"Chuck Versus The Seduction"

October 6th, 2008

As mentioned last week for the show's second season premiere, Chuck is just "on" right now. If there is anything that gave the show some problems in the first season, it was managing to handle all of the different elements of the series: the numerous settings (Buy More, Home, Missions), the various supporting characters, and worse of all the weekly storylines and the recurring plots, both romantic and unromantic.

With "Chuck Versus the Seduction" it becomes clear that the premiere was no fluke: flawlessly introducing a case that dredges up Chuck and Sarah's relationship as well as the continued growth of Chuck as an actual agent as opposed to just an asset. Even though the show goes so far as to throw around the L-word as it relates to our central relationship, it still feels like a show that is letting things move organically. When a show can trot out John Larroquette and Melinda Clarke in the same episode and still not feel like it's trying to hard, you have a show that is playing with the right themes at the right time.

In other words, the show is more or less seducing the audience in the same nature as the four-prong attack: as long as it doesn't become a bastard, the show is on a very strong trajectory.

Roan Montgomery (Larroquette) is a spy of a different era, one that we haven't yet seen in the show's trajectory: he isn't a super spy with technology or strength, but with the power of seduction (an art lost on Casey, who as we know isn't exactly about getting people to like him). So when he is the prime source of information on the doings of Sasha Banacheck (Melinda Clarke), the Black Widow, it's time for the show to investigate two things: whether or not Chuck is capable of seduction (and being a spy) at all, and whether or not Sarah is seduced enough to consider having a relationship with him.

The former issue is perhaps less important in a broader series context on the surface, but it's actually even more valuable to the future episodes. The early episodes, outside of the pilot, had Chuck in too much of an inactive role. He was bumbling to the point of no longer being endearing, and it kind of dragged down the show when it was all "Place Chuck in danger, have Sarah and Casey save him, rinse and repeat." Zachary Levi was still very engaging, but the show didn't know how to get Chuck out of that position.

This episode, and last week's, have done a lot to identify how best to use this character. Chuck demonstrates here that his skills, whether it's last week's Call of Duty setup decision or this week's prowess throwing caution to the wind with his seduction, and takedown, of Sasha. It's still not really spy potential, but he's coming more into himself as to his role in this threesome of sorts.

And a lot of this does has to do with his relationship with Sarah, something that the show is smart to address head-on so early in the season. It is clear that Sarah does like Chuck, and that Chuck does love Sarah, so pussyfooting around it doesn't seem like an ideal way for the show to spend time. Instead, what we see here is their relationship coming front and center in an effort to bring out the best in both characters. The seduction lessons give the show a good excuse to have them make out for a while, and no one can deny that Levi and Strahovski have a good deal of chemistry.

What both of these things did, though, was make this individual mission feel like an integral part of the show's larger trajectory, along with it being mighty entertaining in its own right. Clarke, even with an accent, was as much of a seductress as ever, and Larroquette was great as the Martini-drinking/stewardess bedding Bond type. The story was just a lot of fun to watch, especially when it came to the variety of zingers and one-liners thrown around (For example, I loved Rone drinking the martini in the truck, and his various reactions to the conversation, in particular him mourning Gus). Or the various dialogue pieces between Chuck and Sasha, especially Clarke's line of "Make Mad Passionate Sex to Me." It's just a lot of fun, along with advancing important storylines.

The more impressive thing is that this was possible even with two separate supporting subplots, with Awesome getting romance advice from Morgan, and Lester taking over the Assistant Managership at the Buy More. I love that even these storylines ended up being part of the main one: funny in their own right, that the former ended up being Chuck's favour from the CIA, and the latter being the excuse for having the banner conveniently in place for the big finale, really helps to present a cohesive episode as opposed to A/B/C plot structure.

The big finale, of course, is what sets things up for the future, and was the one moment that felt completely predictable. As soon as it was clear that Chuck was about to make a grand romantic gesture, you had to know that there was going to be someone in his way: that it was Bryce only made sense, as the show went too far to give hope to Chuck and Sarah's relationship. But this is a different scenario to our last experience with Bryce: Chuck is in a better place, Sarah is in a difference place, and I greatly look forward to next week's episode as a result.

Cultural Observations

• Alan Sepinwall has a nice long article posted earlier this month about how this episode is all an homage to a classic Peter O'Toole film, "My Favorite Year" - you can check it out here. Sounds like something I would put on my Netflix if I, you know, had Netflix.
• Good to see that Chuck and Co. have some new digs that are a little bit more secretive than Casey's apartment or the audio-visual room in the Buy More.
• Maybe the worst/best joke of the episode was Chuck's explanation of why Sasha was called the Black Widow: "Her husband was African American and he died?"
• Morgan's "I'm huge in Japan" shirt was a neat little touch, as was all of the little quirks for the Buy More staff - we don't see Morgan and Anna out of uniform much if ever, so it's good to see them humanizing the new Credits-folk.

On Friday, October 3rd, I had the pleasure of meeting Dennis Schneider, the Senior Director of IT at Universal Studios. He has a fascinating job, and is involved with many new IT initiatives.  Dennis' team is fairly unique when comparing it to other IT departments at NBC Universal. He strictly focuses on only things that effect the park. This includes managing a dashboard system that shows daily forecasts for attendance, food, retail, and soon to be parking. His team and rolled all the way up to the president, are all about metrics. Every day is measured to the previous year and is plotted on a dashboard, so everyone from IT to leadership can understand what is going on.

An initiative in the works is implementing radio frequency identification (RFID) in employee uniform handling. Within the parks right now, every ride employee has their own unique uniform. Tracking the uniforms right now is a laborious, erroneous, manual process.  This is where RFID steps in. Dennis is currently investigating how casinos deal with employee uniforms using RFID, and is making plans to go to a casino to see how such a thing can be managed easily by RFID.

