Top Video on Demand through February 24

Rentrak Corporation today announced the top ten movies-on-demand titles based on consumer transaction rate. Movies-on-demand are transactional (pay-per-purchase) films available through cable and telco providers. According to the company's OnDemand Essentials service, the top ten most-viewed titles, per data collected from February 18, 2013 through February 24, 2013 include:

1 Argo
2 Skyfall
3 Flight
4 Sinister
5 Here Comes The Boom
6 Anna Karenina
7 Hotel Transylvania
 8 Alex Cross
9 The Perks of Being A Wallflower
10 The Man With The Iron Fists

Baseball time is here

Spring is here and you've already forgotten for a moment about Miami Dolphins Tickets or New Orleans Saints Tickets, instead you start reading about who's making up which lineup and which pitchers will be the starting pitcher for the season for your favorite team.

It's also a good time of year to start looking for tickets online, you may be able to find a great deal on those New York Giant Tickets or plan ahead for that weekend you've always wanted that includes New England Patriots Tickets. Planning ahead can save you money when it comes to hotel and travel arrangements.

The Internet can also come in handy when it comes to baseball season, a last minute trip that includes Boston Red Sox Tickets is as easy as just a few mouse clicks away. Many times last minute travel deals can be just as affordable as ones you plan out months in advance. Great seats that may not be available through the stadium can be found online.

Speakers of the House

I bet you thought I was going to go political didn't you? Not this time, this is about a different type of speakers of the house, one that more people are probably fond of -- home speakers. The right home sound system can make your television or gaming experience better. Now that we have a Wii, we use it to watch Neflix through our television, with surround sound, it makes it a much better experience than back in the day when we would watch from the computer.

Entourage is Townsend's favorite sitcom

Entourage - My Favorite Sitcom on TV

Thanks for the post from Rashad Townsend

As I watch Entourage on direct tv irving, I can't help but wonder if there's ever been a show that has been so little about itself and so much about the culture that surrounds it. Entourage, after all, is not just any sitcom. While there have been plenty of television programs based on the lives of others, there has never been one that has so pandered to audiences obsessed with celebrity, and this is why it is my favorite sitcom on TV.

Like a reality show on the inside of Hollywood, Entourage seeks to replicate the experience of being a famous actor. It tries to blend its reality with our own, often hiring real actors to play themselves in either parody or superficial cameo. In this way I feel as if I am gaining some kind of insider knowledge, not from the show's banal plot, but the actors choices of how to display themselves. Often times you can tell who has a sense of humor and who is narcissistic about their image just by the lines they agree to. Furthermore, while it's likely Entourage takes large dramatic liberties with how deals go down, it is still an interesting representation. Finally, the dynamic of the lead actors themselves is noteworthy, because while they are all on equal standing, they are asked to play roles where one actor is of larger standing than others, and I relish in the awkwardness this creates.

Online shopping for tickets...

Once upon a time if you wanted to find tickets for a sporting event, you'd have to get them locally or make arrangements with a travel agent or other method, such as buying DODGER STADIUM TICKETS by mail, then wait for them to come to you. Now of course things have changed and no matter what part of the country you are in, you can buy tickets to concerts and sporting events online.

Want BCS National Championship Tickets? Not only can you buy your tickets, but you can pick where you want to sit. Not sure of what part of the arena is where you want to sit? The seating charts and other information are also at your online fingertips. Want to see what events are upcoming? Take a look at HONDA CENTER TICKETS, as an example to see what's coming up at the Honda Center or just about any other arena or entertainment center in the US.

Strange psychedelic patterns....

I don't watch television very often, however the other night when I turned on our television to try to watch the local news, this strange psychedelic pattern appeared instead of a normal picture. It eventually stopped, but I'm guessing it's a sign that the television might need to be replaced soon. This has created a discussion as to what kind we should get. There are some good deals out there on Samsung HDTV as well as other flat screen television models and types that would take up quite a bit less room that the huge box of a television set our current Samsung is.

Hulu stock to be offered soon...

We don't have cable or dish, so I watch most of the television shows I like online, either directly through the network or on Hulu. So, this piece from Wired caught my attention:

While many online video sites provide an alternative to televised fare, Hulu delivers actual television programming over the net, including a free, ad-supported service that brought in over $100 million last year and a new $10-per-month premium version that has already launched for select users, providing a greater selection of content and wider device support.

As things stand today, Hulu Premium cannot substitute for premium cable or satellite service, as its price indicates. But today’s broadband speeds are perfectly capable of providing high-definition television programming, so future versions of Hulu Premium could offer more programming at a higher price. Investors who bet on Hulu through this IPO would win big-time, if the company manages to cut cable and satellite television providers out of the equation, offering the same content that’s on televisions through a simple internet connection.

