The Eric Wroolie Blog

Overpass Experiences

Taking a half day for history

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I took a half-day off yesterday so I could be home to watch the inauguration at 4pm. I think most people watched it live. Even though it is so easy to record it (especially in the age of hdd recorders), it’s the kind of thing you want to experience with everyone else, as it happens.

This inauguration was more like a holiday. I can’t remember so much excitement before.

I remember watching the George Bush (senior) inauguration speech in Algebra class when I was in the 11th grade. I never paid much attention to the Clinton or Bush Jr festivities.

So, it was a nice afternoon off. Like most people, I feel relieved. It’s finally over with.

2008 Baseball is over (for me)

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The baseball playoffs have already started. It seems like the San Diego Padres have been in them so frequently lately that I expect to watch some playoffs in early October.

But this year, they didn’t do to well (an understatement) and the season is over.

The big highlight of the year for me was a few Sundays ago when Chris Young took a perfect game into 8 2/3 innings against the Nationals. It was a day game so I could watch it live in the evening here. It was very exciting and very close. I was also heartbreaking when he was homered off of.

Oh well, next year.

Is the Media catching up?

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Last night, BBC2 started the third season of Heroes in the UK.  This is less than two weeks since the show premiered in the US.  This is great news for those living abroad who have less time to wait and avoid online spoilers until they can watch the show.

Previously, a show like this would take a few months to be shown in the UK.  Typically, a show starting in the Fall season would premier here in January or February.  I believe the motivation was to allow the show to run continuously without reruns.  But this makes it difficult for fans in the UK when surfing the Internet and not wanting to find out too much before getting a chance to see the show.  It’s a lot like taping a sports event and then trying to avoid the sports news until you get a chance to watch it.

I think piracy has helped bring this about.  The big assumption that people are trying to steal content without paying is not always correct.  If more shows are managed like this, you would see a lot less illegal downloads.  If networks offered fee-based programming online, pirated tv shows would dwindle.  Even iTunes shows wait until the UK premiers before something is offered.  But at least they didn’t have to wait long for Heroes.

Still, it did take nearly two weeks to be shown here.  I read a blog post from torrent freak a few days ago, ‘Heroes’ Causes BitTorrent Boom, which says that downloads of the show last week broke new records.  Even two weeks is a long time on the net.

By releasing content earlier, the US TV networks can control their own content before it spreads via piracy.