Category Archives: Humour

| Blogosphere, Humour, Technology

What about 33 73 3B 26…?

I’ve been following the 09 F9 thing (or as Wikipedia calls it, the “AACS encryption key controversy“) for a while now, but haven’t seen much local commentary about it (other than people posting the illegal number to their blogs).

But Galacticast, the Montreal-based sci-fi parody show, put together a brilliant parody of LOST incorporating the number. It’s worth taking a look. (They’re also shilling for charity, so check that out too.)

My take? Well, it’s not like we haven’t seen this before. It’s almost like that whole DeCSS thing. No, wait, it’s exactly like the DeCSS thing. So we’ll probably see a similar end result. The keys have already been changed, and new movies won’t be decodable with this number, so damage will be minimal. Besides, simply knowing the number won’t help the layman copy his HD-DVD and distribute it online.

But the damage to DRM’s reputation is clear, and irreversible.

| Humour, Media, Montreal, My articles, Video

Tivijournal – Ça manque de rigueur, rigueur, rigueur!

(WARNING: French content ahead)

There’s a story in The Gazette today by me (you’ll have to take my word for that, since my byline accidentally disappeared during editing — my editor has promised alcohol as compensation).

Tivijournal

It’s about Tivijournal, a group of young journalists who poke fun at Quebec media and politicians in a monthly satire show. I interviewed them last month as they were preparing their March episode of post-election humour. Pictured above is Félix B. Desfossés, the charismatic host who looks far more confident than he is in his trademark pink shirt and exposed chest hair.

Continue reading →

| Blogosphere, Humour, Media, TV

Tivijournal: “Budgets are not funny”

I spent this afternoon observing a taping of some segments of Tivijournal, a French sketch-comedy show produced by former UQAM journalism students.

The juicy bits will have to wait until the article comes out next Saturday, but for now you can mark your calendars for Wednesday, April 4 at 8:30pm, when they’ll be making their next showing (free) at the Pas Sages bar on Rachel. Coincidentally, the next Yulblog meeting will be the same night, at the same time, right across the street at la Quincaillerie. Tivijournal is usually on Tuesdays, so this should be a one-time thing.

| Blogosphere, Humour, Video

Simple is effective

Andy Riga has some picks for favourite Quebec election videos, but this one (via 321Blogue) takes the cake by simply choosing some good video and creatively slowing it down to make Jean Charest and Mario Dumont appear completely wasted.

Meanwhile, at least one independent candidate (in Outremont) has a website up that puts some of the major party ones to shame. He’s financing his campaign through his videos (the sites are starting to pay contributors whose videos generate lots of traffic), but at about 150 views so far he has quite a ways to go.

UPDATE: For those worried he was left out, Drunk Boisclair is here.