Re: [scifinoir2] OT: HDTV Makes Adult-Movie Stars Nervous
Pimples...uh, excuse me... Astromancer [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I do...pimples are sexy... The Yokozuna Of Soul [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: But for that matter, who needs Back-Door Brides 17 in HD? On Jan 31, 2007, at 8:13 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: True, true! -- Original message -- From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] LMNAO, Keith! Show of hands- *who* is busy checking for pimples while watching Back-Door Brides 17? (An actual title, BTB...scary, ain't it?) [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: This is interesting. Of course, quiet as it's kept in some circles, the adult industry has long been a major force in the adoption and innovation of new technology. The old 8 mm cameras, VCRs, DVDs, DVD players on PCs, video-on-demand, high-powered Web servers to store images and movies for downloads, streaming media Internet technology, secure sites for Internet financial transactions, age verification methods, and now the HD-DVD/Blu-Ray war--all owe a huge debt to the purveyors and partakers of adult content. Still, it's funny to think of porn stars being nervous at HDTV showing *too much* of their bodies!! *** http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,128632-page,1/article.html HDTV Makes Adult-Movie Stars Nervous Picture quality shows too much detail for some performers, but industry is still going high-def. Dan Nystedt, IDG News Service Families with new high-definition camcorders and news anchors being broadcast in HD have already discovered just how revealing the picture quality is. But few professionals bare as much in front of the camera as adult-film stars, and many are nervous abut the new technology. We're all terrified, said Stefani Morgan, a star at Vivid Entertainment Group, one of the largest adult movie makers. I want to be a fantasy. I don't want to show flaws. High-definition picture quality is so good that watching sports on HDTV is like being on the field. Adult industry directors compare it to being in the room. I think high-definition is good from a fan's perspective because it puts everything so beautifully, said Jenna Jameson, founder and the star of Club Jenna. But from a woman's perspective, we hate it because you can see every little piece of our body, she added. Adult Entertainment Drives Media Sales But television broadcasting and home video are moving forward with high definition, and the adult industry is playing a role by releasing its first films on the HD disc format, HD DVD, which is battling rival Blu-ray Disc to become the successor to DVDs. The adult market is important market for the discs, with DVD sales reaching $3.6 billion last year, according to AVN Publications. The trouble for the industry is that users are not taking to HD media players of either format as quickly as hoped. The Consumer Electronics Association slashed its sales estimate for stand-alone HD media players, HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc combined, to just 250,000 last year, from a previous forecast of 750,000. The figures do not include Blu-ray Disc players on PlayStation 3 game consoles, nor HD DVD players on Xbox 360 game machines. Jake Richter, an analyst at Jon Peddie Research, said he doesn't care which format wins, as long as HD media playback takes hold, and fast. I am a true believer, he says. I have issued an edict in my household that we should no longer purchase any standard DVDs unless we really want the movies or shows right then and there AND they are not yet available in either HD DVD or Blu-ray formats. I will happily pay the $5 to $15 premium for the phenomenal increase in image clarity. Even HD Can Be Tricked Adult directors also love HD technology for the sharp improvement in picture quality over standard TVs. In the end, who doesn't want to see the most beautiful man or beautiful woman with the best image quality possible? It really brings it to life, it's fantastic, said Robby D, a director at adult-film maker Digital Playground. And while actors and actresses may be nervous over the revealing clarity of high definition, directors said they shouldn't spend too much time fretting. Filters and other techniques can always help clean up blemishes, make-up malfunctions, and other problems that might crop up on screen. I do a lot of post-manipulation of the product, said Jay Grdina, president of Club Jenna. When I look at HD I think the last thing I ever want to do is make video look more like video. I want video to look more like film. His biggest star agreed, and offered up additional advice to colleagues. There's obviously a lot of things you can do to soften things, filter, post-process, said Jameson. But you either feel comfortable enough to be naked in high-definition or you don't, and that's why the gym comes in handy. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] If any one of our
Re: [scifinoir2] OT: HDTV Makes Adult-Movie Stars Nervous
(waiting for the stampede of yea-sayers) The Yokozuna Of Soul [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: But for that matter, who needs Back-Door Brides 17 in HD? On Jan 31, 2007, at 8:13 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: True, true! -- Original message -- From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] LMNAO, Keith! Show of hands- *who* is busy checking for pimples while watching Back-Door Brides 17? (An actual title, BTB...scary, ain't it?) [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: This is interesting. Of course, quiet as it's kept in some circles, the adult industry has long been a major force in the adoption and innovation of new technology. The old 8 mm cameras, VCRs, DVDs, DVD players on PCs, video-on-demand, high-powered Web servers to store images and movies for downloads, streaming media Internet technology, secure sites for Internet financial transactions, age verification methods, and now the HD-DVD/Blu-Ray war--all owe a huge debt to the purveyors and partakers of adult content. Still, it's funny to think of porn