The Fifth Column first talked about “cutting the cord” in June 2019 in my post On Television that looked at the history of television from broadcast TV and rabbit ears through Cable TV to streaming services delivered via wi-fi. In July 2020 I posted On Television Part 2 – Cutting
Continue readingTag: television
Scripturient: Is Bigger Better? In TVs, Maybe Not.
I read on several websites that for a distance of about 3.6 m (12 ft) from the screen to the viewer, the optimum size of a television should be 85 inches (220 cm, measured on the diagonal). That’s also the distance between someone sitting on our couch and our current
Continue readingTHE FIFTH COLUMN: On Television Part 2 – Cutting The Cord
Those of you who have read THE FIFTH COLUMN: On Television may wonder if the Fifth Columnist has finally decided to cut the cord as it made a pretty good argument for that. Well we have finally overcome over 40 years of inertia and made the decision and as of
Continue readingIn This Corner: Make ’em laugh, make ’em laugh …
The cast of Arrested Development Last week, in an attempt to alleviate the tedium of the Coronapocalypse, I offered some dramatic fare to help you fill the thousands of empty hours. This week, I take a dive into the much trickier realm of comedy. I say trickier, because nothing is
Continue readingTHE FIFTH COLUMN: On Being a “Boomer”
Generations When I was growing up in the 1950s and onward there was not all this talk about generations that seems to have become a fascination of the last twenty years. Although I became aware of the baby boom and even the term baby boomers (now apparently just boomers), I
Continue readingTHE FIFTH COLUMN: On Television
Definitions: 1 A system for converting visual images (with sound) into electrical signals, transmitting them by radio or other means, and displaying them electronically on a screen. 2 A device with a screen for receiving television signals. Source: OED https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/television Television (TV), sometimes shortened to tele or telly, is a
Continue readingIn This Corner: Barr vs. Bee: did the punishments fit the crimes?
After all these months of stories about men behaving badly, it was about time that women had a chance to behave like complete a-holes. Equality take a long time, but we’ll get there, right, ladies? As you probably know, this past week two female TV performers, both alleged comics, got
Continue readingIn This Corner: A Simpsons milestone nobody is celebrating
According to the Internet (which, as we know, is never wrong), if you were to watch all 552 episodes of The Simpsons, it would cost you 12,144 minutes of your life. Or, put another way, 202 hours and 24 minutes. Or, put a third day, eight-and-a-half days. And that statistic
Continue readingIn This Corner: On the contrary: The new Roseanne is bad.
The big news on the entertainment front today is the reboot of the classic TV comedy, Roseanne. The huge new cast of Roseanne, including TV’s most annoying new character. Can you guess who that is? The new season – returning more than 10 years after it outstayed its welcome by
Continue readingdaveberta.ca – Alberta Politics: How Young Voters are accessing information about elections, from the National Youth Voter Survey
“Young people don’t vote,” is a common refrain heard in Canadian politics and until recently, low voter turnout by younger voters supported that claim. The recently released National Youth Voter Survey conducted by Elections Canada following th…
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: Will Ferrell does a mock music video of gangster rap – and it’s a scathingly hilarious critique of the genre
A musical commentary, followed by social and political analysis, followed by hilarious spoof rap videos, and more This is scathingly funny. Will Ferrell does a mock music video of macho gangster rap. Man, how I despise that music. As Rage Against the Machine said, “So-called rap’s a fraud.” Worse, most
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Should Rogers be allowed to block us from watching Hockey Night online?
Big Telecom is running scared of cord-cutters – and is doing what it takes to block them from watching their favourite shows online. It looks like Rogers is even planning to block Canadians from watching Hockey Night online. They want to trap Canadians in expensive and outdated service plans –
Continue readingTHE FIFTH COLUMN: Why Does Canada Participate in the Olympics Anyway
I took this screenshot (CBC website) of the standings yesterday showing Germany in first place with 8 medals, Canada second with 10 medals and Norway in third place with 12 medals.
Yes, that’s right, because only being the very best in the world (we…
Continue readingTHE FIFTH COLUMN: Why Does Canada Participate in the Olympics Anyway
I took this screenshot (CBC website) of the standings yesterday showing Germany in first place with 8 medals, Canada second with 10 medals and Norway in third place with 12 medals. Yes, that’s right, because only being the very best in the world (well best at that particular place at
Continue readingTHE FIFTH COLUMN: Why Does Canada Participate in the Olympics Anyway
I took this screenshot (CBC website) of the standings yesterday showing Germany in first place with 8 medals, Canada second with 10 medals and Norway in third place with 12 medals. Yes, that’s right, because only being the very best in the world (well best at that particular place at
Continue readingMelissa Fong: Lena Dunham: My body’s nobody’s body but mine! You run your own body, let me run mine!
“My body’s nobody’s body but mine! You run your own body, let me run mine!” -Old song that used be in the elementary sex-ed program in the Canadian Curriculum Here […]
Continue readingMelissa Fong: SNL and Black female comedians
Kerry Washington hosted SNL tonight and she was good. They poked fun about this scandal- that SNL didn’t hire any black women. That was a funny enough sketch. But what I found MOST refreshing was that we got to see a black woman just act and not have to be
Continue readingArt Threat: Game of Thrones and Racist Fantasy
Aamer Rahman has recently caused quite a stir among Game of Thrones fandom with his Tumblr post about the shows very problematic representation of race, most notably that hideous last episode of season three. Rahman’s original Tumblr post and his response to the massive backlash from fans has been reposted
Continue readingThe Equivocator: Stop reading this and go watch Borgen.
Seriously. Click here to purchase the first 2 seasons. Need more convincing? Here is why I enjoy”Borgen” so thoroughly: I am a political nerd. Like most political nerds I am able to quote (and subconsciously merge with reality) all 7 seasons of “The West Wing.” For a few months one of
Continue readingFinding Clarity: A Great Ad. For the Liberal party?
Warren Kinsella called attention to this ad on his blog. Thanks Warren. This is a fantastic ad, glorifying the triumph of hard work, persistence in the face of adversity and progress. Damned if this is not an ad for the Liberal Party of Canada. Or it should be. And if
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