72 Comments on monday august 28, 2006 : special report
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First. ;P
S.
Astronomer cloud peddlers wanking session.
New map is way too
bland,
coprate,
de-humanizing,
sterile,
etc.
It belongs on the set of THX 1138.
Nice color coordination with the new map, Joanne. A bit too much from the every pedantic scientists. I don’t miss Amanda or Pluto, both insiginificant bodies of limited interest and no apparent consequence.
I like the old map.
This new map is too bland and Joanne’s color does not look good in front of it.
I wonder how much of taxpayers’ dollar is going into space/planetary studies…
Maybe they can abolish traffic jams that way. If they can remove whole planets by raising yellow cards, then there have to be more useful things where that technique works. And on that dwarf planet thing vs planets. Well Joanne is now a planet and Amanda is now a dwarf planet. I guess. Let the yellow cards speak. New Map has issues.
Pluto is no longer be a planet, but still is a star: http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/08-24-2006/0004421624&EDATE
Pluto’s demotion? Not so sad. The new map? Well, being one of the advocates for “map reform” I now reverse my position.
The old map, please. Call me fickle but the new map lacks humanity.
I suspect you purposely put up a sucky corporate-looking map so that we could see that the old map really wasn’t so bad.
Just KEEP JOANNE. She’s tremendous.
This is the stuff I like to see on RB!
BTW, I love the new map!
Larry King’s map sucks less.
Great episode today, though, in spite of the lame map.
The new map is too IBM 1978 and too BBC. Perhaps something besides the soft blue would work, but the ASCII map is pretty terrible. Why even a map at all?
I think the background should look like the inside of a spaceship - the S.S. Rocketboom.
Pluto Politics. Their just trying to down the little man. Let us join in protest, brothers!
Hate the map.
This is a set up! RB knew that commenters would not like the new map and joanne’s clothes are deliberately chosen so they don’t work well colour-wise with the map. My guess, there is something better in the pipeline already… I’m usually no fan of conspiracy theories, but this is just plain obvious!
it is already said, I just want to emphasize:
this kind of background is flat, it doesn’t even look “modern” or “stylish”!
Immediately rocketboom’s appearance lost all its heart and soul.
No more inviting, no more pleasure, no more cosy…
don’t loose your shining!
I like the old Map.
…..Joanne looks good no matter the background.
I do like the map - and vehemently disagree that joanne looks bad in front of it - how could she look bad? Who cares if the map is like Larry King’s? Not every country recieves Larry King’s show - and so we don’t care.
Good story - and, as always, really well edited. I love the professionalism you guys bring to the show - regardless of politics/comments of camera. The pro networks do that too….
…. well that has really buggered my plans.
I was thinking of taking a vacation on Pluto next Spring,
and now it doesn’t look like it’s worth going.
As for the map .. yeah - too IBM circa 1977 - doesn’t work guy’s - changes the whole vibe and is WAY to serious and sterile.
I appreciate you got it printed - but some costs you just have to accept, trash and move on.
Hey … josieburn had a great idea: make the backdrop look like the inside of a ’50s SciFi spaceship, ie: Rocketboom!
( if not, I liked the old map, too. )
-s
You need to fill out an answer key for that giant crossword on your wall. That would be fun to play.
that map looks made in argentina, it’s not bad, perhaps you should have asked the astronomers what was their opinion about it ehehe if i were you, you and you i would put a black/grey background with white dots simulating space, if well done that can be really cool.
I think it’s fine as long as it’s still a planet. It should be called a planet with a sub categorization of dwarf planet as a planet type.
Like car as a sport car. It doesnt make sense to come up with several more top categories to confuse the situation. On a map it should be Planet (type dwarf) or maybe not but that’s my opinion.
The American accent is almost perfect now with work only needing to be done on the -er endings and that’s it.
The map may be too bright.
Hi Joanne,
Good show could have used a touch more “Joanne Colan”. Well you did it again, you always look prettier than the last time I saw you… hmmmm. What do I think? About you? Perfection, see you next time pretty lady.