stars being nervous at HDTV showing *too much* of their bodies!! *** http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,128632-page,1/article.html HDTV Makes Adult-Movie Stars Nervous Picture quality shows too much detail for some performers, but industry is still going high-def. Dan Nystedt, IDG News Service Families with new high-definition camcorders and news anchors being broadcast in HD have already discovered just how revealing the picture quality is. But few professionals bare as much in front of the camera as adult-film stars, and many are nervous abut the new technology. We're all terrified, said Stefani Morgan, a star at Vivid Entertainment Group, one of the largest adult movie makers. I want to be a fantasy. I don't want to show flaws. High-definition picture quality is so good that watching sports on HDTV is like being on the field. Adult industry directors compare it to being in the room. I think high-definition is good from a fan's perspective because it puts everything so beautifully, said Jenna Jameson, founder and the star of Club Jenna. But from a woman's perspective, we hate it because you can see every little piece of our body, she added. Adult Entertainment Drives Media Sales But television broadcasting and home video are moving forward with high definition, and the adult industry is playing a role by releasing its first films on the HD disc format, HD DVD, which is battling rival Blu-ray Disc to become the successor to DVDs. The adult market is important market for the discs, with DVD sales reaching $3.6 billion last year, according to AVN Publications. The trouble for the industry is that users are not taking to HD media players of either format as quickly as hoped. The Consumer Electronics Association slashed its sales estimate for stand-alone HD media players, HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc combined, to just 250,000 last year, from a previous forecast of 750,000. The figures do not include Blu-ray Disc players on PlayStation 3 game consoles, nor HD DVD players on Xbox 360 game machines. Jake Richter, an analyst at Jon Peddie Research, said he doesn't care which format wins, as long as HD media playback takes hold, and fast. I am a true believer, he says. I have issued an edict in my household that we should no longer purchase any standard DVDs unless we really want the movies or shows right then and there AND they are not yet available in either HD DVD or Blu-ray formats. I will happily pay the $5 to $15 premium for the phenomenal increase in image clarity. Even HD Can Be Tricked Adult directors also love HD technology for the sharp improvement in picture quality over standard TVs. In the end, who doesn't want to see the most beautiful man or beautiful woman with the best image quality possible? It really brings it to life, it's fantastic, said Robby D, a director at adult-film maker Digital Playground. And while actors and actresses may be nervous over the revealing clarity of high definition, directors said they shouldn't spend too much time fretting. Filters and other techniques can always help clean up blemishes, make-up malfunctions, and other problems that might crop up on screen. I do a lot of post-manipulation of the product, said Jay Grdina, president of Club Jenna. When I look at HD I think the last thing I ever want to do is make video look more like video. I want video to look more like film. His biggest star agreed, and offered up additional advice to colleagues. There's obviously a lot of things you can do to soften things, filter, post-process, said Jameson. But you either feel comfortable enough to be naked in high-definition or you don't, and that's why the gym comes in handy. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] If any one of our restaurants were better than the rest, then
Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Andre Braugher Joins Mist
More plastic people than the former South Beach setting. Is such a thing *possible? [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Correction. Now it might as well be called Nip Tuck in LA. The show's moving the location of the series in order to find a place with even more plastic people than the former South Beach setting. I watched two or three eps a couple of years ago, but it didn't interest me enough to keep watching. -- Original message -- From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] But we're treated to more Nip/Tuck. Wonderful. (sarcasm on, in the words of a dear friend) [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: To quote Florida Evans, Damn! Damn! Damn!! This was an excellent show. I really wish they'd give it more time to find an audience. But then, other shows good and bad are getting cancelled just as swiftly these days. Remember Witchblade, Kojak, Wanted? -- Original message -- From: B. Smith [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unfortunately it joins the pile. FX didn't order a second season because of poor ratings. --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Do you know whether Thief is coming back, or does it join the pile of Good Stuff Gone Forever? [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: And that's not a bad thing. It's like associating Shatner with Star Trek, Lee Majors with Steve Austin. Braugher owned Homicide. He stalked around like a predatory animal, at once invincible and flawed. From the very first scene-- when he pulled a hapless rookie (Kyle Secor) along as he scanned rows of identical cars for the *right* one--he was unforgettable. You're right that he's done lots of other good work, including the movie Get on The Bus and the recent Thief, but being forever associated with Homicide--one of the best series of all time, cop- related or not--is a good thing in my book. -- Original message -- From: The Yokozuna Of Soul [EMAIL PROTECTED] It's funny to me how we still associate Andre with Homicide after all the work he's done since. On Jan 29, 2007, at 2:42 PM, B. Smith wrote: I'm really looking forward to this movie. I loved the novella and I've read some of Frank Darabont's thoughts on how it should be done. If he pulls it off