Even President says top kill failed...

Normally if you hear the words from a President that "top kill has failed" you'd think of some secret mission involving an uncover operation designed to kill some terrorist threat. Now of course most of us realize that the term "top kill" is related to trying to contain the oil spill. As addition coverage to the below posts on this topic is this Reuters story where President Obama shares his thoughts on the continuing oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

3D technology coming to a television near you...

Reuters reported in January that China is expected to become the largest consumer of LCD TVs in 2011 and many manufacturers are putting significant investments into their LCD factories in 2010 to build capacity for the expected boom in 2011.

New technology is also expected to help to drive sales of LCD TV in 2010 as well. One of the most important is 3D panels. A number of networks also announced new 3D channels would be coming in 2010 and in 2011 to take advantage of the new 3D TV availability. LED-backlit sets were also predicted to still generate higher sales than 2009.

European company to mix cable with internet

It's not coming here, at least yet, but this story from Wired on what Liberty Cable is planning in Europe, (link) is a recommended read since it gives us a hint into what our futures could hold:

Think of it as a Boxee or Roku-like service living on the cable digital video recorder. For instance, a search for Batman will show what channel is broadcasting it, if is available through video on demand, where on the web you can find it and even if it is available through some peer-to-peer networks.

The move will be a big step forward for the cable industry, which has so far been wary of internet video content. It could change the idea of a set-top box and usher in a post-TiVo era where consumers watch Jersey Shore with the same ease as an episode of the online show Epic Fu. In addition to delivering a greater variety of content to your living room, it could open up new opportunities for video producers to reach a mass audience, and could help the cable companies sell more broadband accounts.

The only losers? Startups that have bet their futures on making dedicated internet TV boxes, with functions that set-top boxes like Liberty Global’s could soon replace.

The box or the “gateway” as Nair likes to call it will be an IP-based device that can stream video, voice and data over Wi-Fi to devices in the home such as PC, phones and eventually the iPad. Liberty will partner with Samsung and LG to build the box, which will be powered by Intel’s Atom processor.

Cigars...I only know what I hear

Several of the men I am acquainted with in the news/blogging industry are fans of cigars. I've listened to their discussions and even tuned into a local radio show from time to time to learn more about the topic of top shelf versus discount cigars so that while I don't smoke cigars, I know enough of their "lingo" that I can if necessary at least appear to be able to nod intelligently. I know some women smoke cigars, but for me I think the problem would be in being a cigarette smoker that I would without thinking, inhale. Which is apparently not the concept behind a cigar...

You can save money buying tickets online...

Back in the old days, a sporting event at a place like the American Airlines Center could be sold out. Then you'd have people selling or scalping tickets for quite a huge increase over the original price. Some used to by blocks of tickets for that purpose. Now, thanks to the internet, it's easier to find tickets for events that may be listed as sold out like Celtic woman tickets without having to pay two or three times more than the original ticket price.

Some of these sites manage this by making arrangements with people who are season ticket holders to sell some of their days. Similar in a way to the concept of how a time share works. This would mean as an example, if I had Calgary Flames Tickets for a whole season and I knew there were certain games I was not going to, I'd sell those seats to a broker for a small fee, then I would not have to deal with selling them directly. Other ticket sales companies buy directly from the sporting venue, and some do both. Either way? It can result in good prices and entertainment fun.

How I watch television...

I don't really watch that much television on the actual "television" -- we don't have cable so I do use one of those digital adapters to get some of the local stations in, though it must be pointed out that those digital adapters don't work very well, I can only really get one station in clearly. Thankfully it's the main one I watch for news. I basically use my computer monitor which is like using one of the led tvs out there to watch movies or television shows online. It's close enough to my bed and large enough that I just turn it a bit and can watch it when I can't sleep...

The whole rabbit ears with the digital adapter...

We don't have cable tv and we don't have any DIRECTV Specials as far as channels. In fact we don't even have satellite television. We have one of those "free" digital adapters and the old rabbit ears that I used before. The problem is of course the new "digital" system is worse than the old system. We used to be able to get six channels in clearly, including all four of the local news channels.

What makes me search the internet from time to time, where I recently came across "BlogTelevision.net" and looked at some of the DIRECT TV Offers is the fact that two of our local channels don't come in good at all with the digital adapter. It's not like the problems of old where they would be fuzzy, with the new digital system the government forced on us, the picture freezes. Then you get a message on your screen that the "digital signal is not available" -- Then you sigh...

