Netflix, websites and explosions
Andrew Chestnut
Editorial Columnist
A few websites for people who like movies, music and loud explosions...
Netflix
A small miracle occurred last night when I watched the barely comprehensible, yet vaguely interesting Italian film “8½.” It had nothing to do with the fact that I actually made it through the whole thing (which was, in itself, an extraordinary feat), but with the fact I was watching it in the first place.
I had been trying to see this movie for several months, but it is nearly impossible to find at Blockbuster or Hollywood Video, and can’t be purchased on Amazon.com for less than $13 (which is 10 more than I’m willing to spend on a movie I know nothing about).
However, a few weeks ago I finally got around to subscribing to Netflix, which means it was at my doorstep—literally—in two days. I stuck it back in the mail today (Tuesday), didn’t have to pay for a stamp, and will have received “Lost in Translation” by the time you read this (assuming you read this Thursday).
But the best thing about receiving a new movie faster than you even have time to watch them is the price. I’m paying $8.99 a month to receive as many movies as I want (one at a time), which is ridiculously cheap. Here are a few other things you can buy with nine dollars, just to give you some perspective: half of a DVD, a third of your late fee at a rental store (Netflix allows you to keep DVDs as long as you want with no fees) or 45 chicken nuggets at Wendy’s. They’re basically giving these movies away. You can’t afford not to subscribe to Netflix.
Aside from being cheaper than generic Ramen, Netflix also gives you the opportunity to see hard-to-find independent films, foreign films and documentaries. I challenge anyone to find a film so obscure that Netflix doesn’t have it. But while you are searching for it, do yourself a big favor, and take a few minutes to sign up at www.netflix.com.
Pandora Radio
Pandora Radio is very appropriately named: It has the potential to do for music what Pandora’s Box did for the Greeks. The website is a free radio service that connects you to new songs and artists based on what you already like with astonishing ease and efficiency.
After spending about 12 seconds signing up (again, free), you type the name of any song or artist you like. Using technology from the Music Genome Project, Pandora will play that song, and then will play other songs that it thinks sound similar according to hundreds of various “genes” contained in each song. You can direct Pandora towards your specific tastes by giving each song a “thumbs up” or “thumbs down.”
After a few songs, you will probably start hearing new artists that are similar to the ones you already like, which means you not only encounter new stuff, but new stuff you actually like. I listened for about an hour, and had written down the names of about 12 new bands that I’ve since downloaded, started listening to and have been enjoying.
Pandora is also perfect if you want to listen to music at a computer you don’t own or if you don’t have your iPod. All you have to do is find the website, sign in and listen. www.pandora.com.
Project Playlist
Project Playlist is a website that allows users to search the internet for websites that have specific songs, and then save the URL of that site into a playlist. Users can make several playlists of up to 100 songs each and save those playlists. Because people can return to these playlists from any computer at any time, this essentially means you are creating a portable mini-iTunes that can be re-accessed at any time.
Project Playlist also allows you to share your playlists with other users, as well as use their playlists. Like Pandora, you listen to music straight online, so you don’t need to save anything on your computer. Also like Pandora, it is completely free.
However, there are a few negative points to make about the site. It doesn’t necessarily introduce you to new music unless you are browsing someone else’s playlist, so if you are hoping to find new music, I would try Pandora. Also, finding the right versions of songs can be tricky, because many are posted with incorrect names or are copyrighted and can not be accessed.
Regardless of these issues, you may want to give projectplaylist.com a shot.
Myxer Tones
If you are one of those people with an unbearable ringtone who refuses to change it, you no longer have an excuse not to. At myxer.com, you can have just about any song and thousands of other tones sent to your phone absolutely free, no matter what service you have. You can even upload songs from your own library, choose which 60-second section of the song you want as your ringtone and have it sent to your phone in minutes. Did I mention it’s slightly less expensive than buying them from your provider? The site is www.myxer.com.
Xavier Campus Construction
Upset that you missed Zumbiel implosion? Think it figures Xavier would push it back to spring break and do it at 8 a.m., ensuring that as few people as possible would get to see it? Me, too. But fear not: A fairly high-quality video of the event is available on the university’s website. Just go to www.xavier.edu/construction.