this will be awesome. --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) tdlists@ wrote: Braugher, Holden Join Mist Andre Braugher and Laurie Holden are joining Thomas Jane in The Mist, Dimension Films' adaptation of the Stephen King supernatural story, which is being helmed by Frank Darabont, who also produces, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The script, written by Darabont, is set after a strange storm blows through a Maine town and its citizens are attacked by deadly creatures. A group of townfolk barricade themselves in a supermarket and struggle for survival. Holden (The Majestic, The X-Files), is the female lead as one of the people trapped by the phenomenon. Braugher (Homicide: Life on the Street) plays Jane's neighbor, a high-powered attorney who has a weekend house in Maine. Shooting is slated to begin in mid- to late February in Shreveport, La. http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0id=39775 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] If any one of our restaurants were better than the rest, then customers would flocck to that location, creating a mass imbalance that could create a black hole, which would swallow the Earth. That's why we make every McDonald's from Pomona to Poughkeepsie the same good place to eat, thereby saving the Universe.-from McDonald's commercial ,28 January 1990 Is anybody hungry? - W Zeddemore, The Real Ghostbusters, 'The Cabinet of Calamari' - Don't be flakey. Get Yahoo! Mail for Mobile and always stay connected to friends. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] If any one of our restaurants were better than the rest, then customers would flocck to that location, creating a mass imbalance that could create a black hole, which would swallow the Earth. That's why we make every McDonald's from Pomona to Poughkeepsie the same good place to eat, thereby saving the Universe.-from McDonald's commercial ,28 January 1990 Is anybody hungry? - W Zeddemore, The Real Ghostbusters, 'The Cabinet of Calamari' - Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] If any one of our restaurants were better than the rest, then customers would flocck to that location, creating a mass imbalance that could create a black hole, which would swallow the Earth. That's why we
Re: [scifinoir2] M. Night Shyamalan is back
That I hadn't heard, Tracey. Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I just read yesterday, that he is not doing it. Something happened, but I did not get a change to read the rest of the story Tracey Sorry Keith Omavi Ndoto wrote: Now that would be great to see On 1/31/07, Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I also heard that he was going to doa live action version f Avatar: The Last Airbender. Keith! BREATHE! Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] tdlists%40multiculturaladvantage.com wrote: Variety reported that M. Night Shyamalan is reworking the script for The Green Effectâa proposed film about a large-scale, cataclysmic environmental crisis that turns into a struggle by mankind to overcome natureâafter failing to land a deal during an initial round of negotiations with various studios. If any one of our restaurants were better than the rest, then customers would flocck to that location, creating a mass imbalance that could create a black hole, which would swallow the Earth. That's why we make every McDonald's from Pomona to Poughkeepsie the same good place to eat, thereby saving the Universe.-from McDonald's commercial ,28 January 1990 Is anybody hungry? - W Zeddemore, The Real Ghostbusters, 'The Cabinet of Calamari' - Cheap Talk? Check out Yahoo! Messenger's low PC-to-Phone call rates. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] If any one of our restaurants were better than the rest, then customers would flocck to that location, creating a mass imbalance that could create a black hole, which would swallow the Earth. That's why we make every McDonald's from Pomona to Poughkeepsie the same good place to eat, thereby saving the Universe.-from McDonald's commercial ,28 January 1990 Is anybody hungry? - W Zeddemore, The Real Ghostbusters, 'The Cabinet of Calamari' - Bored stiff? Loosen up... Download and play hundreds of games for free on Yahoo! Games. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] M. Night Shyamalan is back
Nope. Just heard it on Monday. Can't remember where, though. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: You are joking, right?!!! -- Original message -- From: Martin I also heard that he was going to doa live action version f Avatar: The Last Airbender. Keith! BREATHE! Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) wrote: Variety reported that M. Night Shyamalan is reworking the script for The Green Effectâa proposed film about a large-scale, cataclysmic environmental crisis that turns into a struggle by mankind to overcome natureâafter failing to land a deal during an initial round of negotiations with various studios. If any one of our restaurants were better than the rest, then customers would flocck to that location, creating a mass imbalance that could create a black hole, which would swallow the Earth. That's why we make every McDonald's from Pomona to Poughkeepsie the same good place to eat, thereby saving the Universe.-from McDonald's commercial ,28 January 1990 Is anybody hungry? - W Zeddemore, The Real Ghostbusters, 'The Cabinet of Calamari' - Be a PS3 game guru. Get your game face on with the latest PS3 news and previews at Yahoo! Games. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Links If any one of our restaurants were better than the rest, then customers would flocck to that location, creating a mass imbalance that could create a black hole, which would swallow the Earth. That's why we make every McDonald's from Pomona to Poughkeepsie the same good place to eat, thereby saving the Universe.-from McDonald's commercial ,28 January 1990 Is anybody hungry? - W Zeddemore, The Real Ghostbusters, 'The Cabinet of Calamari' - Be a PS3 game guru. Get your game face on with the latest PS3 news and previews at Yahoo! Games. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] M. Night Shyamalan is back
