“I believe the strength of America lies in the strength of her people. I am running for President because I want to help keep America strong. That means a strong military, strong economy, and strong families. We are facing many challenges, but America has always overcome these challenges in the past, and I am confident that we can do so again.” Mitt Romney
I personal could not have said it better, I can say with some reddnes in my face that I liked Mitt from the start, however liked Fred a little more, so I switched over to Fred. More and more I seen the error of my ways. So, I have again put my support behind Mitt Romney.
Please take a look at http://www.mittromney.com/ and if you choose to support him, which I hope you do, please use Fundraiser ID 113371.
Good Night & Good Luck,
SlawDog
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Good write up on Blue-ray and HD-DVD...
This blog post is from Scott McPherson
The war's over, you can buy Blu-Ray now....
Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2008 at 11:44AM by Scott McPherson
Just a quick note on the eventual demise of the HD-DVD format. As you probably know, the high definition DVD market is plagued with two competing and non-compatible formats: Toshiba's HD-DVD, and Sony's Blu-Ray. HD-DVD is unbelievable, and Blu-Ray is equally awe-inspiring. The technology basically allows a thinner, more precise laser beam to put many times more information onto a DVD disc. Thus, you can get much richer video (more information stored on disc) and, in an increasing number of films, uncompressed audio. I own a Blu-Ray player and HDTV courtesy of my wife (well, we gave each other the stuff for Christmas), and this has directly affected my ability to churn out quality blogs in real time! In other words, I find myself sitting on my behind more often, watching things like "3:10 to Yuma" or "2001: A Space Odyssey" in Blu-Ray with my mouth and eyes wide open, amazed that I finally have motion picture quality exceeding that of a movie theatre in my own home.
But I digress. Sony, hurt badly several times by losses incurred (both moral and financial) due to bad strategery with formats in the past (recall the VHS vs. beta battle in the 1980s and other, more recent A/V muckups), wised up this time and got in step with their usual competitor, Philips. Thus was Blu-Ray DVD born, and the format is truly spectacular. Sony also lined up five major motion picture studios to back the product.
In contrast, Toshiba lined up Paramount and Universal to support HD-DVD. Universal was HD-DVD-specific.Paramount had been making hi-def DVDs in both formats, but last year decided to move to HD-DVD exclusively.
Bad decision.
Warner Brothers, whose films account for about 20% of all titles, had also been licensing in both formats. But, due in no small part to what they see as an inevitable recession with resulting timidity in the buying public, along with a recognition of superior marketing by Blu-Ray, announced several days ago that WB would be Blu-Ray-specific by mid-2008. This announcement was quickly followed by two business partners, New Line Cinema and HBO Films.
Universal's exclusive HD-DVD contract with Toshiba expired on New Years Day. It is anticipated that Universal will also jump on board the Blu-Ray bandwagon sometime this year and start releasing films in the format.
So here's what you can look for:
A long, slow roll to oblivion for HD-DVD. Dropping prices, coupled with frantic efforts to lure smaller boutique studios to their format. Probably won't happen, since those smaller studios desperately need cash, and Blu-Ray is the ticket. Also look for better and better bundles from HD-DVD and Toshiba.
Meanwhile, Sony is in the process of licensing Blu-Ray technology to more and more manufacturers (something they did NOT do in the VHS-Beta war). This will allow more players, which will cut prices, which will increase demand for movies in Blu-Ray.
The Blu-Ray Disc (BD) marketing people are also now smelling blood, and moving in for the kill with great sales and specials on titles. For example, Amazon has been running a buy one, get one free BD special on selected titles, and offering huge price cuts on BD discs as well. Best Buy has been selling AFI classics like Goodfellas and Deliverance for $14.99 on BD, and has been running its own Buy One, get One Free Blu-Ray specials online.
This, in turn, will put even more pressure on Toshiba to reduce prices. But the tide has officially turned, and unless Toshiba can come up with a huge innovation, or make HD-DVD movies as cheap to buy as standard DVD, the format is doomed.
But do not wait until then to get on the bandwagon for Blu-Ray. The format is so impressive, you are truly doing your eyes and ears a disservice by NOT moving to high-def now, today, absolutely this minute! I use two Websites to evaluate the auality of individual Blu-ray discs: http://www.blu-ray.com/ and http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/ . If a disc gets reviews for quality of video and audio with both of these sites' reviewers, I get the disc. That is not to say I would go out and splurge $30 on a Blu-Ray of Superbad, for example. But if I thought "McLovin" would be any funnier in HD, I might be tempted.
So get out there and move to Blu-Ray with confidence that your butt will be completely numb for months to come. Eye and ear candy of the highest magnitude.
The war's over, you can buy Blu-Ray now....
Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2008 at 11:44AM by Scott McPherson
Just a quick note on the eventual demise of the HD-DVD format. As you probably know, the high definition DVD market is plagued with two competing and non-compatible formats: Toshiba's HD-DVD, and Sony's Blu-Ray. HD-DVD is unbelievable, and Blu-Ray is equally awe-inspiring. The technology basically allows a thinner, more precise laser beam to put many times more information onto a DVD disc. Thus, you can get much richer video (more information stored on disc) and, in an increasing number of films, uncompressed audio. I own a Blu-Ray player and HDTV courtesy of my wife (well, we gave each other the stuff for Christmas), and this has directly affected my ability to churn out quality blogs in real time! In other words, I find myself sitting on my behind more often, watching things like "3:10 to Yuma" or "2001: A Space Odyssey" in Blu-Ray with my mouth and eyes wide open, amazed that I finally have motion picture quality exceeding that of a movie theatre in my own home.But I digress. Sony, hurt badly several times by losses incurred (both moral and financial) due to bad strategery with formats in the past (recall the VHS vs. beta battle in the 1980s and other, more recent A/V muckups), wised up this time and got in step with their usual competitor, Philips. Thus was Blu-Ray DVD born, and the format is truly spectacular. Sony also lined up five major motion picture studios to back the product.
In contrast, Toshiba lined up Paramount and Universal to support HD-DVD. Universal was HD-DVD-specific.Paramount had been making hi-def DVDs in both formats, but last year decided to move to HD-DVD exclusively.
Bad decision.
Warner Brothers, whose films account for about 20% of all titles, had also been licensing in both formats. But, due in no small part to what they see as an inevitable recession with resulting timidity in the buying public, along with a recognition of superior marketing by Blu-Ray, announced several days ago that WB would be Blu-Ray-specific by mid-2008. This announcement was quickly followed by two business partners, New Line Cinema and HBO Films.
Universal's exclusive HD-DVD contract with Toshiba expired on New Years Day. It is anticipated that Universal will also jump on board the Blu-Ray bandwagon sometime this year and start releasing films in the format.
So here's what you can look for:
A long, slow roll to oblivion for HD-DVD. Dropping prices, coupled with frantic efforts to lure smaller boutique studios to their format. Probably won't happen, since those smaller studios desperately need cash, and Blu-Ray is the ticket. Also look for better and better bundles from HD-DVD and Toshiba.
Meanwhile, Sony is in the process of licensing Blu-Ray technology to more and more manufacturers (something they did NOT do in the VHS-Beta war). This will allow more players, which will cut prices, which will increase demand for movies in Blu-Ray.
The Blu-Ray Disc (BD) marketing people are also now smelling blood, and moving in for the kill with great sales and specials on titles. For example, Amazon has been running a buy one, get one free BD special on selected titles, and offering huge price cuts on BD discs as well. Best Buy has been selling AFI classics like Goodfellas and Deliverance for $14.99 on BD, and has been running its own Buy One, get One Free Blu-Ray specials online.
This, in turn, will put even more pressure on Toshiba to reduce prices. But the tide has officially turned, and unless Toshiba can come up with a huge innovation, or make HD-DVD movies as cheap to buy as standard DVD, the format is doomed.
But do not wait until then to get on the bandwagon for Blu-Ray. The format is so impressive, you are truly doing your eyes and ears a disservice by NOT moving to high-def now, today, absolutely this minute! I use two Websites to evaluate the auality of individual Blu-ray discs: http://www.blu-ray.com/ and http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/ . If a disc gets reviews for quality of video and audio with both of these sites' reviewers, I get the disc. That is not to say I would go out and splurge $30 on a Blu-Ray of Superbad, for example. But if I thought "McLovin" would be any funnier in HD, I might be tempted.
So get out there and move to Blu-Ray with confidence that your butt will be completely numb for months to come. Eye and ear candy of the highest magnitude.
A Friend goes Down Under...
Well, Monday, January 7th of 2008 a friend of mine started a trip of a life time. Mary Lee Cunill became a member of NET Ministries and headed for Australia.
She will be there from January 2008 through November 2008 doing mission work, she is one of 40 young adults serving on NET Australia 2008 and will be working to plan and promote the 2008 Catholic World Yourth Day in Sydney.
Mary Lee is a star in the night sky that does not hind in the day light, she is a blessing to Deanna and I and to all her family and friends. Australia you better take care of her, as for you are blessed to have a wonderful young lady visit you.
Good Luck and Good Night,
SlawDog
Picture of Mary Lee
She will be there from January 2008 through November 2008 doing mission work, she is one of 40 young adults serving on NET Australia 2008 and will be working to plan and promote the 2008 Catholic World Yourth Day in Sydney.
Mary Lee is a star in the night sky that does not hind in the day light, she is a blessing to Deanna and I and to all her family and friends. Australia you better take care of her, as for you are blessed to have a wonderful young lady visit you.
Good Luck and Good Night,
SlawDog
Picture of Mary Lee
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