3D - Redux

So I went on and on about the future of 3D for home theater on a previous post. I guess my post relied on the premise that 3D was the future of movie theaters. However, I'm not so sure this is the case. I loved Avatar and How To Train Your Dragon in 3D. I saw both in Imax 3D. However, I have not seen the many other 3D movies that came out recently, which have been almost universally panned. Apparently, there is a big difference in the quality of 3D. Avatar and Dragon were 3D from the ground up. Alice in Wonderland and Clash of the Titans were most certainly not. These were converted to 3D for the studios to cash in and make a ton of money charging an extra $5 for a ticket.

I read an article today by Roger Ebert titled, "Why I Hate 3-D (And You Should Too)". Okay, Roger Ebert is as old as the hills. His favorite movie is still probably Citizen Kane. He has dodged the Reaper more than one time, and he now looks like a zombie and can no longer talk. But that guy knows his damn movies!!! Ebert eloquently discusses the inside scoop on 3D in Hollywood today in 9 clear points. Bottom line: 3D is just a techno trick that studios are pushing to make more money and get an edge over home theater. Better technology is out there to display movies, and maybe updating the old 24 fps standard is the better way to go. Give his article a read. The best 3D discussion that I have read.

As for my thoughts on home theater... I still think it is coming. However, I now realize (after watching Avatar on Blu-ray in 2D) that the real goal should be higher resolution, higher bitrate and big, bright images. 3D will be worth owning as another option, but I wouldn't go out of my way to purchase a 3D system. For Ian, Ebert did love Avatar in 3D and respects the accomplishment. For those select movies that fully utilize 3D, the extra $5 is worth it. Go see Avatar in Imax 3D when it gets a re-release later this year!

By the way, if theaters want to make the movie experience better, how about this idea. Why not make a more exclusive theater experience. A big screen, fewer seats and patrons, comfortable couches or recliners, a waitress to take food and drink orders that you can eat while watching. Most people are moving away from theaters because they can't stand the crappy seats, crappy food and annoying people making noise. Paying more for a premium experience would solve that problem in a heartbeat.

You're Ruining it for Everyone!

I read an article the other day about how, for the second time in as many weeks, Apple rejected an app from their App Store because it "ridicules public figures". The apps in question were collections of political comics, one by a Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist, the other a collection of PG-rated Tiger Woods mock ups.

Today I read an article about Windows Phone 7 and how they plan to use a similarly strict vetting process for apps in their Marketplace when those devices become available later this year.

This is a dangerously slippery slope. Apple and Microsoft are betting that their devices are so good that you'll put up with any draconian enforcement policies just to keep using them.

Mobile devices are slowly morphing into mini computers. They can do a whole lot of things. While sacrificing of a few things - speed, screen size, etc... - for portability. Tablets, which are all the new rage, are closing the gap ever faster.

Consider this scenario:

You need a new computer for home. You go to BestBuy (or MicroCenter or wherever you go) and look at laptops. The salesperson shows you a super slick laptop, laptop A. It's gorgeous. It has every hardware spec you could possibly need from a laptop. But it comes with one caveat - you can only install software on this laptop that the hardware manufacturer approves. Furthermore, certain applications that the hardware manufacturer provides - music players, mail client, web browser, et al - must be used as no alternatives are supported. Then he shows you another laptop, laptop B, that has all the same hardware specs, but isn't quite the eye-catcher of the other device. On top of that, the OS isn't quite as intuitive and also lacks the good looks of laptop A. But laptop B's manufacturer will permit you to install anything on their computer. The laptops have almost similar pricing, not identical, but close enough that cost isn't a factor. Which do you buy?

If you are the type of person who would buy that laptop, you are a prime candidate for a iPhone or Windows Phone 7 device or a BlackBerry. If you are the type of person that would prefer the door remaining open on your device to do with it what you please, you may want to consider Android. They'll all be great mobile OSes. And they'll all have their own supporters and detractors.