Don't know if it is true Tracey Martin wrote: That I hadn't heard, Tracey. Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] aladvantage. com mailto:tdlists%40multiculturaladvantage.com wrote: I just read yesterday, that he is not doing it. Something happened, but I did not get a change to read the rest of the story Tracey Sorry Keith Omavi Ndoto wrote: Now that would be great to see On 1/31/07, Martin truthseeker_ [EMAIL PROTECTED] com mailto:truthseeker_013%40yahoo.com wrote: I also heard that he was going to doa live action version f Avatar: The Last Airbender. Keith! BREATHE! ! !!! Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] aladvantage. com mailto:tdlists%40multiculturaladvantage.com tdlists%40multicul turaladvantage. com wrote: Variety reported that M. Night Shyamalan is reworking the script for The Green Effect—a proposed film about a large-scale, cataclysmic environmental crisis that turns into a struggle by mankind to overcome nature—after failing to land a deal during an initial round of negotiations with various studios. If any one of our restaurants were better than the rest, then customers would flocck to that location, creating a mass imbalance that could create a black hole, which would swallow the Earth. That's why we make every McDonald's from Pomona to Poughkeepsie the same good place to eat, thereby saving the Universe.-from McDonald's commercial ,28 January 1990 Is anybody hungry? - W Zeddemore, The Real Ghostbusters , 'The Cabinet of Calamari' - - --- Cheap Talk? Check out Yahoo! Messenger's low PC-to-Phone call rates. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] If any one of our restaurants were better than the rest, then customers would flocck to that location, creating a mass imbalance that could create a black hole, which would swallow the Earth. That's why we make every McDonald's from Pomona to Poughkeepsie the same good place to eat, thereby saving the Universe.-from McDonald's commercial ,28 January 1990 Is anybody hungry? - W Zeddemore, The Real Ghostbusters , 'The Cabinet of Calamari' - - --- Bored stiff? Loosen up... Download and play hundreds of games for free on Yahoo! Games. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[scifinoir2] Harry Potter Star Stirs Controversy with Play
This is interesting. Every few years I hear about someone doing Equus and it generates mild controversy. I've never seen the plays or the movie or read whatever the source material is, so I have no real opinion--other than the words horse and erotic should *not* be used in the same sentence! Here in Atlanta, a mom in one of the more conservative suburbs (not the one I live in, thank God!) has been trying to get the Harry Potter books pulled from her daughter's school for a couple of years now. Actually, she wants them and other books like them banned from all schools in her county, as they promote the worship of the Devil in her mind. Before you ask, she's not a looney fanatic, just an extremely conservative Christian who takes the Biblical verse Flee the presence of evil very seriously. Can't imagine what she'll do when she hears about Radcliffe doing this play! 'Harry Potter' Stage Strip Stirs Storm By Associated Press Wed Jan 31, 6:34 PM NEW YORK - Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe, who strips for his new role in London's West End revival of the play Equus, has ignited a bit of a media firestorm by posing for racy promotional photos for the production. The Tony-Award-winning drama tells the story of a stable-hand who has an erotic fixation with horses. In one photo, Radcliffe, 17, dares to bare it all alongside a white horse; in another, he is pictured with a naked Joanna Christie, the actress who portrays his girlfriend. Equus, directed by Thea Sharrock, opens at London's Gielgud Theater on Feb. 27. Tony Award-winning actor Richard Griffiths plays a pyschiatrist who treats Radcliffe's character. Part of me wants to shake up people's perception of me, just shove me in a blender, Radcliffe said in a recent interview with Newsweek magazine. It's a really challenging play, and if I can pull it off _ we don't know if I can yet _ I hope people will stop and think, 'Maybe he can do something other than Harry,' he said. Radcliffe, who was discovered seven years ago in the audience of a London theater, reprises his role as the bespectacled boy wizard in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, slated for release July 13. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] Harry Potter Star Stirs Controversy with Play
Hard to read all this and not recall this episode of Extras: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PhSe1JZD1g I love this show. If you don't watch it, you've missed this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGf9Hc-KpAA On Feb 1, 2007, at 1:52 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: This is interesting. Every few years I hear about someone doing Equus and it generates mild controversy. I've never seen the plays or the movie or read whatever the source material is, so I have no real opinion--other than the words horse and erotic should *not* be used in the same sentence! Here in Atlanta, a mom in one of the more conservative suburbs (not the one I live in, thank God!) has been trying to get the Harry Potter books pulled from her daughter's school for a couple of years now. Actually, she wants them and other books like them banned from all schools in her county, as they promote the worship of the Devil in her mind. Before you ask, she's not a looney fanatic, just an extremely conservative Christian who takes the Biblical verse Flee the presence of evil very seriously. Can't imagine what she'll do when she hears about Radcliffe doing this play! 