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Phantom Menace Pre-Orders Available

Geckoman writes "Amazon.com has The Phantom Menace available for presales in both widescreen and pan-and-scan. If you're boycotting Amazon, then you can also find it at Reel.com among other places."

206 comments

  1. Amazon by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'm sorry, must've missed something. Instead of saying "Amazon sucks", why don't you tell me WHY I shouldn't buy from them?? Can someone please explain this 'boycott' of Amazon? Thanks ;-)

    1. Re:Amazon by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, you see, Amazon.com is an evil company that does not turn a profit, and never will, but has a very high stock valuation. That's why we hate Red Hat. What was your question?

    2. Re:Amazon by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Who cares? I just spent over $100 at Amazon today. Get a life.

    3. Re:Amazon by David+Price · · Score: 3
      Amazon has received a patent for "one-click ordering," which is essentially the process by which they associate an identification cookie on the customer's machine with the customer's billing and shipping information, allowing the customer to only fill out this information once.

      The idea is obvious, the implementation straightforward but time-consuming (Amazon will eagerly tell you that they have "thousands of hours" of work tied up in one-click, which is technically true - it takes thousands of hours of work to implement this obvious feature.)

      Having obtained this rather dubious patent for such an obvious e-commerce service, they have turned around and sued Barnes and Noble, coincidentally their biggest competitor, for infringing upon it. If they succeed, they set a dangerously low standard for what is patentable in the world of e-commerce, and will permit the digital amalgams of basic physical customer service to be monopolized via the patent system. (When you think about it, this is electronically equivalent to your corner bookseller recognizing who you are and billing your charge account. It's a business practice that's been around for hundreds of years, but when you do it with a computer, you can get a patent.)

      The FSF has a page on the boycott.

  2. boycott amazon? Why not boycott VHS instead? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I refuse to purchase films and videos that will definitely be unwatchable in ten years. The film industry does its utmost to preserve the original prints of films and provide sthe rest of the world with severely degraded lifespan-limited dupes. Screw that.

    1. Re:boycott amazon? Why not boycott VHS instead? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, we can't boycott VHS since classic movies like "Star Whores", "Pulp Friction", "Buttman and Robin", and "The Boner Collector" aren't out on DVD yet.

    2. Re:boycott amazon? Why not boycott VHS instead? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Eh? I thought I saw Pulp Fiction avaliable in my local video store for rental on DVD about 5 months ago...

  3. Re:SW:EP1/DVD by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    THAT was absolutely disgusting.

  4. Re:SW:EP1/DVD by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I couldn't find any way to sign up on that page. Nice picture of the sarlac pit though..

  5. Re:SW:EP1/DVD by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    i saw this picture floatin around irc about a year ago. didn't someone in #linuxwarez reg that domain?

  6. "The Good Bits" version? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It'd be nice if Lucas would release a version of TPM with just the good parts from the movie.

    But I guess even he doesn't want to charge people $50 for a 3-minute video...

  7. Don't put it past him by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Remember, he's making a "special edition" with all the good ones, after the "prequels" are all out. That's how he'll get all 3 minutes!! Like in episode 3, the hot sex scene between natalie portman and Leonardo Di Caprio. Magically, Anakin will have aged 20 years while the queen will still be 17. And the scene where Jar-Jar and Obi-Wak become lovers... ah, the trials of the Jedi!

  8. Re:It keeps getting better and better! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    Yes, but Lucas is like a father to us. Look at how well he has entertained us

    That's right. With classics like "Howard the Duck". He's a regular fucking genius. Now lets all suck his dick some more, and maybe his next movie will have a plot.

  9. Re:"boycott Amazon"? WTF?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    they patented "one-click shopping" which is just a fancy way of saying they patented cookies. that == gay, so amazon == gay. see?

  10. No DVD. No sale. Are you listening LucASS? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Maybe I'll rent a copy and then pirate it (I've got a macrovision eliminator box) until I can get a DVD. Just showing my support for the cause.

    1. Re:No DVD. No sale. Are you listening LucASS? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Where do you think part of that rental fee goes?

      Duh.

    2. Re:No DVD. No sale. Are you listening LucASS? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Uhmmm, well, since you can expect it to be rented 100x per cassette (a small estimate for some video stores), you are looking at about $0.21 going to the cost of the videotapte.

      That doesn't really count, IMHO, when you compare it to the cost of the real tape, $21 - (virtually) all of which goes to anyone involved in the casette's making (this includes making the movie and manufacturing) and sale.

  11. Re:Not to mention the movie sucked... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    How about sending email to Lucas Films saying no DVD version, no buy... and if we can't watch it in Linux, then we're no buying the DVD either...

  12. too late, d00d (mitnick homepage@2600) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    (FrEE KEVIN NITMACK!)

    He's already free. Check out his updated homepage at 2600, moron.

  13. Why buy it? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'm perfectly content renting the movie until the DVD is released.

  14. Re:Moderate down. It's redundant. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yes, he could have at least finished the story this time.


    Free Jon's computers !

  15. Somebody explain Grits and Petrified? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I understand how the Natalie Portman obsession came about, but can somebody explain where "pouring hot grits down my pants" and "Petrified and in stone" came from? I seem to remember something like that from IRC...

