“The View From the Phlipside” is a media commentary program airing on WRFA-LP, Jamestown NY. It can be heard Monday through Friday just after 8 AM and 5 PM. The following are scripts which may not exactly match the aired version of the program. Mostly because the host may suddenly choose to add or subtract words at a moments notice. WRFA-LP is not responsible for any such silliness or the opinions expressed. You can listen to a live stream of WRFA or find a podcast of this program at wrfalp.com. Copyright 2013-15 by Jay Phillippi. All Rights Reserved. You like what you see? Drop me a line and we can talk.
Program scripts from week of November 9, 2015
My name is Jay Phillippi and I’ve spent my life in and around the media. TV, radio, the movies and more. I love them, and I hate them and I always have an opinion. Call this the View from the Phlipside.
Comment Commentary
Over
the last couple weeks I’ve had one of the more bizarre parts of the
Internet pop up on my radar again. It’s something that can be highly
informative or completely useless. It can reveal us at our absolute
highest ability or show the basest, more destructive parts of our
personality. I’m talking about the whole category of online
comments.
the last couple weeks I’ve had one of the more bizarre parts of the
Internet pop up on my radar again. It’s something that can be highly
informative or completely useless. It can reveal us at our absolute
highest ability or show the basest, more destructive parts of our
personality. I’m talking about the whole category of online
comments.
Making
this a comment commentary.
this a comment commentary.
It
really began two weeks ago when I was looking for a new printer here
at the palatial Phlipside estate. I knew the outline of required
options and was doing some online research. When I had narrowed it
down to about four contenders I dove into the comments sections
(commonly called reviews, which I’ve always thought was stretching it
in most cases) to see what I can learn. As always the bottom of the
heap is where the fun stuff is. One commenter went into great detail
about how he found the set up instructions to be confusing. Once the
printer was set up, he noted it ran perfectly and did everything he
wanted. Rating? One star.
really began two weeks ago when I was looking for a new printer here
at the palatial Phlipside estate. I knew the outline of required
options and was doing some online research. When I had narrowed it
down to about four contenders I dove into the comments sections
(commonly called reviews, which I’ve always thought was stretching it
in most cases) to see what I can learn. As always the bottom of the
heap is where the fun stuff is. One commenter went into great detail
about how he found the set up instructions to be confusing. Once the
printer was set up, he noted it ran perfectly and did everything he
wanted. Rating? One star.
Seriously?
This
falls into the category of traditional temper tantrum responses. You
know, the ones is so outraged, the writer was canceling their
subscription. Or the recent comment on my favorite sports website by
someone who was outraged, and I mean outraged, about which writer was
being assigned to which team. If specific writers weren’t assigned
to specific team coverage, then he wasn’t getting what he paid for.
To be honest, who has time to worry about stuff like this?
falls into the category of traditional temper tantrum responses. You
know, the ones is so outraged, the writer was canceling their
subscription. Or the recent comment on my favorite sports website by
someone who was outraged, and I mean outraged, about which writer was
being assigned to which team. If specific writers weren’t assigned
to specific team coverage, then he wasn’t getting what he paid for.
To be honest, who has time to worry about stuff like this?
Then
there’s the intentionally funny comments. Plug the words “funny
Amazon comments” into your favorite search engine and then get
ready for some laughs. My favorite is the gallon of Tuscan milk
review written as a parody of Edgar Allen Poe’s classic poem, “The
Raven”.
there’s the intentionally funny comments. Plug the words “funny
Amazon comments” into your favorite search engine and then get
ready for some laughs. My favorite is the gallon of Tuscan milk
review written as a parody of Edgar Allen Poe’s classic poem, “The
Raven”.
Of
course, all of this is the flipside (you should pardon the
expression) of the dark side of Internet commentary. Too often, in
places where the world would benefit from serious, reasoned
discussion, what we get is personal attack. Facts are distorted,
distrusted or ignored. Anger and vitriol take the place of passion
and lucidity. Experience tells me that this comment abuse can be
found on all sides of all issues.
course, all of this is the flipside (you should pardon the
expression) of the dark side of Internet commentary. Too often, in
places where the world would benefit from serious, reasoned
discussion, what we get is personal attack. Facts are distorted,
distrusted or ignored. Anger and vitriol take the place of passion
and lucidity. Experience tells me that this comment abuse can be
found on all sides of all issues.
In
the end I can only offer this comment on comments. Too often we
comment without taking a moment to consider, before we hit the “Send”
button. We get caught by the immediacy of the Internet, because we
don’t take a moment to think things through. The great advice column
writer Ann Landers offers the best advice on how to approach any kind
of comment and I’ll leave you with that.
the end I can only offer this comment on comments. Too often we
comment without taking a moment to consider, before we hit the “Send”
button. We get caught by the immediacy of the Internet, because we
don’t take a moment to think things through. The great advice column
writer Ann Landers offers the best advice on how to approach any kind
of comment and I’ll leave you with that.
