I read yesterday that Netflix made a deal with Warner Brothers to delay DVD releases in echange for having access to more of Warner’s library for their Netflix Watch Instantly feature.

Interestingly, people seem put off by this, which, as a long-time Netflix subscriber and a Netflix Watch Instantly early adopter has me a bit perplexed. Anyone who’s ever used Netflix knows that they often won’t get a specific movie when they expect it, and in fact end up altering their movie watch behavior accordingly. Watch Instantly, however, DOES allow people to, funnily enough, “watch instantly.”

D bought me the first Roku box when it was first announced, which allows us to watch Netflix Watch Instantly titles (and now Amazon VOD titles as well) right on our TV, using a remote to navigate. In HD, even. The box keeps track of where you are in each title if you decide to stop watching and finish later, and even keeps track of which episode in a TV series you’re on. Even without the 2-day time advantage the Watch Instantly service has over having a disc mailed to you, there’s value added in keeping track of this stuff. Anyone who’s ever had to figure out which episodes they haven’t seen after a several month hiatus of watching a particular show can attest to this.

Netflix Watch Instantly is now available on Xbo and PS3, as well as a host of DVD players and Blu-ray players, televisions and other boxes you may already have in your home. Soon, it’ll be available on the Wii that you have collecting dust, and there’s a range of different Roku boxes that will hook you up inexpensively if you don’t already have one of those other boxes in your home. Streaming is the future, and getting more titles available for people to stream is a great advantage for Netflix, helping ensure that they’re not only in the game, but at the forefront of it.

So, it seems to me that Netflix is in a win/win situation; not only are their customers already used to delays of new releases, but adding more titles to Watch Instantly will help keep customers like us happier for longer. We use Netflix via Watch Instantly almost exclusively and haven’t even received a disc in probably close to a year. I look forward to a sudden influx of new things to watch.

If a 30-day delay on Batman Begins Again DVDs means I can stream the rest of the Batman franchise, then I say delay it. If I really need to see a title within 30 days, there’s always a Redbox machine nearby.

Thanks, Netflix, for making deals like this.

Hey horror movie fans, I made you a wallpaper.

Click for full size (2560×1600)

or, if you prefer simpler, cartoonier wallpaper, I made you one of those, too.

Click for full size (2560×1600)

People have been asking me if there’s a way to convert Kindle books downloaded with Amazon’s Kindle For PC application pretty much since the day it was released. Sadly, despite a lot of tinkering on my part, there was no elegant solution^* until now.

A fantastic Kindle For PC conversion tool has been made. And it works really, really well. And it is significantly easier than the old “Kindle-only” method.

Here’s how it works:

1) Install python 2.6 for Windows, from here: http://www.python.org/download/

2) Download unswindle.pyw and mobidedrm.py via this zip file and unzip it somewhere on your PC

3) Open the unzipped folder and double-click unswindle.pyw

Kindle For PC will now open.

4) Select the book you want to convert.

5) When the book loads, simply exit Kindle For PC

A ‘Save’ dialog will open asking you where you want to save your new decrypted .mobi file. And we’re done.

(As it uses mobidedrm, it still won’t work on Topaz/.tpz files, and the first one I tried happened to be one. Still, most books will work.)

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*: I did work out a scheme wherein you record video of your desktop, scroll through the book in Kindle For PC, remove all duplicate frames from the resultant video and then convert to PDF, but it was rather unwieldy.

In compliance with new FTC regulations, it’s now time to disclose a few things about some of the content on my blog over the last several years.

All that talk about Wilford Brimley a few years back? Yup, I got a lifetime supply of Quaker Oats as a result.

All that talk about Heinz ketchup and mustard? Lifetime supply.

All that talk about celebrity boobs? Lifetime supply.

All that talk about the Lifetime network? Lifetime supply.

All that Google crap plastered all over my site layout and throughout recent blog posts? Lifetime supply.

I haven’t gotten diddly squat from Vicks/NyQuil.

I’m taking an online writing course that has a pretty hefty discussion-board participation requirement. One of the discussion topics was to explain the difference between the different types of argument appeals one can make: Ethos, Pathos and Logos. Considering that the definitions of those things are right out of our textbook, pretty much everyone was basically posting the same things with slightly different wordings. So, being the smart-ass that I am, I decided to try to mix it up a little.

Here, in its entirety, is my poorly written explanation of why one might want to use a particular appeal over the others:

Logos, or “an appeal using logic” is the most effective form of argument. According to a famous study, less than 10% of all arguments made by not using logic-based data and reasoning are effective in changing the mind of someone with an opposing viewpoint. Less than ten percent. That means that over 90% of all arguments that do use logic-based data and reasoning are effective. From this we can infer that the most effective way to argue one's point is to include relevant statistics and numbers — after all, the numbers don't lie. Definitely choose Logos, because it's the best.

Ethos, or “argument from authority,” is clearly the most effective tactic to use in an argument. I've had thousands of arguments with people, and believe me when I say, it's the way to go. In addition to personally participating in thousands of debates — all of which resulted in me convincing the other party that they were wrong — I've also served as an argument consultant to dozens of other famous arguers. Remember the Bud Light “tastes great VS less filling” debate from some decades back? Well, that was never conclusively decided because of the fact that I was coaching both sides on their arguments. This resulted in both sides of the debate having foolproof, undefeatable arguments, so the debate rages on. I'm just that good. So take it from me when I say that you should certainly choose Ethos for your argumentative needs. It's the best.

This brings me to Pathos, or “an appeal to the heart.” I could tell you that this is the best tactic to use when formulating an argument, but I feel that it might be better to mention an argument from the past that didn't use Pathos. Remember that fateful day in September of 2001, when both towers of the World Trade center were spewing black plumes of smoldering death into the skies? Well, people all over the city were warning that those towers would fall, and that all those rescue workers should get out now, lest the death-toll rise exponentially. Sadly, though, those warnings were filled with facts and figures, delivered by civil engineers and mathematicians who didn't have the foresight to attempt to appeal to the emotions of those making the decisions. Unfortunately, as a direct result of this lack of Pathos-knowledge, these early-warners watched with tears in their eyes as the towers indeed collapsed exactly how their facts and figures said they would. If only they had tried to appeal to the hearts of those in power rather than their minds… If they had, then hundreds of people might not have lost their lives that day. Don't let this happen to you; always argue using Pathos, as it is clearly the best strategy in an argument.