'Harry Potter' Stage Strip Stirs Storm By Associated Press Wed Jan 31, 6:34 PM NEW YORK - Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe, who strips for his new role in London's West End revival of the play Equus, has ignited a bit of a media firestorm by posing for racy promotional photos for the production. The Tony-Award-winning drama tells the story of a stable-hand who has an erotic fixation with horses. In one photo, Radcliffe, 17, dares to bare it all alongside a white horse; in another, he is pictured with a naked Joanna Christie, the actress who portrays his girlfriend. Equus, directed by Thea Sharrock, opens at London's Gielgud Theater on Feb. 27. Tony Award-winning actor Richard Griffiths plays a pyschiatrist who treats Radcliffe's character. Part of me wants to shake up people's perception of me, just shove me in a blender, Radcliffe said in a recent interview with Newsweek magazine. It's a really challenging play, and if I can pull it off _ we don't know if I can yet _ I hope people will stop and think, 'Maybe he can do something other than Harry,' he said. Radcliffe, who was discovered seven years ago in the audience of a London theater, reprises his role as the bespectacled boy wizard in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, slated for release July 13. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [scifinoir2] OT: HDTV Makes Adult-Movie Stars Nervous
(Smiling sheepishy) Sorry, everyone was getting so serious, I couldn't resist... Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Pimples...uh, excuse me... Astromancer [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I do...pimples are sexy... The Yokozuna Of Soul [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: But for that matter, who needs Back-Door Brides 17 in HD? On Jan 31, 2007, at 8:13 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: True, true! -- Original message -- From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] LMNAO, Keith! Show of hands- *who* is busy checking for pimples while watching Back-Door Brides 17? (An actual title, BTB...scary, ain't it?) [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: This is interesting. Of course, quiet as it's kept in some circles, the adult industry has long been a major force in the adoption and innovation of new technology. The old 8 mm cameras, VCRs, DVDs, DVD players on PCs, video-on-demand, high-powered Web servers to store images and movies for downloads, streaming media Internet technology, secure sites for Internet financial transactions, age verification methods, and now the HD-DVD/Blu-Ray war--all owe a huge debt to the purveyors and partakers of adult content. Still, it's funny to think of porn stars being nervous at HDTV showing *too much* of their bodies!! *** http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,128632-page,1/article.html HDTV Makes Adult-Movie Stars Nervous Picture quality shows too much detail for some performers, but industry is still going high-def. Dan Nystedt, IDG News Service Families with new high-definition camcorders and news anchors being broadcast in HD have already discovered just how revealing the picture quality is. But few professionals bare as much in front of the camera as adult-film stars, and many are nervous abut the new technology. We're all terrified, said Stefani Morgan, a star at Vivid Entertainment Group, one of the largest adult movie makers. I want to be a fantasy. I don't want to show flaws. High-definition picture quality is so good that watching sports on HDTV is like being on the field. Adult industry directors compare it to being in the room. I think high-definition is good from a fan's perspective because it puts everything so beautifully, said Jenna Jameson, founder and the star of Club Jenna. But from a woman's perspective, we hate it because you can see every little piece of our body, she added. Adult Entertainment Drives Media Sales But television broadcasting and home video are moving forward with high definition, and the adult industry is playing a role by releasing its first films on the HD disc format, HD DVD, which is battling rival Blu-ray Disc to become the successor to DVDs. The adult market is important market for the discs, with DVD sales reaching $3.6 billion last year, according to AVN Publications. The trouble for the industry is that users are not taking to HD media players of either format as quickly as hoped. The Consumer Electronics Association slashed its sales estimate for stand-alone HD media players, HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc combined, to just 250,000 last year, from a previous forecast of 750,000. The figures do not include Blu-ray Disc players on PlayStation 3 game consoles, nor HD DVD players on Xbox 360 game machines. Jake Richter, an analyst at Jon Peddie Research, said he doesn't care which format wins, as long as HD media playback takes hold, and fast. I am a true believer, he says. I have issued an edict in my household that we should no longer purchase any standard DVDs unless we really want the movies or shows right then and there AND they are not yet available in either HD DVD or Blu-ray formats. I will happily pay the $5 to $15 premium for the phenomenal increase in image clarity. Even HD Can Be Tricked Adult directors also love HD technology for the sharp improvement in picture quality over standard TVs. In the end, who doesn't want to see the most beautiful man or beautiful woman with the best image quality possible? It really brings it to life, it's fantastic, said Robby D, a director at adult-film maker Digital Playground. And while actors and actresses may be nervous over the revealing clarity of high definition, directors said they shouldn't spend too much time fretting. Filters and other techniques can always help clean up blemishes, make-up malfunctions, and other problems that might crop up on screen. I do a lot of post-manipulation of the product, said Jay Grdina, president of Club Jenna. When I look at HD I think the last thing I ever want to do is make video look more like video. I want video to look more like film. His biggest star agreed, and offered up additional advice to colleagues. There's obviously a lot of things you can do to soften things, filter, post-process, said Jameson. But you either feel comfortable enough to be naked in high-definition or you don't,
[scifinoir2] Shatnervision