The systems that Dennis' team supports include all of the point of sale (POS) registers throughout the park, stroller rental system (a future RFID project), and  ticketing system. They are currently experimenting with do it yourself technology within Doc Brown's (from Back to the Future) food area, putting power in the hands of the consumer as I like to call it. Users are able to order food and pay by credit card, all via kiosk. This technology was put in place to see if users will adopt such form of payment in the future. If its successful, similar systems will be rolled out to help ease congestion in the food lines.

Another system that his team supports is ticketing/attendance. They have 6 ticketing booths staffed, in addition, 4 automated ticketing systems on site. The automated ticketing system is similar to the food ordering kiosk. Last summer they implemented a biometrics scanner to register guests that purchased an annual pass. Instead of employing folks to staff the booth to take the annual pass holders photo and create a badge, they simply scan their finger at the entry point to get access to the park. This saves the park a lot in labor and material expenses!

Many thanks to Dennis for sharing his time in showing me around the park and pointing out the systems his team supports.

Tina Fey

Tina Fey worldwide

(via Sheila /Gawker)

Sylar is now an agent? Seriously what the fuck? The writers on this show are really smoking some awesomely cheap dope to come up with this insane plot twist.  Yes let's take the guy that tried to push Peter to detonate and wipe out New-York in one swoop and slap a cheap suit and tie on him and make him an agent. Which of course he adapts to very immediately. And while we're at it lets retcon his backstory. He's no longer the son of a watchmaker which was the foundation for his ability to understand how everything functions and turn him into the son of everyone's mom and he's now Peter and Nathan's brother and Claire's Uncle. The family that apocalypses together stays together.

And what's with all these badasses slowly turning into little puppy dogs. Noah used to be scarier Hannibal and now he's just a concerned father with lots of access. Sylar will become one of the good guys, just you watch.  And now all the Villains are no names with no personalities.

Hiro is still a fraking doofus who can't get shit done because, let's face it he's just a big pussy who needs to grow some balls.  But lo and behold his useless sidekick grows some and he has no powers. And what's with Run Lola Run. Is she gonna have anything else to do but just zip by and steal Hiro's stuff?

They killed Nicky Sanders but couldn't get rid of the actress because she's so fucking hot and it's too early to treat Hayden Pannetierre like a fuck-doll on the show because her character is still theoretically in high-school, so they made up a new character for her and she's kinda of the long lost triplet sister Nicki never knew about. Oh Boy.

Speaking of the cheerleader and her awesome camisoles (oops did I say that?)  Her Biomom broke her down psychologically in less than 5 minutes. Right. Because everyone can get through a teenager so quickly.  This could have been stretched out and have Claire-bear go bad, not evil-bad, just some self-destructive behavior and really bring her to the brink and psychological meltdown. But no, instant-intervention and 5 minutes later..."Because I want to hurt him because he hurt me" ok.

Oh and could the writers finally just kill off the Peters. All of them. This whole time-travel back and forth gimmick is getting old. It's too easy to fix holes and fix them fast. Plus they are whiney annoying little girls.  Why is it that to differentiate identical characters from different time/dimensions it's always facial hair or a scar? And I've said it before, Peter can self heal, like Claire who's been eviscerated and scalped, and yet he has this scar on his face. Again I say what the fuck?

Micah, by far one of the few remaining interesting characters gets 3 lines... oy! Then there's the African dude who paints in the desert. Cool Ok. But couldn't they get him to paint in more African style instead of American Comic Book Style? Would look more authentic to me but I could be wrong.

Season 3 is also just rehashing season 2. Separate the characters all over the place and Peter is lost somewhere. Rinse and Repeat. This is Days of Our Lives where the characters have superpowers.

More Heroic Postings:

• Heroes: Volume 3: Villains Sneak Peek
• Tim Kring to Heroes fans, “Sorry it’s sucked so far this season”
• Heroes: The Line… has been drawn.
• Heroes Season 2: From HEROES to ZEROES.
• Heroes Chapter 2: Leapin’ Lizards, was that Lame.
• Canadian Heroes Season 2 Promo (Will Kring Screw us like he did with the Cliffhanger?)
• Super Slick Vibrant New HEROES SEASON 2 PROMO

Nielsen reports the total estimated viewers for the live Vice Presidential Debate between candidates Gov. Sarah Palin and Sen. Joseph Biden last Thursday from 9-1030p reached 69.9 million. Nielsen's combined total viewer number includes 11 networks: ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, Telefutura, Telemundo, BBC-America, CNBC, CNN, FOX News Channel and MSNBC. ABC topped the list with 13.1 million viewers, followed by NBC at 12.8 million, while CBS and FOX News Channel tied at 11.1 million each, with CNN delivering 10.7 million and MSNBC at 4.4 million. (Cynopsis 10/6)

Sundance Channel okayed a new original series featuring Keith Johnson, the antiques buyer for retailer Anthropologie. With eight 30m episodes, Man Shops Globe (wt) will travel with Keith as he scours the flea markets in Paris to remote villages in countries such as India looking for unique finds. (Cynopsis 10/6)

AMC introduces a new series in development called Red Mars about the first humans living in a colony on the Red Planet. The series is based on the sci-fi novel Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson. (Cynopsis 10/6)

NBC has picked up a script called ICE which stands for Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, a division of Homeland Security, from exec producers Antoine Fuqua, Michael De Luca and writer Matthew Carnahan, reports Variety. (Cynopsis 10/6)

Time Warner Cable is asking the FCC to lift pricing regulations in Manhattan that were adopted in 1992. It argues that the introduction of Verizon Communications' FiOS meets the standard set by Congress to allow the end of price caps for cable service when competition increased. "According to [Verizon's Manhattan] franchise, Verizon has already completed construction in a large portion of Manhattan, specifically passing 98% of all single-family homes and 57% of all multiple-dwelling units," Time Warner Cable said. Multichannel News (10/3)

See ya NBC.  Good knowin' ya. "The Cosby Show", "ALF", "Seinfeld". Never forget ya.