    1. Re:Somebody explain Grits and Petrified? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The grits thing is from a Chris Farley movie, where he shouts at the top of his lungs "I HAVE A BOWL OF CHOCOLATE PUDDING IN MY UNDERPANTS!" It looks like this quote was modified a little, and the pudding was substituted for grits.

      The naked and petrified thing comes from a bizarre group of sexual deviants. There are people who REALLY get into this, no joke. There are even some usenet groups that deal with this topic.

    2. Re:Somebody explain Grits and Petrified? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It originated on segfault before write-ins were removed.

      Had the dumbfucks at segfault not removed write-ins, then /. trolling would be VERY minimal compared to now.

    3. Re:Somebody explain Grits and Petrified? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Jeez, and here I always thought they meant 'petrified' as in 'scared out of her mind'.

      Well, that's not *half* as interesting anymore...

    4. Re:Somebody explain Grits and Petrified? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I know, the statue stuff makes no sense... maybe we should start a "naked and terrified" splinter group.

    5. Re:Somebody explain Grits and Petrified? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And Don Knots as Emmanuel Goldstein guy supports the hot grits and Natalie Portman guys.

    6. Re:Somebody explain Grits and Petrified? by abischof · · Score: 1
      From IMDB, the Chris Farley quote from Black Sheep is "I'm just dandy, I got a bowl of chocolate pudding in my underpants!"

      You can hear it in wav format as well (from this page).

      Alex Bischoff
      ---

      --

      Alex Bischoff
      HTML/CSS coder for hire

    7. Re:Somebody explain Grits and Petrified? by Nodatadj · · Score: 3

      Write-in's were the best part, as it just became a competition to see what the funniest end for the question could be.
      The best I remembered was
      IMac: I'd rather have a ____ coloured one.

      And the best write in for it was "real computer than a stupid girly"

  16. moderate this one up: insightful (nt) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    see subj

  17. Forgive me. I'm a newbie.. Who is Natilie Portman? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And what is her signifigance on Slashdot? Also, naked and petrified. Same question.

  18. Re:sad reflection by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    News for nerds indeed!

    Natalie is to these fine young geeks what Leia could have been to the young geeks of the 80s if she had just taken off those damn earmuffs: mastubatory fuel.

  19. get the vanilla vhs edition for $5 from reel.com by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Buy something for $5 or more from reel.com and use the code "freedvd" when checking out. You'll get $1 off your order and then reel.com will email you a $20 gift certificate a day or two later. I got a pre-viewed copy of ANTZ for 6.99 + $5 shipping. Go back to reel.com and preorder the SWPM VHS tape ($20.99) and used the gift certificate. You'll have to pay about $5 for regular shipping.

  20. And who is this Goatse guy? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Every link they are posting now points to him. And what country is .cx? If that's the typical .cx asshole, I wonder where do they sit?

    1. Re:And who is this Goatse guy? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If you recall about a year ago, Christmas Island (.cx) was offering free domain names. It looks like someone boat the goatse domain (goatsex if you look at goatse.cx) just to be funny. I think someone from #linuxwarez did it.

    2. Re:And who is this Goatse guy? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      .cx is the country domain for the Easter islands off the South American coast. I have a friend who has one of these domains.

      A couple of years ago everyone got really excited about the Easter Island (and a few other) domains being issued; because the Easter Island people decided they would licence the domains to anyone, not just people in the Easter Islands. It's a way of bringing revenue to the islands. A place where the population is so small they have to ship in prospective mates to maintain a stable gene pool.

      So, you could register say, 'etoys.cx' just to be a pissant.

    3. Re:And who is this Goatse guy? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sorry, Christmas Island, that's what I meant.

    4. Re:And who is this Goatse guy? by Ater · · Score: 1

      one of my leet acquaintances from irc owns the site. the idea is that the domain is supposed to sound like "goat sex" when prounounced (goat se.cx). he then found some random gross out picture and posted it there to play a sick joke on people who went there. i still think its pretty funny if you ask me.

  21. Hmm... how do they petrify people? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I mean, petrifying is usually a natural process that occurs to wood. What do they do, dip people in plaster or something? I have resigned myself to no longer looking upon these grits/natalie/petrified posts with scorn, and instead laughing hysterically. There are some good ones, search and laugh! Example: Tattoo DeCSS source on Natalie Portman's buttocks!.

  22. I HAD TO HAVE THIS BOY by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0


    "I HAD TO HAVE THIS BOY!"

    The cold air stung my lungs at I glanced over at Matt.
    It was so cold his breath was frosty in the air. He
    looked at me and quickly glanced away.

    I was extremely drunk. I had just broken up with my
    long-term boyfriend earlier in the week, and had
    attended my college friends New Years Eve party. After
    seeing all the happy couples I vowed to get completely
    smashed for the entire weekend. Now here I was, being
    escorted home by a freshman 'cause my friends didn't
    want me walking home alone.

    I had been crying, because I was so drunk at the party,
    I had insisted on going home NOW and so they grabbed
    Matt and told him to walk me home because everybody
    else was either too drunk to drive or busy getting on
    somebody.

    My heart raced when our eyes had briefly met. I knew
    this boy had a crush on me, and it drove me wild. I
    had just wanted to say, "Awwwwhhhh..."

