[Bitscape again makes the mistake of putting a DVD on while he types a rambling.]

Madonna -- The Girly Show, Live Down Under. Now, the Dolby Digital mix on this one is most interesting. On the rear speakers, there's almost nothing but crowd noise and echoes of the music far in the distance. Like they put a couple mikes in the very back row, or close to it. In contrast, the front speakers have entirely fresh, clear music. Straight off the house source, I'd wager. So physically, the sensation is like you're hearing the whole arena arena, both next to the stage and near the rear exit, but since it's all within the space of a few square meters in my room, there's almost a hyper real effect. Then, at certain moments, an effect or background vocal track swooshes back to the rear at full loud clarity. Very cool.

Methinks the it is true: Ya ain't really watched a DVD until viewing it through an audio system with full surround support. Adds a whole extra dimension. :)

Work today... quite busy. I find myself with a renewed sense of commitment not just to getting the job done, but making sure that the result is something to truly be proud of. Put everything I can into it, rather than just doing enough to "get by" -- which, I have to admit, is something I think I have been prone to fall into on a several occassions during the past few months.

When one believes that one's actions or suggestions will have little or no effect, be ignored, lost in the bureaucracy, or otherwise tossed aside, it's easy to become apathetic. Go in from 8-5, blindly do the assigned tasks, and collect the paycheck. It'll get you by, but it's not a very fun way to live.

Well, today I decided that I want to take the way of making things as good as I possible can, even if it means extra hassle for me. Like some of these people on the DVD commentaries, going to huge effects to create an effect so small or subtle that nobody in the audience is going to notice it, but they do it anyway. Make it the best you can.

Although I'd like to take credit for this new inspiration, I can't say it just comes out of a vacuum. When the people around you are truly committed to getting things done as best they possibly can despite adversity, the effect is contagious. I think that is the case here. So... onward.

[Although I am managing to stay moderately on topic in this rambling, the content is being produced at a small fraction of the normal rate, due to multiple instances of stopping to stare at the NTSC screen.]

And the music launches straight into I'm Going Bananas, flowing from there to La Isla Bonita. Gotta love the rapid transition from the harsh, biting (if quite comical) satire, almost directly into a heartfelt, sappy, and sharply choreographed rendition of Latin style romantic fantasy. What a trip.

[Bitscape tracks back to the beginning of La Isla Bonita to actually watch it this time.]

And then comes the mock patriotism. Holiday, performed in front of a huge-ass American flag. In a show being performind in Australia. lol.

Methinks I might have to get the Ciao Italia DVD at some future point. Although I would suspect the DVD reproduction might not be quite as good as this due to the age of the original recording. And then, wouldn't it rock if they would do a DVD release of the long-lost-to-every-medium-but-laserdisc Blond Ambition tour. Heehee. A fan can dream, right?

...

I'm thinking that after this, I'll head out to the Wal Mart area. Or maybe the new Target. In any case, Tobias needs food, and I totally spaced that on my way home from work. So that needs to be done. I need to make a stop at the ATM, cause I'm all out of cash.

I love the mix of this song that's on the DVD. Much better than the studio version that appeared on The Immaculate Collection cd, IMO.

Poor is the man whose pleasures depend on the permission of another.

Or should I have used on of my other style tags for that one? Hell, I dunno. Film dialog? Lyric? Quotation? Any would fit, so I just did a plain old italic. :)

Oh, so if I just need gas and cash, why would I be heading to Wal Mart or Target? Well... For one thing, my posters have almost all fallen off the walls. Those crappy poster stickers just don't cut the mustard. They seem to get loose whenever things warm up. Last summer, I pretty much gave up on it. They seem to stay up pretty well in the winter except when I burn candles.

The hard permanent shit isn't what I want either though. Good luck getting a poster down later without doing severe damage with that. That putty stuff ain't bad. Kinda messy though. I'm gonna see what I can find. Cause I am SICK of having these posters laying around in the trash buffer, but I don't want to put them away either. They need to be on the walls. :)

A little food while I'm out wouldn't hurt either.

I was thinking about doing a little piecemeal coding on the Lounge and/or Collective tonight too. We'll see though.

Or, I may even come back with another rambling. Or perhaps I'll tend the Collective for a while. Dunno yet.

Show's just about over. I'm signing off.