All Up In My Twitterz Part 1

It used to be what we said that often got us into trouble. Now the trend seems to be drifting toward what we think that leaves us over exposed. As twitter.com becomes more and more mainstream, there increases the amount of eyes that view every thought we chose to document. In an age of social networking where very little remains sacred, the following are just a few examples of when people should have stepped away from the keyboard and kept their thoughts to themselves.

Celebrity relationships come and go like the change of seasons. However, the break up of Jennifer Anniston and John Mayer was especially notable amongst the internet crowd, as part of the blame was placed on Twitter. According to Ms. Anniston, she decided she had enough of his constant tweeting. The final straw was when he didn’t have time to return her calls, but instead used that time to update his status. Typical of a woman to demand all of the attention to herself, huh? Right.

Charlie Villanueva, forward for the Milwaukee Bucks, recently let his thumbs do a little too much talking, as he indulged in some tweetage at half time during a game with the Boston Celtics. Though the message was harmless enough, it threw a red flag for coach Scott Skiles, whom scolded Villanueva and demanded that he get focused on the game. Sometimes a stern talking to is needed, as the Bucks went on to win the game, and Villanueva finished with a team high of 19 points.

Speaking of basketball and micro blogging; never one to be outspoken, Dallas Mavricks owner Mark Cuban recently got fined by the NBA for micro blogging his frustrations with a referee. His rants, though mild, were quite expensive, costing him $25,000. At least somebody has found a way to monetize off of Twitter. Unsurprisingly, his tweets did not end there. Whose to say he can’t get his moneys worth?

Next time you apply for a job, make sure you have sealed the deal before you begin sharing your opinion of the position. One unfortunate candidate for a position at Cisco had to learn this the hard way. Her now infamous tweet, which stated, “Cisco just offered me a job! Now I have to weigh the utility of a fatty paycheck against the daily commute to San Jose and hating the work”, was quickly responded to by a Cisco rep. Needless to say, she did not get the job. But, she did get her 15 minutes of internet fame, if that counts for anything.

I believe that’s enough 140 character madness for one day. Check back shortly for Part 2.

The Mystery of the Four Toed Statue

The mystery and intrigue of LOST is what keeps us viewers coming back week after week. The anticipation that someday, the numerous unanswered questions will be addressed. Who are the Others? What is the Smoke Monster? Who is Jacob? One question in particular was brought up and quickly discarded, not to be mentioned for another three seasons. Who, or what, is the four toed statue?

The four toed statue was first seen during the LOST season 2 finale, Live Together Die Alone, as witnessed by main characters Sayid, Sun, and Jin. At the time, two points were brought up by Sayid; the fact that all that was left of the statue was the foot, and that the foot consisted of only four toes. Not much could be determined of the identity or origin. Speculation arose recently, when viewers got another glimpse of the statue during the Season 5 episode, Lafleur. Not only did this new visual disprove the theory that Homer Simpson was at one time an island native, but it also gave us some more insight as to whom the statue may represent.

One heavily supported theory floating around the interwebz is that the statue may actually be remnants of a dedication to the Egyptian god, Anibus. This thought actually mingles quite well with all of the other Egyptian themes hinted at throughout the series, such as the hieroglyphs, deserts, and drawings of the Sphinx. The statue was seen wearing what appears to be a shendyt and nemes (Egyptian clothings), as well as holding an ankh in each hand. According to legend, Anibus was responsible for protecting the dead and delivering them to the afterlife, which may explain some of the oddities associated with the Others and their ability to defy the aging process.

Speaking of aging, one individual in particular comes to mind as a possible candidate for the identity of the statue: Richard Alpert, whom seems to be a leader of sorts amongst the Others. At first, it appeared he had the ability to travel through time, but recent events help prove that he actually traverses it. Whether we came across him at 1954 or 2004, he looks as if he had not aged a day. Though the gift of immortality can very well apply to all of the island natives, Richard is the only Other we have witnessed with that ability.