That's the lament of Time Warner customers all over Austin, Texas. Us poor bastards stuck in the midst of a penny feud between LIN TV, who owns the NBC affiliate in Austin, and Time Warner Cable, who broadcasts them---one that ended with a blackout.

Well, sort of.

Instead of a black screen, Time Warner is running a 24-hour infomercial about why LIN TV is greedy and how to get the morning soaps by hooking up an antenna to your 52-inch HD flat-screen TV (which TWC will happily give you free-of-charge). 

The issue is over subscriber fees. LIN TV says the fee paid by Time Warner would be "less than a penny a day" per subscriber---so not much, but still in the millions. The broadcaster wants them in the new retransmission contract that expired last Thursday because ad revenue has dropped. Time Warner does not. 

Time Warner pays subscriber fees for stations like Comedy Central and A&E. But since basic channels like CBS, NBC, and ABC are broadcasted free-of-charge over the air waves locally, Time Warner is against paying.

LIN TV broadcasts in eleven markets---15 stations to over 2.7 million Time Warner customers. Not all are NBC. The CBS in Buffalo is kaput too.

The tiff is closing its first week. Thursday will be the anniversary. Celebrated, sadly, without "The Office".

NBC no mas. Atleast for now.

I was wrong.

It turned out to be an unexpected hit, so when Season One came out on DVD, I watched every episode in a mini-marathon in an effort to be prepared for Season Two last fall.

Oh, I was prepared.

Too bad the show wasn’t.

Last season was so slow and muddled I (along with fans everywhere) thought about giving up on it. I ended up sticking through, though, mainly because I credited the writers’ strike as a prime suspect in the dip in quality.

A couple of weeks ago, I tried to watch the first part of Season Three, and I’m afraid to say that it, too, sucked. Except that’s an insult to things that suck. Season Three’s first 15 minutes was damn near unwatchable.

What caused it to be so bad?

Well, it has piss-poor writing, directing, acting and special effects, so it pretty much fails on every level. Additionally, it’s riddled with clichés, and I just don’t have the time or effort to watch sub-mediocre television.

So, to Ando and Hiro, Claire and Sylar and all the rest of the characters (including Peter, whose droopy-mouthed delivery irritated me to no end, and The Indian Guy, who might very well be the worst actor on the planet), I say farewell.

Did you catch the Office season premiere? I think true Office fans would know this already, but NBC posts full episodes for your viewing pleasure.

I've always said I'd love a proposal like this. The sort of spontaneous, I-can't-wait-any-longer deal. Yes, I did get teary eyed.

Office Tally has posted a response from Gene Stupnitsky, writer of the 'Weight Loss' episode, regarding the behind-the-scenes details of that scene.

Q. Give us some behind-the-scenes details on the Jim/Pam proposal scene. I’ve heard that the gas station was fake, the rain was fake, even the traffic was fake! Do tell!

A. here

Os novos projectos de Maura Tierney e Jesse L. Martin,  o cancelamento de Os Ricos, e os regressos de Lucy Lawless e Rosanna Arquette são algumas das novidades de que damos conta na primeira parte desta edição do Curtas Hotvnews.

Robin, de Batman, vai ter a sua série para televisão

Vários filmes e desenhos animados depois, Robin, colega de Batman, vai chegar à televisão sob a forma de série. O projecto está a ser desenvolvido pelos produtores de Smallville e Sobrenatural para a The CW. The Graysons vai seguir o modelo adoptado em Smallville e contar toda a história de Robin antes de começar a lutar contra o crime em parceria com Batman. Este novo projecto está a ser visto como o possível substituto de Smallville na grelha da The CW, caso a série termine nesta temporada, ou como uma série parceira para Clark Kent, caso Smallville continue.

Maura Tierney: de ER para Rescue Me

A actriz Maura Tierney, a Dr.ª Abby Lockhart de ER - Serviço de Urgência, acaba de firmar um acordo para participar em seis episódios da quinta temporada de Rescue Me (Socorro). Na série do FX, que só voltará, nos Estados Unidos, no início do ano que vem,  Tierney interpretará um novo interesse amoroso de Tommy Gavin (Denis Leary).

Jesse L. Martin em The Philantrophist

Um outro actor que também saiu de uma série emblemática da NBC e que se prepara para participar num novo projecto é Jesse L. Martin. Só que, desta feita, o actor continuará a trabalhar para a estação. Cinco meses depois de ter abandonado o elenco de Lei e Ordem, onde interpretava o detective Ed Green, Martin encontrou um novo projecto: vai participar, de uma forma regular, na nova série da NBC, prevista para estrear na mid-season, The Philantrophist. Nela o actor deverá interpretar um homem que é o oposto do personagem a interpretar por James Purefoy (Rome). Mas as novidades, quanto a esta nova série da NBC, não se ficam por aqui. A estação decidiu reduzir o número de episódios encomendados, que inicialmente era de 13, e anunciou que a filmagens, que deverão começar em breve, terão lugar no só em Londres mas também na África do Sul e na República Checa. Toda a produção continuará a ser coordenada a partir de Los Angeles.

FX cancelou Os Ricos

A série The Riches, por cá exibida no FX com o título Os Ricos, não vai ganhar uma terceira temporada, sendo cancelada ao fim de duas temporadas. A notícia foi tornada pública por um dos membros do elenco, Todd Stashwick (Dale Malloy), que agradeceu aos fãs todo o apoio dado à série. Desde o fim da segunda temporada, em Abril passado, que se esperava uma decisão da FX Network.

