Archive for the ‘EPB’ Category

The Addictiveness of Television

Sunday, September 13th, 2009

It’s that time of year again. The new shows are here, and [most of] the old shows are back. There are new “experiments” in programming to be watched and evaluated, and new garbage to make fun of. This is generally one of my favorite times of year, since I worship at the alter of the television gods.

Here’s my take on this year’s new season: EXCELLENT. The new TV out for this 2009-2010 season beats the pants of the last glee1five years. I’ve been super excited for GLEE since the sneak peak FOX showed during Idol finale week. Now that I’ve seen the secondstargate-universe-logo episode, I’m definitely hooked; Matthew Morrisson is so HOT, and I’m going to love having new musical acts to watch every week. I’m also looking forward to Accidentally On Purpose (gotta give new multi-cam comedies a chance!) and The Good Wife from the Tiffany Network  and am curious to see Eastwick and Cougar Town from the Alphabet. And to bring up the rear in my new TV picks is Stargate: Universe airing on the newly re-branded SyFy.

Returning series I love and can’t wait for are Ugly Betty, Desperate Housewives, The Big Bang Theory, Fringe, and 30 Rock. I’ve also been slightly tempted by the promos for Survivor: Samoa, but we’ll see about that. If I actually watch all of these programs, that 10 hours of primetime programming a week, which gets me to the point of this particular post.the-big-bang-theory

Americans watch a lot of television. And when I say a  lot, I mean a LOT; according to Nielsen, the average American watches 151 hours of television per month. That’s about 5 hours per day, or somewhere between 25-35% of a person’s waking day. Ridiculous, right? But, as a television professional, I say, THANKS AMERICA!!! :)

Anyway, what is it about TV that makes us so attached to it? Is it the wonderful programming? No, I don’t think so. Most of it is the_good_wife_hicrap. (Yes, Jay Leno, I’m talking about you.) Is it to have something easy, cheap, and noisy so we’re not alone and bored in our living rooms? Very possibly, but that’s not all of it. People want their stories, and more importantly, they want the characters. These fictional creatures- be they animated, shot on film, or staged in multi-camera, come into our homes on a weekly or sometimes daily basis, and are part of our lives. We learn from them, laugh with them, cry with them. Television characters are the friends that we can have over when we feel like it, and we can never upset them, insult them, or hurt them. They are our constant, our rock in this ever-changing world.

uglybettyI don’t write this facetiously; I really do feel that TV is like that to me and to many others. Is it wrong? Maybe, but it’s not hurting anyone, and it certainly keeps me gainfully employed, so why not?

For now, just keep on watching! There’s good stuff coming…

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What’s your story?

Thursday, March 19th, 2009

As I was driving home from work today, I was thinking to myself, “I’m ready for a big adventure.” 

This is a sentiment I get on occasion, possibly just because I’m bored. Recently, the idea of  ”adventure” comes across as something whirlwind, crazy, and unpredictable.  I especially have been relating my life to a new favorite movie, Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist.  I love it, because the characters in this film are amazing, and because the story is just one big fantastical night.  The most important part: although the characters have to go through  a lot of shit, they’re cool, and they keep going. I guess it’s kind of a coming of age film for the main character, played by Michael Cera, but I really don’t see it that way. The way I really see it is, “I want to have a night like that!”

What it boils down to is this: living life in the moment. Now, I’m no hermit, but at the same time I feel like I should be experiencing a lot more than I do. I want to go new places, meet new people, learn new things. I want to have a blast, be depressed, fall in love, win a contest, and get in trouble all in one night. I kind of just want to get a poll of people:  is this a normal instinct, as is paranoia? Or do I really lack something in my life that would make it more meaningful and adventurous? I want my life to be a roller coaster ride, and I don’t want to have to appologize to anyone for doing what I wanted.

There is a flip side too this sensation: am I greedy? Do I want too much or expect too much out of life? Is it really just naturally dreary and mundane, and I must accept it? I hope not, because that seems like a depressing view of our beautiful world. It seems to me that this is a false feeling, something engrained by our culture. It is rooted in the sentiment that if my friends can’t have fun, why should I? Bear the monotony/pain/(insert-any-emotion here) together, right? Not necessarily. If you have an opportunity, take it! A real friend would never stand in the way of something good for you.

He that is thy friend indeed

He will help thee in thy need

If thou sorrow, he will weep

If thou wake he cannot sleep

Thus of every grief in heart

He, with thee, doth bear a part

These are certain signs to know 

Faithful friend from flattering foe

                              -W. Shakespeare, Sonnets to Sundry Notes of Music

What does this quote tell us, and is it right? Yes, to a degree you have to be there for your friends, “Until the bitter end,” and all that. But if it stands in your way, really prevents you from living the fullest of lives, you have to make a choice. I think this is where some people make the mistake. They allow thier dedication to the friendship blind them to what they will be missing. There is always a trade-off; for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. 

