Mark's Top Websites

Update: I tweeted a link to yesterday's article to Greg Benson of Mediocre Films - @mediocrefilms - on Twitter yesterday, and he said the bit about his YouTube channels made his day. Is that awesome, or what?

And now, to today's post about my favourite websites on the Interwebs.

Every day, billions of people around the world surf the Internet for a wide variety of reasons. It could be for doing research, connecting with friends, reading news headlines, looking for jobs - I do that a lot - , watching videos, or even taking care of personal finances.

Naturally, everyone has a series of different websites that they frequent on a daily - or hourly; hello, Facebook - basis. Here is a list of some of the websites that I visit.

1. Facebook
Like many people, I have become a Facebook junkie over the years. I joined the popular social networking site back in 2006, when it was in its infancy. Five years later, Facebook has blossomed into one of the most popular websites in the world. Almost everyone I know uses Facebook and has a profile there. The site allows you to connect with friends and family, share photos and videos, and even play games, some of which are rather addictive. Facebook has taken a bit of a hit in recent years because of provacy issues, but founder Mark Zuckerberg and his crack team of programmers are constantly developing new and interesting ways to keep your information safe. If you're not already on Facebook, you really should be. MySpace is, like, so 2006.

2. Twitter
As little as two years ago, I was opposed to the idea of using Twitter. I didn't really see a point of micro-blogging - all posts must be 140 characters long or less - and I thought that it was only for celebrities. Earlier this year, I changed my tune. Several of my friends were using this platform to communicate, so I decided to jump on the Twitter bandwagon and see where it would take me. It turned out to be a good idea. I follow people more than I Tweet - most of my Tweets these days have been links to my articles on this blog - and I find it interesting to learn about what several people I admire are thinking daily. Some Tweets provide useful news updates, while others are just plain funny or random. But it's all part of the process at Twitter, and I'm certainly enjoying the ride. If you're interested, you can follow me on Twitter. My account is @MarkEDavid.

3. TSN.ca
The official website of The Sports Network (TSN), Canada's answer to ESPN. Basically, TSN is exactly like ESPN, only with hockey coverage. ESPN provides very little NHL coverage, but I digress. TSN.ca is my one-stop shop for sports news, and their coverage is excellent. They literally cover all the bases, so you can get your updates on the latest happenings in your favourite sport(s) quickly. They also have lots of video highlights for those who love to re-live those epic sports moments again and again. If you're a sports junkie like I am - okay, I'm mostly a hockey junkie, but still - stickhandle your way over to TSN.ca today, and get yourself in the loop.

4. Yahoo! Canada
Yahoo! Canada has been my default homepage for as long as I can remember. It serves as the portal to all of my web surfing adventures. In addition, it also houses my two e-mail accounts - personal and business - and provides useful news updates. Usually, when I want breaking news updates, Yahoo! Canada is the first place I look. They also have some interesting specialty articles and blogs - their array of sports blogs are very impressive - and they've got fun games to play, too - my all-time high score on Text Twist is 129,000 points; challengers welcome. Basically, if you're looking for a good place to start your daily web surfing expeditions, Yahoo! Canada is the place for you.

5. RadioInsight
I'm a fan of many things, one of them being radio. Like with the other things I follow, I like to stay on top of what's happening in the world of radio. RadioInsight, managed by long-time radio enthusiast Lance Venta, is one of the best places to get your radio news fix. Lance digs deep and often has information about upcoming format changes and other such things way before they're officially announced. As a collector of airchecks myself - I've been doing it since 2007; I specialize in format changes - I often look to RadioInsight first before deciding what to record, and when. Lance also runs a cluster of other radio-related websites, including the Format Change Archive - some of my format change airchecks are featured there - which is an online database of format change airchecks from the past and present. So if you like to stay a few steps ahead of what's going on in the wide world of radio, be sure to visit RadioInsight.

6. BuzzerBlog
BuzzerBlog is to game shows what RadioInsight is to radio. Managed by Alex Davis, who has several years of industry and production experience, BuzzerBlog provides its readers with up-to-date information about the world of game shows. In addition to providing extensive coverage of North American game shows, the site also keeps tabs on what's happening in the U.K. Alex and his team of contributors also give detailed set reports and behind-the-scenes info about new productions on occasion, in addition to video highlights of significant happenings. As a game show fan for many years, I like to stay updated on the game shows I watch, and I have this site to thank for introducing me to several new game shows like Take the Money and Run and It's Worth What?, which I reviewed in earlier posts. So, to sum it up in a Jeopardy!-style clue, "It's the blog with all the latest game show news and information." *presses buzzer* "What is BuzzerBlog?"

7. That Guy With The Glasses
Would you believe that this site is actually run by a by a guy with glasses? Well, it's true, my friends. That Guy With The Glasses, often abbreviated as TGWTG, is the brainchild of Chicago native and occasional animator Doug Walker. The home of the wildly-popular film review show The Nostalgia Critic - produced, written, and portrayed by Walker himself - TGWTG features a wide variety of videos about everything from video game play-throughs to comedy sketches, all of which are sure to appeal to everyone's inner geek. Although Walker's material is the primary focus of the site, TGWTG also has numerous contributors who specialize in different subjects. No matter what your geeky interests are, TGWTG is sure to have something that will suit your tastes.

