http://www.populate.net/ Articles at Populate.NET en-us http://www.populate.net/Humor/audio-book-or-isoap.html http://www.populate.net/Humor/audio-book-or-isoap.html Wed, 24 Dec 2008 16:59:52 -0800
What's an iSoap?

An iSoap is an entertaining novel offered to you in an audio format. But it's not Books-on-Tape that put you to sleep as one reader drones on and on. These audios books are done like old time radio shows, with real actors reading all the parts, sound effects, and bringing the book to life.

I've listened to a mafia story on one iSoap site called NewFiction.com . The publisher takes the listening experience to a new level. The production called “Jake and the Three Jamokies” has over 20 different New York voices. It's fun, it's entertaining, and I can do it with my eyes closed.

Audio books are exploding. 22% of adults listened to an audio book last year. That's a 12% increase from 2 years ago. But a new digital format called iSoaps may accelerate the proliferation of the audio book industry.

NewFiction.com concentrates on novels that are contemporary, upbeat, entertaining and fun, with voices that you've never heard, with a slant on life that you haven't experienced yet. There are others that are planned to be released in the first quarter of 2009 that address the children and teen markets.

The iSoap takes advantage of the latest technology. You can listen to it on any digital media you have; computer, ipod, cell phone, you name it. You can listen to it as you drive to work, drive home, or wait in the doctor's office.

Or at the end of the day when you're sitting down to glass of wine, too tired to read and too exhausted with the news. Close your eyes, tune into your iSoap and catch a couple of chapters to bring a smile to your face. You can start and stop anytime.

And it's all read by great actors who understand that their job is to entertain, not put you to sleep.

]]> http://www.populate.net/Humor/as-seen-on-tv-how-the-telly-changed-our-homes.html http://www.populate.net/Humor/as-seen-on-tv-how-the-telly-changed-our-homes.html Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:50:18 -0800
This new variety of pseudo-food shouldn't have taken me by surprise, though, apparently: "As seen on TV," it said on the box. Oh yes, I thought, of course, I'll have half-seen an ad at some point, won't I? Then I remembered, I don't have a TV.

One day my brain might start paying attention to what I'm doing… That's the least one should be able to expect, surely?

But anyway, it got me thinking: not about my brain's inattentiveness, but about what those words actually mean - "As seen on TV." Do they mean anything at all? It's a phrase now so deeply ingrained into our culture, yet what exactly are we supposed to take from it?

Well, the literal meaning is obvious, of course. But… well, so what? They've been on telly…. and? What do you want me to do about it? Even if you were to show me them on the world's largest High Definition LCD TV with full-on Dolby surround sound, I still wouldn't be moved to drop a pack of Kellogg's oaty choc-chip breakfast cookies into my trolley the next time I might be in Tesco. Just because they've been on telly it doesn't automatically mean they must be chewy and delicious, or any better for you than real food; just as no matter how many times Jordan appears on our screens doing that tiresome impression of a surly piece of mahogany with breasts, that doesn't mean she has any actual talents. And it never will.

Talking of people with no discernible talent beyond relentless self-promotion, another place you'll see "As seen on TV" is as a helpful reminder on posters for nightclub appearances by long-forgotten Big Brother contestants. Clearly, then, no good can come of these words. They're the celebrity equivalent of a leper's bell. Not even a warning; more a curse.

It's at Woolworths, though, that "As seen on TV" reaches the full heights of absurdity: wander around the shop for long enough and you'll find a whole range of gimmicky food chopping devices, stick-on lights, and complicated cleaning implements, all boasting this debatable achievement on their packets. You'll know when you've found them. They'll all be gathered around, and beneath, a television playing a seemingly endless video loop of them in action. Yep, as seen on TV indeed.

Still, be sure to stay until it plays the ad for a cheap lcd tv. How else are you going to learn that a huge teddy bear can be safely zipped inside one of these things, all the air sucked out with a hoover until the bag and bear are flat as a gym mat, so that - without fear of doing it the slightest damage - it can be merrily run over (and back) by your Land Rover driving husband? Yes, I know. Truly, it is a wonderful age we live in.

Or so it sometimes says on TV…

]]> http://www.populate.net/Humor/is-the-fox-still-guarding-the-hen-house.html http://www.populate.net/Humor/is-the-fox-still-guarding-the-hen-house.html Sun, 02 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.populate.net/Humor/a-look-at-some-funny-halloween-pranks.html http://www.populate.net/Humor/a-look-at-some-funny-halloween-pranks.html Sun, 02 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.populate.net/Humor/isn-t-it-time-to-teach-parenting.html http://www.populate.net/Humor/isn-t-it-time-to-teach-parenting.html Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.populate.net/Humor/chuck-norris-runs-out-of-weapons.html http://www.populate.net/Humor/chuck-norris-runs-out-of-weapons.html Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.populate.net/Humor/who-s-minding-the-environment.html http://www.populate.net/Humor/who-s-minding-the-environment.html Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.populate.net/Humor/is-there-enough-care-in-health-care.html http://www.populate.net/Humor/is-there-enough-care-in-health-care.html Sat, 25 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.populate.net/Humor/an-amusing-look-at-the-premiership-season-ahead.html http://www.populate.net/Humor/an-amusing-look-at-the-premiership-season-ahead.html Sat, 25 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.populate.net/Humor/an-amusing-look-at-the-journey-home.html http://www.populate.net/Humor/an-amusing-look-at-the-journey-home.html Sat, 25 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700