What has happened to Adult Swim?
I still like many of its show especially on the action side of the block. I enjoy Futurama and wish that they would bring it back. I love Family Guy for its craziness and different gags. I loved many of their older shows like Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law or SeaLab 2021.
But after watching some of their newer shows, I have come to the obvious conclusion.
They are all on crack.
I mean literally. Some of their new shows are so stupid or so over the line, that I can’t watch them. I turn them off. They lose a viewer and I am sure I am not the only one. Shows like Saul of the Molemen and Tim and Eric Awesome Show: Great Job. They are just awful. Yes, they produce a laugh from me every once and while, but most of the time, I just wonder what the heck is wrong with these people. Their shows make no sense. There is no smart writing or other things that usually makes something funny. They rely solely on sight gags, crazy plots and things so goofy that instead of laughing you wonder if they were dropped on their heads as a child.
I don’t have a problem with some of the other shows. Shin-chan is great. I love all the pop culture references. Aqua Teen Hunger Force has its moments but is still really close to being a complete crack baby. Metalocylse is a bloody crack baby with funny lyrics. Robot Chicken is sometimes smart, sometimes just as dumb as the other shows.
But what is up? Do they think that the block is on so late that our minds aren’t working right? Or do they think that the viewers are so doped up and drunk that everything becomes funny? The worst thing is that they just reported their rating for the last quarter and they are the best they have ever had.
What does that mean? Am I and my friends the only sane ones that don’t like these shows? Or is it that we are the only sober ones.
Adult Swim I like you. You have broken new ground with your smart writing and taking risks that others haven’t. But lately, it just seems like you’re broken. I wonder more about the creators of the shows and most of all, how these shows got approved in the first place. Please return to how you were, when you were smart and funny, not dumb as a stoner.
Case in point.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
100 hours or 100 days of Christmas? Make up your mind!
I have an issue with FM 100 and really with the radio industry as a whole.
I enjoy Christmas music as much as the next guy, but having it air almost two months before the holiday is a little ridiculous. I understand that many advertisers and retailers think that it is a good idea to bring the holidays closer and closer to Halloween, but I want my Thanksgiving back.
I really have a hard time being in the Christmas mood, when a week before Halloween I am seeing Christmas products in the stores.
Nor do I feel like it when November now has become the pre-Christmas month. I understand the Black Friday rush, but before that is turkey time.
But FM 100 is making me really confused. I can even understand them changing to Christmas music November 1st, because that puts them in line with other stations. However, they always completely change their format every Sunday to put on LDS church music.
That means that FM 100 changes their format more than three times in less than 90 days. I wish that they would do one or the other.
It is now December and I am ready for Christmas music. I like the warm feelings and fun that comes with the songs. I am reminded of them on Sundays because they are the days that I spend with my family. Family usually equals warm feelings. So in this time of year, I want to listen to Christmas music. I turn on the radio ready to listen to “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” and instead get “I Stand All Amazed.”
Usually I have just gotten out of church and have already heard these songs. I wanted some Christmas music as a change of pace and I got more hymns.
Why can’t FM 100 just stick with one format over the holidays? It makes it really hard for me the listener want to continue listening to them.
I enjoy Christmas music as much as the next guy, but having it air almost two months before the holiday is a little ridiculous. I understand that many advertisers and retailers think that it is a good idea to bring the holidays closer and closer to Halloween, but I want my Thanksgiving back.
I really have a hard time being in the Christmas mood, when a week before Halloween I am seeing Christmas products in the stores.
Nor do I feel like it when November now has become the pre-Christmas month. I understand the Black Friday rush, but before that is turkey time.
But FM 100 is making me really confused. I can even understand them changing to Christmas music November 1st, because that puts them in line with other stations. However, they always completely change their format every Sunday to put on LDS church music.
That means that FM 100 changes their format more than three times in less than 90 days. I wish that they would do one or the other.
It is now December and I am ready for Christmas music. I like the warm feelings and fun that comes with the songs. I am reminded of them on Sundays because they are the days that I spend with my family. Family usually equals warm feelings. So in this time of year, I want to listen to Christmas music. I turn on the radio ready to listen to “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” and instead get “I Stand All Amazed.”
Usually I have just gotten out of church and have already heard these songs. I wanted some Christmas music as a change of pace and I got more hymns.
Why can’t FM 100 just stick with one format over the holidays? It makes it really hard for me the listener want to continue listening to them.
Husbands and Wives.
I think that the world has a few reasons to celebrate and few things that we need to be scared of today.
And it all has to do with husband and wife teams.
Recently, Hugo Chavez of Venezuela lost an election in which it would have made him President for life. Chavez has continued to be in power since he was first elected in 1998. During his term, he has continually reached for more power, enacting socialist reforms and putting himself in place of almost a dictator to the country.
This was his first time that he has lost an election in nine years. And who was behind the scenes leading his demise.
His (ex) wife.
Marisabel Rodríguez de Chávez helped to write the new constitution that was formed when Chavez first came into power and has supported him many times. However, she publically spoke out this year in response to the continued reforms that her ex-husband had started, and helped to kick off the movement that helped to turn the elections. Ah, the power of angry ex-wives.
