As of this moment, we are firmly entrenched in the Age of Reality Entertainment. Whether or not we are at the dénouement of this overwrought phenomenon or merely just turning the page from Preface to Chapter One remains uncertain. But it’s apparent that the influence of reality-based entertainment has nudged, or rather steamrolled, into the Hollywood spotlight, generating heaps of money for TV and film studios and creating an entirely new breed of (faux) celebrity.
A television series like Candid Camera, in the reality business for half a century now, and the mildly engaging ‘80s show Star Search are two examples of just how long reality entertainment has been with us; but only in the past few years (following the lead of MTV’s popular The Real World, which debuted in 1991) has reality-based entertainment flourished as a significant programming tool.
The World Wide Web has, for the most part, been in the reality business for some time, notably in the adult entertainment segment, where the naughty hi-jinks of consenting adults are captured on Web cameras (at sites like VoyeurDorm.com, for example).
With advances in technology (and bold steps forward in creative spirit), the Internet has become a grand stage for reality entertainment; case in point, CuteCouple.com, which functions expressly as a live documentary of life and love on the Web.
Perusing the Website is much like reading a lavishly-illustrated book, a romantic saga where, each day, members can view a new chapter in the real-life story of Ashley and Chris, an insufferably handsome couple bursting with style and originality. Away from the site, Ashley works in advertising and Chris is a freelance Web designer. They are both young (early 20s) and very attractive; with Chris’s perfectly unkempt hair, killer body, and easy charm, and Ashley’s dreamy smile, sexy figure, and All-American Girl style, they would not look out of place in the pages of US Weekly. Casting directors at Fox should be drooling.
With the help of their hard-working Website designer and digital-consultant friend Mike, they’ve built an Internet stage where they play out their relationship for all the world to see.
The nucleus of the site is the five cameras that broadcast live images 24/7 from their house. The site also features daily diaries, "love notes," photo albums, mini-movies, personal news, and interactive chats, among other accouterments.
Launched in June 2000, CuteCouple.com has evolved drastically through the years. The couple initially appeared on a corporate-run "camsite" after responding to an advertisement in the University of Texas student newspaper.
"We used to work for a corporation, and we had no editorial control but so many ideas," explains Ashley in an interview posted on their Website. "When they decided to market us as a sex site, we chose to no longer participate [on the corporate site]. We knew there was a market out there for what everyone now calls ‘reality entertainment.’ So we went for it."
The goal for Ashley, Chris, and Mike was to create and produce a live, uncensored look at the everyday life of a young couple and their experiences with school, work, and relationships. "Even though in a way it was a life-changing event, it really didn’t effect our day-to-day lives much," says Ashley of the adjustment to life in front of the camera. "Apart from being an exciting idea, the only thing that took a while to get used to was the wires for the cams and the computers going everywhere."
Chris says he and Ashley were less worried about the issue of privacy than they had anticipated. "It took a few days to get used to the cams being there when we changed, and a few weeks to get used to the cams being there during personal moments," he says. "You’d be surprised how easy it is to forget the cams are there. They’re just tiny pieces of plastic."
He adds, "There’s no audience there applauding you as you say a great comeback line during an argument, there’s no laugh track, and there’s no score card dinging when you change positions in the bedroom. It’s life, with a seemingly intimidating plastic thing in the corner."
Ashley says it was fun to call up their parents and say, "Go to the guest cam and you can see my new haircut."
Most, if not all, relationships go through various stages of change as a couple gets closer. But what if total strangers are watching and formulate opinions about the couple and their personal life - for entertainment purposes, no less?
"The diaries definitely help us reflect on the events that happen during [a particular] day," says Ashley. "And since we can’t monitor or read each other’s diaries, we have to be honest. If we’re not, the story of our lives won’t make sense. And by being honest, and admitting what truly happened, we’re given the opportunity to judge and analyze ourselves."
For Chris, it’s about not questioning yourself. "It’s as if, by doing this, we are proving to everyone that if we are comfortable enough to broadcast all our normalcies and oddities tto the world, then you can be comfortable with who you are," he says. "We are making a point that every single thing you do or feel is ‘normal,’ and that includes all your own oddities."
