Re: [scifinoir2] BBC America brings back Van Helsing in Demons

[Mr. Worf]

That is how mediocrity is created. I think that hollywood goes through fads.
CGI right now is a fad, just as car chases was once the big thing.

On Wed, Dec 30, 2009 at 7:46 PM, Keith Johnson wrote:

>
>
> I agree about Van Helsing. But I always find myself wondering: do we *have*
> to produce CGI/FX/action heavy films over sturdy writing and acting to get
> younger people to watch? I guess that tail-wagging-dog question is brought
> up with every new generation, but I often feel that if we give people good
> quality, they'll appreciate it and learn to like it.
> The method of just giving up is like saying there's no use to cook a good
> hamburger or steak anymore, because everyone's palette is ruined by
> McDonalds and places like that. Can't people still appreciate a superior
> burger when one's given to them?
>
> - Original Message -
> From: "Omari Confer" 
> To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Wednesday, December 30, 2009 10:26:44 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
> Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] BBC America brings back Van Helsing in Demons
>
>
>
> Van Helsing, along with all genre work these days is designed for teens
> that have never seen a classic horror movie. Never seen Lon chaney or
> Frankenstein fight Dracula...
>
> In this post Matrix age, things have to be visually appealing before
> anything else..forget that we just watched Dances with Wolves.in
> Blue D.
>
> Van Helsing is just carmel popcorn made of a corn substitute
>
> The movie was born for cable.
>
> On Sat, Dec 26, 2009 at 9:32 PM, Keith Johnson 
> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> I had to chuckle when reading about "Van Helsing". I despise the movie. I
>> was critiquing it the whole time phyllis and I watched it in the theatre:
>> the anachronistic rock soundtrack, the bad dialogue, Kate Beckinsdales (who
>> I think is hot as hell) with that horrible on-again-off-again accent, the
>> bad CGI, the stupid characters, the horrible camera work. It's the movie
>> that to me showcases the rather empty talent the director is, as he'd put
>> out barely passable fare with the Mummy movies
>> Funny thing is, my older brother--a big scifi fan himself--loves Van
>> Helsing. He is always trying to convince me that I'm too hard on it, and
>> make me change my opinion. He thinks I'm a bit of a hard ass in the way I
>> review and critique movies, saying I miss the fact that every movie has
>> things in it to like. We have different tastes. He tends to like things that
>> are a bit more fluff, fun, and visually striking. While I like those things,
>> i tend to focus more on good acting and realistic plots. For example, he
>> doesn't like the darker themes in the comic and animation worlds, while I
>> love them. At any rate, he's on me all the time about "Van Helsing", even
>> getting irritated when I repeat for the eleventy millionth time that I hate
>> it.
>> And don't get me started on his feelings about my indifference towards
>> "The Fifth Element"!
>>
>>
>> - Original Message -
>> From: "Tracey de Morsella" 
>> To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
>> Sent: Saturday, December 26, 2009 4:41:10 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
>> Subject: [scifinoir2] BBC America brings back Van Helsing in Demons
>>
>>
>>
>>  Though I still haven't forgiven the great Dr. Abraham Van Helsing for
>> allowing that awful movie with Hugh Jackman to be made about him -- or for
>> not showing up and killing the entire cast of the *Twilight* -- I'm
>> excited to catch his descendants on the new British import, *Demons*.
>>
>> A new horror series from the writers of past British hits *Hex* and *
>> Merlin*, 
>> *Demons*features
>>  Philip Glenister (
>> *Life on Mars, Ashes to Ashes*) as cold, stern American Rupert Galvin.
>> The yank must recruit the last descendant of Van Helsing to join forces with
>> him commit to life battling monsters -- before those monsters kill him.
>>
>> *Demons* unveils a world just out of humans' sight -- full of vampires
>> and other inhumans. (Insert joke about politicians here.) Luke Rutherford
>> (Christian Cooke) is the "everykid" teenager forced to come to terms with
>> the harsh reality that he's the direct descendant of the vampire-hunting Van
>> Helsing.
>>
>> To train Luke, Galvin calls on the beautiful, haunted Mina Harker (Zoe
>> Tapper), a blind concert pianist and authority on the beasts preying on
>> humanity. The creepy Father Simeon (Richard Wilson) is Luke's other teacher
>> on the lore behind his enemies.
>>
>> Looking at the pilot, I do wish the hero was a little older as I don't
>> want to see "Jim Henson's Van Helsing Babies." But, I'll give it a shot.
>>
>> *Demons* premieres Saturday, January 2, 10:00 p.m. on BBC America.
>>
>>
>> http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/12/20/bbc-america-brings-back-van-helsing-in-demons/
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> READ MY BLOG
> http://centralheatingblog.blogspot.com
> STRING THEORY
> http://stringtheory.podbean.com
>
>
>
> 
>

[scifinoir2] What do you think were the best films of 2009?

[Tracey de Morsella]

What do you think were the best films of 2009?

 

 

Re: [scifinoir2] BBC America brings back Van Helsing in Demons

[Omari Confer]

Why pay for a great story when CGI is less expensive?

(why is Uwe Boll still working)

Short termflash bulbs and scarlet liquid is the thing..

Long termcontent is king..


You make your reputation in the long term but you make the money in the
short term.

For every Merchant Ivory film...you have to make a Blair Witch...

c w m

On Wed, Dec 30, 2009 at 9:46 PM, Keith Johnson wrote:

>
>
> I agree about Van Helsing. But I always find myself wondering: do we *have*
> to produce CGI/FX/action heavy films over sturdy writing and acting to get
> younger people to watch? I guess that tail-wagging-dog question is brought
> up with every new generation, but I often feel that if we give people good
> quality, they'll appreciate it and learn to like it.
> The method of just giving up is like saying there's no use to cook a good
> hamburger or steak anymore, because everyone's palette is ruined by
> McDonalds and places like that. Can't people still appreciate a superior
> burger when one's given to them?
>
> - Original Message -
> From: "Omari Confer" 
> To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
>  Sent: Wednesday, December 30, 2009 10:26:44 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada
> Eastern
> Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] BBC America brings back Van Helsing in Demons
>
>
>
> Van Helsing, along with all genre work these days is designed for teens
> that have never seen a classic horror movie. Never seen Lon chaney or
> Frankenstein fight Dracula...
>
> In this post Matrix age, things have to be visually appealing before
> anything else..forget that we just watched Dances with Wolves.in
> Blue D.
>
> Van Helsing is just carmel popcorn made of a corn substitute
>
> The movie was born for cable.
>
> On Sat, Dec 26, 2009 at 9:32 PM, Keith Johnson 
> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> I had to chuckle when reading about "Van Helsing". I despise the movie. I
>> was critiquing it the whole time phyllis and I watched it in the theatre:
>> the anachronistic rock soundtrack, the bad dialogue, Kate Beckinsdales (who
>> I think is hot as hell) with that horrible on-again-off-again accent, the
>> bad CGI, the stupid characters, the horrible camera work. It's the movie
>> that to me showcases the rather empty talent the director is, as he'd put
>> out barely passable fare with the Mummy movies
>> Funny thing is, my older brother--a big scifi fan himself--loves Van
>> Helsing. He is always trying to convince me that I'm too hard on it, and
>> make me change my opinion. He thinks I'm a bit of a hard ass in the way I
>> review and critique movies, saying I miss the fact that every movie has
>> things in it to like. We have different tastes. He tends to like things that
>> are a bit more fluff, fun, and visually striking. While I like those things,
>> i tend to focus more on good acting and realistic plots. For example, he
>> doesn't like the darker themes in the comic and animation worlds, while I
>> love them. At any rate, he's on me all the time about "Van Helsing", even
>> getting irritated when I repeat for the eleventy millionth time that I hate
>> it.
>> And don't get me started on his feelings about my indifference towards
>> "The Fifth Element"!
>>
>>
>> - Original Message -
>> From: "Tracey de Morsella" 
>> To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
>> Sent: Saturday, December 26, 2009 4:41:10 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
>> Subject: [scifinoir2] BBC America brings back Van Helsing in Demons
>>
>>
>>
>>  Though I still haven't forgiven the great Dr. Abraham Van Helsing for
>> allowing that awful movie with Hugh Jackman to be made about him -- or for
>> not showing up and killing the entire cast of the *Twilight* -- I'm
>> excited to catch his descendants on the new British import, *Demons*.
>>
>> A new horror series from the writers of past British hits *Hex* and *
>> Merlin*, 
>> *Demons*features
>>  Philip Glenister (
>> *Life on Mars, Ashes to Ashes*) as cold, stern American Rupert Galvin.
>> The yank must recruit the last descendant of Van Helsing to join forces with
>> him commit to life battling monsters -- before those monsters kill him.
>>
>> *Demons* unveils a world just out of humans' sight -- full of vampires
>> and other inhumans. (Insert joke about politicians here.) Luke Rutherford
>> (Christian Cooke) is the "everykid" teenager forced to come to terms with
>> the harsh reality that he's the direct descendant of the vampire-hunting Van
>> Helsing.
>>
>> To train Luke, Galvin calls on the beautiful, haunted Mina Harker (Zoe
>> Tapper), a blind concert pianist and authority on the beasts preying on
>> humanity. The creepy Father Simeon (Richard Wilson) is Luke's other teacher
>> on the lore behind his enemies.
>>
>> Looking at the pilot, I do wish the hero was a little older as I don't
>> want to see "Jim Henson's Van Helsing Babies." But, I'll give it a shot.
>>
>> *Demons* premieres Saturday, January 2, 10:00 p.m. on BBC America.
>>
>>
>> http://www.tv

Re: [scifinoir2] BBC America brings back Van Helsing in Demons

[Keith Johnson]

I agree about Van Helsing. But I always find myself wondering: do we *have* to 
produce CGI/FX/action heavy films over sturdy writing and acting to get younger 
people to watch? I guess that tail-wagging-dog question is brought up with 
every new generation, but I often feel that if we give people good quality, 
they'll appreciate it and learn to like it. 
The method of just giving up is like saying there's no use to cook a good 
hamburger or steak anymore, because everyone's palette is ruined by McDonalds 
and places like that. Can't people still appreciate a superior burger when 
one's given to them? 

- Original Message - 
From: "Omari Confer"  
To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Wednesday, December 30, 2009 10:26:44 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern 
Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] BBC America brings back Van Helsing in Demons 







Van Helsing, along with all genre work these days is designed for teens that 
have never seen a classic horror movie. Never seen Lon chaney or Frankenstein 
fight Dracula... 

In this post Matrix age, things have to be visually appealing before anything 
else..forget that we just watched Dances with Wolves.in Blue D. 

Van Helsing is just carmel popcorn made of a corn substitute 

The movie was born for cable. 


On Sat, Dec 26, 2009 at 9:32 PM, Keith Johnson < keithbjohn...@comcast.net > 
wrote: 









I had to chuckle when reading about "Van Helsing". I despise the movie. I was 
critiquing it the whole time phyllis and I watched it in the theatre: the 
anachronistic rock soundtrack, the bad dialogue, Kate Beckinsdales (who I think 
is hot as hell) with that horrible on-again-off-again accent, the bad CGI, the 
stupid characters, the horrible camera work. It's the movie that to me 
showcases the rather empty talent the director is, as he'd put out barely 
passable fare with the Mummy movies 
Funny thing is, my older brother--a big scifi fan himself--loves Van Helsing. 
He is always trying to convince me that I'm too hard on it, and make me change 
my opinion. He thinks I'm a bit of a hard ass in the way I review and critique 
movies, saying I miss the fact that every movie has things in it to like. We 
have different tastes. He tends to like things that are a bit more fluff, fun, 
and visually striking. While I like those things, i tend to focus more on good 
acting and realistic plots. For example, he doesn't like the darker themes in 
the comic and animation worlds, while I love them. At any rate, he's on me all 
the time about "Van Helsing", even getting irritated when I repeat for the 
eleventy millionth time that I hate it. 
And don't get me started on his feelings about my indifference towards "The 
Fifth Element"! 


- Original Message - 
From: "Tracey de Morsella" < tdli...@multiculturaladvantage.com > 
To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Saturday, December 26, 2009 4:41:10 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern 
Subject: [scifinoir2] BBC America brings back Van Helsing in Demons 









Though I still haven't forgiven the great Dr. Abraham Van Helsing for allowing 
that awful movie with Hugh Jackman to be made about him -- or for not showing 
up and killing the entire cast of the Twilight -- I'm excited to catch his 
descendants on the new British import, Demons . 

A new horror series from the writers of past British hits Hex and Merlin , 
Demons features Philip Glenister ( Life on Mars, Ashes to Ashes ) as cold, 
stern American Rupert Galvin. The yank must recruit the last descendant of Van 
Helsing to join forces with him commit to life battling monsters -- before 
those monsters kill him. 

Demons unveils a world just out of humans' sight -- full of vampires and other 
inhumans. (Insert joke about politicians here.) Luke Rutherford (Christian 
Cooke) is the "everykid" teenager forced to come to terms with the harsh 
reality that he's the direct descendant of the vampire-hunting Van Helsing. 

To train Luke, Galvin calls on the beautiful, haunted Mina Harker (Zoe Tapper), 
a blind concert pianist and authority on the beasts preying on humanity. The 
creepy Father Simeon (Richard Wilson) is Luke's other teacher on the lore 
behind his enemies. 

Looking at the pilot, I do wish the hero was a little older as I don't want to 
see "Jim Henson's Van Helsing Babies." But, I'll give it a shot. 

Demons premieres Saturday, January 2, 10:00 p.m. on BBC America. 

http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/12/20/bbc-america-brings-back-van-helsing-in-demons/
 










-- 
READ MY BLOG 
http://centralheatingblog.blogspot.com 
STRING THEORY 
http://stringtheory.podbean.com 

Re: [scifinoir2] Internet on TV might come right out of a box

[Keith Johnson]

Reading this angered me. I've been asking cable company reps for twenty-plus 
years why I can't purchase a box at the local electronics store, the same way I 
can purchase a phone. I've had them seriously try to give me scientific reasons 
as to why it's not possible to create boxes that can be sold in stores, that 
would then work with specific cable companies. And then they come out with 
generic cable/DSL modems... 
I don't think the average consumer spends much time thinking about how royally 
the Comcasts of the world screw us around, forcing us to pay for tech and 
equipment that should be available off the shelf. And odd that, once certain 
tech or technologies do show up, counter to what they said was possible, they 
simply make sure it can't work with their systems. 

- Original Message - 
From: "Kelwyn"  
To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Wednesday, December 30, 2009 10:30:55 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern 
Subject: [scifinoir2] Internet on TV might come right out of a box 






www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-tc-biz-tech-nettv-1205-1227-dec30,0,5899320.story
 

chicagotribune.com 

Internet on TV might come right out of a box 

By David Lazarus 

Tribune Newspapers 

December 30, 2009 

Comcast Corp. Chief Executive Brian Roberts was gushing recently about his 
company's impending takeover of NBC Universal, saying the deal would give 
consumers what they want, "which is access to all different types of content on 
different platforms and different times." 

