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BATMAN!! HULK!! THING!! KUBRICK!! CONFUSED!! OUT OF SIGHT!! 1,650 HD Channels Next Year?? Herc’s HDTV Cellar!!

Published at: Sep 26, 2006 3:08:57 AM CDT

I am – Hercules!!

1,650 DirecTV Channels In HD Next Year?? The big news since the last Cellar? DirecTV announced at an investor’s conference earlier this month that it would by the end of next year have the capacity to offer 150 national HD channels and 1,500 local channels in HD. Right now it only offers seven HD channels. Read more of this here.

No Hybrids For You!! Looks like that much-talked-about LG machine that would play both HD-DVD and Blu-ray discs ain’t gonna happen so soon!

To which I say, big deal. People were talking like $1,500 for those hybrid players! You can build your own by buying an HD-DVD player (price: $400 and falling) and a PlayStation 3 ($600) and an A/B switcher ($15 maybe?). Actually, given the number of inputs built into most of these HDTV sets, you probably don’t need the A/B switch.

HD Pic of the Week!! If you didn’t grow up in Texas in the disco era, I’m not sure how much you’re going to get out of Dazed and Confused (1993). To a generation of Texans, it’s “American Graffiti.” Writer-director Richard Linklater (“Before Sunset,” “Before Sunset,” “A Scanner Darkly,” “Fast Food Nation”) knows that whole late-‘70s stoner-slacker-snotty-senior-football-horseshit bouillabaisse like he lived it. (And he did, right? I’ve never seen a movie that captures suburban Texas with that much verisimilitude. Of course, I’m not sure many others would want to.)

If you don’t give a shit what Texas was like a quarter century ago, the movie still boasts a cast of “unknowns” that actually trumps “Diner’s”: Adam Goldberg, Parker Posey, Nicky Katt, Ben Affleck, Rory Cochrane, Matthew McConaughey, Anthony Rapp, Marisa Ribisi, Cole Hauser, Milla "Multipass!" Jovavich, Joey Lauren Adams, Jason London, Renee Zellweger, Christine Harnos, etc. etc. etc.

HD Disc Calendar

Last Week
The Big Hit (BLU-RAY) $19.95
Dinosaur (BLU-RAY) $23.95
Eight Below (BLU-RAY) $23.95
The Great Raid (BLU-RAY) $23.95
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (BLU-RAY) $19.95
A Knight's Tale (BLU-RAY) $19.95
S.W.A.T. (BLU-RAY) $19.95
Tears of the Sun (BLU-RAY) $19.95

This Week
The Adventures of Robin Hood (DVD/HD-DVD) $19.95
Bubble (BLU-RAY) $19.95
The Corpse Bride (BLU-RAY) $19.95
Dazed and Confused (DVD/HD-DVD) $23.95
The Dirty Dozen (HD-DVD) $19.95
End of Days (HD-DVD) $19.95
The Fast and The Furious (HD-DVD) $19.95
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (HD-DVD & DVD) $35.99
Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas (HD-DVD) $19.95
Four Brothers (BLU-RAY) $19.95
The Fugitive (BLU-RAY) $19.95
Grand Prix (HD-DVD) $19.95
House of Wax (BLU-RAY) $19.95
Land of the Dead (DVD/HD-DVD) $23.95
Lara Croft Tomb Raider (BLU-RAY) $19.95
Lethal Weapon 2 (BLU-RAY) $19.95
Sister Street Fighter (HD-DVD) $22.49
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (BLU-RAY) $19.95
Sleepy Hollow (BLU-RAY) $19.95
Space Cowboys (BLU-RAY) $19.95
Swordfish (BLU-RAY) $19.95
Terminator 3 (HD-DVD) $19.95
2 Fast 2 Furious (HD-DVD) $19.95

October 10
Army of Darkness (DVD/HD-DVD) $23.95
Batman Begins (HD-DVD) $19.95 <--- NEW!!
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (HD-DVD) $19.95 <--- NEW!!
Click (BLU-RAY) $27.25
The Corpse Bride (HD-DVD) $19.95 <--- NEW!!
Fast Times At Ridgemont High (DVD/HD-DVD) $23.95
The Polar Express (HD-DVD) $19.95 <--- NEW!!
Waist Deep (DVD/HD-DVD) $35.99
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (HD-DVD) $19.95 <--- NEW!!

October 17
The Break-Up (DVD/HD-DVD) $35.99
The Brothers Grimm (BLU-RAY) $23.95
Dark Water (BLU-RAY) $23.95
Glory Road (BLU-RAY) $23.95
Gone in 60 Seconds (BLU-RAY) $23.95
The Haunted Mansion (BLU-RAY) $23.95

October 24
The Interpreter (HD-DVD) $19.95
Monster House (BLU-RAY) $27.25 <--- NEW!!

Out of Sight (HD-DVD) $19.95 <--- NEW!!

Slither (DVD/HD-DVD) $24.99 <--- NEW!!
Spartacus (HD-DVD) $19.95 <--- NEW!!

The Thing (HD-DVD) $19.95 <--- NEW!!
12 Monkeys (HD-DVD) $19.95 <--- NEW!!