Here's a confession - I own an iPhone. I love it. There really is an app for everything - banking, setting my DVR, tracking my workouts, listening to Reds games, playing Euchre... everything. But as much as I love my iPhone, I still prefer the ability to do with my s**t whatever the hell I want. And I certainly don't like the direction that all this is headed. That's why, unless something drastic changes with Apple's policies before my contract expires, this will be my last iPhone. It's tough to stomach, but continuing to support these practices makes corporations think that people like having their choices limited. So I'll hit them the only way they understand, in their pocketbook.

I Don't Get It

I'll keep this short and sweet and let you folks use the comments to reply. This is not a rhetorical question. I'm honestly at a loss.

A lot of talk lately about college football conference expansion, specifically regarding Notre Dame and the Big Ten. The main argument I keep hearing for Notre Dame needing to join a conference is "to remain competitive". Why must Notre Dame join a conference in order to remain competitive? Is Indiana competitive? Is Syracuse competitive? Is Washington State or California (after their inevitable top-5 ranking to begin every season before collapsing) competitive? Is Colorado or Baylor competitive? Is Vanderbilt or Kentucky or Mississippi State competitive? You know who is definitely competitive? Boise State. And I don't have a clue about their conference affiliation, besides the fact that they are in one (and I think even South Bend has the upper hand on Boise, ID).

It's one thing if the argument is that the BCS may block out Notre Dame should they remain independent, but that's being made as a separate reason apart from "remaining competitive" (and I won't even go into how far-fetched that is, or how it would make Notre Dame a sympathetic figure with fans and AP voters).

So can somebody please tell me the rationale behind this statement? How will Notre Dame cease to be competitive if they remain independent?

A Brand New Car!

Don't know if you all heard or not, but my Hyundai Elantra got rear-ended at a stoplight about two weeks ago. Teresa and Sam were also in the car, and while everyone was alright, "Elaine", as I call(ed) my car, was totaled out. Elaine's other name was "Golf Cart" because she was made of plastic, had poor acceleration, and had a turning radius of about 28 inches. Because she was constructed of minimal metal, the rear impact buckled the floor of my trunk and that moved the rear frame of the vehicle forward about 1.5 inches. In the end, the damage was just too much for repairing and the insurance company totaled out Elaine. *sniffle*

However, the guy who hit me was a nice guy and had good insurance. There were no issues, no hassles, and I actually got more money in the settlement than I thought I'd get for the trade-in value on Elaine. So I was very happy. Also, Teresa and I were already in the planning stages for acquiring a new, larger vehicle. So while the timing was a little early, it was nice to have more money for a down-payment.

Teresa and my planning stages consisted of identifying that we wanted a 3-row vehicle that was not a mini-van. From there, all roads led to the Chevy Traverse. It's cheaper (usually) than it's sister vehicles, the GMC Acadia and the Buick Enclave. Teresa and I really liked it when we test drove it, and through some negotiations with a dealer about 5 minutes from our house, we got the version we wanted. For those keeping track:

2010 Chevy Traverse

• LT w/ 2LT
• Dark Gray
• 2-2-3 Seating Design (captains chair's in second row)
• Leather seating
• Rear DVD Entertainment System
• Personal Connectivity

We brought the new car home last night and I got to take it in to work today. I even got my bluetooth phone hooked up, so when you call my cell phone and I'm in the car, it's totally hands-free! For those of you around for Dad's and/or Sam's birthday, we'll be sure to give you a ride!

Deuce!

Clint Dempsey (aka "Deuce", aka "Lasso") scores a dazzler against Juventus in Europa League competition. A must see. Also gotta love the commentary, "This is an absolutely brilliant goal by Dempsey. He finds the angle. He takes the account of everything in the universe into consideration there."


100318_FUL
Uploaded by 1513BB92024. - College experience videos.

3D Home Theater

I am convinced that 3D is the future of home theater. I would like to walk you through a timeline that leads me to this point.

