The intensity of work at the back end of the financial year was quite taxing, and a work conference over in Vegas at the start of the month was good for hitting the reset button.
Now I'm just trying to work out how I can stay put.
I've only had one week this month where I haven't spent some portion traveling either interstate or overseas.
Off to Brisbane next week, then another week at home where I'll probably have to do at least a day trip to Canberra, and then two weeks in the US. Then back for a week before I go on a cruise with V to French Polynesia, and then another trip to Brisbane.
It's fortunate I enjoy my job!
Sunday, 30 May 2010
Ugh...
Wonderful sets (although not a fan of the remodelled TARDIS), surprisingly good actors, below average writing.
I'm trying to wait til the end of the series to deliver a verdict, but the writing in this current season of Doctor Who is really disappointing. I'd rate it below any other season.
I'm hoping the final four episodes raise the bar...
I'm trying to wait til the end of the series to deliver a verdict, but the writing in this current season of Doctor Who is really disappointing. I'd rate it below any other season.
I'm hoping the final four episodes raise the bar...
Tuesday, 5 January 2010
The End of Time
[ Spoiler Alert! I often avoid spoilers, but in this case if I do that I'll have too little to say! So consider yourself warned: this entry is full of them! ]
I watched the The End of Time Part I (TEoTP1) a few weeks ago.
After the initial viewing of the episode, my net impression was that the Tenth Doctor would meet a less than fitting end in Part II due to the poor writing of Russell T Davies (RTD). This was exacerbated by the contrast of the really great writing/fresh angles explored in The Waters of Mars -- a story which had really started to lift my expectations for the finale.
The only things I liked in TEoTP1 was the arrival of The Doctor in the start (where The Doctor was greeted by the Ood, being told he was essentially late for his own funeral, with the Doctor retorting that he was in no rush) and the cliffhanger (where it is revealed that the Time Lords are behind the sinister narration throughout the story).
Beyond these bookends, if I could use one word to describe my feelings for TEoTP1, I'd say irritation. Mainly because "plot-device-o-rama" might be considered more than one word! The plot device of a cult with no other purpose than resurrecting The Master. Random encounters with Wilf and his merry pensioners. The pointless characters of the Naismith's. The silly plot device of the two scientists who are aliens in disguise (the Vinvocci/Cactii). (And pretty crap aliens at that!)
Beyond plot devices, a few other qualms... RTD often uses in-jokes as a substitute for clever comedy. The other attempts at comedy generally being flat. The portrayal of the Master as a psychotic guy with grandiose plans, but lacking the true criminal genius of previous generations (this due to a lack of imaginative writing -- not acting). And dare I mention, flying around with energy beams coming out of his hands.
Irritating. Constant irritation throughout the episode from scene to scene.
Thanks Russell. Awesome writing. Way to go capitalising on a once in a lifetime opportunity. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.
Yeah, I was a little irritated by the end of that episode to say the least, fearing the worst for the end of David Tennant's incarnation of the Doctor.
I finished watching the The End of Time Part II (TEoTP2) yesterday.
A really good episode, despite the RTD hallmarks of plot devices and self indulgence. In fact, RTD impressed me with how much he was able to jam into an hour and ten minutes. Highlights included:
There were a few annoying moments in TEoTP2 as well:
All being said, the good greatly exceeded the bad, and in fact the good moments of TEoTP2 probably provided a decent payoff for the bad moments of the TEoTP1.
But I can't help myself... If this was the first RTD DW story I had ever seen, I might have felt that the writing was rushed, but unfortunately obvious plot devices are present in almost every story he has written. I mean really -- replace the plot devices with good writing, and you could have had a really good three parter! (The problem when you are the chief writer/producer/editor is that lack of checks and balances. Let's call it the George Lucas effect.)
Some final thoughts/comments:
Can't wait for next season!
I watched the The End of Time Part I (TEoTP1) a few weeks ago.
After the initial viewing of the episode, my net impression was that the Tenth Doctor would meet a less than fitting end in Part II due to the poor writing of Russell T Davies (RTD). This was exacerbated by the contrast of the really great writing/fresh angles explored in The Waters of Mars -- a story which had really started to lift my expectations for the finale.
The only things I liked in TEoTP1 was the arrival of The Doctor in the start (where The Doctor was greeted by the Ood, being told he was essentially late for his own funeral, with the Doctor retorting that he was in no rush) and the cliffhanger (where it is revealed that the Time Lords are behind the sinister narration throughout the story).
Beyond these bookends, if I could use one word to describe my feelings for TEoTP1, I'd say irritation. Mainly because "plot-device-o-rama" might be considered more than one word! The plot device of a cult with no other purpose than resurrecting The Master. Random encounters with Wilf and his merry pensioners. The pointless characters of the Naismith's. The silly plot device of the two scientists who are aliens in disguise (the Vinvocci/Cactii). (And pretty crap aliens at that!)
Beyond plot devices, a few other qualms... RTD often uses in-jokes as a substitute for clever comedy. The other attempts at comedy generally being flat. The portrayal of the Master as a psychotic guy with grandiose plans, but lacking the true criminal genius of previous generations (this due to a lack of imaginative writing -- not acting). And dare I mention, flying around with energy beams coming out of his hands.
Irritating. Constant irritation throughout the episode from scene to scene.
Thanks Russell. Awesome writing. Way to go capitalising on a once in a lifetime opportunity. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.
Yeah, I was a little irritated by the end of that episode to say the least, fearing the worst for the end of David Tennant's incarnation of the Doctor.
I finished watching the The End of Time Part II (TEoTP2) yesterday.
A really good episode, despite the RTD hallmarks of plot devices and self indulgence. In fact, RTD impressed me with how much he was able to jam into an hour and ten minutes. Highlights included:
- The scene between Tennant and Simm, with the Doctor trying to convince the Master that they could do so much more together, and that seeing (rather than owning) the universe was enough. We've seen this interaction many times, but this was probably the best and most convincing I can remember.
- The humour in the Cactii's rescue of The Doctor (maybe the best situational comedy of the Tennant/RTD era?)
- The exchange between The Doctor and Wilf, discussing previous portrayals of the Time Lords vs their role in the final parts of the Time War. And the revelation of the role that the Doctor played.
- The gun toting Doctor switching his sights between The Master and Rassilon as the gravity of the overarching plot was revealed. Absolutely loved the revelation that the President was Rassilon! (Not to mention, Timothy Dalton played the part beautifully).
- The eventual regeneration scene. Hilarious!
There were a few annoying moments in TEoTP2 as well:
- Another plot device involving Cactii.
- The Star Wars derivative moments (Gun Turrets and Mos Eisley). Amusing for a few seconds, but ultimately seems really cheap vs the payoff, especially in a Doctor Who episode. In this case, inferior cover versions...
- The Nuclear Chamber/Radiation plot device. (A little Wrath of Khan-ish?)
- That the Doctor could completely control the terms of his regeneration after absorbing so much radiation while claiming his "reward". Might as well have gone and married QE2 while he was at it. (Maybe if he had carried out just one of those tasks and collapsed on the spot...) Obviously the collage brought closure, and some really strong sentimental moments for the writer/actors/fans, but ridiculously self-indulgent. Minimally, there should have been different plot twist that caused the regeneration if this was how the episode was always going to end.
