Random Thoughts

Here are some random thoughts and talking points, none of which merit
their own individual thread.  :)


BLU-RAY.

Okay, so I finally bought a hi-def tv and a blu-ray player, and I have
to say I'm a bit lukewarm on the technology. Oh, the picture is
brilliant, and I can't complain about seeing my favorite movies in HD.
But the technology itself leaves a lot to be desired.

The first player I bought (a cheap Vizio) kept freezing up on me, so I
took it back and exchanged it for a moderately-priced LG. For the most
part it's okay, but it *has* locked up on me once, requiring me to
unplug and reboot. In addition, I've had to upgrade my firmware twice
in the last month, which is kind of annoying.

I also dislike how it takes forever for Blu-ray discs to start up. I
usually have to put in the movie, go make some coffee, check the mail,
take a nap, and *then* the menu finally loads. Oh, and I can't just
eject a disc while it's playing and put something else in, because the
player gives me an error and demands the first disc back. I actually
have to press "Stop," wait for it to go back to the main menu, and
*then* I can eject it. Finally, there seems to be no rhyme or reason
to how individual discs respond to commands. The "Return," "Menu," and
"Home" buttons may do any number of things, or nothing at all,
depending on which disc I'm watching. Same goes for the directional
arrows. It's a bit frustrating. Are these common experiences, I
wonder?

So, the first six movies I've purchased on Blu-Ray, in order, are:

Dark City - Director's Cut
Avatar - Extended Edition
Lord of the Rings (Trilogy)
Watchmen - Director's Cut

Man, I am *such* a nerd!


CHRISTMAS

For the first time in a lot of years, I've got some disposable income
with which to buy Christmas presents, and I've been having a ball. I
forgot how much I love Christmas shopping. I love the hustle and
bustle, the music in the stores, the decorations at the malls, hunting
for deals and carrying armfuls of packages around. It's a high. Oddly,
I *hate* shopping the rest of the year.

I also have a place for a Christmas tree once again, and resumed the
tradition of taking my kids out to Santa's Woods to tag our tree. It
was freezing cold, but the tree farm provides hot chocolate and cider,
and it's such fun to go tromping through the fields of greenery,
getting lost and searching for that perfect tree. This weekend we go
back to cut it down and drag it home. I can't wait.


TRON LEGACY.

Bought my tickets to the midnight 3D IMAX premiere. I'm going with my
brother and sister, as we all grew up watching the old VHS tape on an
endless loop. I'm gonna be hosting a pre-show screening of the
original film at my place before we all trundle out into the cold.
Can't wait! Is anyone else going to opening night?


INTERNET

I went into a kind of self-imposed exile from online activities this
week, and it was both terrifying and exhilarating. It's such a reflex
to check my email, facebook, and twitter feeds on my phone that half
the time I don't even recognize that I'm doing it. Refraining was a
conscious and difficult choice, which is a little troubling. I might
try this sort of fasting more often.


NETFLIX

In the continuing storyof my love/hate relationship with Netflix
Instant Watch, last night I started dinking around with Vudu, a
different streaming service. Not only is the picture quality better,
but I was *stunned* by how fast the video was served up. Netflix
usually takes a minute (or two or three) to get started, and I still
occasionally run into buffering problems. Vudu streaming begins almost
instantly. Unfortunately, their selection doesn't seem to match
Netflix, and it's also a pay-per-movie service. (I wonder if Redbox is
gonna get in on this type of service. They'd be stupid not to, as they
have brand recognition, and I can't see their current business model
being viable much longer.)


MY SON, A STUDY IN HUMAN PSYCHOLOGY

Here is an actual, word-for-word exchange I had with my son the other night:

LIAM: This cotton candy is disgusting.
ME: What's disgusting about it?
LIAM: It has, like, no flavor! It tastes like eating nothing!
ME: Then why are you eating it?

(pause)

LIAM: Because there's only one bag, and I don't want anyone else to have it.

-- 
-pcg
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