Flight attendants on in-flight porn usage

According to CrunchGear, as in-flight internet becomes more widespread, watching porn has become a popular choice on those long and lonely flights.

"A few airlines have taken the issue upon themselves to lock down certain themed sites but that doesn’t rule out already downloaded material. Then other airlines, such as American Airlines, are offering unfiltered service and thus leaving the discretion up to the user — and flight attendants."

[via CrunchGear. Image from Airliners.net]

Samsung provided periscope-like personal TVs for Olympic fans

Samsung gave Olympic fans an alternative way to see the games in Beijing: with their very own monitor, enclosed in a periscope-like apparatus.

Spotted on DVICE.

TV stars say they don't watch TV ... are they lying?

In interviews, actors often claim not watching much TV. Then why did they want to get into TV in the first place? Asks TV Squard.

"... TV actors argue that hey're far too busy now to watch television, since shooting schedules make for such long days. However, with lots of time in make-up or sitting around in trailers, with DVRs and streaming online, it sounds like a lousy excuse these days. "

The only argument that makes some sense is that once you get into a particular field, you find yourself less inclined to participate as a fan of that same field."

By my books, TV is no longer a lesser art compared to movies, just the opposite. The quality TV series have better writing, a faster pace, more character development (over time, rather than just over a couple of hours). They have the opportunity for much more acting and benefit from better story lines with less reliance on special effects.

Watching TV in your store

Catching a glimpse of a TV set in the back of a store, while walking through Sikakap, Mentawai Islands, Indonesia.

Fembot stars in TV commercial

Japan's Fembot, Actroid DER2, makes her small screen debut in a 15-second commercial spot for a UV insect repellent/sunscreen spray.

[via Newlaunches]

Trendspotting. The Style of Mad Men

More on Mad Men, my latest greatest obsession. If you're not a fan, it's because you've never seen the show.

Trendspotting Josh Spears writes up a new men’s lifestyle site, Valet, with advice straight from the source.

"Their four part feature explores the style of each character on AMC’s hit show with the assistance of costume designer Janie Bryant.

The article takes a look at which current designers are taking their cues from the fads of post-war America, and even lists vital accessories and tips to help you dress the part."

TV Squad has gotten an interview with Mad Men's Rich Sommer who plays Harry Crane, the Sterling Cooper ad exec with the glasses and bow tie (he's second to the left in the above photo). It's a good read specially because interviews of the cast are hard to come by. I tried finding interviews on YouTube but with no success. This will surely change.

Off the show, Mad Men actresses have started smoking again

Outside a crowded press conference for AMC's Mad Men, the most critically acclaimed new series of last season, two actresses sneaked away to indulge in a habit closely associated with their characters. The Denver Post reports

"January Jones, who plays repressed housewife Betty, and Elisabeth Moss, who plays talented copywriter Peggy, stood unaccompanied by publicists or network staff in a palm-lined courtyard, smoking.

"I had quit for a long time, but the show got me started again," Jones said, referring to the nearly constant puffing scripted in the retro series about an advertising agency in the early 1960s.

... Prepare to see the ugly, desperate, vulnerable sides of the characters when "Mad Men" returns for its second season on July 27. "The second season gets deeper, edgier, darker," Jones said. "

[via [ TVt a t t l e . c o m ]]

DVD Man Men. Zippo lighter shaped box!

I'm a huge Mad Men fan, and though I've seen every episode online, I ordered and have just unboxed the complete first season in DVD .

To my complete delight I discovered that the box is in the shape of a Zippo lighter! So clever.

Zippo lighter picture from shop-online-4.com

Synchronized Office Swimming

Female Russian office workers with time on their hands. Genius!

[via darkroastedblend]

Gandolfini 'Sopranos' wardrobe sells for $187,750

The Soprano's wardrobe was auctioned off at Christie's POP CULTURE Auction today. The highest bid was $43,750 for a faux bloodstained costume, worn by Tony in a scene when heis shot by a demented Uncle Junior.

Read full article in USA Today.

Bill Gates' 'senior moment'

The Microsoft CEO shows his humorous side by acting out "a senior moment" in his leaving video which was shown to Microsoft colleagues.