All being said, the good greatly exceeded the bad, and in fact the good moments of TEoTP2 probably provided a decent payoff for the bad moments of the TEoTP1.
But I can't help myself... If this was the first RTD DW story I had ever seen, I might have felt that the writing was rushed, but unfortunately obvious plot devices are present in almost every story he has written. I mean really -- replace the plot devices with good writing, and you could have had a really good three parter! (The problem when you are the chief writer/producer/editor is that lack of checks and balances. Let's call it the George Lucas effect.)
Some final thoughts/comments:
- I sorta liked The Doctor and The Master forging a convenient alliance at the end. While I still think of John Simm's incarnation as a little too dumb (due to the writing), it was a definite improvement compared to the previous Master story. Hopefully Steven Moffat provides an opportunity for John Simm to fulfil the potential we know he has.
- Who were the two Time Lord conscientious objectors? It seemed like RTD might have been suggesting the woman was his mother (which could feasibly suggest the other -- a male -- was his father)? Or maybe not. Although with references to Star Wars and Star Trek II, why not throw in a Superman-derivative moment? Either way, in an episode that neatly tied off a lot of ends, I love the fact that this thread was left hanging.
- After watching TEoTP2, I read that everything post-regeneration was written by Steven Moffat. Already off to a good start, as I was laughing my ass off in that Matt Smith ending.
- RTD has given us a great gift bringing back DW, with some great incarnations as the Ninth and Tenth Doctors. But the next greatest gift is that he's passed the torch while it's still brightly burning after having had a good run. I suspect Moffat will be an even greater steward.
Can't wait for next season!
Wednesday, 30 December 2009
It's a Wild World...
After getting home from a fairly pleasant dinner/drinks with friends, I was sad to hear Rowland S Howard has passed... (I had no idea he was battling!)
Apart from being the lead guitarist for The Birthday Party, in solo capacity he was a vivid highlight for me at last year's ATP Festival.
Rest in peace, Rowland. ("...tonight we sleep in separate ditches...")
Apart from being the lead guitarist for The Birthday Party, in solo capacity he was a vivid highlight for me at last year's ATP Festival.
Rest in peace, Rowland. ("...tonight we sleep in separate ditches...")
Sunday, 6 December 2009
Abuse
I've finally settled in back at home.
I spent most of November trekking around the US -- Phoenix, Philadelphia, Washington DC and New York. Then straight off the plane to an off-site meeting (for work) up on the Central Coast for the first week back.
On my US sojourn I saw some great sites, went to some fantastic sporting events, ate a heck of a lot of food (New York keeps getting better every time I go there in this respect), and spent some quality time with friends and family. An early Thanksgiving with the family in Philly (which took a couple of days of prep) was a highlight.
But man o man, if I needed some diet and exercise before I left for the US, I really need it now. Damn you beer! Fortunately it's summer time!
Looking forward to catching up with folks during a few weeks off over Christmas, as well as getting to plenty of Sydney Festival events in January.
I spent most of November trekking around the US -- Phoenix, Philadelphia, Washington DC and New York. Then straight off the plane to an off-site meeting (for work) up on the Central Coast for the first week back.
On my US sojourn I saw some great sites, went to some fantastic sporting events, ate a heck of a lot of food (New York keeps getting better every time I go there in this respect), and spent some quality time with friends and family. An early Thanksgiving with the family in Philly (which took a couple of days of prep) was a highlight.
But man o man, if I needed some diet and exercise before I left for the US, I really need it now. Damn you beer! Fortunately it's summer time!
Looking forward to catching up with folks during a few weeks off over Christmas, as well as getting to plenty of Sydney Festival events in January.
Waters of Mars
Wow... what a pleasant surprise.
The tension and dilemma throughout this episode really made it captivating. A great overarching plot, only occasionally let down by the details (plot devices, "ancient north martian" etc.)
But any negativity would be picky, and not representative of my true and lasting impressions. Considering the absolute crap the last 2 DW specials have been, this episode restores my faith a little, going so far as to say this should be counted as one of the finest of the New Who.
On the strength of this work, it looks like the tenth Doctor might meet a fitting end!
The tension and dilemma throughout this episode really made it captivating. A great overarching plot, only occasionally let down by the details (plot devices, "ancient north martian" etc.)
But any negativity would be picky, and not representative of my true and lasting impressions. Considering the absolute crap the last 2 DW specials have been, this episode restores my faith a little, going so far as to say this should be counted as one of the finest of the New Who.
On the strength of this work, it looks like the tenth Doctor might meet a fitting end!
Monday, 15 June 2009
Saturday, 6 June 2009
Plex
I've done quite a bit of work on my media center in the brief slots of spare time I've had lately.
Have replaced dodgy hardware (mobo AND power supply) with reliable parts.
Have replaced dodgy OS (Vista) with reliable OS (MacOS).
Have replaced merely competent media center (MCE/VMC) with absolutely brilliant Plex!
I am much, much happier with the setup. Plex is a fork of XBox Media Center. It's MacOS only, and designed to maximise the beauty of a 1080p display.
Plex has a wonderful interface for browsing through your TV or Movies collection, integrating tvdb/imdb (respectively) info and artwork. I must admit I still struggle with the Music interface when I go into Library mode, but the navigation is straightforward when dealing with it as "files".
The only thing missing is native tv recording functionality, but Plex does make it easy to launch a 3rd party app, so I'll sort something out there shortly.
This now means there's only one Windows box left in the house.
But not for long...
Have replaced dodgy hardware (mobo AND power supply) with reliable parts.
Have replaced dodgy OS (Vista) with reliable OS (MacOS).
Have replaced merely competent media center (MCE/VMC) with absolutely brilliant Plex!
I am much, much happier with the setup. Plex is a fork of XBox Media Center. It's MacOS only, and designed to maximise the beauty of a 1080p display.
Plex has a wonderful interface for browsing through your TV or Movies collection, integrating tvdb/imdb (respectively) info and artwork. I must admit I still struggle with the Music interface when I go into Library mode, but the navigation is straightforward when dealing with it as "files".
The only thing missing is native tv recording functionality, but Plex does make it easy to launch a 3rd party app, so I'll sort something out there shortly.
This now means there's only one Windows box left in the house.
But not for long...
Sunday, 17 May 2009
Bugger Part 2
Ugh... looks like a motherboard problem for my MCE, which will ultimately require an OS reinstall. Look out Vista, the Angels have spoken.
I'm on a mission from God!
I'm on a mission from God!
Bugger
My Media Center started to show signs of hardware instability at around Easter. Then, after returning from the US about a week ago, I noticed the thing was coughing and choking, in an "unbootable" state. It's either the CPU, the memory, or the board, but my biggest issue has been finding the time to diagnose/test/fix.
However, with a problem comes opportunity.
There's been a number of things I've been unhappy about under the current Vista set up, and I ponder whether I should redesign the whole shebang. Let's face it: Vista is The Thing That Should Not Be. I've seen various people manage to work around Vista's shortcomings to create an efficient work environment, but anyone who thinks this interface is well designed has their head in the sand.