But being on camera day in and day out does present its share of troubles, like having to be aware of "unconscious nose picking," according to Chris. "We have to remember to hit ‘Night-Vision’ before we go to bed and when we wake up, and we need to be sure the cams don’t crash."
Ashley notes that often a family member or friend might not be comfortable with the cameras. "That’s kind of a bummer," she says, "because you can’t have them over as often as you’d like."
Because their Website is as much a business venture as it is a passion, Ashley and Chris have been quick to keep pace with the public’s fascination with reality programming. "One of the advertising campaigns we came up with had a phrase that could best explain the appeal: ‘Don’t get caught going through your neighbor’s medicine cabinet... go through ours,’" says Chris. "We’re speaking metaphorically of course, but everyone is curious about everyone else."
Says Ashley: "Documentary-dramas are now the big thing because people have an opportunity to size these people up, relate to these characters, and laugh or cry with them. We truly believe sites like ours are true ‘reality shows,’ rather than all the ‘unscripted dramas’ out there. You don’t have to censor, edit, choreograph, or offer prizes to make life interesting. We’ve proven that."
Chris brings up another perspective. "We offer something for people all over the world to look at from a distance," he says. "If you’re from a foreign country and want to learn about American life, if you’re a guy or girl interested in a how a different couple would act or react in a similar situation, or maybe just a voyeur interested in peeking."
The couple considers their personal diaries, posted on the site, a key element to the overall experience. "They’re pretty in-depth and it’s impossible to not get a pretty vivid picture of our relationship through their reading," says Ashley. "And, like most books, you’re scanning the lines of these diaries and finding yourself getting attached to these two characters. But, unlike most books... these characters are real. And that’s even more attractive."
The twosome marvel at how many other Webcam sites have sprung up. "They keep popping up all over the place, but we hope people are concerned with quality, not quantity," says Ashley. "I think there are very few sites out there that do what we do. There are lots of life cams out there, but not many that feature a relationship, with all the honesty and depth we do."
They both figure the majority of Webcam sites featuring couples are more "pornographic" in style, and are by and large out to make a quick buck. "Fortunately for us, it’s not even competition," says Chris. "It’s just a different product. The hope is that we supply a site that everyone can enjoy without having to hide it from your significant other.
"Sure our site can be sexy, but our site wouldn’t be real if we hid from the cameras when we changed, or turned them off when we made love."
Ashley’s view is that it’s important to show "the whole story. Anything sexy is shown because it happens in real life," she remarks. "You’re just as likely to see us picking a wedgie."
Though they currently have no plans to do so, Ashley and Chris have considered their exit strategy for when the time comes to drop the curtain on CuteCouple.com. "We wish it could go on forever, but the site will definitely come to an end, as most things do," says Chris. "We told ourselves a long time ago that we’d probably do it as long as it allows us to, or until we have kids, whatever comes first. Absolutely nothing about our ‘life plan’ has changed due to the site, but the minute it does is when we have to stop."
So, is a relationship online something Chris and Ashley might recommend to others?
"If a couple was interested in doing it for the idea of doing it and not for the money, we would recommend it," says Chris. "It’s hard to mix business with pleasure, and it may be too much for a couple to pile the stress of running a business on top of the stress a relationship can go through." He says interested couples should make sure they have a solid relationship before getting started.
"Do your research," advises Ashley. "We had no idea what we were getting into. It’s not just ‘plug in your camera, send it to a Website, then go about living your life.’"
She describes the business side of the venture as "overwhelming," from first registering a domain name all the way to paying taxes. "We were lucky to have our friend Mike, savvy in business and an expert with computers, to help us out. We could not have done it alone, so be sure you find people you can trust. You must be willing to put in a lot of time and effort, especially in the beginning."
As a final bit of advice, Ashley says that each relationship is unique, so be sure the product is unique as well. "And above all," she says, "You must always put the relationship ahead of the business."
Cute Couple