    All year, whenever he came up with a lame excuse to
    talk to me, to stand near me, whenever he had gathered
    the courage to utter a word to me. It made my stomach
    flutter when he stammered mid-sentence as he tried des-
    perately to find something to say next. It didn't hurt
    that he was "to die for cute" with his thick chestnut
    blonde hair, cut in a prince Edward style. His tanned
    smooth skin made me wonder what he'd look like naked.

    I remember the time his buddies grabbed me at lunch,
    yelling, "Hey Matt, it's your girl! It's your girl!"
    What could I do but look away, pretending I didn't hear
    as he told them to shut up, red faced. I felt bad for
    him, the way his buddies teased him. Well, maybe he
    was rather immature, even for a freshman. I couldn't
    help but remember the senior I had had a crush on when
    I was a freshman, and wondered if Matt had some of the
    same thoughts about me, especially at night, as I had
    had about that guy.

    But right then I was so drunk, I nearly tripped over
    the curb as I stepped over it. I wanted to say some-
    thing to him, but the silence was deafening. I started
    crying again, saying how I hated my ex-boyfriend and
    how my life sucked.

    "Oh, come on," Matt said. "Maybe you're better off
    without him."

    "Really?" I asked.

    "Yeah. Yeah, you deserve better."

    "Thanks. You're so nice Matt!" I exclaimed, fawning
    (my usual drunk line: "You're so nice!").

    His blue eyes, framed by long lashes, studied my face
    as we walked in the moonlight. I knew he knew I was
    drunk. I wondered what he was thinking, if he had had
    some grand plan all along to get me into bed that he
    never *quite* got a chance at, considering I had always
    had a boyfriend since we had known each other. Maybe
    some plan that he was always altering here and there,
    while he never gave up. I wondered if he was thinking
    that was now his big chance.

    I leaned against him suddenly, wrapping my arms around
    him while I sobbed into his shoulder, "Matt, you're so
    nice..."

    He awkwardly put his arm around me, whispering, "Don't
    cry Lauren," as we tried to continue walking while I
    was nearly backward, my arms still around him as I
    clung to him tightly. I continued crying as we reached
    my house.

    He stood awkwardly on my doorstep as I tried to unlock
    the door and undo the security system at the same time.
    I'm sure he didn't know what to, if he should listen
    to his common sense that was telling him I would laugh
    at him hysterically and tell him to get lost if he
    asked to come in, or whether to go with his primal
    urges and stay around. I wondered if he could ignore
    the bulge I had felt in his pants as I had clung to
    him, my body pressing against his. I wondered if I
    could ignore it.

    The door swung open, into the pitch black house.

    "Come in with me," I pleaded, grabbing his hands as my
    eyes tried to focus. "Until I get the lights on," my
    voice croaked.

    "Okay," he whispered, staring at my hand as I grabbed
    his clumsily and pulled him in. The door closed behind
    us and we were emerged in darkness.

    I pulled him toward my bedroom. I could hear his rapid
    breathing over the soft sounds of his tennis shoes on
    the hall carpet. Thank God, roommates were out of town
    for the holidays.

    He reached in to my room and turned on the light.

    He glanced around my room, taking in everything
    instantly: from the box on my floor filled with picture
    frames and miscellaneous junk left over from my rela-
    tionship with Ryan, to my stuffed animals on the shelf,
    and finally to my double bed with the soft pillows and
    down comforter. His eyes stopped dead at the bed, and
    he swallowed. I wondered if he'd fantasized about my
    bed before, me sleeping in it, himself being in it,
    maybe about making love to me under its covers.

    I walked past him into the room and switched on the bed
    side lamp. I sat on the bed and put my head in my
    hands. God, I was drunk.

    I don't know how long I sat like that as Matt stared at
    me, but finally I heard his low voice stammer, "Um, um,
    do you want me to leave?"

    My eyes refused to focus as I looked at him standing in
    the doorway.

    "Wait, comere..." I said to him. He walked over to me
    slowly, swallowing. I pulled him by the hand down to
    the bed next to me. He was so nervous. He rubbed his
    palms on his thighs -- was he sweating?

    "Are you gonna go back to Dana's?" (Dana was my best
    friend whose house the party at been at; Matt was
    friends with her little brother Mike, which was how he
    got to a senior party in the first place).

    "I dunno," he said. I might just walk home, it's not
    that far."

    "But it's so cold!" I exclaimed, looking at him like he
    was the bravest man in the world.

    "Oh," he said shyly, smiling down at his hands, which
    were in his lap, conveniently hiding his bulge from me.

    I stood up, and he immediately stood too. I walked
    around to the end of my bed, where I paused, not
    remembering what I was looking for or where I had been
    going. Instinctively, he followed me and stood next
    to me as I began laughing drunkenly, incoherently ex-
    claiming about how funny it was that I didn't know what
    I had been going to get.

    He smiled at me, still studying my face with his huge
    blue eyes. I grabbed his jacket and laughed hysterical-
    ly into his shoulder. I put my arms around him and
    snuggled to him. I could feel his heart pounding in
    his chest.

    My arms still around him, I drew back and smiled at
    him. My smile faded, and his eyes grew panicky as I
    just looked at him. I rose up on my tip toes and
    kissed him gently on the mouth. He sucked in air
    rapidly; God, I thought the boy was going to hyper-
    ventilate.