Then you may start looking for DIRECT TV Specials because frankly at times it is frustrating. Granted it is free, but even with our limited budget some of the DIRECTTV Specials appear affordable, or at least appear to be much less than cable television was.

Speaking of online gambling...

If you really want to play at an online casino where more than betting on Bernanke's confirmation is on your mind, there are lots of places you can play a variety of games.

Online Casino Spotlight gives you a listing and links to the best places to play. As an example if it's blackjack you are looking for? They are the place to start.

They also have some interesting news items on a variety of topics from casino security to Vegas technology. This means not only can you find places to play online but you can also keep up to date on the latest gaming industry news.

Imagine poker in Vegas without leaving home...

So, you fancy yourself a poker player or have dreams of one day being one of those top poker players on the television tournaments? Or maybe you don't dream that high but just want to have some fun playing poker on line. Either way, there are some great resources to help your level of game out there on the internet. Poker Videos for those of you who learn best by watching is one such resource.

More of a statistics type person? Then Poker Odds Chart resources might be just what you need to move up to the next level of play. There are also a variety of Poker Tools out there that can be of huge help, especially for those of you just beginning to play the game. All accessible right from the comfort of your own computer...

Another advantage of satellite, take your dish with you...

Traditionally when you move, especially when it's not within the same city, you have to start service all over again at the new address. Especially when it comes to cable tv. That's not always the case with satellite providers like Direct TV. Since the coverage is nation wide, you can opt for a new dish, or take your dish with you to the new location.

While you will still have to have an appointment to set up new service in a majority of cases, you don't have to start all over with a new account, you can transfer your service, preferences, etc. This means whether you are looking for Direct TV in Texas or Ohio, it can be an easier transition. Which can mean less time to go without your favorite satellite station or a favorite package that Directv offers.

The cool stuff for school...

I recommend checking out Wired with their coverage of what's cool for school kids. They review computers to backpacks with some items that you might not have heard about. Like this one:

Tech Group WipeOut Chalk Dust Gun

There's a safer, lighter, much less messy version of paintball — only it doesn't use paint in any form. It's called WipeOut, and it comes as set of two guns, each of which holds and can shoot foam-tipped darts that leave a smear of chalk dust when they hit. The kit also comes with two pairs of safety glasses, because of course chalk dust in the eye would not be much fun. The guns are spring-loaded, so their range is considerably more limited than paintball guns, but as a parent I'm not sure that's a bad thing.
— Matt Blum

The story behind Frankenstein...

Recommended piece in Newsweek Their Love is Alive where the mystery of Mary Shelley then Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin has a bit more light shed on it. One small part:

Few people did more to promote the archetype of the independent Romantic hero than Percy Shelley. It turns out, though, that he was a conscientious helpmate. By examining Mary's original drafts, Shelley scholar Charles E. Robinson identified Percy's contributions to Frankenstein and, in 1996, edited a reproduction of Mary's notebooks for scholarly audiences. Now he has published The Original Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus, by Mary Shelley (with Percy Shelley). The first part of the new book highlights Percy's edits and the second reveals Mary's lone voice. "The novel was conceived and mainly written by Mary Shelley," Robinson writes in his introduction, but he estimates that Percy wrote "at least" 4,000 to 5,000 words of the 72,000 total. Many of -Percy's fixes are minor. Some are good, some bad. Percy may have corrected Mary's parallel constructions, but he also mucked up her more straightforward language. "Smallness" became "minuteness." "I did not despair" became "I doubted not that I should ultimately succeed." Frankenstein was already turgid; Percy made it more so.

Ticketmaster subpoenaed over reselling

They call it "reselling" but the reality is it's closer to electronic scalping...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- Ticketmaster has been subpoenaed or received other requests for information from the U.S. Justice Department, the Federal Trade Commission and the New Jersey Attorney General's office, the company said in an email obtained by an industry blog.

The law enforcement agencies were interested in Ticketmaster's relationship with its reseller TicketsNow, in particular controversial sales of tickets to Bruce Springsteen shows in New Jersey on May 21 and 23, said the email displayed on TicketNews.com.

"We have received a number of subpoenas and demands for sworn information about TicketsNow and its broker clients," Ticketmaster said in the email.

Ticketmaster, which is seeking to merge with the world's largest concert promoting company Live Nation, was besieged by complaints earlier this year when fans of Bruce Springsteen who signed on to Ticketmaster to buy concert tickets were told that they had sold out within minutes. They were instead directed to the reseller TicketsNow which had considerably more expensive tickets.

Ticketmaster has said the problem was caused by a computer glitch.