And there you have it, folks. Seven of the websites that I make a daily habit out of visiting. Obviously, I visit other websites outside of this one - YouTube being one of them, but that was the subject of yesterday's post - so I may do a follow-up article later on. I hope you enjoyed this article. As always, stay tuned for more.

Mark's Top YouTube Channels

If you're like me, and you enjoy watching videos on YouTube, chances are, you're subscribed to several different channels that produce content you enjoy. Theses channels may be funny, interesting, insightful, or just plain weird. But either way, they produce videos that keep you coming back for more.

The following is a list of my favourite channels in YouTube, in no particular order. You may have heard of some of these channels before, but if not, you're in for a treat - and a bit of a learning experience, at that.

1. MediocreFilms & mediocrefilms2
You can't say hilarious without mentioning Mediocre Films and its creator, Califorina native Greg Benson. Specilalizing in funny, crazy, or just plain bizarre videos, Greg's sketches, vlogs, and occasional forays into douchebaggery are always sure to get you laughing. The primary channel, MediocreFilms, features Greg's comedy sketches and various other things, while mediocrefilms2 features vlogs and anything else not featured on the primary channel. Of special interest is the official YouTube channel of Yeshmin Blechin, one of Greg's most popular characters. Regardless of which Mediocre Films channel you watch, you'll be in for some great, laugh-a-minute action. The fun never stops with Mediocre Films.

2. JPizzle1122, A.K.A. Jogwheel Productions (Formerly ideo Productions)
The brainchild of Bostonian Jonanthan Paula and his co-contributors / partners-in-crime Jory Caron, RileyMcIlwain and Ryan Lewis. This channel is most famous for their hit show, Is It a Good Idea to Microwave This?, where microwave scientists Jory and Riley put random things into their microwave(s) so you don't have to. The Microwave Show, as it is often called, recently ended its run after four years and 300 experiments, but Jon and his friends continue to produce cuting-edge content daily. You'll find sketches, movie reviews, and even roller coaster rides, among other things. Definitely worth the visit.

3. Jon's World
If you like the content on Jogwheel Productions' main channel, you'll be sure to like the content on Jonathan Paula's personal channel. Here, Jon rants about news headlines (The World According to Jon), plays popular video games (Game Time), and shares his random adventures (Jon's Adventure Vlog). I enjoy his rants, and his Adventure Vlogs are always fun to watch. If you like this kind of stuff, head on over and check it out.

4. Epic Meal Time
"Bacon strips, and bacon strips, and bacon strips," and lots of videos about gargatuan gastronomic - and highly fattening - creations. That's what these Montrealers - they're actually from Dollard-des-Ormeaux, but that still counts - do on their channel. Join Harley Morenstein and the gang for lots of fun with food. Each meal is usually more epic than the one that preceded it, and watching how they make the epic meals is just as fun as watching them eat it afterwards. If you're a foodie, and you love to experiment with different kinds of food, Epic Meal Time's videos are sure to please you.

5. FPS Russia
I discovered this channel through a guest spot that this channel's creator, Dimitri, did with the Epic Meal Time guys, aptly titled Russian Meal Time. The primary focus of this channel is demonstrations of various kinds of firearms. Now, I'm not really a fan of weaponry, but Dimitri's presentation style make the videos fun to watch. Needless to say, this "Professional Russian", as he calls himself, has a pretty "explosive" personality, so to speak. If you like to wake up to the smell of napalm in the morning, consider checking this channel out.

6. mrSimon34
What do you get when you cross YouTube Poops, musical creations, and other auditory oddities? You get the interesting works of England's Simon McClure. Computer animator by day, unique content producer by night, Simon's always got some cool stuff to share with his audience. Also worth checking out are Simon's alternate channels, The Electric Cheese, mrSimon's Scraps, and the web music label he founded, ROFLTrax (A.K.A. Breakbit).

7. College Humor
I absolutely love these guys and the stuff that they make. An extension of the website of the same name, College Humour's YouTube channel features hilarious sketches, parodies, pranks, randomness, and much more. And the best part of it all is that you don't have to be enrolled in a college in order to enjoy their content. How awesome is that?

Well, there you have it. I've gotten countless hours of enjoyment from these seven YouTube channels, and I hope that you do too.

Tomorrow, I'll discuss some of my favourite websites on the vast super-highway of information that they call the Interwebs. Stay tuned for that.

Old vs. New: To Retain or Not Retain?

A 1994 Nova Bus Classic waits for passengers on De Maisonneuve Blvd.
in downtown Montreal. If the STM has their way, these older, yet more
reliable buses will soon become extinct.

If there is one thing that remains constant in today's modern society, it's that new things will often replace older ones. Sometimes, this is due to the fact that the old things can no longer perform properly, or are not as efficient as they once were. Other times, it's because the old things have become obsolete, and newer things capable of performing the same task(s) have been brought in to replace them.

There are many instances where this comes into play. One such example is in the wold of technology. Every day, the major technology giants try to one-up each other with some kind of new and supposedly awesome gadget. Apple is notorious for doing this. Just as you're starting to enjoy your iPod, Apple releases a newer one, thus rendering yours obsolete. I use an older iPod that is no longer being sold in stores, but it still works great, and I have no plans to get rid of it anytime soon.