October 30
Mission: Impossible III (BLU-RAY) $27.95
Mission: Impossible III (HD-DVD) $24.99

Mission: Impossible: Impossible Missions Collection (BLU-RAY) $69.95

Mission: Impossible Ultimate Missions Collection (HD-DVD) $55.98

November 7
Black Hawk Down (BLU-RAY) $19.95

Little Man (BLU-RAY) $27.25

Reds (HD-DVD) $25.85 <--- NEW!!
The Sopranos 6.x Vol. 1(HD-DVD) $90.95 <--- NEW!!

November 14
Behind Enemy Lines (BLU-RAY) $27.95
The Da Vinci Code (BLU-RAY) $27.25

+ Expand All

Readers Talkback

Sep 26, 2006 4:00:18 AM CDT

Who the hell wants Little Man in HiDef?

by grando

Surely studios should be pimping the truly sumptious looking shit from their back catalogue. Not the latest piece of shit from the retarded minds of the Wayan's brothers?

Reply to Talkback

Subject

Content Surely studios should be pimping the truly sumptious looking shit from their back catalogue. Not the latest piece of shit from the retarded minds of the Wayan's brothers?
Sep 26, 2006 4:35:18 AM CDT

Who the hell Wants

by emeraldboy

Little man......

Reply to Talkback

Subject

Content Little man......
Sep 26, 2006 5:29:43 AM CDT

I only get 16 channels

by chez wimpy

I bought a nice 1920x1080 HDTV now that Japan has gone all HD. It means full-HD for the 8 channels OTA, and another 8 channels over unscrambled broadcast satellite. I doubt in my lifetime I will ever see 100 full-HD channels, let alone 1650. Several cool things about HDTV here, 1. No FCC. I get to watch movies in HD on commercial network TV uncut for content (I watched The Man Who Wasn't There and El-Sid just last week!). 2. One-Seg. The 1/12th resolution HD backup signal that you can watch on your cell-phone (320x240). 3. The audio. They didn't go with AC-3, but optioned for AAC. Luckily the recievers all support AAC over toslink/coaxial. Oh, and Dr. Who 2005 started on BS2 last night... I guess those who couldn't understand english had to wait a year! WTF is with BSG not getting a showing, hmmmm.

Reply to Talkback

Subject

Content I bought a nice 1920x1080 HDTV now that Japan has gone all HD. It means full-HD for the 8 channels OTA, and another 8 channels over unscrambled broadcast satellite. I doubt in my lifetime I will ever see 100 full-HD channels, let alone 1650. Several cool things about HDTV here, 1. No FCC. I get to watch movies in HD on commercial network TV uncut for content (I watched The Man Who Wasn't There and El-Sid just last week!). 2. One-Seg. The 1/12th resolution HD backup signal that you can watch on your cell-phone (320x240). 3. The audio. They didn't go with AC-3, but optioned for AAC. Luckily the recievers all support AAC over toslink/coaxial. Oh, and Dr. Who 2005 started on BS2 last night... I guess those who couldn't understand english had to wait a year! WTF is with BSG not getting a showing, hmmmm.
Sep 26, 2006 7:56:16 AM CDT

HD to Blu-Ray?

by fearlessjay

If the 1,600 are true (and I don't know how it could be financially viable), I guess I'm switching service. But that's not my thought - is it my imagination or are some discs going from BR to HD, and vice versa. If that's true, is that a sign of things to come? Are studios really picking sides here, or are we going to end up seeing flicks in both formats? Anyone have any knowledge on this?

Reply to Talkback

Subject

Content If the 1,600 are true (and I don't know how it could be financially viable), I guess I'm switching service. But that's not my thought - is it my imagination or are some discs going from BR to HD, and vice versa. If that's true, is that a sign of things to come? Are studios really picking sides here, or are we going to end up seeing flicks in both formats? Anyone have any knowledge on this?
Sep 26, 2006 7:59:07 AM CDT

HD to Blu-Ray?

by fearlessjay

Is it my imagination, or are some flicks going to HD and BR? I had thought the rumor was studios were picking formats. If this is a sign of things to come, does that discs will be released in both formats in the future? Anyone have any insight into this?

Reply to Talkback

Subject

Content Is it my imagination, or are some flicks going to HD and BR? I had thought the rumor was studios were picking formats. If this is a sign of things to come, does that discs will be released in both formats in the future? Anyone have any insight into this?
Sep 26, 2006 8:46:05 AM CDT

The mission impossible

by godzillasushi

cover looks pretty crappy. Shame they couldnt do better.

Reply to Talkback

Subject

Content cover looks pretty crappy. Shame they couldnt do better.
Sep 26, 2006 9:49:24 AM CDT

High Ray and Blue Def

by squashua

So... I can only get some movies in each format? Craptacular.

Reply to Talkback

Subject

Content So... I can only get some movies in each format? Craptacular.
Sep 26, 2006 9:59:24 AM CDT

Re: Fearless Jay

by themikejonas

Some studios are exclusive to a format (Sony, Fox and Disney to BR, Universal to HD-DVD), but others (Paramount and Warner) plan to release on both.

