Category: Media

Society by Joe WilcoxAug 18, 20127:03 pm

Free Pussy Riot!

Punk rock roared across the globe as I started college in the late 1970s. Punkers protested their disco-loving, Baby Boomer siblings as much as “The Man”. UK punkers tapped into deep frustration among a younger population struggling for identity and future in face of global economic uncertainty.

Punk music then is much different than now. Then it was a lifestyle choice rooted in rebellion. Today, for bands like Green Day, punk, and all its garnishments, is fashionable. Mascara, colored hair, and tattoos are about fitting in to a larger, accepted social group. The real energy behind bands like the Sex Pistols is gone.

Pulp Media by Joe WilcoxAug 4, 20125:36 pm

Canadian Strife along 'The Border'

I grew up watching Canadian TV from the CBC station across the St. John River in New Brunswick. Programs like “The Beachcombers”, “The Friendly Giant”, “Mr. Dressup” and “North of 60”, among many others, delighted. In 1995, my wife, daughter and I moved home to Maine for 18 months, and my daughter watched “Big Comfy Couch” before its stateside debut. Many successful American TV shows were produced in Canada, such as “Battlestar Galactica” and “X-Files” and many HGTV programs.

The Canadian shows have a much different tone than their American counterparts that reminds of British TV. Well, they’re both part of the Commonwealth, eh. Yesterday I discovered CBC drama “The Border” on Netflix and have since streamed four episodes. I like it so far.

Journalism by Joe WilcoxJul 30, 20121:42 pm

Nail Down Your Sourcing

In response to a BetaNews writer presenting a third-party source for a story this morning, I wrote in group chat: In human relationships there is a misconception that love conquers all, that it’s more important […]

Events by Joe WilcoxJul 15, 20122:15 pm

BSG Wear for a Grand-plus

Battlestar Galactica costume by Anovos, spotted at San Diego Comic-Con 2012. Cost is $1,250 without the insignia pins, which add another $320 to price. Costume is produced in Canada by same company that did them […]

Journalism by Joe WilcoxJun 20, 201210:47 am

Writers, Be Present!

Use present tense as much as you can. Present tense gives your writing more impact, authority. People live in the present, not the past. Write for them that way.

As an editor, I see way too much stuff like: “Jack is taking the water up the hill”, when “Jack takes the water up the hill” is so much better.

News Media by Joe WilcoxMay 8, 20126:13 pm

Paywalls are killing my Budget

I just cancelled the Sunday New York Times and took digital-only (browser and smartphone) for $15 a month, discounted by half for 12 weeks. My most recent home delivery bill was $33 and some change. For Sundays! A promotion cutting the price in half for 6 months expired in April. I’m not eligible for another deal, and I don’t get $7-plus a week value from Sundays and all-access digital.

I’ve subscribed to the Times since 2001.

Photo by Joe WilcoxOct 22, 20114:55 pm

Picture Perfect

I enjoy the camera on the Samsung Galaxy S II smartphone so much, my Fujifilm FinePix X100 is on Craigslist. I just don’t have time to dedicate to photography, and the camera I have with […]

Photo by Joe WilcoxOct 1, 20117:23 pm

Spider at Dusk

I was out looking for my daughter’s cat and saw a huge spider in a web. Believe it or not, I snapped this with the Nexus S smartphone.

Apple by Joe WilcoxSep 25, 201110:12 am

Single Sourcing Is the Source of News Evil

I am mortified by lazy reporting this morning. I’ve been looking over stories about Verizon requesting a California judge reject Apple’s request to bar numerous Galaxy-branded smartphones or tablets from selling in the United States. I have yet to find one story that cites the original source—Verizon’s filing. They all instead refer to a FOSS Patents blog post. According to the court calendar, a motion hearing is scheduled for October 13 (I looked).

FOSS Patents is not credible-enough source, because its story on this topic, as with others, is generally one person’s perspective. More importantly, in this case, original source material should be available through the court’s PACER system, which is where I assume FOSS got the Verizon filing (I don’t know).

Photo by Joe WilcoxAug 11, 20116:38 am

The Survivor

My daughter’s cat, Kuma, caught this little sparrow, which she rescued and I later took to a wildlife shelter. (Featured Image was taken using Fujifilm X100. Vitals: f/4, ISO 200, 1/179 sec, 28mm; 3:42 p.m. […]

Photo by Joe WilcoxAug 9, 20115:25 pm

Luminox A.1847 Field Chronograph

On Aug. 1, 2011, I sold my 11.6-inch MacBook Air to a friend. I let him pay in Amazon bucks (e.g., gift certificate), which I used to buy my daughter a LensBaby fisheye lens and […]

Photo by Joe WilcoxAug 7, 20111:11 pm

The Orphan

While my wife and I visited Ocean Beach Pet Supply, a woman and her daughter brought in a kitten. The woman claimed some guy driving by handed it to her, told her he found it […]