[via BBC]

Christie's to auction 'Sopranos' clothing

Tony Soprano's bathrobe and other items of clothing will be auctioned off at Christie's Pop Culture auction June 25, reports NJ.com.

"... The most iconic piece of clothing is Gandolfini's bathrobe, embroidered with a purple S, which he wore in the pilot episode to pick up The Star-Ledger at the bottom of his driveway and to feed the ducks in his pool is expected to fetch as much as $1,500.

A blood-covered outfit he wore when he was shot by a dementia-plagued Uncle Junior in season six is expected to sell for $2,000 to $3,000."

James Gandolfini donated about two dozen of his own costumes from the show for the auction. Proceeds from the sales of his personal items will benefit the Wounded Warrior Project, a nonprofit group that assists severely wounded soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan."

Court warns Italian TV prankster

Prolific Italian TV prankster and condom advocate Gabriele Paolini faces a prison sentence unless he behaves. The BBC reports.

"Mr Paolini - who calls himself the prophylactic prophet - has made a career of popping up uninvited behind unwitting on-air TV reporters promoting condom use.

Guinness World Records says Mr Paolini is the world's most successful TV hijacker, interrupting 20,000 link-ups.

... The court has also ruled that anyone who deliberately gets onto TV while standing in a public place can commit an offence even if they are silent and immobile."

US Marines expelled over puppy-hurl YouTube video

The US Marine Corps is expelling one soldier and disciplining another for their roles in a video showing a lance corporal throwing a puppy off a cliff while on patrol in Iraq.

The 17-second video posted on YouTube drew furious condemnation from animal rights groups when it came to light in March.

[via The Evening Times]

The Clintons: Welcome Back

The Clintons return to the White House from the minimoviechannel. What could have been.

[via Neotarama]

Does anyone know who Steve on Grey's Anatomy is?

Does anyone know who Steve on Grey's Anatomy is? asks Jonathan Toomey in a witty (and somewhat cruel) post on TV Squad.

"I sure as hell didn't (he's on the right in the photo). Of course, it was easy to forget who all of the new Grey's Anatomy interns were once Yang gave them all numbers for names in the season four premiere. Apparently, Steve (or should I say #2?) has been blogging about his experiences at Seattle Grace for over a month now. "

An Internet Love Song

[via Metro]

Fake TV Fools Burglars into thinking you're home

Collest Gadgets has picked up on a Fake TV that tricks burglars into thinking you're home.

"The FakeTV uses a variety of colored, flashing LEDs to create the stroboscopic lighting effect which your television gives off while in use. When the burglar struts past your home, they’ll see the FakeTV projecting the flicking light of a typical 27″ television, and they’ll assume that someone is home and move on to the next house.

... When it’s running the FakeTV uses no more power than your average night light."

Grand Theft Auto Morality

This is not a popular thing to do, bashing the latest video release of Grand Theft Auto which has gotten rave reviews. But I think Glenn Beck of CNN Headline News makes more than a valid point.

FaceBook In Real Life

Brilliant. [via Metro]

Babies thrown from tower for good luck

Worshippers at a Muslim shrine in western India drop babies from a 50 foot tower for good luck. A ritual that has been observed for 500 years and local claim there's never been an accident. They believe the whole exercise makes the children strong and prevents physical disabilities.

[via Neotorama]

Obama's Abercrombie Fans. For real? or product placement

Reel Pop picks up on a YouTube video of Obamas Pennsylvania primary speech to Hillary where three supporters are all wearing Abercrombie & Fitch t-shirts.

As Bloggers speculated whether this was intentional or not (product placement or attempt to lure Abercrombie customers to Obama's side), a NJ company launched a blog selling t-shirts that are mashup of Obama's name with Abercrombie's logo.

That's thinking on your feet and as quick a turn-around as the two enterprising artists who came up with the vinyl MacAir Manilla Sleeve following Steve Jobs unveiling of his new super slim computer from a manilla enveloppe.

South Park. No internet.

Our worst fears. No Internet.

[via mobuzz.tv]

It's TV-Turnoff Week (for some)

For some (not me), today is the start of TV-Turnoff Week.

[via The Washington Post]

Discovery Channel: I Love the World

The world is just awesome. Indeed.

[via AdFreak]

"Trash the Dress" Trend

There is a new trend in wedding photography called "Trash the Dress" that started off in the US and is now spreading to Europe and Australia.