Reply to Talkback

Subject

Content Some studios are exclusive to a format (Sony, Fox and Disney to BR, Universal to HD-DVD), but others (Paramount and Warner) plan to release on both.
Sep 26, 2006 10:03:16 AM CDT

The High Def formats won't start to catch on...

by themikejonas

...until they put out a "must have," the way The Matrix was for DVD and Top Gun was for retail sale VHS. In short...give us the Star Wars movies and LOTR already!

Reply to Talkback

Subject

Content ...until they put out a "must have," the way The Matrix was for DVD and Top Gun was for retail sale VHS. In short...give us the Star Wars movies and LOTR already!
Sep 26, 2006 10:54:16 AM CDT

ZombieSolutions

by flexfill

Your post just gave me a moment of clarity. This new depression really is quite depressing. I remember the "good ol' days."

Reply to Talkback

Subject

Content Your post just gave me a moment of clarity. This new depression really is quite depressing. I remember the "good ol' days."
Sep 26, 2006 12:06:47 PM CDT

saw dazed for the first time a month or 2 ago

by waggy

and i absolutely loved it, even though i was born in '83 and have never set foot in texas, so that should answer your question herc.

Reply to Talkback

Subject

Content and i absolutely loved it, even though i was born in '83 and have never set foot in texas, so that should answer your question herc.
Sep 26, 2006 12:33:41 PM CDT

Great soundtrack on Dazed; see also 200 Cigarettes...

by flexfill

Both films capture that "one day in this era" vibe really well. Dazed is like mid/late seventies and 200 Cigarettes is New Year's Eve 1981. 200 doesn't get much love, but it has aged better than an Empire Records say. 200 boasts an impressive pre-stardom cast including Dave Chapelle, Kate Hudson, both Afflecks (I know), Christina Ricci, Martha Plympton (she was already well known from Goonies, Running on Empty, etc.) and the list goes on. Anyway, both soundtracks are bitchin' but not all of the songs are on the official CD soundtrack. You can dig them all up quite easily though.

Reply to Talkback

Subject

Content Both films capture that "one day in this era" vibe really well. Dazed is like mid/late seventies and 200 Cigarettes is New Year's Eve 1981. 200 doesn't get much love, but it has aged better than an Empire Records say. 200 boasts an impressive pre-stardom cast including Dave Chapelle, Kate Hudson, both Afflecks (I know), Christina Ricci, Martha Plympton (she was already well known from Goonies, Running on Empty, etc.) and the list goes on. Anyway, both soundtracks are bitchin' but not all of the songs are on the official CD soundtrack. You can dig them all up quite easily though.
Sep 26, 2006 12:42:53 PM CDT

As a sucker for good packaging...

by fattyaaron

I must say these cases look horrible. Are they even trying? I get that they have to separate them from regular DVDs, but for these prices it would be nice to have something that looks good at least.

Reply to Talkback

Subject

Content I must say these cases look horrible. Are they even trying? I get that they have to separate them from regular DVDs, but for these prices it would be nice to have something that looks good at least.
Sep 26, 2006 1:01:32 PM CDT

Renee Z?

by codename v

Who does she play in Dazed and Confused? It was only Joey Lauren Adams. Renee Zel. wasn't in it...

Reply to Talkback

Subject

Content Who does she play in Dazed and Confused? It was only Joey Lauren Adams. Renee Zel. wasn't in it...
Sep 26, 2006 1:10:29 PM CDT

Right...

by flexfill

Joey was in Dazed and Renee was in Empire Records.

Reply to Talkback

Subject

Content Joey was in Dazed and Renee was in Empire Records.
Sep 26, 2006 1:12:35 PM CDT

The Older You Get, The Dumber You Get.

by neo con snake plissken

ZombieSolutions,

Instead of whining like a little girl about how you had a free ride during the dot com boom and now your too broke to continue your frivolous DVD pursuits, try acting like you have a pair and make more money, like the rest of us. Despite your leftist drivel about the economy being bad, it’s actually been quite good, despite the fact we have to fight a war on multiple fronts and put up with lazy socialist automatons like yourself who think the world owes them a job, free health care and a runway model who will blow you every night. Guess what. That’s not the real world.

There is no “New Depression”. It doesn’t exist. Not even in NYC, where I live. If you’re not working in America, it’s because of three things: you’re a kid, you’re lazy, or you’re stupid. In the case of Democrats, it’s all three. Trust fund kids are usually leftists as well, because they never had to work for anything in their lives, they feel they should be re-distributing wealth to drug-addicts and the refuse of society so they “feel better” about the money they have. Only it’s not their money they want to give away, it’s ours. NYC is loaded with these maggots.

You want a happier life and want to start doing more than just trying to survive? Get educated, get to work, start a business and take responsibility for your life. As Winston Churchill once said, any man who is under 30, and is not a socialist, has no heart; and any man who is over 30, and is not a conservative, has no brains.

You’re over 30.

