Now that I DVR television programs on a nightly basis, my morning TV habits have changed as well.
I no longer automatically turn on “Today” or “Live with Regis and Kelly” while I’m eating breakfast. Instead, I may be watching shows from the previous evening’s recordings. Hey, when you can whip through the commercials, you get through them pretty quickly.
But this morning, I actually watched a bit of “Today,” and was intrigued by a teaser on the “8 hidden benefits of middle age.” (Of course, I’M not middle age; I just know people who are and thought it might be interesting to share.) Since it was coming on later in the program — after I would be working — I decided to catch it online.
Here’s where “Today” suffered a big, fat FAIL.
They post enormous amounts of video on their website, and most segments are preceded by an advertisement. I don’t sweat that; in fact, I expect it. But the ad for cling wrap buffered about every five seconds… so by the time the actual segment began, I had not only hit middle age, I was ready for retirement. Then the segment buffered about every third word. I could not get past the opening chit-chat; it was simply taking too long and was too darn annoying.
I still don’t know what the eight hidden benefits are to middle age are; patience definitely isn’t one of them.
Now, to be fair, I did check a couple of other pieces of video on the “Today” website to make sure that this wasn’t a random FAIL. No such luck. Every piece of video buffered like a tortoise.
If the folks at Youtube can figure out a way for random people to post video online that — nine times out of 10 — doesn’t buffer, then the folks at “Today” should be able to do the same.
Hint: size does matter.
Duck and cover
Can you quack like a duck?
Then Gilbert Gottfried’s loss may be your gain.
The company has said a nationwide search will be held in the near future for a new ‘quacker,’ but no dates have yet been announced.
That hasn’t stopped folks from getting their ducks in a row — sorry, couldn’t resist — and uploading their audition videos on Youtube. America Online is further encouraging the practice by promising to have a professional voiceover agent review any videos tagged “aol jobs aflac video” and posting their favorites.
Quack me up.
Personally, I think Aflac is going to have to find a pretty perfect match to Gottfried’s distinctive squawk, or the switcheroo will just be a distraction. Everyone is aware of the circumstances and the timing, and folks are going to be listening and comparing and critiquing and no doubt finding fault…
Even if there’s none on the bill.
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