That's not the half of it, but it may not be Comcast in the driver's seat. 

If federal regulators have their way, the next big thing on the tech horizon 
will be a brave new world of Internet-ready, work-with-any-network set-top 
boxes, offering consumers unprecedented multimedia options through their TVs, 
not just their computers. 

And if this plays out as the Federal Communications Commission envisions, the 
world as cable companies know it will change radically, making the potential 
synergies of the Comcast-NBC deal obsolete. 

"The consumer will be king," said Colin Crowell, senior counselor to FCC 
Chairman Julius Genachowski. "You'll be able to get your own set-top box that 
does all the whiz-bang things you want it to do, and you'll be in control." 

The FCC put out the official word in early December seeking input from industry 
players and other interested parties about changes to rules governing set-top 
boxes, including a requirement that these devices work with all networks, 
whether run by cable, satellite or phone companies. 

At the same time, the FCC is pushing ahead with efforts to make sure that 
broadband Internet access is available to virtually all households. 

"Computers may be in 74 percent of American homes," Crowell said, "but 
televisions are in 99 percent of homes. Clearly, if your television offered a 
way to easily switch over to the Internet, we would be providing a way for all 
Americans to get online." 

The upshot, as the FCC sees it, is that consumers should be able to buy 
multisystem, Internet-friendly set-top boxes in a newly energized marketplace 
where electronics firms vie for your business with innovative features and 
competitive prices. 

"Let's say you're in the mood to watch 'Sleepless in Seattle,' " Crowell said. 
"You could either get it as a movie on demand from your cable provider, or go 
online and see when it's going to be on Bravo and set your DVR to record it, or 
go to Netflix and download it." 

Or viewers could go online via their television and watch shows and movies at 
free sites such as Hulu.com. The cable industry is aware that change is coming 
down the pike. 

"The marketplace is rapidly changing," acknowledged Brian Dietz, a spokesman 
for the National Cable and Telecommunications Association. "There are a lot of 
industries experimenting with how to bring content to consumers, including the 
cable industry." 

Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune 

[scifinoir2] Internet on TV might come right out of a box

[Kelwyn]

www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-tc-biz-tech-nettv-1205-1227-dec30,0,5899320.story

chicagotribune.com

Internet on TV might come right out of a box

By David Lazarus

Tribune Newspapers

December 30, 2009


Comcast Corp. Chief Executive Brian Roberts was gushing recently about his 
company's impending takeover of NBC Universal, saying the deal would give 
consumers what they want, "which is access to all different types of content on 
different platforms and different times."

That's not the half of it, but it may not be Comcast in the driver's seat. 

If federal regulators have their way, the next big thing on the tech horizon 
will be a brave new world of Internet-ready, work-with-any-network set-top 
boxes, offering consumers unprecedented multimedia options through their TVs, 
not just their computers. 

And if this plays out as the Federal Communications Commission envisions, the 
world as cable companies know it will change radically, making the potential 
synergies of the Comcast-NBC deal obsolete. 

"The consumer will be king," said Colin Crowell, senior counselor to FCC 
Chairman Julius Genachowski. "You'll be able to get your own set-top box that 
does all the whiz-bang things you want it to do, and you'll be in control."

The FCC put out the official word in early December seeking input from industry 
players and other interested parties about changes to rules governing set-top 
boxes, including a requirement that these devices work with all networks, 
whether run by cable, satellite or phone companies. 

At the same time, the FCC is pushing ahead with efforts to make sure that 
broadband Internet access is available to virtually all households. 

"Computers may be in 74 percent of American homes," Crowell said, "but 
televisions are in 99 percent of homes. Clearly, if your television offered a 
way to easily switch over to the Internet, we would be providing a way for all 
Americans to get online."

The upshot, as the FCC sees it, is that consumers should be able to buy 
multisystem, Internet-friendly set-top boxes in a newly energized marketplace 
where electronics firms vie for your business with innovative features and 
competitive prices. 

"Let's say you're in the mood to watch 'Sleepless in Seattle,' " Crowell said. 
"You could either get it as a movie on demand from your cable provider, or go 
online and see when it's going to be on Bravo and set your DVR to record it, or 
go to Netflix and download it."

Or viewers could go online via their television and watch shows and movies at 
free sites such as Hulu.com. The cable industry is aware that change is coming 
down the pike. 

"The marketplace is rapidly changing," acknowledged Brian Dietz, a spokesman 
for the National Cable and Telecommunications Association. "There are a lot of 
industries experimenting with how to bring content to consumers, including the 
cable industry."

Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune

Re: [scifinoir2] BBC America brings back Van Helsing in Demons

[Omari Confer]

Van Helsing, along with all genre work these days is designed for teens that
have never seen a classic horror movie. Never seen Lon chaney or
Frankenstein fight Dracula...

In this post Matrix age, things have to be visually appealing before
anything else..forget that we just watched Dances with Wolves.in
Blue D.

Van Helsing is just carmel popcorn made of a corn substitute

The movie was born for cable.

On Sat, Dec 26, 2009 at 9:32 PM, Keith Johnson wrote:

>
>
> I had to chuckle when reading about "Van Helsing". I despise the movie. I
> was critiquing it the whole time phyllis and I watched it in the theatre:
> the anachronistic rock soundtrack, the bad dialogue, Kate Beckinsdales (who
> I think is hot as hell) with that horrible on-again-off-again accent, the
> bad CGI, the stupid characters, the horrible camera work. It's the movie
> that to me showcases the rather empty talent the director is, as he'd put
> out barely passable fare with the Mummy movies
> Funny thing is, my older brother--a big scifi fan himself--loves Van
> Helsing. He is always trying to convince me that I'm too hard on it, and
> make me change my opinion. He thinks I'm a bit of a hard ass in the way I
> review and critique movies, saying I miss the fact that every movie has
> things in it to like. We have different tastes. He tends to like things that
> are a bit more fluff, fun, and visually striking. While I like those things,
> i tend to focus more on good acting and realistic plots. For example, he
> doesn't like the darker themes in the comic and animation worlds, while I
> love them. At any rate, he's on me all the time about "Van Helsing", even
> getting irritated when I repeat for the eleventy millionth time that I hate
> it.
> And don't get me started on his feelings about my indifference towards "The
> Fifth Element"!
>
>
> - Original Message -
> From: "Tracey de Morsella" 
> To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Saturday, December 26, 2009 4:41:10 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
> Subject: [scifinoir2] BBC America brings back Van Helsing in Demons
>
>
>
>  Though I still haven't forgiven the great Dr. Abraham Van Helsing for
> allowing that awful movie with Hugh Jackman to be made about him -- or for
> not showing up and killing the entire cast of the *Twilight* -- I'm
> excited to catch his descendants on the new British import, *Demons*.
>
> A new horror series from the writers of past British hits *Hex* and *
> Merlin*, 
> *Demons*features
>  Philip Glenister (
> *Life on Mars, Ashes to Ashes*) as cold, stern American Rupert Galvin. The
> yank must recruit the last descendant of Van Helsing to join forces with him
> commit to life battling monsters -- before those monsters kill him.
>
> *Demons* unveils a world just out of humans' sight -- full of vampires and
> other inhumans. (Insert joke about politicians here.) Luke Rutherford
> (Christian Cooke) is the "everykid" teenager forced to come to terms with
> the harsh reality that he's the direct descendant of the vampire-hunting Van
> Helsing.
>
> To train Luke, Galvin calls on the beautiful, haunted Mina Harker (Zoe
> Tapper), a blind concert pianist and authority on the beasts preying on
> humanity. The creepy Father Simeon (Richard Wilson) is Luke's other teacher
> on the lore behind his enemies.
>
> Looking at the pilot, I do wish the hero was a little older as I don't want
> to see "Jim Henson's Van Helsing Babies." But, I'll give it a shot.
>
> *Demons* premieres Saturday, January 2, 10:00 p.m. on BBC America.
>
>
> http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/12/20/bbc-america-brings-back-van-helsing-in-demons/
>
>  
>



-- 
READ MY BLOG
http://centralheatingblog.blogspot.com
STRING THEORY
http://stringtheory.podbean.com

Re: [scifinoir2] Roll Call: What are you reading?

[Justin Mohareb]

Shutter Island.  An acquaintance said I should give it a try before I
see the film.

Justin

On Mon, Dec 28, 2009 at 4:44 PM, Kelwyn  wrote:
>
>
>
> I am reading "Queen City Jazz" by Kathleen Ann Goonan and thoroughly enjoying 
> her post apocalyptic novel. It is eerily precognitive about the incipient 
> dangers of giving too much of our lives over to "smart" tech.
>
> ~rave!
>
> http://twitter.com/ravenadal
> http://theworldebon.blogspot.com
>
> 


--
Read the Bitter Guide to the Bitter Guy.
http://thebitterguy.livejournal.com




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[scifinoir2] Re: Roll Call: What are you reading?

[Kelwyn]

First time I heard of Mr. Bucknell, I looked him up thinking he was black.  Was 
somewhat surprised by the photo of the white guy who looked back at me from his 
website - nice head of wavy, unprocessed auburn hair.  But, if Mariah Carey is 
black, I guess Tobias is "black," too.  Unlike Nelson George, I will not be 
issuing an apology.

~(no)rave!

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "B Smith"  wrote:
>
> Tobias is biracial. His father was from Grenada and his mother was English. 
> So no culture vulturing going on with him.
> 
> --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "Kelwyn"  wrote:
> >
> > Thanks for the heads-up on "Sly Mongoose."  I will add it to my queue.  I 
> > thoroughly enjoyed "Ragamuffin."  Wish a black person had written it (one 
> > prolly did but, unlike Mr. Buckell, could not get it published) but beggars 
> > like me ("were born to run!" no, wait, uh...) can't be choosers.
> > 
> > ~rave!
> > 
> > --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "B Smith"  wrote:
> > >
> > > 
> > > I'm reading the third book in Tobias Buckell's Ragamuffin series, Sly
> > > Mongoose. The series is a great space opera with the main characters
> > > hailing from colonies settled by Caribbean folk and Aztecs
> > > 
> > > http://www.amazon.com/Sly-Mongoose-Tobias-S-Buckell/dp/0765319209
> > > 
> > > 
> > > This book deals with the fallout from overthrowing the series big bads
> > > and finding out they were a control mechanism set in place by an older
> > > and even more enigmatic race. They see uncontrolled sentience as
> > > dangerous and since humanity has thrown off that leash they take steps
> > > to end it.
> > > 
> > > So far we've got scorched planets, space battles and did I mention the
> > > zombies? It's a hell of a ride.
> > > 
> > > 
> > > --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, Omari Confer 
> > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > *Remix: Making Art and Commerce Thrive in the Hybrid Economy* by
> > > > Lawrence Lessig 
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > [image: File:Lessig
> > > >
> > > remix.jpg] > > g>
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > On Mon, Dec 28, 2009 at 3:44 PM, Kelwyn ravenadal@ wrote:
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > I am reading "Queen City Jazz" by Kathleen Ann Goonan and thoroughly
> > > > > enjoying her post apocalyptic novel. It is eerily precognitive about
> > > the
> > > > > incipient dangers of giving too much of our lives over to "smart"
> > > tech.
> > > > >
> > > > > ~rave!
> > > > >
> > > > > http://twitter.com/ravenadal
> > > > > http://theworldebon.blogspot.com
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > READ MY BLOG
> > > > http://centralheatingblog.blogspot.com
> > > > STRING THEORY
> > > > http://stringtheory.podbean.com
> > > >
> > >
> >
>

Re: [scifinoir2] The End Of Free TV

[Mr. Worf]

What will more than likely happen is what happened to radio. The audience
will shift over to cable or the net. They will respond by coming up with a
pay service that focuses on local news but it won't be enough. So by 2015 we
will be still wondering why comcast is still in business.

On Wed, Dec 30, 2009 at 3:25 PM, Omari Confer wrote:

>
>
> The battle with the internet begins
>
> On Wed, Dec 30, 2009 at 3:17 PM, Mr. Worf  wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> There's a lot of stuff that the industry did that increased their costs
>> over the years. For example, the switch to robotic cameras because they
>> thought it was cheaper than hiring camera people. (only in the short term)
>> Some shows have gigantic budgets that don't pay back.
>>
>> For example, you can shoot a sitcom for $500,000-1,000,000 an episode. Law
>> and Order for about $1 million - 1.5 million but shows like Fringe can cost
>> huge amounts of money. All that CGI and explosions adds up. CSI for example
>> probably costs about 5 million or more an episode. This is all not counting
>> the actor's salaries. Some of the stuff is not really needed sometimes. For
>> example, do we really need a fly through of someone's lymphatic system?
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Dec 30, 2009 at 12:41 PM, Martin Baxter <
>> truthseeker...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> " 'Good programing is expensive,' Rupert Murdoch, whose News Corp. owns
>>> Fox, told a shareholder meeting this fall."
>>>
>>> Rupert, an old adage comes to mind.
>>>
>>> "You gotta spend money to make money."
>>>
>>> "If all the world's a stage and all the people merely players, who in
>>> bloody hell hired the director?" -- Charles L Grant
>>>
>>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
>>> From: tdli...@multiculturaladvantage.com
>>> Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 05:45:33 -0800
>>> Subject: [scifinoir2] The End Of Free TV
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>  Broadcasters' Woes Could Lead To The End Of Free TV -
>>> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/29/free-tv-in-trouble_n_405761.html
>>>
>>> NEW YORK — For more than 60 years, TV stations have broadcast news,
>>> sports and entertainment for free and made their money by showing
>>> commercials. That might not work much longer.
>>>
>>> The business model is unraveling at ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox and the local
>>> stations that carry the networks' programming. Cable TV and the Web have
>>> fractured the audience for free TV and siphoned its ad dollars. The
>>> recession has squeezed advertising further, forcing broadcasters to
>>> accelerate their push for new revenue to pay for programming.
>>>
>>> That will play out in living rooms across the country. The changes could
>>> mean higher cable or satellite TV bills, as the networks and local stations
>>> squeeze more fees from pay-TV providers such as Comcast and DirecTV for the
>>> right to show broadcast TV channels in their lineups. The networks might
>>> even ditch free broadcast signals in the next few years. Instead, they could
>>> operate as cable channels – a move that could spell the end of free TV as
>>> Americans have known it since the 1940s.
>>>
>>> "Good programing is expensive," Rupert Murdoch, whose News Corp. owns
>>> Fox, told a shareholder meeting this fall. "It can no longer be supported
>>> solely by advertising revenues."
>>>
>>> Fox is pursuing its strategy in public, warning that its broadcasts –
>>> including college football bowl games – could go dark Friday for subscribers
>>> of Time Warner Cable, unless the pay-TV operator gives Fox higher fees. For
>>> its part, Time Warner Cable is asking customers whether it should "roll
>>> over" or "get tough" in negotiations.
>>>
>>> The future of free TV also could be altered as the biggest pay-TV
>>> provider, Comcast Corp., prepares to take control of NBC. Comcast has not
>>> signaled plans to end NBC's free broadcasts. But Jeff Zucker, who runs NBC
>>> and its sister cable channels such as CNBC and Bravo, told investors this
>>> month that "the cable model is just superior to the broadcast model."
>>>
>>> The traditional broadcast model works like this: CBS, NBC, ABC and Fox
>>> distribute shows through a network of local stations. The networks own a few
>>> stations in big markets, but most are "affiliates," owned by separate
>>> companies.
>>>
>>> Traditionally the networks paid affiliates to broadcast their shows,
>>> though those fees have dwindled to near nothing as local stations have seen
>>> their audience shrink. What hasn't changed is where the money mainly comes
>>> from: advertising.
>>>
>>> Story continues below [image:
>>> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/images/v/darr.gif]
>>>
>>> Cable channels make most of their money by charging pay-TV providers a
>>> monthly fee per subscriber for their programing. On average, the pay-TV
>>> providers pay about 26 cents for each channel they carry, according to
>>> research firm SNL Kagan. A channel as highly rated as ESPN can get cl

[scifinoir2] NEW IMARO NOVEL: #4 IS OUT NOW!