(It reminds me of the South Park episode where Mr Garrison invents the gyroscopic motion vehicle that puts the airline industry out of business, but has a rather uncomfortable operational shortcoming.)
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Anyhoo... I do think Windows continues to be the "easy option" for an underlying OS due to the requirement for an MCE to have a lot of unusual hardware drivers, but my natural UNIX biases are now whispering in my ear from both shoulders.
What tends to give those "angels" even more credence and momentum is that I think the main application -- Vista Media Center -- is merely competent in it's design, but a little frustrating in providing users minimal choice in customisation.
A possibility that has piqued my interest is MediaPortal, a port of XBMC to take advantage of modern hardware, while also allowing to record off a tuner (yay!) I will minimally evaluate this option before I undertake any major changes to the underlying OS.
Anyway, I just need to summon the willpower to start the hardware troubleshooting process...
However, with a problem comes opportunity.
There's been a number of things I've been unhappy about under the current Vista set up, and I ponder whether I should redesign the whole shebang. Let's face it: Vista is The Thing That Should Not Be. I've seen various people manage to work around Vista's shortcomings to create an efficient work environment, but anyone who thinks this interface is well designed has their head in the sand.
(It reminds me of the South Park episode where Mr Garrison invents the gyroscopic motion vehicle that puts the airline industry out of business, but has a rather uncomfortable operational shortcoming.)
.jpeg)
Anyhoo... I do think Windows continues to be the "easy option" for an underlying OS due to the requirement for an MCE to have a lot of unusual hardware drivers, but my natural UNIX biases are now whispering in my ear from both shoulders.
What tends to give those "angels" even more credence and momentum is that I think the main application -- Vista Media Center -- is merely competent in it's design, but a little frustrating in providing users minimal choice in customisation.
A possibility that has piqued my interest is MediaPortal, a port of XBMC to take advantage of modern hardware, while also allowing to record off a tuner (yay!) I will minimally evaluate this option before I undertake any major changes to the underlying OS.
Anyway, I just need to summon the willpower to start the hardware troubleshooting process...
Pigs Garbage
Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead.
It's been out for almost a month now, so I don't count this as a spoiler :)
It's been out for almost a month now, so I don't count this as a spoiler :)
Saturday, 16 May 2009
Test Season
With the Crusaders pipping the Blues, and the Reds predictably doing their best impression of Swiss cheese against the Canes, the Tahs have missed their spot in the S14 semi's.
(OK, that's a harsh call on the Reds - they did show some spirit. If the Tahs had allowed one less Lions' try, they'd be ahead of the Crusaders on the table in terms of points differential.)
Either way, Winter is upon us and the Aussies are out of the Super 14 -- that means it's Test Rugby time!
I thought I'd get my choices out there for a squad of 30 (starter/depth) before Robbie announces the squad -- I'm sure he's on the blower already!
Without further ado:
Loosehead Prop: Benn Robinson / Ben Alexander
Fat Cat has had a very strong season, consistent scrummaging and a high work rate around the park. Alexander is also an excellent young prospect, with generally good performances with the odd flashes of talent in the limited time he's had on the paddock. One ponders WTF has happened to all the front row talent coming out of Queensland. It's not like there's a lack of raw product up there.
Hooker: Tatafu Polota Nau / Stephen Moore
Three weeks ago I would have actually put Moore ahead of Polota Nau, but I think Polota Nau's recent performances really demonstrate that when he concentrates on his throwing, his unbelievable athleticism makes him the no-brainer pick. Both Hookers have actually struggled with consistency this year, and I'm starting Polota Nau, but if he starts throwing badly I'd instantly sub him for Moore to give him a wake up call.
Tighthead Prop: Al Baxter / Guy Shepherdson
It's funny to be saying this, but Baxter has actually become a dominant prop. It was less than two years ago when opposing front rows were targeting him, but all of a sudden under Michael Foley's tutelage, Baxter has become a star. Shepherdson is merely competent, but I'm not sure he's shown enough to be a genuine Test player. If Matt Dunning suddenly emerges he could get pipped. Either way, with Ben Alexander able to play both sides of the front row, Shepherson may not even get a lot of time on the bench.
Lock: Nathan Sharpe / James Horwill
The Wallabies suddenly find themselves with a group of locks that are very inexperienced. The talent pool generally has a season of test experience or less. Sharpe seems to have responded to Robbie's wake-up call, and his experience leading the line out could make him a valuable asset for at least another year. James Horwill is the future leader of the second row, but has spent too much time injured this year to be anything other than depth. He may emerge as that leader before the Test season is over.
Lock: Will Caldwell / Peter Kimlin
This pick may surprise a few people, but Caldwell has quietly done everything that has been asked of him this year, and has had a huge influence of the Tah's strength at the set piece. What makes this more remarkable is just how bad this bloke looked two years ago after both Dan Vickerman and Al Kanaar went down with injuries, and both Caldwell and Dean Mumm were forced into the Waratahs starting line up. This year Caldwell has looked strong at the set piece, and a great presence at the breakdown -- the only area where he is not particularly accomplished (yet) is as a ball carrier. Peter Kimlin obviously has a lot of a talent as a more versatile player (capable of playing in the back row), but I think Caldwell is a better "pure" lock. Either way, a ton of young talent in the second row.
Blindside Flanker: Dean Mumm / Ben Mowen
It would be very tempting to put Ben Mowen as the starter. In the last three weeks he's had a coming of age, being massively influential in three Waratahs wins in the republic. Great work rate, ball carrier, and tall enough to factor into the line out. But Dean Mumm proves to be consistent no matter whether he plays in the second row or at blindside, and you need those dependable performances in Tests. Mitchell Chapman could be an alternative dark horse, and if McMeniman could get through a season healthy he might factor as well, but it's all academic when Rocky Elsom gets back from Leinster.
Openside Flanker: George Smith / Phil Waugh
Not much explanation required re George Smith. Possibly surpassing McCaw as the world's best this year. Waugh's gritty performances and leadership pip David Pocock here, but you'd think Pocock would be the 31st player if you expanded the squad by 1.
No 8: Richard Brown / Wycliff Palu
Palu's got more talent than Brown, but struggles with consistency and sometimes fitness. He was also underwhelming last year in the Tests after a strong Super 14 showing. On the other hand, Brown not only gets better in terms of realising his potential week-to-week, but also shows consistency. Either way, Palu can have considerable impact off the bench.
Halfback: Luke Burgess / Josh Valentine
Burgess has given much stronger performances in the second half of the season; for a while he was looking like a possible one season wonder. Will Genia might have challenged him for a starting spot if he was healthy, but in his absence, Josh Valentine's performance this year pairing with Matt Giteau makes him the choice for depth. Albeit a distant second.
Flyhalf: Matt Giteau / Quade Cooper
Giteau started the S14 season with confidence we've not seen him with at #10, and by the end of the season has become a dominating player here. It could be scary to see what he can do with a Test level forward pack setting the platform for him. As depth I've selected Quade Cooper, who I would expect to show different form in a scenario where he doesn't feel like he has to carry the whole team.