The
trouble with talking too fast is you may say something you haven’t
thought of yet.
trouble with talking too fast is you may say something you haven’t
thought of yet.
RIP, Gunnar Hansen
The
dream for most actors is to create that singular role that is
remembered for years. Today we remember the actor who in his very
first role created a character that has become iconic. That’s a
pretty good legacy for an actor who made two movies and then walked
away for more than a decade.
dream for most actors is to create that singular role that is
remembered for years. Today we remember the actor who in his very
first role created a character that has become iconic. That’s a
pretty good legacy for an actor who made two movies and then walked
away for more than a decade.
Gunnar
Hansen is a name that probably doesn’t mean anything to you unless
you’re a fan of low budget horror films. Hansen brought the
character of “Leatherface” to the screen in the classic low
budget slasher film “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre”. When the
great villains of the horror genre are mentioned “Leatherface”
inevitably makes the list.
Hansen is a name that probably doesn’t mean anything to you unless
you’re a fan of low budget horror films. Hansen brought the
character of “Leatherface” to the screen in the classic low
budget slasher film “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre”. When the
great villains of the horror genre are mentioned “Leatherface”
inevitably makes the list.
It’s
rather amazing that Hansen would find himself as part of movie
history. Born in Iceland, his family moved to the U.S. when he was
five and then to central Texas at age eleven. He studied English and
mathematics in college and then went on to study English and
Scandinavian Studies in graduate school. His resume included
computer operator, and bar bouncer. During his college days Hansen
did try his hand at some theater work. The movies were never really
in his plans. He decided to audition for the movie just for fun.
The rest is history.
rather amazing that Hansen would find himself as part of movie
history. Born in Iceland, his family moved to the U.S. when he was
five and then to central Texas at age eleven. He studied English and
mathematics in college and then went on to study English and
Scandinavian Studies in graduate school. His resume included
computer operator, and bar bouncer. During his college days Hansen
did try his hand at some theater work. The movies were never really
in his plans. He decided to audition for the movie just for fun.
The rest is history.
“Texas
Chainsaw Massacre” was written and directed by Tobe Hooper. It
cost right around three hundred thousand dollars to make but brought
in thirty million dollars domestically. The movie was extremely
controversial at the time, even being banned in several countries.
Hooper had trouble finding a distributor because of the violence. It
was Hansen’s first film and only Hooper’s second. What they created
is considered a pivotal movie in the history of horror films. It
marks the origin of the now iconic image of the villain as a hulking,
faceless nemesis.
Chainsaw Massacre” was written and directed by Tobe Hooper. It
cost right around three hundred thousand dollars to make but brought
in thirty million dollars domestically. The movie was extremely
controversial at the time, even being banned in several countries.
Hooper had trouble finding a distributor because of the violence. It
was Hansen’s first film and only Hooper’s second. What they created
is considered a pivotal movie in the history of horror films. It
marks the origin of the now iconic image of the villain as a hulking,
faceless nemesis.
Following
“Texas Chainsaw Massacre”, Gunnar Hansen appeared three years
later in the movie “The Demon Lover” and then walked away from
acting. Returning to Maine he became a writer, creating both books
and screenplays, and directed documentaries. Eleven years later he
returned to acting, calling it a “side project”, and put twenty
more titles on his filmography. In 2013 Hansen wrote “Chain Saw
Confidential – How We Made The World’s Most Notorious Horror Film”
after several publishers approached him about a biography. Hansen
chose to write the book himself. Several key members of the cast and
crew had died by that time, and Hansen would amass over a hundred
thousand words in background research. The result was a book that
examines the making of the movie, Hansen’s life and the movie’s place
in film history. Horror film fans consider it essential reading.
“Texas Chainsaw Massacre”, Gunnar Hansen appeared three years
later in the movie “The Demon Lover” and then walked away from
acting. Returning to Maine he became a writer, creating both books
and screenplays, and directed documentaries. Eleven years later he
returned to acting, calling it a “side project”, and put twenty
more titles on his filmography. In 2013 Hansen wrote “Chain Saw
Confidential – How We Made The World’s Most Notorious Horror Film”
after several publishers approached him about a biography. Hansen
chose to write the book himself. Several key members of the cast and
crew had died by that time, and Hansen would amass over a hundred
thousand words in background research. The result was a book that
examines the making of the movie, Hansen’s life and the movie’s place
in film history. Horror film fans consider it essential reading.
Ironically,
in real life, Hansen looked more like Santa Claus (or maybe George
Lucas) than a crazed, cannibal mass murderer.
in real life, Hansen looked more like Santa Claus (or maybe George
Lucas) than a crazed, cannibal mass murderer.
