Content Archives
Shameless Plug II
Ever wonder how to get children interested in art? Publishers Weekly suggests no better way than the 12-book series How Artists See. Author/teacher Colleen Carroll finds just the right tone as she introduces great (and not so well-known) works of art from around the world with inquisitive and entertaining text.
One For My Baby
If you're a fan of Frank Sinatra ... or of old-school show biz ... or of delightful storytelling ... enjoy this remembrance from writer/actor/standup comedian Larry Miller.
Britney Breakdown
Time was you needed your own late-night comedy show to do parodies of current news and pop culture events. But the advent of video sharing websites like YouTube has given a new generation of comedy writers a platform to showcase and promote their productions. For a timely and funny take on Britney Spears' latest sad turn, enjoy "Britney Breakdown".
Measuring the Blogosphere
Think you know everything about the world of blogging? Click here (.pdf file) for a quick primer on the latest blog research, courtesy of the folks at AdAge.
Exploring The US Army's Web Strategy
For an inside look into how the United States Army develops and implements its internet strategy, watch this interview from blogger and Forrester Researcher Jeremiah Owyang.
Internet TV Grows Up?
For a thoughtful post on the professionalization of internet video, see Laurie Sullivan's NewTeeVee article.
Ephemeral Networking
One under-reported (in my opinion) aspect of broadband video has been how the internet enables ad-hoc networks to spring up around time- or location-specific events. An entire channel devoted to G8 summit coverage is exactly the sort of promise (from a programming perspective) internet video is meant to fulfill and is a fantastic way for a micro-broadcaster to excel where the traditional networks and even cable news organizations fall short.
Is The Internet Outdated?
Recent exponential growth in broadband video, social networking tools, and IP telephony have relied on the ability of the Internet to support such huge data traffic. Now early Internet pioneers are pointing out that the web of webs was never designed to support such bandwidth. Luckily, being pioneers, they're hard at work on the next generation of technical underpinnings for the web. Read about it here (.pdf file).
Shameless Plug IV
Abbeville Press recently released the long-awaited "little sibling" to their award-winning "How Artists See" children's book series by author Colleen Carroll. The "How Artists See Jr." series of board books introduces art to the toddler and pre-school set. Like the original series, each volume examines a common topic in art. The four subjects - Dogs, Trains, Horses, and Babies - are universal favorites of pre- and early readers.
On Aircraft Icing
As usual, Miles O'Brien has a thoughtful, thorough, and informative explanation of aircraft icing in the aftermath of the crash of Continental flight 3407 just before landing in Buffalo, NY.
For Space Enthusiasts Everywhere
Given the ease with which video can be added to websites, many organizations are following the original model of cable television in appealing to ever-narrow but quantifiable audiences. One such example is SpaceFlight Now, which is aimed at the worldwide space enthusiast community. Always a one-stop source for all news about space, it's particularly valuable during Space Shuttle and other NASA missions.
Shameless Plug V
What is literacy these days? It used to be that being able to read and write made one literate. But since the advent of electronic media that's been redefined. For a contemporary examination of literacy in the digital age, follow The Literacy Post, the latest offering from writer and educator Colleen Carroll.
Radio of the Future
Ever wonder what the radio station of tomorrow will sound (or look) like? Edison Research's Tom Webster has a notion, based on - of all things - a new browser release.
Shameless Plug VI
Looking for a few laughs on a Thursday night? My colleague Ken Olshansky and I are producing a show at the 92nd Street Y in Tribeca on Thursday, February 18, from 7:00-8:00PM. Billed as "New York's first live news comedy game show," the event comes out of the The News Distillery, the news comedy blog Ken and I have been working on with New York cartoonist and master puzzle maker Robert Leighton.
The show is hosted by the Sundance Channel's Faith Salie and features on panel VH1 and "Chappelle's Show" writer Brian Donovan, "Daily Show" producer Gideon Evans, and McSweeney's financial advice columnist Alison Rosen. Here's a link to all the info. Best of all there's a bar, if that helps get you out on a cold winter night.
No Right Answer
I'm always interested in finding fun new ways to comment on the week's news. Here's an off-off-off Broadway tryout of one such concept:
No Right Answer from mrsemel on Vimeo.
The 5Ws
Could a quiz format be a way to keep TV viewers interested in current (and old) news stories?
The 5Ws from mrsemel on Vimeo.
The Decomplicator
Wouldn't it be nice if someone explained to us in simple, engaging language terms that the news folks take for granted?
Decomplicators from mrsemel on Vimeo.