Next, comes the new president of Argentina, Cristina Kirchner, or as many know her, the former first lady of Argentina. That’s right; she accepted power from her husband. Many are not happy with this, with the problems that Argentina has continued to have. And better yet, there are allegations that Chavez illegally helped to finance her campaign. Of course, both countries are denying the allegations.
All of this may be a case in point for what is happening in the United States right now. The Clintons are trying to regain their power through Hilary Clinton. Many have criticized or hailed the last presidency under Bill Clinton. Opponents say that it is just a way that will bring President Clinton and a bad presidency back in power.
Maybe all that we need is for Hilary to get divorced. Nothing like the power of an angry ex-wife.
Links. 1 2 and 3.
And it all has to do with husband and wife teams.
Recently, Hugo Chavez of Venezuela lost an election in which it would have made him President for life. Chavez has continued to be in power since he was first elected in 1998. During his term, he has continually reached for more power, enacting socialist reforms and putting himself in place of almost a dictator to the country.
This was his first time that he has lost an election in nine years. And who was behind the scenes leading his demise.
His (ex) wife.
Marisabel Rodríguez de Chávez helped to write the new constitution that was formed when Chavez first came into power and has supported him many times. However, she publically spoke out this year in response to the continued reforms that her ex-husband had started, and helped to kick off the movement that helped to turn the elections. Ah, the power of angry ex-wives.
Next, comes the new president of Argentina, Cristina Kirchner, or as many know her, the former first lady of Argentina. That’s right; she accepted power from her husband. Many are not happy with this, with the problems that Argentina has continued to have. And better yet, there are allegations that Chavez illegally helped to finance her campaign. Of course, both countries are denying the allegations.
All of this may be a case in point for what is happening in the United States right now. The Clintons are trying to regain their power through Hilary Clinton. Many have criticized or hailed the last presidency under Bill Clinton. Opponents say that it is just a way that will bring President Clinton and a bad presidency back in power.
Maybe all that we need is for Hilary to get divorced. Nothing like the power of an angry ex-wife.
Links. 1 2 and 3.
Google Wars! - Online story
Google has started yet another war. But this time, it is in the unexpected arena of cell phones.
Google has announced a new mobile software platform called Android. It has partnered with several different big companies and is hoping to standardize programs across carriers. Current differences in software coding prevent this from happening.
But along the way, Google has accused some major carriers as monopolizing the situation. At first, it appeared that the major carriers were against the move. However, it looks like they may be changing their tune.
Verizon announced last week that it was changing it position and that it would support Android in the future. It had previously stated that it would not allow the software, but responded to negative criticism. “Android is an enabler of what we do,” said CEO Lowell McAdam in a interview with Business Weekly. He also announced that they would be opening their networks.
Not to be outdone, AT&T came back and said that its network has been open to any GSM device and software and that it has been that way for years.
"We've not gone out of our way to tout the fact that we have this, and very few people have taken advantage of it," spokesman Mark Siegel said in a telephone interview with PC World Magazine. He later added “We think that we are the most open company in the industry.”
However, he said that the announcement was not in response to the Verizon and Google announcements.
Source articles: here, here, and here.
Google has announced a new mobile software platform called Android. It has partnered with several different big companies and is hoping to standardize programs across carriers. Current differences in software coding prevent this from happening.
But along the way, Google has accused some major carriers as monopolizing the situation. At first, it appeared that the major carriers were against the move. However, it looks like they may be changing their tune.
Verizon announced last week that it was changing it position and that it would support Android in the future. It had previously stated that it would not allow the software, but responded to negative criticism. “Android is an enabler of what we do,” said CEO Lowell McAdam in a interview with Business Weekly. He also announced that they would be opening their networks.
Not to be outdone, AT&T came back and said that its network has been open to any GSM device and software and that it has been that way for years.
"We've not gone out of our way to tout the fact that we have this, and very few people have taken advantage of it," spokesman Mark Siegel said in a telephone interview with PC World Magazine. He later added “We think that we are the most open company in the industry.”
However, he said that the announcement was not in response to the Verizon and Google announcements.
Source articles: here, here, and here.
Let our own music play
Well they have done it again. The RIAA is trying to crack down on illegal file sharing and trying to control our lives.
I agree with the fact that we need to respect copyrights and that we need give artists their fair share. However, much of the data related to file sharing points to the fact that file sharing actually increases CD sales.
Another fact that everyone neglects to mention is that when the CD sales started to go down was right after the RIAA, Best Buy, and other companies had been found guilty of price fixing and had to pay out quite a hefty fee in the class-action lawsuit.
No, now they are doing something that alienates their audience even more. They are saying that consumers can’t even make copies of their own music. “Ripping” or copying music from a CD into a digital format is considered legal under “fair use” rights. If an individual has a physical copy of a CD, they are able to use it in any format that they chose. (I’m not going into digital versions of this, because they seem to be breaking this in my opinion with DRM usage.) Once in a digital format such as MP3, users can put them in IPods, or other different devices.
Now, in another one of their cases against yet another victim, they are alleging that consumers can’t rip CDs. Part of the argument according to some sources is they are ripping them and putting them in shared folders. I still think that this is a dangerous argument. You put files in a shared folder to use on a home network or if you are traveling and still want to access your files. Also, as other articles have pointed out, we break copyright law everyday by the normal things that we do. We take pictures with advertising in the background, we forward e-mail, etc. Can you imagine what life would be like if we had to be careful of every little thing that did like that? Civilization in America would come to a stop.