Hohes Virenaufkommen im ersten Quartal "nicht normal"
Schon zu Beginn des Jahres wurden vier neue Würmer entdeckt. Renommierte Anti-Viren-Hersteller erwarten auch weiterhin ein erhöhtes Aufkommen neuer Viren und Würmer und bezeichnen diese Häufung als "nicht normal".
Neue Schädlinge in diesem Jahr z.B. Livra.A, ExplorerZip.D, Livra.B oder der bereits berüchtigte Sobig.
http://www.safersurf.com/partner/webmaster-eye.de

Dieses JavaScript ermöglicht es ein Telephonbuch zu erstellen.
Aber dieses Script ist nicht nur für Telephonbücher sondern man kann ganz einfach jede Art von Verzeichnissen erzeugen die einem vorschweben.
Directory Script

Wie war der Name der ersten digitalen Bildbearbeitungssoftware die jemals produziert wurde?







Sie wurde PhotoMac genannt.

BANGKOK, Thailand - A report from a police station in one of
Bangkok's northern suburbs claims that the body of Hong
Khaphapu was found in his detention cell after he took his own
life. For the first time, an inmate has killed himself by
drowning. Thai police claim that the Chinese drug suspect
committed suicide by submerging his head in a toilet water tank
in his cell. Hong had previously been detained after police
found close to 4,000 methamphetamine pills on him, as well as
another 10,000 at his apartment. Some human rights groups are
suspicious of the incident, knowing that many inmate deaths
have come by the hands of police officers. Without any
evidence, we'll just have to assume that Hong simply felt his
life was a waste.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - When you're one of America's most wanted
criminals, it's probably a good idea to keep out of public
places where people can identify you. However, as everyone
knows, when you're addicted to singing karaoke, that's a tough
thing to do. Murder suspect Joseph Leroy Crouch Jr., 60, was
picked up in Daytona Beach, Fla. last month after a tipster
recognized him from a segment of Fox's "America's Most Wanted."
The show seemed to know everything about the criminal at-large,
as they noted his penchant for performing at karaoke bars.
Dozens of people from multiple states made phone calls to
Memphis police after recognizing Crouch from karaoke sessions.
And now, for your entertainment, here's Joseph Crouch doing
his rendition of Elvis' "Jailhouse Rock."

South Carolina's Gov. Mark Sanford says he wants the state to be run like Wal-Mart. "When you think about Wal-Mart, you think about value and the lowest possible price," he says. "When you think of state government, do you think of value?" If the state streamlined its services, "then we will be able to provide services
to that many more people." (Charleston Post and Courier)
...Careful: what he really means is he wants all citizens to be bar-coded.

AUSTRALIA - A German was trapped for hours in his folding
sofa bed after it sprang shut on him when he tried to get
something out of it, police in the western town of Kenzingen
said. "Unfortunately, he was so stuck that he couldn't move,"
a police spokesman said. It was only after he had been knock-
ing and shouting for several hours that neighbors in his apa-
rtment block alerted police and he was taken to hospital.

[Thanks to www.abc.net.au]

BOGOTA, Colombia - The main reason why some crimes carry
extremely severe punishments is so that people are deterred
from committing those kinds of acts. If this holds true, not
too many people are going to be losing their cars in Colombia.
The country's auto industry wants to build a "concentration
camp" for car thieves, complete with wooden shacks and bar-
bedwire fences. The idea would be to isolate these individ-
uals and force them to grow their own food in order to sur-
vive. Though the term "concentration camp" might be misused
in this instance, the harsh conditions might cause potential
carjackers to find a new hobby.

BERLIN - For about 50 bucks, you can go to the nearest shop-
ping mall and pick up a nice wall clock made out of some kind
of cheap metal or wood that will serve its purpose and look
nice. If you feel like getting a little extravagant, German
artist Bernd Eilts will sculpt you one, by hand, from the
finest cow crap he can find. All for a mere $140. While walk-
ing through a dung-filled field a decade ago, Eilts got the
idea of using dried-out cowpats for his timepieces. The art-
ist found so many similarities between the consistency of
poop to his paints that he fell in love with the material.
Having conquered the field of poo sculptures and wall clocks,
Eilts is looking to expand his repertory to include cow dung
wrist watches.

The last descendant of the prolific musical Bach family died
on Christmas Day, 1845.

Adrian II (867-872) was the last married Catholic pope. He
was actually married before he became pope, but refused to
adopt celibacy or give up his wife when he ascended the
papal throne.

The last dodo bird died in 1681.

Beethoven's last symphony was his 9th.

The last original Peanuts Comic Strip was published February
13, 2000. Coincidentally, creator Charles M. Schultz died the
night before.

The last Playboy centerfold to have staples was published in
1985. Venice Kong was the model.

The last bare-knuckle fight of pro boxing took place in 1889.
John L. Sullivan ko'd Jake Kilrain in 75 rounds.

On December 31, 1970, the last cigarette ad, a commercial
for Virginia Slims, was aired on the "Tonight Show." Ciga-
rette ad-vertising was banned from radio and TV effective
January 1, 1971.