Left Wing: Lote Tuqiri / Drew Mitchell
While Tuqiri has lost some speed, he still has a massive presence around the park. Beyond strike power, he dominates with big hits and tackles, and in recent years has shown considerable leadership. Drew Mitchell has scored some good tries for the Force this year -- he still has games where he makes major mistakes, but when he's on the wing (instead of fullback) he shows Test level talent.
Inside Center: James O'Connor / Ryan Cross
James O'Connor not only shows flashes of brilliance in combination with Matt Giteau, but has a lot of upside and will only get better. I've also put his center partner from the Force, Ryan Cross as his backup. Cross is always right on the cusp of the Test squad, and occasionally plays a bench player, but he's got some genuine talent and could shine if he had to play in a starting role. Where's Berrick Barnes in the equation? Hold that thought...
Outside Center: Stirling Mortlock / Timana Tahu
Stirling Mortlock is still a world class Center. I think he has good leadership, but whether he should maintain the captaincy of the Wallabies is another question... Tahu has realised his tremendous talent ever since the Tahs installed the Halangahu-Beale-Tahu combo. Robbie might see Tahu more as a 12 and Cross more as a 13, and I'm happy to be flexible on that, but I think both are quite flexible players.
Right Wing: Lachlan Turner / Adam Ashley Cooper
It is unfortunate Digby Ioane is out for 6 months after what can only be described as a break out season. If Ioane was healthy, he'd be starting on the right wing, probably bumping Ashley Cooper to depth at fullback, and bumping Cameron Shepherd out of the squad altogether. In Ioane's absence, Lachlan Turner provides similar big speed/big play impact, notably saving a number of tries by holding up ball carriers over the goal line this year. Ashley Cooper is undeniably talented and may be the next best Outside Center after Mortlock, but he's had not only injuries but also a heck of a lot of up and down games this season.
Fullback: Berrick Barnes / Cameron Shepherd
We have some fairly thin positions on the Wallabies -- depth at tighthead prop and halfback are particularly noticeable. However, that's nothing compared to the dearth of talent at fullback. As a former fullback himself, this must scare the heck out of Robbie. While he doesn't have ideal speed, I think what Berrick Barnes possesses in terms of decision making, kicking skills, defense and leadership make him a great possibility for a position swap to fullback (also allowing James O'Connor to pair with Giteau). The alternatives are ugly; Turner's kicking is still very raw, Ashley Cooper is much more suited to wing or center, Mitchell is more suited to wing. Cameron Shepherd scores tons of points for the Force, but to me does not look like what you would expect from a Test level fullback, especially in terms of the consistency of his kicking -- maybe Robbie's tutelage will help here?
Hopefully Robbie can take advantage of an extra couple of weeks of training!
(OK, that's a harsh call on the Reds - they did show some spirit. If the Tahs had allowed one less Lions' try, they'd be ahead of the Crusaders on the table in terms of points differential.)
Either way, Winter is upon us and the Aussies are out of the Super 14 -- that means it's Test Rugby time!
I thought I'd get my choices out there for a squad of 30 (starter/depth) before Robbie announces the squad -- I'm sure he's on the blower already!
Without further ado:
Loosehead Prop: Benn Robinson / Ben Alexander
Fat Cat has had a very strong season, consistent scrummaging and a high work rate around the park. Alexander is also an excellent young prospect, with generally good performances with the odd flashes of talent in the limited time he's had on the paddock. One ponders WTF has happened to all the front row talent coming out of Queensland. It's not like there's a lack of raw product up there.
Hooker: Tatafu Polota Nau / Stephen Moore
Three weeks ago I would have actually put Moore ahead of Polota Nau, but I think Polota Nau's recent performances really demonstrate that when he concentrates on his throwing, his unbelievable athleticism makes him the no-brainer pick. Both Hookers have actually struggled with consistency this year, and I'm starting Polota Nau, but if he starts throwing badly I'd instantly sub him for Moore to give him a wake up call.
Tighthead Prop: Al Baxter / Guy Shepherdson
It's funny to be saying this, but Baxter has actually become a dominant prop. It was less than two years ago when opposing front rows were targeting him, but all of a sudden under Michael Foley's tutelage, Baxter has become a star. Shepherdson is merely competent, but I'm not sure he's shown enough to be a genuine Test player. If Matt Dunning suddenly emerges he could get pipped. Either way, with Ben Alexander able to play both sides of the front row, Shepherson may not even get a lot of time on the bench.
Lock: Nathan Sharpe / James Horwill
The Wallabies suddenly find themselves with a group of locks that are very inexperienced. The talent pool generally has a season of test experience or less. Sharpe seems to have responded to Robbie's wake-up call, and his experience leading the line out could make him a valuable asset for at least another year. James Horwill is the future leader of the second row, but has spent too much time injured this year to be anything other than depth. He may emerge as that leader before the Test season is over.
Lock: Will Caldwell / Peter Kimlin
This pick may surprise a few people, but Caldwell has quietly done everything that has been asked of him this year, and has had a huge influence of the Tah's strength at the set piece. What makes this more remarkable is just how bad this bloke looked two years ago after both Dan Vickerman and Al Kanaar went down with injuries, and both Caldwell and Dean Mumm were forced into the Waratahs starting line up. This year Caldwell has looked strong at the set piece, and a great presence at the breakdown -- the only area where he is not particularly accomplished (yet) is as a ball carrier. Peter Kimlin obviously has a lot of a talent as a more versatile player (capable of playing in the back row), but I think Caldwell is a better "pure" lock. Either way, a ton of young talent in the second row.
Blindside Flanker: Dean Mumm / Ben Mowen
It would be very tempting to put Ben Mowen as the starter. In the last three weeks he's had a coming of age, being massively influential in three Waratahs wins in the republic. Great work rate, ball carrier, and tall enough to factor into the line out. But Dean Mumm proves to be consistent no matter whether he plays in the second row or at blindside, and you need those dependable performances in Tests. Mitchell Chapman could be an alternative dark horse, and if McMeniman could get through a season healthy he might factor as well, but it's all academic when Rocky Elsom gets back from Leinster.
Openside Flanker: George Smith / Phil Waugh
Not much explanation required re George Smith. Possibly surpassing McCaw as the world's best this year. Waugh's gritty performances and leadership pip David Pocock here, but you'd think Pocock would be the 31st player if you expanded the squad by 1.
No 8: Richard Brown / Wycliff Palu
Palu's got more talent than Brown, but struggles with consistency and sometimes fitness. He was also underwhelming last year in the Tests after a strong Super 14 showing. On the other hand, Brown not only gets better in terms of realising his potential week-to-week, but also shows consistency. Either way, Palu can have considerable impact off the bench.
Halfback: Luke Burgess / Josh Valentine
Burgess has given much stronger performances in the second half of the season; for a while he was looking like a possible one season wonder. Will Genia might have challenged him for a starting spot if he was healthy, but in his absence, Josh Valentine's performance this year pairing with Matt Giteau makes him the choice for depth. Albeit a distant second.
Flyhalf: Matt Giteau / Quade Cooper
Giteau started the S14 season with confidence we've not seen him with at #10, and by the end of the season has become a dominating player here. It could be scary to see what he can do with a Test level forward pack setting the platform for him. As depth I've selected Quade Cooper, who I would expect to show different form in a scenario where he doesn't feel like he has to carry the whole team.