Another example is with the Societe de Transport de Montreal (STM) and their bus fleet. The oldest buses in the fleet, called Classics, will reportedly all be retired by year's end. Built by Nova Bus, these buses - ours are all 1993, 1994 and 1995 models - are among the most reliable ones in the city. They may be old, but they rarely break down, and are mechanically sound. The only cons to them are that they lack air conditioning - only a limited number of STM buses currently have this feature - and they are not accessible to wheelchairs. The STM is retiring them simply because they are old, and not for any other reason. Indeed, many of these buses could - and should - still run for several years to come.

The buses that are replacing the Classics are all Nova Bus LFS (Low Floor System / Series). Since their introduction in 1995, they have experienced a plethora of reliability issues, ranging from engine fires to problems with their disc brakes. The 1996 - 1998 models were the worst of the bunch, and the majority of them have been retired or sold off to other transit agencies. Many of these buses were lost to massive engine fires early in their careers. The LFS continued to experience reliability issues until about 2007. Everything built from 2007 onwards seems to be all right, for the most part. The 2011 models have not experienced any problems to date.

Herein lies the problem - why get rid of something that works well even if it's old? As I already mentioned, there is basically nothing wrong with our dwindling fleet of Classics. I've ridden these buses frequently, and they offer a pretty smooth ride. The Classics also have a higher capacity than their low-floor counterparts do, which helps on routes with higher ridership. Also, many of them have been completely rebuilt and refurbished, and look like new as a result. The STM rebuilt some of their 1994 and 1995 Classics as little as a few months ago, and yet they still want to retire them all by the end of the year. To me, it just makes no sense.

Also important to note is that the STM is constantly planning more and more service increases on some of their most heavily-ridden routes. They need extra buses to satisfy the high amounts of ridership these routes experience, and if they retire all of the Classics at once, they may find themselves with a bus shortage. And if that were to happen, they would be inundated with complaints from passengers about late buses, or buses that failed to show up at all. In short, if the STM decides to go through with this plan, they will be shooting themselves in the foot.

In 2010, the STM's many exploits won them the American Public Transit Association's (APTA) award for the best transit system in North America. If they have any hopes of winning this prestigious award ever again, they should retain their older buses, especially if they want to maintain their current service levels. This was one of many factors that led them to winning this award.

Therefore, I say that old things should not be jettisoned simply because they are old. If they still work fine and are virtually free of problems, then they should be kept until they can no longer meet certain demands and requirements. Many people keep their older cars for this reason, and if the STM were smart, they would do the same thing with their older buses. It just makes sense.

The Scoop on YouTube Poop

YouTube Poop: Not nearly 
as disgusting as it sounds.

It goes without saying that there are billions of videos on YouTube today. No matter what your taste is, there is always something enjoyable waiting for you over there.

Many people enjoy watchign videos that make them laugh, myself included. Humour is an evaluative concept, though, so what might make me laugh, you might think is stupid or boring.

One of the funniest types of videos on YouTube today are YouTube Poops. Now, I bet you're wondering, what the heck is a YouTube Poop? Here is the answer.

YouTube Poops, or YTPs for short, are basically an amalgamation or mash-up of various sources - usually, but not limited to, TV shows, movies, commercials, video games, etc. When spliced together using numerous different movie editing programs and editing techniques, the end result is often strange, crazy, nonsensical, and very random. There are various types of YTPs out there, and you can learn more about them here.

Most Poopers - that is, the people who make YTPs - use very similar sources for their videos. Among the most commonly-used sources are The Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, a 1993 cartoon, and the cutscenes from the Super Mario and Legend of Zelda games that were released for the ill-fated Phillips CD-i system in the early 1990s.

Some more talented Poopers transform their source material in to songs, referred to as YouTube Poop Music Videos (YTPMVs). This is done by adding a beat to the video, and using  sentence-mixing, among other video and audio editing techniques to make the video sound song-like.

Now, I'm a big fan of art - another evaluative concept - and I find that YTPs are an art form. A great deal of work goes into creating these videos - some can take several days to complete - and the end result is something that is as creative as it is random and bizarre. Some of my friends think I'm insane for watching YTPs, but I think they're brilliant. Most Poopers are budding filmmakers, editors, or animators who make YTPs as a side project, mostly to reinforce their video editing skills.

As fun and crazy as YTPs are, many Poopers have run into problems with them. The biggest problem Poopers face is copyright infringement. A great many YTPs have been taken down by YouTube because of this, which resulted in the accounts of many prominent Poopers being suspended or banned outright. Despite this, Poopers continue to share their craft with the world. They have found and exploited a loophole in YouTube's terms of service which allows for the uploading of parody videos. Indeed, many YTPs are, in fact, parodies of the source material on which they are based.

So, if you're interested in discovering a new and interesting art form, or enjoy weird things in general, the growing world of YouTube Poop may be right for you. Please be aware that watching them may result in uncontrolllable fits of laughter or severe head-scratching in disbelief or confusion. Don't say that I didn't warn you.

For further reading:
Know Your Meme provides a detailed analysis and history of YouTube Poop. Click here to check it out.

The Wonderful World of Word Games

Wonderword: The mack daddy
of all word search puzzles.

^ Alliteration FTW.

I love playing games of all kinds. I often pretend that life is a game that I'm trying to win - but not the style of "winning" perpetuated by one Mr. Sheen, though. Games are one of many things that make life more fun, and I am a huge advocate of fun.

