Blu-Ray - The Future for Some Movies

I've come to realize - and I think many others have, as well - that the Blu-Ray format isn't necessary for all movies. Yes, DVD manufacturers and movie companies want to phase out normal DVDs, but is that a good thing? Unlike the transition from VHS to DVD, the current format is playable on next-generation players. I've noticed that there are many movies that are not Blu-Ray-necessary, like The Lives of Others, or even Dreamgirls [Who would ever think that I would put 'Dreamgirls' in the same sentence as the excellent Lives of Others!?]. Others is an excellent, gripping film, but there are no fight scenes or massive special-effects sequences. My Blu-Ray collection is currently composed of A Clockwork Orange, The Departed, and Blade Runner. My other, primary concern is what is going to happen to the distribution of independent and foreign films under Blu-Ray? For their sake, though corporations are not generous, I do hope that, even as Blu-Ray gains hegemony in the video market, players will still be backwards-compatable, for I fear some excellent work may well be lost otherwise.

RIAA Backlash

The RIAA has been implementing totalitarian tactics to ensure the survival of its cartel [see links on Digg.com], and both artists and fans have begun to rebel against it. The biggest blow, I think, aside from the illegal spying on users who happen to have digital music on their hard drives, is that the RIAA did not even pay the artists after the lawsuits. What [Trent] Reznor (NIN) did with Ghost was evidence that even the artists themselves recognize that the recording industry machine is harmful to musicianship, and the fans.

All of this comes at a time when American music is worth next to nothing, when skillful musicianship is not at all necessary to make a sellable album (case in point: Britney Spears, boy bands and their aftermath, rap "music" in the 21st century). I know that modern American music isn't worth $15-20, and musicians know that also. The RIAA and the artists who continue to cooperate with them only want money, and will devise their albums to be simple and catchy, like a simple marketing gimmick to get their hands in your pocket.

However, I understand that artists need money, and Reznor, according to a report (also on Digg.com) raked in $1.6 mill the first week - even with the option of getting the album for free. It is highly possible that there will always be music that just needs to be paid for - not legally or consumeristly, but genuinely, as recognition that the material is good and we would like more. Case in point: I paid $20 for Ayreon's The Human Equation, and it remains to this very minute the best $20 I ever spent. I admit that smaller artists need record companies, but no one needs the RIAA. The RIAA, much like every other institution, has exceeded its purpose and exists for only its own sake, at the expense of not only possible fans, but also the artists themselves.

What is completely absurd, and shows how self-righteous and ambitious the RIAA is, is a few minutes of an RIAA conference video with the DHS. In the video, an RIAA 'expert' linked pirated music to drugs and terrorism. I downloaded some music, and I have never tried pot, and I have absolutely no intention of committing any acts of violence whatsoever, least of all politically-motivated violence. What do I think about the 'expert,' really? It's bait. They want the government's aid in their mafia-esque tactics and no other two words can get the government aroused and frothing at the mouth more than 'terrorism' and 'drugs.'

Haven't Written in a While

Nothing is really happening, politically. Hillary might lose, but thats it. McCain has a better chance of being called back to 'Nam than becoming President, even less than if Huckabee is his VP. Obama is really impressing me. A good friend of mine complains that he doesnt express concrete policies, but I saw the debate a few weeks ago on CNN and he really impressed me. Quite simply, what Obama needs in order to succed as President is a cabinet he can trust enough to give him straight answers to hard questions.

I had a most excellent adventure this weekend. I went to an awesome party and tried some liquor and it was awesome. All I need now is a good nights' sleep. I've been feeling like I'm in Bruges (specific reference to the movie), and the party was a definite train ticket out. ROCK ON!!!