Left Wing: Lote Tuqiri / Drew Mitchell
While Tuqiri has lost some speed, he still has a massive presence around the park. Beyond strike power, he dominates with big hits and tackles, and in recent years has shown considerable leadership. Drew Mitchell has scored some good tries for the Force this year -- he still has games where he makes major mistakes, but when he's on the wing (instead of fullback) he shows Test level talent.
Inside Center: James O'Connor / Ryan Cross
James O'Connor not only shows flashes of brilliance in combination with Matt Giteau, but has a lot of upside and will only get better. I've also put his center partner from the Force, Ryan Cross as his backup. Cross is always right on the cusp of the Test squad, and occasionally plays a bench player, but he's got some genuine talent and could shine if he had to play in a starting role. Where's Berrick Barnes in the equation? Hold that thought...
Outside Center: Stirling Mortlock / Timana Tahu
Stirling Mortlock is still a world class Center. I think he has good leadership, but whether he should maintain the captaincy of the Wallabies is another question... Tahu has realised his tremendous talent ever since the Tahs installed the Halangahu-Beale-Tahu combo. Robbie might see Tahu more as a 12 and Cross more as a 13, and I'm happy to be flexible on that, but I think both are quite flexible players.
Right Wing: Lachlan Turner / Adam Ashley Cooper
It is unfortunate Digby Ioane is out for 6 months after what can only be described as a break out season. If Ioane was healthy, he'd be starting on the right wing, probably bumping Ashley Cooper to depth at fullback, and bumping Cameron Shepherd out of the squad altogether. In Ioane's absence, Lachlan Turner provides similar big speed/big play impact, notably saving a number of tries by holding up ball carriers over the goal line this year. Ashley Cooper is undeniably talented and may be the next best Outside Center after Mortlock, but he's had not only injuries but also a heck of a lot of up and down games this season.
Fullback: Berrick Barnes / Cameron Shepherd
We have some fairly thin positions on the Wallabies -- depth at tighthead prop and halfback are particularly noticeable. However, that's nothing compared to the dearth of talent at fullback. As a former fullback himself, this must scare the heck out of Robbie. While he doesn't have ideal speed, I think what Berrick Barnes possesses in terms of decision making, kicking skills, defense and leadership make him a great possibility for a position swap to fullback (also allowing James O'Connor to pair with Giteau). The alternatives are ugly; Turner's kicking is still very raw, Ashley Cooper is much more suited to wing or center, Mitchell is more suited to wing. Cameron Shepherd scores tons of points for the Force, but to me does not look like what you would expect from a Test level fullback, especially in terms of the consistency of his kicking -- maybe Robbie's tutelage will help here?
Hopefully Robbie can take advantage of an extra couple of weeks of training!
Tuesday, 14 April 2009
Head Above Water
Let me lift my head above water for about 2 seconds to say, the premise behind this game sounds pretty good...
Back to dog paddling...
Back to dog paddling...
Sunday, 22 March 2009
Sydney Festival 09
As I've mentioned before, it's been a bit difficult to blog lately as I've been so busy. Since the beginning of the year, I seem to have had a very busy social calendar, and work has been as hectic as ever. And when I haven't been busy, I have not been apt to reflection during my recovery periods.
Until now...
A big highlight for me has been the Sydney Festival in January. With years past, I've often either hesitated or left it late when buying tickets to Sydney Festival events. When I do get to the odd event in January I'm often regretful I didn't get to more. Not this year.
V and I decided to to book a bunch of events, putting blind faith into the typically dependable taste and quality control of the festival curators. We were not disappointed.
A summary of our attendance...
Lipsynch: An auspicious start -- we were absolutely blown away. The play went for a whopping 9 hours (including several intermissions), but we barely noticed! The story begins with an opera singer on a flight to Montreal noticing that another passenger is slumped in a seat, dead, with a baby in her arms. From here, a handful of characters are interlinked over many decades -- the story told in a zig-zagging non-linear fashion. An incredibly ambitious story spanning several countries and languages (English/French/German/Spanish), meanwhile interweaving amazing visuals and musical themes. Fast paced, complex and ultimately satisfying.
Fanfare Ciocarlia: A wonderfully colourful collection of gypsy musicians and dancers from the breadth of Europe -- many Romanians, along with Spanish, Serbian, Bosnian, Hungarian, Bulgarian and Macedonian (I hope I've got that right). Many different styles, beginning with flamenco style guitar, and graduating through different singers, dancers and brass/string instruments. Several audience members were dancing in the aisles of the State Theatre as the musicians played. After the show finished, the core of the Romanian gypsies re-emerged and then jumped off the stage and marched up through to the antechamber where they basically busked with their brass instruments for what seemed like an hour. Quite an amazing show.
Faith Healer: A challenging play made up of four monologues telling the story of Frank Hardy the Faith Healer. It begins with Frank setting the scene of his story, moving from town to town with his wife Grace and his manager Teddy. Grace, then succeeded by Teddy, follow Frank in telling their perspectives of their shared history -- Grace's story being quite depressing, and Teddy being quite entertaining in his cockney slang (despite the very dark subject matter). Part of the appeal of the play is that throughout, it is not clear whether Frank is merely a very talented showman or the genuine article. I thought it was a powerful performance, but the dark and stuffy conditions in the theatre made it difficult to maintain concentration all the way through (which is absolutely vital).
All Tomorrow's Parties: This might have been the most enjoyable music festival I've ever been to. The venue was Cockatoo Island, which necessitated a ferry ride to get to and from. Watching Rowland S Howard playing in sandstone ruins against a brilliant blue sky was a real highlight for me, as was seeing The Saints reunited for a very impressive set (despite some clear tension between Ed Kuepper and Chris Bailey). Sadly, it's also the last time I'll see Mick Harvey play with the Bad Seeds now that he's left the band. The crowd was noticeably more mature (averaging mid to late 20's) compared to the typical music festival, and was definitely better for it.
Reggie Watts: What a dude. Amazing vocal range (10 octaves?) and mad skillz with a synthesizer, interspersed with with some interesting (absurd!) comedy between and within songs... Kept breaking into different accents and personalities. The set was only about an hour long, and left the audience wanting more. Not sure if he was a standup comic or musician, but either way I've heard he's returning to Australia for the Comedy Festival -- if I'm in country at the same time I'll definitely see him again.
Masters of Tradition: Each year, a 5 day music festival is held in the Irish coastal town of Bantry, where those considered masters of their craft play traditional Irish music in it's purest form.
A taste of this celebrated festival was played in a captivating set at the Sydney Opera House. A fairly amazing troupe of musicians (fiddlers, vocalists, guitarists, accordion and pipes) including the artistic director and MC (Martin Hayes) who also happens to be one of their most skillful performers on the fiddle. It is difficult to pick a highlight from such a quality line up, but my memories are drawn to one of the most melancholy sounds I've ever heard -- a reconstructed instrumental piece of (otherwise "lost") music played on the Uilleann Pipes (Irish version of the bagpipes). I believe the music was about a woman surveying and lamenting the remains of a battlefield. My gut stirred and my eyes were transfixed as this beautiful, powerful piece filled the concert hall.