Lucy Lawless acerta participação em A Letra L

Lembram-se de Xena, A Princesa Guerreira? E lembra-se da sua intérprete Lucy Lawless? Pois a sensual actriz, que nas últimas temporadas tem participado em Battlestar Galactica, acaba de anunciar que participará na última temporada da série lésbica A Letra L. Ainda não existem desenvolvimentos sobre a personagem que Lawless interpretará. Antes d'A Letra L a actriz vai ainda participar num episódio de CSI Miami.

Rossana Arquette em Lipstick Jungle na 2.ª temporada

Wendy Healy (Brooke Shields), Nico Reilly (Kim Raver) e Victory Ford (Lindsay Prince) vão ter uma nova amiga na segunda temporada de Lipstick Jungle. A colunista Kristin dos Santos, do E!Entertainment, avançou, na semana passada, com a notícia de que Rosanna Arquette vai juntar-se ao elenco regular da série da NBC, sendo ainda pouco conhecida a forma como a actriz entrará na série e que características terá a personagem que vai interpretar. Este será o regresso regular de Rosanna à televisão desde a temporada 2006/2007 quando fazia parte do elenco fixo da série da ABC Os Amigos de Brian.

Fontes: Zap2it, E!Entertaiment, TvGuide e Variety

J'ai une longue histoire d'amour avec SNL mais cette saison-ci, ma fidélité s'est pas mal éffilochée... chu comme rendue au stade one night stand qui rappelle pu jamais... faque tant que Tina Fey est dans le sketch d'ouverture, c'est tout ce que j'ai besoin de voir...

Voici donc mon épouse qui triomphe encore dans le rôle de l'épaisse qui risque d'avoir accès au piton rouge dans une couple de semaines.

VIDÉO ICI!!!!

Ok... pis v'là un p'tit bonus mettant en vedette Kristen Wiig (une des seules bonnes choses qui reste à SNL), un grand front et des petites mains. Mongolement pissant!

Also look for our logo the cute little girl with braces if she doesn't appear then don't go near.

Thanks

Jack vale

The same man that many praise on his slogan of change.  What type change are you all supporters wanting can I ask.  Do you think it's cool to hang with a druggie and their clan of people that hate America and all it stands for?  Do you think it's cool to trash talk our United States Army and Marines, Navy?  Do you think it's cool to trash the American flag and show disrespect for it?  Do you think it's cool to steal rob and commit fraud with voter registrations?  Do you think it's cool to scam people and use them to manipulate others and promise things which can never be? Do you think it's cool to have a person tell you what you can or can not say?  Do you think it's cool that Barack Obama defended the Acorn group and taught them what they know today?   Well if you answered yes to any of those then by all means Barack Hussein Obama is your guy. 

I know as always you want the evidence well just watch below for all you need is here:

Are you convinced yet?  If not keep watching!

How about now?  Still don't believe that your guy is no good?  Keep watching this video then:

You still not convinced that Barack Hussein Obama is a crook then keep watching!

So do you think this is cool?  Is this cool to you?  What is so cool about it? There is more!

You still loving this guy?  This is change we can beleive in huh! Keep watching this is the real deal!

I rest my case.

If you haven't heard that the Bird is the Word, it's been mathematically proven. The Bird is equal to or greater than The Word.

In other news, Neel Kashkari has been named to oversee the sucking of all your money out of your wallet, the destruction of your business, and your eviction from your home . . . I mean, to oversee the bailout bill. Yah, Big Government! It works so, so well.

Also, pretty cool is the parody of the Joe Biden/Sarah Palin debate on SNL (this via The Today Show).

Funny stuff. More from NBC.com here. Strange when the most bi-partisan take you get on the major presidential candidates (and their veeps) is on Saturday Night Live.

I was curious why you peeples was searching for chocolate starfish, then I learned it was about Pamela Anderson stripping naked for Hugh Hefner, and then I understood.

Laterz, Internets.

Elmo: And we are at it again. Tonight will be the third presidential TV debate. After the vice-presidential debate last Thursday we are back with the Democrats Barack Obama against the GOP's John McCain. What's special about tonight's debate is the format. It won't be a traditional debate as we have seen in the last two but a format called Townhall-Meeting. The audition and the viewers can ask the candidates questions, this means there will be some kind of interactivity.
Barack Obama is a slight favorite due to his outstanding rhetoric repertoire but as I heard Senator McCain is really good at this style of debate.
Place of happening will be Nashville, Tennessee. The host is NBC's Tom Brokaw and tip off will be 3:00 P.M.

Stay tuned for the traditional wrap up tomorrow.

I should have known better, and I should have stayed home. My cousin is a Jags fan, so a bunch of us got together to watch the game and quaff down a few pints of ale. It had been a tough week, and I was looking forward to the three hours respite that Sunday Night Football brings- even if it is on NBC. I have not seen a Sunday night game all season- since they put Kookout Keith on the pregame broadcast. I knew eventually the bloviating blowhard would be able to keep his personal politics out of my football game, and, last night, he proved me right. His thinly-veiled shot at Governor Palin ruined what should have been an entertaining game.

I remember way back to the Carter years, when Roger Staubach was vilified for a remark he made about the peanut farmer- but I expect nothing of the sort heading the way of the fat fasist Olbermussolini.

There's a reason why NBC stands for "Nothing But Crap." I'm done with the Obama Propaganda Network.

Keith Olbermann- the mutant love child of Himmler and Bagdad Bob.

