Technically Speaking

I mentioned previously that we rented the movie Robots from Redbox a couple of nights ago and as soon as you put the DVD into the player, these previews come on. And they aren’t even really previews. They were more like a commercial for the studio that distributed the movie. What’s worse is the DVD won’t let you skip the commercial and get to the menu.

Can I tell you how much I hate it when the DVD has previews, but won’t let you skip past them to the menu?

It’s not so much that I dislike previews. I mean, they give you a chance to make sure you have your pop corn and orange smoothie ready (staples at our house for movie watching), and you can adjust the sound so it is right, and you can find the comfortable place on the couch; but I digress…

No, previews are okay, if the manufacturers really insist on including them. But what I can’t stand is when they force us to watch the whole preview because they disable the menu and next chapter buttons on the remote.

One of the principle benefits (for me) of DVDs over VHS tapes is that on a DVD I can skip around to see what I want to see without having to find it on the tape. When DVD manufacturers block the menu function, they are essentially dragging us out of the DVD era and throwing us back into the VHS tape era of rewinding and fast forwarding.

Seriously people. If your previews are good, we’ll probably watch them. Once. But please don’t make us watch them every time. Enable the menu button during the previews. Please. Join us in the 21st century and let our DVDs work like we want them to!

This is my blog post #224.

Wow.

And you’re reading.

Cool.

This is post #174 this year, and post #224 overall, which means that on average in 2005, I’ve posted every other day (or 16/month), and overall I’ve posted about once every three days.

I should be keeping a paper journal, but I’m not going to feel bad about not keeping a journal at all… because that’s what this is, after all, isn’t it?

Thanks for reading. It’s what keeps me going here!

Yesterday was election day in the United States (it being, as we learned yesterday, the Tuesday after the first Monday in November), and I am glad that I went out and voted. Mind you, it was 5 minutes before the polls closed, but I made it. As you can probably guess, I voted FOR Referendum 1 in Sandy, and I’m glad to report to you that the referendum passed — but it was close.

Last night as election returns were coming in, it was a close race. Over 40% of registered voters came out to vote, which I think is unusually high, especially for a municipal election. With about half of precincts reporting, the margin was only about 100 votes on either side. The FOR side would pull ahead, and then a few minutes later, the AGAINST side would pull ahead.

Finally this morning we have the final results (which include the absentee ballots). With 10,758 (53.30%) voting FOR, and 9,427(46.70%) voting AGAINST, the referendum passes.

The community action group, Save Our Communities, that was campaigning against the zoning change has been very gracious in defeat, and I wanted to acknowledge their efforts and hard work. They campaigned hard for a cause they believed in, and did so with very little money–especially in comparison to the funding behind Friends of Quarry Bend. I respect them for working so hard for a cause they were committed to.

That said, I’m glad the referendum passed. I believe that in time we will see that the zoning change was good for Sandy residents. I’m happy that so many Sandy residents made it to the polls yesterday. I love to see democracy in action.

Today is Election Day, so get out and vote. Two things related to elections today…

Sandy Referendum

I encourage Sandy voters to see through the all the campaign sludge, and vote in favor of referendum 1. Sandy voters have to realize that if they vote down referendum 1, Wal-Mart will leave Sandy. Lowes will leave Sandy. Sandy will lose between 2 and 5 million dollars annually in tax revenue. If Sandy voters vote down referendum 1, they will be taking money from local firefighters, local police offiers, and local schools.

Chances are good that Sandy will have to raise property taxes to make up the defecit. Vote yes on referendum 1. It is good for you and it is good for your schools.

Ok. Whew. Got that out of the way.

How you know when election day is

I learned something today. I was having a hard time figuring out why we are voting today, which is the second tuesday in November. My calendar on the wall tells me that election day is supposed to be the first Tuesday, and that was my memory of it. Turns out, though, that election day in the US is not the first Tuesday. It is the Tuesday after the first Monday of November.

Since the first Monday in November was yesterday, that makes today election day, even though today is the second Tuesday.

Now you know.

Loyal readers, I come to you today to make a(n unnecessary) promise: I vow never to direct a Harry Potter film for Warner Brothers. I’m outraged (outraged! I tell you!) that I was passed over for the first four films, and I’m lashing back by promising never, ever to bow to the Warner Brother’s producers — even if they come begging to my humble duplex door.

This isn’t totally unlike the recent remarks from filmmaker Terry Gilliam, who has made the same promise, for the same reason.

Are you, loyal readers, just as outraged? I mean, who does this guy think he is? Give me a break! I mean, is this a ploy to get sympathy or what? ‘Cauz I’m not feelin’ too bad for him.

And Warner Brothers, if you’re listening, I was just kidding. I’d direct Harry Potter 6 or 7 for as little as $100,000; so if you’re looking to save the money you didn’t spend on Mr. Gilliam, you can give me a call.