Frankly, I think that the RIAA is being very stupid and that they need to just get with the program. They need to make higher quality stuff, and stop making their customers angry and try to get money out of them from suing them. And they need to remember before everyone hates them, that consumers have rights too.
one such article is here.
I agree with the fact that we need to respect copyrights and that we need give artists their fair share. However, much of the data related to file sharing points to the fact that file sharing actually increases CD sales.
Another fact that everyone neglects to mention is that when the CD sales started to go down was right after the RIAA, Best Buy, and other companies had been found guilty of price fixing and had to pay out quite a hefty fee in the class-action lawsuit.
No, now they are doing something that alienates their audience even more. They are saying that consumers can’t even make copies of their own music. “Ripping” or copying music from a CD into a digital format is considered legal under “fair use” rights. If an individual has a physical copy of a CD, they are able to use it in any format that they chose. (I’m not going into digital versions of this, because they seem to be breaking this in my opinion with DRM usage.) Once in a digital format such as MP3, users can put them in IPods, or other different devices.
Now, in another one of their cases against yet another victim, they are alleging that consumers can’t rip CDs. Part of the argument according to some sources is they are ripping them and putting them in shared folders. I still think that this is a dangerous argument. You put files in a shared folder to use on a home network or if you are traveling and still want to access your files. Also, as other articles have pointed out, we break copyright law everyday by the normal things that we do. We take pictures with advertising in the background, we forward e-mail, etc. Can you imagine what life would be like if we had to be careful of every little thing that did like that? Civilization in America would come to a stop.
Frankly, I think that the RIAA is being very stupid and that they need to just get with the program. They need to make higher quality stuff, and stop making their customers angry and try to get money out of them from suing them. And they need to remember before everyone hates them, that consumers have rights too.
one such article is here.
Video 88 sec updates
One 'Enchanted' Evening
Click here for official website.
I just have to say how pleased I am with the new Disney movie, Enchanted.
Now as a disclaimer, I actually own a few shares of Disney stock so it also makes me excited on the financial end as well.
The reason that I am so excited about this movie is that it seems like it is a return to the good Disney movies that I grew up with. Not to say that the recent movies have been bad, it’s just that they haven’t really been as timeless as “The Little Mermaid” and “Aladdin.” The last good movie to feature music sung by the characters was “Tarzan”, though they did have a bit in “Home on the Range.”
After “Home on the Range”, Disney decided to shut down its 2D animation studios and focus solely on 3D. I and apparently the box office think that was a mistake. The movies that Disney has produced since then have done ok, but not the response that they were looking for.
They had other 2D releases before this that hadn’t done so well like “Treasure Planet” (which I still think is an excellent movie) and others. However, there was an element that was missing in these. Music! The animated films that Disney had produced for nearly a decade, all had music in them, and a whole generation grew up loving and singing them. However, they decided that was too cliché or something and stopped putting them in the films. People became disinterested because the films did not have the same charm as the previous films did.
But during all this time, Pixar was still making money. The industry thought that was because it was 3D and the audiences responded to it. That was not the case. It was the story telling that Pixar did that made them so great. It had the charm that Disney had lost.
Then came a turn around, or so I believe. Disney bought Pixar, and John Lassater from Pixar became the new head of Walt Disney Animation. He has professed to be an animation lover in all forms and I am hoping continues the comeback of Walt Disney Animation.
The reason that I love “Enchanted” so much is that it brings much of that missing charm back. I hope that Disney takes it as a signal to get their act together. The film combines both animation and live-action with spoofs on plot, background music, in jokes to other films, and musical numbers. All without being too cheesy or goofy. They brought back the same guys who had worked on the Disney musicals from all those years ago and created something that is I would say, quite frankly enchanting.
Audiences have agreed with me. “Enchanted” has been number 1 in the box office for several weeks now, and has just been nominated for several Golden Globes.
Now, let’s just hope that Disney is as “Enchanted” as I am and will continue to bring us good films once again.
I just have to say how pleased I am with the new Disney movie, Enchanted.
Now as a disclaimer, I actually own a few shares of Disney stock so it also makes me excited on the financial end as well.
The reason that I am so excited about this movie is that it seems like it is a return to the good Disney movies that I grew up with. Not to say that the recent movies have been bad, it’s just that they haven’t really been as timeless as “The Little Mermaid” and “Aladdin.” The last good movie to feature music sung by the characters was “Tarzan”, though they did have a bit in “Home on the Range.”
After “Home on the Range”, Disney decided to shut down its 2D animation studios and focus solely on 3D. I and apparently the box office think that was a mistake. The movies that Disney has produced since then have done ok, but not the response that they were looking for.
They had other 2D releases before this that hadn’t done so well like “Treasure Planet” (which I still think is an excellent movie) and others. However, there was an element that was missing in these. Music! The animated films that Disney had produced for nearly a decade, all had music in them, and a whole generation grew up loving and singing them. However, they decided that was too cliché or something and stopped putting them in the films. People became disinterested because the films did not have the same charm as the previous films did.
But during all this time, Pixar was still making money. The industry thought that was because it was 3D and the audiences responded to it. That was not the case. It was the story telling that Pixar did that made them so great. It had the charm that Disney had lost.