Orbene, nonostante la battaglia delle Major su questo fronte, la società RealNetworks, che da sempre è in prima fila proprio per studiare e realizzare sistemi di protezione dei DVD messi in commercio dalle case di produzione cinematografica, ha deciso di fare il “salto della barricata” e di proporre uno strumento, il programma RealDVD, che garantisce agli utenti di poter realizzare la copia di qualsiasi DVD (naturalmente le indicazioni del prodotto raccomandano di farlo solo per uso strettamente personale), anche quelli che possiedono i sistemi di DRM per la protezione dalla duplicazione. Una contraddizione che parrebbe strana, se non fosse che da quando il mercato del “ripping” è diventato più vasto di quello dell’home video, era abbastanza logico che le società di software specializzate in questo settore, si mettessero al lavoro per venire incontro alle esigenze non solo di chi produrre, ma anche di chi usufruisce di contenuti video.

L’Associazione delle case di produzione cinematografica americana, la MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America), che vede fra i suoi iscritti colossi del calibro della Warner Bros, 20th Century Fox, Sony Pictures, NBC Universal, Paramount, Disney e molti altri, non potendo tollerare un atteggiamento di questo genere da parte del “traditore” RealNetworks, ha immediatamente fatto sapere che ricorrerà a vie legali per fermare l’uscita sul mercato di RealDVD. Da parte sua, RealNetworks ha sfoderato le unghie, affermando di essere pronta a sfidare i giganti in tribunale, per dimostrare che il loro prodotto non solo è in linea con le richieste del mercato e quindi degli utenti, ma anche con le nuove frontiere della tecnologia digitale, a cui i colossi di Hollywood (sempre secondo RealNetworks) dovrebbero adeguarsi il prima possibile.

Ma qual è il segreto di questo RealDVD che incute tanto terrore alle Major cinematografiche? E’ presto detto: anziché scardinare il sistema DRM di protezione dalla copia, questo software lo aggira, aggiungendo uno strato ulteriore alla codifica del DVD capace di “coprire” i codici di sicurezza del DRM. Uno stratagemma tanto semplice quanto efficace, che non poteva che venire da chi ha contribuito in maniera determinante alla creazione dei sistemi di blindatura delle copie di film in DVD.

Adesso restiamo ad aspettare i passi della macchina legale americana, che si faranno sentire presto, vista l’importanza e la spettacolarità del caso.

www.fiction-tv.it

www.cartoonmag.org

www.magseries.org

]]> http://cartoonmagseries.wordpress.com/?p=2334 Mon, 06 Oct 2008 07:57:46 +0000 inotelefilm http://magseries.org/2008/10/06/le-major-del-cinema-contro-la-riproduzione-pirata-dei-dvd/ Che il problema di copiare DVD sia un argomento caldo da tempo, lo sappiamo tutti. Che sul mercato ci siano parecchi prodotti, molti dei quali addirittura freeware, per rippare i film in DVD, anche aggirando le protezioni DRM (Digital Right Management) che dovrebbero impedire la duplicazione di film home video, è risaputo. Le Major cinematografiche americane da tempo cercano di contrastare questo fenomeno, che è strettamente relazionato a un altro grosso problema per l’industria cinematografica, ovvero il file sharing, o peer to peer (p2p), cioè lo scambio di file attraverso reti di condivisione fra i computer di migliaia di utenti. Se infatti si riesce a rippare un DVD (cioè a farne una copia), e poi lo si decomprime con un codec tipo il DivX, allora il film arriva ad avere una dimensione in MB tale da poter essere agevolmente scambiato via reti p2p, diventando di pubblico dominio e violando in questo modo una vera montagna di leggi sul copyright, ovunque nel mondo.

Orbene, nonostante la battaglia delle Major su questo fronte, la società RealNetworks, che da sempre è in prima fila proprio per studiare e realizzare sistemi di protezione dei DVD messi in commercio dalle case di produzione cinematografica, ha deciso di fare il “salto della barricata” e di proporre uno strumento, il programma RealDVD, che garantisce agli utenti di poter realizzare la copia di qualsiasi DVD (naturalmente le indicazioni del prodotto raccomandano di farlo solo per uso strettamente personale), anche quelli che possiedono i sistemi di DRM per la protezione dalla duplicazione. Una contraddizione che parrebbe strana, se non fosse che da quando il mercato del “ripping” è diventato più vasto di quello dell’home video, era abbastanza logico che le società di software specializzate in questo settore, si mettessero al lavoro per venire incontro alle esigenze non solo di chi produrre, ma anche di chi usufruisce di contenuti video.

L’Associazione delle case di produzione cinematografica americana, la MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America), che vede fra i suoi iscritti colossi del calibro della Warner Bros, 20th Century Fox, Sony Pictures, NBC Universal, Paramount, Disney e molti altri, non potendo tollerare un atteggiamento di questo genere da parte del “traditore” RealNetworks, ha immediatamente fatto sapere che ricorrerà a vie legali per fermare l’uscita sul mercato di RealDVD. Da parte sua, RealNetworks ha sfoderato le unghie, affermando di essere pronta a sfidare i giganti in tribunale, per dimostrare che il loro prodotto non solo è in linea con le richieste del mercato e quindi degli utenti, ma anche con le nuove frontiere della tecnologia digitale, a cui i colossi di Hollywood (sempre secondo RealNetworks) dovrebbero adeguarsi il prima possibile.

Ma qual è il segreto di questo RealDVD che incute tanto terrore alle Major cinematografiche? E’ presto detto: anziché scardinare il sistema DRM di protezione dalla copia, questo software lo aggira, aggiungendo uno strato ulteriore alla codifica del DVD capace di “coprire” i codici di sicurezza del DRM. Uno stratagemma tanto semplice quanto efficace, che non poteva che venire da chi ha contribuito in maniera determinante alla creazione dei sistemi di blindatura delle copie di film in DVD.

