Column

Free on iTunes - Hot Words, Zombies, Art and More

Welcome once again to another thrilling installment of Free on iTunes. This week I'm going to take a look at some video podcasts that I probably should have looked at last week, while we were still in October. It's still close enough to Halloween to count, I suppose, so lets get to it.

Zombie movies are like toast and jam to me. I can watch the walking dead stumble through a marathon of B flicks and count myself a happy camper. I suppose I'm not alone in my appreciation of the dawdling deceased, there's a video podcast dedicated to all things zombie; The Dead Report. Each one-minute episode of The Dead Report is choked full of news that relates, however loosely, to zombies. Got a rock band with a zombie motif playing at a local club? The Dead Report reports it. Is there a new movie coming out that features ambulatory undead? The Dead Report is dead on it.


Reporting the dead.

The Dead Report spews forth new episodes on a weekly basis, and they seem pretty current. So if you are dead or just look that way and are looking for something do you need to check out The Dead Report. Think of it as 60 Minutes for the non-living (except that it's only 60 seconds).

Here's a question for you: Where do you find art?

If you're like most people then a museum likely pops into mind. Museums are cool and all, but they are hardly the be all of the art world. Art, like unexpected diarrhea, happens, and while my analogy may be unfortunate, the fact that art can be anywhere and happen anytime is not.

Of course, that brings us to another more telling question: What is art?

Do we label a bald man wearing the American Flag as a spoiled diaper while goose-stepping through a field of daisies an artist yet call the same guy who is now normally dressed and traipsing through that same field of posies a trespasser?

Art is in the senses of the observer, but sometimes we need to be told what is and isn't art. That's where Not Quite Art comes in.


But is it art? Not quite.

Not Quite Art takes us behind the canvasses and floodlights to talk to the people who create or have some investment in the creation and presentation of art, or something like it.

The show is hot in the Land Down-Under, but art and what goes into making it is relevant anywhere. It's kinda fun, kinda strange, and definitely an eye-opener. Indulge your artistic side and take a look at the three episodes of Not Quite Art, all of which is available at the iTunes Store.

I'm still cruising on my sugar high (Halloween candy is a curse I tell you! A curse!!) and what better way to occupy one's mind than to contemplate curious words, like Jack-o-Lantern or nice? How about hot? That's exactly the word any red blooded guy will use a lot while watching Hot For Words as the reigning Queen of Philologists offers up origins of words common and not so common in her ever-so-unique way.

I'm still trying to place her accent, I'm guessing Swedish. Likely a safe bet because Marina is drop-dead gorgeous, blonde, and is the proud owner of two large...um...tracts of land.


Did I mention that she is not hard to look at? Just checking.

I don't have a clue if she's legit or not. I looked up Jack-o-Lantern on the Web and Ms. Marina's breathless explanation of the phrase coincided with the accounts I found on several sites. So, at least we know she can read. (I'm kidding, of course. I'm sure she is as intelligent as she is beautiful.)

Anyway, Hot For Words is a fun time and there are at least 16 episodes available so grab a few beers and watch a blonde prove that she's not.

ALLLLLllllllrighty then. That about wraps it up for this week.


If you are still cruising on a sugar high and need to work off some nervous energy, download Kaya's music video, Kiss and Make Up; it's free this week on the iTunes Store. It's a really good song and video. I must have watched it three times now. Well worth the price.

More free stuff at the iTunes Store:



Vern Seward is a writer who currently lives in Orlando, FL. He's been a Mac fan since Atari Computers folded, but has worked with computers of nearly every type for 20 years.

Free On iTunes Archives.

0 comments from the community.

You can post your own below.

+ show options

Your current settings, click to change: Sort Oldest First, Show Guest Posts, Hide Community Stats

Post Your Comments

  Remember Me

Not a member? Register now. You can post comments without logging in, but they'll show up as a "guest" post.


Please enter the word exactly as you see it in the image above. Registered users aren't prompted for this. Having trouble reading the image get a new one.