According to a poll conducted by the Herald Sun, Channel Ten's 6.30 p.m. with George Negus was voted among the year's television duds?
I wonder though, was it due to this show's low ratings, rather than an issue of program content?
The program is informative, and covers issues that matter, as opposed to what is on offer in this time slot on Channels Seven and Nine.
Surely (though not reflected in television ratings surveys) there are viewers out there who want political stories, and want to be informed about world issues, instead of stories about the latest innovations in bras, and the business practices of Coles and Woolworths.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
On the state of modern pop music
During the week, Mike Stock, (he of Stock, Aitken and Waterman fame) decried the state of modern pop music lyrics and music videos.
He said that performers such as The Pussycat Dolls and Rihanna had taken music into “a slow but unmistakable descent into pornography.”
I thought for a moment about this, and realised that for the older generation to criticise music popular with young people is not a new phenomenon. The Beatles and Elvis Presley were once disapproved of as well.
I then compared the style of the pop hits that Stock, Aitken and Waterman produced back in the eighties. The songs of the likes of Mel and Kim, Rick Astley, Sinitta were, from memory, catchy, inoffensive pop songs, with no sexual references. None of their stable of performers ever resorted to sexualised imagery to generate sales or push boundaries.
I recall that critics of Stock, Aitken and Waterman, said that many of their songs sounded identical, and some of their artists lacked vocal ability. On their songs, some of their artists only sounded in tune thanks to some technical wizardry done in the recording studio.
Still, back in their heyday, Stock Aitken and Waterman did produce a lot of fun pop music; something that has been sadly absent from the Top 40 lately.
Back in the late nineties to the early noughties, there were the boy bands, and groups like The Spice Girls and Steps.
I have to agree with Stock. If anything, his comments reminded me of why I no longer watch programs like Video Hits, avoid the likes of MTV when I’m at the gym, and haven’t listened to commercial FM radio for some time.
He said that performers such as The Pussycat Dolls and Rihanna had taken music into “a slow but unmistakable descent into pornography.”
I thought for a moment about this, and realised that for the older generation to criticise music popular with young people is not a new phenomenon. The Beatles and Elvis Presley were once disapproved of as well.
I then compared the style of the pop hits that Stock, Aitken and Waterman produced back in the eighties. The songs of the likes of Mel and Kim, Rick Astley, Sinitta were, from memory, catchy, inoffensive pop songs, with no sexual references. None of their stable of performers ever resorted to sexualised imagery to generate sales or push boundaries.
I recall that critics of Stock, Aitken and Waterman, said that many of their songs sounded identical, and some of their artists lacked vocal ability. On their songs, some of their artists only sounded in tune thanks to some technical wizardry done in the recording studio.
Still, back in their heyday, Stock Aitken and Waterman did produce a lot of fun pop music; something that has been sadly absent from the Top 40 lately.
Back in the late nineties to the early noughties, there were the boy bands, and groups like The Spice Girls and Steps.
I have to agree with Stock. If anything, his comments reminded me of why I no longer watch programs like Video Hits, avoid the likes of MTV when I’m at the gym, and haven’t listened to commercial FM radio for some time.
Monday, May 2, 2011
On the Royal Wedding
The high television ratings for the Royal Wedding does not necessarily mean that this is a huge setback for the Republican movement, despite what figures like Professor David Flint said.
Is there any way to gauge the various reasons why audience numbers were so large?
Since the Royal Wedding was only days ago, surely any comments about why people watched it are based only on assumptions, rather than fact.
Political debates aside, among the millions who watched, is it possible that after months filled with natural disasters, and growing pressures in everyday life, that many were looking for a little magic to lift their spirits?
Notions of 'true love', and a 'real life fairy tale' appeal to many with romantic yearnings. People wanting to look at the fashions, the pageantry of the occasion, and seeing how locations around the city of London looked for the Royal Wedding, could have have been things that drew people to watch, too.
Is there any way to gauge the various reasons why audience numbers were so large?
Since the Royal Wedding was only days ago, surely any comments about why people watched it are based only on assumptions, rather than fact.
Political debates aside, among the millions who watched, is it possible that after months filled with natural disasters, and growing pressures in everyday life, that many were looking for a little magic to lift their spirits?
