Off Screen

March11,2002.JohnR.,aheavily-armed,59-year-oldbusdriver,takesemployeesintheRembrandtTowerinAmsterdamhostage.SixmonthsafterSeptember11,policeandgovernmentofficialsareinaseriousstateofpanic.ThemanisprotestingagainstwidescreenTVandthinkstheblackbarsinwidescreenbroadcastscontainhiddencodes.Attheendoftheday,Johnbringshisownlifetoadramaticend.Noonehaseverunderstoodwhatdrovethisman.ForyearsheledacrusadeagainstwidescreenTVandothermoderntechnology,writingnumerousletterstonewspapers,electronicscompaniesandconsumersorganizations.DismissingJohnR.asamadman,however,istoosimplearesponse.Behindthismanisalargerpersonaltragedy.Hiscrusadehadbeensoall-consumingthathiswifedivorcedhimandtheirchildrenwereembarrassed:theychangedtheirsurnamesandavoidedtheirfather.Butlikemanymadmen,John'sfightwasbasedonakerneloftruth.Only5%ofDutchprogrammingiswidescreenandthereceiversaretwiceasexpensiveasnormalTVs.Digitalsetsareontheirway.Fromthispointofview,widescreenTVseemsdrivenmorebymarketingthananygenuinetechnologicaladvance.Likemanyotherpeople,JohnR.feltmanipulated.Unlikemostpeople,however,John'sfeelingsevolvedintoparanoia.HowfineisthatlineandaretheremorepeoplelikeJohnwaitingtocrossit?