Brides are using their wedding gowns in a high fashion photography shoots - where they will ride horses, run through fountains or jump in water - basically ruining their gowns while having a great time - which is what it's all about.

You can watch "Trash the Dress" videos on YouTube

Opening credits on TV series, truly an art form

I'm in awe at the brilliance of some of the opening credits of US TV series. And searching around Google, I've found a whole sub culture of people who share the same fascination. As far as I can tell, there is no Emmy award for this category. There really should be.

Amongst the series I follow (or followed), "Desperate Housewives", "Pushing Daisies", "Weeds", "Nip/Tuck", "Six Feet Under" are all so outstanding and remarkable each in their own way, and some are even pure genius like "Dexter" and "Mad Men".

This MSNBC page (sorry, there is not date as to when it was published) rates the 5 best opening credits in TV. Their list is shorter than mine. But the reviews are outstanding. A must read. Here's "Dexter's" because well, I have a thing for "Dexter".

On Showtime’s serial killer drama “Dexter,” it’s even more uncomfortable to watch than the hour that follows. Filmed mostly in extreme close-up — it’s stunning to watch in HD — it simply shows the title character getting ready for the day. But whether Dexter is slicing open a blood orange or cutting himself while shaving, the mundane actions are shot and edited in such a way that they appear to be much more violent and horrific, thus mirroring Dexter’s life.

Watch opening credit videos of "Dexter" and "Mad Men" found on YouTube.

On TV: Botox. Face-lifts. Reconstructive surgery.

The Los Angeles Times on what television is doing to its actresses. And are we (TV critics) supposed to pretend we don't notice?

It's the new -- and wrinkle-free! -- elephant in the living room. Despite a tacit understanding that actors nowadays start lifting and injecting on their 21st birthday, mentioning an inexplicable altered appearance remains strangely taboo.

[via TV Tattle]

Evolution of Man and TV

Fun.

[Ubergizmo via Wired and Spiral Pocus]

The Trippiest Optical Illusions on the Net!

Spotted on Switched by engadget, a test for creativity or logic, left vs right brain. Wild.

"This silhouette wins the award for coolest thing we've seen all day -- and it's not just because the tiny dancer above is in the buff. This is a little test that will tell you whether the left or right hemisphere of your brain is more dominant."

Latest Get a Mac Ad: Office Stress

Another new Get a Mac ad. Just released last night, "Office Stress".

[via tuaw.com]

High-end travel company offers $24G for 'Sex and the City' tour

Want to live out the glitzy "Sex and the City" dream?

A high-end travel company will give you the chance to walk, shop - and even flirt - like TV's most famous single women in all their favorite New York haunts.

Just eight to 12 women at a time will jet into the city for the five-night re-creation of everything Samantha, Charlotte, Miranda and Carrie would do.

It'll cost $24,000 to join the fun and attend the May 27 premiere of the movie based on the famed series (airfare not included).

[The Daily News via via TV Barn]

Project Virgle

Television tip-over accidents rising nationally

Tip-over TV accidents are increasing across the country, statistics show. In 2006, at least 10 children under 5 died in cases involving televisions tipping over, said the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

[TV Barn via Newsday]

An elephant paints an elephant

[via boingboing]

'We interrupt the web to bring you this message'

In an emergency, the US president can commandeer the country's airwaves to get through to the people, hijacking terrestrial, digital and cable television and radio to get the message out. But with the internet becoming ever more central to communication is that enough? Might many people be left uninformed if only TV and radio are used? asks Tom Simonite, online technology reporter for New Scientist.

"If online video is the new television, why not interrupt YouTube videos to get the message out, or hijack everything from Twitter feeds to Facebook "pokes"? The most extreme solution might be easier to just use ISPs to interrupt everyone's browsing with the emergency message."

Elephants Shoot Excellent Video

For the upcoming BBC documentary series Tiger - Spy in the Jungle, filmmakers enlisted the help of elephants to capture the tigers with hidden HD cameras.

The large "trunk cam" (pictured here) was the most ludicrous of the devices carried by the elephants, while the smaller, lighter "tusk cam" proved to be easier for the elephants to carry for long periods of time.

