Brave New Cyberworld

i am happy to report that All My Children and One Life to Live will become the first two television shows to move fully from TV to the internet. This of course brings up a lot of interesting questions. Is TV going to be completely replaced by Web-based programs? Will non-tech savvy soap fans be deprived of their soaps, or will they be dragged kicking and screaming into the computer age? Will computer screens ever be as inviting and familiar as the TV set?

Television doesn't just provide entertainment. Our whole way of life is changing. From how we get our news, to how we shop. We basically have to adapt or be left behind. it may seem to some an impossible task, but we've done it all before. Its a pattern we keep repeating successfully. Movie theaters, Radio, and television itself each altered the way we see the world and how we operate within it.

It may take a period of adjustment, but it will all be worth it. Technology has its draw backs, but I strongly believe society is always better off when new media comes along.

-Sean
@Seanfromvt

soap scum revisited

just a quick update on my May blog. Since then, The Globe, The Wall Street Journal and CNN iReport have all reported about angry soap fans and The Save Our Soaps movement. I have more hope now we will win this fight than ever before, but we have a lot of work to do. All My Children and One Life to Live are still on the chopping block for now. ABC is even blatantly promoting AMC's replacement, The Chew, during AMC. Go to www.thesoaprevolution.com for more information on the SOS cause and how you can help.

Sean
@seanfromvt

Taxing question

i am so tired of the republican party sounding like raising taxing on the rich is evil. I think our little experiment called America will literally end if we insist on never raising taxes on anyone ever. I distinctly remember the Bush tax cuts specifically designed to end. Even Bush was fine with that. Since when did we decide it was immoral to make rich people pay their fair share? Taxes were raised under Reagan and Bush senior. What has changed? Oh wait, I know, an evil black Hawaiian became president. that's the only difference i can see.

I know some people will be upset with that, but how else do you explain it? The deficit/ Didn't we have one of those in the eighties, when taxes went up? Whatever the reason, we have only three options. Raise taxes on the rich, cut the budget, or both. If you only cut the budget, healthcare is most of the deficit. Can you honestly say Medicare is off the table? oh wait, the republican plan already gets rid of it, but at least rich people won't pay more taxes. Assuming they still exist after that.

Sean
@seanfromvt

Soap Scum

I haven't blogged in a while, but this is an important issue to bring up here. ABC and Disney, in their infinite stupidity, are canceling All My Children and One Life is Live. AMC had lousy ratings but OLTL actually does reasonably well for daytime. I know many think soap operas are idiotic and cheesy, but they are the most character driven programs in TV history. An integral genre is nearly extinct now.

Four long running soaps will be gone in less than four years time, if ABC has its way. General Hospital and Days of our Lives could soon follow. That would leave exactly two soaps.

What is so bad about the death of the soap opera, you may be asking about now. There are two main reasons It is tragic. As tragic as the death of a beloved soap character like Stuart Chandler or Luna Moody.

The first reason is the loss of a great talent builder. Demi Moore, John Stamos, Judith Light, Rick Springfield, Sarah Michelle gellar, Morgan Freeman, Amanda Seyfried, Susan Sarandon, and many others, honed their acting skills on daytime dramas. Soap stars work several hours a day, five or more days a week, often with no retakes. That's quite an education for an actor, or even a writer, director, or camera person.

The other reason is the demise of TV fiction. I am serious here. Some reality shows are great, but every time a scripted show is replaced with a dirt cheap reality show, we inch closer to killing creativity and driving more writers to the unemployment line.

#saveoursoaps
Sean Clogston
Tweet me @seanfromvt

2010 Year in Review

Best New TV Show of 2010: Parenthood or V
Worst New Show of 2010: $#@! My Dad Says
Worst News Item of 2010: Haiti Earthquake
Best News Item of 2010: Chilean Mine Rescue
Best Song of 2010: I Need You Now by Lady Antebellum or Misery by Maroon 5
Most Overplayed Song of 2010: I love Train, but I will shoot myself
if I hear Soul Sister again anytime soon.
Saddest Goodbye of 2010: Rue Maclanahan or Dixie Carter
Celebrity I Most Want to Just Go Away in 2011: Anyone from Jersey Shore
Best Movie I Saw this Year: Avatar
Tweeter of the Year: Roger Ebert
Most Obnoxious Tweeter of the Year: Sarah Palin
Jacka## of the Year: Anyone at BP

Where have you gone Josh Blue?

Anyone seen disabled comic Josh Blue lately? Or Marlee Matlin? Anyone see anyone with a disability anywhere on television lately? Ok, there is a one legged girl on Survivor, but that's about it. We are here. We are out there. There are millions of us. If you watch TV and don't get out much, you'd think we didn't exist.

What's wrong with us? Do we have cuties? Are we vampires? Oh, I forgot, vampires can actually get on television. They're more popular than thong underwear.

Most Americans know almost nothing about muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, or multiple sclerosis. I would think people would be curious about these conditions, but TV producers sure don't think they are. If you want more reality, nothing is more real than living with the drama and comedy (yes,comedy). That of course brings us back to Josh Blue. To almost quote a song,"Where have you gone Josh Blue, a lonely nation turns it eyes to you, woo woo woo."

Crash the Party!

The Tea Party is ready to celebrate their supposed victory, but its time to crash the Party! All you gotta do is vote for Democrats in November. Do you want to trust the Stock Market with your Social Security money? Do you want to rely on Saudi Arabia, deadly coal mines, leaking nuclear power plants, or BP for your energy needs? Do you want asthmatic or autistic children to go without health insurance? If the Democrats lose the House or Senate, we all lose. All of the above WILL happen or WILL CONTINUE to happen, if we don't act.

