The Magic of Chroma Key

Don't believe what you see on TV, though they are meant to be believable.

Once upon a time in Texas

I named this blog as ‘Once upon a time in Texas’ for two unrelated topics which have only thing in common is ‘Texas’.

1. I watched the last episode of ‘Heroes’ few days ago. As a long time fan of the show, it seems like the quality of the show is going up and down and up and down again lately. Usually, I don’t really challenge the story too much, cos trying to enjoy the show rather than criticize it is the reason why I follow the show. However, that last episode titled ‘Once upon a time in Texas’ really get me cranky about one of my favorite character – Hiro. The story saying that he will kowtow Samuel (the bad guy) because Samuel has trapped Hiro’s lover – Charlie back in time. Samuel is the only one knows where she is and he will make Hiro to use his power to serve Samuel’s agenda. Oh, common! Hiro’s power is to stop time and doing time travel. He can simply going back to the minute before Charlie was kidnapped and save her. That’s it! So damn easy, why would Hiro couldn’t figure out to do that? It is just stupid on the writer side….ah…..

2. As we all know, the latest mass shooting took place in Fort Hood, Texas, but a guy with name of Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, who is an Army psychiatrist. Of course, massacre is always bad, I’m sorry for the lost of lives and the suffering of the livings who are closed to them. However, what get me thinking about this case is that this case is actually quite different.

Unlike many other pervious mass shooting massacre in the States, the ‘suspect’ or I would say those guys who went ‘nut’, are usually fit the image of being a loner, a loser, a geek that had been picked on by jocks at school or treated as a freak by others, a disgruntled employee who was fired by his boss, etc. However, the suspect in this case is a person doesn’t seem to fit any of the above. What is his motive? Is it because of religion? Or somehow he just snap? Of course, for many significant events, there is always a cocktail of causes. Since, I’m still reading Malcolm Gladwell’s “Tipping Point’, I’m just wondering what is the tipping point in this case. I’m neither an expert or have time to investigate, just being curious of what would the upcoming investigation results will be.

Another different thing about this case is that the suspect is still alive. So, the motive won’t be figured out by circumstantial evidences and testimony from those so-called experts. Cos, this suspect is a psychiatrist himself, that makes this case more interesting than the others. I don’t think he can go ‘Hannibal’ again like Dr. Lecter in the ‘Silence of the Lamb’ series. Also, this suspect is a mass murder, not a serial killer. Their psychiatric states are different. I think more updates will be reported in news in coming days and weeks.

However, if the findings from the suspect is really closely related to his religion, then it will be a very sensitive political case for the President and the military to deal with. Even without any evidence at the moment, simply based on the superficial evidence that the guy was shouting religious related sound bite while he was firing at people. That has already generate a wave of condemn from the Left and Right to elevate this from a crime into political strategy of some sorts. Anyway, I would continue to watch out the development of this case to ‘feed’ my curiosity.

R.I.P. Sarah Connor and Michael Scofield

In the last few years, I didn't have much time to watch TV, but there are still few series that I tried to catch up 'somehow', mostly on the web. Now, except "Heroes" which will still see the light for season 5 - Redemption. My other 2 remaining favorites are all come to ends! Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles will not be renewed for season 3 and PrisonBreak runs its course in season 4 with the DEATH of Michael Scofield! Well, Sarch Connor has cancer and we all know that she is dead too. 

So, that's it! I think I need to start to search for something good to watch when I've time. Not sure if 'Fringe' is any good.....

An idea about TV ads in future

My thought on TV advertising in future….

Current situation – TV audiences are diminishing in number and they are getting old. Yes, they still do have money to spend, but in the long run, TV programs will be delivered via the web rather than through the traditional TV set. Yes, there is a trend that TV sets are more become a LCD monitor with some PC capabilities. That’s another sorry, it is no doubt that many young folks are watching TV programs on their PC/laptop/netbook than before, most young people just want to watch whatever they want to watch at the time that they want. So, TV Guides will become obsolete if they don’t change in future.