What would you do with a 2,600-pound giant rubber ball? Why,
throw it off the back of a plane, of course. The world's big-
gest rubber band ball has been dropped from an airplane at one
mile high. A U.S. television company offered to give the ball
a spectacular send-off by filming the event and airing it on
their television show, Ripley's Believe It or Not. The produ-
cers spent an estimated $4 million on the episode to film it
during its descent and capture the action as it bounces to un-
known heights. However, there was a problem: instead of bounc-
ing, the ball created a massive crater in the sun-baked earth
of the Mojave Desert in Arizona at 400 mph. Prior to its crash
and burn plummet, the ball had been the 14-foot 8-inch circum-
ference creation by Tony Evans, comprised of six million ela-
stic bands.

REGINA, Canada - Canadian police have to lay down the law
when it comes to any monkey business on the streets. So,
when they saw a gorilla strolling down the street on rol-
lerblades, naturally they had to fine the perpetrator. The
teenager inside the monkey suit was only doing his job for
his employer, Hillybilly Vac Shack, working as the store's
cavorting gorilla mascot. Still, authorities felt it nece-
ssary to slap a $130 fine on him for "stunting," defined as
an activity likely to distract or startle drivers. Most
people would go ape if they got fined at work.

LARDAL, Norway - Many people reported seeing a fireball ex-
plode in the night sky and then fall slowly down to earth.
Unsure of what they were watching, several witnesses pani-
cked and called police, believing it to be a fallen alien
spaceship. As it turns out, what was thought to be an un-
identified flying object was actually an electrocuted cat.
Investigators solved the otherworldly mystery when they
found the charred body of a cat at the base of an elect-
rical mast. They believe the unlucky feline used up all
nine lives after it climbed up the pole and touched a li-
vewire. As police spokesperson Lars Helge Sogn told a Nor-
wegian newspaper, what the people were watching was the cat
exploding and falling off the mast. The people were shocked
by what they saw, but certainly not as much as the cat.

MALAGA, Spain - There's a fine line between getting freaky
in the bedroom and getting downright dangerous. A German man
ended up killing himself after experiments with a homemade
sex toy went horribly wrong. The body of the 65-year-old man
was found in a rented apartment after he was reported missing
by a female acquaintance. Pushing the limits of masturbation,
the man applied the electrodes of an adapted voltmeter to his
genitals. The autopsy revealed that the man died from a heart
attack triggered by the electric shock. Foul play was ruled
out after police found the man lying on his bed with the tel-
evsion on and a porno in the VCR.

The word "bozo" derives from the French slang term "bouseaux" (meaning "hick, peasant, or yokel"). However, bouseaux literally means "cow turds."

Gay men who successfully joined the British Navy used to be called "reverse malingerers."

A Boy Scout who forcibly helps an old lady across the street is called an officious interloper. Ask any lawyer.

The Greeks had a word that meant "with armpits smelling like a he-goat."

The term for when dogs scratch their butts by dragging them across the floor is called "sleigh riding."

The expression "paddy wagon" is derived from a derogatory reference to picking up drunk Irish people.

Young women in Atlanta used to refer to their private parts as "janers."

BURLINGTON, Iowa - In case the cops try to raid their place,
some drug dealers like to have special places to hide their
stash. In one case, a man even figured out a place to hide
himself if the police came calling. Unfortunately for him,
after only a short search, officers found Jerome Anthony
Dobbey hiding inside a refrigerator with the door shut. Thi-
nking, it was a good idea, Dobbey had stacked several items
in front of the refrigerator to make it seem inconspicuous.
However, few people will believe that a fridge is in use if
it's not plugged in. The crack dealer will be chilling out
for a while behind bars.

JAPAN - If deer could talk, they'd probably raise a fuss
over how many of them are getting hit by trains in western
Japan. Lucky for them, the Japanese were smart enough to
realize the problem and come up with the perfect solution:
lion crap. Deer, like most semi-intelligent beings on the
planet, don't really care for the smell of the king of the
jungle's feces. After several other failed attempts with
different options, railway officials decided to mix up a
lion dung paste and smear it along the tracks where most
of the accidents were occurring. In the last five months
since the deterrent was put into use, not a single deer
has been killed by a train. Deer must be pretty confident
animals, seeing as how such a delicate creature won't put
up with any crap from the lions.

