Dan Spellman ( My Two Cents )

Nothing Horrible About It

 

This past Summer, during the Writer’s Strike, Joss Whedon pulled a few friends together and made a musical about a would be Super Villain. At first glance you might think that Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along-Blog would be a bust – but you would be in the minority.

Entertainment Weekly reported that the blog “was viewed over 2.2 million times in its first week”. You see, Joss Whedon is not your ordinary “creative type”. His credentials include being “an Academy Award-nominated and Hugo Award winning American writer, director and executive producer”. When he teamed up with Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Fillion and Felicia Day, he created something special.

If you grew up enjoying Monty Python, you’ll enjoy this musical comedy.

So why include this topic in my blog? Simply put, if you have any doubt about the validity of the fourth screen ( 1- Movie Screen; 2 – Television Screen; 3 – Computer Screen; 4 – Mobile Screen ) you need to download this on your ipod. I guarantee you will become a fan.

“Whedon's gambit” reports Variety, “is the most high-profile example of a movement under way among Hollywood scribes to harness the marketing and distribution power of the Internet for their own creative (and moneymaking) ends, sidestepping the major studios and networks in the process.”

Check it out. You may even want to buy a Captain Hammer (he is a “corporate tool”) t-shirt.

Until next time,

Dan

 

 

What I Did On My Summer Vacation

      

I just got back from a “vacation” at Camp Napowan.  Each year our Boy Scout Troop spends a week earning merit badges.  Over the past 7 days, our Troop earned badges in a number of different areas including Wilderness Survival and  Life Saving. 

     

You would think that after traveling into central Wisconsin and spending 7 days / 6 nights sleeping in tents and enjoying the sunny weather, I would be completely rested and recharged.  However, being responsible for 14 boys ranging in age from 11 to 16 years old is a little like herding cats.

           

At least I was able to get away from the office . . . well, not really (My wife would tell you that I brought every piece of electronic equipment I own).  In order to encourage more dads to spend the week at camp, Napowan has gone wireless.  Yes, the Trading Post now has wi-fi.  Throughout the day you see a number of dads working their BlackBerrys or Motorola Qs to access emails.  You see dads heading to the Trading Post with their laptop bags as they keep up with what’s going on in the office.

    

While it may seem strange to be splitting your time between answering emails and building campfires, by adding these services, the Boy Scouts are ensuring more parents are able to be a part of their son’s Summer Camp experience.  All in all, we had a great time and I was able to be a part of something that my son will remember for the rest of his life.

     

Until next time,

     

Dan