Then came a turn around, or so I believe. Disney bought Pixar, and John Lassater from Pixar became the new head of Walt Disney Animation. He has professed to be an animation lover in all forms and I am hoping continues the comeback of Walt Disney Animation.
The reason that I love “Enchanted” so much is that it brings much of that missing charm back. I hope that Disney takes it as a signal to get their act together. The film combines both animation and live-action with spoofs on plot, background music, in jokes to other films, and musical numbers. All without being too cheesy or goofy. They brought back the same guys who had worked on the Disney musicals from all those years ago and created something that is I would say, quite frankly enchanting.
Audiences have agreed with me. “Enchanted” has been number 1 in the box office for several weeks now, and has just been nominated for several Golden Globes.
Now, let’s just hope that Disney is as “Enchanted” as I am and will continue to bring us good films once again.
News Release 2 - Deja Vu
News Release
For Immediate Release
For more information, contact:
Zach Jenkins, Sponsorship Director for KWCR 88.1 Weber FM
Cell: (801) 643-6389
Déjà Vu sponsors 88.1 Weber FM remote
in Newgate Mall
On Dec. 15, KWCR 88.1 Weber FM will host a live remote at Déjà Vu inside the Newgate mall in downtown Ogden.
The remote will be from noon to 4 p.m. and will feature DJs from 88.1 and prizes from Déjà Vu.
Déjà Vu has been at its current location for more than 14 years and specializes in piercing and accessories and tattoos. It is sponsoring 88.1 Weber FM for December and will give out prizes for the month. Prizes include piercing accessories and will be on site.
88.1 Weber FM will host the remote to culminate the end of the semester in December. DJs from “Just Us Folks” and “Metal Shop” will be in attendance.
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News Release 1 - Boys Like Girls
News Release
For Immediate Release
For more information, contact:
Zach Jenkins, Sponsorship Director for KWCR 88.1 Weber FM
Cell: (801) 643-6389
88.1 Weber FM partners with WSUSA
to bring ‘Boys Like Girls’ to Dee Events Center
Zach Jenkins, Sponsorship Director for KWCR 88.1 Weber FM
Cell: (801) 643-6389
88.1 Weber FM partners with WSUSA
to bring ‘Boys Like Girls’ to Dee Events Center
Thousands of Weber State University students and fans will gather Nov. 14 at the Dee Events Center in Ogden for a “Boys like Girls” concert sponsored by the WSU Student Association and 88.1 Weber FM.
The Boston-based band will perform its hits such as “Hero/Heroine” and “The Great Escape” during the concert. Tickets will cost $5 for students and $10 for non-students. The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket office in the Dee Events Center.
KWCR 88.1 Weber FM will provide three remotes around the Weber State campus in preparation of the event. The remotes will take place Friday, Nov. 9; Monday, Nov. 12; and Tuesday, Nov. 13 between noon and 4 p.m. KWCR will sell tickets to the concert and give away merchandise.
Also, 88.1 Weber FM will give away tickets on air in the weeks leading up to the events. Student DJ’s will be giving tickets away during their shifts and can be reached at (801) 626-8800. Listeners should call in to win. The WSUSA is providing the tickets and they will be available during the remotes.
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Localized Story - To Unlock or Not to Unlock? That is the question
Imagine the horror when after bringing home a new Apple iPhone, changing it to T-Mobile or adding different software, finding that your several hundred dollar toy, had been reduced to nothing more than an expensive brick.
That was the experience of hundreds of Utah consumers of the iPhone last month after Apple sent out an update that made all unlocked iPhones and with third-party applications unusable, restricting access solely to AT&T. This is just the latest incident in the continuing war with consumers between locked and unlocked cellular phones.
“A locked phone is a phone whose software is designed to work on a certain carrier. It won’t accept other SIM cards and is network specific,” said Jake King, employee of AT&T in Riverdale.
An unlocked phone is when a consumer has changed that software so that it will work with any carrier. Most phones sold in the United States are locked to a particular carrier, but are sold at a discount in exchange for its extended contract with that carrier. Unlocked phones can be purchased but are considerably more expensive.
Many are unlocking their phones with or without permission of their carrier. Apple has said that nearly a quarter of a million iPhones have been unlocked. Apple has tried to change this practice by updating the software, rendering those iPhones useless. But soon after the update, hackers were finding ways to unlock the phone. Different phone carriers have varying policies ranging from unlocking the phone after 90 days of service to refusal to unlock phones.
Techniques for locking and unlocking phones are dependent on the type of mobile phone and type of network that it uses. In the United States there are two different standards: Global System for Mobile communication system or GSM network, which is used by AT&T and T-Mobile; and Code Division Multiple Access or CDMA network, which is used by Verizon and Sprint. “GSM is the standard,” said Zeb Nava, another employee of AT&T in Riverdale. “GSM is global. Everyone uses that,” King said. It is used around the globe and is the most easily unlocked. “CDMA is only an American standard for the most part,” King said. “CDMA is impractical or impossible to unlock.”
The advantages of having an unlocked GSM phone goes beyond being able to switch between networks. The unlocked phones can be used in other countries for a fraction of cost by using a local prepaid SIM card. SIM stands for Subscriber Identity Module and is the key to the GSM technology. It is microchip that contains the telephone number and other data. If a local prepaid SIM card is used, Utah consumers can avoid paying huge international roaming fees on their bills.