for some reason Bill Shatner and his daughter have gone overboard and are recording every third thing Bill does and posting it on the web. They call this collection of conversations - Shatnervision. Yeah. I know. And I watch it every afternoon during lunch. Anyway, here's today's Shatnervision, where he talks about Star Trek 11. Enjoy. http://www.livevideo.com/video/embedLink/ 7BE9FA686CBF4174BF845937AB78BB99/51576/shatner-talks-star-trek-xi.aspx
[scifinoir2] Aqua Teen Hunger Force Stunt Results in Terrorist Scare
I'm not sure what to say about this publicity stunt. Seeing as how the devices aren't small, and they are lighted advertisements, didn't the marketers have some kind of obligation to get permission to put them out? This was a little more than nailing a sign to a telephone pole, after all. If nothing else, I'd have obtained some type of permission from the city before dumping several dozen electronic devices on bridges and stuff. They might have been simply destroyed at best. And, I have to say, this marketing campaign wasn't all that effective if the things sat unnoticed for three weeks. I live in Atlanta, spend all my time in the city where this campaign should be most noticeable. Most of all, I drive by the Cartoon Network headquarters at least ten times a week, and I *never* saw a one-foot cartoon character giving me the finger! Did any of you in Austin, San Fran, Chi-Town, or NYC notice these things? ** 2 Men Held on Bond in Boston Hoax Case By JAY LINDSAY, Associated Press Writer 3 hours ago BOSTON - Two men who authorities say placed electronic advertising devices around the city were released from jail Thursday, apparently amused with the publicity stunt that stirred fears of terrorism and shut down parts of the city. Peter Berdovsky, 27, and Sean Stevens, 28, were released on $2,500 cash bond after each pleaded not guilty to placing a hoax device and disorderly conduct for a device found Wednesday at a subway station. They waved and smiled as they greeted people in court. Outside, they met reporters and television cameras and launched into a nonsensical discussion of hair styles of the 1970s. What we really want to talk about today _ it's kind of important to some people _ it's haircuts of the 1970s, Berdovsky said. But as he walked off, Berdovsky gave a more serious comment. We need some time to really sort things out and, you know, figure out our response to this situation in other ways than talking about hair, Berdovsky said. So if you could just give us some privacy for a little bit. ... I will be trying to make sense of all it real soon. Officials found 38 blinking electronic signs promoting the Cartoon Network TV show Aqua Teen Hunger Force on bridges and other high-profile spots across the city Wednesday, prompting the closing of a highway and the deployment of bomb squads. The surreal series is about a talking milkshake, a box of fries and a meatball. The network is a division of Turner Broadcasting Systems Inc. It's clear the intent was to get attention by causing fear and unrest that there was a bomb in that location, Assistant Attorney General John Grossman said at their arraignment. The 1-foot tall signs, which were lit up at night, resembled a circuit board, with protruding wires and batteries. Most depicted a boxy, cartoon character giving passersby the finger _ a more obvious sight when darkness fell. The men did not speak or enter their own pleas, but they appeared amused and smiled as the prosecutor talked about the device found at Sullivan Station underneath Interstate 93, looking like it had C-4 explosive. The appearance of this device and its location are crucial, Grossman said. This device looks like a bomb. Some in the gallery snickered. Outside the courthouse, Michael Rich, a lawyer for both of the men, said the description of a bomb-like device could be used for any electronic device. If somebody had left a VCR on the ground it would have been a device with wires, electronic components and a power source, he said. Boston officials were livid when the devices were discovered. It is outrageous, in a post 9/11 world, that a company would use this type of marketing scheme, Mayor Thomas Menino said Wednesday. I am prepared to take any and all legal action against Turner Broadcasting and its affiliates for any and all expenses incurred during the response to today's incidents. Berdovsky, an artist, told The Boston Globe he was hired by a marketing company and said he was kind of freaked out by the furor. I find it kind of ridiculous that they're making these statements on TV that we must not be safe from terrorism, because they were up there for three weeks and no one noticed. It's pretty commonsensical to look at them and say this is a piece of art and installation, he said. Fans of the show mocked authorities for what they called an overreaction. About a dozen fans gathered outside Charlestown District Court on Thursday morning with signs saying 1-31-07 Never Forget and Free Peter. We're the laughing stock, said Tracy O'Connor, 34. It's almost too easy to be a terrorist these days, said Jennifer Mason, 26. You stick a box on a corner and you can shut down a city. Authorities vowed to hold Turner accountable for what Menino said was corporate greed, that led to at least $750,000 in police costs. As soon as Turner realized the Boston problem around 5 p.m., it said, law enforcement
[scifinoir2] Re: Aqua Teen Hunger Force Stunt Results in Terrorist Scare
