sundries

[rm]

Tonight, Friends of the Text meeting followed by Inception: the Musical rehearsal.

Tomorrow, some dance classes.

Otherwise, I'm hoping for a dearth of weekend work so I can focus on Internet date with Patty (including watching some more Angel maybe), and my creative work (I want to make a list of every in-progress project I have, or idea that's on the shelf of "a thing to do" and make some prioritizing choices). I'd also like to get to The Social Network, although that's an urgency of see and not an urgency of do. I also need to tie up some fannish loose ends (as you can probably tell, my focus is a bit elsewhere right now, or at least manifesting differently).

I have signed up for this.

Pam Cook book is still on the night-table, but probably won't be touched for a week or so now. I need to let last night percolate a bit (a lot!) without wearing my criticism hat for a while.

Have made annoying discovery that I've been using two different tags for the same thing, and will now have to go back and fix stuff.

Still don't really have a plan for Monday. I'm waiting for genius (okay, more like serendipity) to strike.

I leave for Europe in 24 days. Find I am having a bit of "but I'll miss stuff happening in New York!" But I can certainly work with people I'm working with here remotely, and the lack of a social life during the Swiss part of the adventure means I can get lots of writing/development/something done. Plus, it does all make me seem cool, ne?

What is with the weather here? Last night was all about dramatic storms waking me up over and over. It was kind of irritating. And apparently a bunch of subway lines flooded out.

What do we think about Blu-Ray? Format of the future or annoying thing on which DVD editions we really care about are being released, but will go the way of the LaserDisc? HELP ME.

I was really saddened by news of Tony Curtis's death yesterday.

Tyler Clementi's death seems to be tearing Rutgers apart. Also, Clementi reported the situation to a resident advisor. How the hell did it end up like this?

Our people are still dying. On Wednesday, Raymond Chase hung himself in his dorm room at Johnson & Wales.

Is everything about Gatsby lately? Sure does feel like it. The New York Times goes location scouting.

New York may get retired Space Shuttle.

A marriage equality bill has been proposed in the Australian senate.

Everything is possible.

Comments

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

Good luck at the competition!

When I heard about Curtis' death the first thing that came to mind was that now, Sugar, Daphne and Josephine were dead and my next viewing of "Some Like it Hot" will be very melancholy indeed.

Jesus, Clementi's story is just from bad to worse!

[lilacsigil.livejournal.com]

That bill is unlikely to go anywhere at this stage, but at least it's out in public now and the politicians will have to answer some sticky questions. Gay marriage is supported by a large majority here - our Finance Minister is a lesbian, the esteemed head of the Greens, Bob Brown, is gay, and PM Gillard's constant refusal to address the issue or allow a conscience vote is looking rather silly. Especially as she made poor Penny Wong (said Finance Minister) also say she didn't think there should be gay marriage (though neither she nor the PM said anything about civil unions!)

[bodlon.livejournal.com]

This Gatsby thing makes me think I need to start looking for Steinbeck-related projects so that we can laugh harder.

And ooh. Screenplay thing. Consider me tempted if not already on this.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Do it. I'm doing it basically to force myself to figure out the screenlpay thing. (Because, if I look at the list of stories I have to tell, one is a short film set in Sydney, and if I'm not doing it I need to be not doing it because it's not the story I need to be telling right now, not because oooo, screenplays are hard).

And yeah.... Gatsby. Do you remember AGES ago, before it had the current relevance, where you were all "WE MUST TALK GATSBY"? Circles within circles.

[bodlon.livejournal.com]

I know, right? INSANITY.

And the screenplay thing for me could be dead useful on account that I'm all about diversifying my writing opportunities. It's different from what I'm doing, but the story is the thing, and if I can make a story in multiple formats...

[missysedai.livejournal.com]

Tony Curtis has been one of my most enduring movie star crushes. I think I fell for Tony when I was...I dunno...8? 9? Him and Errol Flynn. (I'm 40 now, and still love them both madly.)

It made me so sad to read of his passing. They just don't make 'me like that anymore.

[stardust9121.livejournal.com]

I've been stubbornly holding out on the "Blu-Ray is a format destined to die in the face of digital downloads" side of things, but I think I might be wrong. :/ It's certainly getting pushed hard.

[ckd]

I'm still enough of a physical-media holdout that I'm going with Blu-Ray; if nothing else, the fact that I can buy (and therefore sell) used discs is a win for me.

The format war between Blu-Ray and HD-DVD slowed things down enough that it could well make the difference between BR being entrenched before downloads really take off or not...but with Net Neutrality under attack and Verizon ending their FiOS expansion before they get to such low-tech backwaters as Cambridge, MA I'm not convinced downloads are really all that unstoppable. (Even with instant streaming, I bet Netflix is still mailing out a whole lot of physical media....)

[dominika-kretek.livejournal.com]

So far download quality isn't anywhere near Blu-Ray quality, or so I've found. I thought maybe Blu-Ray would be the last word consumer format, but it doesn't appear so, as I'm sure there will be some planned obsolescence somewhere down the line. On the other hand, most people don't care as much about quality as I do, so I don't see the uptake I might like to see before predicting the avoidance of laserdisc-dom. There's still no beating film, though.

PS, Thanks for adding me. I should have added you ages ago simply on account of having Lucie Brock-Broido in your interests list.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Yes, I saw that in yours and I got all excited. I love The Master Letters and it's still informing stuff I do all these years later.

[dominika-kretek.livejournal.com]

For me, it was A Hunger, one of the books that made me pursue poetry. I was lucky enough to study with her a few times.

I haven't read The Master Letters in years; it seems so dangerous and sacred. Maybe I should go revisit it. Do you have ML-related work online somewhere?

[sinonmybody.livejournal.com]

This. Not to mention that download & streaming is still coming with a mess of international licensing/ rights problems. I.e., as an American on an overseas military base, I can't stream or digitally rent or purchase ANYTHING.

as far as what dominika says, though, I HAVE downloaded bit torrents that are very nearly blu-ray quality, butttt that's bit torrent, not streaming or download from a store.
And on the quality note, it took me forever to tell the difference in quality {I'm sort of blind anyway}, but once I did I couldn't un-see it. Also when I watch DVDs now I frequently really miss some of the blu-ray features.

In short, I'm a blu-ray fan.

[tsarina.livejournal.com]

I think the format wars have settled and Blu-ray is here to stay as the major physical format.

[rm.livejournal.com]

I am thinking of upgrading our machine entirely because of the new Romeo+Juliet and Moulin Rouge releases.

[tsarina.livejournal.com]

I'd say it is worth it. One of the reasons I think Blu-ray took the lead is because the PS3 plays them.

Shoot I'm going to have to buy both of those.

[rm.livejournal.com]

The new material includes Nicole Kidman's first vocal test and apparently a lot more wacky "Baz and Craig play every character in the movie while trying to figure out the script" stuff, which if you haven't watched that stuff on the edition that's out now, you should, because it is completely hilarious.

[dsmoen.livejournal.com]

Just got this note from Equality California:

Equality California’s 72nd and arguably most important sponsored piece of legislation passed by the Legislature was signed into law yesterday by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

SB 543 -- Mental Health Services for At-Risk Youth -- is an historic bill that allows youth 12 to 17 years old to receive mental health care without requiring their parents’ consent. LGBT youth across California who are fearful that their families could become abusive or kick them out if they come out -- or refuse to consent to their obtaining mental health services -- will now be able get the help they need, before it’s too late.

Equality California and Senator Mark Leno made this bill a priority to address the hostile environment too many of California's young people find themselves dealing with everyday, the kind of environment that has led to bullying, hate crimes and several recent tragic and heartbreaking suicides. This bill is one critical step to provide support for LGBT and questioning youth. But we have a long way to go to end the climate of terror that those who oppose equality and promote hatred have created.

[...]

The governor also signed AB 2199 (Lowenthal) – Repeal of Discriminatory Code; AB 2700 (Ma) – Separation Equity Act; and AB 2055 (De La Torre) – Unemployment Benefits Equality. These critical bills advance equality and end discriminatory treatment for many LGBT Californians, and we are grateful to the bill’s authors for their leadership and to the Governor for signing these bills into law.

Unfortunately, the Governor vetoed AB 633 (Ammiano), the LGBT Prisoner Safety bill, leaving corrective institutions free to continue their outrageous policy of placing LGBT prisoners in solitary confinement as a first step in supposedly protecting them from rape and other violence. He also vetoed AB 1680 (Saldaña), the Hate Crimes Protection Act, which would have prohibited contracts requiring mandatory arbitration of hate crimes, and SB 906 (Leno), the Civil Marriage Religious Freedom Act, which would have affirmed that clergy are not required to solemnize any marriage that goes against their faith, taking an argument away from opponents of marriage equality.

(end quote)

Sorry for the lazy paste, but figured the good news was worth sharing, especially in light of your recent posts about harassment of teens.

[airspaniel.livejournal.com]

Speaking as someone who's admittedly biased, as a significant and growing aspect of my company is Blu-Ray production, I have to say, I think it's going to last. The things you can do with it are amazing, and it's only going to get more amazing and more affordable.

Of course, I'm also speaking as someone too poor to buy a Blu-Ray player, so it's kind of a draw. But the tech is really just getting on its feet in a lot of ways, and is poised to be an enduring media format.