Adesso restiamo ad aspettare i passi della macchina legale americana, che si faranno sentire presto, vista l’importanza e la spettacolarità del caso.

www.fiction-tv.it

www.cartoonmag.org

www.magmovie.org

]]> http://angieupnorth.wordpress.com/?p=139 Mon, 06 Oct 2008 05:06:10 +0000 angieupnorth http://angieupnorth.tr.wordpress.com/2008/10/06/the-next-great-industrial-revolution-green-jobs/

Coalbrookdale 1801 Artist: Loutherbourg d. J., Philipp Jakob

Change is coming so we hear in this election.  The world is changing at an accelerated pace over the last 200 years.  It's amazing really - civilization has been on a colision course toward destroying the world since the first industrial revolution

For sure - things will change but will it be good change?  I say it absolutely HAS to be the change that will save our earth from total destruction.  I know I sound like an alarmist... it's because I'm alarmed.  How greedy are you?  I mean really...  If you were told your child has 20 years to live unless you change everything you're doing right now - would you?

Are you concerned for your job?   How about blue collar jobs, small businesses, the credit crisis, the stock market fall, hurricanes, tornados, wildfires, and drought?  Global warming... is man made and we must think about the future of our children and grandchildren.

Make the right choice on November 4th - vote for the candidate that will truly bring change to America and bring us out of this economic disaster.

Vote Obama

The bottom line is, as of Saturday, I have no NBC!!

Allegedly everything can be viewed for free at NBC.com, but I've had problems watching stuff there in the past. In my experience, my sometimes-sketchy PC won't stream everything it should. I don't know if it's my anti-viral setup or what, but I have concluded that the only network that has super user-friendly free content is ABC.

I know you Steve Jobs worshippers are thinking I should just get a Mac and I wouldn't have these problems, but you know, I'm working with what I got. And I'm not alone - you've seen the commercials. Eva Longoria-Parker is a PC. What if she wants to watch Chuck online? She should be able to.

In conclusion, if I'm even more behind on NBC blogging, that's why. Hopefully these guys will settle their issues and we can all resume our regularly-scheduled programming.

Are you in one of the 15 signal-deprived cities? Feel free to commiserate.

Even when the rest of SNL's skits suck (as they often do) they can usually make good on the latest political events. Of course, when you have a character as great as Palin, it is not terribly hard. Sarah Palin has single-handedly rejuvenated the race, for better or for worse, depending on your political preferences. She's the smartest move that McCain has made so far.

Queen Latifah made an appearance as Gwen Ifill last night, while cast member Jason Sudeikis played Joe Biden. Sudeikis' Biden impression highlighted his pretension as well as his hypocritical McCain statements, but ultimately Fey stole the show once again. Fey is not even a regular cast member anymore. She spends most of her time working on 30 Rock, but it is nice that she would go back to SNL to play Palin so many times. If the McCain-Plain ticket wins the election, one would hope she would be able to make time for more appearances... however, that would mean that McCain and Palin would have won the election... let's just enjoy Fey's performance while it lasts.

Ben Folds has a new album!  It's called Way To Normal.

The way I learned about this is through the modern technology of Tivo.  I've told my Tivo to record any show on which Ben Folds appears, and he was on Conan last week.  You can watch him perform "You Don't Know Me" feat. Regina Spektor on NBC.com, though you probably have to watch a commercial first, then fast forward to the fifth section of the show.

Anyway, I picked up Way To Normal today and have listened to it twice so far.  It seems to be about Ben's divorce and how to get over it and get back to normal and, as you can imagine from the post immediately below, you can see how that would resonate with me.

Anyway, so you should watch the performance.  Ben is my favorite musician and Regina Spektor is also on that list.

There is a very powerful segment of our media that would love nothing better than to see our country "brought down to size", and they are using their front man Barack Obama to do it.

The following are facts about Barack Obama that our media will not tell you about. Truly he is "Change".:

Obama didn't rise to prominence on his own merits

Barack Obama's ties to Communist Guru Saul Alinsky

Barack Obama and "Reverand" Jeremiah Wright

Nation of Islam activist of Barack Obama's camp payroll

Michelle Obama's salary increase

The following is Barack Obama’s voting track record for your review. It is eye opening to say the least.

SB = Senate Bill

HB = House Bill

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

**ABORTION BILLS**

SB 230 (1997)

VOTED NO

To prohibit partial-birth abortion unless necessary to save the life of a mother and makes performance of the procedure a Class 4 felony for the physician.

HB 709 (2000)

VOTED NO

To prohibit state funding of abortion and induced miscarriages except when necessary to save the life of the mother. Excludes premature births from funding except to produce a viable child when necessary to save the life of a mother. Would permit funding in cases of rape or incest when payment is authorized under federal law.

SB 1661 (2002)

VOTED NO

A part of the Born Alive Infant Protection Package. Would create a cause of action if a child is born alive after an abortion and the child is then neglected through failure to provide medial care after birth.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

**CRIME BILLS**

SB 381 (1997)

VOTED NO

To require prisoners to pay court costs for frivolous lawsuits against the state.

SB 485 (1999)

VOTED NO

To give no offer of “good time” for sex offenders sentenced to the County Jail.

*Obama was the only vote against this measure.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

**UNIONS**

HB 3396 (2003)

VOTED YES

To make unionization easier by not requiring a secret ballot to organize if 50% of the eligible workers publicly sign a card of support for unionization.

SB 230 (2003)

VOTED YES

Entitles a teacher who is elected as an officer of the state or national teacher’s union to be granted a leave of absence for up to six years, or the period of time the teacher is serving.

SB 1070 (2003)

VOTED YES

Allows college graduate assistants who teach college courses be eligible to join a union.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

**CHILD PROTECTION**

PRESENT SB 609 (2001)

To restrict the location of buildings with “adult” uses (meaning pornographic video stores, strip clubs, etc.) within 1,000 feet of any public or private elementary or secondary school, public park, place or worship, preschool, day-care facility, mobile park or residential area.