I'm really looking forward to next January...
Until now...
A big highlight for me has been the Sydney Festival in January. With years past, I've often either hesitated or left it late when buying tickets to Sydney Festival events. When I do get to the odd event in January I'm often regretful I didn't get to more. Not this year.
V and I decided to to book a bunch of events, putting blind faith into the typically dependable taste and quality control of the festival curators. We were not disappointed.
A summary of our attendance...
Lipsynch: An auspicious start -- we were absolutely blown away. The play went for a whopping 9 hours (including several intermissions), but we barely noticed! The story begins with an opera singer on a flight to Montreal noticing that another passenger is slumped in a seat, dead, with a baby in her arms. From here, a handful of characters are interlinked over many decades -- the story told in a zig-zagging non-linear fashion. An incredibly ambitious story spanning several countries and languages (English/French/German/Spanish), meanwhile interweaving amazing visuals and musical themes. Fast paced, complex and ultimately satisfying.
Fanfare Ciocarlia: A wonderfully colourful collection of gypsy musicians and dancers from the breadth of Europe -- many Romanians, along with Spanish, Serbian, Bosnian, Hungarian, Bulgarian and Macedonian (I hope I've got that right). Many different styles, beginning with flamenco style guitar, and graduating through different singers, dancers and brass/string instruments. Several audience members were dancing in the aisles of the State Theatre as the musicians played. After the show finished, the core of the Romanian gypsies re-emerged and then jumped off the stage and marched up through to the antechamber where they basically busked with their brass instruments for what seemed like an hour. Quite an amazing show.
Faith Healer: A challenging play made up of four monologues telling the story of Frank Hardy the Faith Healer. It begins with Frank setting the scene of his story, moving from town to town with his wife Grace and his manager Teddy. Grace, then succeeded by Teddy, follow Frank in telling their perspectives of their shared history -- Grace's story being quite depressing, and Teddy being quite entertaining in his cockney slang (despite the very dark subject matter). Part of the appeal of the play is that throughout, it is not clear whether Frank is merely a very talented showman or the genuine article. I thought it was a powerful performance, but the dark and stuffy conditions in the theatre made it difficult to maintain concentration all the way through (which is absolutely vital).
All Tomorrow's Parties: This might have been the most enjoyable music festival I've ever been to. The venue was Cockatoo Island, which necessitated a ferry ride to get to and from. Watching Rowland S Howard playing in sandstone ruins against a brilliant blue sky was a real highlight for me, as was seeing The Saints reunited for a very impressive set (despite some clear tension between Ed Kuepper and Chris Bailey). Sadly, it's also the last time I'll see Mick Harvey play with the Bad Seeds now that he's left the band. The crowd was noticeably more mature (averaging mid to late 20's) compared to the typical music festival, and was definitely better for it.
Reggie Watts: What a dude. Amazing vocal range (10 octaves?) and mad skillz with a synthesizer, interspersed with with some interesting (absurd!) comedy between and within songs... Kept breaking into different accents and personalities. The set was only about an hour long, and left the audience wanting more. Not sure if he was a standup comic or musician, but either way I've heard he's returning to Australia for the Comedy Festival -- if I'm in country at the same time I'll definitely see him again.
Masters of Tradition: Each year, a 5 day music festival is held in the Irish coastal town of Bantry, where those considered masters of their craft play traditional Irish music in it's purest form.
A taste of this celebrated festival was played in a captivating set at the Sydney Opera House. A fairly amazing troupe of musicians (fiddlers, vocalists, guitarists, accordion and pipes) including the artistic director and MC (Martin Hayes) who also happens to be one of their most skillful performers on the fiddle. It is difficult to pick a highlight from such a quality line up, but my memories are drawn to one of the most melancholy sounds I've ever heard -- a reconstructed instrumental piece of (otherwise "lost") music played on the Uilleann Pipes (Irish version of the bagpipes). I believe the music was about a woman surveying and lamenting the remains of a battlefield. My gut stirred and my eyes were transfixed as this beautiful, powerful piece filled the concert hall.
I'm really looking forward to next January...
BSG Finale
At first I wasn't sure, but after a little while to digest I have decided: a very fitting end to the show. Would have preferred they kept the 3 episodes of the "Daybreak" story line in a single sitting rather than 1 hour followed by 2 hours.
Some (albeit minor) plot details of the wrap up seemed a little goofy, but in the end, quite satisfying.
Not quite as edgy or daring as the Sopranos finale (BSG, by comparison, a little self indulgent), but I loved the fact that they chose not to answer some of the outstanding questions.
Boy I'll miss Battlestar Galactica. Some of the best writing I've seen in any TV show, and consistently -- for 4 seasons -- excellent.
Some (albeit minor) plot details of the wrap up seemed a little goofy, but in the end, quite satisfying.
Not quite as edgy or daring as the Sopranos finale (BSG, by comparison, a little self indulgent), but I loved the fact that they chose not to answer some of the outstanding questions.
Boy I'll miss Battlestar Galactica. Some of the best writing I've seen in any TV show, and consistently -- for 4 seasons -- excellent.
Systemic Failure
It's rare for me to say this, but: man I'm glad I didn't go to the rugby (Tahs vs Crusaders) last night. Just watching it on TV (glorious HD!) was frustrating enough, without having to travel back from Homebush.
Kurtley Beale has been getting his fair share of criticism from the various snipers out there -- some of it is deserved, but the problems for the Tahs are more far-reaching than just the inexperience/confidence of the player at pivot.
The most frustrating flaws I saw last night were the lack of kick chase and the the isolation of a ball runner at the breakdown after they'd made a big break. And then our efforts vs the Crusaders at rucking and counter-rucking. These are all basics, and the Crusaders did them very well while we constantly did this poorly. It makes me ponder whether there is a lack of match fitness on our part -- it certainly looked to me like there was a bit of fatigue setting in soon after the second half started.
Where the Waratahs have at least shown discipline in the past in lieu of being opportunistic in contesting at the rucks or kick chase, last night they were neither. (In fact, for all the times the Crusaders were setting us for overlap, I was surprised we were stung so little...) I was also astounded at our lineout losses; the throws did not seem poor -- it looked to me that the communication and efforts of the jumper were more the issue.
None of this should be put on Kurtley.
What I didn't like from Kurtley was the quality of his passing; if you are going to play at first receiver you cannot be hurling hospital passes -- occasionally when Norton Knight came up he was doing the same thing.
If I was head coach Chris Hickey, as much as I love Tom Carter's solid game, I'd be tempted to make a change to play Halangahu at 10 and Tahu at 12. Halangahu seems to be a better decision maker, and Tahu is too good to be only playing what seems like half an hour a game. I'd try and stick to this combination for a couple of games.
But those changes won't really matter if the Tahs don't making broader improvements with the fundamentals.
Kurtley Beale has been getting his fair share of criticism from the various snipers out there -- some of it is deserved, but the problems for the Tahs are more far-reaching than just the inexperience/confidence of the player at pivot.