    I didn't pull back though, and he began to kiss me
    back. I opened my mouth and slipped my tongue in to
    touch his. My arms wrapped tightly around his broad
    shoulders while we kept kissing. His hands slid down
    my back, bravely resting on my ass.

    My insides were quivering. I pulled away again, and
    slid my hands down his hard chest as he stared at me.

    "Matt," I whispered. "Have you ever made love to a
    woman before?"

    He gulped again, and shook his head, not looking me in
    the eye, as he hung his head. Oh, I thought, he's
    embarrassed about his virginity! My heart swelled.
    I began kissing him again, his neck and his ear while
    he breathed out in a rush.

    As we stood they in an embrace, I began slowly undres-
    sing him, unbuttoning his shirt and pulling it off
    while I kissed the soft tanned skin of his chest. My
    tongue licked his hard young nipple.

    We lay on the bed and kissed. Eager, and not knowing
    exactly what he was supposed to do, he practically
    tried to enter me before we were even completely un-
    dressed.

    "No, no," I gently said. "Not yet... Not that yet."

    I pushed him off me gently, and got him on his back.
    First I kissed his mouth, and his ears, and his neck.
    I licked both his nipples, watching them swell up hard
    at my touch.

    Finally I laid my head down on his muscular chest as
    it heaved up and down rapidly. Then I pulled my self
    up into a kneeling position next to him on the bed
    and leaned over him, he stared up at me, touching my
    face softly, and I returned his stare.

    I was excited, more excited than I think I had ever
    been before with my x-boyfriend, I was amazed at the
    soft velvety feel of his skin as my fingers lightly
    ran over his ribs, and I kissed each one.

    Slowly moving south, teasing, I stuck my tongue in his
    belly button and he groaned, knowing I'm sure the
    direction I was headed in, and what I was after. I
    kissed the baby fine hairs below his navel. They ran
    in a streak down into his jeans. My lips traveled all
    over his stomach, and his hips. I finished unbuttoning
    his jeans, and he lifted up so I could pull them off.

    His hard cock stuck out of the hole in his underwear.
    Odd thought, I wondered if his mother folded her son's
    underwear. I wondered what she would think if she
    could see him now...

    I crawled between his marvelous thighs. He was posi-
    tively shaking, his hands fumbling about on the bed by
    his sides. He is inexperienced, I thought. I crawled
    back up, supporting myself above him, and kissed him
    again.

    "It's okay," I whispered as I looked into his eyes.
    "Yeah?"

    He nodded.

    I touched his face lightly, and smiled at him in the
    dim light. I smoothed his hair back on his forehead
    while he swallowed. I kissed him again. He touched
    my hair too, and nodded again, reassuring me. I went
    back down to nice looking boytoy.

    His underwear off completely, I began teasing him as
    his breathing became even more coarse and rapid. I
    began licking his thighs, and then kissing his pubic
    hair as his cock rubbed in my long hair.

    He stared down at me, his eyes glassy. I kept massag-
    ing his thighs and running my tongue through his pubic
    hair. He groaned. I knew I was driving him crazy. I
    looked up at him; our eyes locked.

    "Please," he whispered hoarsely, begging me for more.

    I continued kissing his thighs, then moved my head up
    and let my tongue slightly touch his warm balls. He
    gasped, his hips jerking up, as I swallowed one of
    his balls. He moaned, "Oh my God..."

    Encouraged by the shiver that ran through his nicely
    muscled young body, I slid my tongue up the length of
    his long hard dick. I swirled my tongue around, and
    slid it back down to his heavy balls. I again gently
    took one into my mouth and sucked it a little. I
    tongued the underside of his cock-head, and he groaned.
    I licked it up and down. All the while he was whimper-
    ing like a baby, squirming around on the bed.

    I finally took the swollen head into my mouth and suck-
    ed it, hard. He cried out. I rubbed his shaft with my
    hands while his hands gripped my head, his fingers run-
    ning through my hair. I took the whole thing into my
    mouth and began pumping, sucking his dick rapidly.

    His hips began slowly rocking, bucking to meet my mouth
    instinctively. I glanced up at him without letting go
    of my prize.

    His head was thrown back on the pillow, his eyes closed
    and his mouth open. His hip thrusts became faster,
    sticking his cock into my throat and nearly gagging me
    while he gripped my head. My God, I thought, he's fuck-
    ing my mouth. His whimpering became louder and he
    started to yell while I sucked faster, wondering if he
    could last much longer.

    "God, God, YES!" he yelled, as his whole body
    stiffened. His sperm exploded into my mouth and down
    my throat. His hips were lifted off the bed completely
    as he tried desperately to get as deep as he could.
    He came so much I couldn't handle it all and it seeped
    out of the corners of my mouth.

    "Yeah, baby, yeah!" he grunted. With one final,
    "Unngghh!" he collapsed on the bed and tried to catch
    his breath. I looked up at him from between his sweaty
    thighs and saw his facial expression.

    Oh God, I thought, he looks like an angel that just
    reached heaven.

    I made him jump when I licked the rest of his cum off
    of his dick. I crawled up to him and laid next to him,
    putting my head on his chest and hugged him while he
    stroked my hair. I kissed his pecs and rubbed his
    shoulders. I held him to me for awhile, then I lay on
    my back and looked up at the ceiling. I wondered what
    he would do.

