4 posts tagged “joost”
I have 3 Joost invites laying around, as I've been meaning to post a review on Joost for a while (and still haven't, but will do so later) and it's time to share. I would like to give them to people who will reliably comment on the service back on my blog if they are Voxer's (or you can quickly join Vox, it's great!) or drop me an email that I can post with a short review via the email link on my Generation 80s [alternative] Retro Radio website. Ping me, as it's first come, first serve based on my discretion, with the promise of your future inheritance, first born, or your new wheels in return for a brief but thoughtful comment or review back to me in return. ;)
It's nearly that time of year again where my unapologetic television habit comes to an abrupt end. It's not going to be so painful this time. Last year I enjoyed watching "Invasion", "Threshold" and the ungodly cheesy, albeit fun "Surface". Despite the fact "Invasion" started out slowly, but came to a great crescendo and a stellar season finale, and left me hanging all for nothing! All three shows were not renewed/canceled for the 2007 season. That was a bummer after last year's TV hiatus. Even the early Fall season's much critialy touted "The Nine", which I couldn't get into, which had the benefit of following "Lost", couldn't make a go of it. It seems networks aren't willing to build a following for thinking persons shows and the sci-fi genre is all but dead on the major networks. With the dumbing down of America, is the rise of game shows, reality TV and shows like "American Idol", "The Apprentice" and "Dancing with the Stars". Of course there are a few modern day "Melrose Place" shows like "Grey's Anatomy" and "Desperate Housewives". All are quick ratings hits, as they are truly mindless TV. That's fine, but a little variety and sticktuitiveness for the rest of us would be welcome. Frankly, I don't think "McDreamy" or "McTreemy" are all that and a bag of chips. I'd rather watch Anthony LaPaglia any day, one of my favorite actors who has had many a stand out series canceled before it's time. Come to find out that "Without a Trace" is starting to flag in the Sunday night ratings. Figures.
IMHO, the two best shows on network television are "Heroes" and "Prison Break". I still have been tuning into "Lost", and although it's moving a slightly better pace than in prior years, still fails to move at a pace that reveals enough to keep my frustration level with the show at bay. "24", a perennial favorite in the past has been darn near unwatchable for me. They have forgotten the formula that made the show an exceptional standout. The show has fallen prey to lack of character development, tired plot lines which require one to suspend reality to the point of absurdity, and have not made us care about any of the people in the show as individuals. It's slick Hollywood production and nothing more this season. I say kill Jack and come back next year with a hunt for his killer or end the series gracefully. How many more times can Jack Bauer be beaten, whipped, made to feel cheap, be left for dead and then cling to the bottom of a moving semi for 10 miles at full speed while talking on his cell phone at the same time and we still believe?
Thankfully "Heroes" and "Prison Break" deliver unique story lines (not the same old doctor/hospital or police/crime drama) well paced action, character we care about and that are well developed, intricate multi threaded, believable plots. It's reminiscent of the great Charles Dickens who mastered the art of intricate, interesting and suspenseful story telling, like his masterpiece, "Bleak House". (If you didn't see the PBS rendition of this classic with Gillian Anderson, I suggest it's not to be missed.) Both shows are well cast and there is lots of eye candy. I'll be glued to this season's last 5 episodes of "Heroes" which resumes after a long hiatus April 23rd. They've saved the cheerleader, now it's time to save the world...
PS. It looks like it's going to be a while before any of us X-philers get a File fix. The lawsuit between Chris Carter and Fox over syndication profits has finally settled and he is at work on a script, which will be a stand alone episode not related to the unfinished series business regarding the ongoing alien conspiracy (details). Potential release date for the movie? Don't hold your breath...2012. Gee, I could be dead from the effects of global warming by then!
I'm never lucky. I can't even win $2 on a lottery scratch off. But bad luck seems to follow me like the plague. You don't know the half of it, trust me. I kinda feel like Hurley on LOST, but the bad luck happens to me, not just those around me, and at least he won the lotto! 
Anyway, as I mentioned yesterday, I signed up to be a beta tester for "Joost" (pronounced "juiced"), but there is a significant wait due to the anticipation surrounding this service to even see if you will get selected. (I'm a tech and web geek at heart, so I have to be right there at the front of the line to at very least check out any new gadget or service, if not to buy/subscribe.) They did mention during the beta sign up if you knew someone who had already beta tested and had tokens available to pass along an immediate test to friends, it was probably the best avenue to explore if you wanted to be guaranteed trial access anytime soon. Of course, as luck would have it, I knew no one with a token, no less anyone who even knows or cares what "Joost" is, even though it's one of the most searched and blogged about sights on the net right now.
No one ever has knocked me for lack of resourcefulness, so just for grins I surfed over to Technorati and clicked on "Joost". I read through a bunch of blogs with posts on the topic, and low and behold, my luck changed right before my eyes. I hit the $2 scratch off so to speak. I found a most excellent blog, whose feed I subscribed to since it was that good, but he was also offering tokens to the first few people who read his post, dropped him a comment and agreed to post about their "Joost" beta experience in their blog. (I will tell you who the unknown blogger is so he can get mad props when I review the service itself, as I don't want to cause mass hysteria for him right now.) He read my comment and had me hooked up in a New York minute. Even though the invite came from "Joost" last night, as of now I still haven't entered the site. My luck went south the minute I thought I finally found some, and due to yesterday's decision by the RIAA and powers that be, independent webcasting may shortly be no more. Now I'm busy saving internet radio and my station, my passion, once again.
I was the RIAA's whipping girl as I was so vocal in my last stand against their corporate grift and attempts to snuff out independent and hobbiest webcasters. Now I'm off to mount the second crusade. I'll have plenty of time to get "Joost" when and if the music dies.
To that end, I'll keep anyone who believes in basic freedom and rights, despises wanton corporate greed and feels they don't want 'net radio to go the way of terrestrial radio - 98% full of Britney Spears and other inane and worthless programming - posted on how they can help in the next day or so. I hope that's most of you. In the meantime, I'll also satisfy my curiosity and redeem my token tomorrow. As I promised the unknown blogger, I'll let you know about that too.
- Clipmarks - In an increasing crowded realm of social bookmarking and blogging tools, seems like a standout.
- CoolIris - Amazingly helpful tool which allows you to preview websites without opening a new window, tab or leaving your current page. Works for media content sites like YouTube and Flickr as well. I can't imagine the web without it. Makes surfing a dream!
- Coolringer - Takes the best clips of your favorite music automatically and sets it as a ringtone on your cell for free with a few clicks. Aren't you cool?
- Answers 2.2 - available through Firefox Extensions site. Highlight a word or text and get instant spelling, definitions, look up and/or searching with a variety of services.
- JOOST - Don't forget to get on line now (there's a waiting list) to become a beta tester for this hot new social online peer-to-peer TV service. Not only will you be able to watch live TV on your computer from around the world, with just a codec, you will also be able to chat with your friends live while you watch. See this screen shot. Can't wait, hope I get in on the Beta testing. Will be watching my email box and will let everyone know if I do.
