Like, totally whatever.

There is a lot of things that worry me about our society but one of the bigger ones is how we communicate. Without language we’re unable to think, and with poor language we can only think poorly. There are too many people who just don’t understand basic grammar and spelling. I see misspellings on billboards. I get ten emails a day from business students and professors that lack capitalization and punctuation. My own supervisors sign their emails with their names in all lowercase. I don’t get it. But I’m worried that the ease of the internet is causing our language to evolve into something lazy.

Part of our evolving language that needs to stop is the word “like.” During the bus ride to my car yesterday I listened to a conversation between two girls who used the word like 56 times. The bus ride was just under 8 minutes.

‘Like’ can be used in many situations, such as when you are comparing something (it’s like this other thing…) or when you enjoy something (I like steak). It should not be used in the place of “um,” or when you are trying to put emphasis on something you are about to say. I admit that I’ve used it incorrectly just as much as a lot of other people — most of us have — but if we’re not careful it’s only going to get worse.

You know that cloudy feeling in your brain when you’re struggling to put something into words? Maybe if we stopped inadvertently comparing things to things like it, we’d know what it is we’re talking about.

When I was in college I saw it used when students talked to their professors, in an attempt to sound smart by slowing down their speech and over-pronouncing certain words: “I just want to be, like, absolutely sure that I, like, know what it is I’m doing.” Unusually in such a situation the word immediately following ‘like’ is elongated. Example: “I really want to know, like, oooowhat it is I’m supposed to do.” People doing this think they are being articulate. I know this because I’ve done it a few times.

In social situations, I don’t think it’s used as much to articulate as it is to emphasize. “He was really rude,” doesn’t sound as dramatic as, “He was really, like, rude.” Maybe because the ‘like’ implies you aren’t sure if ‘rude’ is the correct word or not, so the person listening to your story imagines something that goes beyond words: this guy was beyond rude, so much so that there are no words for it. He was only like rude.

Sometimes people start their sentences like this: “So like…” and end with “…or whatever.”

When I was a kid people made fun of people who do this and they were called “valley girls.” I’m not sure if that was common knowledge or if that was just on Saved by the Bell, but anyway, now we’re all valley girls. Like, if you count how many times you say it, like, I bet you’ll be surprised. Let’s blame Bush:

I understand most people probably don’t think it’s such a danger, but if this is the way our language is evolving, pretty soon we’re not just going to appear like we can’t find the words… we’re seriously going to forget how to find the words. Restaurants won’t advertise what they actually serve, just something “like” pizza or “like” hamburgers. We won’t just drop a bomb, we’ll drop something like a bomb, not like nuclear, but, like, you know, something like it.

To sum up: let’s speak with conviction. It’ll be hard to think about what we want to say before we actually say it, but I know we can do it.

Comic of the day that seems to be scaring away viewers (as always, click to enlarge):

It’s funny that showing Wolverine getting ripped in half is completely acceptable, but showing him say “fucker threw my legs four miles” is not. But I guess that goes to show you how much words actually translate into thoughts, more so than pictures.

Side note: this is part of “Ultimate Wolverine vs. Hulk,” which was written by Lost co-creator/producer Damon Lindelof. What you just saw is the first page. Check the rest of that shit out.

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I watched the Battlestar Galactica movie over the weekend, and it was pretty good. I wish people took this show more seriously than they do. Stupid title.

Anyway, short post today. I wish I posted more. But my “blog views” actually significantly decreased when I made my profile public. I know there is no way the two are correlated but I still have to shrug and say “it figures.”

Here’s a pretty good video about the writer’s strike (yup, still going on.)

Saw Dane Cook over the weekend! I remember when I was in On the Spot in college (improv group) people used to say I kind of sounded like him. Then one time Matt said I reminded him of Dane Cook. The other day somebody said the same thing, and then I get a post on one of my YouTube videos (second one down):

I mean, I guess it’s cool. It’s what everybody says when people say they remind them of a celebrity but: I don’t see it. But if it has to be any comedian, I’d rather it be him than, say… Gilbert Gottfried. Although Gilbert Gottfried is pretty ace, so…. I’m not sure. Maybe Lisa Lamponelli. Yeah, definately don’t look/sound like her.

Time for a comic of the day!