    He looked over at me first, then leaned over and kissed
    me. He began kissing my neck and fondling my breasts.
    He was too rough at first, squeezing my nipples and
    kneading my tits, pinching them, fascinated with the
    new toys I had presented him with.

    I gasped in pain and he looked pleased, probably think-
    ing I was in pleasure. The darling boy was so eager to
    please. I pushed his hands away and he looked at me,
    questioningly.

    "No, you're being too rough," I said. I looked down at
    myself. "Don't you think I have pretty breasts?"

    "Yeah..." he said.

    "Don't you want to kiss them?" I asked.

    Matt jumped into action without another word. He start-
    ed by gently tonguing my nipples and kissing my chest
    all over, then began sucking on them. His hand explored
    my cunt, and he inserted a couple of fingers in, ex-
    claiming how wet I was. I gasped aloud and moaned when
    his tough fingers found my clitoris, and he quickly
    looked up in surprise.

    "Do you like that?" he asked in delight.

    "Oh Matt, yes," I moaned.

    "Here?" he asked, curious, rubbing my clit.

    "Yeah, right there oh God don't stop!"

    Happy where he was, he continued sucking my breasts and
    finger fucking me while his thumb rolled over my clit.
    Spreading my legs apart, I gently pushed him lower. I
    lifted one knee up.

    He stared at me, maybe nervous about being inexperi-
    enced. But he set his mind to go for it. His hard cock
    stuck out like a pole from his belly as he repositioned
    himself between my legs.

    I gasped in pleasure as his wet mouth attached itself
    to my quivering cunt. His tongue slipped in to my
    vagina and explored my insides. Armed with his new
    information, he didn't neglect my clitoris, but instead
    worshipped it with his tongue and lips. I kept encour-
    aging him with groans and yelps and words.

    "Oh Matt, honey!" I groaned. "God, Matty, don't stop!
    Don't stop!" It's not like I was in any danger of him
    going anywhere; he was glued between my open thighs,
    happily eating his first pussy.

    He kept sucking and licking me and pretty soon the room
    began to spin. "Ohhh, I'm cumming I'm cumming!" I
    shrieked while every nerve in my body danced. I shook
    all over and grabbed his head and pushed his face into
    me.

    He looked a little alarmed, but extremely pleased with
    himself, which drove me crazy like nothing before ever
    had.

    My heart rate, pounding in my ears, slowed as my orgasm
    subsided. He continued eating me, making me horny
    again. Besides, I'm insatiable when I'm drunk.

    I noticed he was absentmindedly stroking his virgin
    cock while his tongue plunged into my cunt. I motioned
    for him to move up. He scrambled up next to me and
    began kissing me. I spread my legs apart and wondered
    if he'd get the implied invitation.

    He was on top of me in a flash, after all, *this* is
    what he had been waiting for for eighteen years. *This*
    is what he thought of constantly, what every other guy
    told him about constantly. Heaven awaited him between
    my spread thighs. I didn't mind, he'd earned it.

    With one arm supporting him, the other gripped the head
    of his purple cock which he aimed at my dripping box.
    He searched for the entrance, then eased in the head.
    Then he shoved the entire length in while we both gas-
    ped in pleasure. He lay on top of me, and thrust his
    dick in deeper, banging against my cervix while I cried
    out in pain.

    My sweaty thighs gripping his hips, he pumped a few
    times more, but he was too excited, and began to cum.
    In his innocence and extreme excitement he pulled out
    completely and got off center.

    "Oh God I'm cumming," he gasped into my ear.

    "Cum, Matt, cum!" I whispered back.

    His hands supporting him while I cradled his head on my
    shoulders, completely withdrawn out of me, he desper-
    ately began humping my thighs and pubic mound. He
    frantically tried to get it back into me but failed and
    began shooting his hot cum all over my thighs and
    sheets. His voice wavered as he let out a cry.

    Momentarily spent he collapsed onto me. I held him in
    my arms and began kissing him. He pulled away, and
    didn't look me in the eye as he whispered, "I'm sorry,"
    and looked down between us at the mess. "I know, I
    came too soon," he said sadly, "I'm sorry..."

    My stomach leapt to my throat as I thought of how sen-
    sitive he was being of me and my needs, how desperate
    to please me he was. The thought of him being upset by
    his perceived lack of a "good" performance made me want
    to kiss him. I grabbed his face and made him look at
    me.

    "No, don't be sorry," I said. "It was wonderful; I
    loved it." It was the truth.

    He gave me a shy smile and looked again at the sticky
    mess that we were encased in. He rolled off me and lay
    on his back staring at the ceiling, still smiling em-
    barassedly. I told him not to worry about it and
    grabbed some Kleenex and cleaned us off.

    "See?" I said. "All gone!"

    I snuggled up close to him underneath the covers. We
    kissed and rubbed each other and giggled. We lay on
    our sides facing each other, our fronts pressing to-
    gether hugging.

    His dick soon stiffened again, poking against my belly.
    He grinned at me, and rolled onto his back, pulling me
    on top of him. I spread my legs and guided it in. I lay
    on him at first, my breasts pinned against his chest,
    and fucked him hard. Then I sat up and rode him while
    he lay back with a huge smile on his face, fondling my
    tits. I couldn't believe how much pleasure I was
    experiencing with this boy.

