However, a new edition of an Indiana University professor’s book, The Living and the Undead: Slaying Vampires and Exterminating Zombies (University of Illinois Press), argues that each generation has reshaped the stories of vampires and other undead creatures to fit new times.

Author Gregory A. Waller, professor and chair of the IU Department of Communication and Culture, says that the changing meaning and scope of the violent confrontation between the living and the undead has often been at the heart of an ongoing story.

Waller examined a wide range of novels, stories, plays, films and TV movies, including

• Bram Stoker’s 1897 book Dracula;
• Film adaptations of Stoker’s novel;
• F. W. Murnau’s 1922 silent film Nosferatu;
• Richard Matheson’s 1954 novel I Am Legend;
• Stephen King’s 1975 book Salem’s Lot;
• Werner Herzog’s 1979 film Nosferatu the Vampyre; and
• George Romero’s movies
  • Night of the Living Dead (1968) and
  • Dawn of the Dead (1979).

The new edition of The Living and the Undead: Slaying Vampires and Exterminating Zombies features a new preface in which Waller positions his analysis in relation to the explosion of vampire and zombie films, fiction, and criticism in the past 25 years.

The Twilight Saga is so Yesterday

Representations of vampires in the 1930s during the Depression often dramatized a threat on the modern world from an older civilization. Other versions, such as depicted in Richard Matheson’s 1954 book I Am Legend (not the one with Wil Smith) clearly are about genocide and only could have been written after World War II. Night of the Living Dead arguably is an allegorizes American society during the Vietnam War.

Waller said that the vampire legend has migrated successfully from one form of media to another through its history — from written fiction to theatrical plays to the screen to comic books and graphic novels to TV series and back to motion pictures. Waller focuses on how stories about vampires and zombies also are about the living beings in those stories — “especially the ones who get to kill the undead in the name of self-defense and survival.” The many books, plays, movies speak to our questions about violence, how we undertake it and who benefits from it and who pays the price.

“It is a story where the heroic act, in the older versions at least, was to find a comatose body, get this object that has no other use in the universe, a sharpened stake, and run it through the heart of that creature, who could often at times be a beautiful woman,” he said. “I was fascinated by the fact that my students almost all knew how to kill a vampire — utterly useless knowledge.”

Some of the most recent retellings, such as the Twilight Trilogy of books and movies and the TV programs True Blood, Angel and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, are more ambiguous in terms of heroes and villains — not only reflecting changes in social values, but also reflecting the way commercial media operates today. Because in previous generations vampires were not sex objects or “good guys”; vampires were evil and worth killing.

That’s Not All Folks

The popularity of vampire and zombie characters aren’t waning any time soon.  Expect Hollywood to ride the vampire money train for as long as possible. Waller wrote. “Now seriality is key component of contemporary media – this idea that you tell ongoing stories through multiple iterations or even that you plan it as a franchise, which seems to be the case with the Twilight Trilogy.” And keep telling the story until the box office says “stop”.

It may have taken a major oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico to direct the general public’s attention to automobile use and how it affects everything from the environment to obesity. But some people study it—and how to change that habit and its impacts on energy consumption, air quality, climate, physical activity and more—every day.

A study featured in the summer issue of the Journal of the American Planning Association, and released in advance this week, aims to make decisions easier for those charged with designing and building cities that use less carbon in the future.

“There has been more research on the effect of community design on the amount people drive, walk, and use transit than any other subject in urban planning,” said Reid Ewing, professor of city and metropolitan planning at the University of Utah, and co-author of the analysis. “We have attempted to make sense out of the varied findings, and arm planners and policy makers with numbers they can use to justify compact development, mixed use, interconnected streets, accessible transit, and other smart growth measures.”

Research Overview

The researchers performed a meta-analysis of some 200 built environment and travel studies conducted since 1996, in order to measure the magnitude of relationships that influence a person’s travel choices. The statistical technique is a systematic way of combining data from many studies on a given topic to allow common threads to emerge, and also to calculate meaningful averages. The conclusions can then be applied with confidence by planners, policy makers and other professionals working to enhance physical, social and mental health of America’s communities.

