So I was reading todays newspaper... (uninformed editorial on DVD)

ElementZ · 10-29-03, 05:25 PM

and I got to the editorial section and here is what I seen.

Quote:

DVD movies have shortfall
Things are changing. VHS movies are used less. DVD movies do not fill your screen. At the same time, many people are purchasing big screen televisions. I dont enjoy wide, black areas shrinking the picture. You would think that with today's technology it would be possible to have dvd pictures fill a normal television screen.

This really soured me, should I respond to the editorial and educate this individual and others who might have read this and agree.

Sorry that I do not have a link as it was just the small local newspaper.

pedagogue · 10-29-03, 05:28 PM

And people ask why americans crack on our neighbors to the North.

-pedagogue

RussG · 10-29-03, 05:38 PM

You should write back with an intelligently written piece concerning the reason for the "black bars".

It just strikes me as a very sad state of affairs when a reporter can't get all the facts when writing their story. I guess I'm the idealistic journalism major - which is why I don't write for the media as a career.

Sign of the times, I suppose.

JimRochester · 10-29-03, 05:46 PM

The fact that the paper saw fit to print this editorial is what really scares me. If they are that hard up for content, you may want to find on of their reportes and ask them to do an entertainment piece on new technology and Home Theater.

mikewendt · 10-29-03, 05:59 PM

I would definatly write back.

Bandit03 · 10-29-03, 06:39 PM

You definately have to write back, let us know what you write if you do.

Tha Freak · 10-29-03, 06:51 PM

Time fo a little bit of education...write back...

DonnachaOne · 10-29-03, 06:51 PM

What newspaper? Who wrote the editorial?

Let's have a massive DVD Talk letter-writing campaign.

Mutley Hyde · 10-29-03, 07:15 PM

I'm in!

chente · 10-29-03, 07:20 PM

Write back politely is my vote.

RyoHazuki · 10-29-03, 07:21 PM

Write back and cover the letter in anthrax.

Gyno Rhino · 10-29-03, 07:40 PM

Write back. You've GOT to represent the smart minority here. Send that reporter packing.

ElementZ · 10-29-03, 08:23 PM

The paper is called the Saint John Telegraph. After working back to back to back 12 hour shifts, I am exhausted to think of anything right now, I do have a few ideas in my head. JimRochester gave me a very good idea. I wonder if the entertainment editor would accept an idea for a widescreen vs fullscreen piece with laymans terms that most people can understand. I wonder if I should mention how all television stations are converting to 100% digital in ~3 years so he will have to purchase a new tv. That would certainly give him something to scoff about.

MurraySiskind · 10-29-03, 09:20 PM

Tell us where to send our letters.

JoeyOhhhh · 10-29-03, 09:23 PM

Give this guy and newspaper hell.

mdX · 10-29-03, 09:46 PM

Quote:

I wonder if I should mention how all television stations are converting to 100% digital in ~3 years so he will have to purchase a new tv.

if you did that, you'd be worse than him/her. all he/she will have to purchase is a set top box to decode the digital broadcasts (assuming he/she doesn't have cable/sat, in which case no change will be necessary at all)

BizRodian · 10-29-03, 10:16 PM

This sounds like a typical small town paper...

Write back with the reasons, and post the email address here so we can all respond (in a nice manner explaining everything.) Then the person will feel like an idiot.

shill66 · 10-29-03, 10:19 PM

Yes, I think you should definitely write back, unlike these other guys who say you should definately write back.

Most frequently misspelled word on the internet, I think.

(Sorry.

)

duz · 10-29-03, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ElementZ
I dont enjoy wide, black areas shrinking the picture. You would think that with today's technology it would be possible to have dvd pictures fill a normal television screen.

They do, its called a 'Zoom Button'
On a related note, in my old town there was a small tv repair shop selling expensive converters that made your widescreen dvds play in fullscreen. Whenever I saw that ad I died a little inside.

