be hands down two of my favorite movies, (maybe it has something to do with a high bullet count and ridiculous pyrotechnics), and the fact that this release-date knowledge almost slipped past me was cause for a minor freak-out.
Any thoughts on 'new release day' updates? If only I had the help of Videoport Jones.
Out today:
The big hits:
"Disturbia" – Hey, that "Transformers" kid was in a remake of "Rear Window." Would "Rear Window" have been better with talking cars? Now all I can think of is Jimmy Stewart and Optimus Prime.
"TMNT" – How many times has this country fallen in love with, re-discovered, and forgotten about the Ninja Turtles? I’m a guy who loves Ninja Turtles, I remember the first cartoon. How are they still popular? And more importantly, can we get Vanilla Ice to do another song for the soundtrack?
"The Simpsons, Season 10" – What a convenient tie-in?
The also-rans:
"Full House, the complete seasons 1-7" – Sure you’re likely to catch an episode in syndication from time to time, but there has to be some great DVD extras, right? Bob Saget weeping to himself, wondering how he got in that situation, John Stamos living the high-life, giddy with the career possibilities ahead of him, and the Olsen Twins, when they creeped us out for different reasons.
"Naked Gun Triple Feature" – The Naked Gun movies happened at that strange time in the 90s when it appears you didn’t need much to try and pull off satire: mix equal parts cultural references and slapstick. Then again, the movies did have Robert Goulet and OJ Simpson. Maybe I should reconsider.
"Saved by the Bell Hawaiian Style/Wedding in Las Vegas" – A real bonus pack! If you are of a certain age (I’m guessing 25 – 34) “Saved By The Bell” is a cultural landmark. Not because this show was exceptionally good, but because it was just cheesy enough to be watchable. What wacky adventures would Zack Morris get into this week, would A.C. Slater breakdance for Jesse? Would Screech realize that hanging out with Zach would not get him some action?
But in seriousness, if you ask anyone in that age group, they could at least name one character, the actor that played them, and some bit of trivia on where they are now.
These episodes apparently are milestones in the show, a wacky Hawaiian adventure, and the episode Zack and Kelly finally got married. How touching.
For me though, there was no better Saved By The Bell moment then this one:
Hi Justin. Nice column, and thanks for the shout out. VP Jones would be glad to help in any way he can. Drop a line to our myspace inbox. Seriously, just let us know.
Justin is a former newspaper intern and has the scar tissue to prove
it. Justin has been a staff writer for the Portland Press Herald/Maine
Sunday Telegram since 2003, and in 2004 began writing a weekly column in the
Monday Magazine.
If he had to pick a label, the column would fall under "youth culture,"
covering everything from high school dance etiquette, dealing with college
debt, the resurgence of Roller Derby and Portland's one-of-a-kind music
scene. This of course has not stopped him from answering letters to Santa
Claus or writing about his experience riding shotgun in a drift car.
Justin is an export from the Midwest. He is a graduate of the University of
Missouri and is originally from Minnesota. He enjoys bacon, cheap beer,
redheads, Burt Reynolds jokes and wondering what the soundtrack to his life
would sound like.
When he grows up he wants to be an international art thief. Or Captain
America.
Until then he'll be bringing you dispatches about "the young people" and
what they do.
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