Reply to Talkback

Subject

Content ZombieSolutions, Instead of whining like a little girl about how you had a free ride during the dot com boom and now your too broke to continue your frivolous DVD pursuits, try acting like you have a pair and make more money, like the rest of us. Despite your leftist drivel about the economy being bad, it’s actually been quite good, despite the fact we have to fight a war on multiple fronts and put up with lazy socialist automatons like yourself who think the world owes them a job, free health care and a runway model who will blow you every night. Guess what. That’s not the real world. There is no “New Depression”. It doesn’t exist. Not even in NYC, where I live. If you’re not working in America, it’s because of three things: you’re a kid, you’re lazy, or you’re stupid. In the case of Democrats, it’s all three. Trust fund kids are usually leftists as well, because they never had to work for anything in their lives, they feel they should be re-distributing wealth to drug-addicts and the refuse of society so they “feel better” about the money they have. Only it’s not their money they want to give away, it’s ours. NYC is loaded with these maggots. You want a happier life and want to start doing more than just trying to survive? Get educated, get to work, start a business and take responsibility for your life. As Winston Churchill once said, any man who is under 30, and is not a socialist, has no heart; and any man who is over 30, and is not a conservative, has no brains. You’re over 30.
Sep 26, 2006 1:53:25 PM CDT

Snake? I thought you were dead...

by flexfill

You don't cross the Duke; everybody knows that.

Reply to Talkback

Subject

Content You don't cross the Duke; everybody knows that.
Sep 26, 2006 1:56:50 PM CDT

Codename Z and Flexfill

by lougossetphillip

Renee Zellweger was in Dazed and Confused. She was one of the Senior girls in the parking lot near the beginning. She had no lines, and was nothing more than an extra, but she was there. Still, including her in a list of the cast is kind of cheap.

Reply to Talkback

Subject

Content Renee Zellweger was in Dazed and Confused. She was one of the Senior girls in the parking lot near the beginning. She had no lines, and was nothing more than an extra, but she was there. Still, including her in a list of the cast is kind of cheap.
Sep 26, 2006 2:02:51 PM CDT

LGP

by flexfill

You are correct! She's in it and listed as "not credited" on IMDB. Fancy that. All the ladies in Dazed just daze me.

Reply to Talkback

Subject

Content You are correct! She's in it and listed as "not credited" on IMDB. Fancy that. All the ladies in Dazed just daze me.
Sep 26, 2006 2:07:39 PM CDT

Uhh... nobody's getting 1650 channels

by mraig

When it says 1500 local channels, that just means that the top 200 markets will each get all of their local channels - it doesn't mean that there will be a 1500-channel package offered to any of us. It just means that New York will get its locals in HD and LA will get its local in HD and so on all the way down to the little towns with 20,000 people in the midwest.

Then about the 150 channels for everybody that they'll be able to offer - that doesn't mean that there are 150 cable channels actually available. DirecTV will have the capability of broadcasting those channels, but it'll be up to each actual channel to put together HD programming for the system to broadcast - which right now just isn't there. It's not as though Comedy Central and MTV and FX are all theoretically there in HD, but there's no way to pick them up - the programming is right now created in standard definition, and each and every one of those channels will have to change that in order for DirecTV's new capacity to actually mean anything.

Right now there are about 10 or 15 cable channels that actually offer anything in HD that you'd actually want to watch, and you can get pretty much those same channels on cable or satellite. Once there is more available, there's no doubt that both cable and satellite will offer it.

And as for HD disc movies, I'll wait until one format wins, until there are players that play both, or until I can walk into Target and get either format's player for $99. Until then, I'm happy watching primetime network TV and Law & Order reruns on TNTHD in HD, alongside 480P DVDs.

Reply to Talkback

Subject

Content When it says 1500 local channels, that just means that the top 200 markets will each get all of their local channels - it doesn't mean that there will be a 1500-channel package offered to any of us. It just means that New York will get its locals in HD and LA will get its local in HD and so on all the way down to the little towns with 20,000 people in the midwest. Then about the 150 channels for everybody that they'll be able to offer - that doesn't mean that there are 150 cable channels actually available. DirecTV will have the capability of broadcasting those channels, but it'll be up to each actual channel to put together HD programming for the system to broadcast - which right now just isn't there. It's not as though Comedy Central and MTV and FX are all theoretically there in HD, but there's no way to pick them up - the programming is right now created in standard definition, and each and every one of those channels will have to change that in order for DirecTV's new capacity to actually mean anything. Right now there are about 10 or 15 cable channels that actually offer anything in HD that you'd actually want to watch, and you can get pretty much those same channels on cable or satellite. Once there is more available, there's no doubt that both cable and satellite will offer it. And as for HD disc movies, I'll wait until one format wins, until there are players that play both, or until I can walk into Target and get either format's player for $99. Until then, I'm happy watching primetime network TV and Law & Order reruns on TNTHD in HD, alongside 480P DVDs.
Sep 26, 2006 2:09:08 PM CDT

Lol

by sg7

Hello and welcome to last year. DirecTV has had their new sats on station for a while, awating the deployment of their new set top boxes with H.264 support. And yeah, 1500 channels of the same repeated network shit. Can I get a big "hooo-rah" for wasted bandwidht! Yeah! Becuase why uplink one copy of NBC when you uplink 150? Awesome! All hail the Satellite Home Viewer "Improvement" Act, crafted by the cable industry to crush DreicTV only to see it backfire as DirecTV deploys new technoogy as the cable operators still shill their 90s technology.

