"""
And then look at Avatar's this week. Don't misunderstand me here, they are pretty great, particularly in retention and midweek viewings. But they are less great when you figure in the huge ticket price hike for 3D (10%+ varying by theater) compared to other films currently in the top ten box office numbers (and older box office numbers are even more misleading). They are making more money, yes... but theatrical attendance may be decaying and no-one really knows why.
"""
Um, I know why. Better home theater systems, VASTLY increased ticket and concessions prices with no corresponding increase in value added, poorly maintained theaters, theaters refusing to deal with idiots with cellphones texting/calling during screenplay.
I believe the headline is its own answer, along with this quote:
"""
... it's a web-based service, rather than a TV-based one.
"""
It *shouldn't* make a difference, but we all know it does. Just like you can take any old patent and add "on the web" to the end to create a brand new patent!
It seems like I recall that Al had asked for, and thought he had received, permission to do his parody of "Gangsta's Paradise", but after it was released Coolio refuted that he had given permission. Coolio also seemed to have no problem cashing the royalty checks, so I guess that's the final answer on permission.
"""
Again, get rid of the abuses, not the program.
"""
Mmmm, Mike, I just can't agree with you on this one. I can think of no practical way to curtail those kinds of abuses. I'm not saying get rid of the programs necessarily, but if you accept/believe we need them, then you also accept the abuses that go along with it.
Are you really trying to suggest that Century(Link/Tel) did not get federal broadband funds? Give me a break.
Now let's talk competition.
I'm actually an unwilling customer of CenturyLink. I *want* to get DSL through AT&T, who has very reasonable prices, but AT&T doesn't "service" our area, it is only "serviced" by CenturyLink, so I am forced to pay their outrageously high prices for DSL. This is called anti-competitive behaviour and it should be illegal.
And before you or anyone else gives me the old line about "you have other choices, blah blah blah": Screw that. I happen to want DSL for whatever reason. I should have a dozen choices of companies to choose from; instead my choice is CenturyLink or nothing.
"""
You would do well to read the entire history of proceedings in the JTR case before parroting the contents of other articles that are long on opinions and short on facts.
"""
No. I don't care what the facts of the trial were. It's absolutely mind-numbingly stupid to even *attempt* to justify such an outrageous sum of money for such an innocuous "crime", where it cannot be proven (and can never be proven, short of mental telepathy) that *any* actual monetary harm was done.
Let us reduce the sum to a cool even million. Let us assume an average person makes around $50k a year (even though the average is *much* less than that). It would take 20 years to pay that judgement if all money earned went only to the judgement. There are murderers and rapists that don't get sentences that harsh. Now justify your position. Oh wait, nevermind, you can't, there is no rational justification, and I don't want to read your non-rational one.
"""
But the biggest issue is why this is even an issue at all.
"""
Mike, I'm surprised. You of all people should know that when the question begins with "why" the answer is almost always "money". You've wrote about this very phenomena, and it *is* quite fascinating. Even if party A would never have done the work itself, that party will fight tooth and nail to prevent party B from somehow profiting off party A's "fame", whatsoever that fame might encompass. They just don't recognize intangible benefits like good will. "Look at that, that jerk is makin' a buck offa me!"
I am constantly confounded with the way some people's minds work (or don't work).
It seems to me that Mike is pointing out a simple fact: The reality of this situation is that now there are extremely fast and easy tools for people to communicate and research, and people *are* going to do it. No amount of admonition is going to change that, and I'll go a step farther and say that it would probably take some pretty draconian (yay 100 points!) threats of punishment to reduce it! Solitary confinement is truly the only way to keep people from talking and doing their own research.
It's kind of like yelling at the river to stop, yell all you want, but it's not going to stop.
By the way, an adequate definition of "stupid and dense" might be "someone who rails against reality". That's you, AC.
"""
Mate, it is a well known fact that Mike is biased towards the consumer. If you want balanced news, you may want to start reading foxnews.com.
"""
The mind boggles. Tell me, in your universe, does the sun set in the east? Do people brush their teeth with cow patties?
Anyway, I prefer my universe, where being biased towards consumers is not a bad thing, and foxnews.com is about as un-balanced as a site can be without actually falling of the intarwebs.