    After a moment of playing cowgirl, I decided to experi-
    ment a little and crawled off of him and lay on my side
    with my back to his chest. I pulled his glistening
    young dick between my legs. Our hands met down there
    as both of us together put his wonderful dick into my
    cunt.

    He began thrusting into me rapidly from behind, grunt-
    ing his approval. I led one of his hands to my clit
    which he played with, While the other roamed all over
    the front of my body. It was heavenly! After a moment
    he shyly whispered "Could we do it doggy style?"

    "Oh, doggy style, huh?" I laughed, at his initiative.
    "You like doggy style!"

    "Hell yeah," he grunted at me. I banged him backwards,
    meeting each of his thrusts and drowning in pleasure.
    He massaged my ass, gripping my hips and then reaching
    down with one hand for my clit, his new best friend.

    I shrieked in pleasure from his fingers manipulating
    my clit like that. He was a quick learner, that's for
    certain. He leaned over me, his chest pressed into my
    back while his arms supported him next to mine. His
    large hands covered my small ones on the bed, while he
    kept thrusting his slippery dick into me, breathing
    and groaning in my ear.

    I groaned back, and kept encouraging him with words
    and noises.

    Then not wanting to miss any of the good positions I
    sat up suddenly, knocking him back into a sitting
    position on his knees.

    "Sit, sit," I told him. We kept it in somehow and I
    sat on him like that, my ass grinding into his groin
    while my thighs straddled his.

    He clasped me to him, and held my breasts with one hand
    while the other went between my legs. I fondled his
    balls between my thighs and he played with my clit. My
    head lolled backward on his shoulder as I moaned, and I
    twisted around and we kissed.

    "I'm gonna cum again," he groaned.

    "No," I ordered playfully. "You're not allowed! Matty,
    you're not ALLOWED to come yet!"

    "Awright, but I'm gonna if you don't hold still," he
    warned.

    I stopped moving and held still. He didn't move a
    muscle, and in fact he was holding his breath. I'm
    almost started to laugh, but he was gripping my body
    so tightly I could barely breathe myself. He let his
    breath out, and said okay.

    I returned to rocking him back and forth. It was too
    much for me, his fingers pressed into my clit rubbing
    it around, plus his hard dick lodged into me, all made
    me come again.

    "Ohh, ohhhhhh! Yes!" I breathed. "I'm cumming, Matt
    you're making me cum again you fucker! OooOOOOooh...!"

    "No, you're not allowed, not allowed to at all!" he
    joked.

    My world went white, my body exploding in pleasure as
    I laughed. The combination of laughing hysterically and
    coming at the same pushed poor Matt over the edge, and
    was unbelievably incredible.

    I ground my hips into him violently, trying to milk
    every ounce of pleasure out of him that I could. He
    groaned loudly as my vagina spasmed several times,
    clenching his dick tightly. I breathed hard, spent.

    Exhausted, and teasing a little, I got off him and fell
    on my back on the bed, covering my eyes with my forearm
    and crossing my legs at the ankles.

    "That was great Matty, really great..." I murmured,
    moving my arm a little so I could see him. Matt still
    sat on the end of the bed, his swollen dick still hard
    throbbing in time to his heartbeat up in down, still
    needing me desperately.

    I removed my arm completely and, raising my knees up,
    smiled at him. "Comere!" I said, holding my arms out
    to my boy. "Comere..."

    He was in me again quickly, this time with my raised
    legs over his shoulders. We kissed passionately, our
    wet mouths open and our tongues prying in and inter-
    twining, while his hips bucked, his cock in me so deep.
    He thrust again and again.

    Soon, his breathing became even more rapid and he cried
    out as he shot jets of his sperm into me again. He
    groaned and kept thrusting faster and faster, then
    eventually slower, and slower, until finally he fell
    out and we just lay holding each other, spent.

    He kissed me. "I love you," he whispered, his eyes
    shining.

    I was much wiser than Matt, older and wiser and perhaps
    I knew a lot more about love than him. But, at that
    moment, held tightly in his arms, I loved him too,
    desperately. "I love you too..." I told him.

    Matt grinned at me and kissed me again.

    The End

  23. Re:Offtopic? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No, because her name is Natalie Portman.

    Don't spell her name wrong, mother fucker. Natalie Portman > *.

    Naked and petrified, of course.

  24. Re:Moderate down. It's redundant. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Takes up most of your screen?

    Are you in 640x480?

    jeez

  25. *This is pr0n* by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And damn disgusting pr0n at that!

    To quote Kenny: "Dude, that's the most disgusting thing I've ever fucking seen!"

  26. Re:Uh.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I don't.


    She's my girlfriend already!

  27. Oh come on! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ALL the good porn is out on DVD!

    Just those crappy "mainstream" features that aren't!

  28. Re:OPEN SOURCE (SPECIAL EDITION) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Moderation Totals:Offtopic=2, Redundant=1, Funny=5, Overrated=1, Underrated=1, Total=10

  29. Re:Lifesize Queen Amidala by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Who the fuck is Amilda?

    That gyu is a retard and a half.

    Fuck him.