Wazootyman · 10-30-03, 12:42 AM

In the Minneapolis Star Tribune this summer, they ran a 5 part series on how Widescreen works, explained things like Full frame, aspect ratios, Super 35, etc etc... it was nice

Ayo · 10-30-03, 01:35 AM

You know, its not just that the person doesn't seem to have a grasp on the concepts of different shapes (squares and rectangles are not the same), but the terrible sentence structure and writing in general.

But most problematic of all: "Shortfall?"

I'm sorry, but you can have a "shortcoming," or a "downfall," but you can't just mix and match.

hogfat · 10-30-03, 02:04 AM

for well over a century, "shortfall" has been used to describe that which fails to live up to expectations.

Josh-da-man · 10-30-03, 02:39 AM

Ah, Team Widescreen marches off to war.

BizRodian · 10-30-03, 09:50 AM

No blood for widescreen!

weargle · 10-30-03, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ayo
But most problematic of all: "Shortfall?"

I'm sorry, but you can have a "shortcoming," or a "downfall," but you can't just mix and match.

Oops, the grammar police are wrong: http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=shortfall

10-29-03, 05:28 PM	#2
pedagogue DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Jun 2000 Posts: 27,949	And people ask why americans crack on our neighbors to the North. -pedagogue __________________ Everyone is against racial profiling....unless it is called Affirmative Action. -kvrdave Coors Light is sex in a canoe. Natural Light is masturbating in a puddle. -The Bus

10-29-03, 05:46 PM	#4
JimRochester DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Sep 1999 Location: Rochester, NY. USA Posts: 11,132	The fact that the paper saw fit to print this editorial is what really scares me. If they are that hard up for content, you may want to find on of their reportes and ask them to do an entertainment piece on new technology and Home Theater. __________________ Panasonic 58" Plasma,Pioneer vsx91, SONY s590 312 titles, Toshiba A35 79 titles, Def-Tech speakers supercube sub. Most wanted BD: Big Red 1/Bugsy/Die Hard 4(R rated)/Dragnet/Memphis Belle/Midway (6/4/13)/Pearl Harbor(DC)/Sleepless In Seattle (7/9/13)/Tin Cup/Trapped In Paradise/True Lies/While You Were Sleeping.

10-29-03, 05:59 PM	#5
mikewendt DVD Talk Platinum Edition Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Boston Posts: 3,196	I would definatly write back. __________________ mikewendt.com My Movie Collection / Instagram / Twitter / '12 Oct. Horror Challenge "I feel sorry for people who don't drink. They wake up in the morning and that's the best they're going to feel all day." - Dean Martin

10-29-03, 06:39 PM	#6
Bandit03 DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: May 2003 Location: Ormond Beach, Florida Posts: 1,184	You definately have to write back, let us know what you write if you do. __________________ Live Gamertag/PSN ID: Bandit03

10-29-03, 06:51 PM	#7
Tha Freak Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Lachenaie, Québec (Canada) Posts: 369	Time fo a little bit of education...write back... __________________ "Are you gonna bark all day little doggy?...or are you gonna bite?" -Mr. Blonde in Reservoir Dogs My "just begining" DVD collection

10-29-03, 05:38 PM	#3
RussG Member Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 135	You should write back with an intelligently written piece concerning the reason for the "black bars". It just strikes me as a very sad state of affairs when a reporter can't get all the facts when writing their story. I guess I'm the idealistic journalism major - which is why I don't write for the media as a career. Sign of the times, I suppose.

10-29-03, 06:51 PM	#8
DonnachaOne DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: A place where they know how to pronounce "Donnacha" correctly Posts: 9,806	What newspaper? Who wrote the editorial? Let's have a massive DVD Talk letter-writing campaign.