• Spring 2009: I took Ava to her first movie in a theater, Monsters vs. Aliens. This was the first movie made using a new 3D technology. I was amazed at how lifelike the 3D quality was. Ava was actually scared of the screen, it was so real. After awhile, she wanted to take off her glasses.
• Winter 2009: Avatar is released. Dad and I go see it in Imax 3D. We are both even more amazed at the technology. Movie becomes worldwide phenomenon, and the top grossing film of all-time.
• January 2010: At the CES show in Las Vegas, multiple vendors roll out demos for 3D Blu-ray. People are amazed.
• March 2010: Best Buy sells the first 3D home theater system including an HDTV, Blu-ray player and glasses.
• March 16, 2010: I drop into Best Buy to pick up the new Princess and the Frog movie for the girls. I happen to see a 3D Blu-ray demo. I sit down and put on the 3D glasses and watch... Monsters vs. Aliens. Holy crap. 3D home theater is for real.
  

Do you remember how long it took for affordable HDTVs to come out so everyone could buy them? How long did you wait (or waiting) until Blu-ray prices dropped? How long was Blu-ray the next big thing - maybe it still is for some? My point is, I hadn't even heard of 3D Blu-ray until a couple months ago. Now a full system is available for sale at Best Buy. It isn't much more than a comparable system without 3D. This technology FLEW into the marketplace, and it is here to stay.

I can't imagine how cool 3D HD television broadcasts will be. ESPN is already planning a 3D network. Sports will come first. Can you imagine the Super Bowl in 3D? How about that cable cam in 3D? There are new 3D movies coming out every month now. All of these will be released in 3D eventually. This is going to be huge.

Before you knock my prediction, go see Avatar (or the new Clash of the Titans if you're Ian) in Imax 3D. Then go check out the demo at your local Best Buy. The 1st generation system is nearly as good as Imax 3D in the theater! I think anyone planning to buy either a new HDTV or Blu-ray player would be a fool to not get one that is 3D compatible. I would compare it to a grumpy old man in the 40s who refused to watch TV and stuck with his old radio. They aren't that much more - today. As for my plans? I'll wait for a 3D projector that I can use to replace my basement projector. That will be a few years yet. Those things are a little more expensive!

ESPN Tournament Challenge

I've set up the Men's Tourney Challenge on ESPN.com again this year. Just search for "The Royal Heffernans" as the League's name. The password is "Rugby", so feel free to set up a team. I assume that any of our readers my be interested, as it's a free league and we do it for pride.

Also, was it just me or was it a little tense last night waiting on Notre Dame's bid? Being the last pairing announced was very mean of CBS. But I think ND has a shot of winning a couple of games. They won't go far, but making the Sweet 16 in basketball is like making a BCS game in football. Go Irish!

Independence

"I believe we are at a point right now where the changes could be relatively small, or they could be seismic. What I have to do along with Jenkins is figure out where the pieces are falling...

What if realignment impacted the shape of the BCS? Also, the Big East has been a great home for us, but if there are fundamental changes to the Big East as a result of realignment, what does that do? What if a few conferences further distinguish themselves from the field? What are the competitive ramifications of that?...

That's why I'm spending 50 percent of my time right now talking to people... While we're paying attention, we're trying like heck to maintain our football independence...

You could each invent a scenario that would force our hand."

And with those recent statements by Jack Swarbrick, the first brick in the wall that is Notre Dame's independence in football has fallen. Notre Dame has been a proud independent school since it's first football team laced up the spikes in 1887. Numerous flirtations with conference membership have occurred over the years (as recently as an official invite to the Big Ten in 1999), but Notre Dame has always held strong to its independent tradition. However, the current state of college football, along with the comments by our AD have convinced me that our independence is coming to an end.

It seems inevitable that both the Big Ten and Pac 10 will soon add members to increase their conference sizes to 12. That allows for the magical Conference Championship Game that brings millions to the SEC, ACC and Big 12. Just how that realignment goes could lead to the seismic ripple that Swarbrick hinted at, similar to the last round of realignment that gobbled up the last of the major independents.