Reply to Talkback

Subject

Content Hello and welcome to last year. DirecTV has had their new sats on station for a while, awating the deployment of their new set top boxes with H.264 support. And yeah, 1500 channels of the same repeated network shit. Can I get a big "hooo-rah" for wasted bandwidht! Yeah! Becuase why uplink one copy of NBC when you uplink 150? Awesome! All hail the Satellite Home Viewer "Improvement" Act, crafted by the cable industry to crush DreicTV only to see it backfire as DirecTV deploys new technoogy as the cable operators still shill their 90s technology.
Sep 26, 2006 2:19:56 PM CDT

When are they...

by flexfill

actually going to release a Blu-ray movie I acutally want to buy that is compressed using the VC-1 codec. So far, Blazing Saddles in about it. I know, I know... shoulda bought the Toshiba, but the storage capacity of BD is friggin' UUUge.

Reply to Talkback

Subject

Content actually going to release a Blu-ray movie I acutally want to buy that is compressed using the VC-1 codec. So far, Blazing Saddles in about it. I know, I know... shoulda bought the Toshiba, but the storage capacity of BD is friggin' UUUge.
Sep 26, 2006 3:46:42 PM CDT

Thanks themikejonas!

by fearlessjay

So that explains the studio support I keep hearing about for the differing formats.

Reply to Talkback

Subject

Content So that explains the studio support I keep hearing about for the differing formats.
Sep 26, 2006 3:49:34 PM CDT

Cheers to you, ZombieSolutions

by redbox

Pay Snake Plisken no mind. His days will soon wind up tormented, regretful and blurry as Rome falls around him or hopefully on him. Take solace that those who are depressed by their ability to see the changing and ominous weather, have a chance to react before the lightening really strikes hard. I know plenty of Pliskens, squirming in their isolated, economic beds, laughing at the poor fortune of others, dreaming that they truly are masters of their world, instead of momentary presents of fortune. But behind them their income property is sinking, ever faster. Soon, strangled in a mire of adjustable mortgages and mangled attempts to live beyond their means, they will slip and glide into a beautiful, if tragic, economic freefall, speeding down past your now less pathetic and somehow enviable desperate cling to the waterline. HD or BlueRay will not matter when both types of discs are loaded up to the brim of the box of eBay and given away for a fraction of the original investment, in the desperate last act of a grasshopper in late November. Remember that the doll can't see past the dollhouse like the greedy, HDVD loving, conservative, can't imagine a country with no middle class, where his boss will expect him to learn Chinese and work happily for 12,000 a year. Take some level of comedic pleasure in the probable future plight of Mr. Plisken and the rest of the NeoCon Americans who can't bother to imagine a United States that exists on the same planet as Europe, Asia or the rest of America. At least history will pull out the red sharpie for their devastatingly smart stewardship, these past six years.

Reply to Talkback

Subject

Content Pay Snake Plisken no mind. His days will soon wind up tormented, regretful and blurry as Rome falls around him or hopefully on him. Take solace that those who are depressed by their ability to see the changing and ominous weather, have a chance to react before the lightening really strikes hard. I know plenty of Pliskens, squirming in their isolated, economic beds, laughing at the poor fortune of others, dreaming that they truly are masters of their world, instead of momentary presents of fortune. But behind them their income property is sinking, ever faster. Soon, strangled in a mire of adjustable mortgages and mangled attempts to live beyond their means, they will slip and glide into a beautiful, if tragic, economic freefall, speeding down past your now less pathetic and somehow enviable desperate cling to the waterline. HD or BlueRay will not matter when both types of discs are loaded up to the brim of the box of eBay and given away for a fraction of the original investment, in the desperate last act of a grasshopper in late November. Remember that the doll can't see past the dollhouse like the greedy, HDVD loving, conservative, can't imagine a country with no middle class, where his boss will expect him to learn Chinese and work happily for 12,000 a year. Take some level of comedic pleasure in the probable future plight of Mr. Plisken and the rest of the NeoCon Americans who can't bother to imagine a United States that exists on the same planet as Europe, Asia or the rest of America. At least history will pull out the red sharpie for their devastatingly smart stewardship, these past six years.
Sep 26, 2006 6:26:51 PM CDT

Hey...JACKASS!!!

by darth jizzle

You don't have to come from Texas to love the Jokes and Simple Honesty of Dazed and Confused.Herc, as it turns out, we had weed and classic rock in OHIO too!

