Random Play by Graham Reid

men need to be scrupulously shaven, have every nose and ear hair plucked, and the ladies need to avoid fake tan and have a $1000 an hour groomer on hand.

High-definition TV adds to it. About a year ago I was talking to a TV make-up artist who had gone on a training course in America to learn the new art of applying make-up to make people look normal on HDTV.

And there's this list of celebrities who look awful or wonderul with HDTV. Poor Cameron Diaz.

You think politicians have it bad with high-def, but will someone please think of the porn-stars?!?

Hollywood is dealing with similar problems, but they are more pronounced for pornographers, who rely on close-ups and who, because of their quick adoption of the new format, are facing the issue more immediately than mainstream entertainment companies.

Producers are taking steps to hide the imperfections. Some shots are lit differently, while some actors simply are not shot at certain angles, or are getting cosmetic surgery, or seeking expert grooming.

“The biggest problem is razor burn,” said Stormy Daniels, an actress, writer and director.

Matt - beat me to it (excuse the pun)

Oooh, I think I've got one better. Hilary Clinton's new content-free buzz phase is "ready to lead from Day One." Really, I thought Day One involved standing around freezing your tits off at your inauguration, then playing kissy face with your donors at a string of parties.

Hilary Clinton's new content-free buzz phase is "ready to lead from Day One."

Really? I'd have said that was a reasonable phrase that carried a message - certainly far more in it, than positive policies.

I'll be a good President, my opponent may be a good president in the future, after he's got more experience, but he won't be one now. We need someone who'll hit the ground running.

About as much as you can actually expect from a slogan.

Really, I thought Day One involved standing around freezing your tits off at your inauguration, then playing kissy face with your donors at a string of parties.

Actually, Hilary will be the first person to freeze their tits off.

Throughout history, every other American President has frozen something else.

Really? I'd have said that was a reasonable phrase that carried a message - certainly far more in it, than positive policies.

I'll be a good President, my opponent may be a good president in the future, after he's got more experience, but he won't be one now. We need someone who'll hit the ground running.

...and then gets rather tetchy when anyone asks rather impertinent questions about whether being a President's wife -- and hitting the ground face first when you had your chance at universal heath care - is the kind of 'experience' you should be bragging about. Still, as long as she looks good in HD why bother? Still, encouraging to see the gender card appears to be past its use by date.

And if you want to use actual elected office as a benchmark for 'experience', then I'd respectfully suggest Obama has the advantage.

"ready Day One" is really really common in service industry sales proposals, not really surprising its been adapted to politics

And if you want to use actual elected office as a benchmark for 'experience', then I'd respectfully suggest Obama has the advantage.

You won't necessarily get disagreement from me on this, but this would mean it's wrong, not empty.

Actually, Hilary will be the first person to freeze their tits off.

Throughout history, every other American President has frozen something else.

'Would be', surely...

And what are the odds on her being the second President to actually catch their death on Inauguration Day?

Neal Stephenson made a similar comment in Interface: in the 1800s it was all about character (Lincoln) in the 1900s charisma (Hitler, JFK), now it's all visual media scrutiny and with HDTV there's going to be a change of guard. I wonder if that's why the media here in Aus did so many up-the-nostril shots on election night!

And, if you'll forgive the vulgarity

Actually, Hilary will be the first person to freeze their tits off.

...that would look quite freaky on a giant HD screen.

...that would look quite freaky on a giant HD screen.

One presumes that the modern media minder has somewhere in their list of things to think about "visible erect nipples". It's a new world after all.

HD may simply result in a great deal more background scenery being on show. If one opens the angle a little, the level of detail remains constant.
Small paintings show faces, large ones show mountain ranges.

OTOH, once we can make out all the little winces and twitches better, they'll need a whole new quality of liar to fool us into voting for them. A constant gormless smile with dead eyes might not play so well either.