Another clue may also help us decipher the origins of the four toed statue. The fact that the statue seemed to be holding an ankh in each hand does not seem to be mere coincidence. In the episode Lafleur, we come across an ankh in the possession of two individuals. The first comes in the form of a dead Paul, whom appeared to be having an inter Other-Dharma relationship with Amy. The next time we see the ankh is three years later when Horace Goodspeed discovers that his wife, also Amy, is holding onto her past lover’s belonging. Could Paul have been of more importance to the island than we were initially let on to believe, or does this prove that Horace is destined for more than falling victim to a purge?

One unlikely candidate for the four toed statue, can actually make the most sense of all: Mr. Lafleur himself, aka James Sawyer Ford. Our Oceanic flight 815 survivor and resident con-artist has proven to be of quite importance to the mythos of the island, thanks to the convenient properties of time travel. So far, we have witnessed him take on the job of Head of Security for the Dharma Initiative, but I have a feeling he may play a more important role after all is said and done. Also, the fact that Sawyer appeared to have an infected foot early on in season 5, may have hinted to him losing a toe at some point down the road.

Some theorist have pointed out that the statue resembles that of a woman’s physique. Could the statue symbolize one of the number of women that we have been introduced to throughout the show’s run? Kate, Juliet, or even Amy come to mind. However, the writers will have to put up a stronger case for this viewer to be convinced.

Whomever the four toed statue may be, it is just one of the many mysteries that keeps us at the edge of our seats, and proves that LOST will go down as one of the greatest shows our generation has ever seen.

The Demise of Best Buy

This past weekend, a friend and I stopped by a Best Buy department store. We didn’t go there with the intention to purchase anything, just to kill some time. As I walked through the isles, bombarded by obnoxiously over-helpful employees, I tried to think back to the last purchase I actually made in a Best Buy. Or, in any other brick and mortar electronics store, for that matter. It is a memory that I cannot recall.

Best Buy specifically is in an interesting predicament. Their bitter rival, Circuit City recently bit the bullet and gave in to the troubling economic times (take a drink). As Best Buy shifts their focus on the real king of the mountain, Walmart, now would be a good time for the big wigs to realize that they are not invulnerable to the same hardships that Circuit City faced.

The declining sales of physical media is not something that can be ignored. When I think movies or music, Itunes or Amazon is what immediately comes to mind. When it’s time for a new laptop or gadget, I prefer the comparability and customization that the web has to offer. When that new must-have video game is released, I want to trade in my used games for a discount, a service Amazon is now offering, as well as GameStop or EB Games. I have never purchased a big household appliance, such a washing machine or refrigerator at a Best Buy, and I don’t intend to anytime soon. It is hard to believe I am amongst a small minority in my buying habits.

So, while Best Buy is now targeting Walmart, it is a shift in their distribution model that they should be concerned with. A redesign of the horrendous bestbuy.com website would be a good start. A bigger push towards social networking couldn’t hurt. Perhaps a digital downloads store with some exclusivity deals would give them an edge. Whatever it is they do, they need to do it soon before Best Buy is swallowed, along with Walmart, by this common threat that is a sociological shift.

As I discussed this topic with my friend while we were exiting the department store, we made a wager as to how long Best Buy has before they join Circuit City, and the countless other failed franchises, in obscurity. My friend says 10 years, while I give them 6 at the most. And, while it will be a shame to see them go, if they have nothing desirable to bring to the table, I say good riddance.

Forget the Cheerleader, Here’s 5 Ways to Save Heroes

When NBC’s Heroes first premiered back in 2006, it was every geek and comic book lovers dream. A live action drama that told the story of individuals trying to find their place in the world, while coping with their new found powers. It also came out at a time where viewers were frustrated by all of the unanswered questions that were piling up on ABC’s LOST. Following a first season that kept us on the edge of our seats, somehow the show has become an unwatchable bag of hurt.

