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Ponderings For 2009-03-01

Submitted by GuyGG on Mon, 03/02/2009 - 2:59am
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  • Sometimes a news event can reveal interesting things. The crash of two satellites last month resulted in some interesting conversations I had with a number of different people. One thing is clear - the vast majority of people I talked to had no idea just how many satellites are floating around the Earth (roughly a thousand active satellites, with thousands of others that are inactive and/or destroyed), or the variety and nationality of said objects. For a good amount of information, check out the Wikipedia entry for satellites.
  • Speaking of orbiting things, here's a cool set of pictures of what's involved in launching a space shuttle.
  • And on the topic of outer space, here's another one of those astronomical phenomena that's tough to wrap your mind around.
  • Ah, the fun of Google's Street View.
  • Battlestar's series finale has officially been split into a two parter (well, a three parter, since it was already intended as a two parter with the first part the previous week). So far, I've been enjoying Battlestar's run to the finish, though last weekend's episode "Deadlock" (written by one of my favorite TV writers, Jane Espenson), was one of the weaker episodes of the show for some time. However, this weekend's episode, "Someone To Watch Over Me", was very good. Composer Bear McCreary has done what has to be one of the single most detailed write-ups any single episode of TV score has ever received in his three part analysis. Absolutely outstanding work by Bear - some of his best for the series. And the fact that he snuck Stu Philips' great "Exploration" intro theme from the classic Battlestar series gets him some bonus fanboy credit. It was another great Starbuck episode, and holds up nicely to the brilliant season 2 episode, Scar. Oh, and congrats to Bear on his recent engagement (to Raya Yarbrough - a vocalist who has often been featured on the Battlestar score).
  • Rats. Somebody already beat me to an attempt at a video I've wanted to try myself - doing a Battlestar opening title sequence using Bear McCreary's revised arrangement of Stu Philips' classic theme using footage and cast from the new series in the style of the original series. OK, that sounds more complicated than it actually is. The linked video is a bit too tongue-in-cheek, so perhaps I might make my own attempt at it some day, anyway.
  • For those of you who want to wear your Blu-Ray pride
  • When, oh when, will us Pushing Daisies fans ever get to see the final three episodes? Turns out the DVD's (and hopefully Blu-Ray) of season 2 can't be released until ABC either airs the episodes or their contracted window to do so runs out in September.
  • The Discovery Channel will be airing a new documentary special on the amazing US Airways crash on the Hudson. It debuts on Wednesday, the 4th.
  • The end of an era - Computer Shopper will no longer be available in print form.
  • Cowon is releasing a very light update to their D2 player called the D2+. I've been a happy user of the D2 for the last year and a half or so.
  • So Star Trek: The Experience has been saved.
  • Could any jury really punish this mother for her actions? I certainly think the dude got what was coming.
  • On the flip-side is this sad but charming news story.
  • And you thought your pet was quite the conversation piece.
  • No matter how much proof I see of the pending release of the first season of Parker Lewis on DVD, such as this cover art, I still find it hard to believe. Perhaps I'll finally believe it as I'm watching the set at the end of June.
  • The Simpsons has been renewed for two more seasons (#21 & #22). It'll be truly insane if it ends at that point, just 7 episodes shy of 500 episodes.

Ponderings For 2009-02-10

Submitted by GuyGG on Wed, 02/11/2009 - 2:59am
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  • Just got back from Phoenix tonight, so there's not going to be much of a post for this entry. But I couldn't help but jump for virtual joy in posting the news I've been waiting years to hear:
  • Parker Lewis Can't Lose is coming to DVD! WOO HOO! HUZZAH! At long last. And to make it even better news, the fine folks at Shout Factory are handling the release(s), which should mean they'll be most excellent. To celebrate, I'm going to toss on my favorite episode, season 2's finale Diner '75 (on VHS, recorded off USA's old-school "Up All Night" when they ran some marathons of them back in the mid-late 90's).
  • And while we're on the subject of TV show releases, there's also great news that season 1 of CSI will be headed to Blu-Ray. I look forward to the rest of the seasons getting a Blu-Ray release, but season 1 is particularly important. Just to get the widescreen version of that season will be great. That first season set is definitely inferior to the rest of the CSI seasons released to DVD.

Ponderings For 2008-05-23

Submitted by GuyGG on Sat, 05/24/2008 - 1:59am
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  • Surprising praise goes to Sony Home Entertainment for their DVD release this week of Square Pegs. As a vaguely remembered show from the early 80's (one of the first to have that TRUE 80's feel), it's one of those surprises to see get a DVD release. I remember seeing a handful of episodes at some point many years ago and liking it. I just picked up a copy of the set today, which lists one basic special feature, "Weemawee Yearbook Memories (Interviews with the Cast and Crew)." In the age of everything having basic special features, I figured this was some brief, fluffy, basic set of interview clips. I was shocked to discover that these are some extensive interviews with all the cast. And they're great, nostalgic interviews. There's gotta be at least an hour and a half of them in total, spread across the three discs. Even Sarah Jessica Parker has a solid 15 minutes of interview, fondly remembering her experience shooting the series. The interviews reminded me of the wonderful interviews found on the (new version) My So-Called Life DVD set. Except these memories of shooting Square Pegs are twice as old as having shot My So-Called Life. Frankly, I always like interviews and commentaries from somewhat aged productions, because the people involved feel a little bit more free to give their real memories and opinions when they have distanced themselves from the experience (and all the PR blitz that goes with it). And also, Sony did a bang up job on the quality of the episode transfers in this release. This series has never looked this good - surely not when it originally aired. And the running times make it quite clear that these are the original aired cuts, not some butchered syndicated edits. Then again, watching these discs makes me all the more annoyed that Sony is STILL sitting on Parker Lewis Can't Lose, which is currently my #1 most desired TV on DVD release. The Square Pegs set may not be a staggering special edition mega-production, but it's got the kind of quality that would thrill me to see given to Parker Lewis. Please, Sony? PRETTY PLEASE? :-(
  • Incidentally, I guess this is an evening for me to slip into totally 80's mode. As I sit here typing about Square Pegs, a show from 1982-1983, I have playing the brand new CD release of Bruce Broughton's score to 1984's "Ice Pirates" which was waiting for me in my mailbox when I got home.
  • GASP! What's this? The Pushing Daisies season 1 release is not only going to be on DVD, but on Blu-Ray as well? And at a reasonable price, no less? Woo hoo!
  • Gosh, it's amazing the level of quality that exists on visual effects animatics these days, and for TV no less. Then again, this is Battlestar we're talking about - a show with better visual effects than most any feature film.
  • An amusing combination of stories
  • Here's a phrase I would have never anticipated myself uttering: That's one awesome table
  • Fun Rubik's Cube ads
  • Would you pick up this hitchhiker? Indeed...

Ponderings For 2008-02-25

Submitted by GuyGG on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 2:59am
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