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Bullet Sunday 192

Posted on Sunday, July 18th, 2010

Dave!I am really too busy to blog, but if I don't rant about all the fake-ass crap that's been building up inside of me this week, I'll explode. So, apologies in advance...

   
• Faux Advertising. Am I the only one who thinks that the ads currently running for the new Kia Soul are stupid? I mean, once you get past the cuteness factor of hamsters rapping and driving around, what does it say about the car? That they're so small only hamsters can drive them?

Kia Hamsters

What's odd is that the ad is being overplayed. Almost as if Kia is wanting people to get sick of it. I mean sure it's entertaining one or two times but, once the novelty wears off, it's useless. I'd argue it actually works against the brand, as the existence of this bullet would attest. But, then again, any publicity is good publicity. I guess.

   
• Faux HD. I was channel-surfing for some background noise yesterday while I worked, and ended up watching Kevin Smith's underrated Jersey Girl on the TBS's HD Channel. And ended up screaming the entire time because the movie was NOT presented in HD. They just took the butchered SD version and stretched it out to fit the HD width. Which is bullshit. Don't go calling yourself an "HD" station if you're not going to show movies in HD. This kind of crap drives me insane. To illustrate, here's a scene from the movie Lost in Translation where a critical conversation is reduced to lips talking...

Lost in Tranlation HD Scene
The scene as God (and director Sofia Coppola) intended.

Lost in Tranlation SD Butchered Scene
The scene butchered on Standard-Def television and Pan-n-Scan DVDs.

Lost in Tranlation Butchered Faux HD Scene.
The scene butchered in Stretched-SD-Faux-HD, ala TBS

And another. This time made worse, because an entire character has been obliterated...

Lost in Tranlation HD Scene
The scene as God (and director Sofia Coppola) intended.

Lost in Tranlation Butchered SD Scene
The scene butchered on Standard-Def television and Pan-n-Scan DVDs.

Lost in Tranlation Butchered Faux HD Scene
The scene butchered in Stretched-SD-Faux-HD, ala TBS

Now, TBS is hardly the sole offender of butchering movies so stupidly, but they're one of the worst offenders. I wish the FCC would fine stations who misrepresent content. If you're an HD channel showing SD content, then don't distort the content in the hopes that nobody notices. Present it for the butchered bullshit it is...

Lost SD on HD

   
• Faux Justice. On Monday, child-raping-piece-of-shit Roman Polanski officially got away with violating a 13-year-old girl when Swiss authorities refused to extradite the infamous sexual-predator director back to the US to face charges from 30 years ago. Ultimately, I'm upset that just because somebody directs a few critically-acclaimed films they can get away with rape... but it was a decision for the Swiss, they made their decision, and I understand that. What I don't understand is how a big chunk of Hollywood stood behind Polanski and advocated for his release. People like Natalie Portman. Penelope Cruz. Whoopie Goldberg. Darren Aronofsky. Wes Anderson. And loads more. It's just baffling. My feelings were pretty well summed-up by Chris Rock on Leno a while back when he said "IT'S RAPE! IT'S RAPE!!! in total disbelief. How in the hell do you defend that?

   
• Faux Hulk. Word dropped this week that Edward Norton, who played Bruce Banner in the last Incredible Hulk movie, was not going to be reprising the role in the forthcoming Avengers movie, even though he wanted to. This is monumentally stupid on so many levels. Mostly because the Hulk is a computer special effect, and Norton only appears when Bruce Banner is in the scene. And, let's face it, in an Avengers movie they're not going to spend a lot of time with Bruce Banner...

Hulk Smash!

Marvel just wanted to save a few bucks, so they used some bullshit conflict with Norton from years ago so they could find a cheaper actor that will kiss their ass. You'd have thought they'd have learned something from the massive success of the Iron Man movie franchise... quality people make a quality product, and you get what you pay for. Not that I'm saying there aren't other actors out there that could do a good job, I just think it's incredibly lame that this is how Marvel has decided to approach the project. Fortunately, Edward Norton has managed to stay classy.