10-29-03, 07:15 PM	#9
Mutley Hyde DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Texas! Damn right. Posts: 11,089	I'm in! __________________ "Africa is worth fighting for. Europe, in its present form, is not." Tony Blair

10-29-03, 07:20 PM	#10
chente DVD Talk Ultimate Edition Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Dark City Posts: 4,201	Write back politely is my vote. __________________ My DVD Collection / DVD Trade List My HD DVD Collection / My Laserdisc Collection

10-29-03, 07:21 PM	#11
RyoHazuki DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Phoenix Posts: 8,086	Write back and cover the letter in anthrax. __________________ What did the Red Hot Chili Peppers do when their manager didn't like their latest tracks? Spoiler: The got long sleeves. - Neil Hamburger Xbox Live: CookinBooks

10-29-03, 07:40 PM	#12
Gyno Rhino Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: WBB Posts: 442	Write back. You've GOT to represent the smart minority here. Send that reporter packing. __________________ ------------------------ M@$$ /PWN@G3 ------------------------

10-29-03, 08:23 PM	#13
ElementZ DVD Talk Platinum Edition Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: New Brunswick, Canada Posts: 3,134	The paper is called the Saint John Telegraph. After working back to back to back 12 hour shifts, I am exhausted to think of anything right now, I do have a few ideas in my head. JimRochester gave me a very good idea. I wonder if the entertainment editor would accept an idea for a widescreen vs fullscreen piece with laymans terms that most people can understand. I wonder if I should mention how all television stations are converting to 100% digital in ~3 years so he will have to purchase a new tv. That would certainly give him something to scoff about. __________________ GO SEA DOGS GO XBL = ElementZ2000

10-29-03, 09:20 PM	#14
MurraySiskind Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Atlanta Posts: 829	Tell us where to send our letters.

10-29-03, 09:23 PM	#15
JoeyOhhhh DVD Talk Platinum Edition Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Unique New York Posts: 3,884	Give this guy and newspaper hell. __________________ My DVD and HD DVD Collection Mabuse: What's shocking to me is that it's: a video..shot in bulgaria..involving a teenage girl..and several dogs...and she isn't sucking the dog's cocks. That's really an unexpected twist.

10-29-03, 10:16 PM	#17
BizRodian DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Ottawa Posts: 9,975	This sounds like a typical small town paper... Write back with the reasons, and post the email address here so we can all respond (in a nice manner explaining everything.) Then the person will feel like an idiot.

10-29-03, 10:19 PM	#18
shill66 DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: City of Chicago Posts: 1,583	Yes, I think you should definitely write back, unlike these other guys who say you should definately write back. Most frequently misspelled word on the internet, I think. (Sorry. ) __________________ Steve Hill at shillpages.com My DVDs - My collection of movie title screens If you are interested in classic horror films or early Hollywood history, you will be interested in my new books, out soon: Silver Scream, Volume 1 Silver Scream, Volume 2

10-30-03, 12:42 AM	#20
Wazootyman DVD Talk Platinum Edition Join Date: Aug 1999 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 3,601	In the Minneapolis Star Tribune this summer, they ran a 5 part series on how Widescreen works, explained things like Full frame, aspect ratios, Super 35, etc etc... it was nice __________________ Some of the finest spider erotica I have ever read

10-30-03, 01:35 AM	#21
Ayo Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: New York Posts: 50	You know, its not just that the person doesn't seem to have a grasp on the concepts of different shapes (squares and rectangles are not the same), but the terrible sentence structure and writing in general. But most problematic of all: "Shortfall?" I'm sorry, but you can have a "shortcoming," or a "downfall," but you can't just mix and match.

10-30-03, 02:04 AM	#22
hogfat Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 146	for well over a century, "shortfall" has been used to describe that which fails to live up to expectations.

10-30-03, 02:39 AM	#23
Josh-da-man DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: The Bible Belt Posts: 16,746	Ah, Team Widescreen marches off to war. __________________ "Here's to Boston cops, they did what so many men never have been able to do: they found the little man in the boat." -- Bill Maher

10-30-03, 09:50 AM	#24
BizRodian DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Ottawa Posts: 9,975	No blood for widescreen!