My favourite type of games are word games. To me, nothing is more fun than formulating a series of words to earn points, or searching for a bunch of words in a 15 x 15 grid.

Why do I like word games and being a wordsmith so much? Well, there are several reasons for that.

1. I suck at math.
I am admittedly terrible with numbers. They intimidate me. I was a perennial failure at math in high school, although I was good at it in elementary school. I am to words what some people are to math. Working as a freelance writer and journalist - and also composing daily article for this blog - allow me to work with words on a daily basis, which I enjoy.

2. I jump at any chance to increase my vocabulary / word knowledge.
It's no secret that playing word games can increase both your vocabulary and word knowledge. Wonderword, one of my all-time favourite word games - more on that below - often features words in their word lists that I had never seen or heard of before. And even when I'm not playing word games, my friends and I enjoy learning and finding the definitions of new words, some of which have not been part of the everyday vernacular for centuries.

3. They're good for the mind.
Many moons ago, I read an article in the newspaper that playing games and doing things like crossword puzzles, Sudoku, etc. are extremely good for the mind. Doing something as simple as a word search puzzle can help prevent the occurrence of neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's. If your mind and brain are constantly at work figuring out cryptic crossword clues or something of the like, it will help to keep your mind sharp for years to come. So if you ever have a chance, find the puzzles page in your local newspaper and start working on those word puzzles. I make a daily habit of doing so.

There are virtually millions of different word games out there, which means that there is something for people of all skill, intelligence, and age levels. My top five favourite word games are as follows:

1. Wonderword
Created by Quebec native David Ouellet and his mother, Wonderword, in this blogger's opinion, is the mack daddy of all word search puzzles. The game is simple - you are given a list of words that fit a certain category. They are all hidden within a grid, and your goal is to find them all. Once you have found all of the words in the list, you will be left with a specific number of letters; the exact number is always supplied at the top of the puzzle. These letters spell out the Wonderword, which is an extra word that fits the given category. You can find out more about Wonderword, its history, and how it's made by visiting the official Wonderword website.

2. Text Twist & Text Twist 2

Created by GameHouse, Inc., Text Twist is a fast-paced word game where you race against the clock to spell as many words as you can. You are given six letters - seven in Text Twist 2 - and you then must form as many smaller words as you can using these letters. In order to continue playing, you must spell out the six or seven-letter word in each game. Skillful players can keep the game going for several consecutive rounds this way. My high score is an even 129,000 points. I'm not sure how many conseutive rounds I played to earn that score, but I can tell you that it was probably a ridiculous number.

3. TextMate

I've only recently discovered this one, which is available on the Games app on Facebook. Games is an app that has several games under its banner, of which TextMate is one. Like Text Twist, this game is also played against the clock. You are given a series of partially-completed words that have from one to four blank spaces next to them. For each one, you must fill in the blanks. There are usual several possible answers for each word, and the game supplies you with the number of possible matches for each word. Each correct answer earns you points and adds a few seconds to the clock. In addition, the more consecutive correct answers you give, the higher your bonus multiplier will go. I got the bonus multiplier as high as 120x at one point, and I finished the game with a groundbreaking score of 1,945,800 points. Definitely a fun little game to play if you're looking to kill some time or test your word knowledge.

4. Scrabble

Who doesn't love Scrabble? Whether you play the board game version or one of the many online equivalents that exist, Scrabble is always lots of fun. In this classic crossword game, you play against several other people, and build an increasingly large crossword by placing tiles. Bonus tiles help to increase your score, and the person with the most points at the end of the game is decleared the winner. My best scores in this game is a 261 in the original version, and a 540 online. The worst part of this game is when you get stuck with seemingly useless letters like K, Q, V, X and Z, but if you know how to use those letters properly, you can score some big points.

5. Bananagrams

I call this one "Scrabble on Crack". In this game, everyone starts with 21 lettered tiles from a pool of 144, and must make a a mini-crossword with them. When one person uses all of his or her letters, they call out "Peel!" and everyone draws another letter. When all the letters in the pool are used up, the first person to declare "Bananas!" is the winner. I've played this game in both online normal forms with several friends before, and it was lots of fun. Points are not scored in this game, but if they were, I probably would have had a score somewhere up in the high thousands.

So if you've ever got some spare time on your hands, consider playing a word game of some sort. Doing so will help to keep your mind and brain functioning at a high level for years to come.

Tuesday Night Game Show Review: It's Worth What?

It's worth what? About an hour's
worth of watching, I guess.

NBC has always been a haven for great game shows. In the '70s and '80s, they had some of the best ones on their daytime schedule. In recent years, they've still had some game shows on, but they were all in primetime.

Being the kind of person who is usually willing to give things a fair shot, I decided to watch NBC's newest foray into the game show genre - Merv Griffin Entertainment's It's Worth What?. Hosted by promient comedian Cedric the Entertainer, the show, which airs at 8 PM (7 PM Central), features two contestants trying to discern the prices of several expensive collectibles. In the show's intro, Cedric mentions that they have over $50 million worth of collectibles to show their contestants, and it's no joke. Indeed, some of the items featured on It's Worth What? are worth a couple million at least.

There are several rounds of play, each worth increasing amounts of money. A perfect score in this game is $100,000, which can become up to $1 million in the final round.