[Amy Harlib]

ahar...@earthlink.net
Dear Charles,

YAY!  JOY!  I have already placed my order with Lulu.  The cover is splendid - 
just gorgeous.  Imaro seems quite evenly matched in that scene and the 
lightning bolts add a nice supernatural touch, suggests lots of fantastic 
thrills within.  The Cimmerian website is already publicizing this exciting 
event and I am spreading the word with this message.

Lots of happy fans will appreciate this New Year gift!

Thanks and Cheers!

Amy
http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/imaro-the-naama-war/6196467


Hello, Amy ... 


 Thanks for the kind comments about my Kush article.  Meanwhile, this 
year is ending with a bang, and I don't mean New Year's Eve fireworks.  The 
fourth Imaro novel, Imaro:The Naama War, is now available at lulu.com.  To see 
what the cover art looks like without text, go to:


 http://mshindo9.deviantart.com/art/Imaro-cover-art-148520864


 I'm sure you can imagine how I'm feeling now that this book is in 
print nearly 25 years after I first wrote it.  Now, at last, you will get the 
answers to the questions the first three books engendered.  Here's hoping those 
answers are worth the wait.


 Keeping on,


 Charles 


--
  Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of Flickr! 


--



  No virus found in this incoming message.
  Checked by AVG - www.avg.com 
  Version: 9.0.722 / Virus Database: 270.14.123/2594 - Release Date: 12/30/09 
02:27:00

Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Byronic hero?

[Omari Confer]

Sounds like any anti-hero.

Punisher

Man with No Name

Wolverine

etc

c w m

On Wed, Dec 30, 2009 at 2:38 PM, Martin Baxter
wrote:

>
>
> "Mad, bad and dangerous to know?" That exactly how Roger Zelazny described
> Corwin of Amber.
>
>
> "If all the world's a stage and all the people merely players, who in
> bloody hell hired the director?" -- Charles L Grant
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik
>
>
>
>
> --
> To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
> From: daikaij...@yahoo.com
> Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:52:04 +
> Subject: [scifinoir2] Re: Byronic hero?
>
>
>  Capt. Mal Reynolds from Firefly/Serenity
>
> Pepper from Tobias Buckell's Ragamuffin series
>
> Uther Doul from China Mieville's The Scar
>
> Han Solo
>
> Riddick
>
> Captain Jack Sparrow
>
> --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "Tracey de Morsella" 
> wrote:
> >
> > Blade?
> >
> >
> >
> > From: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com [mailto:scifino...@yahoogroups.com] On
> Behalf Of Mr. Worf
> > Sent: Wednesday, December 30, 2009 4:38 AM
> > To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
> > Subject: [scifinoir2] Byronic hero?
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > The Byronic hero is an idealized but flawed character <
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Character_%28arts%29> exemplified in the life
> and writings of Lord Byron <
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Gordon_Byron,_6th_Baron_Byron> ,
> characterized by his ex-lover Lady Caroline Lamb <
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Caroline_Lamb> as being "mad, bad, and
> dangerous to know".[1] <
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byronic_hero#cite_note-0>
> >
> > The best examples that I can think of off the bat is Batman, Ironman, and
> possibly James Bond.
> >
> > Can you think of some others?
> >
> > --
> > Bringing diversity to perversity for over 9 years!
> > Mahogany at:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/
> >
>
>
>
>  --
> Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft’s powerful SPAM protection. Sign up
> now. 
>
> 
>



-- 
READ MY BLOG
http://centralheatingblog.blogspot.com
STRING THEORY
http://stringtheory.podbean.com

Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Roll Call: What are you reading?

[Omari Confer]

How do you folks find the budget to buy all these books!!!

c w m
On Wed, Dec 30, 2009 at 2:54 PM, B Smith  wrote:

>
>
> Tobias is biracial. His father was from Grenada and his mother was English.
> So no culture vulturing going on with him.
>
>
> --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com , "Kelwyn"
>  wrote:
> >
> > Thanks for the heads-up on "Sly Mongoose." I will add it to my queue. I
> thoroughly enjoyed "Ragamuffin." Wish a black person had written it (one
> prolly did but, unlike Mr. Buckell, could not get it published) but beggars
> like me ("were born to run!" no, wait, uh...) can't be choosers.
> >
> > ~rave!
> >
> > --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com , "B
> Smith"  wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > > I'm reading the third book in Tobias Buckell's Ragamuffin series, Sly
> > > Mongoose. The series is a great space opera with the main characters
> > > hailing from colonies settled by Caribbean folk and Aztecs
> > >
> > > http://www.amazon.com/Sly-Mongoose-Tobias-S-Buckell/dp/0765319209
> > > 
> > >
> > > This book deals with the fallout from overthrowing the series big bads
> > > and finding out they were a control mechanism set in place by an older
> > > and even more enigmatic race. They see uncontrolled sentience as
> > > dangerous and since humanity has thrown off that leash they take steps
> > > to end it.
> > >
> > > So far we've got scorched planets, space battles and did I mention the
> > > zombies? It's a hell of a ride.
> > >
> > >
> > > --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com ,
> Omari Confer 
> > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > *Remix: Making Art and Commerce Thrive in the Hybrid Economy* by
> > > > Lawrence Lessig 
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > [image: File:Lessig
> > > >
> > > remix.jpg]<
> http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c4/Lessig_remix.jp\
> > > g>
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > On Mon, Dec 28, 2009 at 3:44 PM, Kelwyn ravenadal@ wrote:
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > I am reading "Queen City Jazz" by Kathleen Ann Goonan and
> thoroughly
> > > > > enjoying her post apocalyptic novel. It is eerily precognitive
> about
> > > the
> > > > > incipient dangers of giving too much of our lives over to "smart"
> > > tech.
> > > > >
> > > > > ~rave!
> > > > >
> > > > > http://twitter.com/ravenadal
> > > > > http://theworldebon.blogspot.com
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > READ MY BLOG
> > > > http://centralheatingblog.blogspot.com
> > > > STRING THEORY
> > > > http://stringtheory.podbean.com
> > > >
> > >
> >
>
>  
>



-- 
READ MY BLOG
http://centralheatingblog.blogspot.com
STRING THEORY
http://stringtheory.podbean.com

Re: [scifinoir2] The End Of Free TV

[Omari Confer]

The battle with the internet begins

On Wed, Dec 30, 2009 at 3:17 PM, Mr. Worf  wrote:

>
>
> There's a lot of stuff that the industry did that increased their costs
> over the years. For example, the switch to robotic cameras because they
> thought it was cheaper than hiring camera people. (only in the short term)
> Some shows have gigantic budgets that don't pay back.
>
> For example, you can shoot a sitcom for $500,000-1,000,000 an episode. Law
> and Order for about $1 million - 1.5 million but shows like Fringe can cost
> huge amounts of money. All that CGI and explosions adds up. CSI for example
> probably costs about 5 million or more an episode. This is all not counting
> the actor's salaries. Some of the stuff is not really needed sometimes. For
> example, do we really need a fly through of someone's lymphatic system?
>
>
> On Wed, Dec 30, 2009 at 12:41 PM, Martin Baxter <
> truthseeker...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> " 'Good programing is expensive,' Rupert Murdoch, whose News Corp. owns
>> Fox, told a shareholder meeting this fall."
>>
>> Rupert, an old adage comes to mind.
>>
>> "You gotta spend money to make money."
>>
>> "If all the world's a stage and all the people merely players, who in
>> bloody hell hired the director?" -- Charles L Grant
>>
>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
>> From: tdli...@multiculturaladvantage.com
>> Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 05:45:33 -0800
>> Subject: [scifinoir2] The End Of Free TV
>>
>>
>>
>>  Broadcasters' Woes Could Lead To The End Of Free TV -
>> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/29/free-tv-in-trouble_n_405761.html
>>
>> NEW YORK — For more than 60 years, TV stations have broadcast news, sports
>> and entertainment for free and made their money by showing commercials. That
>> might not work much longer.
>>
>> The business model is unraveling at ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox and the local
>> stations that carry the networks' programming. Cable TV and the Web have
>> fractured the audience for free TV and siphoned its ad dollars. The
>> recession has squeezed advertising further, forcing broadcasters to
>> accelerate their push for new revenue to pay for programming.
>>
>> That will play out in living rooms across the country. The changes could
>> mean higher cable or satellite TV bills, as the networks and local stations
>> squeeze more fees from pay-TV providers such as Comcast and DirecTV for the
>> right to show broadcast TV channels in their lineups. The networks might
>> even ditch free broadcast signals in the next few years. Instead, they could
>> operate as cable channels – a move that could spell the end of free TV as
>> Americans have known it since the 1940s.
>>
>> "Good programing is expensive," Rupert Murdoch, whose News Corp. owns Fox,
>> told a shareholder meeting this fall. "It can no longer be supported solely
>> by advertising revenues."
>>
>> Fox is pursuing its strategy in public, warning that its broadcasts –
>> including college football bowl games – could go dark Friday for subscribers
>> of Time Warner Cable, unless the pay-TV operator gives Fox higher fees. For
>> its part, Time Warner Cable is asking customers whether it should "roll
>> over" or "get tough" in negotiations.
>>
>> The future of free TV also could be altered as the biggest pay-TV
>> provider, Comcast Corp., prepares to take control of NBC. Comcast has not
>> signaled plans to end NBC's free broadcasts. But Jeff Zucker, who runs NBC
>> and its sister cable channels such as CNBC and Bravo, told investors this
>> month that "the cable model is just superior to the broadcast model."
>>
>> The traditional broadcast model works like this: CBS, NBC, ABC and Fox
>> distribute shows through a network of local stations. The networks own a few
>> stations in big markets, but most are "affiliates," owned by separate
>> companies.
>>
>> Traditionally the networks paid affiliates to broadcast their shows,
>> though those fees have dwindled to near nothing as local stations have seen
>> their audience shrink. What hasn't changed is where the money mainly comes
>> from: advertising.
>>
>> Story continues below [image:
>> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/images/v/darr.gif]
>>
>> Cable channels make most of their money by charging pay-TV providers a
>> monthly fee per subscriber for their programing. On average, the pay-TV
>> providers pay about 26 cents for each channel they carry, according to
>> research firm SNL Kagan. A channel as highly rated as ESPN can get close to
>> $4, while some, such as MTV2, go for just a few pennies.
>>
>> With both advertising and fees, ESPN has seen its revenue grow to $6.3
>> billion in 2009 from $1.8 billion a decade ago, according to SNL Kagan
>> estimates. It has been able to bid for premium events that networks had
>> traditionally aired, such as football games. Cable channels also have been
>> able to fund high-quality shows, such as AMC's "Mad Men," rather than
>>

Re: [scifinoir2] Re: BBC America Announces Launch Date for "Survivors"

[Omari Confer]

I heard Jerhico was garbage..

On Wed, Dec 30, 2009 at 4:50 PM, B Smith  wrote:

>
>
> If you like the post-apocalyptic genre it will definitely scratch that
> itch. Patterson Joseph has a great role and it's always a pleasure to watch
> Freema do her thing.
>
>
> --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com , Omari
> Confer  wrote:
> >
> > Shows that Lost is not so original.
> >
> > Is it really worth checking out?
> >
> >
> >
> > On Wed, Dec 30, 2009 at 8:31 AM, B Smith  wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > Well it's a remake of a series that predates Lost. Does that help? LOL
> > >
> > > It feels nothing like Lost. Very different characters and very
> different
> > > motivations for their actions. With 99% of the world dead by the end of
> > > episode one it gets to the meat of the series pretty quickly.
> > >
> > > If I'd compare the feel to any show it would be Jericho. Some of the
> same
> > > problems and struggles but with a lot less people and guns.
> > >
> > >
> > > --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
> > >  40yahoogroups.com>, Omari
> > > Confer  wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Any genre work with surviving parties reminds me of "Lost"..
> > > >
> > > > I want variety dag nab it!!!
> > > >
> > > > (Cant wait for The new Global Frequency to air!!)
> > > >
> > > > c w m
> > > >
> > > > On Tue, Dec 29, 2009 at 5:29 PM, B Smith  wrote:
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > What about Survivors reminds you of Lost? It has some of the same
> > > themes as
> > > > > The Walking Dead but the lack of zombies takes the story in a few
> > > different
> > > > > directions. ;)
> > > > >
> > > > > I've seen about 1/2 of season one and it's great. Things like
> > > Survivors, 28
> > > > > Days Later, Shaun of the Dead, etc. remind me just how American and
> > > British
> > > > > culture differs. The lack of accessible privately
> > > > > held firearms makes for very different storytelling. It comes into
> play
> > > in
> > > > > a big way early in the series.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
> > > > >  40yahoogroups.com>
> > > 40yahoogroups.com>, Omari
> > >
> > > > > Confer  wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > This not only sounds "Lost" like... but realize that "Walking
> Dead"
> > > is
> > > > > > coming out this yearanother year with several of the same
> > > > > shows...yeah
> > > > > >
> > > > > > On Tue, Dec 29, 2009 at 2:58 PM, Martin Baxter
> > > > > > wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I remember it, Angela, though vaguely right now. I'll need to
> go
> > > and
> > > > > pick
> > > > > > > up a prompt or fourteen.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > "If all the world's a stage and all the people merely players,
> who
> > > in
> > > > > > > bloody hell hired the director?" -- Charles L Grant
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > --
> > > > > > > To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
> > > > > > >  40yahoogroups.com>
> > > 40yahoogroups.com>
> > >
> > > > > > > From: asrobinson@
> > > > >
> > > > > > > Date: Tue, 29 Dec 2009 04:40:51 +
> > > > > > > Subject: [scifinoir2] Re: BBC America Announces Launch Date for
> > > > > "Survivors"
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > It's on my calendar now too! Thanks.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Weren't we all recently discussing wanting a show that would
> pick
> > > up
> > > > > where
> > > > > > > movies like 2012 leave off? At the time I asked if anyone had
> seen
> > > the
> > > > > 1984
> > > > > > > PBS movie Threads. It was pretty provacative. Anyone else
> remeber
> > > it?
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Angela
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > --- In 
> > > > > > > scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 40yahoogroups.com>
> > > 40yahoogroups.com>,
> > >
> > > > > "Tracey de Morsella" 
> > > > > > > wrote:
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > BBC America Announces Launch Date for "Survivors"
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > BBC America  has
> > > announced
> > > > > the
> > > > > > > > launch date for post-apocalyptic drama series Survivors
> > > > > > > >  . The much-delayed
> > > Survivors
> > > > > > > >  , which is an
> adaptation
> > > of
> > > > > the
> > > > > > > cult
> > > > > > > > classic 1970s series (itself based on Terry Nation
> > > > > > > >  's novel), will have
> its
> > > Us
> > > > > > > premiere
> > > > > > > > on Saturday, February 13th at 8 pm Et/Pt, before shifting to
> its
> > > > > regular
> > > > > > > > timeslot at 9 pm Et/Pt the following week. The series tracks
> the
> > > > > > > adventures
> > > > > > > > of a group of people who survive a global viral holocaust
> that
> > > wipes
> > > > > out
> > > > > > > 99
> > > > > > > > percent of the human race's population and who struggle to
> stay
> > 

[scifinoir2] Re: BBC America Announces Launch Date for "Survivors"

[B Smith]

If you like the post-apocalyptic genre it will definitely scratch that itch. 
Patterson Joseph has a great role and it's always a pleasure to watch Freema do 
her thing.

