Heroic Television
In honor of the official beginning of the new television season (and specifically the premiere of my favorite show) I’ve decided to write about the phenomenal NBC hit Heroes.
The premise of the show is there in the title and the first season tag line, Heroes, “ordinary people discovering extraordinary abilities”. I could review and gush over the incredibleness of the show itself but I’ve decided to stay true to the realm of technology.
It’s been said the the internet is the main media of the future, or perhaps even of right now, depending on how you look at it. To that end Heroes, in my opinion, has been the most successful show in breaking barriers and reaching out to fans online.
On NBC’s official Heroes web site there’s an array of options and opportunities to enhance the viewer experience (without alienating those fans content with there simple one hour a week show commitment). Besides your average screen caps, cast photos, and even interviews and episodes, Heroes has reached new heights with its tie in experiences of Heroes Evolutions.
Evolutions is basically the interactive online universe of Heroes. With six extra web sites that tie directly into the Heroes show itself (companies, blogs, and election sites) that’s just the beginning. Fans can sign up for text message updates from the different sites and play along with interactive mysteries and games.
In addition Heroes also posts a weekly online comic that expands on stories from within the series. From online mysteries to the back stories of secondary characters the whole show is enhanced by the deeper fabric created in the online universe.
Heroes knows its fans (new and old) are devoted and interested. In response they work as best they can to promote fan involvement and enjoyment. From full cast appearances and show previews at Comic Con, Greg Beeman’s (a director and producer on the show) blog, to star Adrian Pasdar’s (Nathan Petrelli) Youtube channel with extra cast videos, the internet connects fans and creators to the series they love.
If I haven’t made it clear already, you should watch the show, it’s excellent. Season 3’s two hour premiere tonight: 8/7 central (in case anyone’s interested). 
Blogging on the go
I have a personal blog through Google’s Blogger and I recently learned some new tricks to make it even easier to use.
I have trouble using Blogger at times on my Mac so I usually post from my PC, but since all my pics are on my Mac this is a real pain. It involves way more steps than it should. But now I have a new option.
Blogger has a Mail2Blogger option that lets you post automatically from email. Within your settings you create an address that is your username1.secretword@blogger.com. Now you can email updates and pics directly to your blog for immediate updates or save as drafts for later posting.
You can also send posts to Blogger via your mobile device by sending text or photos to go@blogger.com. You can send an MMS or email to Blogger and it will reply with the address of your new mobile blog, plus a claim code. You can then post or link your phone phone to a different blog.
Now you can keep your blog up-to-date when you are on-the-go!
Father’s Day Unplugged
We just got back from our annual pilgrimage to Oconee State Park in South Carolina for my husband’s family reunion. It’s a beautiful place–everything a mountain park should be. Trees with birds to hear, rivers with rocks to throw, bugs to bite, lakes to fish . . . really glorious. The only thing it doesn’t have is a cell signal anywhere for miles around.
You literally have to drive about 15 minutes down the mountain to make a cell phone call. It really is nice to be truly away to just remember how it feels to be a family without my cell phone or * gasp * my television!
Bless my little boy he only asked for the TV once. He was having way too much fun putting rocks in his garbage truck toy, fishing with his dad, skinny-dipping in the river and exploring a local tunnel.
A recent hack I mentioned to save time and maybe your life by storing seldom used by important numbers in your phone really helped out, too. An illness I had been taking antibiotics for earlier in the week returned with a vengence our first night in the cabin. I woke up with a 101.3 fever and my doctor was 5 hours away. Luckily I could still access my phone directory and get my docs number to call from the park office, saving myself a trip to the urgent care.
After a full day of bedrest on doctor’s orders (thanks again mimi!) I was feeling like a new woman and made it to the state fish hatchery to feed the baby rainbow trout.
Of course, even though I loved my few days of “roughing it” I took great comfort knowing my trusty TIVO was back at home recording the first vote for So You Think You Can Dance and my son’s favorite cartoons. I also knew I wouldn’t miss a thing online since my Google Reader was collecting all my favorites. Ahh, the best of both worlds!
