Street Sense Wins Derby

Those of you who know me know that I love horse racing. There’s something magical about watching those beautiful, noble creatures glide along the track.

So imagine my disappointment when I realized that I wouldn’t be able to watch the 133rd Kentucky Derby because I was going to an arena football game.

I love football, too, but the "most exciting two minutes in sports" only happens once a year.

Making that decision was tough, but it was made easier because I was fairly confident that I’d be able to watch my favorite equine event on YouTube.

Sure enough, it took just a couple of minutes to find a replay of yesterday’s race.

While it wasn’t as exciting as watching the race live on TV or actually being at Churchill Downs as I was in 2000, this YouTube solution was a quick and easy way to get my first Triple Crown fix of the year.

Hopefully I won’t miss the next two Triple Crown races this year, but if I do I know that YouTube will make it easy for me to catch the races once I get home.

Good luck Street Sense. I hope that you prove the skeptics wrong and become the next Triple Crown winner.

Ron Jeremy: Uber-Geek

Huh?

That’s what I said. But it’s true.

Porn icon Ron Jeremy is the host of the new web-based technology show “Techsmart with Ron Jeremy” that appears on YouTube wannabe Heavy.com.

I suppose now that he’s gained 50 pounds and his porn career is over it’s time for a career change, but does Ron Jeremy really know anything about technology?

After watching the show a couple of times, the only thing that I can really say is that he was able to find people to interview who are stranger than he is.

In a weird, bizarre sort of way the show is somewhat amusing.

You’re definitely not going to learn much about technology from Ron Jeremy, but the show is strange enough that I can see it gaining a cult following in a Rocky Horror Picture Show kind of way.

Just remember to keep the squirt guns and rice away from the computers, and hope that everyone on the show keeps their clothes on.

Especially the host.

Reality Show Winner Elected President

The new political reality show “Independent” will utilize MySpace and YouTube auditions, and it may influence the 2008 presidential elections.

Does this thought frighten you? It should!

Although the concept of this new reality show is an exciting and innovative use of the Internet, the winning “prize” has a lot to be desired.

According to a recent Reuters story, “Mark Burnett, the producer who popularized reality television, and Internet social network MySpace will unveil a new reality TV and Internet series that aims to groom one young politician or community leader to represent young America.”

The winner of “Independent” will receive $1 million that they can use to launch a new political party, donate to a political cause, or enter the U.S. presidential race.

Is this really a prize worth winning? I don’t think so.

First of all, it would take a lot more than $1 million to successfully start a new political party. In theory, it could be done. But as the Green Party demonstrates, creating a new political party is much more difficult than winning a reality show.

Next, if you win $1 million on a reality show, why should you have to donate it to anyone?

Finally, would the winning representative of young America meet the minimum age requirement and even be eligible to enter the presidential race?

"The whole point of “Independent” really speaks to what young Americans want," the British-born Burnett said. "If you look back, the (political) system was supposed to work this way."

This brings me to my nightmare.

Let’s suppose that “Independent” energizes the young voting base and the winner actually does get elected president. Do we really want the winner of a reality show running the country?

Stick with the tried-and-true formula Mark Burnett. Give the money to the winner and let them fade into pop-culture history like most of the other reality show winners. If they are really destined to become president, let them earn it with their talents and experience. Such a course will make them a much better leader.

The temporary fame and fortune of a reality show should influence pop-culture, not American politics.