Is Sci-Fi the Last Literary Genre?

According to Wired magazine, it's possible:

http://www.wired.com/techbiz/people/magazine/16-02/st_thompson

Celebrity Obsession

Lately I have been hearing more and more people talk about Perez Hilton's web-site. I had never looked at it before so I decided that I should probably check it out. What I found was, to me, sort of sad. On the page are articles about celebrities with their pictures included. Although I will admit I love to read the dirt on celebs, I feel that this page takes it too far. The pictures of the celebs have been written on with words such as "Pills," "Flying High," and "I love Swag." I can see how some people would find this funny, but I actually find it pretty sad. I don't mind that Perez is writing articles about these celebrities, because honestly, who doesn't like to read about their latest messups? But I think actually calling these celebrities names and making fun of them goes a bit too far. I know that celebrities put themselves in these situations by being famous, but is it really fair to make fun of all of their life decisions? Poor Britney Spears. The paparazzi and chasers have basically driven her to maddness, and I think that web-sites and articles like Perez Hilton are definitely behind it. I can't blame people for wanting to read the behind the scenes stories on these celebrities, but sometimes I feel like people care more about the mistakes of the news than the mistakes our government makes. Just a thought.

celebrity rehab

Reality TV became popular in the last decade or so. The first reality TV show I remember watching was The Real World. That was a semi-harmless show about strangers living together in a foreign city. Today, we have shows like Celebrity Rehab on VH1. I am not sure why it has become so popular, but watching people make complete fools of themselves on TV seems to be a popular thing among people. I'm sure others would argue that there is a lesson to be learned in a show like this, but I disagree. I actually think it is ridiculous for people to watch "celebrities" get over their addictions on TV. Shows like Laguna Beach and the Real Housewives of Orange County could give people unrealistic expectations on life. Hopefully the people watching know better than to believe what they see on TV. I think these shows are popular because it gives a normal person insight into the prestigious lives of the rich and famous.
However, I think there is some good reality TV. Most shows on the Food Network and Top Chef show people with genuine talent. People on shows like Top Chef have experienced life in that profession and showcase their talents on TV. Extreme Home Makeover also seems to be popular. Although it is usually quite sappy, houses are made for a family and not really for fame.
Below is a link to the Celebrity Rehab page at VH1 and Bravo's Top Chef.
http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/celebrity_rehab_with_dr_drew/series.jhtml?source=globalnav
http://www.bravotv.com/blog/thedish/2008/01/top_chef_returns.php

Hello Kitty Hell

Hello Kitty has an endless supply of merch. Here's a new freaky item Hello Kitty contact lenses http://www.kittyhell.com/2007/12/26/hello-kitty-contacts/

Kittyhell.com features a lot of weird Hello Kitty items. The front page shows a pink Hello Kitty rifle, among other funny items.

SuperHeroHype.com

SuperHeroHype.com

Superhero Hype, or commonly referred to as "SHH" by fans, is a website that has branched off of ComingSoon.net that devotes itself to news on superhero films.

Not only does SHH provide a website for news but it also has a message boards for fans of various superheroes to discuss their favorite protagonists. Their forums contain various sub-boards for specific heroes like Batman, Superman, and Spiderman, but also other franchises like Transformers.

SHH derives most of its popularity because it serves as a hub for all superhero and comic book fans to unite and discuss their respective heroes. For example, when the trailer for the new Batman film, The Dark Knight, was released, the forums almost crashed due to the volume of people browsing and posting.

Since both comic books/superheroes and film make up the entertainment facet of pop culture, SHH is a fine example of where pop culture is on display. Whenever new trailers, production stills, posters, or other news is released about the major superhero franchises, SuperHeroHype is the place to be to watch fans discuss it.

North Face Site

For those of you that want to see what The North Face has to offer (I'm sure you all already have), you can go to
http://thenorthface.com/

North Face and College Students

Before I came to college, I had only occasionally seen young people, or anyone for that matter, wear "The North Face" brand clothes. For those of you who don't know, The North Face makes clothing and supplies for hiking, camping, and extreme climates. Lately, I have noticed that The North Face brand clothes have spiked in popularity among college students. The fleece jackets seem to be the most popular item that The North Face offers, but anything North Face seems good enough for most.

I think The North Face is popular because they offer comfortable clothes that can be worn in almost any situation. Whether your trying to look classy and go out to a nice restaurant or just want to be comfortable when you study at the library, North Face is very appropriate and effective in either situation. The thing that caught my attention regarding The North Face is how popular it is with college students. Although I'm sure North Face is popular among other groups of people, I think the crowd that has taken it in the most is college students. Considering fleece jackets exactly like North Face have been around for who knows how long, I just find it weird that, what seems like, 90% of college students choose to buy a black North Face jacket.

This brand of clothing seems to constitute popular culture because it seems to be the most widely accepted type of outerwear among college students. It also seems to make a statement that the wearer is "classy, but comfortable" at the same time; I'm not too sure about that, but that's just the vibe that I get.

gamertagpics.com

I got a subscription to Xbox Live recently, I have never been part of a gaming community prior to this. I didn't realize how much of a community it really is. I think for many it is more statisfying than myspace or facebook because you can interact via headset and webcam easily on Xbox. A friend of mine told me she has XBLBFs (xbox live best friends) and was even asked to be someones XBL girlfriend.

Simply by being a girl, with a gamertag that has my name in it, I get countless messages from people I have never met or played with. One of the messages I got was from someone suggesting I join gamertagpics.com.

Gamertagpics.com is a site where you can join with your xbox live gamertag. I believe you have to post a picture of yourself in order to be a member of the site. Here, members and guests can search the gamertag of someone they played games online with. Just like any other online community, you can comment on people's message boards and enter all sorts of information about yourself. On your profile you can choose to answer xbox live specific questions, for example:

How did you come up with your Gamertag?
How many hours a day do you play Video Games?
Have you met anyone off of Xbox Live? Would You? If yes, then Who, how'd it go?

You can also let people know your favorite game, your online status, and when was the last time you were "last seen" on xbox.

It is an extension of an already massive online community.

It's A WoW World

For those of you who don't know, WoW is World of Warcraft, and online game that over 9 million people from all over the world subscribe to. This was a well know game among "nerds" for quite some time now, but with the recent South Park episode, and commercials featuring Mr. T and William Shatner, the WoW epidemic is bigger than ever. Being an avid player myself, I can tell you the game is addicting and really sort of a lifestyle. You speak a different language (bop=bind on equip, dps=damage per second, and, of course, LEROY JENKINS!) and places like Undercity and Hellfire Penninsula become a second home. You become a guild member, which you accept as your second family, and learn to rely on and support them. As sad as this may sound, I know more than one relationship that has been started on this game, and have met some very good friends on there. Though some people say sitting on the computer all day will create an isolated, non-productive member of society, we learn leadership skills, communication techniques, and how to multi-task (try fighting a raid boss, arguing with a guild leader, and keeping your minion alive all at the same time!). But in all seriousness, this game is a pop culture phenomenon in so many ways, it practicatically creates its own universe, and there is something to be said for that.