Results and Conclusions

Travel variables are generally inelastic with respect to change in measures of the built environment. Of the environmental variables considered here, none has a weighted average travel elasticity of absolute magnitude greater than 0.39, and most are much less. Still, the combined effect of several such variables on travel could be quite large. Consistent with prior work, we find that vehicle miles traveled is most strongly related to measures of accessibility to destinations and secondarily to street network design variables.

Walking is most strongly related to measures of land use diversity, intersection density, and the number of destinations within walking distance. Bus and train use are equally related to proximity to transit and street network design variables, with land use diversity a secondary factor. Surprisingly, it found the find population and job densities to be only weakly associated with travel behavior once these other variables are controlled.

Soapbox Suggestions

• Make all drive-thru illegal
• All automobile GPS gadgets must have an option to eliminate left turns.
• All Employees must offer incentive for car pooling or taking public transportation.
• Make it illegal for parents to drive their children to school when public or school transportation is available.
• Make it illegal for student to drive to school when public or school transportation is available.
• Those who must have fast food should be able to call ahead and pre-pay an order for pick up.  You can do that with any restaurant, why not fast food?
• The United States has to use railways as a way of transporting.  No trucks can transport over 150 miles.
• Reopen all the freight only train tracks to passenger trains.  It is time for bring back the train. The United States has limited passenger tracks but the reality is there is more than triple tracks available for more passenger routes.
• Make it illegal for deliveries between 8:00 am and 20:00 (8:00 pm), irrelevant of the time zone.
• Anyone working a five-day work week must either take public transportation for the 5th day or carpool.
• Start a four-day work week (10 hours days).
• All schools must offer extended hours. (this will allow for the four-day work week for parents)
• Commuter lots must be mandatory for all public transportation.  In Ashland, WI there is public transportation, but no commuter lots.
• Put a “miles traveled” on any item in a store.  This includes food, clothing, electronics and so on . . . If the product is manufactured in the US but parts are not . . . this must all be included detailed information.
• Put the speed limit back to 55 mph on all highways throughout the US with stricter fines for those going 60+ mph, doubled for any truck or automobile with a hitched item.
• Instead of police sitting on the side of the highway, use speeding cameras.  Leave the police to actual emergencies.
• All US automobiles must have a 55 mpg rating by 2012. All other countries have at least that much, why not the US?
• Have a state car tax . . . the less mpg the higher the tax.  Any automobile with 45+ mpg doesn’t have to pay the tax.
• Internet surcharge for all online purchases.
• Retail purchases locally (under 100 miles) get a 1% discount.

If you can’t get it locally do you really need it? The process of a lifestyle change has to start with a simple question . . . what is important to you?  What kind of life do you want? If you have children the only investment should be shoes while the rest of the clothes should be from thrift stores.

If you want to invest and build a portfolio invest in local mutual funds, state funds or even your local city funds. You invest where you live, the returns are more consistent and not relying on any national interest rate.

Stop going to the Mall.

Carpool, public transportation, walk, or bike.  Those in less milder weather (rain, snow, sleet) think about a four day work week, telecommuting, going to one income (take this quiz) or even taking a job close to home (walking distance preferred) or telecommuting position.

The United States has to get out of the “just because I can” attitude. Just because you can buy a huge truck doesn’t mean you should. Just because you can drive yourself to school, doesn’t mean you should.  Just because you it is easier to sit your fat ass in your car and order a hamburger with a diet coke doesn’t mean you should.

The reason the United States has economic problems is due to laziness, greed and unwillingness to see the big picture.  Just because you are told you can afford a home — doesn’t mean you should own a home.  There are more homes for sale than there are qualified buyers . . . that says something.  It is a reflection of the American people are so isolated to their own community that entitlement is more important than the community itself.

Just because you see it on Amazon for $10.00 cheaper than the main street retail shop doesn’t mean you should buy it online.  Buying online doesn’t make a community – it makes you irrelevant to those around you.  The United States has lost the true American spirit.

The American spirit is not patriotism or chanting USA! at the Olympics.  The American spirit has always been about the “I want a better life”.  Better is not bigger, more expensive or hiding behind a keyboard.  The”better life” is about being part of a community, family, and actually being more than just an individual.