Notions of 'true love', and a 'real life fairy tale' appeal to many with romantic yearnings. People wanting to look at the fashions, the pageantry of the occasion, and seeing how locations around the city of London looked for the Royal Wedding, could have have been things that drew people to watch, too.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Lawsuits versus taking responsibility for ourselves
did not know what to think when reading of the lawsuits lodged by Steven Rosten against Palace Cinemas, and Diane Caldwell against the Melbourne Cricket Club.
Some questions need to be asked.
Given the sheer number of people who attend the Anzac Day game at the MCG, how would it be even practicable for MCG staff to be able to clean up every item of food litter?
Could Caldwell have avoided slipping on the chips if she had been paying more attention to where she stepped? Though, this may have been difficult in an area crowded with people, since one has to be conscious of not bumping into others when walking around.
Lawsuits like this seem rather frivolous.
Then, if damages are awarded, what will the outcome be? Like those signs on the sides of coffee cups sold by the fast food chains;
'Caution, contents may be hot'
will the MCC soon have to put up signs warning people about the dangers of food litter like greasy chips around the Melbourne Cricket Ground?
Whilst it is accepted that the proprietors of public places like the Melbourne Cricket Ground have a duty of care, that people using these facilities are safe from potential hazards, where is the distinction between this, and people accepting responsibility for their own actions?
It appears that nowadays, for people who sue after injuring themselves in public places, notions of personal responsibility are eroding as such lawsuits become more common.
Some questions need to be asked.
Given the sheer number of people who attend the Anzac Day game at the MCG, how would it be even practicable for MCG staff to be able to clean up every item of food litter?
Could Caldwell have avoided slipping on the chips if she had been paying more attention to where she stepped? Though, this may have been difficult in an area crowded with people, since one has to be conscious of not bumping into others when walking around.
Lawsuits like this seem rather frivolous.
Then, if damages are awarded, what will the outcome be? Like those signs on the sides of coffee cups sold by the fast food chains;
'Caution, contents may be hot'
will the MCC soon have to put up signs warning people about the dangers of food litter like greasy chips around the Melbourne Cricket Ground?
Whilst it is accepted that the proprietors of public places like the Melbourne Cricket Ground have a duty of care, that people using these facilities are safe from potential hazards, where is the distinction between this, and people accepting responsibility for their own actions?
It appears that nowadays, for people who sue after injuring themselves in public places, notions of personal responsibility are eroding as such lawsuits become more common.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Meaning of the word 'Moomba.'
Since this weekend is the Labour Day long weekend, and Moomba festival time, I was thinking about the word 'Moomba', and how, officially, ''Moomba' is supposed to be an indigenous word, meaning, "Let's get together and have fun."
I remember back when I was in high school, my Dad coming home from work one day, and telling us that in his office, someone mentioned that in some indigenous languages, 'Moomba' is a swear word.
Can anyone confirm that this is true? I tried to find some information online, but have been unsuccessful.
I remember back when I was in high school, my Dad coming home from work one day, and telling us that in his office, someone mentioned that in some indigenous languages, 'Moomba' is a swear word.
Can anyone confirm that this is true? I tried to find some information online, but have been unsuccessful.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Hypocrisy of Drug Allies
Miranda Devine’s article from Wednesday’s Herald Sun (Hypocrisy of drug allies) raises some reassuring and concerning points.
It is reassuring to find that even with underage and binge drinking remaining major public health issues, that illicit drug use is decreasing.
Apart from what Devine said about those who advocate the liberalisation of drug laws instead of the current prevention strategy, the environmental costs of cocaine production, and the social problems that the drug problem is causing in countries like Mexico, some questions need to be asked.
I wonder whether those who are now lobbying for drug liberalisation will feel the same way in decades to come, once health care professionals have had time to gauge what the long term physical and neurological effects of the consumption of cocaine and newer illegal drugs are?
I would compare this to when the links between smoking and lung cancer were first conclusively proven, or when alcoholism was first classed as a disease.
It is reassuring to find that even with underage and binge drinking remaining major public health issues, that illicit drug use is decreasing.
Apart from what Devine said about those who advocate the liberalisation of drug laws instead of the current prevention strategy, the environmental costs of cocaine production, and the social problems that the drug problem is causing in countries like Mexico, some questions need to be asked.
I wonder whether those who are now lobbying for drug liberalisation will feel the same way in decades to come, once health care professionals have had time to gauge what the long term physical and neurological effects of the consumption of cocaine and newer illegal drugs are?
I would compare this to when the links between smoking and lung cancer were first conclusively proven, or when alcoholism was first classed as a disease.
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