Television

Differing from a tangible invention, new virtual tools for traders are shaking up the financial industry. Michael Lewis' Flash Boys -- a top-selling treatise on the state of modern-day Wall Street -- is turning the stock market ecosystem on its head. For those who still think the hallowed halls of the stock exchange is still about alpha-male floor traders whaling in trading pits to 'buy' and 'sell' - think again -- for that world is officially DOA.

If you're a TV junkie like myself who gravitates towards fast-paced high-stakes thrillers in this new Golden Age of television, you most likely have also been schooled on the new lexicon of terms used to solve cases. Ever since the award-winning FX series Damages first premiered in 2007 with intricate plot twists, red herrings, foreshadowing and nonlinear narratives. . .

Ever since the award-winning film "Social Network" caused a stir about the digerati drawn to the Silicon Valley like moths to a flame, other would-be producers have tried to capture the zeitgeist of this lifestyle in various forms - books, movies and TV.

Little did Sir Arthur Conan Doyle realize when he first introduced "Sherlock Holmes" to the world in 1887, that some 125+ years later, the world would still not be able to get enough of this irascible literary character. Not only has there been over 100+ actors who have stepped into this famous detective's shoes on stage, screen, radio and TV since the early 1900s --  in just this past few years --  21st Century actors, the likes of Robert Downey Jr, Jonny Lee Miller and Benedict Cumberbatch. . .

With Kmart's revenue reports heading into the toilet, it appears its TV ads might have followed suit this holiday season. Down 4.6 percent in earnings this quarter, one of the nation's largest discount retailers is taking a radical departure from it's wholesome Mom's Apple Pie image to one that replicates the blue material you might catch on late night, a la Chelsea Lately!

Rats who are compulsive gamblers have reason to celebrate today as researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) announced the first successful drug to inhibit this compulsive behavior in its test group.  The test of 32 laboratory rats over a 16-month period involved the development and deployment of the only slot machine-style rat casino in North America, a casino built by the UBC Laboratory of Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience.

Katie Couric is looking for all kinds of helpful inventions that will make her audience think: “Why didn’t I think of that?” You’d better hurry up though, the open call for submissions closes on October 14th!

In light of the media frenzy kicked up by GTAV, the topic of video games and their link to violence seems worth a revisit. To be frank: video games do not cause violence or aggression. We need to stop arguing about whether or not they do and move on: there's more important things to discuss.

For all those 'Breaking Bad' fans who've held fast in weathering the perfect storm of the first five episodes of Season 5's final eight, the 6th installment is being promoted as the best of the baddest. But who would make such a claim? Vince Gilligan, the director - that's who!

The new Apple TV won't feature new hardware, which may be a disappointment for those betting their future on this device for the living room battleground, but we can expect quite a few software updates.

There's a lively debate as to whether an intangible service as mundane as online car insurance could possibly benefit from the value of social media. However, when these marketers realized that the marketing and selling of auto insurance is no different than the marketing and selling of another intangible product such as hotel accommodations, they quickly seized the opportunity with vigor - and with mascots to boot!

Many die-hard fans like myself, who can't get enough of the award-winning AMC TV drama, "Breaking Bad," have often thought that the alter-ego character "Heisenberg" was the invention of anti-hero Walter White, played by actor Bryan Cranston. In actuality, the chemistry professor referenced the name in Season 1 as an homage to the famous German physicist, Werner Karl Heisenberg.

Having worked in the film/video industry for about 20-years, I've had my experiences with camera mounts.  Some are great.  Some... well, just plain suck.  This device is quite innovative and may just be the answer to getting the jitters out of a shot without the weight of a steady-cam.

Newsroom, the HBO hit series created and written by Aaron Sorkin predicates its storylines on actual news that's taken place in the real world, about 18 month prior. Having cut his social networking teeth on his award-winning movie, "The Social Network," Sorkin takes full advantage of weaving social media references into his yarns, whenever he can.

Chromecast promises to provide a very low cost option to bring your online media to your TV, regardless of the device you use, from a PC, Mac, tablet or phone. Available for $35, it makes a strong competitor to current offerings.

In the HBO drama series, "The Newsroom," Jane Fonda plays the recurring role of Leona Lansing, the self-important CEO of the TV news show, Atlantis Cable News (ACN). Fonda views the fictional network's influence as falling "somewhere between Ted Turner (her ex-husband) and Rupert Murdoch." Playing against type and her real-life liberal bias, Lansing is a staunch Republican who feels the need to constantly remind her news team staff headed up by Will McAvoy (played by Jeff Daniels) . . .

''Topeka' is the Indian word for "a good place to grow potatoes." And even though the wheat and corn crops grow in greater abundance today, two Internet search engines view the potential of this 122,000-person-town as two very different type of spuds. While one treats it like "small potatoes," the other likens it to "potatoes au gratin," or a great side dish to whet one's appetite.

Are you as cool as the next host of NBC's The Tonight Show, the one and only Jimmy Fallon? Would you like to be? A Chinese online seller can make it happen, no sweat.

What is a Nut Milk bag?  Well, when I stumbled upon these words in search engine, my ideas ran from practical to just plain unsavory.  Don't ask.  What you should ask is if you want one... and if so, does it work?

The Pocket Hose is quite innovative.  I own one.  It was given as a gift by my girlfriend's mother.  And before your minds go into the gutter, let's take a look at the actual product...