   
• Faux Righteousness. I've never understood how being Pro-Choice when it comes to abortion automatically removes you from the Pro-Life camp. I am most decidedly Pro-Life... it is the cornerstone of my beliefs. But I fully understand that this is the United States of America where people are allowed to have beliefs that are different from mine, so I am also Pro-Choice (which I explain in further detail here). Being Pro-Choice does not make me "Anti-Life" in any way, it simply makes me supportive of the ideals and freedoms upon which this country was based. And, while I don't in any way support suppressing free speech, I do feel that people should be able to make their choice free from persecution. Especially when the choice is one that's forced upon you and you're heartbroken about it.

Earlier this week, Aaron over at The Daddy Files blogged about having to take his wife to terminate their pregnancy because the baby had a rare birth defect which was causing it to slowly die inside of her. As they approached the clinic, idiotic protesters were there "doing God's work" of mercilessly abusing people by shouting things like "YOU'RE KILLING YOUR UNBORN BABY!!" Which is horrifying enough for a woman who is already scared and vulnerable... but for somebody who wants to have their baby, but can't? It's nothing less than torture. And Aaron decided to do something about it by confronting these monstrous people. I encourage you to read his story. Yes, I'm a Pro-Life-Pro-Choicer. And I am 100% for free speech. But this is not "free speech" it's harassment. It's abusive. It is literally torture. And I think it should be illegal to so ruthlessly persecute women who are already making what has to be a difficult decision THAT'S AFFORDED TO THEM LEGALLY UNDER THE LAW! These are not compassionate people of any God I know. They're evil, pure and simple.

   
• Faux Problem. What's surprising... but really not... is how most of the bitching about the iPhone 4 antenna problems come from people who don't own an iPhone 4, don't plan to buy an iPhone 4, and just enjoy mindlessly bashing everything Apple does because they're more fanatically obsessed with iPhone than even the people who own one. Of the dozen people I know that ran out and bought iPhone 4, not one has anything but raves for it. I would be one of those people, but Apple still hasn't released the iPhone 4 White, which is the one I want. With a lime green Bumper...

iPhone White and Green Bumper

Not to belittle anybody who is having problems, but... If you don't want an iPhone 4, don't buy it. If you bought one and don't like it, bring it back. It's not rocket science.

   
• Faux Trust. I am more appreciative than anybody will ever know of the people who drop by here to read my crazy crap... then thank me for creating it. I write and draw and photograph things for Blogography pretty much for myself, but it's nice to know that other people like it too. The friends I've made from this website have been a true gift, and I never feel alone no matter where I end up because my online life is always there (AT&T willing). But, as swell as blogging has been to me, I admit to being afraid of it from time to time. More and more, people are treating personal blogs as if they were irreproachable news sources rather than the opinion-pieces they really are. Even here, everything you read is just one opinion with one view and one side of the story. Mine. And even though I've met dozens of people in-person and have been blogging here for years, the scary truth is that I could be a serial killer. Or one of those Russian spies. Or a pathelogical liar. Or an agent of the devil. Or anything.

The fact that I'm a genius who is always right may seem to be a reason to trust everything I do at Blogography... and I totally encourage blind trust and allegiance as a part of my quest for world domination... but I feel compelled to point out that no blog, including mine, will ever have the whole story. I would fervently hope that before acting upon or accepting anything I say or do here, people would attempt to be fully informed. It's not a matter of trust... but responsibility.

   
Well I certainly feel better now. Annnnd... back to work.

Tags:
Categories: Apple Stuff 2010, Bullet Sunday 2010, Movies 2010Click To It: Permalink
   

Comments

  1. Poppy says:

    Not the point: I like Jersey Girl. I LOOOOOOVE Lost in Translation.

    • Dave2 says:

      It’s one of my favorite movies. With all my travels to Japan, it spoke to me on an entirely new level, and I relate to it more and more every time I see it.

      And on top of that, it’s a great movie. ๐Ÿ™‚

  2. Sybil Law says:

    But you made excellent, excellent choices to bitch about- I agree with every one of them.
    The other night, I saw nothing but Toyota commercials. I mean, I know they are up against a lot, but holy crap – it’s really making me hate Toyota. However, the Kia commercials are by far the worst. Definitely.
    I am pretty much you when it comes to abortion.
    Oooh – for Halloween we could be the Wonder Twins! ๐Ÿ˜€

  3. Finn says:

    It’s time for me to retire my old 3G, but when I went to do it, I saw the white one… drool. Now I’m trying to hold out. It’s hard.