Gunnar
Hansen was 68 years old.
Hansen was 68 years old.
Making Things Smart
One
of the downsides of the advance of technology is that certain
products that have been with us for many years get left behind. The
classic example is the once thriving buggy whip industry that
disappeared with the advance of the automobile.
of the downsides of the advance of technology is that certain
products that have been with us for many years get left behind. The
classic example is the once thriving buggy whip industry that
disappeared with the advance of the automobile.
It
doesn’t happen in every instance. E-books have found a place along
side dead tree books, which don’t appear to be ready to slide into
extinction just yet.
doesn’t happen in every instance. E-books have found a place along
side dead tree books, which don’t appear to be ready to slide into
extinction just yet.
On
the other hand you have things like thirty five millimeter
photography. After decades of shooting film, my cameras gather dust
in a closet. I just can’t quite bring myself to get rid of them.
Turns out I may not have to.
the other hand you have things like thirty five millimeter
photography. After decades of shooting film, my cameras gather dust
in a closet. I just can’t quite bring myself to get rid of them.
Turns out I may not have to.
If
you’re a clever entrepreneur you recognize that these transition
points can create possible new businesses. That’s why we are seeing
businesses leaping into the opening for “smart” devices.
you’re a clever entrepreneur you recognize that these transition
points can create possible new businesses. That’s why we are seeing
businesses leaping into the opening for “smart” devices.
For
example, there is the “Chronos”, a three millimeter thick device
that sticks to the back of your standard watch to connect it to your
Android or iPhone. Suddenly, your standard time piece is, well,
smarter. You won’t get a smart watch out of the under one hundred
dollar product but it can notify you, through vibrations or lights,
that you have a message. Plus it has an accelerometer so it can help
you with your fitness goals as well. Call it semi-smart.
example, there is the “Chronos”, a three millimeter thick device
that sticks to the back of your standard watch to connect it to your
Android or iPhone. Suddenly, your standard time piece is, well,
smarter. You won’t get a smart watch out of the under one hundred
dollar product but it can notify you, through vibrations or lights,
that you have a message. Plus it has an accelerometer so it can help
you with your fitness goals as well. Call it semi-smart.
But
that’s not the only foray into bringing old stuff into the new age.
If your car has a computer plug (found in pretty much all vehicles
since 1996) then you could plug in a “Vinli”, allowing you to
upgrade your antique automobile. It gives you wi-fi, GPS location
tracking, collision detection, and the ability to send a message if
you are in an accident. Plus, it has it’s own app store so you can
get apps that track maintenance, gas mileage, even help you become a
safer driver. Again, not “smart” but at least semi-smart.
that’s not the only foray into bringing old stuff into the new age.
If your car has a computer plug (found in pretty much all vehicles
since 1996) then you could plug in a “Vinli”, allowing you to
upgrade your antique automobile. It gives you wi-fi, GPS location
tracking, collision detection, and the ability to send a message if
you are in an accident. Plus, it has it’s own app store so you can
get apps that track maintenance, gas mileage, even help you become a
safer driver. Again, not “smart” but at least semi-smart.
So
surely this must mean that there is hope for my beloved Olympus OM-1,
sitting forlornly on a shelf in my closet. A quick scan through the
internet brought good news and bad. The good news is that there is
definite interest in this concept. Let’s face it, I am far from the
only photographer with outdated equipment on the shelf. There was a
real burst of activity back in 2011-13. The bad news is that most
interesting project turned out to be an April Fool’s joke that got a
little out of control. Check out “RE dash 35”. Then there was
the EFS-1 which died just months before coming to market and the
“Digi-pod” which had a failed Indie-gogo campaign to fund the
start-up that died about two years ago.
surely this must mean that there is hope for my beloved Olympus OM-1,
sitting forlornly on a shelf in my closet. A quick scan through the
internet brought good news and bad. The good news is that there is
definite interest in this concept. Let’s face it, I am far from the
only photographer with outdated equipment on the shelf. There was a
real burst of activity back in 2011-13. The bad news is that most
interesting project turned out to be an April Fool’s joke that got a
little out of control. Check out “RE dash 35”. Then there was
the EFS-1 which died just months before coming to market and the
“Digi-pod” which had a failed Indie-gogo campaign to fund the
start-up that died about two years ago.
Of
the three ideas, that one seems to have the greatest potential
market. Or maybe I happen to own a modern buggy whip.
the three ideas, that one seems to have the greatest potential
market. Or maybe I happen to own a modern buggy whip.
Call that the View From the Phlipside
Copyright Jay Phillippi, 2015
Theme music for “The View From the Phlipside” and “TVFTP – Podcast” is “Hustle”
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Stories Are My Life 
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