“The phone will work in almost every country, but my company gets the bill. I can take the iPhone to Batswana and it will work but it may cost $5 a minute,” said King.
There are other reasons for a getting an unlocked phone. “In Europe or Japan you can get a lot of really cool phones that never get to Americas,” King said. “You can bring it here. You get a lot of people Denmark coming over to buy the iPhone, though usually it is the other way around.” The iPhone has only a limited release in Europe.
But as with the recent experience of unlocked iPhone users, unlocking the phone does not come without its risks.
“It’s not difficult to unlock a phone but it is too much of a hassle to unlock them for the average consumer. If you unlock a phone to run on a different network, then messaging and other things may not work correctly,” said Nava. “If you do do it, you have to make sure that you do it right. A lot of people will lock themselves out of the network. Or it may not accept different updates that the network will send over the air.”
Also in the United States, some carriers say that unlocking the phone may violate the company warranty, leaving the consumer out of luck if anything goes wrong with the device.
Some arguments say that it even illegal to unlock phones, though the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 exempts the unlocking of mobile phones. Others argue that is not a matter of copyright but more to do with limiting competition. Currently a class-action lawsuit against Apple for $1.2 billion has been because the iPhone is locked to the AT&T network and that efforts to unlock the phone were thwarted by the recent update from Apple.
“If I were on the jury, I would not find anyone guilty for making after-market product or altering products (such as unlocking a phone), because that’s capitalism,” said King. “It’s a technology difference because not all phones are universal. They are like the difference between a Mac and a PC. They are both are computers and they both do Word but that’s about it.”
That was the experience of hundreds of Utah consumers of the iPhone last month after Apple sent out an update that made all unlocked iPhones and with third-party applications unusable, restricting access solely to AT&T. This is just the latest incident in the continuing war with consumers between locked and unlocked cellular phones.
“A locked phone is a phone whose software is designed to work on a certain carrier. It won’t accept other SIM cards and is network specific,” said Jake King, employee of AT&T in Riverdale.
An unlocked phone is when a consumer has changed that software so that it will work with any carrier. Most phones sold in the United States are locked to a particular carrier, but are sold at a discount in exchange for its extended contract with that carrier. Unlocked phones can be purchased but are considerably more expensive.
Many are unlocking their phones with or without permission of their carrier. Apple has said that nearly a quarter of a million iPhones have been unlocked. Apple has tried to change this practice by updating the software, rendering those iPhones useless. But soon after the update, hackers were finding ways to unlock the phone. Different phone carriers have varying policies ranging from unlocking the phone after 90 days of service to refusal to unlock phones.
Techniques for locking and unlocking phones are dependent on the type of mobile phone and type of network that it uses. In the United States there are two different standards: Global System for Mobile communication system or GSM network, which is used by AT&T and T-Mobile; and Code Division Multiple Access or CDMA network, which is used by Verizon and Sprint. “GSM is the standard,” said Zeb Nava, another employee of AT&T in Riverdale. “GSM is global. Everyone uses that,” King said. It is used around the globe and is the most easily unlocked. “CDMA is only an American standard for the most part,” King said. “CDMA is impractical or impossible to unlock.”
The advantages of having an unlocked GSM phone goes beyond being able to switch between networks. The unlocked phones can be used in other countries for a fraction of cost by using a local prepaid SIM card. SIM stands for Subscriber Identity Module and is the key to the GSM technology. It is microchip that contains the telephone number and other data. If a local prepaid SIM card is used, Utah consumers can avoid paying huge international roaming fees on their bills.
“The phone will work in almost every country, but my company gets the bill. I can take the iPhone to Batswana and it will work but it may cost $5 a minute,” said King.
There are other reasons for a getting an unlocked phone. “In Europe or Japan you can get a lot of really cool phones that never get to Americas,” King said. “You can bring it here. You get a lot of people Denmark coming over to buy the iPhone, though usually it is the other way around.” The iPhone has only a limited release in Europe.
But as with the recent experience of unlocked iPhone users, unlocking the phone does not come without its risks.
“It’s not difficult to unlock a phone but it is too much of a hassle to unlock them for the average consumer. If you unlock a phone to run on a different network, then messaging and other things may not work correctly,” said Nava. “If you do do it, you have to make sure that you do it right. A lot of people will lock themselves out of the network. Or it may not accept different updates that the network will send over the air.”
Also in the United States, some carriers say that unlocking the phone may violate the company warranty, leaving the consumer out of luck if anything goes wrong with the device.
Some arguments say that it even illegal to unlock phones, though the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 exempts the unlocking of mobile phones. Others argue that is not a matter of copyright but more to do with limiting competition. Currently a class-action lawsuit against Apple for $1.2 billion has been because the iPhone is locked to the AT&T network and that efforts to unlock the phone were thwarted by the recent update from Apple.
“If I were on the jury, I would not find anyone guilty for making after-market product or altering products (such as unlocking a phone), because that’s capitalism,” said King. “It’s a technology difference because not all phones are universal. They are like the difference between a Mac and a PC. They are both are computers and they both do Word but that’s about it.”
Second Interview Story - Not Quite California Adventure
The Walt Disney Co. announced plans to spend $1.1 billion on a redesign of its theme park next year Disney’s California Adventure after continuing floundering ticket sales in comparison with its other Southern California park, Disneyland.