    I love your Pro-Choice/Pro-Life stance. I think it’s a sane, rational position. Of course I may be biased. ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Dave2 says:

      Seeing as how I don’t have a uterus, I feel it’s probably even more presumptuous that I would force my opinions on somebody who does. But that’s just me. ๐Ÿ™‚

  4. Michelle M. says:

    I think the hamsters distract from how ugly the car is.

    That faux HD makes Scarlett Johansson look fat (which, unfortunately, I enjoy).

    I agree with you completely on Polanski*.

    Until I get a Wonder Woman movie, I don’t really care.

    What a horrible thing to deal with on an already horrible day. People just plain suck.

    I like that green bumper. Reminds me of a granny Smith apple – my favorite.

    *And while I often agree with your opinions I am able to inform and educate myself on various issues – so at least that’s one person you don’t need to worry about : ).

    • Dave2 says:

      โ€ข Ah, I knew those hamsters were there for a reason!

      โ€ข It may make Scarlett look fat, but it also makes my eyeballs bleed, which is worse!

      โ€ข I’m a genius who is always right, so I don’t blame you for agreeing!*

      โ€ข Soooo wanted that Joss Whedon Wonder Woman film! Hopefully one day. Though I’m sure movie execs are worried about the economics young boys not seeing the film, which is probably why we haven’t seen one. ๐Ÿ™

      โ€ข And, in this case, they are also dead-wrong.

      โ€ข I like Pink Lady apples best, but now you have me hungry for a Granny Smith!!

      *But, if there’s ever any question… you totally know I’m right, right? ๐Ÿ™‚

  5. Hilly says:

    I’m absolutely appalled by people who protest outside of abortion clinics (generally). If you “choose life” then you choose all life. Being cruel and hurtful to an adult doesn’t make you a good human being at all and you’re just trampling all over human life when you make someone feel like shit for a decision that was obviously hard in the first place. Not all people that choose abortion do so as a means of birth control and like you said, not all of us that are pro-choice would even THINK about having an abortion.

    I’m particularly fond of your last bullet point; you know why.

    • Dave2 says:

      Exactly. To me, the protesting is also a little vain and smacks of a superiority complex. People want to show that they’re all “morally superior” to people by telling them that they’re living their lives wrong. I happen to believe that life begins at conception, which takes abortion of the table for ME because of MY beliefs. I don’t pretend that I am God, and can say with absolute certainty that MY beliefs are the correct one. These people do, which actually provides two reasons that they are living against the Bible they profess is their standard.

      I wrote the last bullet point after having an email conversation with a dentist over my comments on fluoridated water. I am very concerned about studies which show it can be responsible for severe health problems… they were concerned about my concerns because they’ve seen first-hand the benefits of fluoridation. Who is right? Well, we are both making valid points, although his points were not being heard to my readers. This made me concerned that people were reading my thoughts without getting both sides of the story. But, it’s actually a good point for everything we read on the internet, so it made me hopeful people always investigate what others say before acting on one person’s opinion. ๐Ÿ™‚

  6. B.E. Earl says:

    Ugh. I’d have to say that Aaron handled that situation a bit better than I would have handled it. Someone makes my Gia cry, someone’s gonna get hurt. Just sayin’.

    And that faux HD thing bothers me too, so I simply choose not to watch anything on TBS. Too many commercials anyway. And those pop-up ads for their shows and whatnot on the bottom get to be annoying.

    • Dave2 says:

      Aaron handled things a lot better than I would have too. I just go nuts when I see self-justified persecution like that. ๐Ÿ™

      The odd thing was that all I wanted was some background noise while I was working. Jersey Girl sounded like a good fit, so I just left it there when I came across it. The problem is that I kept looking up at the picture, and every time I did I was filled with rage… which, I suppose is what Bullet Sunday is made for! ๐Ÿ™‚

  7. Lisa says:

    I have the iPhone 4 and haven’t had the problem. In fact, I get much better reception and fewer dropped calls with it than my 3G. My only issue with it is strictly operator error – I keep hanging up on people with my face when I try to do the ear to shoulder hold thing, which it’s clearly not meant to do.