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, Omari Confer  wrote:
>
> Shows that Lost is not so original.
> 
> Is it really worth checking out?
> 
> 
> 
> On Wed, Dec 30, 2009 at 8:31 AM, B Smith  wrote:
> 
> >
> >
> > Well it's a remake of a series that predates Lost. Does that help? LOL
> >
> > It feels nothing like Lost. Very different characters and very different
> > motivations for their actions. With 99% of the world dead by the end of
> > episode one it gets to the meat of the series pretty quickly.
> >
> > If I'd compare the feel to any show it would be Jericho. Some of the same
> > problems and struggles but with a lot less people and guns.
> >
> >
> > --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com , Omari
> > Confer  wrote:
> > >
> > > Any genre work with surviving parties reminds me of "Lost"..
> > >
> > > I want variety dag nab it!!!
> > >
> > > (Cant wait for The new Global Frequency to air!!)
> > >
> > > c w m
> > >
> > > On Tue, Dec 29, 2009 at 5:29 PM, B Smith  wrote:
> > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > What about Survivors reminds you of Lost? It has some of the same
> > themes as
> > > > The Walking Dead but the lack of zombies takes the story in a few
> > different
> > > > directions. ;)
> > > >
> > > > I've seen about 1/2 of season one and it's great. Things like
> > Survivors, 28
> > > > Days Later, Shaun of the Dead, etc. remind me just how American and
> > British
> > > > culture differs. The lack of accessible privately
> > > > held firearms makes for very different storytelling. It comes into play
> > in
> > > > a big way early in the series.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
> > > >  > 40yahoogroups.com>, Omari
> >
> > > > Confer  wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > This not only sounds "Lost" like... but realize that "Walking Dead"
> > is
> > > > > coming out this yearanother year with several of the same
> > > > shows...yeah
> > > > >
> > > > > On Tue, Dec 29, 2009 at 2:58 PM, Martin Baxter
> > > > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I remember it, Angela, though vaguely right now. I'll need to go
> > and
> > > > pick
> > > > > > up a prompt or fourteen.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > "If all the world's a stage and all the people merely players, who
> > in
> > > > > > bloody hell hired the director?" -- Charles L Grant
> > > > > >
> > > > > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > --
> > > > > > To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
> > > > > >  > 40yahoogroups.com>
> >
> > > > > > From: asrobinson@
> > > >
> > > > > > Date: Tue, 29 Dec 2009 04:40:51 +
> > > > > > Subject: [scifinoir2] Re: BBC America Announces Launch Date for
> > > > "Survivors"
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > It's on my calendar now too! Thanks.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Weren't we all recently discussing wanting a show that would pick
> > up
> > > > where
> > > > > > movies like 2012 leave off? At the time I asked if anyone had seen
> > the
> > > > 1984
> > > > > > PBS movie Threads. It was pretty provacative. Anyone else remeber
> > it?
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Angela
> > > > > >
> > > > > > --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
> > > > > >  > 40yahoogroups.com>,
> >
> > > > "Tracey de Morsella" 
> > > > > > wrote:
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > BBC America Announces Launch Date for "Survivors"
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > BBC America  has
> > announced
> > > > the
> > > > > > > launch date for post-apocalyptic drama series Survivors
> > > > > > >  . The much-delayed
> > Survivors
> > > > > > >  , which is an adaptation
> > of
> > > > the
> > > > > > cult
> > > > > > > classic 1970s series (itself based on Terry Nation
> > > > > > >  's novel), will have its
> > Us
> > > > > > premiere
> > > > > > > on Saturday, February 13th at 8 pm Et/Pt, before shifting to its
> > > > regular
> > > > > > > timeslot at 9 pm Et/Pt the following week. The series tracks the
> > > > > > adventures
> > > > > > > of a group of people who survive a global viral holocaust that
> > wipes
> > > > out
> > > > > > 99
> > > > > > > percent of the human race's population and who struggle to stay
> > alive
> > > > in
> > > > > > the
> > > > > > > face of unspeakable odds following this global catastrophe. In
> > the
> > > > > > official
> > > > > > > scheduling announcement, BBC <
> > http://www.imdb.com/company/co0118334/
> > > > >
> > > > > > > America refers to the "twelve-episode season" of Survivors
> > > > > > >  , which is a sign that
> > the
> > > > > > digital
> > > > > > > cabler intend to air the first two UK seasons of Survivors
> > > > > >

Re: [scifinoir2] Re: BBC America Announces Launch Date for "Survivors"

[Omari Confer]

Shows that Lost is not so original.

Is it really worth checking out?



On Wed, Dec 30, 2009 at 8:31 AM, B Smith  wrote:

>
>
> Well it's a remake of a series that predates Lost. Does that help? LOL
>
> It feels nothing like Lost. Very different characters and very different
> motivations for their actions. With 99% of the world dead by the end of
> episode one it gets to the meat of the series pretty quickly.
>
> If I'd compare the feel to any show it would be Jericho. Some of the same
> problems and struggles but with a lot less people and guns.
>
>
> --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com , Omari
> Confer  wrote:
> >
> > Any genre work with surviving parties reminds me of "Lost"..
> >
> > I want variety dag nab it!!!
> >
> > (Cant wait for The new Global Frequency to air!!)
> >
> > c w m
> >
> > On Tue, Dec 29, 2009 at 5:29 PM, B Smith  wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > What about Survivors reminds you of Lost? It has some of the same
> themes as
> > > The Walking Dead but the lack of zombies takes the story in a few
> different
> > > directions. ;)
> > >
> > > I've seen about 1/2 of season one and it's great. Things like
> Survivors, 28
> > > Days Later, Shaun of the Dead, etc. remind me just how American and
> British
> > > culture differs. The lack of accessible privately
> > > held firearms makes for very different storytelling. It comes into play
> in
> > > a big way early in the series.
> > >
> > >
> > > --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
> > >  40yahoogroups.com>, Omari
>
> > > Confer  wrote:
> > > >
> > > > This not only sounds "Lost" like... but realize that "Walking Dead"
> is
> > > > coming out this yearanother year with several of the same
> > > shows...yeah
> > > >
> > > > On Tue, Dec 29, 2009 at 2:58 PM, Martin Baxter
> > > > wrote:
> > >
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > I remember it, Angela, though vaguely right now. I'll need to go
> and
> > > pick
> > > > > up a prompt or fourteen.
> > > > >
> > > > > "If all the world's a stage and all the people merely players, who
> in
> > > > > bloody hell hired the director?" -- Charles L Grant
> > > > >
> > > > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > --
> > > > > To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
> > > > >  40yahoogroups.com>
>
> > > > > From: asrobinson@
> > >
> > > > > Date: Tue, 29 Dec 2009 04:40:51 +
> > > > > Subject: [scifinoir2] Re: BBC America Announces Launch Date for
> > > "Survivors"
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > It's on my calendar now too! Thanks.
> > > > >
> > > > > Weren't we all recently discussing wanting a show that would pick
> up
> > > where
> > > > > movies like 2012 leave off? At the time I asked if anyone had seen
> the
> > > 1984
> > > > > PBS movie Threads. It was pretty provacative. Anyone else remeber
> it?
> > > > >
> > > > > Angela
> > > > >
> > > > > --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
> > > > >  40yahoogroups.com>,
>
> > > "Tracey de Morsella" 
> > > > > wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > BBC America Announces Launch Date for "Survivors"
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > BBC America  has
> announced
> > > the
> > > > > > launch date for post-apocalyptic drama series Survivors
> > > > > >  . The much-delayed
> Survivors
> > > > > >  , which is an adaptation
> of
> > > the
> > > > > cult
> > > > > > classic 1970s series (itself based on Terry Nation
> > > > > >  's novel), will have its
> Us
> > > > > premiere
> > > > > > on Saturday, February 13th at 8 pm Et/Pt, before shifting to its
> > > regular
> > > > > > timeslot at 9 pm Et/Pt the following week. The series tracks the
> > > > > adventures
> > > > > > of a group of people who survive a global viral holocaust that
> wipes
> > > out
> > > > > 99
> > > > > > percent of the human race's population and who struggle to stay
> alive
> > > in
> > > > > the
> > > > > > face of unspeakable odds following this global catastrophe. In
> the
> > > > > official
> > > > > > scheduling announcement, BBC <
> http://www.imdb.com/company/co0118334/
> > > >
> > > > > > America refers to the "twelve-episode season" of Survivors
> > > > > >  , which is a sign that
> the
> > > > > digital
> > > > > > cabler intend to air the first two UK seasons of Survivors
> > > > > >  back-to-back. Season One,
> > > which
> > > > > > aired in the UK in 2008, was comprised of six episodes and the
> second
> > > > > season
> > > > > > of >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > - Jace
> > > > > >
> > > > > > http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1157595/news#ni1324874
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > --
> > > > > Hotmail: Powerful Free email with security by Microsoft. Get it
> now.<
> > > http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222986/direct/01/>
> > >
> > > > >

Re: [scifinoir2] Re: New HP Webcam Can’t See Black People?

[Mr. Worf]

Just a load of crap...

On Wed, Dec 30, 2009 at 1:40 PM, Martin  wrote:

>
>
> HP's studied response to this.
>
> http://dvice.com/archives/2009/12/hp-responds-to.php
>
> --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "Mr. Worf"  wrote:
> >
> > Wow...
> >
> >
> http://elev8.com/better-living/products/sheeri-mitchell/new-hp-webcam-cant-see-black-people/
> > VIDEO: New HP Webcam Can’t See Black People?
> > By Sheeri Mitchell  December
> 23,
> > 2009 9:45 pm
> >
> > [image: desi natal and hp
> > webcam]<
> http://elev8.com/better-living/products/sheeri-mitchell/new-hp-webcam-cant-see-black-people/attachment/desi-natal-and-hp-webcam/
> >Question:
> > Can a webcam be racist?
> >
> > Answer: Probably not.
> >
> > However, it certainly can discriminate based on color, as this Youtube
> video
> > proves. Two co-workers, Wanda and Desi, one White woman and one
> > African-American man of a darker hue, demonstrate the failure of Hewlett
> > Packard to create a webcam that can track folks with dark skin.
> >
> > Could the failure be a snafu caused by lighting or just a failure of R &
> D
> > to test their camera out on non-whites? I would have loved to have seen
> if
> > the camera failed to track other people of color and to see at exactly
> what
> > shade of brown it stopped working properly. I wonder what HP will have to
> > say about this development. From this point it’s only a matter of time
> > before the “Racist Webcam†ends up as a skit on Saturday Night Live.
> >
> > Check out the video below and tell us what you think. It might be funny
> if
> > it weren’t such a big FAIL for HP.
> >
> > Read more:
> >
> http://elev8.com/better-living/products/sheeri-mitchell/new-hp-webcam-cant-see-black-people/#ixzz0ahGxkqAi
> >
> >
> > --
> > Bringing diversity to perversity for over 9 years!
> > Mahogany at:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/
> >
>
>
> 




-- 
Bringing diversity to perversity for over 9 years!
Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/

Re: [scifinoir2] Amazon sells more eBooks than actual books

[Adrianne Brennan]

Awww...thanks, Martin! I resisted doing the group email spam thing about it
here. One's a vampire novel and the other's a m/m scifi/paranormal.

