RSS FeedDo Music Genres Exist?
I've had a few people now tell me that indie rock doesn't exist. And that alternative rock doesn't exist. And that music genres don't exist, and that you can't label art. This is bullshit.
Photoshop Vs GIMPshop
I've been using photoshop for a few years now, and I really love it. I find it easy to use, and it's the defacto web design software available. But some years ago I heard about the Gimp, which is a completely free, open source graphic design package which, while it doesn't claim to be a photoshop clone, a cheap replacement for everyone's favorite photo editing software is what it's most often used for, and what I use it for whenever I decide I'd like to try something a little more on the OSS side.
Well, there are a number of differences between PS and Gimp, mostly in it's presentation within Windows. GIMPshop, a derivative of Gimp, sets to change that. Does it succeed? Find out my thoughts below.
Well, there are a number of differences between PS and Gimp, mostly in it's presentation within Windows. GIMPshop, a derivative of Gimp, sets to change that. Does it succeed? Find out my thoughts below.
Wild Hogs: A Short Review
#Wild Hogs, #Movie Review, #Reviews, #Opinions, #Lame, #Unfunny, #Tim Allen, #William H. Macy, #John Travolta, #Martin Lawrence
Wild Hogs is, for some reason, the comedy hit of the summer - well, a third place hit, but top ten none-the-less. But I can tell you from first hand experience in a video store that it's a HIGHLY anticipated movie - I've had people asking for a release date for months now, and have heard many customers say they won't be renting Wild Hogs come this Tuesday - they'll be buying. And I simply couldn't get why until tonight when I sat down to watch it.
[review continued after break]
[review continued after break]
Why Rent Movies?
I don't normally write opinion pieces or personal articles because I feel it's unprofessional. Of course nobody reads the articles here anyway, so I thought I might write something up on the long-baffling subject of why people rent movies.
I work in a video store; a major chain. I have worked there most of my adult life, which is nearly 4 years. And in this short amount of time, I've found that people, for some odd reason, just do not understand movies, or anything surrounding the subject, including their worth.
People often ask me what a good movie would be to rent; please don't. Don't ask and don't rent. It's not worth it. The cost of renting a movie is nearly five dollars where I live, and I know this is by far not a rich town. But people put up with this. They complain and whine and sometimes get really mad, but they still rent movies.
Of course Netflix has made this a much better situation, and Blockbuster Total Access is even better since you can switch the movies in the store. The averages per movie for plans such as these are less than a dollar usually, which is really great if you like watching movies. And yet people still drop five dollar bill after five dollar bill at rental stores.
I find that buying movies is a much more cost effective approach to the whole situation. Best Buy, Target, and Circuit City are always having sales on DVD's, and sometimes mere weeks after a release the movie will be less then ten dollars. To own. The cost of renting two movies to buy one. And often times, buying can be as cheap as renting.
I've told people this. I've told them to check out Amazon or Deepdiscount for a particular movie. But people still rent.
I can see the logic to it: it's been ingrained into people's minds that a DVD is upwards of $20 to buy, and with the over-used (yet often wrong) phrase of "you get what you pay for", people tend to think buying cheap DVD's is a risky business. And so, in light of this, I can see why $5 seems a good deal, especially since you aren't sure you'll like the movie enough to own it. Also, newer releases ARE often $15-$20, so I can see where impulsive people might want it "right now", and so a rental sounds appealing. And, let's face it, movie nights are wonderful things, and the idea of picking up a special one time movie makes it much more exciting. Getting the movie, the snacks, the food, the drinks - and then the immediate payoff of watching it with friends - sounds great. I suppose in these instance one could say the extra money spent is for the experience, and in these rare cases, it makes a little sense. But these are not the renters I'm talking about.
I'm talking repeat offenders here. People that will rent movie after movie after movie. People that rent at least five movies a week. It sickens me, to be honest.
Some people will buy an in store promo offer, something that lessens the cost overall, but usually not by much. But I suppose people just don't know the value of a dollar; maybe my town is richer than I thought? Maybe I am just too much of a penny pincher? Maybe the un-bathed, loud, obnoxious and uncouth members of this small town aren't really blowing another welfare check on rentals; maybe they're high payed lawyers and doctors? Maybe.
Point being, if you want movies, rent online or not at all.
I work in a video store; a major chain. I have worked there most of my adult life, which is nearly 4 years. And in this short amount of time, I've found that people, for some odd reason, just do not understand movies, or anything surrounding the subject, including their worth.
People often ask me what a good movie would be to rent; please don't. Don't ask and don't rent. It's not worth it. The cost of renting a movie is nearly five dollars where I live, and I know this is by far not a rich town. But people put up with this. They complain and whine and sometimes get really mad, but they still rent movies.
Of course Netflix has made this a much better situation, and Blockbuster Total Access is even better since you can switch the movies in the store. The averages per movie for plans such as these are less than a dollar usually, which is really great if you like watching movies. And yet people still drop five dollar bill after five dollar bill at rental stores.
I find that buying movies is a much more cost effective approach to the whole situation. Best Buy, Target, and Circuit City are always having sales on DVD's, and sometimes mere weeks after a release the movie will be less then ten dollars. To own. The cost of renting two movies to buy one. And often times, buying can be as cheap as renting.
I've told people this. I've told them to check out Amazon or Deepdiscount for a particular movie. But people still rent.
I can see the logic to it: it's been ingrained into people's minds that a DVD is upwards of $20 to buy, and with the over-used (yet often wrong) phrase of "you get what you pay for", people tend to think buying cheap DVD's is a risky business. And so, in light of this, I can see why $5 seems a good deal, especially since you aren't sure you'll like the movie enough to own it. Also, newer releases ARE often $15-$20, so I can see where impulsive people might want it "right now", and so a rental sounds appealing. And, let's face it, movie nights are wonderful things, and the idea of picking up a special one time movie makes it much more exciting. Getting the movie, the snacks, the food, the drinks - and then the immediate payoff of watching it with friends - sounds great. I suppose in these instance one could say the extra money spent is for the experience, and in these rare cases, it makes a little sense. But these are not the renters I'm talking about.
I'm talking repeat offenders here. People that will rent movie after movie after movie. People that rent at least five movies a week. It sickens me, to be honest.
Some people will buy an in store promo offer, something that lessens the cost overall, but usually not by much. But I suppose people just don't know the value of a dollar; maybe my town is richer than I thought? Maybe I am just too much of a penny pincher? Maybe the un-bathed, loud, obnoxious and uncouth members of this small town aren't really blowing another welfare check on rentals; maybe they're high payed lawyers and doctors? Maybe.
Point being, if you want movies, rent online or not at all.