HB 1812 (1999)

VOTED NO

To require school boards to install software on public computers accessible to minors to block sexually explicit material.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

**TAXES**

SB 1075 (1999)

VOTED NO

To create an income tax credit for all full-time K-12 pupils in an amount equal to 25% of qualified education expenses up to a maximum of $500 per family.

SB 1725 (2003)

VOTED YES

To restore the Illinois Estate Tax.

SB 1733 (2003)

VOTED YES

To impose a Gas Use Tax on the purchase of natural gas from outside the state of Illinois for use or consumption in Illinois. Forces the delivering supplier to pay 2.4 cents per therm of gas, or the customer can elect to become a “selfassessing” purchaser and pay 5% of the purchase price or 2.4 cents per therm.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

**ELECTIONS**

SB 1415 (2003)

VOTED YES

To create public funding for supreme court races.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

**GAY RIGHTS**

HB 581 (2003)

NOT VOTING

Allows domestic partners to be allowed to assume the rights of a spouse or survivor with regards to pension benefits under the Chicago Teacher’s pension system.

SB 228 (1997)

VOTED NO

Changes the “Illinois Equal Opportunity Act of 1997” to stipulate, notwithstanding any law to the contrary, any unit of government or school district that gives benefits to samesex couples under any criteria must give equal benefits to heterosexual couples.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

**DRUGS**

SB 880 (2003)

VOTED YES

To allow the purchase of 10 hypodermic needles from a pharmacy without a prescription.

HB 2000 (4659)

PRESENT

To establish a zero-tolerance drug-testing policy for Department of Corrections Employees.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

**BUSINESS**

SB 777 (1999)

VOTED NO

To end the unemployment insurance fund building tax.

SB 879 (1999)

VOTED NO

To end the minimum contribution tax rate for the unemployment system.

SB 795 (2001)

VOTED NO

To reduce employers’ minimum contribution insurance rate.

SB 796 (2003)

VOTED YES

To increase the Illinois minimum wage from $5.15 per hour to $6.50 per hour.

]]> http://closeupfromsocal.wordpress.com/?p=15 Mon, 06 Oct 2008 01:15:23 +0000 sebfiedler http://closeupfromsocal.tr.wordpress.com/2008/10/05/saturday-night-live/ Another classic came from this weekend´s Saturday Night Live on NBC, mocking the Vice Presential Debate held on Thursday 10/2 between Sarah Palin and Joe Biden.  Tina Fey performed - once again - Sarah Palin, struggling with questions from Queen Latifah (Moderator Gwen Ifill) and with her opponent Biden, played by sketch partner Jason Sudeikis. The performance, nearly 10 minutes long, created significant attention in the online world after being broadcasted. The Associated Press felt that "Tina Fey is running for vice president", reminding the increasing popularity Fey gets by playing the Palin role more often. Cathrin Friar from RightPundit.com stresses, though jokes where on all debate´s characters, Sarah Palin was the real target and cites Queen Latifah´s remark at the show opening: "Due to the historically low expectations for Gov. Palin, were she simply to do an adequate job tonight, at no point cry, faint, run out of the building or vomit, you should consider the debate a tie."

You can read the whole transcript here (courtesy of NBC) or click on the YouTube link:

QUEEN LATIFAH AS GWEN IFILL: "Good evening, I'm Gwen Ifill and welcome to Washington University in St. Louis Missouri to the first and only 2008 Vice Presidential Debate between the Republican nominee, Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska, and the Democratic nominee, Joe Biden of Delaware. Let's welcome the candidates."

TINA FEY AS GOV. SARAH PALIN: "Can I call you, 'Joe?'"

JASON SUDEIKIS AS SEN. JOE BIDEN: "Of course."

FEY AS PALIN: "OK, 'cause I practiced a couple of zingers where I call you Joe."

LATIFAH AS IFILL: "Now tonight's discussion will cover a wide range of topics including domestic and foreign policy matters. Each candidate will have 90 seconds to respond to a direct question and then an additional two minutes for rebuttal and follow-up. As moderator, I will not ask any follow-up questions beyond 'do you agree?' or 'your response?' so as not to appear biased for Barack Obama in light of my new book (holding up book) 'The Breakthrough: Politics of Race in the Age of Obama,' coming out on inauguration day and available for pre-order on Amazon.com. And finally, we would like to remind our audience that due to the historically low expectations for Governor Palin, were she simply to do an adequate job tonight, and at no point cry, faint, run out of the building or vomit you should consider the debate a tie. Alright, let's begin. Senator Biden, how, as Vice President would you work to shrink the gap of polarization that has sprung up in Washington?

SUDEIKIS AS BIDEN: "Well, I would do what I have done my whole career, whether it's been dealing with violence against women or putting 100,000 police officers in the streets. I would reach across the aisle. Like I've done with so many members of the other party. Members like John McCain. Because look, I love John McCain. He is one of my dearest friends. But at the same time, he's also dangerously unbalanced. I mean, let's be frank, John McCain -- and again, this is a man I would take a bullet for -- is bad at his job and mentally unstable. As my mother would say, 'God love him, but he's a raging maniac...' and a dear, dear friend."

LATIFAH AS IFILL: "Governor Palin. How will your administration deal with the current financial crisis?"

FEY AS PALIN: "Well first of all, let me say how nice it is to meet Joe Biden. And may I say, up close your hair plugs don't look nearly as bad as everyone says. You know, John McCain and I, we're a couple of mavericks. And gosh darnit, we're gonna take that maverick energy right to Washington and we're gonna use it to fix this financial crisis and everything else that's plaguin' this great country of ours."