This one makes me laugh. I’ll give you a moment to take it all in (click to enlarge):

This was written and published in 1961, and little did they know it is comic gold 46 years later.

The fact that Superboy feels the need to sign his handwritten notes is hilarious to me. I read this alone, and I laughed out loud. Later in the comic he writes more notes and signs each one, “Superboy.” Also funny is his apparent inability to notice his lettering is too big so the letters taper in size the further down the poster board he goes. And the fact that it’s on poster board!

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I’ve given up on Heroes a few times this season. But, Katy still turns it on and I inevitably find myself on the couch at least half-paying attention. Last season was only eh, but it had some promise so I had high hopes for this season. But it failed miserably. I stuck with it because the promise was still there, I think.

As the ratings slip and the spin-off gets canceled, it was nice to read that the show’s creator, Tim Kring, knows that his show is broken. In an article in Entertainment Weekly titled “Tim Kring to Fans: I’m Super Sorry,” he listed a few ways he’s going to be fixing the show. Among his plans: pick up the pace. Nothing is happening. Hiro is in Japan this week. Oh, but, wasn’t he in Japan 4 weeks ago? And look, he’s still in Japan next week.

Luckily, that’s another aspect Tim Kring admits was a mistake: Hiro was in Japan way too long. Wrap that shit up. (However, the ending of the Nov. 5th episode, when his childhood hero Takezo Kensai ended up being ~SPOILER ALERT~ the elusive and mysterious head of “the Company,” Adam… now, that was good shit.)

Also, he says he wants more “world saving” (which I agree… I mean, the show is titled Heroes). He also wants to undo the “newbies,” such as Alejandro and Maya (where are they, anyway?) and stop relying on the “young love” of Claire/West and Hiro/Japanese Princess.

All good stuff, and things I’ve been thinking in the back of my mind all along. What’s more: I’d start to make the super-powers a public phenomenon, something that is recognized by the media. Season 2 should focus on where these powers are coming from and the potential threat to humanity. Also, more should be at risk. I can’t help but feel like I’m watching a soap opera half the time.

They could take an idea from Lost in regards to Alejandro and Maya, at least: when Niki and Paolo were the two new hated characters in Season 3 of Lost, the writers gave them their own kick ass episode where they were killed at the end, showing just what they were up to behind the scenes the entire run of the show up until that point. Unfortunately, Heroes doesn’t have that kind of ability because everything was done in secret (even the huge nuclear explosion over New York that nobody seemed to notice.)

*****

Interesting: the elusive/mystery character in Heroes is “Adam.” The elusive/mystery character in Lost is “Jacob.” My name is Adam Jacob Czarnecki. And when the Battlestar Galactica finally makes it to Earth in Season Four, they’ll meet another elusive character known only as The Czar. Little do you know I’m behind all of this.

And little do you know I’m lying about Battlestar Galactica, but since Jeff, Logan, and Tom are the only ones who watch it besides me, I’m not worried because I know they’ll go with it.

*****

I am thinking about launching a new web site called LOLslaughter. You know LOLcats? Well I thought I might be able to get some kind of social activism thing going with that concept. It’s not really meant to be funny, but, I’m not really sure what it’s meant to be. Opinions, please. In the mean time, if you have any pictures of animal slaughter, send them to me. (BTW, don’t click on that link if you’re upset by animals being killed so you can eat ‘em up!)

Bye for now, suckers! Watch out for the Batman. Just because Superman is dead doesn’t mean Metropolis is up for grabs! (click to enlarge)

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So nobody but Katy liked the bouncing ball I made, huh? S’allright. Here’s another blog — CUMMINATCHA!

Ronald D. Moore, creator/executive producer/head writer of Battlestar Galactica.

Carlton Cuse, executive producer/head writer of Lost.

I finally sat down and figured out what it’s all about. Basically, the thing about writers wanting more money from DVD sales was true, but they dropped that demand in the interest of bargaining. The real issue here is the internet, specifically “new technology,” which currently the writers get nothing from. I didn’t know that. So when you watch an ad-supported version of your favorite show from, say, NBC.com, or download one from iTunes, the only person making money off of them is the studios–not the writers, the actors, not the directors.The studios, or “suits” as I like to call them, claim that the internet is too new and therefore they can’t set up a standard for payment. Their argument is that they might even lose money.

