indefatigablog

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yep, that’s John Waters narrating.

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Twenty-five years ago, the Ridley Scott film Blade Runner became an instant science fiction classic. Set in a sodden, squalid Los Angeles of 2019, the neo-noir masterpiece influenced a generation of filmmakers and video-game designers. Scott’s cyberpunk gem almost instantly became the most important film in the canon of movies people like me love.

Admittedly, I’m still such a fan that I watch it at least once every few months.

In Blade Runner’s dystopian near future, replicants [genetically engineered humanoids] do the hard work on off-world colonies. After a bloody mutiny the androids are forbidden from coming to Earth. So when six rogue replicants return home, they must be “retired” [hunted down and killed] and Ford’s Deckard, once a top replicant hunter, or “blade runner,” is pulled out of his own retirement to do the job.

F/X experts who’ve worked on Star Wars Episodes, on the Matrix films, on AI and Terminator agree that 25 years later there are ways in which Blade Runner surpasses anything that’s been done since.

Watching it even now showcases Scott’s genius for creating stunning effects with simple technology.

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YouTube will share ad revenue with 20-year-old Brandon Fletcher. Thus the stage is set for a flood of copycat bum-rushers who will no doubt lay siege to the YouTube/Googleplex armed with nothing but their media and their Gen-Y audacity.

“The deal is basically sharing ad money,” Brandon says. “They place banners on my video pages and we split the revenue.” (Though he adds that he “can’t give specifics on the splits.”)

Yeeeup, you can say it : go ‘head = Gen Y sure as hell ain’t Gen X. These kids have mortgages, adult lives and a strong sense of entitlement at 20 - but at least they’re getting paid for their “ideas”.

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A case that attracted nationwide attention has ended with the dropping of a felony wiretapping charge against a Carlisle, PA man who recorded a police officer during a traffic stop.

Cumberland County District Attorney David Freed said his decision will affect not only Brian Kelly, 18, but also will establish a policy for other police departments.

“When police are audio and video-recording traffic stops with notice to the subjects, similar actions by citizens, even if done in secret, will not result in criminal charges,” Freed said yesterday. “I intend to communicate this decision to all police agencies within the county so that officers on the street are better-prepared to handle a similar situation should it arise again.”

Freed’s decision came a week after the story caused a storm of criticism over Kelly’s May 24 arrest by a Carlisle police officer on the wiretapping charge, which carries a penalty of up to seven years in prison upon conviction.

What a relief : they can watch us but we can watch them, too. Good to hear “fair” is still somewhat fair.

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