HD DVD RIP

So Toshiba has officially dropped HD DVD, ceding the home video realm to Sony and their Blu-Ray format.

I have to admit I'd been rooting for HD. They had what should have been a major advantage in their double-sided disks (HD on one side, and regular DVD on the other, enabling people to go ahead and buy them now and have natural inclination to purchase an HD player later on). The PS3 seemed a natural advantage for Sony, but it turned out to be a big disappointment.

The main reason I'd hoped to avoid the situation we have here is that Sony proprietizes everything (think about the Memory Stick and most of their devices that use it and nothing else). Of course I say this as a happy iPod user, but then I have no problems putting my regular mp3s on it... at least when a goofy update doesn't screw up iTunes. Hmm...

Nope, not happy today.

Harry Potter Meets Firefly?

Check out this music video someone did combining footage from the Harry Potter movies and Firefly/Serenity, to music by Jonathan Coulton. Cool stuff!

Geeky Shopping

So I finally checked out the Half-Price Books that just opened up down the road from me. I really need a chance to take all the time I need, rather than be rushed to hit the door and catch a bus.

I found some interesting things, though.

I found a Kedregern book for my girlfriend. I never cared much for them, but she likes them.

I found some games. An RPG from Tri Tac called Incursion (they're probably best known for either Fringeworthy and Bureau 13/Stalking The Night Fantastic), and a copy of Facts In Five (think of it as Scattergories... er, times five).

But best of all, Spider Robinson's The Callahan Touch. I'm a big fan of the Callahan's Crosstime Saloon books, so I snatched this up as quickly as I could.

Anyone have suggestions on what to look for next time I go?