Tumbleweeds and Dead Cactus

 How many websites do you think the average person visits on a daily basis? For nearly 20 years, our society has had to come to grips with all the things the world wide web had to offer. In this episode, Ric re-visits the notion of what "the information super highway" was supposed to bring to humanity and then takes a comparison of what we all have today. Pretty stark difference. 

Which begs the question, what lies ahead. Considering how oddly narrow the focus of the internet has become, what the future holds seems just as narrow.

NEXT WEEK: Going Deep

$1.82

 In this episode, Ric asks what has happened to the idyllic world of streaming television. It has (as predicted on this show) devolved into what cable television used to be. Package based television filled with nickle and dime deals where all of a sudden, we are all paying about what we used to pay when we were tethered to the coaxial cable. 

All for what? The same (if not worse) entertainment experiences. If you really want to get down to the nuts and bolts of the thing, ask a sports fan just how bad it has become.

NEXT WEEK: Necessity Truly is The Mother of Invention

It's All An Act

 Everything you consume through any sort of media is not being honest with you. It's not so much an outright lie as it is just in the manner of presentation. In this episode, Ric is going to lay out the vibe all content creators go with when it comes to the dissemination of any thing. 

From all your news to your music, it's all a big fat lie carefully designed to do one thing. Here's a hint, Ric will explain this by using two bands KISS & Ghost. 

NEXT WEEK: The Post-Pandemic Panic 

Meme Me

Those ubiquitous posts the internet version of a cartoon from the Sunday paper (back when they were a thing), the picture with the funny text that isn't all that funny that gets shared and "stolen". The Meme. Most of them have a lifespan of about 3 hours. 

After that, they turn into most things on the internet, disposable content. In this episode Ric delves into the concept. Did you know there are some legal ramifications to the genre of the meme? 

Also, Ric has a rundown of all the things he's involved in plus a new Drinking with Dead People and another YouTube show drops this week.

NEXT WEEK: The Rock & Roll Biopic

 

Exclusivity Is A Damn Lie

 It's a catch phrase use far too often in media. "Exclusive". It's up there with "Breaking News". It's tired. Why is this a thing? Simple. You are being told (when you hear or read that) the only source you need is the one that has that exclusivity. It's trust building thing and it's a joke.

Our society is so connected that once you hear about something, you'll find the same exact thing everywhere else. It's always there and it will always be just about everywhere you look. If you are to believe everything you are told through the media, you are going to have problems. Just look around you.

In this episode, Ric will explain how this works and the beauty of filtering your news sources. Also in this episode, Ric discovers this show has just turned 6. And if that weren't enough, he tells you how he makes a tuna salad sandwich.



NEXT WEEK: Fear The Meme

New Year, New You... My Ass

For the first episode of 2020, Ric takes a look at how the new year has sorted started off with a bang, of sorts. He talks about what he would like to see happen in this year with a taste of optimism (for a change). As he'll explain, it seems society has had enough of the neverending crap out there and the patience of most people has worn thin enough for these people to actually want to do something.

Also, the charade that is the New Year Resolution gets explored with an amusing anecdote about Ric's time in a gym that lasted about a week. Plus he'll share with you some things that are happening at Radio Memphis.



NEXT WEEK: Whither Print?

Keep In Touch

In reference to episode 304, Ric talked about an idea he had for a holiday card. It came true. Actual, physical cards were made as a gift to Ric. In this episode he talks about those very cards plus, he spends some time talking about the interconnectivity of the internet.

Specifically, all the information you give the social media sites as well as other sites is being used against you, in some sort of fashion for the basis of one thing. Money. Also, Ric talks about a couple of things that may be an unpopular thought. At least one of the two things he mentions is accurate. It'll be you to figure it out.



NEXT WEEK: Familiar Ground

Stay tuned...

Reboot This

It's episode 300 and Ric is talking about a reboot. Seem sort of silly to reboot a podcast and that is exactly what it is like in the boardrooms across Hollywood. Why are there so many reboots and remakes? Is it a retelling? An updating? Is Hollywood actually out of ideas?

The answers to these are all in this monumental episode. Also, Ric talks about podcast production and he'll share with you his unpopular thought of the week. By the way, there won't any rebooting of this show. As Ric says, "It sucks enough as it is, why would I want it to suck even more?"



NEXT WEEK: How much is a "like" worth, anyway?

Payin' To Playin'

There is an old quote attributed to John Lee Hooker who said, "If you ain't playin', you payin'." There is a lot of truth to that statement, although he probably wasn't thinking about what is happening now in the entertainment world. In this episode, Ric takes a strong look (and aim) at the notion of pay to play business models out there. Yes, that does include multi-level marketing.

As Ric will tell you, it is a predatory practice that takes advantage of the emotional connection people have with money. He says it is sad and wrong but, it looks like we are stuck with this situation.

Also, is Facebook viable, at all? Plus, this week's unpopular thought.



NEXT WEEK: The quest to mediocrity.

The Great Television War

If it is one thing the internet has done, it has levelled the playing field. Most recently in the world of television. All of the cord cutters thought it was a pretty cool thing to tell the cable companies where to stuff their tiered access fees and bad programming when the internet became more of a place to get content. So we cut the cable, shut off the dishes and began to stream our shows on our own time and without fear of missing anything.

Now, the content providers are stuck in a major war with themselves. Charge for subscription or sell advertisement. Or worse, combine the two. Now, people are just getting a little pissed off with this fight and wondering when the next shoe is going to drop.

Also, Jeffery Epstein is dead, so why all the finger pointing when it was clear nothing more nefarious occurred than him simply taking himself out of the equation. And finally, a new bit in the show. Ric unveils his unpopular thought of the week.

NEXT WEEK: Is Facebook all that viable anymore?

Terms of Service

In light of the recent viral FaceApp thing which was hot for a minute, came news about how nefarious this thing could be. Almost immediately there were reports of how the app designers were a Russian company bent on snagging data from the app's users.

Which begs the question, how come there is all this talk about giving up your privacy and almost everyone is leary of doing that but, when it comes to something fun to do with a picture, these same people willingly give up all their privacy to see the gimmick? Remember, there is nothing free out there.

Sure, the app doesn't cost you a single penny. But, there is a cost and you likely paid handsomely for it. In this episode, Ric takes a look at the terms of service of the FaceApp as well as a cautionary look at other things out there. Also, some of the best ideas never get used. Instead, we are stuck with self checkout.



NEXT WEEK: FM as Zombieland

Too Connected

There are some fantastic technological things at our fingertips. We can do a lot of great things. You can attribute a good chunk of these advancements to computers. More specifically, your phone. The things we get to do with that device come with an interesting trade-off. One such thing is dealing with Facebook's Messenger. Oh, it can be quite the pain in the ass. But is there something more nefarious going on?

Also in this episode, Ric takes a look at kind of a strange scenario that involved pretty much all of the Target stores in the United States. All of their registers stopped working at the same time. Does this point to a serious weakness in our technology? Some scary scenarios are ahead. Listen now.



NEXT WEEK: Paper or Plastic?

Who Wants A Slice of Data Pie?

The thing about the internet is that content used to be king. What really is more valuable is data. Numbers. You. There are those out there who make it their business to keep an eye an where you are going on the internet, what it is you are looking at and what it is you are searching for and buying.

This information is pure gold to advertising agencies. The thing is, that information is not really all that valuable. In this episode, Ric takes a look at Ad Tech and how it doesn't work and how more and more companies are shying away from it, after they have taken it for a test drive. There is a very simple formula for working with advertisers in a broadcast and Ric will explain. Listen now.



NEXT WEEK: The Messenger We All Want To Shoot

ASMR - WTF

Admittedly, I'm a little late to the party that is ASMR. Probably since it appears to be a bunch of nonsense. What is it? According to the research I have done, the concept is fairly simple. Listen to some mundane sound effect and your brain triggers some sort of internal orgasmic experience.

It lost it's luster to me when certain corporations picked up on this to sell products. Not to mention the fact that for me at least, it doesn't do anything.

You be the judge.



NEXT WEEK: Adaptation in a strange new world.

William Charles - Weekend Vlogger

William Charles of the William Charles Collective stopped in to Radio Memphis last week. He and bassist Matt wanted to play a couple of tunes on the air. They also wanted to talk about the new vlog page on YouTube.

It was a good time and an interesting look at the business of vlogging. William also shot some stuff about Radio Memphis for an upcoming episode of his show.

Also, a discussion about Thanksgiving and bonus music from Butch Mudbone.


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NEXT WEEK: Hangin' out with Lightnin' Malcolm.

Stay tuned...

The Sign Says "Closed"

For a while now, we'd been looking at the deep impact the internet has had on all sorts of things. I know, these past few weeks have turned into some sort of series along those lines. This is the last part of that. Everyone has been talking about this, too. That is how retail stores are dying a horrible death.

But, I don't think everything will go away. I mean, there are some things you just can't get over the web.

Plus music from Al Kapone.



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NEXT WEEK: The cult of personality plus music from Brandon Santini.

Stay tuned...

FM Sucks

Pretty blatant statement that I think most of you agree with. At least those I talk to seem to be repeating at every conversation. In what has become a series of episodes examining the impact of the internet on all things in our society, media is certainly one of those things.

The problem here is the corporate stiffs have no clue how to adapt to this brave new media world.

Plus music from Davis Coen.



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NEXT WEEK: It's like a Shakespearean tragedy. Plus music from Al Kapone.

Stay tuned...

I See Where You Are Coming From

This show seems to be taking on some sort of strange and organic growth. It is a joy to do and it is fun to keep an open mind about which direction it tends to go. Along with that, we tend to check on the numbers of the show. Those analytics can tell us a bunch about who you are (collectively), where you are going and where you came from to get here. The results are amusing.

Also, we get to see what the truth is about people and how that distorts our perceptions of these folks. Perceptions are a funny thing. Because not everything is as it appears. I'll prove it during this episode.

Plus, music from Deering & Down.



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NEXT WEEK: Public Nuisance and music from Surviving Allison.

Stay tuned...

Viva La Revolucion

It's happening. Everyday, there is some change in the media landscape. Television programming moving toward streaming technology. Radio stations are going off the air and their content becoming increasingly irrelevant as a flood of streaming radio stations, podcasters and broadcasters are making their presence known.

So, what does one do while this revolution is happening? Sit on the sidelines and watch... cat videos.

Plus, music from The Subteens.



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NEXT WEEK: Bill Lusk & Rick Malchow

Stay tuned...