I read okiedoke.com the other day and saw the Okie Roundup and it said azoidx get Syrious and (by the way I love the roundup it’s a fun way to see what other blogs in ok are saying) I thought about that and realized that was true on many levels. It’s a play on Syria of course, but my last few posts have been pretty serious as well and I need to inject some fun back into this place.

So I thought I would talk about some more lighthearted stuff.

I’ve been getting caught up with the show LOST, on ABC, which I recently discovered, because a friend recommended I watch it.

I knew since I missed the first 15 episodes that I couldn’t start watching now or I would be...um...lost. So what was I to do? Well that same friend recorded them and gave them to me to watch. It was in VHS or better quality and a great way to get caught up on the show so I could start watching it on TV.

This brings up a point about P2P file trading. If I had downloaded those shows via bittorent or something it would really be no different than how I borrowed them from a friend. Even borrowing them from a friend seems to be frowned upon these days, but it doesn’t change the fact that 1.) We used to do this all the time with VHS and it never was made a big deal and 2.) I would NEVER have watched the show LOST on tv if I was not able to get caught up. The later is the most important.

I never would have watched the show otherwise, and even better since I did use these copies to get caught up I have turned 3 more people onto the show LOST and have spread the word to many others. This would not have happened at all if it wasn’t for file trading.

I certainly don’t want to do anything illegal and breaking any law is farthest from my mind. You can see the value in being able to do what we have always done with VHS.

One thing that networks could do is put the earlier episodes online for free in a watchable digital format that viewers are able to download in order to get caught up on a show. They could leave the commercials in them or make it a time sensitive download but it would allow people to get caught up with programs they missed.

Now I know this leads to all sorts of advertising issues because advertisers pay for only so many views per show or timeslot, but these downloads could have their own advertising plans setup.

Anyway that’s might two cents on the matter.

And by the way I recommend everyone watch Lost and support it. You really need to see the shows in order, and they are up to 18 episodes, but now on a break until the end of the month I believe. It would be a great time to get caught up but I’m not sure how you can, but it’s an excellent show.

I also have the same problem with the HBO’s show Carnivale. I would like to start watching it, but since I cant get caught up with the first and second season I just won't; at least not at this point.

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