Is a Blu-Ray Version of Avatar: The Last Airbender on Its Way?

Keep in mind that I have no real evidence that a Blu-Ray set of Avatar: The Last Airbender is on its way.  This is just a couple of things I noticed mounting up into a surmise.

First of all, when I was on Amazon a while back, I noticed that the prices on all the DVD sets for Avatar had dropped pretty dramatically.

Screen capture taken on August 22, 2012

This is at least five dollars cheaper than I've ever seen these sets priced on Amazon.com, and they've been priced this way for at least a month.  So I began to wonder why.  Then, a bit later, I saw some posts that Bryan Konietzko had made on his Tumblr blog, stating that he has been revisiting some of the old DVD cover art for the original series (links here and here).

Now, I have seen it happen in the past (right before an Xbox 360 redesign, for example) that Amazon will drop prices of something they're worried about being able to unload due to a newer, better version of the product being on the way.  If Brian has been revisiting the artwork for the DVD covers for the old series, maybe it's because he's designing/refining them for a Blu-Ray release, and Amazon wants to try to squeeze all of the sales they can out of the old DVD box sets, then turn around and sell the new Blu-Ray set to those same customers.

Again, I have absolutely no hard evidence that this is the case, nor do I have any confirmation that there will be Blu-Ray versions of any of the series' in the Avatar universe.  But wouldn't it make sense to use the Blu-Ray release of The Legend of Korra (which will almost definitely see a Blu-Ray release, since it was animated in 720p) to reignite the buying passions of Avatar fans around the world?

We will see.

UPDATE:  And now seasons two and three are selling for around $15.50.  Come on, now.  Something's up.

"The Most Depressing Thing I Ever Saw": I. Missouri Voters

This is the first installment in a new series I have been planning to do for about a week now.  Originally, I had thought to make my first post about Grave of the Fireflies, because... what could be more depressing than Grave of the Fireflies?"

Ask and ye shall receive.

Our good friend Todd Akin said some things that rubbed a few people the wrong way earlier this week.  Seems that some women (the loose ones, probably) and men (the gay ones, probably) took exception to the idea that there are degrees of raped-ness.  For example, if you didn't really want to have sex, but were wearing thigh-high boots and a miniskirt, that counts as a three-quarters rape.  You're probably gettin' pregnant on that one.  If you were wearing a sackcloth on your way to Wednesday night church, you're pretty much in the clear.

Well, as sorry as I am about Todd Akin's views, I'm glad he aired them out to the public.  It's important for voters to know that these are the types of opinions that inform Akin's--or any candidate's--decisions, which represent the people of Missouri in Congress.  I wish all politicians were so honest.

What depresses me is that, first of all, despite 79% of people polled disagreeing with Akin's comment (a figure that still seems woefully low), he still holds the edge in election polls.  That people are willing to overlook a viewpoint this crass and discriminatory, that they themselves disagree with, regardless of how you feel about abortion, is ghastly.  When did the maintenance of our country turn into such a bitter battle of wills?  How is electing someone who may be worse for the job, REGARDLESS of which party they represent, an event that grants personal vindication?  This is our future!  We can't be governed by the philosophies of 'I told you so!'

But what really depressed me is that Todd Akin is a politician, and politicians don't say anything in public, especially in an interview, and ESPECIALLY during election season, without carefully considering its impact on their campaign.  How it's going to play with the public, the voter base.  Missouri voters are not the people you see on TV.  There's a whole world of people out there that you forget even exist.  I personally know several people who would privately agree with Akin's views on rape.  Todd Akin said those things thinking they would make him appeal more to Missouri voters--and he was right.

And I knew, practically as soon as I saw the video of his gaffe, that he was still going to win this election.

Image found on sodahead.com.  All rights reserved.