The most frustrating flaws I saw last night were the lack of kick chase and the the isolation of a ball runner at the breakdown after they'd made a big break. And then our efforts vs the Crusaders at rucking and counter-rucking. These are all basics, and the Crusaders did them very well while we constantly did this poorly. It makes me ponder whether there is a lack of match fitness on our part -- it certainly looked to me like there was a bit of fatigue setting in soon after the second half started.
Where the Waratahs have at least shown discipline in the past in lieu of being opportunistic in contesting at the rucks or kick chase, last night they were neither. (In fact, for all the times the Crusaders were setting us for overlap, I was surprised we were stung so little...) I was also astounded at our lineout losses; the throws did not seem poor -- it looked to me that the communication and efforts of the jumper were more the issue.
None of this should be put on Kurtley.
What I didn't like from Kurtley was the quality of his passing; if you are going to play at first receiver you cannot be hurling hospital passes -- occasionally when Norton Knight came up he was doing the same thing.
If I was head coach Chris Hickey, as much as I love Tom Carter's solid game, I'd be tempted to make a change to play Halangahu at 10 and Tahu at 12. Halangahu seems to be a better decision maker, and Tahu is too good to be only playing what seems like half an hour a game. I'd try and stick to this combination for a couple of games.
But those changes won't really matter if the Tahs don't making broader improvements with the fundamentals.
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
Saturday, 31 January 2009
Home Theatre
Ever since my last trip to the US (almost a year ago now), it's been at the back of my mind that I would like to upgrade my Home Theatre setup to support HD. While I look forward to the idea of BD movies high def, the real driver has been sports (if you haven't noticed, I'm a junkie).
So when Adam blogged about his TV being on the blink back in December, I made an offer to sell my SD plasma (mates rates) which would provide me the necessary impetus to go and get a new telly!
This led to a spate of rationalisation of unused components and purchasing/upgrades of new bits and pieces.
A quick summary of my journey over the last month:
TV: Even though LCD has made huge strides over recent years, when it comes down to brass tacks it still does not stack up to plasma in terms of contrast and motion -- and when you factor in my debilitating sports addiction I really had no choice but to go with a plasma. So I decided to get a 50" Pioneer Kuro - the Kuro is for plasmas what the Bravia is for LCD's (kings of their respective markets). After some calibration and tuning, I'm quite pleased with the results.
Amp: I had my heart set on a Denon. I've owned two, and they've been beautiful performers. And after seeing Bernard's AVR-3808ci in the flesh, I had visualised my destiny. But it was not to be! The problem is that Denon components in Australia are at a ridiculously distorted price. In the US, if you look around, it's not hard to find the 3808 for ~US$1200. In Australia it rrp's for A$3200, and the best price I could find was ~A$2500. After looking around, even the mid range Denon's were above A$2000! Noting this horrendous mark-up, I felt compelled to at least test the market.
Beyond the usual suspects in terms of specs, the key criteria for me was to avoid any amp that did not address HDMI clipping, as my intention was to route all video through the receiver (as is typical modern practice). While Harman Kardon and Onkyo do some nice receivers, the only brand that I think holds up consistently across the range as Denon is Yamaha, so I started with them. A bit of research revealed that all of the current mid range (663, 883 etc.) and the previous generation "bottom of the high end" RX-V1800 (i.e. what the AVR-3808ci is for Denon) were all victims of HDMI clipping - and worse yet, Yamaha had no intention of correcting the issue! However, the RX-V1900 (recently refreshed version of the RX-V1800) had addressed any HDMI clipping issues.
After doing a bit of wheeling and dealing over the phone, I managed to get this model for $1600. (Say what?!) Sold! Very easy to setup, although it's missing Denon's pretty GUI (instead it uses blocky fonts you'd expect to see on an Atari 2600's 4k address space). Beyond this, I only have a minor nitpick when it comes to this amp, which is - even compared to my 10 year old Denon - the Yamaha doesn't have a Recording Source Selector (i.e. you are forced to be on the source you wish to record from). Such a basic feature not even in the Yamaha high end! Otherwise I'm pretty happy with the amp.
MCE: With an upgrade in tv and amp, I switched from my DVI output to the HDMI option on my ATI card. 1080p is so luxurious after 848x480! After buying the Kuro and the RX-V1900, I had begun a trend of black components in my entertainment center. Ignoring my Foxtel IQ for a second, my Media Center in it's silver case was sticking out like dogs balls. Given that I wanted to install a blu-ray drive in my media center, I decided that while I was doing any mods that I would replace the case with a nice black Zalman HTPC case. Nowhere near as painful as I was expecting -- literally! Thankfully Zalman have paid some attention in the newer generation case with rounded, finished edges internally so that I managed to avoid any cuts which are typical when you are playing with nasty PC cases and other bits. A nice looking case, but I've noticed the iMon software is a little buggy (much better than the previous VFD though).
HD+: I was an early Foxtel IQ adopter, and I've always thought it was one of the best investments I've ever made. It's very intuitively designed, and just a wonderful appliance. However, after almost 4 years of use, it was starting to get a few bad blocks on the internal drive which meant the system would crash very hard whenever it tripped over one. It also only supports standard definition. Enter the Foxtel IQ2. Native HDMI out, supporting 720p on the sports channels and 1080i on the other HD channels. (You can set it to automatically scale based on your display).
Watching sports on this setup is a dream -- in fact, I've found myself sitting staring at sports I don't even follow (such as soccer and hockey) because it is so visually glorious! I've also been watching a heck of a lot more Discovery and National Geographic!
On a more technical note, a pleasant surprise with this box is that it can output to another device (eg. a VCR or an MCE) via svideo and RCA while the primary signal is sent over HDMI. A negative surprise (but easily worked around) is that for some reason the only way you can get a 5.1 signal is to use the optical SPDIF interface (only stereo over HDMI, which is a joke!).
Speakers: I've kept my Bose AM15 MkII. Bose is quite a controversial brand when it comes to sound (you either love 'em or hate 'em) because it's so reliant on the subwoofer to make up the low and bottom of the mid range. So a poorly tuned setup sounds absolutely dreadful. Really, these speakers are scientifically designed for home theatre -- which is fine for me, because if I've got my amp on, 85% of the time it involves watching the big screen.
I have to say, I was starting to go nuts when I moved these speakers on to the Yamaha - the sub and LFE seemed to be constantly over compensating, and as I was doing my tweaking, with all the earthquake-like vibrating going on I was expecting my neighbours to charge down my door in a rage. No matter how much manual tuning I would do I just could not get the setup to play nicely when the volume was up. So I finally caved in and used the Advanced YPAO/microphone feature (equivalent to Audyssey on the modern Denon's) to tune the speakers -- voila! I now have a wonderful sounding setup. (Thankyou Yamaha!)
Epilogue: Really the only untouched component in this picture is my VCR -- I'm trying to decide whether I might archive a few of my old tapes to my media center or not...
I've held off on buying a console because everytime I buy one I hopelessly under-utilise it after the first month of ownership. Seeing GTA IV on the 360 tempted me for a short while, but not enough to finally buy one. We will see what happens...