It may just come down to money. Right now, Notre Dame makes $9 million a year from it's NBC contract. If we qualify for a BCS game, we get an extra $4.5 million. If we don't, we get $1 million. That gives us a max TV payout of $13.5 million, but more likely $10 million. Our new NBC contract doesn't give us a raise, and runs through 2015.

Compare that to a Big Ten school? The Big Ten Network gives each Big Ten member over $18 million a year. They also divide the BCS pot evenly, which usually adds another $2 million per team. That's over $20 million a year. Can you imagine how much more money adding a 12th member with a championship game would add? The Big Ten Network would only make more money - especially if #12 is Notre Dame.

It's really too bad. The Big Ten is already a maligned conference with regards to national respect. Joining would certainly force Notre Dame out of its NBC contract, and we would lose a big advantage that we own in national recruiting. With more regional TV exposure, we would be forced to compete even more directly with Ohio State and Michigan for top recruits. I fear we would go the way of Penn State and other former independent greats. Take a look at this list:

• Florida State
• Georgia Tech
• Miami
• Penn State
• Pittsburgh
• South Carolina
• Virginia Tech

With the exception of Virginia Tech, every one of these schools was better before it was swallowed up by a conference. You could also argue for Florida State, but I think their mediocrity since 1999 proves my point. If Notre Dame joins a conference, it may doom us to a future similar to Penn State. Win a Big Ten title every 10 years, and kiss our hopes for a National Championship goodbye.

As long as we can keep scheduling quality BCS conference opponents, and keep a strong TV contract that puts our games on national television, I say screw the Big Ten. Our football revenue goes beyond TV dollars, as does our school identity. I would like to think our future is more important than a big paycheck. I'm probably just being naive though.

An Open Letter to Bob Bradley

Dear Mr. Bradley,

I am writing to address a growing concern I have with your selection process, specifically your continued inclusion of Jonathan Bornstein in USMNT activities. Let me be blunt - Jonathan Bornstein is a terrible soccer player. TERRIBLE.

Why, just today, he has single-handedly cost you the game against an admittedly superior Netherlands team. His first foul that resulted in a penalty was archetypical of poor US judgment - a player unaware of positioning making a lazy foul that costs the US dearly. The US has gotten a reputation for these types of fouls under your watch, and Bornstein is the worst offender. He avoided awarding the Dutch a second penalty when an obvious handball in the area was missed by referees. The deflection that resulted in the Dutch's second goal, although bad luck, would not have occurred if Bornstein had not taken up such horrible positioning deep in the penalty area.

Within two minutes of removing Bornstein from the game the US scored a goal and put repeated pressure on the Dutch. Coincidence? I think not.

The greatest concern I have is that Bornstein's continued failings at the international level are so obvious to me - and everyone I know that follows the USMNT - yet you continue to not only included him in USMNT camps, you repeatedly start him in the biggest matches. How can you continue to overlook such a glaringly obvious issue?

In closing, Jonathan Bornstein is the worst player in the history of US soccer. The US would be better served by a cardboard cutout of Jeff Agoos at left back than Bornstein. If the US had only Bornstein available as a substitute and one of the starting 11 was injured and unable to continue, they would be better off playing with 10 than inserting Bornstein. Jonathan Bornstein would not merit a starting position on my over-30 coed team. He. Is. AWFUL!

Please never let Jonathan Bornstein don a US jersey again.

Sincerely,

ian

I Want

Adidas, in their awesomeness, has released a limited edition set of match balls that recreates every official FIFA World Cup game ball since 1970. Each ball comes with it's own unique ring stand commemorating the year in which it was used. Only one catch, it's $900.

Looking at those, I've owned replicas of at least 5 of those puppies. And all five are lost somewhere down the side hill on Copperglow Court, along with 'The Duke'. Ohh, The Duke! You were my favorite football and you've been gone for so long. Now I'm sad...