Do you want to know the Hollywood inside scoop? Veteran Hollywood journal Nikke Finke has a great site, Deadline Hollywood Daily. From updates of the box office over the weekends to the latest casting news, it’s a great site. One that we’ve had bookmarked for ages.
Ok, so you see the weather on the news day in and day out, a weather-guesser pretending to look at at screen behind them, which is really a green screen (or blue screen), and you wonder if there is a little more to the weather than “it’s going to be 75, low 50, and rain.”
Well, over at The Weather Channel, if you go and look a the monthly weather data for where you live, they give information including the amount of daylight, daily rainfall totals, and average temperatures. It’s cool to use if you’re looking at information about an upcoming vacation location, or even to use as a guide for an area that you’re looking to relocate to.
Link: http://www.weather.com
You’ve probably read or heard about it, the transition to digital television. Many wonder, what does it mean? Well, if you still use rabbit ears, your television is getting the signal from the analog spectrum. In a month from today, we are supposed to switch to an all digital signal, which means you need a converter box to see anything on your television if you get rabbit ears (aerial antenna), but we’re now looking at a delay until June. That’s besides the fact that we were originally supposed to do this switch in 2006.
HDTV Tidbit: Do you know how to get the best picture on your HDTV? Use an aerial antenna! The only way to get true, uncompressed high-definition, only an aerial antenna gets the full clear picture. Your cable and satellite use compression that reduces the pure clarity of the image.
Link: http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2009/01/17/Digital_TV_transition_may_be_delayed/UPI-93781232216520/
I’ve been endlessly fascinated with the Disney theme parks since being a kid for a variety of reasons. The feeling of the places being unlike anywhere else in the world, the warm weather, and the amazing technology. I was stunned as a child by the technology whether it was audio-animatronics or the ride systems that propelled each attraction. Today, I feel the same way. Technology is a thrill and the parks still represent that fascination.
A site that I’ve visited for many years is the ExtinctAttractionsClub.com also found at ExtinctAttractions.com. David at ExtinctAttractions has taken his love of the theme parks and created a preservation type of organization that produces audio and video from past and current Disneyland and Walt Disney World attractions. There are countless interviews with Imagineers from the beginning to today.
Each week, ExtinctAttractions produces two podcasts. One live on Tuesday nights at 9PM Pacific, and the second is an attraction music podcast. It’s always worth a listen and the quality of the DVD’s and CD’s are terrific.
http://extinctattractions.com
It appears as though NYC has some interesting ideas as a way to drum up tax revenue.
“The new Manhattan Marriage Bureau opened to the public this week following a $12.3 million renovation, and the 24,000-square-foot (2,230-square meter) space has won enthusiastic reviews from newlyweds.
“We’re taking Las Vegas on,” said First Deputy City Clerk Michael McSweeney. “The city hopes to advance New York not just as a tourist destination, but as a marriage destination.”
“Applying for a marriage license in Las Vegas, where there is no required waiting period, is still less cumbersome than in New York, where couples must wait 24 hours after filing a marriage application before holding their wedding ceremony.”
It can be assumed that NYC isn’t looking for the 3 AM alcohol induced weddings, you have a day to figure it out.
Yahoo!, NYC wants to be Vegas-like marriage, 1/14/09
So, are you going to the 2009 Inauguration? If you are, be prepared to be there with millions of your best friends, have no body movement, and use the first mode of transportation, feet!
This Washington Post article details the intense travel nightmare that may await you. Here’s some of the points:
Up to 4 million people could attend.
The Inauguration Committee is urging people who live within 2 miles of the National Mall to walk. Use the Metro, nope. Whoa!
It’s cold! A major cold snap is hitting most of the United States and that is expected to last the next many days.
Security: National guard, military, local, among other security agencies will be in major force securing the event. Screening will not occur for all people by way of metal detector, as there just isn’t enough time. Instead, covert agents will be throughout the area.
What will you be doing? We’ll have the HDTV running in the office. Crystal-clear picture like you’re there, but with all the comforts of heating. 