    By the way, there's a real Natalie at this link

  30. I'm boycotting the whole release as it is... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I won't buy or rent it until George get's off his ass and puts it out on DVD. Don't hand me this "we going to wait and do something special for the DVD version". Doesn't that just stink of money money money? Get the people to buy the video until it that fizzels out, then about a year from now release the DVD to make even more money. Sorry, but I only want to buy it once. If it's coming out on DVD, then I'll wait.

  31. So... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...is this "news for nerds" or is it "stuff that matters"? I honestly can't tell.

  32. Re:What about the TPM VCD? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    1. go to the snitch and search for worthless movie
    2. download worthless movie with worthless hotline
    3. burn worthless movie to disc
  33. Phantom Menace! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    i am waiting to pre-order a bowl of hot grits down my pants. thank you.

  34. The petrified thing (long) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's different for every person, of course. But here are a few sites to check out:

    The Hall of Statuary

    The Medusa Realm

    Statuephiles

    Studs in Stone

    Often on the message boards at some of these sites, or on the newsgroup, or in the IRC channel, someone will ask "Why do YOU like the idea of people being turned to stone?"

    Here's what I wrote in response to someone recently wrote to such a question. It's not an essay or anything, just a free flow of thoughts, but I think it explains things pretty well.

    I would appreciate feedback on this.

    *BEGIN PREVIOUSLY-WRITTEN TEXT*

    After years of wondering, I think I've figured it out.

    But it's rather hard to explain.

    I've been meaning to try to write it out in an essay form that actually make sense, but I'll try to sketch it out here.

    For me, it's about glorification of the (female) human spirit. The spirit is a beautiful thing. It fascinates me. And as with other non-physical things, such as God, we can see it in the clearest and purest sense when we are NOT seeing evidence of it, but simply know that it's there.

    What is a person? Look at a female. She's many things. She's every emotion she's ever felt, everything she's ever done, everything she has the POTENTIAL to do and feel and accomplish. She is every facial expression she has ever made, every time she's ever cried, everything she's ever seen, everything she's ever experienced. She is what she is, what she has been, and what she has the potenial to be.

    But, look at what we have. People, who are so much more than what we see, are running around in bipedal bags of goop & blood & guts called a physical body. They're running to and fro and living hectic lives and chasing after their goals and dreams. The spirit guides the body, the spirit is reflected on the face of the body, and in the body's actions, and because of the interlink between the body and the spirit, it's hard to tell where the body ends and the spirit begins, or where the spirit ends, and the body begins. In this active state, it's hard to see someone as a complete person, a single person, a sum of all that they are. We see what she's doing now, but we don't know what she was doing yesterday, we see what sort of mood she's in, but we don't know the bredth of her mind. Being forced to interact with the world, she's not able to be her entire self. She's not able to spend all of her time just being happy of who she is, or on an even lower level, being happy JUST EXISTING.

    I consider it wrong that women have to live this way. They should be able to be who they are, all of who they are. I consider actually being alive in an animate body to be the REAL bondage, the real captivity. It's sad that women must grow old, visit Wal-mart to purchase feminine hygeine products, pay taxes, etc. (but usually not in that order). By extending themselves into the world rather than into themselves, they're robbing both themselves and the world of their full potential. They are changing too fast to truly observe the beauty of their souls as it was meant to be observed.

    Enter a way of quantifying the spirit. Quantifying isn't the word I'm looking for, because quantifying implies numbering, grading, or labeling. But I can't think of any better word no matter how hard I try. When a woman is turned to stone, she is no longer reacting to the world except within herself. Instead of DOING, she IS. She exists in a more pure form.

    So why do I like turning women to stone? Simply because inside the statue exists the entirity of the woman. Her entire spirit, her entire mind, her entire potential, her entire being, exists within a single, static container. And that's the key. We see the statue. That is the body, one expression of her being. But I know that SHE is within the statue, in a state of completeness, free to be who she wants and think what she wants. And knowing this, I can truly see the beauty of her spirit. The world is a better place because a complete person exists within it. A person who is as free as any person in this physical world can ever be.

    (And then I touch her butt.)

    Did that make any sense at all to anyone? At all? I figure I'm completely out in left field here. But if anybody could manage a "yeah, maybe that kinda makes sense," I'd really appreciate it.

    *END PREVIOUSLY WRITTEN TEXT*

    Have a great day!

  35. Re:Uh.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    cool. Could you please post some Open Source pics of her having hot barbware sex? TIA

  36. No DVD? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If you are upset about the dvd, you can always send lucas a Virtual Kick In The Nuts http://nuts.webdice.net

  37. TPM was garbage by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Calm down yourself.

    It was a crummy movie.

    I was sorry I spent my hard earned money to see it in the theatre. I sure as hell am not going to actually buy that trash so I can "see it at home, again and again and again!".

    No thanks.

    I don't feel like rewarding anyone for pushing trash out the door.

  38. Petrifying people for fun and profit. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hello, I'm the person who started the "naked and petrified" trend on Segfault, and helped it grow and mature on Slashdot. I've been nurturing its tender spirit for more than half a year now, and it's been incredibly rewarding, not just to myself, but to the millions of fans. I'm glad also that so many other people have taken it up and copycatted it. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

    Anyway, I've never petrified anyone in real life. I know, like any sensible person, that it's not possible in real life. But it's possible in Greek mythology, and in Hollywood movies, and in science fiction! And most importantly of all, in our fantasies! And that's what really matters. I know I'll never actually have a cute little petrified girl to call my own, and that makes me sad, so sad that I've actually been tempted several times to settle for a non-petrified girl, but I've resisted that temptation.