The undeniable logic here is that all the writers are asking for is a percentage of the ad revenue: therefore, if the studios really don’t make anything, the writers, by definition, won’t either.

This SNL skit illustrates it pretty well, because the suits apparently won’t negotiate until the WGA awknowledges that DVDs and “the internet” are the same thing, and that they aren’t making profit from them. You see how crazy they are. I mean, come on, NBC making 15 million from iTunes last year… WHAT PROFIT? Watch this video: The other thing is residuals… every time a show reruns on TV right now, the people involved (actors, writers, etc), get a check in the mail. Under current contracts, that won’t happen with the internet. The danger here is that the future of entertainment lies in the internet, or, more accurately, whatever the internet evolves into in the near future.(My personal belief is that “On Demand” will completely replace broadcast television in the near future. Shows will no longer be scheduled to air at a certain time, they’ll just “become available Mondays at 8!” Networks will become obsolete, and personally I can’t believe they aren’t more scared of that.)

To illustrate this: an article. Since you likely won’t read it, it’s about Google, specifically about how they’ve already proven that ad-revenue can indeed work on the internet. That’s how they make their money, and they are a billion dollar company. It goes on to say that Google could theoretically change the game completely: the writers want a deal, and Google knows how to do it. Google could buy out the ENTIRE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY right now and put the networks right out of business. If the networks claim that the internet is “too new,” then get with a distributor who actually lives in the 21st century.

Some of the rumors I’ve been hearing lately are quickly turning into facts:Lost will likely only show the 8 episodes they’ve filmed so far. That means, in February, we’ll get 8 weeks of Lost and have to wait another year and 2 months for the next 8.

Battlestar Galactica was supposed to get a final 22 episode season starting in January. Now, only 10 episodes will be shown starting in April. Who knows when the next 10 will air, or, even more depressing, if they’ll even be shot at all.

Heroes is currently filming a different ending to their December episode that will end up being the season finale. The much hyped spin-off, “Heroes: Origins” has been cancelled (this may have more to do with the show sucking this year, though.)

“24″ will likely not be seen at all in 2008. To fill this time, and other primetime slots left open by the strike, FOX will air American Idol (no writers there!) 4 nights in a row, 2 hours each. ::ack::

Reality TV will take over.

I guess the reason I’m into this so much is not because I like TV and am mad my favorite shows are in jeopardy (that’s part of it), but because some small part of me still holds onto the hope that maybe one day I’ll actually write something good that’ll get on TV, and, I’ve been saying for a while that the TV medium is dated, so, this very well might be the turning point where everything changes. (I used to think new TV shows would debut on TV first, and then the rest will be straight-to-DVD. But now, as indicated above, I’m leaning more toward the OnDemand thing merging with the internet.)

At least the possibility of shows hiring scab writers in the interim seems low: many show-runners have refused to go into work until their writers get a fair deal.

Or, they could come to an agreement tomorrow and everything will be fine.

Obama Statement on Writers Guild Strike

“I stand with the writers The Guild’s demand is a test of whether media corporations are going to give writers a fair share of the wealth their work creates or continue concentrating profits in the hands of their executives. I urge the producers to work with the writers so that everyone can get back to work.”

Hillary Clinton Statement On Writers Guild Strike

“I support the Writers Guild’s pursuit of a fair contract that pays them for their work in all mediums. I hope the producers and writers will return to the bargaining table to work out an equitable contract that keeps our entertainment industry strong and recognizes the contributions writers make to the success of the industry.”

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Wow, lots of stuff I wanna talk about. I’d write about each subject individually and give each one the attention and patience it deserves but the fact is I don’t have that patience.

So, here we go:

TOPIC 1: Conspiracy, Theories, and Stuff Adam Believes

Props to my friend Chrissa who posted some compelling videos on her blog:

They are 10 minutes each, so devote some time to them. In fact, I won’t update for the next few days so you’ll have time. heh If you really don’t have the time, just pretend you’re watching a TV show. If you really, really don’t have the time, at least just watch the first one.