Until the United States changes its attitude about what is really important . . . it will never overcome the greed, corrupt politician or death of main street.   The United States needs to not reinvent itself but get back to the big picture.

“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. The wretched refuse of you teaming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

The United States is no longer free but a slave to commercialism, capitalistic politics and their automobile.  The best form of economy is self sustaining and the most powerful is a strong local economy.

Although 20th Century Fox has been boasting this week about record-breaking Blu-ray Disc sales for Avatar, it has also been fending off complaints from many buyers that they are unable to play the discs.

Amazon.com is filled with angry people complaining.  Current count is 167 and here is my favorite from a passionate person.

Don’t be suckered into this head fake. The announcement of a late 2010 release of the special edition with special features and 3D is already being leaked to the media. The sad thing is, they think consumers are so retarded that they made the assertion that this initial release was to dedicate every ounce of blu-ray space to the best possible presentation. OK, you couldn’t just use the extra discs right now and do the 3d and special features? If you buy the disc now, you are proving that we are all too stupid to sort out the rhetoric. It’s a double dip plain and simple. Furthermore, they are now talking about re-releasing the movie this summer with extra footage. Rent it if you have to, go see the re-release if you must. Get your fix and absolutely avoid this edition. Not only is this a double dip on Blu in the same year, They are double dipping at the box office as well.

QUIT MESSING WITH YOUR FAN BASE!

Serious Matter

Avatar “is on its way to becoming the most pirated Blu-ray film to date.” It counted more than 200,000 downloads in the first four days following the film’s release on Blu-ray and noted that “DRM issues …could also have boosted download numbers a little.”

Which means anyone who bought the Blu-ray DVD can’t watch the film while anyone who downloaded (torrent or other means) can . . . DRM fail again.Similar Posts:

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Movies are a big deal in my household, very big deal.  All movies are broken down into five categories:

• See it in regular movie theater
• See it in IMAX (4.5 hours drive)
• Netflix or rent It
• Buy It
• Skip It

Movies Search

Since we do not have television (cable, DTV nor satilitte) so we are not influenced by over commercialization.  We do watch content online, which means that we do have limited commercials announcing movies, but the rule goes “too much advertising” means it is either costing too much to fail or it just sucks.  So the question remains, how do we find about movies?

• IMDb (http://www.imdb.com/)
• TWOP (http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/)
• Variety (http://www.variety.com/)
• Empire Magazine (http://www.empireonline.com/)
• G4TV (http://g4tv.com/wii)

Where Do We Watch

We have a local theater, six blocks away, that show the latest six films.  Since we live in a small town we are limited in our picks. One hour and twenty minutes we have access to more movies. The only problem is that “one night only showings” are always in the middle of the week, so we have to skip some great film. But the biggest city with independent films, IMAX movies and more current films is four and a half hours drive. Lucky for us we have a small (540 sq ft) co-op apartment located in the cities. Why would we drive almost three hours (RT) to see a movie?  The biggest reason have been the two RiffTrax live screenings second has always been IMAX movies while last on the list is incorporating visiting family with a movie.

At home, we have a 9′ screen, a ceiling projector, 7.1 surround sound system (only using 5.1), Roku, Wii, Classic XBox, Windows XP with VPN, DVD player and very comfortable seating (thanks Tommy).  We have create our own home cinema and we love our slowly growing DVD collection.

Blu-Ray Won, So What

The high-definition movie disc battle between HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc can be traced all the way back to 2000, when companies began experimenting with using new blue lasers in optical disc systems.  It was a long road for Blu-Ray, but it as if nothing happened at all and we are now back to DVD vs Blu-Ray.  What is the biggest feature, the pop-up menu, which allows you to access the menu functions while the movie continues playing — wow. Some have picture-in-picture video commentary and there was supposed to be Blu-ray players which to download special content via DVD.

It is said the video and audio have better quality, but that is only true if you have the latest and greatest technology to support the new functions.  Which means for most people there will be no change.  You have to invest at least $1500 for a decent screen and another $500 for sound system; forgot at least $150-$200 for a good Blu-ray player.