The plan calls for the park to remain open during the five-year reconstruction. The entrance area will be redesigned and new attractions. Additions will include rides from Pixar’s “Cars” and “Toy Story.”
Utah residents have varying opinions about California Adventure. “It’s just not as good. I have fond memories of the old one, and when I went to California Adventure, it just felt like an amusement park,” said Julie King of Layton. Other residents agree. “It has a different feel. It’s missing Disney ‘magic’,” said Rachel Jenkins also of Layton.
That is exactly the criticism that has plagued the park since it opened. “Guests have told us that when they stand in California Adventure, they don’t have an emotional connection to it,” said Jeff Rasulo, president of the theme park division at Disney, in an interview to the Associated Press.
Questioned about what to change in California Adventure, residents’ responses were similar. “It needs more mystique. That anticipation you get we entering the other park,” King said. “Give it more of that ‘Mickey has touched it’ feel,” Jenkins said. “They need to add Test Track or Rockin’ Roller Coaster from Walt Disney World in Florida.”
The park was originally planned to be similar to Disney World’s EPOCT center, but was changed under the supervision of then CEO, Michael Eisner. Attendees have complained since California Adventure opened that it was a park built cheap with generic rides and few rides for children. The announcement by Robert Iger, current CEO of the Walt Disney Co., plans to change this negative sentiment.
Other planned additions include a “Little Mermaid” attraction and a state-of-the-art nighttime spectacular with a viewing area for 9,000 people, along with a new restaurant and other cosmetic improvements.
Investors appear to be pleased with the announcement as well, with stocks raising 37 cents to $35.38 after the announcement was made on Oct. 17.
The plan calls for the park to remain open during the five-year reconstruction. The entrance area will be redesigned and new attractions. Additions will include rides from Pixar’s “Cars” and “Toy Story.”
Utah residents have varying opinions about California Adventure. “It’s just not as good. I have fond memories of the old one, and when I went to California Adventure, it just felt like an amusement park,” said Julie King of Layton. Other residents agree. “It has a different feel. It’s missing Disney ‘magic’,” said Rachel Jenkins also of Layton.
That is exactly the criticism that has plagued the park since it opened. “Guests have told us that when they stand in California Adventure, they don’t have an emotional connection to it,” said Jeff Rasulo, president of the theme park division at Disney, in an interview to the Associated Press.
Questioned about what to change in California Adventure, residents’ responses were similar. “It needs more mystique. That anticipation you get we entering the other park,” King said. “Give it more of that ‘Mickey has touched it’ feel,” Jenkins said. “They need to add Test Track or Rockin’ Roller Coaster from Walt Disney World in Florida.”
The park was originally planned to be similar to Disney World’s EPOCT center, but was changed under the supervision of then CEO, Michael Eisner. Attendees have complained since California Adventure opened that it was a park built cheap with generic rides and few rides for children. The announcement by Robert Iger, current CEO of the Walt Disney Co., plans to change this negative sentiment.
Other planned additions include a “Little Mermaid” attraction and a state-of-the-art nighttime spectacular with a viewing area for 9,000 people, along with a new restaurant and other cosmetic improvements.
Investors appear to be pleased with the announcement as well, with stocks raising 37 cents to $35.38 after the announcement was made on Oct. 17.
Speech story - David Sanger
David Sanger, Chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times, spoke of the need of newspapers to publish stories even when asked not to and on the White House during times of war at the Wattis Business Building to an audience of fifty teachers and students, Friday.
“Twenty-five years in the news business has convinced me that this is no ordinary job that we’re engaged in. We’re in the odd position of being a private, occasionally profit-making operation that serves also an essential public role.” Sanger said. He spoke of the role and responsibilities of the press during wartime. “We make mistakes. We make lots of them. But that is why it is important that we have more than one news source,” said Sanger.
Sanger also discussed how the New York Times decides to publish stories. “We wrote quite a bit about what could go wrong, but we didn’t go far enough,” said Sanger about the stories the Times published before the war. When confronted with a decision to run a story about the warrantless wiretapping program at the White House or not, the paper chose to run the story, even though Bush administration officials had asked them not to. “I think it was a truly a proud moment for the paper. But I also think that it was a truly proud moment for the United States,” said Sanger.
Sanger addressed varying topics from White House policy to the “second nuclear age”. He talked about White House policy has changed regarding the war. According to Sanger, the second nuclear age is when nearly every country has nuclear capabilities. Sanger said that the second nuclear age is scarier “because countries that have problems making a light bulb, now can try to create nuclear capabilities.” Sanger also spoke about issues of nuclear capabilities with North Korea and other countries. “North Korea never developed a weapon they haven’t sold because they’re broke.”
Attendees had questions on how long it takes to complete an investigation. An investigation may take months and is considered ready when “you are sick of the reporting,” said Sanger. The audience spent about fifteen minutes asking questions. Sanger tried to focus the majority of his answers to the students. He ended the meeting with some advice to the audience “Read things that challenge your world view.”
“Twenty-five years in the news business has convinced me that this is no ordinary job that we’re engaged in. We’re in the odd position of being a private, occasionally profit-making operation that serves also an essential public role.” Sanger said. He spoke of the role and responsibilities of the press during wartime. “We make mistakes. We make lots of them. But that is why it is important that we have more than one news source,” said Sanger.