In each round, the contestants are shown one or more items, and are asked to determine what they're worth, what's worth more, etc. Sound familiar? The Price is Right has been doing this kind of thing for nearly 40 years now. But It's Worth What? is markedly different from Price, from it's Art Deco set that resembles New York City's Grand Central Station, to its overall format.

It's been said that comedians often take well to hosting game shows, as they can use their humour, personality, and improvisational skills to their advantage when interacting with the contestants and the audience. Cedric the Entertainer tries to do so here, but sometimes, he comes off as a bit stiff. He's a decent conduit, and he cracks a few jokes here and there, but there are other times when he seems as stiff as a board. It doesn't help that a lot of his dialogue was added in post-production as well.

Some game shows are often known for having a memorable catch phrase or tagline, and It's Worth What? is no exception. The problem here is that the catch phrases are memorable for all the wrong reasons. When Cedric asks the contestants to lock in their answers, he first asks them if they are sure, and then if they are "sure sure". That lock-in phrase is okay the first couple of times, but it starts to get irritating after a while. Also irritating is Cedric's over-the-top pronounciation of the show's title when throwing to a commercial - "It's Worth Whaaaaaaaat?!" I understand he's fishing for some laughs here, but saying the word What with far fewer A's would be a much better idea. Just one A is fine, thanks.

Overall, this is a fun show to watch. It's got good play-along value, as it lets you be an armchair contestant and guess along with the in-studio contestants. I find it's fun to try and guess what the collectibles are worth, and then be blown away when I find out they're worth far more than I'd have ever thought. For example, I pegged the price of Spider-Man No. 1 at around $50,000; turns out it was worth far more than that - around $160,000, I believe.

If you like watching The Antiques Roadshow, Pawn Stars, or Storage Wars, and you're good at determining the values of certain items, then It's Worth What? is the perfect game show for you.

Rating: 3¾ out of five stars.  

Can Apple Survive Without Steve Jobs at the Helm?

I wrote this article back in March, 2011, when Steve Jobs suffered somewhat of a health scare. I thought it would be an interesting and relevant thing to share, especially in the wake of Jobs' recent resignation as the CEO of Apple. 

Regarding the review of It's Worth What?, I'll be posting that tomorrow. Thanks for your understanding.

It is often said that a well-oiled machine can only function properly if all of its parts able to work in sync with each other. However, what happens when a key part of the machine is suddenly removed?

Such is the situation that Apple is currently facing. Co-founder and CEO Steve Jobs, the driving force of the Apple machine, has suddenly taken ill, and is on an indefinite medical leave as a result.


Jobs was not present at a recent Apple shareholders' meeting, and Apple executives refused to reveal whether or not a possible successor for Jobs has been named. However, he did attend a meeting with some of the tech industry’s major players. Also present at that meeting was U.S. president Barack Obama.


Since founding Apple in 1976 with Steve Wozniak, Steve Jobs has overseen the creation of many of the company's signature products, such as the iPod, iPhone, and iPad, in addition to their extensive line of computers. However, the main question for many has been whether or not Apple can soldier on without Jobs at the helm. Jobs is active in the creation of every new Apple product, and things would not be the same without his input, creativity, leadership, and overall presence.


If something were to happen to Jobs, Apple would most likely still be able to hold its own in the crowded technology market. Its world-renowned product line is highly successful. However, the personal contributions Jobs makes to the company are irreplaceable. No one could ever emulate Jobs’ charisma, ideas, and ingenuity.

The task of overseeing Apple’s daily operations has been handed to chief operating officer Tim Cook in the interim. Cook has assumed this role twice before while Jobs took medical leaves. Under Cook, Apple maintained its status quo, and it continued to do so upon Jobs’ return.

While Jobs is a crucial part of Apple’s operations, the company’s successes have guaranteed that it will continue to be a force in the tech world for years to come. In theory, the company could survive without Jobs at the helm, but his insight and presence would be sorely missed.

Note: Tim Cook has now officially replaced Steve Jobs as the CEO of Apple. Jobs made the decision to step down recently, and it has been rumoured that his health may have been a factor in this decision. Many people have also said that Cook, who has pinch-hit for Jobs before, was the natural choice to follow in his footsteps.

Replacing Jobs will no doubt be a difficult task for Cook, but I'm convinced that it was the right move. Jobs will be missed, but the company's impressive line of gadgetry will more or less ensure that they are successful for years to come. I can guarantee you that Jobs' dynamic personality and black turtleneck sweaters will certainly be missed at the launch of Apple's next big product, whatever it is.

Tuesday Night Game Show Review: Take The Money and Run

Not endorsed by the Steve Miller Band.

This is the first of two reviews of two new game / reality shows that have Tuesday night time slots. In today's article, I will be reviewing ABC's Take The Money and Run.

I don't usually watch a lot of television, but when I do it's usually something that interests me in some way. One of my favourite television genres is game shows. And when mixed with reality elements, it makes them more fun to watch.

One such show that demonstrates this amalgamation is ABC's new reality series Take The Money and Run. Created by Jerry Bruckheimer, who produces almost everything on televison these days - including CBS' hit show The Amazing Race, one of my favourites - the show sees two contestants being given a briefcase by a mystery man. Said briefcase contains $100,000 in cash, which they are then given an hour to hide within the confines of the city they're based in. Previous episodes have taken place in San Franciso, Miami, and Chicago.

