Crowd-sourcing outrage
A bizarre internet phenomenon in China, via the NYTimes:
The Chinese term for human-flesh search engine has been around since 2001, when it was used to describe a search that was human-powered rather than computer-driven. The kitten-killer case and subsequent hunts changed all that… the Chinese public’s primary understanding of the term is no longer so benign. The popular meaning is now not just a search by humans but also a search for humans, initially performed online but intended to cause real-world consequences.
I think last week was the first time I’ve watched Conan in forever. What struck me was the sheer drudgery of watching innumerable car commercials from Your Quality Plus Ford Dealer and the boredom of half the show. Ben Stiller? Not funny. Barry Manilow? Oh come on. Robin Williams tore the place apart (of course) and the expensive comedic bits were funny as could be. But the whole premise of late night shows is b-rate actors you’ve never heard of reading scripted “jokes.” The reason I’ve mostly watched these things in ten-minute clips is because there’s only ten minutes of comedy in them. I’d much rather watch Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert’s bits and the interesting guests they often manage to get. I hope Conan’s next gig cuts the slavish Hollywood worship. Let doofus Leno interview the doofus starlets.

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