So I had this issue when I encode video with QuickTime (final cut, compressor, etc) that would cause the encoding to stop randomly. This has been happening for four months with Apple’s high end software.

I learned that if I totally uninstalled/reinstalled DVD Studio Pro and then Final Cut Pro, leaving out the FCP install of Compressor, it might fix things.

I uninstall both applications, by hand, which takes awhile, then I install DVD studio pro, reboot, apply the software updates, reboot (takes awhile) then I install Final Cut Pro (takes awhile) reboot, install the updates and wow, 10.3.4 was released, right while I’m upgrading Final Cut. Ok, so I install that too.

I spent about 3 hours that night running tests, and it is fixed! The fix worked! Or did it? Check out this kbase article and look at the solution!

Argh! I wait 5 months and the very day, the very MINUTE I do all of this work, they release a fix.

Is nice to have it fixed, but one would think that if you own the top of the line Mac and the professional software, it would get fixed faster than 5 months.

Sigh.

How often does this happen? I got an email from Vonage and due to their success and greater efficiency, they are passing a $5 a month savings onto me, a 14% drop in monthly rate. Thanks, Vonage!

The latest hot PC game, was easier than I expected, but some levels were definitely a challenge. Some actually required skill.

The graphics were great, the AI not too bad (for normal) but they sure get mean at the end of the game!

If you like shooters, Far Cry is good fun. For Windows only (damnit)

Kill Bill Vol 2 - Loved it. Predictable, artsy, gory and the familiar stamp of wonderful music we’ve come to love in Quentin’s movies.

Gangs of New York - Fell asleep during disc 2. Yawn.

Caddyshack - Had not seen this all the way through yet. I should have called 2.

Cannonball Run - Loved it as always. <Insert Burt laugh>

Van Helsing - Van Boring, Van Stupid, Van Neato Effects, Van Fucked Too Much With Lore, Van They Had to have something for the Monster to do, Van Why Do The Garoylites explode like Martians in Mars Attacks? Van Unoriginal.

Update: Due to the immense fan disapproval, Major League Baseball has scrapped plans to advertise on the playing field. We win!

Alright, yes advertisements are everywhere these days but I am sorry, having Spiderman movie logos on the actual bases, on deck circles and pitchers mounds of a baseball diamond is gone too far. I have the right to draw the line and the field is it.

As a child, I can recall my first live baseball game at Dodger Stadium, between the Reds and the Dodgers. The field was a bright green, the infield a beautiful copper like brown, the bases a strikingly bright white. The chalk lines defining the boundaries, the foul poles perfect yellow. The uniforms astonishingly bright white adorned with Dodger blue.

The only ad was the Union 76 sign above the scoreboard and dodger vision.

They want me to pay crazy prices for a ticket to pay incredibly overprices athletes to compete so I can cheer them on and then stare at ads around the bases?

No way.

So I won’t be seeing Spiderman II, nor will I attend any games this season, nor will I watch any more on television.

Greed loses.