A fly On The Most Amazing Wall

Last Thursday I attended an amazing seminar called NewTeeVee Live. The seminar was all about the fusion of T.V. and Internet, and was hosted by the popular blog NewTeeVee. I was able to volunteer so I didn't have to pay the $500.00 to get in. I had the coolest job in the whole joint. I was the gal who escorted all the speakers backstage.

This was the ultimate place to be a fly on the wall, and I took major advantage of listening in on some amazing conversations. I can't tell you how giddy I got when the CEO of Hulu started chatting with the writer and co-executive producer of Heroes. Wow. All I can say is wow. As it turns out, Jesse Alexander (the Heroes guy) was from my home town. He heard me talking about where I was from, and came up to me to start a conversation. I was in nerd heaven. I'm an aspiring writer so actually being able to talk to a writer in the business one on one was nothing short of amazing. He gave me some great tips for breaking into the business, and we shared some laughs about growing up in Santa Barbara. I couldn't have paid $500.00 for that experience.

One of my favorite people I met that day was Michael Buckley. He's a vlogger who has gained quite the following with his vlog called "What The Buck?" . He follows in the footsteps of Perez Hilton by vlogging about the entertainment industry, celebrities, and music. He talks really, really fast and has a very flamboyant personality. My old roommate introduced me to his vlog, and I was really excited to meet him. He did not let me down. Mr. Buckley is one of the most fun, energetic, and nicest people I have ever met. We chatted like we had know each other for years, and even danced a little on our way to the backstage area. Unfortunately I missed a lot of the talks because I was in the backstage area, but the personal time I got to spend with the speakers made up for it.

At the end of the day I had made some excellent contacts, and got to network with actual industry professionals. This was an experience of a lifetime that I will always remember. Oh, and the turkey sandwich they handed out at lunchtime wasn't so bad either. Maybe next year I will shell out the $500.00 to attend. You'll probably find me lurking around the speaker ready room with my camera in hand. I forgot to take my camera this time, but it was still worth the memories.

Do Not Disturb

Privacy is an issue that plagues us everyday. Whenever any of us sends an email it's tracked, and if you have a credit card or put your money in a bank, there are paper trails. Phones could be tapped, security cameras are everywhere, and Google maps has a picture of your home on the Internet for everyone to see. Mike Valentine is a blogger from Marina Del Rey, California. His blog is called, Protect Personal and Financial Privacy. Mike writes about privacy issues, identity theft, data security, and medical privacy matters. Anything you need to know about privacy, is probably archived somewhere in this blog.

One of the privacy issues that creates some controversy, is Google's Street View. This site enables anyone to Google an address or area of town, and see actual pictures of the area. It's a type of virtual tour that has caused some issues. One can see what the premise looks like, view what kind of cars you have in your driveway, and perhaps snap a picture of you watering your lawn in the morning, while wearing your bathrobe. Once, a picture was taken of a woman where her underwear was showing, due to the angle of the shot. Google promptly took down the picture, and now users are able to report inappropriate images. This is one step in the right direction, but do I really want people to be able to see what kind of cars I have parked in my driveway?

Behavioral targeting and online ads are another source of annoyance, when it comes to online privacy. Google, AOL, and many others have been following people's every move online, so ads can be targeted correctly. I have to admit, I did find the perfect bathing suit through one of those target ads. I'm not sure if I hate it all that much after finding such a gem. However, others feel that their privacy is at stake, and many companies are gaining a lot of information about their target audience. Does this make you uncomfortable? I'm still torn on the issue.

Privacy has become null is some aspects, but there are other options. You could just smash your Blackberry, sell your car, cancel all your credit cards, and go live in the forrest. The trees will make it hard for Google Street View to find you, and your privacy will be guaranteed.


Here is how to protect yourself online:

There really is a blog for everything

Net neutrality can be confusing. I had to look in all different directions to find answers to my questions about it. As it turns out, there's a blog about net neutrality! Who knew? Save the Internet, is a blog all about net neutrality, and it helped answer all of my questions. The blog explains what net neutrality is, and how people can get involved. It creates a forum for citizens to come together, and state their opinions on the matter.

Net neutrality (a.k.a network neutrality), is the principle that keeps the Internet open and free. It means there is no discrimination, as far as access to sites are concerned. It prevents providers from blocking, speeding up or slowing down web content, and ownership. According to Save the Internet, net neutrality is the driving force for many Internet liberties, such as: freedom of speech, economic innovation, and democratic participation. The site goes on to explain that the network's only job is to move all information, not choose information to move.

There has been talk of net neutrality changing drastically. Congress has had many bills set before them that reflect changes to net neutrality. Some people are worried that changing net neutrality will stifle the open Internet as we know it. It's believed that it will damage the ability to connect with others, and create filters in democratic and economic areas. It would also change the Internet for the small players in the field. The You Tubers, and Myspacers of today might just find themselves being censored tomorrow.