Oil Oil Everywhere

Oil is without any doubt destroying our environment. I never thought I would see the day when I could watch the damage develop right on my tv. Pelicans dying before my very eyes. Brown geysers squirting out at the bottom of the sea.

Some people say alternative energy is too expensive to be our main source of power. Billions of dollars will be spent on cleaning up this mess, billions we could spend on wind mills,solar panels and research into long lasting batteries and hydrogen fuel cells. BP will cover SOME of the cost, but they will only pay what we can quantify. What can actually be evaluated in dollars. We can't possibility know the entire cost in lost tax revenue from lost wages,loss of fish and seafood populations,lost tourism dollars,and health-care costs from breathing in bad air. BP will not pay what we "figure" they must owe.

You may think this is a freak accident,but mark my words,These "accidents" or negligent acts will keep happening,as long as off-shore drilling is this lucrative and this risky. It must be banned before it does any more harm.

To All the Girls I've Never Loved Before

I am a lonely single man looking for love. I think its time I found myself a girlfriend. So keep me in mind if you're interested in a severely disabled guy who rarely gets out of bed. I am also (if I do say so myself), funny, honest, talkative, imaginative, unique, and dog gone it, people like me! (ok, maybe I stole that last part from Al Franken). Anyway, here is my list of the top ten celebrity crushes I have right now.

1. Hannah Teter (snowboarder)
2. Amanda Seyfried (actress)
3. Alicia Sacremone (gymnast)
4. Carmen Electra (actress/model)
5. Megan Fox (actress)
6. Kaley Cuoco (actress)
7. Anne Vyalitsyna (model)
8. Mariah Carey (singer)
9. Carie Underwood (singer)
10. Angelina Jolie (actress)

If any of these women would like to go out with me, just ask.

Olympic Fever

The Winter Olympics are here again. The Olympics have always had a soft spot in my heart. Always seems to be incredible stories of people overcoming pain, anguish and tragedy to be an Olympian. It never ceases to amaze me what the human spirit can accomplish when it is allowed to be released. It isn't just a series of sports competitions. It is about courage, strength, integrity, motivation, freedom, peace, and humility. I feel all tingly and warm when watching the world come together like this. Olypians are so blessed to be able to do what they do. I think they are well aware of this. Good luck to you all, and as Morgan Freeman says in those Visa Commercials, Go World!

Mid-season TV Preview

American Idol begins on January 12th and 13th on FOX. Several guest judges will greet the season nine auditioners, until Hollywood Hell Week. Then Ellen Degeneres permanently joins the panel. I think Ellen will add new energy to the slightly stagnating show.

Big Love season four begins January 10th on HBO. Sissy Spacek joins the cast later in the season. I am particularly interested in learning the true fate of Roman Grant. Is the so-called prophet really six feet under, or isn't he?

Lost ends its mystery-laden run, starting in February. Smoke monsters, timelines, and polar bears, oh my!

The Vancouver Winter Olympics, and Survivor: Villains vs. Hereos will also be starting up in February. Should be a good winter for TV addicts.

Long December

Hi. Long Decemer is of course a great song by Counting Crows. It is also exactly how I am feeling right now. Probably the worst December in recent memory. Can't seem to shake a chronic headache and am especially lonely 'Round Here (pun intended). Could use a nice good surprise in my life, or at least a new friend. My computer crashed too. Nothing seems to be going the way I was hoping it would go. Even was grumpy with one of the most wonderful people on the planet. Gotta get my mind and body working again. Anyone out there feeling the same? I could really use some cheering up. Guess I'll make a list here of things I am happy about:

• Big Love returns for its fourth season in January.
• My computer is once again back home and functioning normally.
• I received 5 great DVDs for Christmas.
• A new year is coming.
• Survivor: Villains vs Heroes coming in February
• American Idol's ninth season in less than three weeks.

That helped a little. Be back in a few days. Happy New Year! (I hope).

Music Stuff

I am once again listening to Pandora Radio. It is extremely useful for people like me with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. I can't operate a radio or stereo normally. They're playing "Run Through the Jungle" on My quickmix right now. One of the coolest classic rock tunes ever . . . and now playing "Get Back" by the Beatles. That reminds me, I gotta "get back" to Pandora and tell them I like these two songs.

I just missed a chance to evaluate "Run Through the Jungle". I added some holiday channels to Pandora yesterday. Apparently Sinatra, Josh Groban, and Vince Gill, are similar to each other, when they sing holiday songs. They don't seem to know what "Hoya, Hayo" is. Its an amazing Channukkah song by Peter, Paul & Mary. RIP Mary. We will miss you!

TV stuff

Big Love is probably the best drama on television. Some people may be thrown by the subject matter of polygamy, but so was I at first. Sometimes the best shows come in strange and even unpleasant packages. HBO's Six Feet Under couldn't of had a worse premise, but was also a brilliant depiction of family life. Whether in a funeral home or in a three home neighborhood of sister wives, family is just plain nuts. Yours, mine, everyone's. Maybe showing families as sane, happy, and completely functional is less realistic than showing them as having three wives or three mothers in near chaos. Its the dysfunction that makes it believable, not the setting or the number of wives.

You'll love Big Love, just watch it!

Sincerely,
Sean from Vermont

My first Blog

Hi. My name is Sean Clogston, but you can can call me Sean from Vermont. I am an unpublished writer from (you guessed it), Vermont. I am not an expert on much of anything, but have some knowledge in several areas that I would love to talk about. Subjects like politics, cryptozoology, television, creative writing, science, nature, disability, movies, music, and current events.

I'm still working on a major new update of my personal home page. You will learn more about me, once its up again. I'll be back soon with my next blog. I promise it will be a lot more interesting than this one.

Sincerely,
Sean from Vermont