 

After the hour expires, the contestants are taken into custody by local police detectives for questioning. They are literally placed in jail, and that's where the real fun begins.

The police detectives have 48 hours to find the briefcase. They have access to the contestants' cell phone records, purchase receipts, and other relevant info. Helping them are professional interrogators Paul Bishop and Mary Hanlon Stone, whose job it is to break the "suspects" down and get the exact location of the briefcase out of them.

If the detectives find the briefcase within the 48-hour time frame, then the money is theirs. If they fail to do so, the contestants win the money. The show's official website on ABC.com calls Take The Money and Run "the ultimate game of cat and mouse," which is no misnomer.

I often watch crime dramas like Law and Order or CSI, so watching this show is kind of like watching those shows. It's interesting to watch how the two contestants deal with the investigators, and whether or not they'll crack under the pressures of solitary confinement and being interrogated. In last night's show, one of the two contestants did, in fact, crack, which caused him to sing like a canary and reveal the location of the briefcase (they had hidden it at a friend's house).

Some of the contestants are better liars than others, and deal well with pressure. Others start out that way, but eventually fall apart. The interrogaters to a terrific job, as do the police detectives. Although everyone is merely playing the game, the show exudes a grteat sense of realism.

I'm not sure if I'd wanted to be arrested, placed in solitary confinement, and then interrogated for 48 hours, but watching how these ordinary people react to it is fun. Overall, this show is very entertaining, and I will certainly be watching it again. It's fun to play along with, and it really makes you think. So far, the reaction to Take The Money and Run has been positing, and here's hoping that ABC will renew it for another season.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars.

Tomorrow, I'll be reviewing NBC's new game show, It's Worth What?, where contestants have to determine how much things are worth. 

Take The Money and Run airs Tuesdays at 9 PM (8 central) on ABC.

Winnipeg Jets: Ready for Takeoff

The new logos for the Winnipeg Jets.

If there's one thing that I am, it's a big hockey fan. So when I heard the news a few months about the return of NHL hockey to the city of Winnipeg for the first time since 1996, I immediately took note.

The new-look Jets are the former Atlanta Thrashers. The team was moved up north to Winnipeg from Atlanta during the summer, and many of the players are excited about playing in a city where the fans will actually appreciate the team. Season tickets for the Jets' inagural season were gobbled up in record time by Winnipeggers, and who can blame them? Never would the Thrashers received that much attention.

I used to joke that the Thrashers had about six diehard fans or something like that. Indeed, whenever I saw Atlanta's home games on television, there were, as the Montreal sports writers say, "a lot of fans disguised as empty seats" sitting in the stands.

But True North Sports and Entertainment, the new owners of the team, were determined to drum up interest in the team, a strategy that ended up working better than they had ever imagined. Winnipeg residents were deeply saddened when their team moved south to Phoenix for the 1996-97 NHL season, and they were determined to have professional hockey return to their city one day.

Not only am I a big hockey fan, I'm also a very patriotic Canadian. As a Montrealer, I am devoted to my hometown Habs, but when it was announced that the NHL was returning to Winnipeg for the upcoming season, I was happy. Now, Canada will have seven teams, each with their own passionate fanbase.

I will be watching as the Jets take off from the landing strip and into full flight. When the Jets hold their home opener on October 9th against the Canadiens, I'll definitely be cheering for ther Habs, but part of me will be cheering for the Jets at well.

Boy, I can't wait for the puck to drop. This is going to be a very interesting hockey season, ladies and gentlemen. Please fasten your seatbelts, place your seats in the upright position, and prepare to drop the puck. 

Jack Layton: A Tribute

Jack Layton: The man,
the mustache, the legend.

I awoke this morning to find some stirring news on Yahoo! Canada's homepage: NDP leader Jack Layton had passed away at the age of 61 after a long bout with cancer.

Now, I was never really a supporter of the NDP - I try to keep my true political views under wraps - but I personally liked Jack Layton. Here was a man who poured his heart into every task, and provided his party with a strong sense of leadership. Indeed, Layton was the perfect captain for the good ship NDP.

In the recent federal election, Layton led the NDP to a historic victory, especially in Quebec. Referred to as the "Orange Crush" by many political analysts, ridings that had once been Bloc Quebecois strongholds suddenly turned orange, the official colour of the NDP. Interestingly enough, Layton himself is originally from Quebec, although his personal riding was located within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

As the results gradually came in, I watched in awe as Quebec's electoral map turned almost completely orange. it was as shocking as it was interesting. Afterwards, a mighty cry was released from the Orange Party, as with their 104 seats, they had scored a historic victory and become the official opposition in the House of Commons as a result. The Bloc Quebecois was left to lick its wounds, as they had been reduced to three seats within Quebec, thus losing their official status as a party. The Bloc's crushing defeat led to the resignation of leader Gilles Duceppe, along with several other Bloc hardliners.

While on the campaign trail, Layton frequently visted with supporters and held rallies across Canada. He was a great orator, and he often captured audiences with his words. His dream was to work with Canadians to bring about change in this country. Once the final votes had been tallied in the election, Layton was elated, as his dream had become reality.

"Let me tell you this: Spring is here, my friends, and a new chapter begins," Layton said in his post-election speech.