I would love an excuse to buy some B&W front speakers for more complete capabilities when it comes to music listening (and relegate the Bose to supporting components in a 7.1 setup), but as I do most of my music listening elsewhere, it is very hard to justify... (Who knows, heheh...)
Anyway, in short, I'm a pretty happy camper.
Bring on HD Superbowl Sunday (on Monday)!
So when Adam blogged about his TV being on the blink back in December, I made an offer to sell my SD plasma (mates rates) which would provide me the necessary impetus to go and get a new telly!
This led to a spate of rationalisation of unused components and purchasing/upgrades of new bits and pieces.
A quick summary of my journey over the last month:
TV: Even though LCD has made huge strides over recent years, when it comes down to brass tacks it still does not stack up to plasma in terms of contrast and motion -- and when you factor in my debilitating sports addiction I really had no choice but to go with a plasma. So I decided to get a 50" Pioneer Kuro - the Kuro is for plasmas what the Bravia is for LCD's (kings of their respective markets). After some calibration and tuning, I'm quite pleased with the results.
Amp: I had my heart set on a Denon. I've owned two, and they've been beautiful performers. And after seeing Bernard's AVR-3808ci in the flesh, I had visualised my destiny. But it was not to be! The problem is that Denon components in Australia are at a ridiculously distorted price. In the US, if you look around, it's not hard to find the 3808 for ~US$1200. In Australia it rrp's for A$3200, and the best price I could find was ~A$2500. After looking around, even the mid range Denon's were above A$2000! Noting this horrendous mark-up, I felt compelled to at least test the market.
Beyond the usual suspects in terms of specs, the key criteria for me was to avoid any amp that did not address HDMI clipping, as my intention was to route all video through the receiver (as is typical modern practice). While Harman Kardon and Onkyo do some nice receivers, the only brand that I think holds up consistently across the range as Denon is Yamaha, so I started with them. A bit of research revealed that all of the current mid range (663, 883 etc.) and the previous generation "bottom of the high end" RX-V1800 (i.e. what the AVR-3808ci is for Denon) were all victims of HDMI clipping - and worse yet, Yamaha had no intention of correcting the issue! However, the RX-V1900 (recently refreshed version of the RX-V1800) had addressed any HDMI clipping issues.
After doing a bit of wheeling and dealing over the phone, I managed to get this model for $1600. (Say what?!) Sold! Very easy to setup, although it's missing Denon's pretty GUI (instead it uses blocky fonts you'd expect to see on an Atari 2600's 4k address space). Beyond this, I only have a minor nitpick when it comes to this amp, which is - even compared to my 10 year old Denon - the Yamaha doesn't have a Recording Source Selector (i.e. you are forced to be on the source you wish to record from). Such a basic feature not even in the Yamaha high end! Otherwise I'm pretty happy with the amp.
MCE: With an upgrade in tv and amp, I switched from my DVI output to the HDMI option on my ATI card. 1080p is so luxurious after 848x480! After buying the Kuro and the RX-V1900, I had begun a trend of black components in my entertainment center. Ignoring my Foxtel IQ for a second, my Media Center in it's silver case was sticking out like dogs balls. Given that I wanted to install a blu-ray drive in my media center, I decided that while I was doing any mods that I would replace the case with a nice black Zalman HTPC case. Nowhere near as painful as I was expecting -- literally! Thankfully Zalman have paid some attention in the newer generation case with rounded, finished edges internally so that I managed to avoid any cuts which are typical when you are playing with nasty PC cases and other bits. A nice looking case, but I've noticed the iMon software is a little buggy (much better than the previous VFD though).
HD+: I was an early Foxtel IQ adopter, and I've always thought it was one of the best investments I've ever made. It's very intuitively designed, and just a wonderful appliance. However, after almost 4 years of use, it was starting to get a few bad blocks on the internal drive which meant the system would crash very hard whenever it tripped over one. It also only supports standard definition. Enter the Foxtel IQ2. Native HDMI out, supporting 720p on the sports channels and 1080i on the other HD channels. (You can set it to automatically scale based on your display).
Watching sports on this setup is a dream -- in fact, I've found myself sitting staring at sports I don't even follow (such as soccer and hockey) because it is so visually glorious! I've also been watching a heck of a lot more Discovery and National Geographic!
On a more technical note, a pleasant surprise with this box is that it can output to another device (eg. a VCR or an MCE) via svideo and RCA while the primary signal is sent over HDMI. A negative surprise (but easily worked around) is that for some reason the only way you can get a 5.1 signal is to use the optical SPDIF interface (only stereo over HDMI, which is a joke!).
Speakers: I've kept my Bose AM15 MkII. Bose is quite a controversial brand when it comes to sound (you either love 'em or hate 'em) because it's so reliant on the subwoofer to make up the low and bottom of the mid range. So a poorly tuned setup sounds absolutely dreadful. Really, these speakers are scientifically designed for home theatre -- which is fine for me, because if I've got my amp on, 85% of the time it involves watching the big screen.
I have to say, I was starting to go nuts when I moved these speakers on to the Yamaha - the sub and LFE seemed to be constantly over compensating, and as I was doing my tweaking, with all the earthquake-like vibrating going on I was expecting my neighbours to charge down my door in a rage. No matter how much manual tuning I would do I just could not get the setup to play nicely when the volume was up. So I finally caved in and used the Advanced YPAO/microphone feature (equivalent to Audyssey on the modern Denon's) to tune the speakers -- voila! I now have a wonderful sounding setup. (Thankyou Yamaha!)
Epilogue: Really the only untouched component in this picture is my VCR -- I'm trying to decide whether I might archive a few of my old tapes to my media center or not...
I've held off on buying a console because everytime I buy one I hopelessly under-utilise it after the first month of ownership. Seeing GTA IV on the 360 tempted me for a short while, but not enough to finally buy one. We will see what happens...
I would love an excuse to buy some B&W front speakers for more complete capabilities when it comes to music listening (and relegate the Bose to supporting components in a 7.1 setup), but as I do most of my music listening elsewhere, it is very hard to justify... (Who knows, heheh...)
Anyway, in short, I'm a pretty happy camper.
Bring on HD Superbowl Sunday (on Monday)!
Irony
When life is interesting/enjoyable I've struggled to find the time to blog. As with many people, I originally started my blog during some travel with the intention of detailing some of my journeys, but with the numerous trips I've done in the last 18 months, really I've been hard pressed to record any detail.
January has been a busy, busy month for me. I've rebuilt my home theatre setup (a subject for another blog entry), I've been attending quite a few Sydney Festival events (also another entry), the cricket and NFL playoffs have been tremendously enjoyable, I've been on a little bit of a health kick (which has been very good for me), and the days where I've been back at work it's been... well... interesting and challenging in a good way!
Anyway, so far, a good start to the year...
January has been a busy, busy month for me. I've rebuilt my home theatre setup (a subject for another blog entry), I've been attending quite a few Sydney Festival events (also another entry), the cricket and NFL playoffs have been tremendously enjoyable, I've been on a little bit of a health kick (which has been very good for me), and the days where I've been back at work it's been... well... interesting and challenging in a good way!
Anyway, so far, a good start to the year...
Friday, 16 January 2009
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