I HATE THE MAP, LET’S FACE IT, IT SUCKS.
Bring back the old map.
2- The general assembly looked like a bunch of Romulians from a Star Trek Convention. These are the people who make decisions about our solar system, galaxy, universe? I say F&*%CK EM. PLUTO is still a planet in my books!!! What difference have these dorks made except pissing off Walt Disney and giving themselves a reason to gain 20 lbs, eating at that glactic sized buffet table.
3- If these “brainy” people invested their time solving some real problems here on Earth (overpopulation, disappearance of clean drinking water, fresh air, alternative enrgy sources, etc.) then maybe they’d deserve their own conference. Yeah , yeah, they’re astronomers. So go find some aliens and leave Pluto alone. I hope the Grays come and bite their asses.
4– I HATE THAT MAP
(i thought it was a joke when you previewed it a few weeks ago)
5- I think a beautiful map of Pluto in the background with
“WE LOVE PLUTO” or “PLUTO ROCKS!” across the top would be a much better solution.
6- These geeks hold a stuffed animal of Pluto to kick off the conference. If I were Walt Disney, I’d sue their NASA and astronomical Union asses. They build a shuttle so they can send people to a box floating in space. Woweeeee. 30 years of wasted time, money, resources, research. If they wanted real research they should have established a Base on the moon after Apollo. All they did was develop an excuse to waste taxpayer money. So my 3rd finger goes to Nasa and to the ass-tronomical union.
- Did I mention I hate the map
Fade the map. Make it fuzzy. It stands out too much.
love the map. it’s sharp.
It looks like someone’s using a soft filter for this morning’s episode. Joanne, you’ve lost your crispness!
Poor Mickey…
Like the new map just fine. Not life changing or anything but gives a nice clean look to the set.
To the guy/gal that doesn’t miss Amanda or Pluto: you’re just trying to win points by kissing Joanne’s Colan.
No offense to Joanne, who is doing a fine job, but Amanda is as far from insignificant, in body or soul.
(Sorry for the extremely unoriginal pun above — I’m no humorist.)
Dook
HDP
Thank you!
I’ve really been waiting to see some video from the conference. Pluto losing “planet” status has been big news, I can’t see why it would be so difficult to find.
Hm. I think the new map needs a contrast adjustment. The white dots are distracting. Tone them back a bit and it should be fine.
BTW, I think Joanne is a great host. I much prefer her to she-who-must-not-be-named.
The new map looks way too… normal newsy for me.
The new map looks better than I thought it would, but I still don’t like it.
The new map is really blue. So much so that is makes the whole frame look cold. Joanne is warm, but the new map drains her life force, like Rogue in the X-Men.
The new map doesn’t blend into the background like it should. Most backgrounds are a bit in the distance and therefore are soft.
Since I doubt you have the physical space to do this practically, you might try choosing or making a background which is out of focus a bit to give this illusion. It works well if you do it right.
‘josieburn’ hit the nail right on the head when she compared the map to 1978 IBM. Joanne was using a Mac on screen the other day, so why give us these mixed messages? Sorry to get to brand-centric, but Macs are typically associated with the warmth and creativity of humanity, while PCs are, well… they’re PCs. This map is like Powerpoint where what you need is more… Keynote.
I think CNN has a pleasing color palette. I’m not sure if this means you try using some of CNN’s warmth or if it means you try something different on purpose to be different. I’m sure you guys will figure it out. Especially when us, the peanut gallery, will continue to offer our useless input!
Good luck!
p.s.
I have a question regarding the lady announcer in today’s field report. I assume she’s a scientist, but she wasn’t ever identified (neither was anyone else, by the way). Anyway, my question is what does Pluto the planet have to do with Pluto the dog? Does she bring that doll with her to all her conferences for moral support? That’s kinda sad. I think she needs a hug.
Please bring the old map back. I did like the idea of a blinking light to indicate the location of the story if the new map must stay.