    • Dave2 says:

      I’ve read that’s a bug in the software for reading the proximity sensor… Apple now knows about it, and a fix is on the way! ๐Ÿ™‚

  8. SFChick74 says:

    PC’s have caused me and the rest of the world more strife over the past 15 years than the iPhone 4 has caused everyone since it’s release and you don’t see anyone demanding a recall of Dells, HPs or Acers.

  9. RW says:

    You mean… you mean… you’re not… perfect? But I have shirts… and lanyards… and buttons. My grand daughter loves your buttons. NOW what am I supposed to tell her??

    • Dave2 says:

      I am content that you explain to her how I am a deeply disturbed genius who deserves to be respected, admired, and worshipped… despite my very rare lapses into imperfection. Wear those buttons with pride, granddaughter!

  10. NYCWD says:

    I love the hamsters.

    Especially the latest commercial featuring the music of the Black Sheep, who have long been forgotten as the hip-hop pioneers they truly were but at least are making some ducats on the cute overload advertising model.

    • Dave2 says:

      I loved the hamsters the first few times I saw them. By the time I got to what seems like my one-thousandth viewing in a single evening, they were definitely played out.

  11. whitenoise says:

    You forgot faux Pho… why is it so hard to get Bรกnh mรฌ subs in most cities?

    Seriously- the abortion issue- I agree with you- the protesters are evil. I experienced this first hand when I took my then-gf for an abortion in 1988. It made a tough day pretty much unbearable.

    And- the iPhone 4- STILL not available to us frostbacks!!!! It’s discrimination, I tells ya.

    • Dave2 says:

      You Socialist Communists up in Canada made a choice to support evil socialized health care… and this is God’s punishment. Sure we neglect those pesky sick people, but we look good doing it while sporting our iPhone 4s!

  12. muskrat says:

    Fake HD blows goats. I have proof.

  13. Ty-man has burst a number of brain cells over the fake HD bullshit.

    And being pro-choice and pro-life simultaneously? I get it. Totally.

    • Dave2 says:

      It just doesn’t make any sense. You’re broadcasting the same amount of information if you use the original HD source material vs. just stretching it out… so why?

      I don’t see Pro-Life and Pro-Choice as being in conflict. But that’s just because I’m sane.

  14. martymankins says:

    The faux HD and the pan-and-scan bullshit that has been a part of video and TV for years irritates me to no end. The stretched version of “Lost In Translation” went too far. Do they not notice that when they are broadcasting it? Doesn’t someone preview this before placing it on the air? Sheesh!

    As for the abortion client freaks that stand outside “doing God’s work”, they are not serving any useful purpose other than telling any reasonable person that they are nuts and wacked out of their skulls.

    I love the point Aaron made with recording them. I had never thought about that before, but it makes perfect sense. And his assumption is spot on. There has to be some sort of shame there. Unless they are really just selfish and don’t want their video being used in an unflattering light. Oh wait..

    • Dave2 says:

      Faux HD bothers me… but it’s TBS lying about their content that makes me go into thermonuclear meltdown. There is simply no excuse for it. None.

      Aaron made many, many good points, but his conclusion over just how cowardly these miserable excuses for human beings are is pretty much dead-on. They are happy to pick on scared, vulnerable women at a horribly difficult time with all their bravado and rhetoric, but fold like a tent when the tables are turned. They have nothing. And if their faith is so weak that they feel the need to violate principles they claim to live by, that means they ARE nothing.

  15. Truth says:

    Supporting abortion does make you an agent of the devil. Just sayin.

    • Dave2 says:

      If you had bothered to read what I wrote, you’d see that I don’t support abortion. I support people’s legal right to choose an abortion if THEIR beliefs allow it.

      But you’re right about one thing. I actually am an agent of the devil. And don’t worry, I put in a good word for you…

  16. We went to see Despicable Me at the weekend and they played that bloody Kia commercial about four times. I got that bloody song stuck in my head. Bastards.

  17. James Bow says:

    I think the best way to describe you, Dave, is that you are Pro Life, but you are NOT Anti Choice. Those protesters aren’t Pro Life. They’re just anti-choice.

  18. Avitable says:

    I think Mark Ruffalo will be a good Bruce Banner, but I hate the reason they went with him instead. And your faux trust point is a good one. Too many people take one person’s opinion as gospel truth without using their brain or doing any due diligence.

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