Sanger also discussed how the New York Times decides to publish stories. “We wrote quite a bit about what could go wrong, but we didn’t go far enough,” said Sanger about the stories the Times published before the war. When confronted with a decision to run a story about the warrantless wiretapping program at the White House or not, the paper chose to run the story, even though Bush administration officials had asked them not to. “I think it was a truly a proud moment for the paper. But I also think that it was a truly proud moment for the United States,” said Sanger.
Sanger addressed varying topics from White House policy to the “second nuclear age”. He talked about White House policy has changed regarding the war. According to Sanger, the second nuclear age is when nearly every country has nuclear capabilities. Sanger said that the second nuclear age is scarier “because countries that have problems making a light bulb, now can try to create nuclear capabilities.” Sanger also spoke about issues of nuclear capabilities with North Korea and other countries. “North Korea never developed a weapon they haven’t sold because they’re broke.”
Attendees had questions on how long it takes to complete an investigation. An investigation may take months and is considered ready when “you are sick of the reporting,” said Sanger. The audience spent about fifteen minutes asking questions. Sanger tried to focus the majority of his answers to the students. He ended the meeting with some advice to the audience “Read things that challenge your world view.”
Interview Story - "From Russia with love"
“From Russia with love”
When Mikhail Gorbachev came into power over 20 years ago, Marina Rodina never believed that she would eventually end up in Utah. But it did signal changes to come.
“I have had a very interesting life”, Rodina said. Currently, she is an auditor for the Air Force Audit Agency but things haven’t always been so good.
When Gorbachev came into office in 1985, he promised to bring a new type of government to Russia. “He brought us something new-new hopes,” Rodina said.
Her newly-wed husband, Constantine, had left to Bulgaria for work, but the Communist government would not allow spouses to leave together for fear of defection. So she applied several times for permission to visit her husband but was denied. Rodina even went so far as to write a letter personally to Gorbachev to ask for permission. Finally, she was granted permission to go to visit Constantine for six months.
“But they interview you like you’re almost going to spy out there,” Rodina said. She needed to give personal and family information as a way of ensuring that she would return. But like the government had feared, she never did.
Soon after moving to Bulgaria, she attended drama school and had her first son, Christian. But that wasn’t enough for Constantine. He wanted even more freedom. Despite being “brainwashed” from all the propaganda against the United States, Constantine wanted to move to the United States. Constantine developed a plan to move to France and apply for asylum through the U.S. Embassy. But Rodina and Constantine still had to go through the Russian Embassy. They got permission to “take a vacation” to France but were told that they had to leave their son. “We were young and stupid,” taking Christian, only $300 and no paperwork. Amazingly, they had no difficultly leaving Bulgaria. However, the real trouble began when they arrived in France.
They were taken to a dark, locked room and were asked questions of the French officials. Once the purpose of their arrival in France was known, the French officials wanted to help. But they had no visa, no birth certificate, no proof that Christian did not belong to someone else. Finally, after five hours, Rodina noticed that there was a stamp on the passport that said that Christian was her son written in Russian. After getting a translator, they were able to translate the visa and allowed Rodina, Constantine, and Christian to pass.
Finally free, they were able to go to the American Embassy and started a petition for asylum. But they received no financial help and after the $300 was spent, they were homeless. Then by luck, they came into contact with the Tolstoy Foundation. It was originally established in 1939 by the daughter of Leo Tolstoy to help refugees from Europe and the Soviet Union. The foundation helped Marina and Constantine during the next 1 ½ years that they would spend in France.
Around the time that the Berlin Wall came down, they were finally able to make their way to San Francisco, just in time for a gay pride parade and Halloween, both of which were new concepts to the new immigrants. Rodina described her arrival as a “culture shock.” After some struggles with bad jobs and bad apartments, their lives took an interesting turn.
They met senior Latter-Day Saint missionaries.
“I fell in love with the LDS religion,” Rodina said. Soon she was baptized and became involved with the local ward. However, her heart was soon to be broken. After only a few months in the faith, the bishop that they had started the church with left his family for a younger girl. Devastated, she left the church, but kept in contact with the senior missionaries. These missionaries soon convinced Rodina, her husband, and Christian to move out to Utah. So they packed up everything they owned and headed to Utah. They lived with these ex-missionaries for six months before moving out on their own.
Constantine eventually got a job with the FBI and law enforcement. Rodina started a job at a supermarket, before moving to Zion’s Bank, where she developed an interest in finance. Finally, after a five-year stint with Southwest Airlines, she attended Weber State University, graduating in December 2005. She worked part time as a financial consultant until she became a certified accountant. During school, she started an internship with the Air Force Audit Agency and has stayed with them ever since.
When Mikhail Gorbachev came into power over 20 years ago, Marina Rodina never believed that she would eventually end up in Utah. But it did signal changes to come.
“I have had a very interesting life”, Rodina said. Currently, she is an auditor for the Air Force Audit Agency but things haven’t always been so good.
When Gorbachev came into office in 1985, he promised to bring a new type of government to Russia. “He brought us something new-new hopes,” Rodina said.