Reply to Talkback

Subject

Content You don't have to come from Texas to love the Jokes and Simple Honesty of Dazed and Confused.Herc, as it turns out, we had weed and classic rock in OHIO too!
Sep 26, 2006 6:29:10 PM CDT

I guess AICN thinks we all have money to burn

by orbots commander

on an endless supply of HDTV's, HD-DVD and Blu-Ray players, Playstation 3's and on and on.
Regarding the argument between ZombieSolutions and Snake Plissken, my view is somewhere between the two. I don't think, like Snake, that happy days are here again, sweet nectar flows in the streets and there's a pot of gold at the end of each rainbow. I also don't buy into Zombie's, dark Tim Burton-esque view of the world. Sure, life sucks sometimes, but we all have to keep our head up, plug away and do what we can to make a living, put a roof over our heads and eat. In between you enjoy the good times between family and friends and try to ignore a sometimes crappy existence as a wage slave.

Reply to Talkback

Subject

Content on an endless supply of HDTV's, HD-DVD and Blu-Ray players, Playstation 3's and on and on. Regarding the argument between ZombieSolutions and Snake Plissken, my view is somewhere between the two. I don't think, like Snake, that happy days are here again, sweet nectar flows in the streets and there's a pot of gold at the end of each rainbow. I also don't buy into Zombie's, dark Tim Burton-esque view of the world. Sure, life sucks sometimes, but we all have to keep our head up, plug away and do what we can to make a living, put a roof over our heads and eat. In between you enjoy the good times between family and friends and try to ignore a sometimes crappy existence as a wage slave.
Sep 26, 2006 8:18:50 PM CDT

1650 Channels

by reedyb uff

OK. Here's the dealio on the 1650 channels.

DIRECTV is going to be rebroadcasting local market channels into local markets.

That is 200+ markets with an average of 7 channels per market or 1500 channels.

Individual subs only get the 7 channels.

They will also be broadcasting other HD channels, like the premium channels and TNT, ESPN, ESPN2, MHD, HDNET and others as they become available.

That is the answer, my friends.

Enjoy

Reply to Talkback

Subject

Content OK. Here's the dealio on the 1650 channels. DIRECTV is going to be rebroadcasting local market channels into local markets. That is 200+ markets with an average of 7 channels per market or 1500 channels. Individual subs only get the 7 channels. They will also be broadcasting other HD channels, like the premium channels and TNT, ESPN, ESPN2, MHD, HDNET and others as they become available. That is the answer, my friends. Enjoy
Sep 26, 2006 9:22:48 PM CDT

Plissken For President: Run Plissken Run

by darth fabulous

Well said Snake...

Reply to Talkback

Subject

Content Well said Snake...
Sep 26, 2006 9:48:08 PM CDT

"The Halcyon 90s"

by darth fabulous

Dick Morris (oh, I mean Bill Clinton) presided during peacetime over a NeoCon Congress ushered in, when...guess what...it was 1994!

Reply to Talkback

Subject

Content Dick Morris (oh, I mean Bill Clinton) presided during peacetime over a NeoCon Congress ushered in, when...guess what...it was 1994!
Sep 27, 2006 10:53:00 AM CDT

Things I Don't Understand

by everyonesucksbutme

Why do people immediately blame "neocons" for ruining the economy? The writing was on the wall from way back in the Clinton magical halcyon era of 2000. And why complain about fighting a religious war? On September 11 in 2001... they started it. Of course, I guess the late-90s thing to do would be to laugh it off as a bunch of mischief. Why do people so eagerly await the fall of Rome i.e. America? Don't they live here too? And if they don't, don't they realize they will also be affected in a very big, very negative way? Who was making money hand over fist in te late 90s? IT people? Computer techs? Well, now it's real estate fellas so cry a river and mourn getting rich while getting fat in front of a glowing screen. Life's tough, whine or die.

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Content Why do people immediately blame "neocons" for ruining the economy? The writing was on the wall from way back in the Clinton magical halcyon era of 2000. And why complain about fighting a religious war? On September 11 in 2001... they started it. Of course, I guess the late-90s thing to do would be to laugh it off as a bunch of mischief. Why do people so eagerly await the fall of Rome i.e. America? Don't they live here too? And if they don't, don't they realize they will also be affected in a very big, very negative way? Who was making money hand over fist in te late 90s? IT people? Computer techs? Well, now it's real estate fellas so cry a river and mourn getting rich while getting fat in front of a glowing screen. Life's tough, whine or die.
Sep 27, 2006 11:32:17 AM CDT

'they' didn't start it

by maluquiro

iraq had nothing to do with 9/11...

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Content iraq had nothing to do with 9/11...
Sep 27, 2006 1:14:07 PM CDT

...Richard Linklater (“Before Sunset,” “Before Sunset")

by frank the rabbit

Was it so good you had to list it twice?

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Content Was it so good you had to list it twice?
Sep 27, 2006 2:03:26 PM CDT

Dazed & Confused, Suburbia - 2 of Links Gems

by flexfill

Dazed is perfection, but Suburbia is pretty great in its own way. It's a more insular world, but no less fascinating. Ribisi and Zahn headline with strong performances. Linklater regular Parker Posey also delivers as Pony's silver spoon manager. Not a bad soundtrack either; as always with Link.