"In this campaign," Layton continued, "New Democrats promised to get Ottawa working for you and your families. Tonight, Canadians responded in record numbers all across the land."

And respond they did. The supporters in attendance at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre were collectively shouting "NDP! NDP!" but it sounded more like "MVP! MVP!" Layton was indeed an MVP for the NDP, and his words and inspired many during the campaign period.

But Layton was more than just a political leader. He was a charismatic individual who many people found they could associate with. He spoke at least once at my alma mater, Concordia University, and the lecture was well-attended. In his final message to Canadians, Layton expressed his strong liking for young Canadians, and how much he enjoyed interacting with them. He believed they were the future of this country, and they too held the power to help change this country for the better.

An inspiration to many, Layton leaves behind a wife, Olivia Chow, herself a GTA-based NDP MP, and two children. He may be gone, but his political legacy will live on forever. And I may take some heat for this, but I think he had the best mustache in politics.

I think that today, we should set aside our partisan thoughts and other political views, and remember this great man for who he was, what he said, and what he did. He said he wanted to bring change to Canada, and in the end, he did.

Thank you, Mr. Layton, for your contributions to this country. You will be missed.

To read Jack Layton's final message to Canadians, click the link below. http://www.montrealgazette.com/mobile/iphone/story.html?id=5289212

Smooth Jazz Commentary, Part 2 of 2

Update (21 / 08): I finally found a new, suitable title for this blog. From here on in, the blog shall be referred to as MDX: The Mark David Experiment. Why did I choose that title, you ask? Well, blogging is often about experimentation, as is life, for the most part. Thus, I think it works, and I hope you like it.

And now, we move on to Part 2 of my commentary on smooth jazz. This part will focus on smooth jazz as both a musical genre and radio format, and the challenges it has faced over the years.

The Origin and Rise of Smooth Jazz

Wikipedia describes smooth jazz as "a genre of music that grew out of jazz fusion, and is influenced by R & B, rock, and pop styles (separately, or, in any combination)." This definition holds true to this day.

The smooth jazz genre dates back to the 1960s, only it wasn't referred to as such just yet. It began when jazz musicians began to compose jazzy, instrumental versions of songs that were popular at the time, a trend that continues today.

As the years passed, the genre eventually earned the name under which it is now known, and radio stations began to phase it in as a format. It gained popularity thanks to prominent artists like guitarist George Benson, saxophonists Kenny G and Dave Koz, pianist David Benoit, and many others.

Smooth Jazz as a Radio Format

From the 1960s through to the 1980s, there existed a radio format known as "beautiful music". This format consisted of long sets of soft instrumental music, with the occasional vocal song thrown in for added measure. Commercials were usually few and far bewteen. Unfortunately, the beautiful music format saw a heavy decline in the mid-to-late 1980s. Many of the stations that had once carried beautiful music formats had evolved into adult contemporary stations.



The official logo of The Smooth Jazz Network.

Many smooth jazz stations continue to use

derivatives of this logo, often accompanied

by their frequency and branding.



Enter the smooth jazz radio format. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, smooth jazz became very popular, and was suddenly very much in demand. Many radio markets made the decision to adopt the format, often casting tried-and-true formats like rock and roll to the wayside so that a smooth jazz format could take over. A company called Broadcast Architecture would eventually develop a network of smooth jazz stations known simply as The Smooth Jazz Network, which is still in existence to this day.

The format continued to grow in popularity throughout the 1990s and into the early 2000s. It used a structure that bore many similarities to the beautiful music format of the past. Smooth jazz stations were often played over radios in offices throughout the United States, and the stations often established a strong rapport with listeners through contests, concerts, and promotions.

Eventual Decline

Smooth jazz continued to reach respectable levels of success in many radio markets until about 2007, when the format experienced a significant decline. Stations that had carried the format were often among the higest rated stations in their respective markets, but all of that began to change rapidly.

Almost as fast as they had initially arrived, the once-popular smooth jazz stations were beginning to disappear just as quickly. This included the three stations that had been considered as pioneers of the format: WQCD New York City (now WEMP, an FM news station), WNUA Chicago (now a Spanish pop station), and KKSF San Francisco (now an oldies station).

Fast-forward to 2011. There are now less than 20 smooth jazz stations remaining across the United States. The majority of them carry Broadcast Architecture's syndicated Smooth Jazz Network version of the format, although a few independently-owned smooth jazz stations still exist in some parts of the country.

Here in Canada, smooth jazz stations are a rarity. As of August 1st, 2011, there is only one smooth jazz station remaining in Canada, CJGV Winnipeg (Groove FM 99.1). Prior to this date, there had been two, but CIWV Hamilton (now CHKX, a country station) has since left the air and continued its format online as Wave.fm. The majority of their airstaff - who are quite good, I must say - was brought along for the ride.

Smooth AC: A New Hope?
With many smooth jazz stations leaving the air due to an eroding audience, lack of ratings, and lack of advertiser support, several of the remaining stations chose to tweak their respective formats and become what is now known as "Smooth Adult Contemporary".

This new hybrid format combines the instrumental songs associated with smooth jazz with popular adult contemporary songs. Unlike smooth jazz, smooth AC is less reliant on instrumentals, and seems like a very much diluted version of smooth jazz (although the majority of smooth jazz stations do play at least four AC songs per hour). However, it is one of the few ways of keeping this format afloat in many markets.

