2012 F1 in HDTV - Page 11  

The rampant commercialism in current sports didn't happen overnight, just like reducing it to a purer form wouldn't happen overnight. And it's just a metaphor for the simple-minded mass manipulation we see in politics and business and wherever you look really. So no, it wouldn't cease to exist, it would simply transform itself to adapt.

F1 teams spend the money they do because they can. MLB owners pay ball players absurd salaries because they can. The reason they can is television, which brings a mass market for selling soap to. So our modern world, not just sports, but politics and business gets corrupted to sell more soap, or by the techniques used for selling that soap applied in new creative ways. See the Comcast DVR piece in the news sticky in this forum They just won't stop it - "it" being the treating of you, me and everyone else not as individuals, but as a group to be manipulated and moved to serve their will.

I think there's something wrong with that equation. I don't know how to fix it, but I won't accept your (seeming) position that it has to be that way.

It's not that it has to be that way. It just is that way. For better or for worse, it's unlikely and probably nor possible to return to the old ways. That culture and climate is long gone.

I understand your frustration. I feel similarly about the music business. I think it was ruined by the introduction of CDs, an inferior format and a huge con job pulled on the consumer by the record industry, and it's been made even worse by the proliferation of MP3s. I just ignore it now and listen to my vinyl.

I saw it in the theater and have watched it many times on Netflix. Not sure if the Netflix stream is 1080p or not, but it looked similar to what I remember seeing in the theater. If I went to the store to buy it and had the option of DVD or BluRay, of course I'd choose BluRay. But if you haven't seen it, then stream it on netflix for sure. Watch it later on BluRay when it's out.

I think we reached a point of agreement I've been threatening to buy a new turntable for years but just don't ever seem to use funds for that when available. There are excellent CDs in niche categories and that keeps me going, but I have so much great music on vinyl and I miss it sorely. I guess I'm doing with music what I complain about others doing in different areas, putting up with the status quo

It's funny how in our modern world, CDs, which I used to hate, are now a high-end sound source. It's sad that now with the technology to easily support it, high res sound doesn't get any traction.

Indeed. I have a Rega RP3, but just ordered a Clearaudio Performance turntable to replace it. Well worth it for my collection of 2500+ LPs. Gotta have something to listen to between races.

That's a nice step up, I envy you your anticipation and excitement. Their Concept (is that the low-end one?) is where I end up usually. Now I'm going to spend a few days thinking about it and not do anything like always

Really, congrats on your Clearaudio, it should serve you well for years to come.

The Concept is a beautiful table if you decide to spring for one. I spent a weekend at home with one. I was convinced to get one as a replacement for my Rega, but decided to go a bit better to the Performance. They have a new DC motor version coming out this summer, so I'm waiting for that.

Sports that isn't entertaining?
Hmmmm....

All big league sports cost a lot of money because they have the potential to make a lot of money. F1, along with MLB, the NFL, and the NBA, are prime examples of the phenomenon. All of them do everything they can to appeal to the ticket buying and TV watching public because they have to. They are big businesses, so the notion that they would not do everything in their power to increase their bottom line is naive, it seems to me.

i've watched Senna a few time now, one of my new favorites.

I'm hoping his nephew will shine a little this year, but seems his teammate beat him to it for now.

BTW, there are two versions of Senna the movie: the 1:40 (no talking heads) and 2:40 (with talking heads). I prefer the shorter one, it has real vibe to it.

I can think of several financial industry CEOs who would wholeheartedly agree with you When greed is the prime motivating emotion, and maximizing profit at any cost is the single critical goal, well, you've got our modern world.

If I said to a group of business leaders that I was starting a company and my goal was consistent, single digit profit margins with steady, slow growth over several years, I'd be laughed out of the room. But I'd be describing a company that could pay its bills, fund its pension, increase hiring over time and generally be a good citizen. And they'd laugh at me. Probably call me naive Maybe put a kindly arm around my shoulder and explain the "way things work."

Like, "You see that guy posting at the AVS forum, that guy right there, well, he subscribes to a television delivery service, and we just agreed to pay a 32 year old ball player a quarter billion dollars. But the magic is, what you don't understand in your naive ways, is that HE is going to be paying that salary through his satellite bill." "Son, until you realize how gullible and malleable the American public is, you'll never be a success in business."

That seems to be the general consensus among the viewers that have seen both versions!

Boy is this thread drifting off the mark. All I can add is this is the best F1 season in a couple of years. Who wants to see someone dominate like last year? Let's hope it stays this way.


Monaco in 10 days baby!!!!!!

Yeah, i did want to see the longer cut too though, but couldn't find it.

This season has been fun to watch.

Well, Vettel was the new wunderkind....the new Schumacher.
And that was fun to see.

However...no question: this season is going to be a barn-burner.

The way this season is progressing it makes me more excited about being in Montreal for the Canadian F-1 race.

Well, I'd like to see a 6th constructor/driver win. If that's the case, my bet is it'll be Lotus. I'd like to see Roman win it, but it seems Kimi is becoming increasingly pissed at not winning, so smart money would be on him.

I agree that this has been a terrifically entertaining season, one where 4 second pit stops can get you beat and a team's engineers don't have any better idea than the rest of us when a set of tires will go away. Better yet, a different driver from a different team wins every week. This year more than ever, the margin between winning and losing is infinitesimal. Fun stuff!

Agreed.
There is a very very good chance Lotus will be on the top step some time this season (and probably more than once).
I wouldn't mind seeing Kimi and Roman BOTH win.

You guys are starting to sound like Nascar fans with all of the uncertainty over winning and close racing.

I wouldn't mind seeing the old Terminator, Michael Schumacher, win again. Maybe one of the remaining F1 events will be run in the rain. When it rains, you can't count Michael out, even now.

As much as it pains me to say it, King Schumi's luck seems to have run out. Routine things that fell in his favor in his primetime, now go against him. The freak accident in last week's race wouldn't have gone quite the same way in the past. I keep hoping against hope that he could return to his primacy and success soon - or I am afraid this is going to be his last season or two.

Except that in the rain, Vettel is faster now.

True, but.....

Agreed.
The bottom line is he shouldn't have retired when he did.
There was still more in him, and now it seems "the magic" has left him by the side of the road.

But there sure are a lot of great memories to savor...

I believe this is the last year of Schumacher's contract. If Mercedes is smart, then they either bring him back at a significantly reduced salary or let him walk. Of course, now who do you replace him with? Maldonado, Perez, Kubica or Franchitti.

They say most racers know when they have lost the edge even before anyone else can see it. I wonder if Mike knows it and is just hanging on for the paycheck.

There is a rumor he is lined up to replace Ross Brawn when he finally steps down.

F1 is already a lot like Nascar in terms of limiting technology. E.g. we used to have 20,000 rpm, now it's only 18,000. Bah. Might as well force them all to use iron-block V8s. And only turn left.

The explanation is it is a "cost-cutting" measure.
The suppliers haven't been complaining much and engines almost never blow these days....

You are almost sounding like a F1 apologist.


They have limited it a lot. I almost would like to see Paul Van Valkenburgs Formula None concept to see what interesting ideas would be developed.