Her newly-wed husband, Constantine, had left to Bulgaria for work, but the Communist government would not allow spouses to leave together for fear of defection. So she applied several times for permission to visit her husband but was denied. Rodina even went so far as to write a letter personally to Gorbachev to ask for permission. Finally, she was granted permission to go to visit Constantine for six months.
“But they interview you like you’re almost going to spy out there,” Rodina said. She needed to give personal and family information as a way of ensuring that she would return. But like the government had feared, she never did.
Soon after moving to Bulgaria, she attended drama school and had her first son, Christian. But that wasn’t enough for Constantine. He wanted even more freedom. Despite being “brainwashed” from all the propaganda against the United States, Constantine wanted to move to the United States. Constantine developed a plan to move to France and apply for asylum through the U.S. Embassy. But Rodina and Constantine still had to go through the Russian Embassy. They got permission to “take a vacation” to France but were told that they had to leave their son. “We were young and stupid,” taking Christian, only $300 and no paperwork. Amazingly, they had no difficultly leaving Bulgaria. However, the real trouble began when they arrived in France.
They were taken to a dark, locked room and were asked questions of the French officials. Once the purpose of their arrival in France was known, the French officials wanted to help. But they had no visa, no birth certificate, no proof that Christian did not belong to someone else. Finally, after five hours, Rodina noticed that there was a stamp on the passport that said that Christian was her son written in Russian. After getting a translator, they were able to translate the visa and allowed Rodina, Constantine, and Christian to pass.
Finally free, they were able to go to the American Embassy and started a petition for asylum. But they received no financial help and after the $300 was spent, they were homeless. Then by luck, they came into contact with the Tolstoy Foundation. It was originally established in 1939 by the daughter of Leo Tolstoy to help refugees from Europe and the Soviet Union. The foundation helped Marina and Constantine during the next 1 ½ years that they would spend in France.
Around the time that the Berlin Wall came down, they were finally able to make their way to San Francisco, just in time for a gay pride parade and Halloween, both of which were new concepts to the new immigrants. Rodina described her arrival as a “culture shock.” After some struggles with bad jobs and bad apartments, their lives took an interesting turn.
They met senior Latter-Day Saint missionaries.
“I fell in love with the LDS religion,” Rodina said. Soon she was baptized and became involved with the local ward. However, her heart was soon to be broken. After only a few months in the faith, the bishop that they had started the church with left his family for a younger girl. Devastated, she left the church, but kept in contact with the senior missionaries. These missionaries soon convinced Rodina, her husband, and Christian to move out to Utah. So they packed up everything they owned and headed to Utah. They lived with these ex-missionaries for six months before moving out on their own.
Constantine eventually got a job with the FBI and law enforcement. Rodina started a job at a supermarket, before moving to Zion’s Bank, where she developed an interest in finance. Finally, after a five-year stint with Southwest Airlines, she attended Weber State University, graduating in December 2005. She worked part time as a financial consultant until she became a certified accountant. During school, she started an internship with the Air Force Audit Agency and has stayed with them ever since.
Inverted Pyramid Story - Comcast causing cable drought in local neighborhood.
Comcast causing cable drought in local neighborhood.
Comcast will not provide cable service to the Shadow Mountain area of Ogden, Utah, stating that the area never had cable wired and residents will have to rely on satellite or antenna for television service.
Residents have waited for years for other options for television service. The area is known for larger homes with multiple televisions and often heavy snowfall that can disrupt satellite signals. The recently, residents’ only option for television was through satellite providers such as Direct TV or Dish Network, but new construction in the area had given hope of other options.
When the subdivision was built seven years ago, residents were told that they would have to wait for more home construction in the area before cable service would be available. Now, nearly seven years later, their wait was supposed to be coming to an end, as construction of a new subdivision next to Shadow Mountain was reaching completion.
Some residents are eager to change service to cable as it provides service in all weather conditions and also allows for more televisions to have access to other stations without the need of extra receivers, which adds an extra charge in most satellite providers.
But when Comcast was contacted two weeks ago to see if cable service could now be provided to the Shadow Mountain subdivision, residents discovered that service would never be provided to the area. Residents were told that the developer never laid the appropriate line in the subdivision, and if the residents wanted service, they would have to have the lines laid themselves, which would cost thousands of dollars per individual residence.
Comcast will not provide cable service to the Shadow Mountain area of Ogden, Utah, stating that the area never had cable wired and residents will have to rely on satellite or antenna for television service.
Residents have waited for years for other options for television service. The area is known for larger homes with multiple televisions and often heavy snowfall that can disrupt satellite signals. The recently, residents’ only option for television was through satellite providers such as Direct TV or Dish Network, but new construction in the area had given hope of other options.
When the subdivision was built seven years ago, residents were told that they would have to wait for more home construction in the area before cable service would be available. Now, nearly seven years later, their wait was supposed to be coming to an end, as construction of a new subdivision next to Shadow Mountain was reaching completion.
Some residents are eager to change service to cable as it provides service in all weather conditions and also allows for more televisions to have access to other stations without the need of extra receivers, which adds an extra charge in most satellite providers.
But when Comcast was contacted two weeks ago to see if cable service could now be provided to the Shadow Mountain subdivision, residents discovered that service would never be provided to the area. Residents were told that the developer never laid the appropriate line in the subdivision, and if the residents wanted service, they would have to have the lines laid themselves, which would cost thousands of dollars per individual residence.
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