Mandatory Media

Blog Format

2005-07-31T21:00:00.000-05:00

Well, as we are all busy and the posts seem sporadic, I think this would be a good time to discuss structure of the blog.

What format do we want to use to actually generate discussion about the topics we come up with?

How do we want to generate said topics?

The "top five" theme seems to be a good one, should we continue to use that?

My suggestion is to take turns coming up with the topic of the top five list, kind of like we have begun to do. Everyone should put their list up as a comment attached to the main post (with explanations for why each is important). We then need to come up with some way to discuss the lists.

Just so you guys know, I am working on the following:

Sopranos, season one

Family Guy, season one & two (complete)

Atlas Shrugged (much to my dismay)

Deadwood, season one

A Walk in the Woods (complete)

I think it would also be a good idea to start a mailing with the stuff we do have if you all are interested in that as well. (Especially seasons of tv shows)

One last thing, I would like to start organizing each of the posts by category. Here is a quick list. Let me know what else we need to add.

TV
Movies
Books
Music
Blogs
Web Sites
Other

Chris: Was good to see you again.
Kevin: Hope the move went okay. Dukes of Hazzard this Friday????
Paul: Glad vacation went well for you.

What I love about Atlanta...

2005-07-21T05:45:00.000-05:00

Chris has ask me to list what I love about Atlanta now that I've moved. My perspective is somewhat narrow as I still live in Lansing and, moreover; will do so until next Wednesday. While I do fully expect to enjoy living South of the Donna Dixon Line (hi Paul) it has not yet come to pass.

Stay fluffy - peppercat out.

Thanx for waiting...got caught up in BLOG limbo.

2005-07-19T08:56:00.000-05:00

Okay, better late than never. Just want to enter a post and make sure that I'm doing this correctly. Not sure what happened earlier, but my previous attempts got spit back like a dry MRE. If this works... I'll try to be a more regular contributor.

2005-07-12T07:47:00.000-05:00

Mandatory news sources:

An argument with dad last week centered around his baffling devotion to Fox News. In my opinion, thus the blog, Rupert Murdoch has pretty much bailed on any sort of objective news reporting in favor of right-wing pundit analysis. The exchange got me thinking, if all news reporting has a slant (it does) how best should one stay informed about the world around us? Answer: Top Five Mandatory Media News Sources. Regular exposure to these five sources (all with web sites) will give the reader a broad idea of what is really happening in the world.

1) http://english.aljazeera.net is Al Jazeera's English-language web site, updated several times per day, is a good source for seeing essentially what people are thinking in the Middle East. As there exists a very real possibility that I will spend some quality time in the sand, I see the importance in keeping my ear to the ground. The satellite channel originates from Qatar and has been lauded for level reporting (except for political dissent within Qatar) and, moreover; is used my millions as their primary news source.

2) National Public Radio, http://www.npr.org, is a publicly (through government support, corporate endowments and listens like you) funded media source. With it's TV brother, PBS, is the closest thing the United States has to the BBC (see next on list). Often criticized for a left wing slant NPR is in fact (alright in my opinion) the most level even-handed news source around. Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Fresh Air etc... Pound for pound the best programming around.

3) British Broadcasting Company, The BBC, government funded from England is the world leader in news reporting. http://news.bbc.co.uk Check this site often.

4) For those of us who, through tragedies of geography, live too far for daily home delivery The Times is available (at no cost) on the web. http://nytimes.com requires a free sign on and is profoundly worth the trouble. The Times rivals the BBC for accurate reporting of Africa, South America and points beyond. To that end their domestic news coverage is best used to line the birdcage. It is only so much liberal elitist banter; ignore the opinion page unless you feel like an argument.

5) http://www.foxnews.com You may be, at first, puzzled as to why I included Fox News on my list. Answer: for much the same reason as I included Al Jazeera. Unlike dad I prefer news analysis with which I do not necessarily agree. While some people watch Fox because they feel comfortable I do so for the opposite reason. To that end, some programs such as the O'Riley Factor can be pretty good sources for opinion and even straight talk. The importance of monitoring what other think keeps me looking at where they form their opinions.

Bonus News Source:
At first The Daily Show, Comedy Central - check local listings, passes itself off as fake news. However, look closer and you will find an intellectual sarcasm which is "Superior to None" in their analysis of news of the day. http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/the_daily_show/index.jhtml is the link for clips from past shows. A personal favorite is Stephen Colbert's This Week In God segments.

Paul, you're up. Please regale us again with your famous "World's top gym socks list."

Existance and the Beginning of the Lists---Topic #1

2005-07-11T20:19:00.000-05:00

It exists because we are nerds!!! Okay, so that is obvious. I digress.

I suppose we need a collective outlet (away from the Port-o-Jons) to actually follow through with those long, intellectual discussions we had. The thing that is impressing me the most is that of all of those people I have met who swear they are going to stay in touch and don't, I have finally found a few that will, and have.

Maybe we were all meant for each other, as scary as that may be...

Alright boys, where to we begin? Shall we begin at the beginning?

In the field it always worked to give the top five list, so why don't we start there.

TOPIC #1:

List your top five children's books. (little kid books, 5 and under)

emily's list

1. Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag
2. Our Animal Friends at Maple Hill Farm by Alice and Martin Provensen
3. There's a Wocket in my Pocket by Dr. Seuss
4. Where the sidewalk ends by Shel Silverstein
5. Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey

These books are the ones I remember the most from being a child. I think it says a lot for my mom that most of my first memories are of books.

Alright guys, give me whatcha got!

Kev---tag, you are it to come up with topic #2

Why this site exists . or rather "In a race between a rock and a pig, don't varnish your clams."

2005-07-11T16:08:00.000-05:00

There exists, in everyone's mind's eye, a list is necessary experiences. Things that must be seen, places that must be visited, food which must be eaten, books that must be read, cars that scream out to be driven etc... Over Scotch & Gatorade this past summer several of us started a list of books, movies, music and TV which we, each in our own way, considered important enough to be experienced by everyone as part of a general "intellectual experience." This egocentric list of preferences evolved into Mandatory Media. We have, from very different perspectives, complied a list of the best & worst here in one place. To that end, we invite you ... the blog-savy surfer ... to comment & contribute as you see fit.

Why I think this site exists.

2005-07-10T18:41:00.000-05:00

Hello all! I am an early 30s professional, and things had become pretty routine. I had lost hope finding people that would appreciate my sense of humor, or somewhat angular view of life. As a result of this I did not share much with those around me.
Along comes a little trip to Georgia and I met a pair of fellow soldiers / Nurses that could finish my sentences at times. hell, they could even understand where I was coming from. So this site is dedicated to sharing ideas and entertainment venues that likeminded people can enjoy.
My first book recommendations.
1)A Walk in the Woods: Bill Bryson Mr. Bryson tackles the Appalachian Trail. You will laugh a lot and learn much
2) British Training For American Retrievers: Vic Barlow ( This is a great book for making a polite, obedient friend of your dog. Excellent if you wish to do complicated retrieving as well)