Therefore, I have a new rule, at least for the time being:  don’t forget the world around you. You may just not be interacting with it, or you may be blocked by an old dedication that it’s time to let go of. But what ever it is, that world around you will lead you to  a new chapter in your story. Why not try a new direction?

–Waxing philosophical for the epbbug Broadcast, this is Evan Pavlica; Los Angeles.

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~Recovery~

Saturday, February 28th, 2009

On February 17, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law. In this economic “crisis” that we are in, “Recovery” seems to be one of the biggest buzz words; and no wonder why. The Country is in need of something- something really BIG to get itself back on its feet. The President seems to have the right idea: invest today for a brighter tomorrow. While attempting to maintain an unprecedented level of transparency by launching Recovery.gov, he has managed to pump almost a trillion dollars into our economy. One can only hope- as he does- that this level of capitol injection into the economy can give us a jump start in our Recovery.

As I said, “Recovery” seems like a word that’s been bantered about an awful lot of late. But Let’s look up the word, just to make sure we really know what it means:

recovery (plural recoveries)

  1. The act or process of regaining or repossession of something lost.
  2. A return to normal health.
  3. A return to former status.
  4. Renewed growth after a slump (economy).

(from the Wiktionary)

Ok, I guess all of these definitions can work for our current predicament. But I don’t we’re really connecting with the word- it’s significance, and the extreme difficulty underlying it’s achievement.

The reason I am now connecting with this word, more than before, is actually from a movie, PS I Love You. This film, starring Gerard Butler (yum) and Hillary Skank (ew), is about the recovery of a woman after the death of her husband. Although romantic (Butler’s character left letters to help her get over greif and on with her life), this piece of cinema intersected our national situation for me in this way: just when you think everything is going to be ok, and se’s done and over it, she starts crying again! (Very irritating, but also common.) Recovery takes longer than expected. Always. Even if it seems that everything is back to normal, there is something that festers and brings you toppling down again and again.

Perhaps this is the built-in part of causality: the cycle of good and bad. But when it comes to the economy, let’s not be so cavalier. Sure we can hope; but be honest. This thing isn’t going to be over for a long time to come. We’ve got our bow turned into the waves, but we still have to hang tight and batten down the hatches until this storm passes.

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Things Happen (the 1st Presidential Debate)

Saturday, September 27th, 2008

John McCain, left, and Barack Obama (Getty Images photo) via <a href='http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3iac830de737fb3212071d9d06b8680a7a'> Hollywood Reporter</a>

John McCain, left, and Barack Obama (Getty Images photo) via Hollywood Reporter

A nation in financial panic watched tonight as presidential candidates Barak Obama and John McCain verbally duked it out at the University of Mississippi for the 1st Presidential Debate of the 2008 elections. As I watched, I had conflicting feelings about the topics they were discussing. While I did not agree with Senator McCain the majority of the time, I was neither impressed by Senator Obama’s stances on the issues. It seems to me that some things should be obvious, and not need to be stated; such as the need to have talks between the next president and the leaders of Iran and North Korea.

Overall, I found the debate to be a bore. McCain demonstrated that he is indeed an old man by rambling on with stories of his glory days. He continuously used the phrase “Senator Obama doesn’t understand” in an attempt to undermine his opponent, but in the end just demonstrated that he really does not speak for himself, repeating political keywords that I’m sure he was coached to emphasize by his campaign advisers. Unfortunately Senator Obama was not as strong as I wanted him to be. although he held his ground on certain issues, I expected him to have stronger and more varied opinions on issues of energy and the economy. Overall, I was disappointed with the event.

The economic “crisis” is something that I hear a lot about right now. In fact, it seems to be the only thing on people’s minds. The bailout being discussed by congress is to my mind ridiculous. $700 Billion is a LOT of money.  So much, in fact that I feel that it will never be paid back in full. I feel that the free market needs to just work itself out of this one. Yes, it may hurt the economy in the short term, but in the long term Americans will be paying back even more money than we already owe. How much higher can we really push the national deficit? Our great-grand kids will be paying for what we’re in the hole for right now.

$9,849,249,966,383.92

That is the national debt today (9/25). Unbelievable! The Iraq war and other runaway government spending is pushing it ever higher.  (This number is updated daily by the US treasury dept, found here) I think that we need to start spending money where Americans need it (Education, Health, Environment) and stop trying to help these gargantuan multi-national companies get their asses out of the mess they’ve put themselves in. Why should we pay for the mistakes of these companies? They messed up, and have to deal with the consequences themselves. I am writing to my senators in hope that they will stall the economic aid bill before we all owe another $3,600.