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Content Dazed is perfection, but Suburbia is pretty great in its own way. It's a more insular world, but no less fascinating. Ribisi and Zahn headline with strong performances. Linklater regular Parker Posey also delivers as Pony's silver spoon manager. Not a bad soundtrack either; as always with Link.
Sep 27, 2006 2:11:59 PM CDT

Zombiesolutions: Well worded argument still untrue

by playahatersball

Just so you know right off the bat I'm a capitalist who was raised on welfare all through my childhood and lived in public housing as a teenager. So I don't dislike socialism because I "like to laugh at poor people" (I still live below the poverty line) but rather because it limits upward mobility while keeping a few well-connected demagauges in power. You say that there are no jobs in this country, and that unemployment is rampant- despite the fact that this country still maintains a higher standard of living and a much lower unemployment rate than most European countries. France has about 14% unemployment (44% of 18-35 year olds there are unemployed) and the socialist utopia which is Sweden has recently reduced their unemployment rate to 22% only after reducing government control of the economy. Again, compare this with the U.S. which has shifted beetween 6% and 9% since Dubya took office. Speaking of that douche- I'm no Bush supporter. He invaded the wrong two countries after 9-11, tried his darndest to turn this country into a theocracy and has been quoted as saying "It is the job of the United States Government to take care of our poor and elderly." Our worst president since Reagan- so at least we can agree on something, Zombiesoloutions. :)

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Content Just so you know right off the bat I'm a capitalist who was raised on welfare all through my childhood and lived in public housing as a teenager. So I don't dislike socialism because I "like to laugh at poor people" (I still live below the poverty line) but rather because it limits upward mobility while keeping a few well-connected demagauges in power. You say that there are no jobs in this country, and that unemployment is rampant- despite the fact that this country still maintains a higher standard of living and a much lower unemployment rate than most European countries. France has about 14% unemployment (44% of 18-35 year olds there are unemployed) and the socialist utopia which is Sweden has recently reduced their unemployment rate to 22% only after reducing government control of the economy. Again, compare this with the U.S. which has shifted beetween 6% and 9% since Dubya took office. Speaking of that douche- I'm no Bush supporter. He invaded the wrong two countries after 9-11, tried his darndest to turn this country into a theocracy and has been quoted as saying "It is the job of the United States Government to take care of our poor and elderly." Our worst president since Reagan- so at least we can agree on something, Zombiesoloutions. :)
Sep 27, 2006 2:13:26 PM CDT

The economy

by cyanide christ

I just thought I'd pop in on this one. The fact is, both sides are wrong. It's not republican's nor democrat's fault for a slowing economy. The economy has and always will be a roller coaster ride with highs and lows. It kind of has a butterfly effect where one politician blows his nose in 1992 and interest rates drop in 2009. So stop taking shots at each other and deal with it. Be happy with what you have and try to help those who have not. Remember; blue or red, we're all in this together.

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Content I just thought I'd pop in on this one. The fact is, both sides are wrong. It's not republican's nor democrat's fault for a slowing economy. The economy has and always will be a roller coaster ride with highs and lows. It kind of has a butterfly effect where one politician blows his nose in 1992 and interest rates drop in 2009. So stop taking shots at each other and deal with it. Be happy with what you have and try to help those who have not. Remember; blue or red, we're all in this together.
Sep 27, 2006 2:15:42 PM CDT

Expecting an economy to remain static...

by playahatersball

is a little like expecting the proccess of natural selection to plataeu because you're comfortable with the current status. The fact that the Chinese and Indians want to compete and trade with us can only be a good thing, unless you imagine that things should always remain the same.

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Content is a little like expecting the proccess of natural selection to plataeu because you're comfortable with the current status. The fact that the Chinese and Indians want to compete and trade with us can only be a good thing, unless you imagine that things should always remain the same.
Sep 27, 2006 2:17:08 PM CDT

yeah, what arsenic jesus said

by playahatersball

.

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Content .
Sep 27, 2006 3:00:33 PM CDT

Air Rade Freshman!

by flexfill

Run along.

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Content Run along.
Sep 27, 2006 3:19:19 PM CDT

1500 LOCAL CHANNELS?

by voice o. reason

That number is for every HD local channel in the entire country. The average customer will only see 5-10 of those 1500.

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Content That number is for every HD local channel in the entire country. The average customer will only see 5-10 of those 1500.
Sep 27, 2006 3:31:40 PM CDT

DirecTV HD Sucks!!!!!

by orionsangels

My sister has it and it looks like crap and they don't have the primetime channels in HD. I have Comcast and it looks stunning! You know that HD i'm talking about. Where it looks like a solid crystal clear window like picture. no pixels. no fuzzy distortion. nothing! I'm so impressed. I only watch HD channels. We have all the primetime channels in HD, plus the premium channels. INHD, Espn 1 and 2. MHD. Ondemand channels in HD. plus DVR. This year TV became exciting for me again. after a long time of not watching TV. Get Comcast!

