Cubbies are engaged in a spring training game in sunny Mesa today. One week and two days they will be opening the season on the road, but opening day will be here nevertheless. I don't have high hopes for either of my teams, the Cubs or the Tigers, but I long for the afternoons and evenings listening to the static on the AM radio with Pat and Ron calling the game. It never has to be just the Cubs. I enjoy listening to the Cardinals play-by-play here in central Illinois too. I don't have to enjoy it when the Cards win though.
As I look forward to the season a few things come to mind. First, have the Cubs assembled a winning team? I don't know. I just hope that they make the games competitive, fun to watch and they play until the 27th out. Same hope for the Tigers. I do look forward to watching the young talent on the White Sox. Alexi Ramirez, Gordon Beckam, and Carlos Quentin. With a healthy Jake Peavy and the pick-up of Juan Pierre, I don't think I should make my annual bet with my brother. But pride will make me make the bet, that the Cubs will still have more wins.
Another team I look forward to watching is the Cincinnati Reds. Again, a young team with seemingly great talent. I will give Jay Bruce a year or two to prove his immense power. I also really like Joey Votto (except when he plays the Cubs). Brandon Phillips is fun to watch at second base.
My fifth team to watch is the incredible Los Angeles Dodgers. They have an unbelievable outfield offensively and an very solid center and right fields defensively. Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier are terrific to watch in the field and at bat. Manny Ramierez is fun to watch at bat, but also comically enjoyable to watch in the outfield. The Dodgers also have a strong pitching staff that will keep them in the games even if the batters are able to hit it to left field.
Finally, check out the final tour of Ken Griffey Jr. in Seattle. Even though he hasn't been the amazing player he was in his youth, he still deserves the respect he will get playing back at home in Seattle. I remember when he came to the majors in the late 80's and how much fun it was to watch him play with his dad in the outfield in Seattle's old ballfield. I hope to get to a Seattle Sox game sometime this summer.
Summer is almost here.
"Seeking Positivity in the Galaxy" is the story where I share the positive experiences from today or a long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
iPad
I watched a video about the iPad tonight...I want one. If I get one, I may never need to leave the house ever again except to simply unplug. Sorry, I have to figure out how to drop video from the net to my blog, so instead you will have to click on the link. The iPad will probably just do it if I thought about it.
http://www.apple.com/ipad/ipad-video/
The New "Broadcasting"
I took my Advanced Communication students on a field trip to local television and radio stations today. It was a great trip topped off by lunch at Old Chicago.
Two interesting and related concepts introduced today were brought to our attention at the public television station, WTVP, and the Regent Broadcasting corporation radio group. First, the tech director at WTVP was discussing the future of television. He sees a future where the viewer decides which shows, or he preferred to call them stories, to watch and when to watch them. True, we have the capability with DVR and even back to the VCR to do this. But he is talking about technology where programs are just offered, like in a Netflix library or something like that, and we simply put shows into a collection and we view when and where we choose. In other words, the concept of "turn on the tv and flip through channels" will be over. In the same vein, the radio station discussed with us that they are purchasing LDR software for the Peoria market. LDR stands for Listener Driven Radio where the listener using a digital radio (ever see those for sale?) can collect songs and listen, using the station's radio frequency, to their favorite songs. Kind of like a Pandora radio concept, but with local advertisements, local news and weather, and emergency reports. Neat concept, but they better start marketing it along with digital radios. That's called parlaying your advertising.
This really is becoming a "me" society. While I find these offerings and ideas appealing, because I live and am immersed in this society, I struggle with this because part of the fun of media and "broadcast" is that we share shows or stories with other human beings. Today, I run into this disconnect with others when they say, "Did you see that new YouTube video..." No, I didn't. End of conversation...awkward smiling...then "see ya!" When we individualize our media entertainment from five to ten options to thousands of "popular" options, the concept of broadcasting disappears and we lose connections with others. I don't know. Any thoughts???
Two interesting and related concepts introduced today were brought to our attention at the public television station, WTVP, and the Regent Broadcasting corporation radio group. First, the tech director at WTVP was discussing the future of television. He sees a future where the viewer decides which shows, or he preferred to call them stories, to watch and when to watch them. True, we have the capability with DVR and even back to the VCR to do this. But he is talking about technology where programs are just offered, like in a Netflix library or something like that, and we simply put shows into a collection and we view when and where we choose. In other words, the concept of "turn on the tv and flip through channels" will be over. In the same vein, the radio station discussed with us that they are purchasing LDR software for the Peoria market. LDR stands for Listener Driven Radio where the listener using a digital radio (ever see those for sale?) can collect songs and listen, using the station's radio frequency, to their favorite songs. Kind of like a Pandora radio concept, but with local advertisements, local news and weather, and emergency reports. Neat concept, but they better start marketing it along with digital radios. That's called parlaying your advertising.
This really is becoming a "me" society. While I find these offerings and ideas appealing, because I live and am immersed in this society, I struggle with this because part of the fun of media and "broadcast" is that we share shows or stories with other human beings. Today, I run into this disconnect with others when they say, "Did you see that new YouTube video..." No, I didn't. End of conversation...awkward smiling...then "see ya!" When we individualize our media entertainment from five to ten options to thousands of "popular" options, the concept of broadcasting disappears and we lose connections with others. I don't know. Any thoughts???
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