Is it alarming? Does it scare you? Or are you just laughing? I’m kind of stretched between all three. A few things I believe:

1.) Any kind of world government will never last. One thing I learned in my higher education days was that to have any form of unity, you must be united against (or at least in contrast to) something else. Example: something is white only because there is black. So, unless we make contact with a bunch of other alien civilizations the way the old world made contact with all the other countries on the planet, we aren’t uniting against anybody. And if we do, it will fundamentally fail, civil wars will break out, and “territories” will divide upon themselves naturally. Kind of like how monopolies get broken up into smaller entities.

2.) “Wacko” theories aside, Bush is up to something. You can google this for more info, but I recently read an article about how the administration just passed a directive allowing the president the authority to suspend the constitution. Yup, that’s right. Bush can say, “hey, let’s, uh, get rid of that pesky constitution.” It’s called National Security Presidential Directive 51, or NSPD-51 for those in the know. So, in theory, Bush could totally declare an emergency (or fabricate one) and suspend the 2008 elections, and it would “technically” be 100% legal. Does that scare you?

3.) The North American Union sounds incredible feasible, but I won’t believe the media covers it up. In today’s world of independent “bloggers” and Bill Maher-types, there are just too many voices and I refuse to believe something like this would be voluntarily silenced by everybody. However, the Project for a New American Century was just as eerie, but the only way I know about that is a professor at college whom everyone deemed a “conspiracy theorist.” The thing is, that thing exists.

4.) The do-ability of implanting everyone on Earth with a microchip is small. I could see everyone in a developed country like America getting a chip. But what about the babies born outside the all watchful eye? We forget that half of this planet is home to undeveloped civilizations, where things we take for granted aren’t even heard of. There’s no way “they” could get to everybody.

Thoughts?

Dave, what do you think? Dave, why have we not seen each other except for 2 times since July?

TOPIC 2: The Writers Strike

The bottom line here is the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) vs the Writers Guild of America (WGA). The writers want a little more money for their work, or, more specifically, residuals each time their work airs for future financial security. Naturally, that money has to come from somewhere, and that place is naturally from the people in charge, who also happen to be the people making the decision: the AMPTP (otherwise known as “the suits”).

Far be it from me to form opinions on something I really don’t know if I know much about, but, it seems to me like the AMPTP has more to lose in the long run if they don’t give the writers what they want. Let’s say they drag this thing out and refuse any more money for the writers, thereby keeping the money they have. Sure, they make out great now. But in nine months when no new shows are on, or, worse case scenario, LOST gets pushed back until 2009 (a real threat), nobody will be watching. No viewers = no draw for advertisers = no money for anyone, not even the suits.

Simple logic, right? I think so, anyway. I don’t get it.

The following paragraph is an excerpt from an article about the strike and how it effects Lost:

If the strike extends into the new year, there is a slight chance ABC may opt to hold the eight completed episodes until 2009 (that’s not a typo). Under that scenario, Lost would have 24 original episodes (eight from this season, 16 from next) that could run uninterrupted from January until May — much like a certain Fox drama that features a ticking clock. Says Lost cocreator Carlton Cuse, “Damon (Lindelof) and my concern about running the episodes we will have made is that it will feel a little like reading half a Harry Potter novel, then having to put it down. There is a mini cliff-hanger at the end of Episode 8, but it’s like the end of an exciting book chapter; it’s not the end of the novel. Damon and I didn’t write [the ending of Episode 8] differently [with the looming strike in mind]. We wrote it to be the ending of Episode 8.”

If you want to help, drop the suits a line here and tell them what’s up.

The human attention span is a feeble thing. Putting a 13 week hiatus in the middle of Lost’s third season almost killed it. Having an 18 month break will be the equivalent of it getting canceled. We’ve waited 3 years for some kind of payoff and if it gets canceled, well, I can’t see any writer devoting their talent to a medium that doesn’t take them seriously. The end result = no good progrums on the TV. End of TV, beginning of… new TV? No more scheduled programs, just on-demand.

WORSER CARE SCENARIO: They hire new writers. That would be like attempting to switch bus drivers doing 80 down the highway.

Thoughts?

TOPIC 3: Flash

I attended a Flash class today. U of M (my employer) offers classes on various pieces of software for employees. So I got to leave for a few hours today and learn the basics of Flash. The end result? I made a video. How sweet.

Bye for now, suckers!

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