Sheesssh … reminded me why I did not choose to become an astronomer…sounds like planetary “profiling” to me … hahaha …
You’re missing the obvious for a backdrop … a large plasma TV screen than can morph to suit content …
And that Joanne … she’s rather a planetary asset in her own right … so refreshing to think that Planet Earth can produce such wonderfully elegant/sexy/relevant (did I include sexy?) lady/woman/hottie/brain/journalist (did I include hottie) …
Listening to Joanne almost makes me wish America wastill a British colony … I think I could enjooy being Joanne’s ’subject’ … but that’s another subject altogether … she’s royalty in my book in any case …
I would think that some value added commentary from Joanne putting a bit of a RB twist or perspective on it would have been an improvement … pure, unadulterated (oxymoronic, no?) “astronomerspeak” is very draining …
Final Scene … Joanne with a huge Pluto (the dog) mask on … saying … well here’s one Pluto who’s still got world-class status …
oh forgive… they would be Goofy wouldn’t it …?
Goofy the PR Guy
This whole situation with pluto was dealt with long ago in the 2 skinnee j’s entitled “Pluto”
The map is OK. Maybe the blue could be a little darker. I just think you’ll have contrast problems in the future as Joanne’s wardrobe changes.
Pluto is like the map. All things change.
cool ep! thanks RB. Hey if you wanna learn more about the lady who was talking about pluto at the start of the piece, check out the interview we did with her a few weeks ago - her name is Professor Bell Burnell, she is an astrophysicist at Oxford University and she is one smart lady!
http://www.deliciousambitious.com/article/professor-jocelyn-bell-burnell-cbe-astrophysicist
The map has too much white in it and washes Joanne out a little bit. She looks tired or maybe a little ill with that map. I’d shoot for something less pale.
“How much of the rest of what I learned in school will be blown away by a bunch of über-Geeks?”
I totally agree with this.
Hey you know what? Someone suggested a monitor in the background and I think that’s a GREAT idea. Andrew, you are a creative guy and this adds a lot to the value of stories and illustrates things during anchor monologue that otherwise would make you cut away. There are a lot of uses for it. It can simply be a background, an “over the shoulder” graphic area, a place for your identity to live (RocketBoom logo), or even moving video while the anchor comments. I think it might be the next improvement for the program. Yes, it might be expensive but with the popularity of RocketBoom, I’ll bet you could get a deal or even better. I suppose you’d have to script it but then again it’s another improvement that’s worth a little work. What do you think?
the great thing about comments is that anyone can make one regardless of expertise.
the next best thing is since the people at whom they are directed may or may not have a clue, all sorts of fun things happen.
example: viewers say ditch the map + producer unwilling to ditch the map concept + no production design expertise + no lighting design expertise = non-design by non-designers in non-committee and the result is what you see. groovy!
not sure that’s what I want when I think of “interactivity” — but hey, it’s more fun than watching rocketboom’s plummeting alexa chart.
the lighting and color balance are all screwed up, drew. but ignore the chimps bitching about the map.
it ain’t great, and yeah, it makes you look like low budget larry king, but the map can be made to look any of a number of ways given simple production techniques.
different lens or focal length + map further back = more pleasant depth of field (or gaussian blur the map and reprint)
less fill light = darker map
proper gel on joanne = she wouldn’t look like a sunburn victim
correct choice of blouse = less drastic contrast with the map on the day everyone is going to be obsessing on it
with a minimum of production effort this can all be changed. but i guess they don’t teach this stuff in art school any more.
even the daily show majorly screwed up their new set the first week. but that was several million dollars and a studio change, too. here we’re talking two lights, four thumbtacks, and taking the girl shopping at Anthropologie.
i don’t know why every minor step gets fumbled at rocketboom. given the weekend and a team of neutral friends, there’s no reason it needed to look this bad.
cute show, though. i rate it spf 30.