I live and work in Boston. This has been all over the news here. Our government incurred a large expense with the bomb disposal squads, police overtime to stop traffic; and for a time the subways were shut down. IMHO, the marketers definitely had an obligation to do 2 things: a) notify local law enforcement about their intent to put these devices, and b) ask the permission of the private property owners upon whose property they placed the devices. They didn't do either. I don't know what you've read, but devices were hung on both private and public property here in Boston. Regarding the youth that support this guerilla marketing, their approach to any physical space is the same as their approach to content on the Internet... anything and any space is fair game for their purposes. They don't seem to understand (or don't care) that placing the devices on people's private property without their permission is the same as defacing walls with graffitti... not that graffitti is acceptable anywhere. People, especially the youth, need to remember that this is the town where 2 planes took off from our airport that crashed into buildings on 9-11. So the heightened state of vigilance here is understandable and appropriate. IMHO, the people that yell today about our local government's supposed over reaction would likely be the same people yelling if the government didn't respond and it was a true terrorist attack. It is unclear if the devices were up for 3 weeks here. They were up longer in other cities, but most people here say they weren't up long here. People need to remember that there is already some unease in Boston. There are 2 nuclear reactors within a 1.5 hour drive of the city; plus several biochemical facilities within city limits, and one of the 4 larges LNG terminals is across Boston harbor in Chelsea. With all of those high-value targets nearby, a heightened state of vigilence is very appropriate, IMHO. I definitely believe that the Turner Network and the Cartoon Network should reimburse my city for their expenses. I don't want to pay those expenses thru higher taxes, to fund their self-interested marketing stunt. If they don't pay, you can bet I'll work hard for a boycott of their cable channels. George Captain USS Ronald E. McNair (Boston) --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I'm not sure what to say about this publicity stunt. Seeing as how the devices aren't small, and they are lighted advertisements, didn't the marketers have some kind of obligation to get permission to put them out? This was a little more than nailing a sign to a telephone pole, after all. If nothing else, I'd have obtained some type of permission from the city before dumping several dozen electronic devices on bridges and stuff. They might have been simply destroyed at best. And, I have to say, this marketing campaign wasn't all that effective if the things sat unnoticed for three weeks. I live in Atlanta, spend all my time in the city where this campaign should be most noticeable. Most of all, I drive by the Cartoon Network headquarters at least ten times a week, and I *never* saw a one-foot cartoon character giving me the finger! Did any of you in Austin, San Fran, Chi-Town, or NYC notice these things? ** 2 Men Held on Bond in Boston Hoax Case By JAY LINDSAY, Associated Press Writer 3 hours ago BOSTON - Two men who authorities say placed electronic advertising devices around the city were released from jail Thursday, apparently amused with the publicity stunt that stirred fears of terrorism and shut down parts of the city. snip
[scifinoir2] File - Map_of_SciFiNoir_Member_Locations
Hi SciFiNoir Family. This is a reminder to add your name to our group map that lets members know in what cities other scifinoir members live. Most of you probably live really close to other memers and do not even know it. This map will hopefully correct that. Please click through to add your point on the map. Takes less than a minute. http://www.frappr.com/scifinoir/map Thanks Tracey de Morsella, your moderator SciFiNoir/SciFiNoir-Lit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SciFiNoir-lit/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SciFiNoir2/ [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Aqua Teen Hunger Force Stunt Results in Terrorist Scare
George, Do you mind if I copy this response and e-mail it to some other folks? In another chain about this I started, one guy said it was just stupid white folks over-reacting. I'd like to present your point of view as something for him to consider. Keith -- Original message -- From: g123curious [EMAIL PROTECTED] I live and work in Boston. This has been all over the news here. Our government incurred a large expense with the bomb disposal squads, police overtime to stop traffic; and for a time the subways were shut down. IMHO, the marketers definitely had an obligation to do 2 things: a) notify local law enforcement about their intent to put these devices, and b) ask the permission of the private property owners upon whose property they placed the devices. They didn't do either. I don't know what you've read, but devices were hung on both private and public property here in Boston. Regarding the youth that support this guerilla marketing, their approach to any physical space is the same as their approach to content on the Internet... anything and any space is fair game for their purposes. They don't seem to understand (or don't care) that placing the devices on people's private property without their permission is the same as defacing walls with graffitti... not that graffitti is acceptable anywhere. People, especially the youth, need to remember that this is the town where 2 planes took off from our airport that crashed into buildings on 9-11. So the heightened state of vigilance here is understandable and appropriate. IMHO, the people that yell today about our local government's supposed over reaction would likely be the same people yelling if the government didn't respond and it was a true terrorist attack. It is unclear if the devices were up for 3 weeks here. They were up longer in other cities, but most people here say they weren't up long here. People need to remember that there is already some unease in Boston. There are 2 nuclear reactors within a 1.5 hour drive of the city; plus several biochemical facilities within city limits, and one of the 4 larges LNG terminals is across Boston harbor in Chelsea. With all of those high-value targets nearby, a heightened state of vigilence is very appropriate, IMHO. I definitely believe that the Turner Network and the Cartoon Network should reimburse my city for their expenses. I don't want to pay those expenses thru higher taxes, to fund their self-interested marketing stunt. If they don't pay, you can bet I'll work hard for a boycott of their cable channels. George Captain USS Ronald E. McNair (Boston) --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I'm not sure what to say