If a musician’s Wikipedia article features more about his activist work than about his music, do we really still classify him as a musician?
That’s the riddle Tom Morello poses us, and not one we’re going to be exploring. As far as we’re concerned, Morello wouldn’t be Morello without one or the other- and rest assured we’re going to be saluting both here today.
Posted in celebrity, comics, Fame Day, music, politics
Tagged Adam Jones, Audioslave, Axis of Justice, Bradley Manning, Chelsea Manning, Communist, Dark Horse, Democratic, harvard, IWW, Kenya, Nightwatchman, Orchid, Paul Ryan, Political, Rage Against the Machine, RATM, senator, socialist, Street Sweeper Social Club, Stripper, Tom Morello, Tool
I’ve leveled the accusation a few times now that the contemporary feminist movement is latching on to every passing cause célèbre in a desperate bid to maintain relevance. Unwilling to advocate for radical change, an increasingly large number of people are questioning whether or not feminism has run its course, and things like “Ban Bossy” aren’t helping.
Posted in advertising, bizarreness, business, feminism, language
Tagged 3rd World, ban, Ban Bossy, Beyoncé, billionaire, boss, cause celebre, Condoleezza Rice, Cosmopolitan, criticism, feminism, Feminist, girl scouts, language, leadership, n word, nigger, objectification, Sheryl Sandberg
Speaking on the subject of cornered enemies, the brilliant tactician Sun Tzu warns us to always leave the enemy a way out, lest they rally and defeat you out of desperation. Far be it from me to disagree with the general, but I think the single exception to the rule may be the culture wars. It’s so rare to get a major figure so utterly on the ropes that I don’t think anyone could blame you from moving up and laying into ’em, and readers, Piers Morgan is on the ropes.
The ape isn’t on the ropes, but you get the idea…
American readers might know Piers solely as an obnoxious CNN commentator, and while that’s true, Morgan’s condescending coverage of gun control (his favored dead horse over the past few months) is really only the tip of the iceberg. Continue reading
Posted in America, Europe, media, morality, news, politics, television
Tagged America, Britain, cnn, ethics, gun control, guns, hacking, hoax, Ian Hilsop, insider trading, Iraq, Iraqi, Jeremy Clarkson, jouranlist, phone, Piers Morgan, soldiers, stock market, Tabloid, The Daily Mirror, torture
Nobody would blame you for not remembering Heroes. The show’s stint at the top was so short and its tailspin into oblivion was so swift and violent that it’s once glorious reputation and critical acclaim has almost been obscured entirely.
“Eclipsed”, if you will…
For those of you unfamiliar, let me offer a quick recap.
Heroes followed a number of seemingly unrelated people who, in the days following a solar eclipse, find that they’ve developed superpowers. As they struggle to cope with their new abilities, their storylines begin to entwine as the looming threat of destruction, along with a mysterious and sinister figure, approaches.
The show’s total simplicity made it both accessible to a wide audience (especially one that wouldn’t necessarily consider themselves comic book/superhero fans) and further made the show easy to follow, even with its large cast of characters. That large cast in turn meant that most everyone would have someone they’d be able to relate to, and kept the episodes moving along at a decent pace with no real room for boredom. And all of that went out the window.
Posted in television, writing
Tagged antagonist, audience, Cancelled, Cast, character, characters, Community, drama, heroes, Heroes Reborn, NBC, plot, Powers, protagonist, reboot, Renewed, Season 1, Season 2, Season 3, Season 4, Season 5, soap opera, superhero, TV, twist, villains, writer's strike, writing
Few things have revolutionized culture and the modern world as much as the internet has. Art, music, news, gaming, communications, shopping, education, politics- there’s not a single aspect of life that hasn’t been affected by it. Heck, revolutions that no one imagined could take place have, and the innovations and collaboration the internet has given a platform to have largely been credited as playing an integral role.
Not of course, to say that praise doesn’t ultimately go to the bravery of the Egyptian, Kurdish, and Syrian protestors…
At no other time has humanity had such access to democratic development and discussion.
And that time may now in fact be passing, with the striking down of net neutrality by a D.C. circuit court in January of this year.
FCC Head/Lobbyist Extraordinaire Tom Wheeler, who just doesn’t give a ****.
Posted in America, business, internet, money, politics, technology
Tagged access, availability, broadband, cable, Comcast, comparison, D.C. Circuit Court, data, FCC, fees, free, GIF, internet, isp, Korea, lobby, market, Net Neutrality, netflix, options, package, pay, pricing, speed, the first honest cable company, Time Warner, Tom Wheeler
I’ve just started watching Kroll Show (named for its star and creator, comedian Nick Kroll) recently but it’s already risen to the top of my list in terms of TV- so much so that I’ll be taking this Fame Day to recommend it to you.
Now in concept alone, Kroll Show isn’t anything new. Each episode is comprised of skits (interspersed lightly with commentary from Kroll and his comic co-stars) riffing on television, with reality TV taking the brunt of the riffs. You’ve probably seen this done before in less successful enterprises or recognize it as roughly 50-85% of all Seth McFarlane jokes.
Posted in Comedy, Fame Day, television
Tagged Chelsea Peretti, comedy, Comedy Central, Culture, Europe, Fame Day, John Mulaney, Kroll Show, MTV, Nick Kroll, Pete Holmes, racism, satire, Seth McFarlane, sketch, skit, SNL, Spotted Ox Hostel, TLC, TV
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