After all that investment Hollywood doesn’t have your back. The prices of limited Blu-ray movies don’t make it worth buying (3 times the price of a regular DVD), only option is renting.   Also, forget taking the movie on the road, unless you invest another $150 for a portable Blu-ray player.  It is not like you can take it on vacation to play it on standard computers or mini-vans (for the record we own a Jetta TDI).

Regular DVDs Are Worth The Effort

When a DVD is put out quickly is a good sign that the DVD will be crappy.   Basically it will be theatrical release on a disc vs a DVD experience. What would make us buy a DVD when you can easily rent it or download it (legally or illegally)?  Here are a few reasons we end up buying the DVDs.

1. Director’s Cut – movies are spliced and cut in the name of profit. The executives take away the vision of the Director for the sake of time and money.  Getting the director’s cut is the only way to watch a film, as it was fully intended.  Most people just accept the film as-is, but so much is missing.
2. Director’s Commentary – commentary especially from director and writer’s point of view.  Why this shot? What was your plan here? Why did you keep this shot instead of a different angle?
3. Actor’s Commentary – this is a great insight of movies and the actor’s mind. This commentary has to be on a different track than the Director’s, unless it is a comedy.
4. Spoofs – The best DVDs have a spoof track.
5. Making Of – Great movies that use CGI are worth watching how it was made, sometimes.  But only worth it if is a documentary in itself, not some lame actor walking around the set, talking to the programmer and pretend he/she is everyone’s bud.
6. Pop-Up Trivia – this is sort of like “Pop-up Video” from VH1, but it has slowly made it to DVDs.  It shows the entire movie with Pop-up trivia or quirky information.
7. Closed Captioning CC – this is a must have for most movies. No, I am not deaf but any film buff will tell you that the CC is a huge help even with English speaking films and musicals.  You do not get CC from Amazon, Netflix or any other streaming options.
8. Watchable – There are movies that are just full of substance that you can’t help watching it over and over again.
9. Limited – Some movies are just not for rent or available in the US.  The only way to get them is via DVD overseas.

But all these extras are available on a regular DVD so why would I rent or buy a more expensive Blu-ray DVD?  There has to be something that stands out, and not a digital copy (all kinds of shrinking software is available free/commercial).  Why should I invest in a Blue-ray player and spend almost twice the amount for a Blu-ray?

What Would Make Me Buy Blu-ray

Blu-ray DVD cost considerably more than regular DVDs and do not offer much of a difference in DVD package. There might be a bit more extra commentary and an ever so worthless digital copy, but on a whole Blu-ray doesn’t bring much to the table.  There has to be that “Wow” factor that has me dig deep into my pockets and buy the Blu-ray.  Here are suggestions:

Multiple Versions on One

All on one Blu-ray package have the Director’s Cut, theatrical release and extended edition.  For example; “Lord of the Rings” trilogy should have both the theatrical release and extended edition.  I should not have to buy two products of the same movie.

Regular DVD Included

Forget the digital copy, actually put a regular DVD in the package. Some distributors have started, but it has to be a standard with all Blu-ray movies.

Complete Series

Any season/episode program released on Blu-ray should not limit to a single season/episode.  For example; “Corner Gas” is no longer in production and the regular DVD is split up into each season, but the Blu-ray should have all season 1-6.   There is no reason someone would want just one season on Blu-ray and it is ridiculous to “spread” distribution.  The “Disney vault” is stupid and bad business practice, do don’t start it with Blu-ray releases.

RiffTrax Commentary

What is RiffTrax? RiffTrax are downloadable audio commentaries featuring comedian Michael J. Nelson heckling (or riffing) films in the style of Mystery Science Theater 3000, a TV show in which Nelson was the head writer, and later the host. The RiffTrax are sold online and delivered by digital download. RiffTrax commentaries must be synchronized at the start of the movie using a cue and it is not always perfect. Here’s a sample from Star Trek:

Standard Options

Any Blu-ray distribution must meet, minimally these five things on each Blu-ray release:

• Theatrical Release **
• Director’s Cut
• Director’s Commentary
• Main Actor’s Commentary
• Entertaining Commentary (pop-up or triva)
• Documentary on CGI, Location, Pre-Production and/or Post Production
• Extended Edition

** Regular DVDs should not have anything else except the theatrical release. If it has anything except the movie, why should I buy the Blu-ray?