about this publicity stunt. Seeing as how the devices aren't small, and they are lighted advertisements, didn't the marketers have some kind of obligation to get permission to put them out? This was a little more than nailing a sign to a telephone pole, after all. If nothing else, I'd have obtained some type of permission from the city before dumping several dozen electronic devices on bridges and stuff. They might have been simply destroyed at best. And, I have to say, this marketing campaign wasn't all that effective if the things sat unnoticed for three weeks. I live in Atlanta, spend all my time in the city where this campaign should be most noticeable. Most of all, I drive by the Cartoon Network headquarters at least ten times a week, and I *never* saw a one-foot cartoon character giving me the finger! Did any of you in Austin, San Fran, Chi-Town, or NYC notice these things? ** 2 Men Held on Bond in Boston Hoax Case By JAY LINDSAY, Associated Press Writer 3 hours ago BOSTON - Two men who authorities say placed electronic advertising devices around the city were released from jail Thursday, apparently amused with the publicity stunt that stirred fears of terrorism and shut down parts of the city. snip [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[scifinoir2] Catch and Release -- My Review
The short review: I like good romantic comedies, but not badly written and cliched ones. Utterly forgettable and unengaging, this movie was torture. Not one genuine moment of emotion in the whole picture. Well, maybe one, but it comes from the one character who didn't get enough screen time. Boring as heck, and you care not a whit about anyone. I'll put it this way: Forty-five minutes in, my wife--who really digs romantic comedies--turned to me and whispered, This movie is awful. I think it's actually *worse* than 'The English Patient'. You must understand that she hated The English Patient so much she wanted everyone in the film to get killed just so it could be over, and so it could add some excitement. Save the ducats and go pull out your copy of Love Jones, Two Can Play That Game, or Sleepless in Seattle instead. Oh yeah: Kevin Smith should stick to directing, not acting. And wear some clothes. And get a tan... The long review: Unlike a lot of guys, I dont have a problem seeing romantic comedies. Sleepless in Seattle, Love Jones, Brown Sugarseen em all, and would see them all again. Sure they can be predictable, but they can also be fun, and, dare I say, romantic. But on the flipside, they can also be done so badly that watching them feels like slow torture. Such is the case with Catch and Release. The film starts with a devastated Gray Wheeler (Jennifer Garner), reeling from the death of her fiancé in an accident. So sudden was it that wedding flowers are still being delivered to the house where the mourners are gathered. In a voiceover, Gray relates how lost and confused she is. The only thing thats helping her get through it is her husbands lifelong buddies. Well, two of his buddies, at least. The third is a long-absent would-be movie mogul whos moved to California to seek his fortune. Hes just come back to Colorado for the funeral, but unfortunately Gray encounters him in one of those movie quickies with a stranger hes just met at the memorial. Disgusted, she tells him later I never understood what he saw in you! In other words, I hate you, so of course well be lovers later. And of course, they do become lovers. And of course, they struggle with their feelings for each other. And of course, we have long boring voiceovers as Gray works through her feelings. And of course, Gray discovers that her fiancé had a Big Secret: he was rich, and secretly supporting a lover and child. This puts in doubt everything they were, and everything she thinks she is. And of course, her friends are there to help by being wacky and comical and complicated, and were expected to laugh and cry and cheer as the whole gang tries to put its life back together. Oh yeahand the fishing rod business Gray's fiance and his buddy had figure into this whole journey. Something about fishing being a metaphor for life, or searching or something like that. Hence the title, Catch and Release. Yawn. This is a tired and boring movie. Theres nothing engaging, interesting, or insightful about the film. Theres no wit, no sparkle, no fun. No romance. The characters are all forgettable, clichéd, and two dimensional, particularly Kevin Smith, who plays the screwy-but-caring good guy. Smith spends all his time looking unkempt, eating twenty-four seven, and dropping pithy sayings he writes for his herbal tea company. Hes like a low-rent John Belushi doing the Funny Fat Guy role. Juliette Lewis is possibly even worse as the quirky, scattered New Age Fruitcake, arguably the most overused movie cliché outside the Hooker-with-a-Heart-of-Gold. You know the one: the lady who serves horrible vegetarian meals to meat eaters, yammers on about spiritual cleansing and auras, is studying to be a massage therapist, seems incapable of caring for her Cute Kid, but who is really a good mom and a good person at heart? Double yawn. And then theres Jennifer Garner, she of the cute smiles and dimples, who seems condemned to play nice girl roles where she can pout and cry and make the audience love her. Its not that Garners a bad actress. Actually Im not sure what kind she is, because the role she has is so bland. Gray never really feels convincing in her sorrow. She seems to cry on cue, as if we can hear the director yelling Sad moment!, but the next shes making out with the Bad Boy friend. She gives us voiceovers about the pain shes feeling, but we never really see heror any of her friends, for that mattercome together and really *mourn* her fiancé. Instead we get a disjointed flick of Movie Moments: the Scandalous Sex, the Improper Kiss, the Fat Guy Pratfall, the I Hate and Love You Reveal, the Secret Uncovered, the He Acts Bad but is Actually a Cute Kid, the Act Crazy in a Bar to Dull the Painand on and on. Triple yawn. Catch and Release feels like it was written by committee. Its one long collection of predictable and unoriginal
