The Real Grant Martin

May 14

thefuzzydave: Why Can’t Americans Watch British TV Shows as Soon as They Air? 56 Up, the latest installment in the extraordinary “Up Series” of documentaries, which has followed the lives of the same 14 Britons for close to 50 years, premieres tonight in England. Starting with 1964’s Seven Up, when the subjects were seven years old, the series has revisited these same 14 people (with the exception of one or two who have refused to participate at various intervals ) every seven years. This makes the series one of the most important and unique longitudinal sociological studies ever undertaken. It also makes for a riveting viewing experience. Each installment ends by default with a natural cliff-hanger. But, alas, unlike scripted television, we must wait for another seven years of real-time life to pass before we can find out what happens next. And so, like millions of other viewers from around the world, I have anxiously been anticipating 56 Up, knowing that it was due in 2012. And yet, to my surprise and dismay, 56 Up—insanely, anachronistically—is being aired exclusively in the UK this week. And that’s it. People in the US and elsewhere are unable to watch it on TV, DVD, or the web now and for the unknown near-future. Why, in a global marketplace that has the technological capability for content to be available simultaneously around the world, aren’t people, regardless of where they live, able to enjoy content—be it 56 Up or a host of other films and shows—as soon as it’s released? Is it due to corporate contractual obligations? Is it part of global sales strategies? Or maybe just inertia of doing things the old way? The answer, I discovered, is a little bit of all three. This is bad news not only for viewers who are unable to view new content, but is often likely an economic mistake for producers as well. Read more.

thefuzzydave:

Why Can’t Americans Watch British TV Shows as Soon as They Air?

56 Up, the latest installment in the extraordinary “Up Series” of documentaries, which has followed the lives of the same 14 Britons for close to 50 years, premieres tonight in England. Starting with 1964’s Seven Up, when the subjects were seven years old, the series has revisited these same 14 people (with the exception of one or two who have refused to participate at various intervals ) every seven years. This makes the series one of the most important and unique longitudinal sociological studies ever undertaken. It also makes for a riveting viewing experience. Each installment ends by default with a natural cliff-hanger. But, alas, unlike scripted television, we must wait for another seven years of real-time life to pass before we can find out what happens next. And so, like millions of other viewers from around the world, I have anxiously been anticipating 56 Up, knowing that it was due in 2012. And yet, to my surprise and dismay, 56 Up—insanely, anachronistically—is being aired exclusively in the UK this week. And that’s it. People in the US and elsewhere are unable to watch it on TV, DVD, or the web now and for the unknown near-future.

Why, in a global marketplace that has the technological capability for content to be available simultaneously around the world, aren’t people, regardless of where they live, able to enjoy content—be it 56 Up or a host of other films and shows—as soon as it’s released? Is it due to corporate contractual obligations? Is it part of global sales strategies? Or maybe just inertia of doing things the old way? The answer, I discovered, is a little bit of all three. This is bad news not only for viewers who are unable to view new content, but is often likely an economic mistake for producers as well.

Read more.

May 09

The Lesson Here From today’s New Yorker (emphasis mine): If there is a lesson in the North Carolina vote, it is that complacency on this issue is not a victimless stance. Not all of the movement on gay marriage has been forward progress. There are families whose lives will now get worse. They, and we, have arrived at a moment when politicians—including the President—need to say what they believe, what risks they are willing to take, and what, in the end, is worth fighting for. Read the full article here.

The Lesson Here

From today’s New Yorker (emphasis mine):

If there is a lesson in the North Carolina vote, it is that complacency on this issue is not a victimless stance. Not all of the movement on gay marriage has been forward progress. There are families whose lives will now get worse. They, and we, have arrived at a moment when politicians—including the President—need to say what they believe, what risks they are willing to take, and what, in the end, is worth fighting for.

Read the full article here.

May 08

North Carolina voters approve amendment defining marriage as union between a man and woman

Tonight, for the first time since moving here, I am not proud to be a resident of North Carolina.

Official landscaper of the Federal Witness Protection Program® (Spotted during today’s lunchtime stroll)

Official landscaper of the Federal Witness Protection Program®

(Spotted during today’s lunchtime stroll)

Apr 29

The title for tonight’s Simpsons episode1 pays homage to my favorite David Foster Wallace essay. If you’ve never read it, this might be a good time—especially if you’re thinking about taking a cruise.2 1As an extra added bonus, one of the cruise ships on tonight’s episode is named the Nadir after the ship in DFW’s essay. You have to look pretty quick, though. 2This 24-page PDF seems to be the only way to read the essay online. Still worth it, though.

The title for tonight’s Simpsons episode1 pays homage to my favorite David Foster Wallace essay. If you’ve never read it, this might be a good time—especially if you’re thinking about taking a cruise.2

1As an extra added bonus, one of the cruise ships on tonight’s episode is named the Nadir after the ship in DFW’s essay. You have to look pretty quick, though.

2This 24-page PDF seems to be the only way to read the essay online. Still worth it, though.

Apr 27

I think I may have seen her at the theatre. Source: The New Yorker cartoon collection

I think I may have seen her at the theatre.

Source: The New Yorker cartoon collection

Apr 22

[video]

Mar 16

In which Mo lets Internet fame go to her head

Me: Your first-ever Tumblr post received 44 notes, including more than 20 re-blogs in less than a day.

Mo: Is that good?

Me: It’s pretty good.

Mo: OK, good.

Edit: As of 3/29/2012, Mo’s first-ever Tumblr post has garnered 1,013 notes.

Mar 14

Happy Pi Day (3.14) everybody! Cartoon credit: Pat Byrnes for The New Yorker (2000)

Happy Pi Day (3.14) everybody!

Cartoon credit: Pat Byrnes for The New Yorker (2000)

Feb 29

evangotlib: tastefullyoffensive: [video/via] Best moment of 2012 so far. Jon Stewart’s reaction two seconds later was priceless. This was from Monday night’s show (2/27/2012). I noticed that the intro to Tuesday night’s show did not feature the spinning earth. My guess is that it’s in the shop for repairs. I seriously think they’re going to fix it.

evangotlib:

tastefullyoffensive:

[video/via]

Best moment of 2012 so far.

Jon Stewart’s reaction two seconds later was priceless. This was from Monday night’s show (2/27/2012). I noticed that the intro to Tuesday night’s show did not feature the spinning earth. My guess is that it’s in the shop for repairs. I seriously think they’re going to fix it.

(via theatlantic)