Top search engine Google could be jumping into the social networking pool, in an effort that could have it competing with Facebook.
Okay, stop right there. Google already operates a social networking site called Orkut. It's huge in Brazil and India. In fact it's the 65th most visited site worldwide and has 100 million active users. That's as much as the entire population of Michigan, including the bums.
The article then pulls a bait-and-switch, talking about some game developers and how they won't have to run their games through Facebook anymore or something. This has little-to-nothing to do with social networking. This is why I hate you, WTOP.
Tuesday, Iron Maiden played Nissan Pavilion (sigh, fine) Jiffy Lube Live. It was of course a great show. One thing that was obvious pretty quickly was the abundance of songs from the last 10 years in place of the classics. On the way out, though, I heard nothing but whining that the set was nothing but new songs.
Here it is:
The Wicker Man (2000)
Ghost Of The Navigator (2000)
Wrathchild (1981)
El Dorado (2010)
Dance Of Death (2003)
The Reincarnation Of Benjamin Breeg (2006)
These Colours Don't Run (2006)
Blood Brothers (2000)
Wildest Dreams (2003)
No More Lies (2003)
Brave New World (2000)
Fear Of The Dark (1992)
Iron Maiden (1980)
Encore:
The Number of the Beast (1982)
Hallowed Be Thy Name (1982)
Running Free (1980)
Only two-thirds of the set were "new" songs. Of course, "new" is relative. The entire yellow section of the pie chart above spans the entire life of Burning Shadows. The way people reacted to the set, they might as well have played the entire new album that hasn't been released yet.
They obviously have confidence in the newer songs -- and zero confidence in anything Blaze Bayley did, but that's another post. I think they did a great job of choosing good songs from the last 10 years. The songs up there I generally don't like are due to their exceedingly repetitive choruses, so even the bad songs were good for the most part.
I believe they chose this set for two reasons. First, they want to be respected as musicians and not as washed-up has-beens from the 80s. Second, they're smart. If Iron Maiden came and played all their hits from the 1980s every time they came, they wouldn't put as many asses in the seats (or on the lawn, if you prefer). If all you want to hear is the old stuff, then don't come to the show when they're playing new stuff, damnit. Hail Iron Maiden.
Here's a shaky video of my favorite "new" Iron Maiden song:
What the hell is TLC's problem? They can't come up with a single idea of their own. Most of TLC's shows are bad versions of fantastic shows on other networks, or in some cases were thrown onto TLC after ratings started to slip on their original network. Observe:
Addicted - bad version of A&E'sIntervention
American Chopper - formerly on Discovery
Cake Boss - bad version of Food Network'sAce of Cakes
DC Cupcakes - mashup of Food Network'sAce of Cakes and Cupcake Wars
Heli-Loggers - ripoff of History'sAx Men
Hoarding: Buried Alive - bad version of A&E'sHoarders
Ultimate Cake-Off - bad version of Food Network Challenge
Those are just the ones I can figure out. I'm sure the wedding, home, car, family, and fashion shows are all ripoffs, too.