It's telling on my mental state that this is the only point on which I can articulate a response.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Honestly the only thing that holding me back on Blu-Ray, other than knowing that the reason I finally care is a little, well, particular, is that our TV is still from 1993. It desperately needs replacing, but it's a big ALL AT ONCE project, and feels unappealing to deal with, as I will go to a shop, and they will treat me like a girl.

[airspaniel.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I remember that set. ^_~ I'd offer you my spare CRT, but it's just about as old.

Would you like for me to ask my coworkers here what flat panels they prefer? If there's one thing my coworkers know, it's crystal clear image quality; and if there's one thing they like, it's talking about the gadgets they own. Then you could order online and skip that whole messy business.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Yeah, any recs would be great. I know now is the time to buy too because the prices are coming down. And if I'm right about birthday money, I think this might be the plan. Patty will be glad when she comes home, although she might thing the blu-ray thing is ridiculous.

[airspaniel.livejournal.com]

No worries. It's a bit mad in here today, but I'll get you some suggestions by early next week. I'll ask the guys in QC and color correction what they have, too. If anyone's picky about their screens, it's them.

[rm.livejournal.com]

That would be awesome. I am picky, and Patty is very color oriented, and I think we're losing more viewing pleasure than we realize with the current state of affairs.

[zeldajean.livejournal.com]

I would love if either of you would share the recs you get... I'm pondering a television (although that's lower on the list) and I need a new monitor. You could save many of us! A true superhero!

[tsarina.livejournal.com]

TVS progress so fast. We have an Vizio 55inch LCD. I suspect you do not want a TV that big.

1080p, 120Hz is the good Hertz (240 doesn't add much), the bigger contrast ratio the better. Plasmas are cheaper but don't last. LED & LCD are more long lasting. (I think the LED uses less power overall.)

Mike suggests deciding what size TV you want and then buying LED/LCD. We got ours from Amazon and it was super.

[austengirl.livejournal.com]

Would love to hear any and all tv recs. We've been contemplating when to make the jump based on several things: PS3 vs Blu-Ray player vs media-dedicated PC, which flatscreen tv to buy and does it have HD, and how much this is all going to cost. I was surprised to see that Blu-Ray players are more affordable than I'd thought and picture quality on flatscreens is a lot better than it used to be. I haven't been impressed with flatscreen images before. We'll probably get a LED/OLED and if we're going to do it in the near future, it might as well be before the VAT increases in the UK next year.

Also, if anyone knows whether or not Blu-Ray discs follow the same region coding as dvds, I'd love to hear the answer.

/first world problems

[airspaniel.livejournal.com]

Blu-ray players are specific to the region in which they were sold, but it's at the studio/content provider's discretion as to whether or not they want to use region coding for the discs themselves. So a lot of Blu-ray discs are region free, and will play on any player anywhere. I know Paramount and Universal are only doing region free discs, and most other studios are doing some kind of weird combination of mostly region-free but occasionally coded, depending on the title. So you just have to check the individual movie/TV show you want to see if it's coded or not.

[thatwordgrrl.livejournal.com]

How did it happen that the RA did nothing. I will tell you how.

Because it was "oh, you'll just get used to it. It's hard for everyone their first year."

Aside from how "It gets better" parses to me (I have my own entry on that), there is the stone-cold fact that it's not because of fear of retaliation that kids don't go to adults for help. It's because they know the adults will do exactly jack divided by shite ABOUT it, so why bother at all.

I was given the same song and dance about my freshman roommate. We barely lasted one semester together. The housing people finally took me seriously when I uttered the phrase "Move one of us or somebody's going to the hospital. And I'm on the fencing team."

And why is that, you ask? Because it comes down to the one thing no school administrator has the balls to take on -- making it about cracking down on the bullies, first and foremost.

But that would actually involve, you know, *disciplining students*. And we can't have THAT, for fear of a lawsuit from the parents.

[tacky-tramp.livejournal.com]

Because it was "oh, you'll just get used to it. It's hard for everyone their first year."

Do you have a source for this? Because everything I've read has said that the RA did NOT do nothing, and that Rutgers was taking this seriously even before Clementi killed himself.

[thatwordgrrl.livejournal.com]

In truth, I was responding to rm's question, as well as my own experiences. I reread the NYTimes article, but found nothing as to what the RA did do.

Sadly, my experience was that the RA was just another in a long line of authority figures who did nothing.

[tacky-tramp.livejournal.com]

Regarding Clementi's suicide, I want to emphasize this point that seems to be lost amid the TOTALLY JUSTIFIED outrage: People don't kill themselves because of one unpleasant incident.

I'm not pointing this out because I want people to lay off the fuckface who harassed Clementi and invaded his privacy, or because I want Rutgers off the hook for whatever it did or did not do in response to this incident. I'm pointing this out because when we oversimplify the causes of suicide, we reduce our ability to prevent suicide. So I'm really, really worried that the narrative here is going to be "This college student killed himself because his roommate did this awful thing to him."