:)

~ "Where love and magic meet" ~
http://www.adriannebrennan.com
Experience the magic of the Dark Moon series:
http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#darkmoon
Dare to take The Oath in this erotic fantasy series:
http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#the_oath
The future of psychic sex - Dawn of the Seraphs (m/m):
http://www.adriannebrennan.com/dawnoftheseraphs.html


On Wed, Dec 30, 2009 at 3:34 PM, Martin Baxter
wrote:

>
>
> Congrats on your releases, Adrianne!
>
>
> "If all the world's a stage and all the people merely players, who in
> bloody hell hired the director?" -- Charles L Grant
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik
>
>
>
>
> --
> To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
> From: adrianne.bren...@gmail.com
> Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 13:21:41 -0500
>
> Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Amazon sells more eBooks than actual books
>
>
>  I just had two print releases. One of them arrived on my doorstep a few
> weeks ago, and I wholeheartedly confess that the first thing I did was jump
> up and down and dance in my living room with it in my hands, thoroughly
> scaring the crap out of my kitties. XD
>
> So yeah, I can understand that. It's a bit more visceral.
>
>
> ~ "Where love and magic meet" ~
> http://www.adriannebrennan.com
> Experience the magic of the Dark Moon series:
> http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#darkmoon
> Dare to take The Oath in this erotic fantasy series:
> http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#the_oath
> The future of psychic sex - Dawn of the Seraphs (m/m):
> http://www.adriannebrennan.com/dawnoftheseraphs.html
>
>
> On Wed, Dec 30, 2009 at 1:19 PM, Keith Johnson 
> wrote:
>
>
>
> I can respect that. I like the concept too, but nothing beats that
> parchment!
> But then, hell, I still sometimes miss the comforting slow spin of the
> telephone wheel back when we had to dial numbers on a rotary phone! Or the
> more real-seeming scratch-scratch of albums on the turntable, the
> imperfections in the LP seeming natural. And don't get me started on the
> fire-like glow of an old-fashioned tube radio in the night!
>
>
>
>
> - Original Message -
> From: "Adrianne Brennan" 
> To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Wednesday, December 30, 2009 5:32:30 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
> Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Amazon sells more eBooks than actual books
>
>
>  As an ebook author, I'm not shocked, but I am happy to see it. :)
>
> I encourage publishing in both mediums for accessibility, but I prefer
> ebooks these days. Running out of shelves and places to put more shelves!
>
> ~ "Where love and magic meet" ~
> http://www.adriannebrennan.com
> Experience the magic of the Dark Moon series:
> http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#darkmoon
> Dare to take The Oath in this erotic fantasy series:
> http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#the_oath
> The future of psychic sex - Dawn of the Seraphs (m/m):
> http://www.adriannebrennan.com/dawnoftheseraphs.html
>
>
> On Tue, Dec 29, 2009 at 10:39 PM, Keith Johnson  > wrote:
>
>
>
> I think that's inevitable for industrialized, high-tech parts of the world.
> I know an ever-increasing number of adults
> and kids who barelyread any books, electronic or paperback. but what they
> do read is a lot of web stuff, play a lot of video games, and fiddle around
> with iPods, cell phones, etc. Such people are positioned to respond more to
> devices like the Kindle.
> I like the Kindle and plan to own one some day. but no electronics will
> ever replace the real things for me. There's something great about the
> tactile feeling of turning the pages of a magazine or book. And it's also
> nice to not have to worry about power supplies, damage to electronics, etc.
>
> - Original Message -
> From: "Kelwyn" 
> To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Monday, December 28, 2009 4:23:45 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
> Subject: [scifinoir2] Amazon sells more eBooks than actual books
>
>
>  Amazon has announced that it sold lots of Kindle eReaders this Christmas.
> And what's more interesting is that Amazon sold more eBooks on Christmas day
> than actual books. Are we moving towards a world where regular paper books
> are going to become a thing of the past?
>
>
> http://nexus404.com/Blog/2009/12/27/amazon-sells-record-number-of-kindle-ereaders-amazon-sells-more-kindle-ebooks-than-actual-books-this-christmas/
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. Sign up 
> now.
>
> 
>

[scifinoir2] Re: New HP Webcam Can’t See Black People?

[Martin]

HP's studied response to this.

http://dvice.com/archives/2009/12/hp-responds-to.php


--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "Mr. Worf"  wrote:
>
> Wow...
>
>
http://elev8.com/better-living/products/sheeri-mitchell/new-hp-webcam-ca\
nt-see-black-people/
> VIDEO: New HP Webcam Can’t See Black People?
> By Sheeri Mitchell  December
23,
> 2009 9:45 pm
>
> [image: desi natal and hp
>
webcam]Questio\
n:
> Can a webcam be racist?
>
> Answer: Probably not.
>
> However, it certainly can discriminate based on color, as this Youtube
video
> proves. Two co-workers, Wanda and Desi, one White woman and one
> African-American man of a darker hue, demonstrate the failure of
Hewlett
> Packard to create a webcam that can track folks with dark skin.
>
> Could the failure be a snafu caused by lighting or just a failure of R
& D
> to test their camera out on non-whites? I would have loved to have
seen if
> the camera failed to track other people of color and to see at exactly
what
> shade of brown it stopped working properly.  I wonder what HP will
have to
> say about this development. From this point it’s only a matter
of time
> before the “Racist Webcam” ends up as a skit on Saturday
Night Live.
>
> Check out the video below and tell us what you think. It might be
funny if
> it weren’t such a big FAIL for HP.
>
> Read more:
>
http://elev8.com/better-living/products/sheeri-mitchell/new-hp-webcam-ca\
nt-see-black-people/#ixzz0ahGxkqAi
>
>
> --
> Bringing diversity to perversity for over 9 years!
> Mahogany at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/
>

Re: [scifinoir2] The End Of Free TV

[Mr. Worf]

There's a lot of stuff that the industry did that increased their costs over
the years. For example, the switch to robotic cameras because they thought
it was cheaper than hiring camera people. (only in the short term) Some
shows have gigantic budgets that don't pay back.

For example, you can shoot a sitcom for $500,000-1,000,000 an episode. Law
and Order for about $1 million - 1.5 million but shows like Fringe can cost
huge amounts of money. All that CGI and explosions adds up. CSI for example
probably costs about 5 million or more an episode. This is all not counting
the actor's salaries. Some of the stuff is not really needed sometimes. For
example, do we really need a fly through of someone's lymphatic system?

On Wed, Dec 30, 2009 at 12:41 PM, Martin Baxter
wrote:

>
>
> " 'Good programing is expensive,' Rupert Murdoch, whose News Corp. owns
> Fox, told a shareholder meeting this fall."
>
> Rupert, an old adage comes to mind.
>
> "You gotta spend money to make money."
>
> "If all the world's a stage and all the people merely players, who in
> bloody hell hired the director?" -- Charles L Grant
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik
>
>
>
>
> --
> To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
> From: tdli...@multiculturaladvantage.com
> Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 05:45:33 -0800
> Subject: [scifinoir2] The End Of Free TV
>
>
>
> Broadcasters' Woes Could Lead To The End Of Free TV -
> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/29/free-tv-in-trouble_n_405761.html
>
> NEW YORK — For more than 60 years, TV stations have broadcast news, sports
> and entertainment for free and made their money by showing commercials. That
> might not work much longer.
>
> The business model is unraveling at ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox and the local
> stations that carry the networks' programming. Cable TV and the Web have
> fractured the audience for free TV and siphoned its ad dollars. The
> recession has squeezed advertising further, forcing broadcasters to
> accelerate their push for new revenue to pay for programming.
>
> That will play out in living rooms across the country. The changes could
> mean higher cable or satellite TV bills, as the networks and local stations
> squeeze more fees from pay-TV providers such as Comcast and DirecTV for the
> right to show broadcast TV channels in their lineups. The networks might
> even ditch free broadcast signals in the next few years. Instead, they could
> operate as cable channels – a move that could spell the end of free TV as
> Americans have known it since the 1940s.
>
> "Good programing is expensive," Rupert Murdoch, whose News Corp. owns Fox,
> told a shareholder meeting this fall. "It can no longer be supported solely
> by advertising revenues."
>
> Fox is pursuing its strategy in public, warning that its broadcasts –
> including college football bowl games – could go dark Friday for subscribers
> of Time Warner Cable, unless the pay-TV operator gives Fox higher fees. For
> its part, Time Warner Cable is asking customers whether it should "roll
> over" or "get tough" in negotiations.
>
> The future of free TV also could be altered as the biggest pay-TV provider,
> Comcast Corp., prepares to take control of NBC. Comcast has not signaled
> plans to end NBC's free broadcasts. But Jeff Zucker, who runs NBC and its
> sister cable channels such as CNBC and Bravo, told investors this month that
> "the cable model is just superior to the broadcast model."
>
> The traditional broadcast model works like this: CBS, NBC, ABC and Fox
> distribute shows through a network of local stations. The networks own a few
> stations in big markets, but most are "affiliates," owned by separate
> companies.
>
> Traditionally the networks paid affiliates to broadcast their shows, though
> those fees have dwindled to near nothing as local stations have seen their
> audience shrink. What hasn't changed is where the money mainly comes from:
> advertising.
>
> Story continues below [image:
> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/images/v/darr.gif]
>
> Cable channels make most of their money by charging pay-TV providers a
> monthly fee per subscriber for their programing. On average, the pay-TV
> providers pay about 26 cents for each channel they carry, according to
> research firm SNL Kagan. A channel as highly rated as ESPN can get close to
> $4, while some, such as MTV2, go for just a few pennies.
>
> With both advertising and fees, ESPN has seen its revenue grow to $6.3
> billion in 2009 from $1.8 billion a decade ago, according to SNL Kagan
> estimates. It has been able to bid for premium events that networks had
> traditionally aired, such as football games. Cable channels also have been
> able to fund high-quality shows, such as AMC's "Mad Men," rather than
> recycling movies and TV series.
>
> That, plus a growing number of channels, has given cable a bigger share of
> the ad pie. In 1998, cable channels drew roughly $9.1 billion, or 24 percent
> of total TV ad spending, according to the Televisi

Re: [scifinoir2] The End Of Free TV

[Mr. Worf]

I figured that this was coming a while back. This is another side effect of
deregulation. It is also the networks own fault for selling off affiliates
to make quick cash way back when. Couple that with the broken business model
and you can see a string of problems that were never resolved adding up to
this decision. Their own greed is killing the industry.

Maybe its a good thing though. I would love to see more local programming.
There's a lot of things that were good about it. The problem is that many of
the stations cannot afford to do a lot of their own programming. for
example, in San Francisco, the NBC station was sold by NBC to a fly by night
network. When they attempted to turn around and resell the station they lost
the NBC programming. When they couldn't find a buyer they threatened to shut
down the station. The seller ended up keeping the station and running it on
a shoestring budget. (they also tried to run it as a CW affiliate)

On Wed, Dec 30, 2009 at 5:45 AM, Tracey de Morsella <
tdli...@multiculturaladvantage.com> wrote:

>
>
>  Broadcasters' Woes Could Lead To The End Of Free TV -
> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/29/free-tv-in-trouble_n_405761.html
>
> NEW YORK — For more than 60 years, TV stations have broadcast news, sports
> and entertainment for free and made their money by showing commercials. That
> might not work much longer.
>
> The business model is unraveling at ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox and the local
> stations that carry the networks' programming. Cable TV and the Web have
> fractured the audience for free TV and siphoned its ad dollars. The
> recession has squeezed advertising further, forcing broadcasters to
> accelerate their push for new revenue to pay for programming.
>
> That will play out in living rooms across the country. The changes could
> mean higher cable or satellite TV bills, as the networks and local stations
> squeeze more fees from pay-TV providers such as Comcast and DirecTV for the
> right to show broadcast TV channels in their lineups. The networks might
> even ditch free broadcast signals in the next few years. Instead, they could
> operate as cable channels – a move that could spell the end of free TV as
> Americans have known it since the 1940s.
>
> "Good programing is expensive," Rupert Murdoch, whose News Corp. owns Fox,
> told a shareholder meeting this fall. "It can no longer be supported solely
> by advertising revenues."
>
> Fox is pursuing its strategy in public, warning that its broadcasts –
> including college football bowl games – could go dark Friday for subscribers
> of Time Warner Cable, unless the pay-TV operator gives Fox higher fees. For
> its part, Time Warner Cable is asking customers whether it should "roll
> over" or "get tough" in negotiations.
>
> The future of free TV also could be altered as the biggest pay-TV provider,
> Comcast Corp., prepares to take control of NBC. Comcast has not signaled
> plans to end NBC's free broadcasts. But Jeff Zucker, who runs NBC and its
> sister cable channels such as CNBC and Bravo, told investors this month that
> "the cable model is just superior to the broadcast model."
>
> The traditional broadcast model works like this: CBS, NBC, ABC and Fox
> distribute shows through a network of local stations. The networks own a few
> stations in big markets, but most are "affiliates," owned by separate
> companies.
>
> Traditionally the networks paid affiliates to broadcast their shows, though
> those fees have dwindled to near nothing as local stations have seen their
> audience shrink. What hasn't changed is where the money mainly comes from:
> advertising.
>
> Story continues below [image:
> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/images/v/darr.gif]
>
> Cable channels make most of their money by charging pay-TV providers a
> monthly fee per subscriber for their programing. On average, the pay-TV
> providers pay about 26 cents for each channel they carry, according to
> research firm SNL Kagan. A channel as highly rated as ESPN can get close to
> $4, while some, such as MTV2, go for just a few pennies.
>
> With both advertising and fees, ESPN has seen its revenue grow to $6.3
> billion in 2009 from $1.8 billion a decade ago, according to SNL Kagan
> estimates. It has been able to bid for premium events that networks had
> traditionally aired, such as football games. Cable channels also have been
> able to fund high-quality shows, such as AMC's "Mad Men," rather than
> recycling movies and TV series.
>
> That, plus a growing number of channels, has given cable a bigger share of
> the ad pie. In 1998, cable channels drew roughly $9.1 billion, or 24 percent
> of total TV ad spending, according to the Television Bureau of Advertising.
> By 2008, they were getting $21.6 billion, or 39 percent.
>
> Having two revenue streams – advertising and fees from pay-TV providers –
> has insulated cable channels from the recession. By contrast, over-the-air
> stations have been forced to cut staff, and at least two broadcast gr

[scifinoir2] Re: Roll Call: What are you reading?

[B Smith]

Tobias is biracial. His father was from Grenada and his mother was English. So 
no culture vulturing going on with him.

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "Kelwyn"  wrote:
>
> Thanks for the heads-up on "Sly Mongoose."  I will add it to my queue.  I 
> thoroughly enjoyed "Ragamuffin."  Wish a black person had written it (one 
> prolly did but, unlike Mr. Buckell, could not get it published) but beggars 
> like me ("were born to run!" no, wait, uh...) can't be choosers.
> 
> ~rave!
> 
> --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "B Smith"  wrote:
> >
> > 
> > I'm reading the third book in Tobias Buckell's Ragamuffin series, Sly
> > Mongoose. The series is a great space opera with the main characters
> > hailing from colonies settled by Caribbean folk and Aztecs
> > 
> > http://www.amazon.com/Sly-Mongoose-Tobias-S-Buckell/dp/0765319209
> > 
> > 
> > This book deals with the fallout from overthrowing the series big bads
> > and finding out they were a control mechanism set in place by an older
> > and even more enigmatic race. They see uncontrolled sentience as
> > dangerous and since humanity has thrown off that leash they take steps
> > to end it.
> > 
> > So far we've got scorched planets, space battles and did I mention the
> > zombies? It's a hell of a ride.
> > 
> > 
> > --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, Omari Confer 
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > *Remix: Making Art and Commerce Thrive in the Hybrid Economy* by
> > > Lawrence Lessig 
> > >
> > >
> > > [image: File:Lessig
> > >
> > remix.jpg] > g>
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > On Mon, Dec 28, 2009 at 3:44 PM, Kelwyn ravenadal@ wrote:
> > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > I am reading "Queen City Jazz" by Kathleen Ann Goonan and thoroughly
> > > > enjoying her post apocalyptic novel. It is eerily precognitive about
> > the
> > > > incipient dangers of giving too much of our lives over to "smart"
> > tech.
> > > >
> > > > ~rave!
> > > >
> > > > http://twitter.com/ravenadal
> > > > http://theworldebon.blogspot.com
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > READ MY BLOG
> > > http://centralheatingblog.blogspot.com
> > > STRING THEORY
> > > http://stringtheory.podbean.com
> > >
> >
>

RE: [scifinoir2] The End Of Free TV

[Martin Baxter]

" 'Good
programing is expensive,' Rupert Murdoch, whose News Corp. owns Fox, told
a shareholder meeting this fall."