LATIFAH AS IFILL: "How will you solve the financial crisis by being a maverick?"

FEY AS PALIN: "You know we're gonna take every aspect of the crisis and look at it and then we're gonna ask ourselves, 'what would a maverick do in this situation?' And then, you know, we'll do that." (SHE winks.)

LATIFAH AS IFILL: "Senator Biden, how would your administration address the current financial crisis?"

SUDEIKIS AS BIDEN: "Barack Obama and I understand that we need to regulate Wall Street. John McCain voted against Wall Street regulation 41 times. Let me repeat that. 41 times! And again, this is a man I love. If I had to spend the rest of my life on a desert island with only one other person it would be John McCain -- no doubt about it. I mean, you should see the way my face lights up when he walks into a room. But the fact is, John McCain has voted with George Bush ninety percent of the time, let me say that again: time."

LATIFAH AS IFILL: "Governor Palin, would you like to respond to Senator Biden's comments about Senator McCain?"

FEY AS PALIN: "No thank you, but I would like to talk about bein' an outsider. You see while Senator Biden has been in Washington all these years I've been with regular people. Hockey moms and Joe Six-packs I'd also like to give a shout out to the third graders of Gladys Woods Elementary who were so helpful to me in my debate prep. Also too, you see, I think a bit differently from an insider. I don't think it's patriotic to pay more taxes. I don't think it's patriotic to criticize these wars we got goin' on. I do think it's patriotic to tell the government, 'Hey get outta my way! Stop tryin' to impose on my right to shoot wolves from a helicopter.' But a Washington insider like Joe Biden probably disagrees."

SUDEIKIS AS BIDEN: "You know I get a little tired of being told I'm an insider. I come from Scranton, Pennsylvania and that's as hardscrabble a place as you're gonna find. I'll show you around some time and you'll see. It's a hellhole. An absolute jerkwater of a town. You couldn't stand to spend a weekend there. It is just an awful, awful sad place filled with sad desperate people with no ambition. Nobody, and I mean nobody, but me has ever come out of that place. It's a genetic cesspool. So don't be telling me that I'm part of the Washington elite because I come from the absolute worst place on Earth: Scranton, Pennsylvania. And Wilmington, Delaware is not much better."

LATIFAH AS IFILL: "Senator Palin. Address your position on global warming and whether you think it's man-made or not."

FEY AS PALIN: "Gwen, we don't know if this climate change hoozie-what's-it is man-made or if it's just a natural part of the 'End of Days.' But I'm not gonna talk about that I would like to talk about taxes, because with Barack Obama, you're gonna be paying higher taxes. But not with me and my fellow maverick. We are not afraid to get maverick-y in there and ruffle feathers and not got to allow that. And also, too, the great Ronald Reagan."

LATIFAH AS IFILL: "The next question is for you, Senator Biden. Do you support, as they do in Alaska, granting same-sex benefits to couples?"

SUDEIKIS AS BIDEN: "I do. In an Obama-Biden administration same-sex couples would be guaranteed the same property rights, rights to insurance, and rights of ownership as heterosexual couples. There will be no distinction. I repeat, no distinction."

LATIFAH AS IFILL: "So to clarify, do you support gay marriage, Senator Biden?"

SUDEIKIS AS BIDEN: "Absolutely not. But I do think they should be allowed to visit one another in the hospital and in a lot of ways, that's just as good, if not better."

LATIFAH AS IFILL: "Governor Palin. Would you extend same-sex rights to the entire country?"

FEY AS PALIN: "You know I would be afraid of where that would lead. I believe marriage is meant to be a sacred institution between two unwilling teenagers. But don't think I don't tolerate gay people. Because I do. I tolerate them with all my heart. And I know quite a few too. Not personally. But I know of them. I've seen 'Ellen.' Oh, and there was this one girl on my college basketball team. She wasn't officially 'a gay,' but, you know, we were pretty sure."

LATIFAH AS IFILL: "Governor Palin, what is your position on Healthcare regulation?"

FEY AS PALIN: "I'm gonna ignore that question and instead talk about Israel. I love Israel so much. Bless its heart. There's a special place for Israel in heaven. And I know some people are going to say I'm only saying that to pander to Florida voters, but from a very young age, my two greatest loves were always Jews and Cuban food."

LATIFAH AS IFILL: "I would now like to give each of you a chance to make a closing statement."

FEY AS PALIN: : (holding flute): Oh, are we not doing the talent portion?

(FEY AS PALIN plays flute, winks)
(LATIFAH AS IFILL stares)

LATIFAH AS IFILL: "Senator Biden, your closing statement?"

SUDEIKIS AS BIDEN: "My goal tonight was a simple one. To come up here and at no point seem like a condescending, egomaniacal bully, and I'm gonna be honest, I think I nailed it. Sure there were moments when I wanted to say, 'Hey, this lady is a dummy!' But I didn't. Because Joe Biden is better than that. I repeat Joe Biden is better than that (pointing at FEY/PALIN). So to all of the pundits who said I would seem cocky or arrogant. You dopes got schooled Biden-style."

LATIFAH AS IFILL: "Governor Palin?"

FEY AS PALIN: "I liked being here tonight answering these tough questions without the filter of the mainstream gotcha media with their 'follow-up questions,' 'fact-checking' or 'incessant need to figure out what your words mean and why ya put them in that order.' I'm happy to be speaking directly to the American people to let them know if you want an outsider who doesn't like politics as usual or pronouncin' the "g" and the end of words she's sayin' I think you know who to vote for. Oh, and for those Joe Six-packs out there playing a drinking game at home -- Maverick."

LATIFAH AS IFILL: "Well, this concludes tonight's debate. The book drops November 4, and Live From New York...It's Saturday Night!

The Debate Skit to follow on YouTube