That's what I said, half price. I'll tell ya what I'm gonna do. While the consumer world waits for word of a new widget from Steven Jobs, along comes Toshiba to throw a monkey wrench into the Blu-ray/HD DVD war. Just when you thought it was safe to go into the Blu-ray water comes an offer you may not be able to refuse. Half price. Toshiba HD DVD players that sold for $300 are cut in half to $150. This is a throw-back to the 1980s Betamax/VHS battle. Sony's Blu-ray has too much of a lead to lose its supremacy over HD DVD but Toshiba will make it a little harder to accomplish that edge...
Toshiba wants to sell product and rightfully so and should they take a chunk of business away from Blu-ray, well that's just smart marketing. Like Betamax and VHS, Blu-ray and HD DVD are not compatible. Microsoft's Xbox and some Toshiba laptops can only play HD DVD while Sony's PlayStation 3 and some of its laptops can only play Blu-ray. This half-price sale is an attempt by Toshiba to hang on for dear life and maybe, just maybe, they'll convince more movie studios to support their effort. The latest Blu-ray tally has 20th Century Fox, Walt Disney and Lionsgate on their side while Universal Home, Paramount and DreamWorks Animation SKG supports Toshiba...
Watch for a sizeable chunk of print, online and TV advertising by Toshiba to support their effort and if you think Sony/Blu-ray will remain silent, guess again...
10 Timeline Memories:
- 1777] Better late than: The people of New Connecticut declare their independence from Great Britain. The tiny republic will become known as the state of Vermont. With the state blanketed by snow, let's take a look at Vermont and some strange summer vacationers: http://youtube.com/watch?v=mwXXqkpZBPA&feature=related ...
- 1844] Cheer, cheer for old Notre Dame: The University of Notre Dame receives its charter from the state of Indiana. Take a look at the home of the Fighting Irish in this good-natured spoof: http://youtube.com/watch?v=p0Y7yjxJVlc ...
- 1870] Donkey serenade: The Democratic Party is represented as a donkey for the first time in a cartoon by Thomas Nast in "Harper's Weekly"...
- 1892] Basketball rules: The official rules of basketball are published for the first time in Springfield (MA) where the game is invented...
- 1947] The death of a dahlia: The mutilated remains of 22-year old aspiring actress, Elizabeth Short a.k.a. The 'Black Dahlia' for her dark outfits, are found in a vacant lot in Los Angeles. The case is never solved...
- 1967] Super Sunday: The Green Bay Packers beat the Kansas City Chiefs 35-10 in what will eventually be called Super Bowl I. Should the Pack beat the Giants on Sunday they'll be in another SB. Here's a tribute to the Green Bay Packers: http://youtube.com/watch?v=-T_W0VEbdaY ...
- 1973] Debuted on this date: Gene Shalit brings his bushy mustache and doctor's bag to "The Today Show" as movie reviewer...1974] "Happy Days" on ABC-TV. The highly rated show will run until July of 1984 and spawn the spin off, 'Laverne and Shirley' in January, 1976...
- 1976] Guilty as charged: Sara Jane Moore is sentenced to life in prison for her attempt on the life of President Gerald Ford in San Francisco...
- 1987] "Happy Trails": Ray Bolger dies from cancer at 83. Ray and Judy Garland sing "The Wizard of Oz" in this clip: http://youtube.com/watch?v=6r54exDHhiU ...
- 2001] Wiki sighting: Wikipedia goes online...
Music Memories:
- 1961] Signed, sealed, delivered: Motown signs the Supremes...
- 1964] So, sue me: Vee Jay Records files suit against Capitol and Swan over recording rights to the Beatles...
- 1967] Lyric content: The Rolling Stones change the lyrics to "Let's Spend The Night Together" on the 'Ed Sullivan Show' to 'Let's Spend Some Time Together' for network sensors. Watch Mick Jagger roll his eyes in this video when he changes the lyrics. It's a classic clip: http://youtube.com/watch?v=YkBIgcHwXgk ...
- 1971] Released on this date: "My Sweet Lord" - George Harrison...
Commentary:
He pitched a no-hitter for the Cubs in 1960 but the highlight of his career came in the 1969 season when he helped the Mets win their first World Series. He was also a good hitting pitcher, finishing his career with 15 home runs. 72-year old Don Cardwell passed away yesterday from undisclosed causes...She wore heavy makeup as the 'Queen of Goth', fashioning herself after Moriticia Addams but her biggest day every year was Halloween. Her name was Maila Nurmi but you knew her better as "Vampira". 'Vampira' died yesterday at 85. No cause of death was given. "Happy Trails" to Don Cardwell and 'Vampira'...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Chad Lowe (40), Lisa Lisa (Velez) (41), Marty Lyons (51), Charo (57), Andrea Martin (61), Captain Beefheart a.k.a. Don Van Vliet (67) and Margaret O'Brien (71)...
Timeline Countdown: 5 days until NFL Conference championships, 17 down and 2 to go for the Patriots, 19 days until the Super Bowl and 30 days until pitchers and catchers report voluntarily...
