Captain Digital

Random musings on politics, society, and pop culture from the Internet's marketing curmudgeon.

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Entertainment

Governorgate.

I’m I the only one that is watching the situation in Illinois with a sense of 70’s déjà vù? I mean, this is kind of like watching the döppelganger of a famous scandal (that gave us the postfix “-gate”). I was all of 16 years old, between my junior and senior years in high school in 1974. I was at Louisiana Boys’ State, learning about government down in Baton Rouge – the state capitol. They called us into a big hall and had us sit down and get quiet. Nobody told us what was going on, but we knew it was something bad from the solemn looks on all the adult’s faces. Richard Nixon’s voice came on the radio. He announced that he was resigning from the Presidency. 

You could have heard a pin drop. Some 350-odd teenage boys, not breathing, not making a sound. It was history being made, and we all knew it. 

So you see, I have a special connection to Watergate. And I know that those who do not remember history are condemned to repeat it. Let’s see how we’re doing so far: [Read more…] about Governorgate.

G-Rod gets caught red-handed.

NEWS ITEM: Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris, were arrested today by FBI agents for what U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald called a “staggering” level of corruption involving pay to play politics in Illinois’ top office.

Blagojevich is accused of a wide-ranging criminal conspiracy, including alleged attempts by the governor to try to sell or trade the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by President-elect Barack Obama in exchange for financial benefits for the governor and his wife. Blagojevich also is accused of obtaining campaign contributions in exchange for other official actions.

FBI agents served a search warrant on his office at the Thompson Center this morning, said Frank Bochte, an FBI spokesman.

Blagojevich was taken into federal custody at his North Side home this morning—one day shy of his 52nd birthday.

Wow. [Read more…] about G-Rod gets caught red-handed.

As scene on TV…

One of the many benefits of having a home office is having a TV on my desk. I keep it tuned to Fox News or the Sirius Classic Jazz channel for most of the day – having either a background of news or jazz suits me just fine. I also have a conveniently-located mute button, in case I need to take a call, work on audio, or if it gets distracting.

This time of year, most companies pushing gifts spend a year’s worth of ad budgets in 30 days or less. Where as before November 2nd we were assaulted with All Political Ads, All The Time, now it’s ads for Omaha Steaks (making me hungry), has-been singers pushing a Greatest Hits album, or the latest and greatest kitchen appliance, each and every one guaranteed to be The Perfect Christmas Gift.

I’m sure you’re as annoyed with this kind of dreck as I am – at least you would be if you left your TV on all day. My vote for the most annoying ad in the Fox News rotation? Christy Lane’s 30 Christmas Classics. [Read more…] about As scene on TV…

Dr. StrangeGun.

…Or How I Wish I Could Stop Analyzing and Enjoy the Movies.

When I was a kid, there were three things I loved – listening to live music, watching live theatre, and going to the movies. In short, entertainment needed to be live or larger than life to jazz me. As I grew up and became a professional musician, my love of live music was tempered by my knowledge. In other words, since I was no longer blissfully ignorant, a slightly out-of-tune french horn or drummer that rushed a little really bugged me – to the point where I could pay attention to nothing other than what to me were glaring errors. Kind of a bummer, really. Can’t tell you how many otherwise fine events have been spoiled for me that way. [Read more…] about Dr. StrangeGun.

O.J. (Karmically speaking.)

Karma. What goes around comes around. Fate. Call it what you will, it looks as if Orinthal Julius Simpson has finally gotten what he deserves. I’m not sure if the time he’ll serve is more severe because of his infamy over beating the rap for murdering his wife and a waiter. It could be that he’ll serve less time, because he’s famous. In this case, I doubt it, because he already used his “Get out of Jail FREE” card he was issued due to his fame. Nope, I think he’s getting what he’s gotten, at least partially because he got off scott-free before. Not just that – he got off, and then spent the intervening years searching for his wife’s “real” killer on the nation’s finest golf courses.

Give me a break. [Read more…] about O.J. (Karmically speaking.)

Living in the Age of Tivo

When I was a kid, there were three channels where I lived – CBS, ABC, and NBC. Because our entertainment options were limited, everybody in my “social circle” watched the same programs at the same time. God help you if you missed The Green Hornet or The Time Tunnel the next day at school…you’d have nothing to talk about.

Today, things are a lot different. Our satellite system delivers hundreds of channels. (Sadly, there’s still nothing on TV really worth watching.) Even better, my digital video recorder makes it possible for me to watch the shows I like when I want to watch them – and skip over the commercial breaks.

That rocks.

Still, even with a system I would have given an arm, a leg, and probably several other appendages for when I was a kit, there are still problems. For instance, if a station or network decides to delay the start of a program due to some event running over it’s allotted time, you’ll record only a portion of your program, and miss at least the last few minutes. This has happened to me more than once. It’s annoying. It’s frustrating. It’s aggravating. Still, if this is my biggest problem in life, I think I can learn how to Cowboy up. Besides…I can always go watch the episode online if I miss something…

Ayn Rand was Right.

I think most people go through life paying attention to their own specific interests, all the while blotting out what’s happening around them. They only wake up when something dramatic happens, or when it’s too late to do something about whatever it is that’s suddenly captured their attention.

9/11 is a case in point.

Aside from CIA, FBI, and NSA people, most people living in the pre-9/11 world had no concept of the danger we face from Islamic fascism.

That’s human nature, I suppose. We tune out most things that happen around us, because, frankly, we just don’t have the bandwidth. But that’s a dangerous habit when it comes to personal safety/homeland security. I’ve also come to believe that it’s equally dangerous when it comes to society and culture – specifically pop culture. [Read more…] about Ayn Rand was Right.

At the Movies…

 

I took my progeny and a classmate of hers to see Madagascar 2 this afternoon. I used to see a lot of movies. In my single days, I probably saw at least one movie in the theaters per week, and rented a couple of tapes as well. One wife, one stepson, and one daughter later…not so much. Why? Frankly, I didn’t leave the movies…the movies left me. As Hollywood has lurched to the Left, it became an accepted practice to slip in a political or ideological message of a secular/progressive nature. I have a hard time swallowing that. It’s aggravating to sit there, enjoying a flick, and then find that I’m being indoctrinated with the latest in Liberal Groupthink. [Read more…] about At the Movies…

You need to see this.

I’m not in the habit of endorsing products or companies. For a couple of reasons. First, it’s not like people are looking at me as if I’m the Great White Hope to dethrone the Oprah-centric world. Second, I like to think that people should make up their own minds as to how good a product might be. And Third, if you’re gonna buy my endorsement, my price is pretty high (a chalet in the Swiss Alps) and frankly, nobody’s been willing to meet my price (as of yet…I’ll let you know).

That not withstanding, a catalog came across my desk the other day, and I can’t help but to recommend it to you, my loyal readers. [Read more…] about You need to see this.

It’s giggin’ time.

I’ll be playing a private party tomorrow, up in Dumas. That’s “DOO-mas.” (I know what you were thinking. And you were wrong.) 

I’ll be gearing up for the gig most of tomorrow, so don’t expect another post until Sunday.

Until then, here’s one of my favorite commercials to keep you company: