The IT Crowd presents the mystical Internet

I have read a few different articles discussing the Internet and cybersecurity over the past few days. One piece addressed the government’s role in protecting information, another piece discussed the issues of protecting copyrights across international borders and a collection of pieces focused on digital publishing and online libraries.

Despite the differences in subject matter, each of these pieces made an attempt to simplify technical information for their target audiences. These articles did a great job of making the information clear for those, like me, with a limited understanding of computer-related properties. However, I could not help but think about comedic sketches that exaggerate the population’s minimal understanding of technology that it uses every day.

Once again, I refer you to clips from the British sitcom The IT Crowd.

Jen and the Internet Box — from Season 3
** In this clip, Moss and Roy play a joke on their computer-illiterate boss, Jen.

You can break the Internet — from Season 2
** In this clip, Jen presents faulty information (courtesy of Moss and Roy, of course).

Legs, hair and an eight-eyed stare

Here in Eugene, there are creepy spiders everywhere. I mean everywhere.

There is a ginormous black spider in my closet. There are spiders near the front door and the back door. There is also a large spider in the corner of the living room, but technically she is a pet so there is nothing I can do about her.

Icky. If I walk through another spider web I will be forced to wear a protective suit and eyewear.

Harry Potter, what a week.

With the upcoming release of the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince movie, Harry Potter cast-related stories are popping up in the news.

Wait. I am not sure this is the kind of publicity WB was hoping for.
Hermione [Emma Watson] gets a little too flashy (*Caution!*)
Crabbe [Jamie Waylett] really is a bad apple

Huh. And I always thought that Rupert Grint was the one who looked like a sleep deprived drug-user. Oh gawsh, kids grow up so fast.

Although, not all the press has been negative.
Ron [Rupert Grint] recovers from illness
Emma Watson actually IS Hermione

Hmm. Anyone else feel like this stories are turning up at a rather convenient time? Well, except for poor Mr. Grint, that is just unlucky.

Tweet with Caution

I may be one of the few people my age who does not Twitter. That is right. I do not tweet on a daily basis. Tweet, tweeet, tweeeeeeet!

While perusing the news, I read an interesting article at msnbc.com. With Twitter playing a key role in the dissemination of info during recent breaking news events, more and more questions arise concerning the role that Twitter will play in the future of media industries. Check out this quote included in the article:

“Twitter absolutely changes the media landscape,” said Ross Dawson, author and communications strategy analyst. “I like to refer to Marshall McLuhan’s description of media as `an extension of our senses.’ Now, Twitter is extending our senses to tens of millions of people who are often right on the scene where things are happening.”

Ah, part of me wishes I was still studying Communication. One can only imagine how many Ph. D. candidates and professors are attempting to learn more about the effects of this young media technology.

Twitter has both good and bad characteristics. Though it connects people, there is no guarantee that what is shared is accurate. For example, a stream of tweets claimed that Jeff Goldblum was dead. Hmmmm. I wonder who broke the news to Mr. Goldblum—who, by the way, is still alive and kicking?

Colbert Report—Jeff Goldblum will be missed.