TV programs are popping up on the web in many ways: in the official websites of the TV broadcasting companies, in blogs, in various websites with online TV weblinks, Youtube, Joost, Hulu, etc. Based on what I see in many cases, the broadcasters are just using similar tactics are they did on traditional TV, i.e. attach TV ads to TV programs, kinda force folks to watch them before they watch the TV clips.

Thoughts for the future – As I said before, people want to watch whatever they want whenever they want. It also means that they will not tolerate the ‘enforced’ ads that they need to watch in order to watch the shows of their choice. That just not only apply to TV shows, it applies webpage as well. Cites an example of Forbes.com, how many times I will look up the ‘x’ at the top right corner to turn off the whatever ad they want to show me when I just want to read the article that I want. Those intrusive ads just annoy me, I would say, don’t show what I don’t want to see, I don’t care how good your product or services are! However, does it mean that ad has no role in future? No, they just need to do that differently. There is something call ‘product placement’ in movies or TV shows. Like you see a guy pulling a bottle of Pepsi slowly in an ‘awkward’ position just want to show you the ‘Pepsi’ logo. That was bad! But, if product placement can be done wisely, it should help a lot.

For example, when you are watching ‘Desperate Housewife’, some might want to know where do those actresses get their clothes from, or when you watch CSI, you may want to know where you can buy those cool gadgets, like torches, or the nice suits that the actors wore. If someone can develop a technology that can allow folks to ‘freeze’ the screenshot, and show ‘links’ and ‘pointers’ to describe where are those clothes or products on the screens are from, then that should fit the idea of getting whatever viewers want whenever they want it. E.g. they may put a yellow dot at the top right corner of the screen showing that product placement info is available for that screen. If there is none, then the yellow dot will disappear. I know that would be able distracting as well, but certainly, showing the dot is optional and per user request. Somewhat like to on-screen script for the visual impaired. I’m sure that if I want certain product information on that screen that I watch, when I get my butt moving to click those links to view about those product info, I more likely will go to buy that product that just viewing some blind advertising that wasting my time. Like, if I saw the actor is driving a nice car on the show, if I want to know about that car, I can click the links to view the info about that car, or click other links to view the detail spec of the car, where can I get it, and what price. You know what I mean? That is more a smart advertising approach than the current one. Cos, I think this kind of ‘Pull advertising’ is much more effective than the ‘push advertising’ that are prevalently done in today’s media.

I know there are still a wide variety of considerations involved, like what kind of products can that applied? The cost involved? The nature of products, etc. However, what I just mentioned is an idea that must be further built upon in order to be effective. Just two cents from me!

My current favorite TV series

While still recovering from my flu. I was able to spare around 45 minutes last night on YouTube to watch the season 3 premire of Heroes. It is one of my favorite TV series. This show can keep going on and on, cos it involves time travel and alternative universe, that pretty means nobody needs to die. Special effect is decent for a TV show and the characters are still attractive. However, I hope they can continue to tight up the script, otherwise, to many characters with broken pieces are somewhat tiring and hard to follow. Just don't know how to fit with each other. Definitely, I will continue to follow up this show if I can.

Prison Break season 4 has just begun. I still have not chasing it yet. I like the first and second season a lot. The third one is a bit lackluster, don't know where do they wanna take to show to in this season. Cos, there is only so much the characters 'should' do. Hope they will end this show in high note.

I've been fan of Terminator films for a long time. I was kinda skeptical of this TV series at the beginning. However, after viewing the first episode earlier this week. I think I've changed my mind. Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles can still be entertaining. However, this show has to be restricted by the boundaries imposed by the films. As it is supposed to take place between T2 and T3. So, here' go. I just hope this show won't grow to be cheezy, especially between the girl terminator and John Connor. Anyway, I will try to stay to view this show since there are only 9 episodes for season one.

Well, there are certainly other good shows out there. Unfortunately, I think I can barely find time to catch up the above. When you have a small stomach, there is only so much you can chew. Cheers!