The Future of Smooth Jazz
Despite losing many affiliates over the years, smooth jazz as a radio format is far from throwing in the towel and hanging up the saxophone for good. The Smooth Jazz Network-formatted stations feature radio programs presented by big names in the world of smooth jazz. Kenny G and Dave Koz each currently host nationally syndicated shows, as did Ramsey Lewis. Despite being well-programmed, they lack a local presence. However, using a format that consists entirely of syndicated programming is far more cost-effective than running a station with live on-air talent, etc.


Detroit's 104.7 The Oasis and Orlando's
Smooth Jazz 102.5: The newest
members of the smooth jazz family.

Although many smooth jazz stations have left the air, others have continued on in an online platform, or via high-definition (HD) radio subchannels. In recent months, two new smooth jazz stations have launched on FM translators. Both are carriers of Broadcast Architecture's syndicated format. Detroit's 104.7 The Oasis, a reboradcaster of WGPR 107.5's HD-2 signal launched on April 11th, 2011, while Smooth Jazz 102.5, a rebroadcaster of WMGF 107.7's HD-2 signal, was launched in Orlando, FL on August 18th, 2011.

The remaining stations may be few in number, but I believe that smooth jazz can continue to achieve some stability as a radio format. Its fanbase is very devoted to the music, and although many of the stations lack a local presence, they still continue to provide listeners with the smooth grooves that they love. Whether it's at work, or chilling out at home after a long, hard day, smooth jazz will always be there for those who need it. 

Useful Links

The Smooth Jazz Network (Official website): http://www.smoothjazznetwork.com/

104.7 The Oasis: http://www.1047theoasis.com/

Smooth Jazz 102.5: http://smoothjazz1025.com/main.html

Groove FM 99.1 Winnipeg: http://www.groovefm.ca/

Wave.fm (The new home of the former CIWV Hamilton): http://www.wave.fm/

RadioInsight (For more info about the launch of Smooth Jazz 102.5, and other radio news): http://www.radioinsight.com/

Wikipedia article on smooth jazz: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smooth_Jazz

Information from Wikipedia and RadioInsight contributed to the composition of this report.

Smooth Jazz Commentary, Part 1 of 2

Welcome back to my slightly-reformatted blog. In the long period of time between this post and the ones that preceded it, there have been a few changes. Here's what happened.

-My live, and later pre-recorded satirical newscast, The Mad Mark Minute, came to an end on 1650 AM Radio Shalom.
-I left Radio Shalom after having worked there for four years (2007 - 2011).
-The title of this blog has reverted to On The Mark until I can think of something better.
-I did some remodeling (read: I changed the template, because it was time for a change after three years).

And now, to today's post.

Over the next two posts, I will be discussing smooth jazz, both as a musical genre and a radio format. In Part 1, I will be answering a question that I am frequently asked, which is "Why do you like smooth jazz?"

So, why exactly do you like smooth jazz?
As I said, I am often asked this question by my friends. "Why do you bother listening to this stuff?" they continue. "It's nothing more than elevator music, and it's really boring, etc." Well, today, I will answer this question as best as I can.

1. It's relaxing music.
After a long hard day, people often like to go home, relax, possibly put on some good music, and forget about their cares for a while. I sympathize with this. While I haven't held a job in several months, I still go out fairly often, and when I get back, I'm usually pretty tired. Once I finish with dinner, I go upstairs to my computer, and kick back with some smooth jazz. The stations I listen to - more on that in Part 2 - claim that they are "The smoothest place on your (my) radio (computer; I stream them all online)," and that is no misnomer. The music is easygoing, enjoyable, and a pleasure to listen to when I just want to relax and chat with people online, among other things.

2. It's better than listening to pop garbage, which is extremely repetitve.
In an earlier post (read: angry rant), I went in-depth about why I cannot stand contemporary music. Most radio markets around the world have three or more stations playing the same pop songs. If you hear one song on one of the CHR (contemporary hit radio; yes, I am a radio geek) stations, you're bound to hear it five minutes later or less on the others. People get annoyed with repetition, myself included. I don't care how good that Lady Gaga or Katy Perry song is; if it's overplayed (and they all are), then I'm not interested. I don't follow trends, and I don't usually like mainstream things simply because everyone else does. I am not a lemming, and I still fail to understand how the masses consume this sorry excuse for music.

Smooth jazz is different. It's a pretty broad genre, and every time I tune in to the numerous stations that I stream online, it's a new surprise every time. I love discovering new songs, which I subsequently add to my iPod. Plus, smooth jazz isn't loud and brash like most contemporary music is. By listening to it, you can tell that some real effort went into producing it. Pop music is the trans-fat of the music world - it's not good for you, and too much of it is a bad thing.

3. It's therapeutic.
People are always finding new and interesting ways to seek therapy, and listening to music is one of them. If you've had a bad day, all you need to do is go home, slip on the headphones or turn on the uber-expensive sound system, and voila, instant musical therapy. Smooth jazz is my musical therapy. Occasionally, I'll substitute regular jazz or something else, but I usually stick with my smooth jazz because it helps calm me down and make me feel better.

And there you have it. Those are the reasons why I like smooth jazz. I hope that answers the question sufficiently.

In Part 2, I'll be talking about smooth jazz as both a musical genre and radio format, and the problems it has faced in recent years. Stay tuned for that.