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Movies

A Subscription-Based Movie Theater 308

When the local movie theater in Oakhurst, California went out of business, residents were stuck without a way to watch films on the big screen without driving for at least an hour beforehand. Now, three men are trying to resurrect the theater with one major change: instead of relying solely on ticket sales, their business model revolves around subscriptions. From the article: 'They ran models of Nelson's subscription-based theater idea, showing that to break even they would need 3,000 people, or 15% of the mountain communities, to sign up. For $19.95 per month, a member would be able to see each movie one time and buy individual tickets for friends. Non-members could buy a $16 day pass. While researching the theater business, Nelson learned that studios are transitioning to digital distribution. Thousands of independent theaters that couldn't afford equipment upgrades have closed over the last 10 years, according to industry experts. Hundreds of others — which, like the Met, still show print films — remain on the brink. The subscription business model could pay for the new equipment.'

Comment SISS (Stay In and Stay Sober) (Score 1) 256

After 7 PM, I am in the house for the night.

With approximately 30 percent of drivers later on New Years Eve driving DUI; it's not a good night to be out on a bicycle, which is my mode of transportation.

Besides, SISS is cheap and I have nothing to regret when I get up in the morning of January First.

So, right now, I am working on refurbishing one of my pieces of lighted jewelry to wear at a party in mid-January.

Google

Intel's Rumored TV Plans Would Compete With Apple, Google 82

Nerval's Lobster writes "Google tried to extend its influence to televisions, an effort that largely crashed and burned. Apple executives call Apple TV a 'hobby,' although it's been long-rumored that their company has a television set in the works. And Microsoft's made a muscular attempt to conquer the living room with the Xbox, which now does a lot more than just video games. If current rumors prove correct, you can soon add Intel to that list of IT giants with an eye on televisions. According to TechCrunch and SlashGear, the chip manufacturer is prepping to unveil a first-generation television system of some sort at next month's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. TechCrunch suggests that Intel will debut the system on a city-by-city basis, similar to what Google's doing with Google Fiber, in order to maintain 'more flexibility in negotiating licensing with reluctant content providers.' (The publication's information comes from the ever-popular unnamed sources.) In essence, Intel is proposing a set-top box paired with a subscription service, which would provide a mixture of traditional programming alongside streaming content."
Privacy

Instagram: We Won't Sell Your Photos 234

hugheseyau writes "Earlier, we discussed news that Instagram introduced a new version of their Privacy Policy and Terms of Service that will take effect in thirty days. The changes seemed to allow Instagram to sell users' photos, and many users were upset. Instagram now says 'it is not our intention to sell your photos' and that 'users own their content and Instagram does not claim any ownership rights over your photos.' This is good news for Instagram users." And so closes another chapter of "We Let Lawyers Write a Legal Document and The Internet Freaked Out."

Comment Re:I remember when... (Score 3, Insightful) 142

I can put in my two cents for the rising cost of programs.

Once upon a time, a film crew took over a neighbour's house (with their permission, of course) to film a TV program.

I could watch the activity out of my bedroom window.

This took several days' time to file just on half hour program.

There were, of course the large number of trucks parked at the scene. Food trucks. Dressing room trucks. Lighting trucks (at least four or five of these and some of them were these giant semis). Even shower trucks. And *many* people.

What **ASTOUNDED** me was the sheer number of people who looked like they were standing around doing nothing.

I went downstairs and outside and started asking questions to other neighbours who were watching what was going on. She said that this is usual. Union rules require that each person have a very specific job. An electrician can only connect/disconnect lights. They cannot move anything.

She also said that it take an average of two or three hours to film just a few seconds of what you see on screen.

And *all* of the people I saw were paid union wages. Those wages bump up to 2x for each minute over 8 hours per day.

Folks. That experience taught me that TV shows are not cheap by any means!

Comment Re:My biggest fear (Score 1) 170

All I remember from my childhood days when our family went to the traveling show when it came to town is to get the heck out of the park when someone yells "Hay Rube!!"

That's the traditional carnie trouble call. It could mean anything from a ride about to break apart to a carnie being busted by the local fuzz for being drunk.

Just get out of there, run home, and pray.

Comment This is a cinch for a perl/python programmer (Score 1) 1218

Why can't ACT have one big massive pool of questions in its database. For each question, there would be a bit flag field as part of it's entry in the database.

One flag would be christian friendly, another flag would be christian naughty, another would be muslim friendly, another could be muslim nauthty, and so forth.

A mysql or postgress database, along withe some perl/python scripts should be all you need to whip out tests for each of the fifty states. In fact, you can have a state table in the database; one row for each of the 50 states and territories. The scripts can then match the flags for each state with the flags for each of the test questions.

I could probably whip up something in less than a day.

Comment Irony (Score 2) 333

Folks:

I unplugged 32 years ago.

However, after watching a crew do the filming of a tv show here in Portland a while ago, I was shocked at how many people and how long to took to film tv shows. It takes several hours or even days to film what would be about a minute on tv.

Those people are all paid union wages

Those people are paid by advertisers and subscribers.

So, I can foresee one of two things happening if enough pull the plug like I did.

Either we will see worse shows (skimping on the costs of filming) or more commercials to make up the lose of subscriber revenue.

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