An interesting article, although there wasn’t enough of Joanne. She looked smashing today. Not a big fan of the new map, at one point all I could see was Joanne’s head and upper arms as the rest of her body seemed to fade into the map and her lower arms faded into the desk.
… your map is awful…
I Love the new map; simple, clean, geekish! Leave it for another year or so, then you can change it again. Fresh looks are good, but only after a year.
Who gave Larry King a vote here?
New map, old map, get rid of the TRS, bring it back… ying yang sucky wish-wash…
Do your show Drew. You remind me of our Canadian politicans who govern by the polls.
Take the reigns Mister or the only thing left in the carriage will be a rudderless fool.
Get back in the game, lad.
LEAD!
Hmm the new map… It’s not “you”.
However I guess you’ve spent money on it and want to make it work? What I humbly suggest you do is get someone arty in (i.e. good with paint and a brush, not someone suffering from flatulence) and get them to turn it into a mosaic. That’s right; all the little squares are already there, now we just need the nice colours.
After all, everyone knows the world is a mosaic don’t they? Or did I just hear that line in a song…
You all band of whiners…
Pluto is still there, it hasn’t gone anywhere, it’s just as insignificant as it always has been.
And the map? god… make up your damn mind!
You know what? use a blank background so any of these people can imagine whatever they want in there
“How much of the rest of what I learned in school will be blown away by a bunch of über-Geeks?”
People: adapt, love change, it is the only constant.
The new map is very web 2.0.
Houston, we have a problem. The new map is ugly. Joanne is still beautiful though.
New map is entirely Larry King, (who has a very nice voice.)
The white is too bright, and competes with the foreground. Taking their intensity down might solve the problem, keeping with a light grey.
Yes…this is my second post today… a first … but I wax oxymoronic (don’t go there.)
Let it be recorded in the annals of RB lore that I — yes I — suggested the plasma TV screen (programmable of course) for a backdrop … just think of the endless possiblities … in this Digitial Age … this cyber Epoch … this … oh hell, you get the picture.
I want Joanne out on location more often in tight fitting jeans … like at my office … interviewing me … about how good she looks in tight fitting jeans … while she’s interviewing me …
I just adore Lady Colan … the Baroness of my Bawdy Imagination …
The Countess of my Careless Passion … the … Marquessa of my Muddied Memories …
but she does need a new backdrop …
I want my initials, BP , in the lower left hand corner of the new plasma board … as a tribute to my unique contribution to RB’s global presence …
I guess… I should have stopped at one posting today … but being a Double Poster should count for something.
Love ya, babe.
Bill from Dallas
acceptably rejectable input: the map worked really well with the closer shots, but not as well from far away ->
combine the ‘map as sky’ idea with another idea which will give you more color options ->
sea-monsters in the pacific
a sticky note saying “great wall” over china
simple curtains on either side
New map is unsatisfactory.
Voting Pluto off of the island is unsatisfactory.
And since someone else invoked her name, I still miss Amanda and the “globes”.
My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us NOTHING!
NOTHING AT ALL! :”
It’s sad to see Pluto go. Change is hard. And it’s tough to see the regular world replaced by a blue and white map-like thingy. A bit cold, I think. I’m for the feelings that come out of the show and out of the world. It’s not so easy being green.
Old map Please!
it looks like CNN now.
We shall VOTE !!
I am outraged at the International Astronomical Union’s ridiculous decision to demote Pluto to the status of “Dwarf Planet.” The new criteria defining planets, that the celestial object have cleared its orbital path, is vague, inconsistent, and scientifically sloppy.
According to this new definition, Pluto is not a planet because its orbit crosses Neptune’s orbit. Then doesn’t that mean Neptune is a “Dwarf Planet” for crossing paths with Pluto? Galileo must be spinning in his grave at this illogical and highly political decision.
