Stricken down by a persistent summer flu, I have got time to browse the Internet in bed and tweak my system. Particularly the VNC remote desktop has been open a lot (upgrade of my server into Ubuntu Feisty Fawn did give some nasty errors and sorting them out has taken days — and the mail system still does not work). On more positive side, we finally got the digital video camera that I have been thinking about a lot. Originally I considered an AVCHD camcorder for the hi resolution benefits, but after looking a bit into the downsides (and price) of that technology, I decided to go for SD instead. The corder we got is Sony DCR-SR52E, a 32 meg hard disk model, which we picked up mainly for the interface: a touch screen and good usability makes this a nice choice for those occasional family clips. I have now tested the image quality and bundled software a bit, and (after some Vista specific upgrades) everything seems to be ok now. Projected to the large screen of my media room from a processed and compressed archive DVD the screen is blurry, but directly plugged into the living room television, I get sharp and colourful image. Some more tweaking is still needed to see what is the optimal way to archive. (These HDD camcorders use MPEG2-PS standard for recording, which means compression taking place when compared to DV tapes.) There would already have been some MPEG-4 camcorders on the market, aimed squarely at Youtubes and other net videos, and I suppose much of delivery to our extended families will also take place trough such online services. (Much easier for everyone involved if I send an email link rather than organise an entire evening of home video watching 😉
Month: July 2007
Blade Runner Ultimate
Yes, I am that much of a fanboy, I definitely could go for this — any more details available anywhere? This Binary Bonsai/EzyDVD leak still the only detailed data?
Disc 1 – The Final Cut (2007):
Ridley Scott’s definitive new version of his science-fiction masterpiece includes added & extended scenes, added lines and new and cleaner special effects.
Disc 2 – 3 Complete Film Versions:
‘82 U.S. Theatrical version
‘82 International Theatrical version
‘92 Director’s Cut
Disc 3 – “Dangerous Days: Making Blade Runner” Documentary
Newly created documentary: Through interviews with the cast and crew, critics and colleagues, this feature-length documentary provides a mainstream-friendly yet meaningful in-depth look at Blade Runner’s literary genesis, its challenging production and controversial legacy. When all is said and done, this will be the definitive documentary on the film.
Disc 4 – Enhanced Content Bonus: (TBC)
INCEPTION – Featurettes and galleries devoted to Philip K. Dick, the birth of Cyberpunk and adapting the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep.
PRE-PRODUCTION – Featurettes and galleries devoted to script development, conceptual design and abandoned sequences.
PRODUCTION – Featurettes and galleries devoted to principal photography and locations.
POST-PRODUCTION – Featurettes and galleries devoted to deleted scenes, music and visual effects.
RELEASE – Featurettes and galleries devoted to marketing and reaction including Trailers, TV Spots and Promotional Featurettes
LEGACY – Featurettes and galleries devoted to the film’s resurrection and impact.
Disc 5 – Work Print Version & Enhanced Content:
Including the rarely seen Work Print version and potentially the 52 min. Channel Four (UK) documentary which was the first serious documentary created for the film.
Additionally, the set will come packaged in a limited “Blade Runner” briefcase holding the five-disc digipack with foil-enhanced and embossed slipcase. The goodies inside will include a lenticular motion image from the original feature, a collectible model spinner, an origami unicorn, a collection of photographs and a letter from Ridley Scott. Holy shit.
The street date is going to be in September. Unfortunately, the retailer is not taking international orders for this thing. However, don’t be too surprised if Region 1 gets the same thing. We’ll keep you posted.
Almost 100 per cent improvement in US console sales
Another note from the FT tech blog: notes of optimism in games industry.
(Rainy day, flu. In bed. The usual holiday stuff.)
FT blogs on casual and skill gaming, MIT's Scratch
Note to myself: come back to this in more detail when back to work — Financial Times Tech Blog writes about casual games, skill gaming and MIT’s Scratch (easy, do-it-yourself style game design and digital storytelling tool).
SF & Fantasy researcher meeting in Finncon
Thursday to Jyväskylä: I think this is eight time we have a national science fiction and fantasy researcher meeting at Finncon (starting from year 2000, if I remember correctly). This year’s program is below, with the names of the paper authors and commentators:
UNIEMME ULKOPUOLELLA
SEARCHING THE OUTSIDERS OF THE FANTASTIC
VIII SCIFI- JA FANTASIATUTKIJATAPAAMINEN
12.-13.7. 2007 Jyväskylän yliopistossa
A-rakennuksen seminaarihuone, 3 krs
TORSTAINA 11:30-13:00
1 Paavo Toivanen FRANS
Keskiaika, alluusiot ja Narnia
2 Jyrki Korpua FRANS & MARKKU
Ulkopuolisuus Tolkienin legendaariossa
14:30-16:00
3 Päivi Väätänen LIISA
Afroamerikkalainen tieteiskirjallisuus, erit. Delany
4 Anni Nupponen FRANS
Tove Jansson ja Toiseus
5 Eliisa Pitkäsalo, MARKKU
Traaginen sankari Sinisalon romaanissa Sankarit
PERJANTAINA
10:15 – 11:30
6 Sanna Lehtonen MARKKU
“Discourses of Femininity and Power in Children’s Fantasy”
7 Saara Fraktman LIISA
Feministiset utopiat
13:00 – 14:00
8 Leila Soikkonen LIISA
Empowerment, Female other & C.L. Moore
MUUTA TIEDEPERJANTAIN OHJELMAA:
14.30 -15.15 Joe Haldeman ja Cheryl Morgan: Revealing sociological
science fiction
15.15 – 16.30 Elizabeth Hand ja John Clute: Technology as a monster:
hard core sf
PYÖREÄN PÖYDÄN KESKUSTELU 17-18
A-rakennuksen seminaarihuone, 3 krs
Keskustelun pohjana Frans Mäyrän väitöskirjan kappale scifin ja kauhukulttuurin kosketuskohdista
The makkara summer
The makkara summer
Originally uploaded by FransBadger.
Remaining true to the summer holiday spirit, I try to concentrate on the essentials, like taking photos of makkara.