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Content My sister has it and it looks like crap and they don't have the primetime channels in HD. I have Comcast and it looks stunning! You know that HD i'm talking about. Where it looks like a solid crystal clear window like picture. no pixels. no fuzzy distortion. nothing! I'm so impressed. I only watch HD channels. We have all the primetime channels in HD, plus the premium channels. INHD, Espn 1 and 2. MHD. Ondemand channels in HD. plus DVR. This year TV became exciting for me again. after a long time of not watching TV. Get Comcast!
Sep 27, 2006 3:59:22 PM CDT

Sorry, RAID.

by flexfill

I just wish I hadn't drank all that cough syrup this morning.

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Content I just wish I hadn't drank all that cough syrup this morning.
Sep 27, 2006 7:59:12 PM CDT

YES! 50 FIRST DATES ON HIGH - DEF!!!!

by jackkennedy

THE WAY IT WAS MEANT TO BE SEEN!!!!

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Content THE WAY IT WAS MEANT TO BE SEEN!!!!
Sep 28, 2006 3:38:42 PM CDT

DirecTV is too late

by the disco plumber

I can't wait around until the end of 2007 for HDTV. I've been waiting forever as it is. Verizon FioS will be in my area in January and I'm jumping all over it. And DirecTV's HD Tivo rip-off sucks too... but Verizon's probably isn't any better

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Content I can't wait around until the end of 2007 for HDTV. I've been waiting forever as it is. Verizon FioS will be in my area in January and I'm jumping all over it. And DirecTV's HD Tivo rip-off sucks too... but Verizon's probably isn't any better
Sep 28, 2006 7:44:52 PM CDT

Both of these formats...

by chromedome

...can go straight down the toilet for all I care. This format war stuff screws everyone, so I say screw em back and refuse to buy any of this crap. Retailers will stop giving it shelf space if it won't move, and the muthas will have to come up with a better solution. A combo-player is a stop-gap solution, but until it comes down under 250 bucks, they can keep it. Wait a year or two, anyway, and a newer format now in development will emerge. Teach these bozos a lesson now, and maybe they will all buy in to one single standard then. Weasels, one and all.

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Content ...can go straight down the toilet for all I care. This format war stuff screws everyone, so I say screw em back and refuse to buy any of this crap. Retailers will stop giving it shelf space if it won't move, and the muthas will have to come up with a better solution. A combo-player is a stop-gap solution, but until it comes down under 250 bucks, they can keep it. Wait a year or two, anyway, and a newer format now in development will emerge. Teach these bozos a lesson now, and maybe they will all buy in to one single standard then. Weasels, one and all.
Sep 28, 2006 9:28:09 PM CDT

1500 HD nature channels, haha!

by orionsangels

HD loves National Geographic, Discovery and IMAX movies. They love that shit for HD.

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Content HD loves National Geographic, Discovery and IMAX movies. They love that shit for HD.
Sep 28, 2006 9:32:56 PM CDT

Flip63Hole

by orionsangels

My Comcast has 15 HD channels. Granted that's not a lot. But compare that to 7 that direcTV has. Also the HD channels look fantasic! Come over my house and see my HDTV running these channels. Plus we have DVR which records HD channels, unlike the Expensive Tivo. I'm loving it. Sorry you didn't like it.

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Content My Comcast has 15 HD channels. Granted that's not a lot. But compare that to 7 that direcTV has. Also the HD channels look fantasic! Come over my house and see my HDTV running these channels. Plus we have DVR which records HD channels, unlike the Expensive Tivo. I'm loving it. Sorry you didn't like it.
Sep 28, 2006 9:34:59 PM CDT

The most important thing about having HD

by orionsangels

Is having the primtime channels in HD. That's all that matters. So you can watch the Oscars. The Superbowl and all the big events on HD.

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Content Is having the primtime channels in HD. That's all that matters. So you can watch the Oscars. The Superbowl and all the big events on HD.
Sep 29, 2006 10:46:47 AM CDT

Don't want to get political with anchorite but

by orbots commander

here goes: your guys, the Republicans can't have it both ways either. On the one hand you say, 'Don't worry, be Happy! Everything's great, money is growing on trees, cats and dogs are living together, and all is well across the land. And then you say, 'Wait! Don't you know we're all at WAR!? We're under threat by frightening terrorists and all our lives hang in the balance!'
Those are two polar opposite messages which is why many people aren't buying it. Now, you won't get me defending the Dems either, because I usually like to support a political party with a backbone that doesn't constantly maneuver based on raising a wet finger to the political winds.
I'm just sayin', that's all.

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Content here goes: your guys, the Republicans can't have it both ways either. On the one hand you say, 'Don't worry, be Happy! Everything's great, money is growing on trees, cats and dogs are living together, and all is well across the land. And then you say, 'Wait! Don't you know we're all at WAR!? We're under threat by frightening terrorists and all our lives hang in the balance!' Those are two polar opposite messages which is why many people aren't buying it. Now, you won't get me defending the Dems either, because I usually like to support a political party with a backbone that doesn't constantly maneuver based on raising a wet finger to the political winds. I'm just sayin', that's all.

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BATMAN!! HULK!! THING!! KUBRICK!! CONFUSED!! OUT OF SIGHT!! 1,650 HD Channels Next Year?? Herc’s HDTV Cellar!!

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