Rupert, an old adage comes to mind.

"You gotta spend money to make money."

"If all the world's a stage and all the people merely players, who in bloody 
hell hired the director?" -- Charles L Grant

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik




To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
From: tdli...@multiculturaladvantage.com
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 05:45:33 -0800
Subject: [scifinoir2] The End Of Free TV


















 



  



  
  
  








Broadcasters'
Woes Could Lead To The End Of Free TV -
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/29/free-tv-in-trouble_n_405761.html

NEW YORK —
For more than 60 years, TV stations have broadcast news, sports and
entertainment for free and made their money by showing commercials. That might
not work much longer.

The business
model is unraveling at ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox and the local stations that carry
the networks' programming. Cable TV and the Web have fractured the audience for
free TV and siphoned its ad dollars. The recession has squeezed advertising
further, forcing broadcasters to accelerate their push for new revenue to pay
for programming.

That will play
out in living rooms across the country. The changes could mean higher cable or
satellite TV bills, as the networks and local stations squeeze more fees from
pay-TV providers such as Comcast and DirecTV for the right to show broadcast TV
channels in their lineups. The networks might even ditch free broadcast signals
in the next few years. Instead, they could operate as cable channels – a
move that could spell the end of free TV as Americans have known it since the
1940s.

"Good
programing is expensive," Rupert Murdoch, whose News Corp. owns Fox, told
a shareholder meeting this fall. "It can no longer be supported solely by
advertising revenues."

Fox is pursuing
its strategy in public, warning that its broadcasts – including college
football bowl games – could go dark Friday for subscribers of Time Warner
Cable, unless the pay-TV operator gives Fox higher fees. For its part, Time
Warner Cable is asking customers whether it should "roll over" or
"get tough" in negotiations.

The future of
free TV also could be altered as the biggest pay-TV provider, Comcast Corp.,
prepares to take control of NBC. Comcast has not signaled plans to end NBC's
free broadcasts. But Jeff Zucker, who runs NBC and its sister cable channels
such as CNBC and Bravo, told investors this month that "the cable model is
just superior to the broadcast model."

The traditional
broadcast model works like this: CBS, NBC, ABC and Fox distribute shows through
a network of local stations. The networks own a few stations in big markets,
but most are "affiliates," owned by separate companies.

Traditionally
the networks paid affiliates to broadcast their shows, though those fees have
dwindled to near nothing as local stations have seen their audience shrink.
What hasn't changed is where the money mainly comes from: advertising.

Story
continues below 

Cable channels
make most of their money by charging pay-TV providers a monthly fee per
subscriber for their programing. On average, the pay-TV providers pay about 26
cents for each channel they carry, according to research firm SNL Kagan. A
channel as highly rated as ESPN can get close to $4, while some, such as MTV2,
go for just a few pennies.

With both
advertising and fees, ESPN has seen its revenue grow to $6.3 billion in 2009
from $1.8 billion a decade ago, according to SNL Kagan estimates. It has been 
able
to bid for premium events that networks had traditionally aired, such as
football games. Cable channels also have been able to fund high-quality shows,
such as AMC's "Mad Men," rather than recycling movies and TV series.

That, plus a
growing number of channels, has given cable a bigger share of the ad pie. In
1998, cable channels drew roughly $9.1 billion, or 24 percent of total TV ad
spending, according to the Television Bureau of Advertising. By 2008, they were
getting $21.6 billion, or 39 percent.

Having two
revenue streams – advertising and fees from pay-TV providers – has
insulated cable channels from the recession. By contrast, over-the-air stations
have been forced to cut staff, and at least two broadcast groups sought
bankruptcy protection in 2009.

Fox illustrates
the trend: Its broadcast operations reported a 54 percent drop in operating
income for the quarter that ended in September. Its cable channels, which
include Fox News and FX, grew their operating income 41 percent.

Analyst Tom Love
of ZenithOptimedia estimates that ad revenue at the big networks dropped 9
percent in 2009 and will be followed by an 8 percent drop in 2010 and zero
growth in 2011.

A small chunk of
the ad revenue is being recouped online, where the networks sell episodes for a
few dollars each or run ads alongside shows on sites such as Hulu. Media
economist Jack Myers projects onli

RE: [scifinoir2] Re: Byronic hero?

[Martin Baxter]

"Mad, bad and dangerous to know?" That exactly how Roger Zelazny described 
Corwin of Amber.

"If all the world's a stage and all the people merely players, who in bloody 
hell hired the director?" -- Charles L Grant

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik




To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
From: daikaij...@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:52:04 +
Subject: [scifinoir2] Re: Byronic hero?


















 



  



  
  
  Capt. Mal Reynolds from Firefly/Serenity



Pepper from Tobias Buckell's Ragamuffin series



Uther Doul from China Mieville's The Scar



Han Solo



Riddick



Captain Jack Sparrow



--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "Tracey de Morsella"  wrote:

>

> Blade?

> 

>  

> 

> From: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com [mailto:scifino...@yahoogroups.com] On 
> Behalf Of Mr. Worf

> Sent: Wednesday, December 30, 2009 4:38 AM

> To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com

> Subject: [scifinoir2] Byronic hero?

> 

>  

> 

> 

> 

> The Byronic hero is an idealized but flawed character 
>   exemplified in the life 
> and writings of Lord Byron 
>  , 
> characterized by his ex-lover Lady Caroline Lamb 
>   as being "mad, bad, and 
> dangerous to know".[1] 
>   

> 

> The best examples that I can think of off the bat is Batman, Ironman, and 
> possibly James Bond. 

> 

> Can you think of some others?

> 

> -- 

> Bringing diversity to perversity for over 9 years! 

> Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/

>







 









  
_
Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft’s powerful SPAM protection.
http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141664/direct/01/

RE: [scifinoir2] Amazon sells more eBooks than actual books

[Martin Baxter]

Keith, I hear you on the albums and the radio. Had many a night with those 
sights and sounds. The telephone thing, however... I have very thin fingers. 
Can't tell you how many times I hooked an index finger into the dial while 
dialing. Dislocations hurt.

"If all the world's a stage and all the people merely players, who in bloody 
hell hired the director?" -- Charles L Grant

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik




To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
From: keithbjohn...@comcast.net
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:19:29 +
Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Amazon sells more eBooks than actual books


















 



  



  
  
  
I can respect that. I like the concept too, but nothing beats that parchment!
But then, hell, I still sometimes miss the comforting slow spin of the 
telephone wheel back when we had to dial numbers on a rotary phone! Or the more 
real-seeming scratch-scratch of albums on the turntable, the imperfections in 
the LP seeming natural. And don't get me started on the fire-like glow of an 
old-fashioned tube radio in the night!



- Original Message -
From: "Adrianne Brennan" 
To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, December 30, 2009 5:32:30 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Amazon sells more eBooks than actual books








 



  



  
  
  As an ebook author, I'm not shocked, but I am happy to see it. :)

I encourage publishing in both mediums for accessibility, but I prefer ebooks 
these days. Running out of shelves and places to put more shelves!

~ "Where love and magic meet" ~
http://www.adriannebrennan.com
Experience the magic of the Dark Moon series: 
http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#darkmoon


Dare to take The Oath in this erotic fantasy series: 
http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#the_oath
The future of psychic sex - Dawn of the Seraphs (m/m): 
http://www.adriannebrennan.com/dawnoftheseraphs.html





On Tue, Dec 29, 2009 at 10:39 PM, Keith Johnson  
wrote:






















I think that's inevitable for industrialized, high-tech parts of the world. I 
know an ever-increasing number of adults
and kids who barelyread any books, electronic or paperback. but what they do 
read is a lot of web stuff, play a lot of video games, and fiddle around with 
iPods, cell phones, etc. Such people are positioned to respond more to devices 
like the Kindle.


I like the Kindle and plan to own one some day. but no electronics will ever 
replace the real things for me. There's something great about the tactile 
feeling of turning the pages of a magazine or book. And it's also nice to not 
have to worry about power supplies, damage to electronics, etc.



- Original Message -
From: "Kelwyn" 
To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com


Sent: Monday, December 28, 2009 4:23:45 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: [scifinoir2] Amazon sells more eBooks than actual books








 



  



  
  
  Amazon has announced that it sold lots of Kindle eReaders this Christmas. 
And what's more interesting is that Amazon sold more eBooks on Christmas day 
than actual books. Are we moving towards a world where regular paper books are 
going to become a thing of the past?





http://nexus404.com/Blog/2009/12/27/amazon-sells-record-number-of-kindle-ereaders-amazon-sells-more-kindle-ebooks-than-actual-books-this-christmas/









 






  
























 






  




 









  
_
Your E-mail and More On-the-Go. Get Windows Live Hotmail Free.
http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222985/direct/01/

RE: [scifinoir2] Amazon sells more eBooks than actual books

[Martin Baxter]

I hear you, Jeff. That was my entire high school experience. The only days I 
went there without a book in my back pocket were my first and last ones.

"If all the world's a stage and all the people merely players, who in bloody 
hell hired the director?" -- Charles L Grant

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik




To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
From: mbsj...@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 13:21:09 -0500
Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Amazon sells more eBooks than actual books


















 



  



  
  
  I don't think I could ever lose the comfort of having a bent and beaten 
paperback nestled in my back pocket.

Jeff


On Tue, Dec 29, 2009 at 10:39 PM, Keith Johnson  
wrote:
















 



  



  
  
  
I think that's inevitable for industrialized, high-tech parts of the world. I 
know an ever-increasing number of adults
and kids who barelyread any books, electronic or paperback. but what they do 
read is a lot of web stuff, play a lot of video games, and fiddle around with 
iPods, cell phones, etc. Such people are positioned to respond more to devices 
like the Kindle.

I like the Kindle and plan to own one some day. but no electronics will ever 
replace the real things for me. There's something great about the tactile 
feeling of turning the pages of a magazine or book. And it's also nice to not 
have to worry about power supplies, damage to electronics, etc.


- Original Message -
From: "Kelwyn" 
To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Monday, December 28, 2009 4:23:45 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: [scifinoir2] Amazon sells more eBooks than actual books








 



  



  
  
  Amazon has announced that it sold lots of Kindle eReaders this Christmas. 
And what's more interesting is that Amazon sold more eBooks on Christmas day 
than actual books. Are we moving towards a world where regular paper books are 
going to become a thing of the past?




http://nexus404.com/Blog/2009/12/27/amazon-sells-record-number-of-kindle-ereaders-amazon-sells-more-kindle-ebooks-than-actual-books-this-christmas/








 






  



 









  












 









  
_
Hotmail: Free, trusted and rich email service.
http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222984/direct/01/

RE: [scifinoir2] Amazon sells more eBooks than actual books

[Martin Baxter]

Congrats on your releases, Adrianne!

"If all the world's a stage and all the people merely players, who in bloody 
hell hired the director?" -- Charles L Grant

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik




To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
From: adrianne.bren...@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 2009 13:21:41 -0500
Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Amazon sells more eBooks than actual books


















 



  



  
  
  I just had two print releases. One of them arrived on my doorstep a few 
weeks ago, and I wholeheartedly confess that the first thing I did was jump up 
and down and dance in my living room with it in my hands, thoroughly scaring 
the crap out of my kitties. XD



So yeah, I can understand that. It's a bit more visceral. 

~ "Where love and magic meet" ~
http://www.adriannebrennan.com


Experience the magic of the Dark Moon series: 
http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#darkmoon
Dare to take The Oath in this erotic fantasy series: 
http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#the_oath


The future of psychic sex - Dawn of the Seraphs (m/m): 
http://www.adriannebrennan.com/dawnoftheseraphs.html



On Wed, Dec 30, 2009 at 1:19 PM, Keith Johnson  
wrote:






















I can respect that. I like the concept too, but nothing beats that parchment!
But then, hell, I still sometimes miss the comforting slow spin of the 
telephone wheel back when we had to dial numbers on a rotary phone! Or the more 
real-seeming scratch-scratch of albums on the turntable, the imperfections in 
the LP seeming natural. And don't get me started on the fire-like glow of an 
old-fashioned tube radio in the night!





- Original Message -
From: "Adrianne Brennan" 
To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com


Sent: Wednesday, December 30, 2009 5:32:30 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Amazon sells more eBooks than actual books








 



  



  
  
  As an ebook author, I'm not shocked, but I am happy to see it. :)

I encourage publishing in both mediums for accessibility, but I prefer ebooks 
these days. Running out of shelves and places to put more shelves!



~ "Where love and magic meet" ~
http://www.adriannebrennan.com
Experience the magic of the Dark Moon series: 
http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#darkmoon




Dare to take The Oath in this erotic fantasy series: 
http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#the_oath
The future of psychic sex - Dawn of the Seraphs (m/m): 
http://www.adriannebrennan.com/dawnoftheseraphs.html







On Tue, Dec 29, 2009 at 10:39 PM, Keith Johnson  
wrote:
























I think that's inevitable for industrialized, high-tech parts of the world. I 
know an ever-increasing number of adults
and kids who barelyread any books, electronic or paperback. but what they do 
read is a lot of web stuff, play a lot of video games, and fiddle around with 
iPods, cell phones, etc. Such people are positioned to respond more to devices 
like the Kindle.




I like the Kindle and plan to own one some day. but no electronics will ever 
replace the real things for me. There's something great about the tactile 
feeling of turning the pages of a magazine or book. And it's also nice to not 
have to worry about power supplies, damage to electronics, etc.





- Original Message -
From: "Kelwyn" 
To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com




Sent: Monday, December 28, 2009 4:23:45 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: [scifinoir2] Amazon sells more eBooks than actual books








 



  



  
  
  Amazon has announced that it sold lots of Kindle eReaders this Christmas. 
And what's more interesting is that Amazon sold more eBooks on Christmas day 
than actual books. Are we moving towards a world where regular paper books are 
going to become a thing of the past?







http://nexus404.com/Blog/2009/12/27/amazon-sells-record-number-of-kindle-ereaders-amazon-sells-more-kindle-ebooks-than-actual-books-this-christmas/











 






  
























 






  
























 









  
_
Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection.
http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141665/direct/01/

[scifinoir2] Re: Amazon sells more eBooks than actual books

[Kelwyn]

Everybody I know who has one loves their Kindle.  Friend of mine even gets his 
newspapers on his Kindle (and brags about saving forests he can't see for the 
trees he's also proud of saving).  I can't justify the cost yet.  Wait.  I got 
a hundred dollar bill for Christmas.  That reduces the cost to (doing some 
complex goesintas)...Hey!

~rave!