You can take your pick as to what led to the downturn of Heroes. Was it the writers strike which prompted a forced end to a promising second season? Perhaps it’s the inability to go all out with the special effects due to budget cuts. Maybe it’s all of the over powered and under utilized characters, or rotating cycle of storylines. Whatever the case may be, NBC was somehow convinced to renew the series for at least one more season. In hoping that their faith doesn’t result in disappointment, the following is 5 suggestions on how to save the series.

1. A new cast. End this season by tying up whatever loose ends may exist, and start completely fresh next go round. After three seasons of Claire’s daddy issues, Peter and Nathan’s sibling rivalry, and whether or not to trust Noah, it is apparent the writers do not know how to evolve the characters. They even managed to take a potentially awesome villain like Syler and turn him into a whiny bitch (yeah, I said it). Alright, maybe keep some characters, but significantly limit their roles. Sometimes it is best to swallow your pride, scrap your progress (or lack thereof), and start from scratch. Which leads us to the next suggestion…

2. Hire new writers. The show already seems to be headed in this direction, as producer/writer Jeff Loeb was let go early in the third season. Smart move, as Loeb recently managed to also ruin the characterization of the Incredible Hulk by regressing him from a World Conqueror back to a savage beast in the current run of Hulk comics. However, things haven’t gotten much better for Heroes since the layoff. Let’s continue the trend of dipping into the Marvel Comics creative pool. One writer I would suggest bringing on board is Chris Claremont, whom can claim responsibility for the popularity of the X-men in the late 80’s, early 90’s. Other suggestions for writers include Ed Brubaker, whom was successful in placing Bucky Barnes in Captain America’s shoes, or Mark Millar, whom wrote Marvel’s Civil War crossover, and also lent his creative genius to the Iron Man movie.

3. Keep it simple. From the very beginning, Heroes introduced a main cast too big to fit into each episode. There’s also the numerous side characters that seem to get introduced just to be forgotten about or quickly disposed of. The writers tried to create a show as complex as LOST, but with none of the mystery and intrigue. The majority of the characters are forcefully connected in some manner. Claire’s family tree alone makes up for about half of the cast. Sometimes simplicity is what makes a show great. A small, yet intriguing cast can help the storyline remain focused and not so convoluted. I say cut the cast number in half and realize that not everybody has to share the same DNA.

4. Stay consistent; continuity is everything. When it comes to Heroes thus far, one of two conclusions can be drawn: either the writers have short term memory, or they think we are idiots. It’s never a smart move to question your audiences intelligence. Quite a few plot points have been introduced, toyed with for a little while, then swept under the rug. Are we just supposed to forget about Peter’s Irish girlfriend that was left in an alternate reality? Or, how about Claire’s flying boyfriend that was never seen again after the second season? What ever happened to Nathan’s wife and children? The type of viewers that watch a show such as Heroes are not the type to be forgiving about continuity errors.

5. Stick to the script; everybody loves the underdog. There is one formula that is always a sure bet when it comes to writing about super heroes: the leading character(s) should be the underdog. The villain should overpower them, either in strength or intelligence. The odds will look insurmountable, until the hero proves he is worthy of the title, and outsmarts the opposition. Heroes on the other hand, has never quite presented a villain that posed much of a threat. Throughout the run, the main villainy focus has been centered around a faceless agency, with a lame boss at the helm. At the beginning of the third season, a group of prospective super powered villains were introduced, only to have been lost in obscurity (see #4). Some of the good guys, such as Peter and Hiro, were way over-powered and had to have their abilities neutralized just to balance things out. My suggestion is to start off the new season by introducing a menacing new villain or team of villains, and try not to let the fight be so one sided.

There you have it, 5 quick and basic suggestions on how to remove Heroes from the creative slump it is currently in. Better to go out like a roaring lion, than a sleeping lamb. Oh, and one last suggestion: give up on the whole played out painting the future concept! If I see one more person’s eyes turn white, I’m so burning my Ali Larter poster!