Category: All Posts

Another Video Test

Well, kiddies, let’s see if this works. If not, I’ll delete this and in my despair eat tapioca pudding.

[MEDIA=13]

Hey, there we go. MPEG-4 (H.264) compression. Here’s how it looks using FLV compression.

[flv:/Video/2008/JUN/GraveOfTheFireflies.flv 440 248]

Hmm… ya know what? I’m not seeing enough of a difference here to make it worth the effort to go with MPEG-4. If anything, FLV looks crisper. Also, it seems the entire MPEG-4 video has to buffer before it starts playing, and that’s a definite disadvantage.

H.264 Test

If you see this, please ignore…
[MEDIA=12]

OK… so don’t ignore. Because the test works.

This is sort of an important post. First, I’m seriously considering getting an iPhone 3G, after the initial rush has passed. But I was going to get a full-featured FiOS TV set top box for the porch, and instead I went for the free digital converter, so maybe I won’t get an iPhone.

The point to this 10-minute video about the new iPhone is that it’s in an entirely different format than what I’ve used up to now. This is just the proof of concept, and the next thing to do will be converting one of my own video transfers into the new format. If this works, from now on the videos should be watchable in full screen mode.

By Request

My sister Jean asked for a particular song, and here it is. Pompous and bloated, even compared to the Moody Blues, and not as creepy as DOA by Bloodrock, but with a neat ambiance. Dig that old analog synthesizer sound!

[audio:http://www.dograt.com/Audio/2008/JUL/KingCrimson.mp3]

It’s Easy To Forget

I’m a fan of the work of Dennis Potter. The thought has occurred to me that perhaps J.K. Rowling named Harry in his honor. He’s the sort of writer I suspect she would appreciate. If you don’t know who I’m talking about — and I’m sure Brian Sibley does — please look him up now.

When I hear this song I think of Dennis Potter, and if you don’t like what you’re about to hear, don’t tell me, because I think this is wonderful. It’s sometimes easy to forget what made certain performers from long ago great. Here’s Bing Crosby at his best.

[audio:http://www.dograt.com/Audio/2008/JUN/DerBingle.mp3]

Culture Clashes

I’ve been tagged by Brian Sibley. This is a new concept for me, but it seems to mean that I’m supposed to highlight seven songs that I’m into right now. I can’t do all seven right now, but let’s start with one that runs over the end credits of the excellent Japanese movie Linda, Linda, Linda, featured here one year ago.

The movie is about a high school girl band practicing a song by the Japanese punk band The Blue Hearts for a high school talent show. The DVD supplementary material includes lengthy commentary from Patrick Macias, an American expert in Japanese Pop culture. Here, Macias provides a one minute introduction to The Blue Hearts.

[audio:http://www.dograt.com/Audio/2008/JUN/PatrickMacias.mp3]

This is “An Endless Song,” the Blue Hearts record that runs over the closing credits…

[audio:http://www.dograt.com/Audio/2008/JUN/BlueHeartsEndlessSong.mp3]

…and this is The Clash from 1977.

[audio:http://www.dograt.com/Audio/2008/JUN/CareerOpportunities.mp3]

That recording came from a British import LP, and it has the nice full and smooth sound that’s characteristic of better vinyl pressings.

Petula Clark, International Star

XUXA’s stardom in Latin America failed to translate into American success. Of K3 and Free Souffriau in Belgium, I would suspect that Free has a better chance at finding an audience here in the states, or at least in the UK. English-speaking performers don’t necessarily have an advantage, otherwise Cilla Black would have been a much bigger name than she is in the U.S.

The point I’ve been leading up to is that Petula Clark’s career is unique. From child star on radio, to movie star, to adult French singing sensation, to 60’s Pop icon, to TV specials, to adult contemporary performer, to Broadway, and on and on, Petula Clark stands alone. No other entertainer, not even Madonna (in whom I have no interest) has reinvented herself so many times. And Petula has done it with apparent ease and without false fronts.

Here is Petula Clark’s recent appearance on Paul O’Grady’s BBC TV show. It features the hot, new Disney boy band, the Jonas Brothers. I love how the kids have to sit behind the old ladies.

[MYPLAYLIST=2]

Tech note: YouTube has the image shape wrong, so I downloaded the files and I’m giving this playlist a try. You’ll notice that you have to click outside of the player to change focus back to the page.