Topics
Media & Internet
A TV Writer on Why Not to Go Into TV Writing
Executive Producer, "The Daily Show"
Josh Lieb had worked in the writer's rooms of comedy successes from the Simpsons to the Daily Show, but he warns those who want to follow in his footsteps that the job is full of more frustrations than glory. If there's anything else you can do, he says, do that.
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Getting Drunk at The New York Times
Gay Talese describes the tobacco-filled and liquor-drenched newsrooms of The New York Times in the sixties—where men passed out on typewriters, and no one was quite sure just how the paper actually got out. Watch
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Remember When Journalism Was Profitable?
Calvin Trillin fondly remembers how print journalism overcame its last big opponent, television, and wonders if it will be able to deal with the Internet in the same way. Watch
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Social Media Conquers the Third World
Alec Ross says that social media is already having tremendous effects in the third world, and that we should not assume that those in poor countries don’t have the ingenuity to use technological tools effectively—and that includes terrorists. Watch
Related Blogs
Novel Copy
November 19, 2009 — 5:03 PM
The Guardian says it’s a bad idea for the the Times of London to build a paywall by next spring. Spectator Magazine (UK) only lost 3% of readers after putting its content behind a paywall, but realize they serve a more niche audience than general newspapers. Still, a survey by the Boston Consulting Group found that many are willing to pay for access to online news. Plus, the Literary Review 2009 bad-sex-in-fiction prize has chosen its nominees. You’ll be hard up to find more titillating entertainment (or not). Read more
Novel Copy
November 17, 2009 — 4:09 PM
Murdoch's News Corporation Makes a Move
A variety of English media reported today that the Times of London will begin charging its customers for 24-hour access to the Times’ website by spring. The Times, roughly the English equivalent of the New York Times, is owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation and will likely be the first major newspaper to adopt a mandatory online payment scheme. Read more
Latest Ideas
Big Think Interview With Gerald Chertavian
Big Think sits down with the Founder and CEO of Year Up. Read More
November 15, 2009
What Keeps Jonathan Ames Up at Night
The writer often loses sleep over the dread of disappointing others. Read More
November 11, 2009
From sex to his great-aunt, Jonathan Ames’ oeuvre is laced with a variety of obsessions, including the desire to let books themselves shape our fates Read More
November 11, 2009
Making People Think They Enjoy Sex
Striving for titillation may be fun, but for Jonathan Ames the true aim of writing about the act is somewhat cathartic--if only he could reach all of those needy souls posting odd desires on Craigslist. Read More
November 11, 2009
After years of forced frugality, the novelist Jonathan Ames has been clueless about what to do with his new paycheck as an HBO producer—one purchase, however, has been obvious, getting rid of his age old bed. Read More
November 11, 2009
Get Up, Drink Coffee, Waste Time, Finish Novel
Jonathan Ames takes the casual approach to writing, punctuating his time in front of the screen with periods of “messing around,” lying down, coffee drinking, and efforts to feel a bit less afraid. Read More
November 11, 2009
In his long career as a storyteller, Jonathan Ames has learned a thing or two about how to entertain. A few quick tips: don’t memorize your lines, and always be honest about your own neuroses. Read More
November 11, 2009
Big Think Interview With Jonathan Ames
Big Think sits down with the author and creator of, “Bored to Death.” Read More
November 11, 2009
You're as likely to win the lottery as create a winning application for the iPhone. Serial tech entrepreneur Gabe Zichermann explains. Read More
November 5, 2009
Daily Ideafeed
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Ho Ho No
Santa Scandal -
A service by North Pole dwellers to answer letters addressed to Santa has been suspended after a sex offender was recognized as a volunteer.
November 19, 2009
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E-Fit
Facebook Theft? -
Social-networking site Facebook is increasingly being used as a tool for thieves to target people – but also for cops to catch them red handed.
November 17, 2009
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Unsubstantiated
Fort Hood Gaffe -
The Huffington Post says the media fell hook, line and sinker for the military account of what happened at Fort Hood last week.
November 13, 2009
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Carrie Prejean
Unstylish Exit -
An attempt by Carrie Prejean to storm off Larry King was thwarted by dithering and a commercial break.
November 12, 2009
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Elite Dating
1.8m Ugly People -
A global dating service called BeautifulPeople.com has turned away 1.8m people for being “too ugly” in the two weeks since its launch.
November 12, 2009
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Dave Schultheis
Not So Tweet -
Recently retired senator Dave Schultheis has caused outrage online by comparing Obama to the 9/11 hijackers on Twitter.
November 12, 2009
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Toy Craze
Zhu Zhu Pet! -
The hottest toy to hit the shops this Christmas looks like a cross between a hamster and a Furby.
November 11, 2009
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Book Plan
Digital Library -
Google and copyright holders’ proposed digital library settlement has outraged its competitors.
November 10, 2009
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Allied Defeat
Heil Amerika! -
A tongue in cheek look at an alternative universe – "what if Germany hadn’t won the War?"
November 10, 2009
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Van Driver
Heist Star Rising -
A French van driver suspected of making off with €11.6m in cash has become an internet star.
November 9, 2009
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Framed!
Child Porn Virus -
Internet viruses are known for being pretty sinister – but what if they could make you an unsuspecting collector of kiddie porn?
November 9, 2009
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In the Show
Interactive TV -
Interactive TV could be on the verge of allowing viewers to take part in the on-screen action.
November 9, 2009
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Miscarriage
Tweeting Issue -
Penelope Trunk explains why she updated her Twitter feed with the news that she was having a miscarriage.
November 6, 2009
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Chinese Shutdown
No More Warcraft? -
The Chinese version of popular internet-based game World of Warcraft has been ordered to shut down by a government agency.
November 4, 2009
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Ghost Pages
GeoCities Archive -
The race to archive GeoCities pages began after the free website company’s imminent demise was announced.
November 4, 2009
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Supreme Leader
Disappeared? -
A gifted student who publicly confronted Iran’s Supreme Leader has reportedly gone missing and an internet campaign has been launched to publicise his disappearance.
November 4, 2009
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Anna Nicole Smith
Clowning Around? -
A bizarre video of a bewildered Anna Nicole Smith painted like a clown has been submitted as evidence that she was being held in a drugged stupor by Howard K. Stern.
November 3, 2009
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Breast Rating
TV Boob? -
Middle America is up in arms after fully exposed breasts were aired on TV – as part of a breast cancer exam awareness campaign!
November 3, 2009
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911 Notification
Facebook Rescue -
An American girl sparked an international rescue effort after she alerted British authorities about a teenager’s Facebook suicide note.
November 2, 2009
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How’d You Like
Them Apples? -
The Apple marketing department is taking subtle swipes at Microsoft via Google AdWords.
November 2, 2009
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News Sport
Public Gutting -
Author Janet Malcom’s book discusses the “morally indefensible” career of journalism in an industry which turns guttings into a spectator sport.
October 29, 2009
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Digging It
Down the Farm -
The Facebook game FarmVille is making agriculture sexy again. But are online farms warping our view of how food is made?
October 29, 2009
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High Note
Google Music -
Google takes on iTunes with its new music search platform integrated with sister firms MySpace and LaLa.
October 29, 2009
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Blurred Identity
Osama Close Up? -
Is the shady figure in a new video released by Al Qaeda the most wanted man on Earth, Osama Bin Laden?
October 29, 2009
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Jyllands-Posten
Cartoon Terror Plot -
Two men have been arrested in connection with a terror plot against the Danish newspaper which published cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed.
October 28, 2009