America is all about freedom. Does changing the rules of net neutrality seem fair to our country's belief system? Free press and free speech are what this country are built on. If this is changed, many will feel as though their rights as Americans were stripped from them. If we have our freedom taken away, what will we have left?

Metallica, Napster, and Blogs, OH MY!

Image courtesy of: metsanitarium.blogspot.com

When Lars Ulrich put an ad in a LA based newspaper back in 1981, he had no idea how successful the band he was about to create would become. They have become so popular, that the fan sites are almost endless. One of the better blogs I was able to find, is called: Sanitarium... And Metallica blog for all. This blog is all about the band that helped create a buzz about the digital rights management/free culture phenomenon. The blog itself hosts a great forum where the band actually participates. You can "ask Lars a question," look for new pictures of the band in the studio, or look up the lyrics to any Metallica song. There are also daily news updates about the band, video footage of jamming, concerts, and special appearances. This site has everything a Metallica fan could need, to be closer to their heroes.

In the year 2000 A.D., an epidemic swept the nation, that caused rock bands to go soft, caused children to be arrested, and caused a stir in the music industry. I am referring to Napster. At the time, Metallica had found out that a demo of their song entitled, "I Disappear," was leaked on the Internet. After finding the source of the leak, the band realized it was coming from Napster. At the time, one could file share on Napster, and it was easy to obtain free music. Metallica didn't think of it as free though, they thought of it as stealing. They filed a law suit, accusing Napster of copyright infringement, unlawful use of digital audio interface device, and the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. Apparently, it was college campuses that were doing the most damage. Napster was banned there, doing more damage to the music site than expected. Napster had to file for bankruptcy.

In the aftermath of this, Napster opened a music store, where one can purchase music legally. Music is now offered through a subscription based approach. People are now charged to put music on their Ipods, and if they want to burn music onto a CD, it cost ninety-nine cents. Wikipedia explains digital rights management as, " a generic term that refers to access control technologies used by hardware manufacturers, publishers and copyright holders to limit usage of digital or media devices." If that doesn't scream Napster, I don't know what does.

Metallica had a huge affect on the idea of DRM, and the systems we use today. The best way to enjoy the free culture movement these days, seems to be through reading blogs. The author, or blogger, is still an artisit, and wants his or her work to be enjoyed. Another great thing about reading blogs, is that you don't have to pay any extra fees, and Lars Ulrich won't have you arrested. It sounds like a win-win situation.

Media Democracy Meets Perez Hilton

We've all seen and heard his name. Most of us have even been on his blog once or twice in our lives, or in a day. He is a facet of our present popular culture. His name is Mario Lavandeira, also known as Perez Hilton. He is a blogger who has created his empire, by writing stories about celebrities, and drawing animation over pictures of these celebrities. His celebrity gossip stories are said to come from "friends" and "acquaintances" he knows in the biz. Isn't it interesting that a kid from the east coast, with a B.A. from NYU in Drama, could make a career out of rumors and doodling over pictures of celebrities? It sounds more like something a seventh grade girl would do in detention. Media democracy has been changing the way media is being molded. Before, we just had shows like Access Hollywood, and Entertainment Tonight. Now, anyone with writing experience and a computer can start a blog about anything they want.

In this creative culture of digital entertainment, we deal with law suits, copyright infringements, and privacy issues. Even Perez Hilton has had his share of these problems. In 2005 he was accused of stealing pictures from other websites to use on his blog. He finally changed his format, and he now cites where each picture comes from. He was also the target of a law suit by a D.J. named Samantha Ronson, whom accused him of writing falsities about her. He won the case, thanks to the amazing first amendment.

The electronic media is running into new issues, because the field is so, well, new. Children of the digital nineties, are growing up to start their own businesses by creating media, just for fun. Perez Hilton started blogging out of the back of a coffee shop on Sunset Boulevard, in Los Angeles, before making it big. He did it for fun, while freelance writing for tabloid magazines. Now he has an online radio broadcast, his own television show, a clothing line, a musical on Broadway based on his character, and he has launched many musical acts into the limelight. If it wasn't for his blog, no one would have heard Katy Perry's pop song that ruled the airways this summer, "I kissed a girl."

Media democracy is changing just as fast as the industry is. With bloggers like Lavandeira , kids who post homemade videos on Youtube, and the social website epidemic (such as Facebook and Myspace), media democracy might not be as relevant an issue as it is right now. It helps protect and promote the everyday person who wants to express themselves via the electronic media. The site Perez Hilton, only proves that there is a new and growing market for hopes and dreams. Just make sure that if you do become a Youtube star, you make friends with Mario Lavandeira, because he might just make you, instead of break you.