But the neatest thing from a production standpoint? Apparently elephants move so smoothly that the improvised footage resembles that shot with a Steadicam rig. Look for the show on BBC One this Sunday, March 30th.

Watch the Trunk-cams in action

[Gizmodo via the BBC]

Internet Power!" from 1995

The Internet Archive's earliest snapshots were in late 1996, so anything before that is extremely sparse. The videos, silly as they are, still represent valuable documentation of the early web.

Waxy.org has transferred online, content from 1995 VHS tapes, documenting the early Internet.

This is the first volume of a two-tape collection called "Internet Power!" from 1995. Wonderful.

[via Neatorama]

Message from Tudou to Members Potatoes

I've been concerned about Chinese video sharing site Tudou.com since this morning and now it's 4 pm and the above text is still the only information on a blank page. I quaked that last weeks rumors over Toudu being ordered to shut down had come true.

But fears can be put to rest. The site is simply in maintenance.

Here's a (delightful) translation from Google's automated translator text tool.

Members potatoes:
In order to provide you with better service, we are expanding the relocation of the central room of potatoes.
March 14 at 0:00 to 24:00 at night, our services will be suspended for 24 hours.
March 15 at 0:00 new room on the relocation is complete, potatoes will be time to go home.

Journalist becomes the story at Mark Zuckerberg SXSWi keynote

BusinessWeek columnist Sarah Lacy interviewed Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, keynote speaker for SXSW Interactive at the Austin Convention Center on March 10, 2008.

But on-stage interviewer Lacy out-and-out bombed, becoming much more of the story than she should have been and having the capacity crowd turn on her over the course of the hour discussion. Daniel Terdiman recounts a most unusual keynote on News.com.

"The battle between Lacy and the audience began almost immediately. From the beginning of her interview with Zuckerberg, she repeatedly interrupted him, and all around me, I started to hear annoyed murmurs of people saying that she should stop doing so.

Later on, Zuckerberg himself seemed to get annoyed by Lacy's style. As he was answering one of her questions, she began to talk over him, only to notice his reaction."

... It was her style that lost her the audience almost from the minute it started. She seemed flirty with him, trying to put on an air of being his buddy, when what the audience wanted was to listen to Zuckerberg talk.

... And in a last ditch attempt afterward to win back her dignity, Lacy tried one last riposte.

"I'm sorry to torture you for an hour," she said.

The line did not go over well."

More:

-- Sarah Lacy speaks after the interview

-- Zuckerberg interview: What went wrong

-- Zuckerberg SXSWi interviewer fans fire with Twitter post

-- How Twitter makes it real.

I'm Getting Bored of Facebook Anthem

Catchy.

[via mobuzz.tv]

Cars from The Sopranos up for auction

A total of eight Cars and SUVs from the popular TV series The Sopranos are set to go under the hammer in March including Tony Soprano’s 2003 Cadillac Escalade ESV.

The sale at No Reserve will take place during the 6th Annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event on March 26-30, 2008, in West Palm Beach, Florida, with net proceeds to go to the Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.

[via Gizmag and Jalopnik]

Obsolete (TV) Skills

A lengthy and fun list of Obsolete Skills. Related to television:

-- Adjusting rabbit ears on top of a TV

-- Adjusting a television's color and hue adjustments

-- Cleaning head of a VCR

-- Getting off the couch to change channels on your TV set

-- Recording a TV show with a VCR

I would add:

-- Watching commercials

-- Watching TV series on Television

[via [BB-Blog]]

Blue_Ray Make-Up for High Def TV

Hi-Def is accentuating imperfections in actors. According to the NY Times, producers are taking steps to hide the imperfections. Some shots are lit differently, while some actors simply are not shot at certain angles, or are getting cosmetic surgery, or seeking expert grooming.

Another option is makeup to mitigate wrinkles or facial flaws. An issue addressed by cosmetic company Cargo with it's new line of Blu_Ray Products "designed to provide flawless results while maintaining a perfectly natural look. "

[via The Raw Feed]

Etch-A-Sketch TV

Spotted on Coolest Gadgets, Etch-A-Sketch TV.

Simply plug the controller into your TV and explore 4 activity modes: Cool Drawing Tools, Trace A Pic, Super Sketch and Connecting The Dots.