La Spezia, Italy - Twelve years ago, under an arms embargo
imposed by the United Nations, Italy impounded two of Iraq's
most modern warships. Today, those warships sit docked at La
Spezia's naval base, and the Iraqi sailors sent to man them
sit docked at the local cafe, sipping espresso. "They started
the engines once for about 15 minutes about 12 years ago. Un-
til the embargo is lifted they are not leaving," said La Spe-
zia spokesman Francesco Pilato. At the time of the embargo
(following the Gulf war), an Italian firm had finished build-
ing the ships but did not get them delivered before the emba-
rgo came into force. Iraq's navy sends 12 sailors a year to
sit in the waterfront cafes...I mean, man the vessels.

ROMANIA - A would-be burglar proved to be a prime example
of how alcohol can get you in a lot of trouble. The crook
was arrested after he was found asleep in a pub he was raid-
ing after trying some expensive liqueurs. The 42-year-old
made his way in through the roof and proceeded to grab all
the cash in sight. However, his curiosity and taste buds did
him in, as he tried some whiskey and other drinks. Unable to
resist the temptation to get totally smashed, the man passed
out and was found by the bar owner the next morning.

LONDON - When recreating the scene of an accident, demonstrators aren't typically as graphic with their versions as the
originals. An English machine operator got a little too realistic for his own good as he attempted to show his bosses how he lost part of his thumb in a workplace accident. He ended up losing a chunk of a finger on his other hand. Talk about being "all thumbs." Thanks to this "handy" man, a new phrase is in the works.

George Washington and Thomas Jefferson both grew hemp. Ben Franklin owned a mill that made hemp paper. The US Declaration of Independence was written on hemp paper.

On every continent there is a city called Rome.

Eskimos use refrigerators to keep food from freezing.

Neil Armstrong stepped on the moon with his left foot first.

Lightning strikes men about seven times more often than it does women.

Women make up 49% of the world population.

About 50% of Americans live within 50 miles of their birthplace. This is called propinquity.

From the Middle Ages until the 18th century the local barber's duties included dentistry, blood letting, minor operations and bone-setting. The barber's striped red pole originates from when patients would grip the pole during an operation.

The US nickname Uncle Sam was derived from Uncle Sam Wilson,
a meat inspector in Troy, New York.

The electric chair was invented by a dentist.

Employees of the Washington State Grange arrived at work to find a man had chained himself to the front door of the Grange building to protest the war in Iraq. Jody Mason, who had been there for 18 hours, thought it was a federal building, but the Grange is a nonprofit organization that serves rural areas. Mason had orgotten to bring a key to his padlock, so police used a bolt cutter to free him and sent him on his way. But Mason was arrested the next day after he found the federal building and chained himself to its door. (The Olympian)
I wonder how many of the protestors would be able to find Iraq on an unmarked map?

In 1988, real estate agent Paul Aladdin Alarab, 44, was performing a social protest by hanging from a rope tied to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Calif., when he accidentally fell off. He survived. When the war against Iraq began, Alarab again headed to the bridge with his rope to protest. As police officers scrambled to get him off the bridge, he let go of the rope.
This time he didn't survive. Police are calling the result a suicide, but friends say Alarab wasn't suicidal because he just got custody of his young daughters, and probably thought he could survive the fall again. In 1988 Alarab said he "was praying for God to give me another chance" as he fell. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Character isn't defined by the chances you take, but by how you make use of the chances you get.

Leonard Garland and David DeCristofaro, both 20, saw a lot of cars parked on a street in Ashland, Mass. Figuring it was a party they "crashed" it. Indeed there was a party and, witnesses say, Garland asked one of the hosts if he wanted to "get high". The host asked if he had something to get high with, and Garland and DeCristofaro produced psychedelic mushrooms and cocaine. They also chatted about a local "jerk" narcotics cop, Matt Gutwill, who the duo didn't like because he was so effective at arresting drug dealers. It was about then that the host identified himself -- as narcotics officer Matt Gutwill -- and arrested them. "The look on their faces was like they saw death knocking on their door," said Gutwill, who was wearing a sweatshirt emblazoned with "Burlington Police Academy" at the time. It wasn't difficult to detain the two men: most of the 20 people at the party were cops. "I've met a lot of dumb drug dealers," Gutwill said later, "but none this dumb." (Framingham Metrowest Daily News)
Then maybe you're not invited to the right parties.