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, George Arterberry  
wrote:
>
> 
> 
> I love my Kindle. 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> From: Mr. Worf 
> To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Mon, December 28, 2009 10:10:40 PM
> Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Amazon sells more eBooks than actual books
> 
>   
> Speaking of the Kindle, I was watching a documentary called 'the Oprah 
> effect' about the power of Oprah's influence on American culture. They 
> attribute the Kindle's success directly to Oprah's mention of it on her show. 
> Not only the Kindle but many other companies as well. Oprah has 
> single-handedly influenced the success of many companies just by mentioning 
> it on her show. The also say that she may has saved the book publishing 
> business as well. 
> 
> 
> On Mon, Dec 28, 2009 at 6:37 PM, Mr. Worf  wrote:
> 
> Good point. Apple can pull apps at any time when they think it is in 
> violation of their licensing. They have pulled apps when they realized that 
> it was being used to access adult materials earlier this year. 
> >
> >
> >On Mon, Dec 28, 2009 at 5:44 PM, Gerald Haynes  wrote:
> >
> >
> >>
> >>
> >>Amazon remotely deleted George Orwell's "1984" earlier this year (July) 
> >>from Kindles over a licensing issue. They were called to to the mat and 
> >>Bezos apologized profusely. There is now litigation over the remote 
> >>deletion claiming damages and breach of contract.
> >>http://www.pcmag. com/article2/ 0,2817,2351087, 00.asp
> >>
> >>BTW, Apple can do the same thing with iPhone/iPod Touch apps.
> >>
> >>Gerald Haynes
> >>http://thesmallfries.com - Calvin & Hobbes who?
> >>http://dontarrestus.com - Latino based sci-fi comic strip fun 
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> 
> From: Martin Baxter 
> >>To: SciFiNoir2 
> >>Sent: Mon, December 28, 2009 7:01:50 PM
> >>Subject: RE: [scifinoir2] Amazon sells more eBooks than actual books
> >>
> >>  
> >>I wouldn't want to be in the room on the day when some of those readers 
> >>realize that Amazon can pull the books they download through Kindles 
> >>whenever it strikes them...
> >>
> >>"If all the world's a stage and all the people merely players, who in 
> >>bloody hell hired the director?" -- Charles L Grant
> >>
> >>http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=fQUxw9aUVik
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> 
> To: scifino...@yahoogro ups.com 
> >>
> >>From: ravena...@yahoo. com
> >>Date: Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:23:45 +
> >>Subject: [scifinoir2] Amazon sells more eBooks than actual books
> >>
> >>  
> >>Amazon has announced that it sold lots of Kindle eReaders this Christmas. 
> >>And what's more interesting is that Amazon sold more eBooks on Christmas 
> >>day than actual books. Are we moving towards a world where regular paper 
> >>books are going to become a thing of the past?
> >>
> >>http://nexus404. com/Blog/ 2009/12/27/ amazon-sells- record-number- 
> >>of-kindle- ereaders- amazon-sells- more-kindle- ebooks-than- actual-books- 
> >>this-christmas/
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft’s powerful SPAM protection. Sign up 
> now. 
> >>
> >>
> >>
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Bringing diversity to perversity for over 9 years! 
> Mahogany at: http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/mahogany_ pleasures_ of_darkness/
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Bringing diversity to perversity for over 9 years! 
> Mahogany at: http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/mahogany_ pleasures_ of_darkness/
>

[scifinoir2] Re: Roll Call: What are you reading?

[Kelwyn]

Thanks for the heads-up on "Sly Mongoose."  I will add it to my queue.  I 
thoroughly enjoyed "Ragamuffin."  Wish a black person had written it (one 
prolly did but, unlike Mr. Buckell, could not get it published) but beggars 
like me ("were born to run!" no, wait, uh...) can't be choosers.

~rave!

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "B Smith"  wrote:
>
> 
> I'm reading the third book in Tobias Buckell's Ragamuffin series, Sly
> Mongoose. The series is a great space opera with the main characters
> hailing from colonies settled by Caribbean folk and Aztecs
> 
> http://www.amazon.com/Sly-Mongoose-Tobias-S-Buckell/dp/0765319209
> 
> 
> This book deals with the fallout from overthrowing the series big bads
> and finding out they were a control mechanism set in place by an older
> and even more enigmatic race. They see uncontrolled sentience as
> dangerous and since humanity has thrown off that leash they take steps
> to end it.
> 
> So far we've got scorched planets, space battles and did I mention the
> zombies? It's a hell of a ride.
> 
> 
> --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, Omari Confer 
> wrote:
> >
> > *Remix: Making Art and Commerce Thrive in the Hybrid Economy* by
> > Lawrence Lessig 
> >
> >
> > [image: File:Lessig
> >
> remix.jpg] g>
> >
> >
> >
> > On Mon, Dec 28, 2009 at 3:44 PM, Kelwyn ravenadal@ wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > I am reading "Queen City Jazz" by Kathleen Ann Goonan and thoroughly
> > > enjoying her post apocalyptic novel. It is eerily precognitive about
> the
> > > incipient dangers of giving too much of our lives over to "smart"
> tech.
> > >
> > > ~rave!
> > >
> > > http://twitter.com/ravenadal
> > > http://theworldebon.blogspot.com
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > READ MY BLOG
> > http://centralheatingblog.blogspot.com
> > STRING THEORY
> > http://stringtheory.podbean.com
> >
>

Re: [scifinoir2] Amazon sells more eBooks than actual books

[George Arterberry]

I love my Kindle. 





From: Mr. Worf 
To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Mon, December 28, 2009 10:10:40 PM
Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Amazon sells more eBooks than actual books

  
Speaking of the Kindle, I was watching a documentary called 'the Oprah effect' 
about the power of Oprah's influence on American culture. They attribute the 
Kindle's success directly to Oprah's mention of it on her show. Not only the 
Kindle but many other companies as well. Oprah has single-handedly influenced 
the success of many companies just by mentioning it on her show. The also say 
that she may has saved the book publishing business as well. 


On Mon, Dec 28, 2009 at 6:37 PM, Mr. Worf  wrote:

Good point. Apple can pull apps at any time when they think it is in violation 
of their licensing. They have pulled apps when they realized that it was being 
used to access adult materials earlier this year. 
>
>
>On Mon, Dec 28, 2009 at 5:44 PM, Gerald Haynes  wrote:
>
>
>>
>>
>>Amazon remotely deleted George Orwell's "1984" earlier this year (July) from 
>>Kindles over a licensing issue. They were called to to the mat and Bezos 
>>apologized profusely. There is now litigation over the remote deletion 
>>claiming damages and breach of contract.
>>http://www.pcmag. com/article2/ 0,2817,2351087, 00.asp
>>
>>BTW, Apple can do the same thing with iPhone/iPod Touch apps.
>>
>>Gerald Haynes
>>http://thesmallfries.com - Calvin & Hobbes who?
>>http://dontarrestus.com - Latino based sci-fi comic strip fun 
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>

From: Martin Baxter 
>>To: SciFiNoir2 
>>Sent: Mon, December 28, 2009 7:01:50 PM
>>Subject: RE: [scifinoir2] Amazon sells more eBooks than actual books
>>
>>  
>>I wouldn't want to be in the room on the day when some of those readers 
>>realize that Amazon can pull the books they download through Kindles whenever 
>>it strikes them...
>>
>>"If all the world's a stage and all the people merely players, who in bloody 
>>hell hired the director?" -- Charles L Grant
>>
>>http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=fQUxw9aUVik
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>

To: scifino...@yahoogro ups.com 
>>
>>From: ravena...@yahoo. com
>>Date: Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:23:45 +
>>Subject: [scifinoir2] Amazon sells more eBooks than actual books
>>
>>  
>>Amazon has announced that it sold lots of Kindle eReaders this Christmas. And 
>>what's more interesting is that Amazon sold more eBooks on Christmas day than 
>>actual books. Are we moving towards a world where regular paper books are 
>>going to become a thing of the past?
>>
>>http://nexus404. com/Blog/ 2009/12/27/ amazon-sells- record-number- 
>>of-kindle- ereaders- amazon-sells- more-kindle- ebooks-than- actual-books- 
>>this-christmas/
>>
>>
>>
>>
Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft’s powerful SPAM protection. Sign up now. 
>>
>>
>>



-- 
Bringing diversity to perversity for over 9 years! 
Mahogany at: http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/mahogany_ pleasures_ of_darkness/



-- 
Bringing diversity to perversity for over 9 years! 
Mahogany at: http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/mahogany_ pleasures_ of_darkness/




  

Re: [scifinoir2] Amazon sells more eBooks than actual books

[Adrianne Brennan]

I just had two print releases. One of them arrived on my doorstep a few
weeks ago, and I wholeheartedly confess that the first thing I did was jump
up and down and dance in my living room with it in my hands, thoroughly
scaring the crap out of my kitties. XD

So yeah, I can understand that. It's a bit more visceral.


~ "Where love and magic meet" ~
http://www.adriannebrennan.com
Experience the magic of the Dark Moon series:
http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#darkmoon
Dare to take The Oath in this erotic fantasy series:
http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#the_oath
The future of psychic sex - Dawn of the Seraphs (m/m):
http://www.adriannebrennan.com/dawnoftheseraphs.html


On Wed, Dec 30, 2009 at 1:19 PM, Keith Johnson wrote:

>
>
> I can respect that. I like the concept too, but nothing beats that
> parchment!
> But then, hell, I still sometimes miss the comforting slow spin of the
> telephone wheel back when we had to dial numbers on a rotary phone! Or the
> more real-seeming scratch-scratch of albums on the turntable, the
> imperfections in the LP seeming natural. And don't get me started on the
> fire-like glow of an old-fashioned tube radio in the night!
>
>
>
>
> - Original Message -
> From: "Adrianne Brennan" 
> To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Wednesday, December 30, 2009 5:32:30 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
> Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Amazon sells more eBooks than actual books
>
>
>
> As an ebook author, I'm not shocked, but I am happy to see it. :)
>
> I encourage publishing in both mediums for accessibility, but I prefer
> ebooks these days. Running out of shelves and places to put more shelves!
>
> ~ "Where love and magic meet" ~
> http://www.adriannebrennan.com
> Experience the magic of the Dark Moon series:
> http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#darkmoon
> Dare to take The Oath in this erotic fantasy series:
> http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#the_oath
> The future of psychic sex - Dawn of the Seraphs (m/m):
> http://www.adriannebrennan.com/dawnoftheseraphs.html
>
>
> On Tue, Dec 29, 2009 at 10:39 PM, Keith Johnson  > wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> I think that's inevitable for industrialized, high-tech parts of the
>> world. I know an ever-increasing number of adults
>> and kids who barelyread any books, electronic or paperback. but what they
>> do read is a lot of web stuff, play a lot of video games, and fiddle around
>> with iPods, cell phones, etc. Such people are positioned to respond more to
>> devices like the Kindle.
>> I like the Kindle and plan to own one some day. but no electronics will
>> ever replace the real things for me. There's something great about the
>> tactile feeling of turning the pages of a magazine or book. And it's also
>> nice to not have to worry about power supplies, damage to electronics, etc.
>>
>> - Original Message -
>> From: "Kelwyn" 
>> To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
>> Sent: Monday, December 28, 2009 4:23:45 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
>> Subject: [scifinoir2] Amazon sells more eBooks than actual books
>>
>>
>>
>> Amazon has announced that it sold lots of Kindle eReaders this Christmas.
>> And what's more interesting is that Amazon sold more eBooks on Christmas day
>> than actual books. Are we moving towards a world where regular paper books
>> are going to become a thing of the past?
>>
>>
>> http://nexus404.com/Blog/2009/12/27/amazon-sells-record-number-of-kindle-ereaders-amazon-sells-more-kindle-ebooks-than-actual-books-this-christmas/
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> 
>

Re: [scifinoir2] Amazon sells more eBooks than actual books

[Jeff Carter]

I don't think I could ever lose the comfort of having a bent and beaten
paperback nestled in my back pocket.

Jeff

On Tue, Dec 29, 2009 at 10:39 PM, Keith Johnson
wrote:

>
>
> I think that's inevitable for industrialized, high-tech parts of the world.
> I know an ever-increasing number of adults
> and kids who barelyread any books, electronic or paperback. but what they
> do read is a lot of web stuff, play a lot of video games, and fiddle around
> with iPods, cell phones, etc. Such people are positioned to respond more to
> devices like the Kindle.
> I like the Kindle and plan to own one some day. but no electronics will
> ever replace the real things for me. There's something great about the
> tactile feeling of turning the pages of a magazine or book. And it's also
> nice to not have to worry about power supplies, damage to electronics, etc.
>
> - Original Message -
> From: "Kelwyn" 
> To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Monday, December 28, 2009 4:23:45 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
> Subject: [scifinoir2] Amazon sells more eBooks than actual books
>
>
>
> Amazon has announced that it sold lots of Kindle eReaders this Christmas.
> And what's more interesting is that Amazon sold more eBooks on Christmas day
> than actual books. Are we moving towards a world where regular paper books
> are going to become a thing of the past?
>
>
> http://nexus404.com/Blog/2009/12/27/amazon-sells-record-number-of-kindle-ereaders-amazon-sells-more-kindle-ebooks-than-actual-books-this-christmas/
>
>
>

Re: [scifinoir2] Amazon sells more eBooks than actual books

[Keith Johnson]

I can respect that. I like the concept too, but nothing beats that parchment! 
But then, hell, I still sometimes miss the comforting slow spin of the 
telephone wheel back when we had to dial numbers on a rotary phone! Or the more 
real-seeming scratch-scratch of albums on the turntable, the imperfections in 
the LP seeming natural. And don't get me started on the fire-like glow of an 
old-fashioned tube radio in the night! 



- Original Message - 
From: "Adrianne Brennan"  
To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Wednesday, December 30, 2009 5:32:30 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern 
Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] Amazon sells more eBooks than actual books 






As an ebook author, I'm not shocked, but I am happy to see it. :) 


I encourage publishing in both mediums for accessibility, but I prefer ebooks 
these days. Running out of shelves and places to put more shelves! 

~ "Where love and magic meet" ~ 
http://www.adriannebrennan.com 
Experience the magic of the Dark Moon series: 
http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#darkmoon 
Dare to take The Oath in this erotic fantasy series: 
http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#the_oath 
The future of psychic sex - Dawn of the Seraphs (m/m): 
http://www.adriannebrennan.com/dawnoftheseraphs.html 



On Tue, Dec 29, 2009 at 10:39 PM, Keith Johnson < keithbjohn...@comcast.net > 
wrote: 






I think that's inevitable for industrialized, high-tech parts of the world. I 
know an ever-increasing number of adults 
and kids who barelyread any books, electronic or paperback. but what they do 
read is a lot of web stuff, play a lot of video games, and fiddle around with 
iPods, cell phones, etc. Such people are positioned to respond more to devices 
like the Kindle. 
I like the Kindle and plan to own one some day. but no electronics will ever 
replace the real things for me. There's something great about the tactile 
feeling of turning the pages of a magazine or book. And it's also nice to not 
have to worry about power supplies, damage to electronics, etc. 

