Month: October 2007

Time Warner Ads Some HD Channels – Kinda

A while ago, I posted about TNT HD, TNT’s high definition version of it’s cable channel. In that post I complained about how most of the programming on the channel wasn’t in HD, or even in letterbox format; they just stretched the 4:3 standard definition progamming to fit a 16:9 HD set. Well, now there are 2 more channels that have been added to the Time Warner HD tier that are doing the exact same thing. A&E HD and TBS HD.

If this is the future of “HD” programming, what’s the point? We’ve got Dish Network, Direct TV, and Time Warner all bragging about increasing their HD channel selections, but if the programming isn’t there, what’s the point of having a HD channel? Granted, filming shows in HD is a relatively new thing, but they could at least get a hold of the widescreen versions of movies and shows that were filmed in the 16:9 aspect ratio. Don’t just stretch the 4:3 program, broadcasters! Spend a few extra dollars and get the letterbox version to show on your HD channels. Sheesh.

Why True Sci-Fi Movies are Rare

I had intended to write about how good sci-fi movies are hard to come by but instead I found an excerpt from an Isaac Asimov essay that I think says it best…

“ […] Eye-sci-fi has an audience that is fundamentally different from that of science fiction. In order for eye-sci-fi to be profitable it must be seen by tens of millions of people; in order for science fiction to be profitable it need be read by only tens of thousands of people. This means that some ninety percent (perhaps as much as ninety-nine percent) of the people who go to see eye-sci-fi are likely never to have read science fiction.

The purveyors of eye-sci-fi cannot assume that their audience knows anything about science, has any experience with the scientific imagination, or even has any interest in science fiction.

But, in that case, why should the purveyors of eye-sci-fi expect anyone to see the pictures? Because they intend to supply something that has no essential connection with science fiction, but that tens of millions of people are willing to pay money to see. What is that? Why, scenes of destruction.

You can have spaceships destroying spaceships, monsters destroying cities, comets destroying the Earth. These are called ‘special effects’ and it is what people go for. A piece of eye-sci-fi without destruction is, I think, almost unheard of. If such a thing were made, no one would go to see it; or, if it were so good that it would indeed pull a small audience, it would not be thought of as science fiction of any kind.”

Another Guitar Video – “Clapton Shreds”

This is another video where the audio has been replaced. Again, I find it hillarious. Unlike the others, the drums, keyboard, and saxaphone have been replaced along with the guitar.