Of the IAU’s 10,000 members, only 4% were present for the vote, which was cast on the last day of the conference after many members had already left. The vote was essentially hijacked by a group of dynamicists, astronomers who study the motion and gravitational effects of celestial objects, who were offended that planetary geologists had so much influence on the previous week’s definition, which added three new planets to our solar system, rather than eliminating a heavenly body we’ve accepted as a planet for 76 years now.
Pluto, Charon, Ceres, and UB313 all have sufficient gravity to pull them into a round shape and they do not orbit other planets; therefore, they are planets. The IAU must reinstate Pluto as a planet immediately before its credibility suffers and future generations of scientists look back on the 2006 conference as the day scientific integrity was abandoned because of intellectual hubris.
HAIL PLUTONIA!
I’ll throw in my 2cents on this very very important issue of the map: not so good.
Take it easy! :)
Um…..
The map blows…..
But I also think Pluto should remain a planet….
In the end….who gives a shit….life’s subjective…..or ruled by geeks in some cases…..
(Just think of what Bill Gates did…..and tell me he’s not a geek)
Chow for now.
1)Kudos on a piece of excellent, timely, interesting reporting. Regardless of what one thinks about the IAU’s decision, RB allowed me to be present — making my own world smaller and more intimate. And it is so cool to be able to put faces and personalities onto such an event.
2) Similarly, the LRA walk-through-the-jungle-cum-interview a few days ago was also quite excellent reportage and, as far as I know, unique — you didn’t get to see that on CNN!
3)Personally, I find the continuing stream of wolf-whistle-style comments on Joanne’s appearance sophomoric and repellant. Why do people do that? Does anyone — Joanne, in particular — appreciate it?
4)The whole business with the map seems overblown to me: what I think is important and interesting about RB is the style and substance of the video reporting. Obviously, others differ.
5)Congratulations, Drew, I think that RB has now recovered and fairly stably become (again) a fascinating, quirkily upbeat web phenomenon. Long life to it, I say.
The new world is rather innacurate,
just look at Australia..
More on why I think Pluto is a Planet.
the great thing about comments is that anyone can make one regardless of expertise.
the next best thing is since the people at whom they are directed may or may not have a clue, all sorts of fun things happen.
example: viewers say ditch the map + producer unwilling to ditch the map concept + no production design expertise + no lighting design expertise = non-design by non-designers in non-committee and the result is what you see. groovy!
not sure that’s what I want when I think of “interactivity” — but hey, it’s more fun than watching rocketboom’s plummeting alexa chart.
the lighting and color balance are all screwed up, drew. but ignore the chimps bitching about the map.
it ain’t great, and yeah, it makes you look like low budget larry king, but the map can be made to look any of a number of ways given simple production techniques.
different lens or focal length + map further back = more pleasant depth of field (or gaussian blur the map and reprint)
less fill light = darker map
proper gel on joanne = she wouldn’t look like a sunburn victim
correct choice of blouse = less drastic contrast with the map on the day everyone is going to be obsessing on it
with a minimum of production effort this can all be changed. but i guess they don’t teach this stuff in art school any more.
even the daily show majorly screwed up their new set the first week. but that was several million dollars and a studio change, too. here we’re talking two lights, four thumbtacks, and taking the girl shopping at Anthropologie.
i don’t know why every minor step gets fumbled at rocketboom. given the weekend and a team of neutral friends, there’s no reason it needed to look this bad.
cute show, though. i rate it spf 30.
I like the new map. The AU conference was a bit boring.
The new map is awful. Choosing tho have the host wear a busy pattern and apparently forgetting to white balance the camera are also unfortunate. Very cold and unappealing. She looks at least 5 years older.
Terrible.
Incredible footage. I never thought I would actually see this event take place.
Here’s what I think of that:
.
Old Media Map ….
http://cbilighting.com/CNN%20New%20York/pages/Larry%20King%20and%20Walter%20%20Cronkite.htm
Lose it!
I like the blue map - Joanne looks good in front of it :-)
The last I checked, there were 116 posts and now they’ve been whittled down to 103. What did I miss? Did anyone catch it before the big censore? Can someone sum up?
S