- Original Message - 
From: "Kelwyn" < ravena...@yahoo.com > 
To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Monday, December 28, 2009 4:23:45 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern 
Subject: [scifinoir2] Amazon sells more eBooks than actual books 






Amazon has announced that it sold lots of Kindle eReaders this Christmas. And 
what's more interesting is that Amazon sold more eBooks on Christmas day than 
actual books. Are we moving towards a world where regular paper books are going 
to become a thing of the past? 

http://nexus404.com/Blog/2009/12/27/amazon-sells-record-number-of-kindle-ereaders-amazon-sells-more-kindle-ebooks-than-actual-books-this-christmas/
 

[scifinoir2] Re: Byronic hero?

[B Smith]

Capt. Mal Reynolds from Firefly/Serenity

Pepper from Tobias Buckell's Ragamuffin series

Uther Doul from China Mieville's The Scar

Han Solo

Riddick

Captain Jack Sparrow

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "Tracey de Morsella"  wrote:
>
> Blade?
> 
>  
> 
> From: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com [mailto:scifino...@yahoogroups.com] On 
> Behalf Of Mr. Worf
> Sent: Wednesday, December 30, 2009 4:38 AM
> To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [scifinoir2] Byronic hero?
> 
>  
> 
> 
> 
> The Byronic hero is an idealized but flawed character 
>   exemplified in the life 
> and writings of Lord Byron 
>  , 
> characterized by his ex-lover Lady Caroline Lamb 
>   as being "mad, bad, and 
> dangerous to know".[1] 
>   
> 
> The best examples that I can think of off the bat is Batman, Ironman, and 
> possibly James Bond. 
> 
> Can you think of some others?
> 
> -- 
> Bringing diversity to perversity for over 9 years! 
> Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/
>

[scifinoir2] Re: Roll Call: What are you reading?

[B Smith]

I'm reading the third book in Tobias Buckell's Ragamuffin series, Sly
Mongoose. The series is a great space opera with the main characters
hailing from colonies settled by Caribbean folk and Aztecs

http://www.amazon.com/Sly-Mongoose-Tobias-S-Buckell/dp/0765319209


This book deals with the fallout from overthrowing the series big bads
and finding out they were a control mechanism set in place by an older
and even more enigmatic race. They see uncontrolled sentience as
dangerous and since humanity has thrown off that leash they take steps
to end it.

So far we've got scorched planets, space battles and did I mention the
zombies? It's a hell of a ride.


--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, Omari Confer 
wrote:
>
> *Remix: Making Art and Commerce Thrive in the Hybrid Economy* by
> Lawrence Lessig 
>
>
> [image: File:Lessig
>
remix.jpg]
>
>
>
> On Mon, Dec 28, 2009 at 3:44 PM, Kelwyn ravena...@... wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > I am reading "Queen City Jazz" by Kathleen Ann Goonan and thoroughly
> > enjoying her post apocalyptic novel. It is eerily precognitive about
the
> > incipient dangers of giving too much of our lives over to "smart"
tech.
> >
> > ~rave!
> >
> > http://twitter.com/ravenadal
> > http://theworldebon.blogspot.com
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
> --
> READ MY BLOG
> http://centralheatingblog.blogspot.com
> STRING THEORY
> http://stringtheory.podbean.com
>

[scifinoir2] Re: BBC America Announces Launch Date for "Survivors"

[B Smith]

Well it's a remake of a series that predates Lost. Does that help? LOL 

It feels nothing like Lost. Very different characters and very different 
motivations for their actions. With 99% of the world dead by the end of episode 
one it gets to the meat of the series pretty quickly. 

If I'd compare the feel to any show it would be Jericho. Some of the same 
problems and struggles but with a lot less people and guns.

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, Omari Confer  wrote:
>
> Any genre work with surviving parties reminds me of "Lost"..
> 
> I want variety dag nab it!!!
> 
> (Cant wait for The new Global Frequency to air!!)
> 
> c w m
> 
> On Tue, Dec 29, 2009 at 5:29 PM, B Smith  wrote:
> 
> >
> >
> > What about Survivors reminds you of Lost? It has some of the same themes as
> > The Walking Dead but the lack of zombies takes the story in a few different
> > directions. ;)
> >
> > I've seen about 1/2 of season one and it's great. Things like Survivors, 28
> > Days Later, Shaun of the Dead, etc. remind me just how American and British
> > culture differs. The lack of accessible privately
> > held firearms makes for very different storytelling. It comes into play in
> > a big way early in the series.
> >
> >
> > --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com , Omari
> > Confer  wrote:
> > >
> > > This not only sounds "Lost" like... but realize that "Walking Dead" is
> > > coming out this yearanother year with several of the same
> > shows...yeah
> > >
> > > On Tue, Dec 29, 2009 at 2:58 PM, Martin Baxter
> > > wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > I remember it, Angela, though vaguely right now. I'll need to go and
> > pick
> > > > up a prompt or fourteen.
> > > >
> > > > "If all the world's a stage and all the people merely players, who in
> > > > bloody hell hired the director?" -- Charles L Grant
> > > >
> > > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com 
> > > > From: asrobinson@
> >
> > > > Date: Tue, 29 Dec 2009 04:40:51 +
> > > > Subject: [scifinoir2] Re: BBC America Announces Launch Date for
> > "Survivors"
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > It's on my calendar now too! Thanks.
> > > >
> > > > Weren't we all recently discussing wanting a show that would pick up
> > where
> > > > movies like 2012 leave off? At the time I asked if anyone had seen the
> > 1984
> > > > PBS movie Threads. It was pretty provacative. Anyone else remeber it?
> > > >
> > > > Angela
> > > >
> > > > --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com ,
> > "Tracey de Morsella" 
> > > > wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > BBC America Announces Launch Date for "Survivors"
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > BBC America  has announced
> > the
> > > > > launch date for post-apocalyptic drama series Survivors
> > > > >  . The much-delayed Survivors
> > > > >  , which is an adaptation of
> > the
> > > > cult
> > > > > classic 1970s series (itself based on Terry Nation
> > > > >  's novel), will have its Us
> > > > premiere
> > > > > on Saturday, February 13th at 8 pm Et/Pt, before shifting to its
> > regular
> > > > > timeslot at 9 pm Et/Pt the following week. The series tracks the
> > > > adventures
> > > > > of a group of people who survive a global viral holocaust that wipes
> > out
> > > > 99
> > > > > percent of the human race's population and who struggle to stay alive
> > in
> > > > the
> > > > > face of unspeakable odds following this global catastrophe. In the
> > > > official
> > > > > scheduling announcement, BBC  > >
> > > > > America refers to the "twelve-episode season" of Survivors
> > > > >  , which is a sign that the
> > > > digital
> > > > > cabler intend to air the first two UK seasons of Survivors
> > > > >  back-to-back. Season One,
> > which
> > > > > aired in the UK in 2008, was comprised of six episodes and the second
> > > > season
> > > > > of >
> > > > >
> > > > > - Jace
> > > > >
> > > > > http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1157595/news#ni1324874
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > Hotmail: Powerful Free email with security by Microsoft. Get it now.<
> > http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222986/direct/01/>
> >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > READ MY BLOG
> > > http://centralheatingblog.blogspot.com
> > > STRING THEORY
> > > http://stringtheory.podbean.com
> > >
> >
> >  
> >
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> READ MY BLOG
> http://centralheatingblog.blogspot.com
> STRING THEORY
> http://stringtheory.podbean.com
>

RE: [scifinoir2] Byronic hero?

[Tracey de Morsella]

Blade?

 

From: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com [mailto:scifino...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf 
Of Mr. Worf
Sent: Wednesday, December 30, 2009 4:38 AM
To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [scifinoir2] Byronic hero?

 



The Byronic hero is an idealized but flawed character 
  exemplified in the life 
and writings of Lord Byron 
 , 
characterized by his ex-lover Lady Caroline Lamb 
  as being "mad, bad, and 
dangerous to know".[1]   

The best examples that I can think of off the bat is Batman, Ironman, and 
possibly James Bond. 

Can you think of some others?

-- 
Bringing diversity to perversity for over 9 years! 
Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/

[scifinoir2] The End Of Free TV

[Tracey de Morsella]

Broadcasters' Woes Could Lead To The End Of Free TV -
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/29/free-tv-in-trouble_n_405761.html

NEW YORK - For more than 60 years, TV stations have broadcast news, sports
and entertainment for free and made their money by showing commercials. That
might not work much longer.

The business model is unraveling at ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox and the local
stations that carry the networks' programming. Cable TV and the Web have
fractured the audience for free TV and siphoned its ad dollars. The
recession has squeezed advertising further, forcing broadcasters to
accelerate their push for new revenue to pay for programming.

That will play out in living rooms across the country. The changes could
mean higher cable or satellite TV bills, as the networks and local stations
squeeze more fees from pay-TV providers such as Comcast and DirecTV for the
right to show broadcast TV channels in their lineups. The networks might
even ditch free broadcast signals in the next few years. Instead, they could
operate as cable channels - a move that could spell the end of free TV as
Americans have known it since the 1940s.

"Good programing is expensive," Rupert Murdoch, whose News Corp. owns Fox,
told a shareholder meeting this fall. "It can no longer be supported solely
by advertising revenues."

Fox is pursuing its strategy in public, warning that its broadcasts -
including college football bowl games - could go dark Friday for subscribers
of Time Warner Cable, unless the pay-TV operator gives Fox higher fees. For
its part, Time Warner Cable is asking customers whether it should "roll
over" or "get tough" in negotiations.

The future of free TV also could be altered as the biggest pay-TV provider,
Comcast Corp., prepares to take control of NBC. Comcast has not signaled
plans to end NBC's free broadcasts. But Jeff Zucker, who runs NBC and its
sister cable channels such as CNBC and Bravo, told investors this month that
"the cable model is just superior to the broadcast model."

The traditional broadcast model works like this: CBS, NBC, ABC and Fox
distribute shows through a network of local stations. The networks own a few
stations in big markets, but most are "affiliates," owned by separate
companies.

Traditionally the networks paid affiliates to broadcast their shows, though
those fees have dwindled to near nothing as local stations have seen their
audience shrink. What hasn't changed is where the money mainly comes from:
advertising.

Story continues below http://www.huffingtonpost.com/images/v/darr.gif

Cable channels make most of their money by charging pay-TV providers a
monthly fee per subscriber for their programing. On average, the pay-TV
providers pay about 26 cents for each channel they carry, according to
research firm SNL Kagan. A channel as highly rated as ESPN can get close to
$4, while some, such as MTV2, go for just a few pennies.

With both advertising and fees, ESPN has seen its revenue grow to $6.3
billion in 2009 from $1.8 billion a decade ago, according to SNL Kagan
estimates. It has been able to bid for premium events that networks had
traditionally aired, such as football games. Cable channels also have been
able to fund high-quality shows, such as AMC's "Mad Men," rather than
recycling movies and TV series.

That, plus a growing number of channels, has given cable a bigger share of
the ad pie. In 1998, cable channels drew roughly $9.1 billion, or 24 percent
of total TV ad spending, according to the Television Bureau of Advertising.
By 2008, they were getting $21.6 billion, or 39 percent.

Having two revenue streams - advertising and fees from pay-TV providers -
has insulated cable channels from the recession. By contrast, over-the-air
stations have been forced to cut staff, and at least two broadcast groups
sought bankruptcy protection in 2009.

Fox illustrates the trend: Its broadcast operations reported a 54 percent
drop in operating income for the quarter that ended in September. Its cable
channels, which include Fox News and FX, grew their operating income 41
percent.

Analyst Tom Love of ZenithOptimedia estimates that ad revenue at the big
networks dropped 9 percent in 2009 and will be followed by an 8 percent drop
in 2010 and zero growth in 2011.

A small chunk of the ad revenue is being recouped online, where the networks
sell episodes for a few dollars each or run ads alongside shows on sites
such as Hulu. Media economist Jack Myers projects online video advertising
will grow into a $2 billion business by 2012, from just $350 million to $400
million in 2009.

But that is not significant enough to make up for the lost ad revenue on the
airwaves. Advertisers spent $34 billion on broadcast commercials in 2008,
down by $2.4 billion from two years earlier, according to the Television
Bureau of Advertising.

So rather than wait for the Internet to become a bigger source of income,
the networks and local stations are mimicking what cable channels do:
They're charging pay-TV c

[scifinoir2] Byronic hero?

[Mr. Worf]

The *Byronic hero* is an idealized but flawed
characterexemplified
in the life and writings of Lord
Byron ,
characterized by his ex-lover Lady Caroline
Lambas being "mad,
bad, and dangerous to know".
[1] 

The best examples that I can think of off the bat is Batman, Ironman, and
possibly James Bond.

Can you think of some others?

-- 
Bringing diversity to perversity for over 9 years!
Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/

Re: [scifinoir2] Amazon sells more eBooks than actual books

[Adrianne Brennan]

As an ebook author, I'm not shocked, but I am happy to see it. :)

I encourage publishing in both mediums for accessibility, but I prefer
ebooks these days. Running out of shelves and places to put more shelves!

~ "Where love and magic meet" ~
http://www.adriannebrennan.com
Experience the magic of the Dark Moon series:
http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#darkmoon
Dare to take The Oath in this erotic fantasy series:
http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#the_oath
The future of psychic sex - Dawn of the Seraphs (m/m):
http://www.adriannebrennan.com/dawnoftheseraphs.html


On Tue, Dec 29, 2009 at 10:39 PM, Keith Johnson
wrote:

>
>
> I think that's inevitable for industrialized, high-tech parts of the world.
> I know an ever-increasing number of adults
> and kids who barelyread any books, electronic or paperback. but what they
> do read is a lot of web stuff, play a lot of video games, and fiddle around
> with iPods, cell phones, etc. Such people are positioned to respond more to
> devices like the Kindle.
> I like the Kindle and plan to own one some day. but no electronics will
> ever replace the real things for me. There's something great about the
> tactile feeling of turning the pages of a magazine or book. And it's also
> nice to not have to worry about power supplies, damage to electronics, etc.
>
> - Original Message -
> From: "Kelwyn" 
> To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Monday, December 28, 2009 4:23:45 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
> Subject: [scifinoir2] Amazon sells more eBooks than actual books
>
>
>
> Amazon has announced that it sold lots of Kindle eReaders this Christmas.
> And what's more interesting is that Amazon sold more eBooks on Christmas day
> than actual books. Are we moving towards a world where regular paper books
> are going to become a thing of the past?
>
>
> http://nexus404.com/Blog/2009/12/27/amazon-sells-record-number-of-kindle-ereaders-amazon-sells-more-kindle-ebooks-than-actual-books-this-christmas/
>
>
>
> 
>