Seems to me, depending on the circumstances, the stockholders could sue for gross negligence. I'd be willing to bet their (Heartland's) security was no where near what it should have been for the type of business they do. This is actually a HUGE problem with many companies, they treat their customer's data (including extremely sensitive financial data) much to cavalierly, and they are not held accountable when their inadequate precautions contribute to a security breach. They should actually be facing criminal charges for allowing such a breach, but I'm sure that won't happen.
Dude, you're not even up to Econ 101 yet, you still need to take remedial math.
We must assume that there is a finite "pool" of money. Further, there is a finite amount of money from that pool that people are willing to spend on movies. Thus, if you spread this pool (which is larger this year than ever) across every release (to get your average, which is really a fallacy), then yes, the average release might have made less money. However, as I noted, this is a logical fallacy, there really isn't any such thing as an "average release". As for costs not dropping, give me a break, who cares? It's been pointed out OVER and OVER that high production cost does not equal a good movie (read "movie that people want to watch and spend lots of money on").
The total industry is growing, they have absolutely nothing to complain about.
I doubt there are many, if any, wasted man hours. You know they have these things called computers right? Well these computer-things, they are really really good at searching, filtering, and cross-referencing.
On the post: Could Wolverine's Leaking Have Helped It At The Box Office?
Re: 2009 Box Office Records aren't so simple
And then look at Avatar's this week. Don't misunderstand me here, they are pretty great, particularly in retention and midweek viewings. But they are less great when you figure in the huge ticket price hike for 3D (10%+ varying by theater) compared to other films currently in the top ten box office numbers (and older box office numbers are even more misleading). They are making more money, yes... but theatrical attendance may be decaying and no-one really knows why.
"""
Um, I know why. Better home theater systems, VASTLY increased ticket and concessions prices with no corresponding increase in value added, poorly maintained theaters, theaters refusing to deal with idiots with cellphones texting/calling during screenplay.
On the post: Tomorrow Is National Book Burning Day; Thank Your Friendly Entertainment Industry Lobbyists
Re: Re: The Idiot Speaks...
On the post: Singapore Court Rules That Online DVR Is Infringing... While Noting How Copyright Law Isn't Really Set Up For This
"""
... it's a web-based service, rather than a TV-based one.
"""
It *shouldn't* make a difference, but we all know it does. Just like you can take any old patent and add "on the web" to the end to create a brand new patent!
On the post: Eddie Vedder Sued For Changing Lyrics On A Song
Re: Re: Re:
another runner in the night...
On the post: Eddie Vedder Sued For Changing Lyrics On A Song
Re: Re: Wierd Al and copyright
On the post: Court Overreacts And Orders Full Takedown Of Anti-H-1B Websites Over Contradictory Libel/Copyright Claims
Re: Re: Sorry Mike
Again, get rid of the abuses, not the program.
"""
Mmmm, Mike, I just can't agree with you on this one. I can think of no practical way to curtail those kinds of abuses. I'm not saying get rid of the programs necessarily, but if you accept/believe we need them, then you also accept the abuses that go along with it.
On the post: CenturyLink Won't Provide DSL, Wants To Block Competitor From Getting Fed Funds To Offer Wireless
Re: Am I the only one with a problem
Now let's talk competition.
I'm actually an unwilling customer of CenturyLink. I *want* to get DSL through AT&T, who has very reasonable prices, but AT&T doesn't "service" our area, it is only "serviced" by CenturyLink, so I am forced to pay their outrageously high prices for DSL. This is called anti-competitive behaviour and it should be illegal.
And before you or anyone else gives me the old line about "you have other choices, blah blah blah": Screw that. I happen to want DSL for whatever reason. I should have a dozen choices of companies to choose from; instead my choice is CenturyLink or nothing.
On the post: Nine Inch Nails Fans Create Incredible Live DVD From Footage: Encourage Everyone To Share Widely
Re: Re: Re:
You would do well to read the entire history of proceedings in the JTR case before parroting the contents of other articles that are long on opinions and short on facts.
"""
No. I don't care what the facts of the trial were. It's absolutely mind-numbingly stupid to even *attempt* to justify such an outrageous sum of money for such an innocuous "crime", where it cannot be proven (and can never be proven, short of mental telepathy) that *any* actual monetary harm was done.