Bottom Line

If you want me to buy Blu-ray DVDs then make sure there is a real difference in content between a regular DVD and a Blu-ray.  Right now, I just see a few extras that a Blu-ray DVD would have compared to a regular DVD. For example: “Star Trek”:

Tell me why should I buy the Blu-ray? Why should I get a Blu-ray player, invest in a new television set, new sound system? There really isn’t anything extra on the Blu-ray I couldn’t find online. If the regular DVD had only the theaterical release or Blu-ray had the Rifftrax Star Trek I would be first in line. Until then, I will be sticking with my regular DVD player and invest in a region free player.
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The finding confirms nationwide data that most students have pirated digital material. However, while the percentage is dramatic, the number of students pirating now is likely decreasing, the researchers said, as entertainment companies and universities implement more advanced and comprehensive prevention technologies.

The researchers found that people pirate digital media because they possess the ability and resources to do so, and because it is easy to copy and download copyrighted music and movies. Furthermore, the study revealed that once an individual participates in piracy, the intention to repeat the illegal behavior increases.

Why Do It?

To better understand why digital piracy occurs and what influences an individualâ’s intent to illegally copy and download copyrighted material, Cronan and Sulaiman Al-Rafee, assistant professor of information systems at the University of Kuwait, sampled 280 students â’“ 164 male students and 116 female students â’“ from a business college at a university in the Midwest. Through questionnaires, the researchers asked the students to comment on their behavior and beliefs about piracy. The questions were related to various hypotheses about six factors, identified in previous research, that influence the intention to pirate digital material: intention, attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, past piracy behavior and moral obligation.

• 76.5 % Students had pirated material
• 30.6% Students reported participating in a â’large amountâ’ of digital piracy
• 50% Students pirated a â’small amount.â’

Gender Gap

There were significant differences between male and female students. Of all students who had pirated:

• 65.1% male
• 34.9% female

As for factors that influence the decision to illegally copy and download material, the researchers found that past piracy behavior â’“ defined as the frequency of occurrence of digital piracy in the past â’“ had the greatest effect on the intent to pirate. Subjects who had previously pirated had a higher intention to pirate in the future, especially as the frequency of piracy increased.

75% of the students thought illegal copying and downloading of copyrighted material is OK

More than eight out of 10 subjects â’“ 84.3%, specifically â’“ reported that it was easy or very easy to pirate digital media, and only 0.35 found it â’hardâ’ or â’very hardâ’ to pirate.

• 44% of the students indicated a favorable attitude toward digital piracy
• 23.6% had a less favorable attitude
• 32.5% were neutral.

This means that more than 75% of the students thought illegal copying and downloading of copyrighted material was OK or had no opinion about it. Not surprisingly, the researchers found that those who had a more favorable attitude toward piracy had a higher intention to pirate.

Crying Loss

Recording and film companies have reported significant financial loss due to piracy. According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), there was a decline of 31 percent in music sales from 1999 to 2002 due to illegal copying and downloading of copyrighted material.

The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) estimates that the industry worldwide lost about $18.2 billion in 2005 because of piracy.

RIAA did the exact same complaint when music went to cassettes (remember those) and CDs.  The MPAA also reanted and complained about VCR (remember those) and DVDs. 

Reality

Those who download illegal copies of music over networks are the biggest consumers of legal music options, according to a new study by the BI Norwegian School of Management. Researchers (translated into english) examined the music downloading habits of more than 1,900 Internet users over the age of 15, and found that illegal music connoisseurs are significantly more likely to purchase music than the average, legal user.

RIAA and MPAA have always made money . . . billions of dollars off of quality product.  I do not think anyone is downloading the latest BeeGees or pirating SuperBabies: Baby Geniuses 2.

Personal Note

I am a watcher of pirated media . . . but I buy what I like to keep in my collection. It is always easier to watch something in my collection than download.