Deception Point (2001) by Dan Brown

Deception Point (2001) by Dan Brown

I am reading a novel by Dan Brown (The Da Vinci Code) called Deception Point. Published in 2001, the main character discovers a plot involving high-power politics, secret government organizations, and lots of money. So far, it’s an excellent book. It has, however, raised my awareness of certain conspiracy theories involving the US government as well as the New World Order. It has also spurred my interest in the US Intelligence Departments- the CIA, NSA, NRO, etc. Working for these agencies must be fascinating as well as rewarding. They have access to unbelievable technology, see things so secret that they may never become public, and travel, all while serving our magnificent country. 

I wonder how exciting work in the intelligence field is- is it really so cloak-and-dagger, like James Bond? Or is it more a desk job, digging through data? I’m kind of curious about it. Either way, I doubt I’ll ever know. 

From Colorado Springs, this is Evan for EPBroadcast, signing off.   :p

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Introspection

Monday, August 25th, 2008

I’m really into the Twilight saga right now. Since I’m not working, I have had a chance to catch up on my reading, which means blazing through this excellent series. Right now I’m about half way through the latest book, Breaking Dawn. The series is well written, and I especially enjoy the humor that the author throws in in the most unpredictable spots.

Here’s why I’m writing about it, though: it depresses me. See, the story is about this girl named Bella, and her relationship with her vampire boyfriend, Edward. Generally speaking, the books have plenty of action to keep the mind interested. However, they are also heavily laden emotionally. The writer, Stephanie Meyer, describes this LOVE between Bella and Edward that makes me hurt a little inside because I feel that I will never create an emotional bond like that- I don’t think I would ever choose to live with a person for ETERNITY. Then I feel guilty, and think that maybe I shouldn’t want to create ANY emotional attachment, because I don’t want to cheat anyone I’m attached to to miss that true love that Bella and Edward have in Twilight.

At the same time, the books awaken a kind of yearning in me to find a person to share ever waking second with- a companion. It’s this weird thing, that kind of twists my stomach a little because I am split about relationships. On one side, I feel like they are foolish, silly, and unnecessary. Why not be a lone wolf? Why not be like Elizabeth I and be married to my people, my cause? On the other hand, there’s this longing, and a deep set loneliness, like I’ll never be happy without someone by my side. The rift between these two feelings is normal for me, but the twisting comes from the two becoming out of balance. the Twilight books just seem to add a little to much weight to the “I’m lonely”/”I’ll never be happy without a man” side. Reading these books is rocking the boat!

I noticed a link while surfing around the net today, and ended up here:
GAY.COM – Finding A Great Relationship

The author of the article has some good tips, but I just wasn’t sure about certain things. A few of his suggestions involve making decisions, which I HATE. Why choose one thing today, and then find out I chose wrong tomorrow. I can just not make a choice at all, and maybe make a better decision tomorrow.

Another emotional chasm here- make a choice, and have a new experience (one of the most important things in life) OR wait, and make a choice for a BETTER experience, at the cost of time (another of those most important things in life). Perhaps I’m just a contradictory, emotionally conflicted person.

I continued to surf, and found this article by the same guy:
GAY.COM – Whose life is it, anyway?

I like this article a little better, but still, it’s putting things in my lap. Why can’t there just be a magic pill or something that just makes everything the way you want it? I guess the question with that would be deciding what you want before you make everything perfect. Choices, choices!

So, what’s the logical thing to do, in the end? What half of yourself do you listen to? Or is there a greater truth? And if there is greater truth, how do you find it? It seems like the more questions I try to answer, I have even more waiting to take their place. Maybe THAT is the ultimate truth- there are always more questions to answer.

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Blog : Redesigned

Friday, August 22nd, 2008

Hello, Readers! Welcome to my newly re-designed blog. “Die Another Night” is no more, and “EPBroadcast” is born!

It has been waaaay too long since my last blog, and I think the time has come for a change. The world is different, as is my life, so the time is now!

This new, refined blog is going to be a journal of my life, but more than that it will be reflections on our culture and our forward momentum. I want to share life, create beauty, and celebrate the good things. It is called the ‘broadcast’ because the internet is the best way to reach the widest rage of people- information sharing for the 21st century. Visitors, you are encouraged to leave comments- the more we share the more we evolve culturally, intellectually, and emotionally.

Consider me your steadfast reporter- I will relay the truth (as I see it).

Yours Faithfully,

EP

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