Let us reduce the sum to a cool even million. Let us assume an average person makes around $50k a year (even though the average is *much* less than that). It would take 20 years to pay that judgement if all money earned went only to the judgement. There are murderers and rapists that don't get sentences that harsh. Now justify your position. Oh wait, nevermind, you can't, there is no rational justification, and I don't want to read your non-rational one.
On the post: Nine Inch Nails Fans Create Incredible Live DVD From Footage: Encourage Everyone To Share Widely
Re: Re: Re:
"the "AA" groups."
what is an AA group?
"""
Shorthand for the RIAA and the MPAA, also sometimes denoted as **AA.
On the post: Artist Barred From Selling His Own Artwork For Daring To Promote University Of Alabama Football Feats
But the biggest issue is why this is even an issue at all.
"""
Mike, I'm surprised. You of all people should know that when the question begins with "why" the answer is almost always "money". You've wrote about this very phenomena, and it *is* quite fascinating. Even if party A would never have done the work itself, that party will fight tooth and nail to prevent party B from somehow profiting off party A's "fame", whatsoever that fame might encompass. They just don't recognize intangible benefits like good will. "Look at that, that jerk is makin' a buck offa me!"
On the post: DRM To The Disaster Again... May Prevent 3D Showing Of Avatar In Some Theaters
Re: Re: Re:
On the other hand, it got me to watch "The Hangover" and will get me to go to the theatre for Sherlock Holmes....
"""
Ugh, dude, don't do it, you'll hate yourself in the morning.
On the post: DRM To The Disaster Again... May Prevent 3D Showing Of Avatar In Some Theaters
Re: Re: Re: Re: Needs more
On the post: Sony Ebook Boss: DRM Needs To Stay And Ebooks Should Cost More Than $10
Re: Re:
On the post: Judges May Reconsider Handing All Bratz Dolls Over To Mattel
Re: Re:
On the post: Jurors Cause Trouble By Friending Each Other On Facebook, Using Wikipedia For Research
Re:
It seems to me that Mike is pointing out a simple fact: The reality of this situation is that now there are extremely fast and easy tools for people to communicate and research, and people *are* going to do it. No amount of admonition is going to change that, and I'll go a step farther and say that it would probably take some pretty draconian (yay 100 points!) threats of punishment to reduce it! Solitary confinement is truly the only way to keep people from talking and doing their own research.
It's kind of like yelling at the river to stop, yell all you want, but it's not going to stop.
By the way, an adequate definition of "stupid and dense" might be "someone who rails against reality". That's you, AC.
On the post: Blu-Ray's Managed Copy Appears To Be Another Hollywood Disaster In The Making
Re: Re: Re: oh you mean like
Mate, it is a well known fact that Mike is biased towards the consumer. If you want balanced news, you may want to start reading foxnews.com.
"""
The mind boggles. Tell me, in your universe, does the sun set in the east? Do people brush their teeth with cow patties?
Anyway, I prefer my universe, where being biased towards consumers is not a bad thing, and foxnews.com is about as un-balanced as a site can be without actually falling of the intarwebs.
On the post: No, Shareholders Don't Get To Sue Heartland Just Because It Leaked More Data Than Anyone Else
I disagree...
On the post: Piracy Destroying Hollywood Right To Yet Another Record Year At The Box Office... In A Recession
Re:
We must assume that there is a finite "pool" of money. Further, there is a finite amount of money from that pool that people are willing to spend on movies. Thus, if you spread this pool (which is larger this year than ever) across every release (to get your average, which is really a fallacy), then yes, the average release might have made less money. However, as I noted, this is a logical fallacy, there really isn't any such thing as an "average release". As for costs not dropping, give me a break, who cares? It's been pointed out OVER and OVER that high production cost does not equal a good movie (read "movie that people want to watch and spend lots of money on").
The total industry is growing, they have absolutely nothing to complain about.
On the post: Dilbert Explains Why Just Copying Others Is A Dumb Business Model
Re: Re:
On the post: Schmidt's 'Don't Do Stuff You Want To Keep Private' Sounds Like 'If You Aren't Doing Anything Wrong...'
Re: Re: Re: Re:
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