Starveillance & Macworld iPhone Keynote

When we were in a particularly weird mood my daughter and I use to watch Celebrity Death Match on MTV. There was something therapeutic about watching crude clay likenesses of famous people go at each other in no-holds-barred abandon. There was no 'why' behind the match-ups, it was just over-the-top, side splitting fun watching Madonna square off against Michael Jackson, for instance. (Madonna won, incidentally, and I lost a bet.)

Celebrity Death Match is still on the air, and still on MTV, and still using clay likenesses of celebs to bash about.

If you like your clay animation a bit less violent you might take a look at the new show, Starveillance, an E! Entertainment Television offering that can be just as testy as any Death Match, just without so much blood. You can download episode 2 (why 2?) for free this week. In it you'll see what might have gone on behind the scenes when Mel Gibson tried to pitch his idea for the movie, 'The Passion,' to studio execs, and Jay-Lo in a meeting with perfume designers discussing her signature scent. It's milk-thru-the-nose funny.

There are only 2 episodes on iTunes thus far, so you're getting in at the beginning. If they keep this up they'll have a hit on their hands.

On a different note: If you are just returning after being abducted by a bevy of scantily clad, sex-crazed aliens who worshipped you as the god or goddess you know you are, but felt that life wasn't the same on Ceti-Alpha 7 without your iPod, you may have missed the recent Macworld Expo keynote delivered by none other than Apple's commander-in-chief, Steve Jobs.

You know you want one...

You could take the time and sit through the 1 hour and 45 minute recorded keynote as it is streamed to you via QuickTime, or you could download it for viewing on your return trip to Ceti-Alpha 7. Apple has thoughtfully provided the entire keynote for downloading and viewing on you iPod, and you'll want to view it because this keynote is where Mr. Jobs introduces the long awaited iPhone. If you're wearing socks while watching the iPhone introduction they'll be immediately knocked off.

Just to let you know, the iPhone won't be available for another 5 months or so; plenty of time to cavort blissfully with Ceti-Alphans and make it back to Earth to be one of the first iPhone owners. (I wonder if Cingular's coverage includes Ceti-Alpha 7?)

Life can be good.

Other freebies -- with direct links -- at the iTune Store: