Astrid’s View

Once again I am pleased to feature photos of gorgeous Prudence Bury, a classic British beauty and ballet dancer, and by far my favorite girl on the “Hard Day’s Night” train with the Beatles. These were taken by none other than Astrid Kirchherr.

Pru Bury with Ringo Starr
© Astrid Kirchherr

Pru Bury with Ringo and George
© Astrid Kirchherr

And this is, of course, Astrid with Stu Sutcliffe. An iconic couple, who had a brief but powerfully resonant relationship. Their story is, by itself, almost as compelling as that of the Beatles. But, then, it was love, after all.

Stu and Astrid
© Astrid Kirchherr

Studio 100, Je Hebt Een Vriend

I’ve just made a visit to the official K3 website…

http://www.k3.be/

… and look what I found there. At last, a high quality copy of “Kusjesdag” that blows away what’s on YouTube, and it doesn’t even need the aspect ratio corrected. I’ll scale it up from 480×270 to 640×360. Even the best of the Belgian brewmeister monks can’t bottle something this good.

[flv:http://s3.amazonaws.com/dogratcom/Video/K3/KusjesdagHQ.flv 640 360]

This is more like it! If it were in stereo I’d say it’s as good as can be for streaming FLV. But, sad to say, not all of the K3 music videos that Studio 100 has posted in flash format are of this technical quality. Most are unwatchable. Why? For that matter, this is the size of the player they used for “Kusjesdag”.

Studio 100 flash video player

Why reduce it? The bandwidth required by the video stream is the same regardless of how big the presentation.

Studio 100 — Please get a clue

Studio 100 Copyright violation

A YouTube user who goes by the handle zazazebra has been my primary source for videos by K3. It would seem that Studio 100 is now turning the screws and zaza’s videos, and those posted by others, are starting to disappear.

Dear Studio 100: PLEASE get a clue! Don’t squash guys like me and zazazebra. We’re just trying to help promote K3 and Studio 100. Zazazebra had 2.5 MILLION hits on his post of “Kusjesdag”, and while my coverage can’t match that, I’m the lone voice in America pushing K3. To increase interest in your own posted videos, get high quality versions of “Kusjesdag”, “Hart Verloren”, “Tele Romeo” and “Verliefd” in stereo on YouTube. I’d love to link to those. “I Love You, Baby” too, because it has some English. Think about it. Please. The songs are wonderful, but it’s not just the format that makes it all work, it’s Karen, Kristel and Kathleen, one of the best pop music trios I have ever enjoyed.

Addendum: Now here’s something interesting. Studio 100’s UK account, that had the UK3 audition, has been suspended by YouTube (or perhaps shut down by Studio 100?). Click the link and see for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/user/studio100UK

Noticed on Jan 1: The Studio 100 UK account is back.
March 23: It’s over. Kathleen has quit. K3 is done.

A Cold, Cold ‘Coldbert’ Christmas

Amazon.com was sold out of A Colbert Christmas — The Greatest Gift of All!, so my thanks go to D.F. Rogers for procuring me a copy at a competitive price. The back of the case alone is worth the price.

A Colbert Christmas

Inexpensive, with a charity benefiting, and offbeat guffaws served up by Stephen Colbert with his guests — including two I’ve never heard of before — this is the best 2008 Christmas video ever! A not-to-miss extra is Stephen singing his instant classic, “Cold, Cold Christmas.” Here’s the audio, minus the video.

[audio:http://www.dograt.com/Audio/2008/DEC/ColbertChristmas.mp3]