    I also wrote the "Tatoo the DeCSS Source on Natalie Portman's Ass" thing, by the way. I'm glad you enjoyed it! It's fan like you that motivate me to continue!

    Anyway, if you want to know where it comes from for me, here's an explanation.

    ****

    It's different for every person, of course. But here are a few sites to check out:

    The Hall of Statuary

    The Medusa Realm

    Statuephiles

    Studs in Stone

    Often on the message boards at some of these sites, or on the newsgroup, or in the IRC channel, someone will ask "Why do YOU like the idea of people being turned to stone?"

    Here's what I wrote in response to someone recently wrote to such a question. It's not an essay or anything, just a free flow of thoughts, but I think it explains things pretty well.

    I would appreciate feedback on this.

    *BEGIN PREVIOUSLY-WRITTEN TEXT*

    After years of wondering, I think I've figured it out.

    But it's rather hard to explain.

    I've been meaning to try to write it out in an essay form that actually make sense, but I'll try to sketch it out here.

    For me, it's about glorification of the (female) human spirit. The spirit is a beautiful thing. It fascinates me. And as with other non-physical things, such as God, we can see it in the clearest and purest sense when we are NOT seeing evidence of it, but simply know that it's there.

    What is a person? Look at a female. She's many things. She's every emotion she's ever felt, everything she's ever done, everything she has the POTENTIAL to do and feel and accomplish. She is every facial expression she has ever made, every time she's ever cried, everything she's ever seen, everything she's ever experienced. She is what she is, what she has been, and what she has the potenial to be.

    But, look at what we have. People, who are so much more than what we see, are running around in bipedal bags of goop & blood & guts called a physical body. They're running to and fro and living hectic lives and chasing after their goals and dreams. The spirit guides the body, the spirit is reflected on the face of the body, and in the body's actions, and because of the interlink between the body and the spirit, it's hard to tell where the body ends and the spirit begins, or where the spirit ends, and the body begins. In this active state, it's hard to see someone as a complete person, a single person, a sum of all that they are. We see what she's doing now, but we don't know what she was doing yesterday, we see what sort of mood she's in, but we don't know the bredth of her mind. Being forced to interact with the world, she's not able to be her entire self. She's not able to spend all of her time just being happy of who she is, or on an even lower level, being happy JUST EXISTING.

    I consider it wrong that women have to live this way. They should be able to be who they are, all of who they are. I consider actually being alive in an animate body to be the REAL bondage, the real captivity. It's sad that women must grow old, visit Wal-mart to purchase feminine hygeine products, pay taxes, etc. (but usually not in that order). By extending themselves into the world rather than into themselves, they're robbing both themselves and the world of their full potential. They are changing too fast to truly observe the beauty of their souls as it was meant to be observed.

    Enter a way of quantifying the spirit. Quantifying isn't the word I'm looking for, because quantifying implies numbering, grading, or labeling. But I can't think of any better word no matter how hard I try. When a woman is turned to stone, she is no longer reacting to the world except within herself. Instead of DOING, she IS. She exists in a more pure form.

    So why do I like turning women to stone? Simply because inside the statue exists the entirity of the woman. Her entire spirit, her entire mind, her entire potential, her entire being, exists within a single, static container. And that's the key. We see the statue. That is the body, one expression of her being. But I know that SHE is within the statue, in a state of completeness, free to be who she wants and think what she wants. And knowing this, I can truly see the beauty of her spirit. The world is a better place because a complete person exists within it. A person who is as free as any person in this physical world can ever be.

    (And then I touch her butt.)

    Did that make any sense at all to anyone? At all? I figure I'm completely out in left field here. But if anybody could manage a "yeah, maybe that kinda makes sense," I'd really appreciate it.

    *END PREVIOUSLY WRITTEN TEXT*

    Have a great day!

    1. Re:Petrifying people for fun and profit. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think I understand what you're saying. You believe that a woman existing in time is unable to be appreciated because you can not see her completely. Thus by petrifying her you relieve her from the pressures of time and allow her to be happy.

      I believe that this what will happen when we get to heaven. That we will be existing outside of time and that we will be able to appreciate others for who they are throughout eternity completely. In a world without time we will be able to truly appreciate those around us.

    2. Re:Petrifying people for fun and profit. by Nastard · · Score: 1

      im on a rocky horror picture show cast. i play dr scott. i get naked and petrified every saturday night

  39. Naked and petrified explanation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why do I have to keep repeating myself?


    It's different for every person, of course. But here are a few sites to check out:


    The Hall of Statuary


    The Medusa Realm


    Statuephiles


    Studs in Stone


    Often on the message boards at some of these sites, or on the newsgroup, or in the IRC channel, someone will ask "Why do YOU like the idea of people being turned to stone?"


    Here's what I wrote in response to someone recently wrote to such a question. It's not an essay or anything, just a free flow of thoughts, but I think it explains things pretty well.


    I would appreciate feedback on this.


    *BEGIN PREVIOUSLY-WRITTEN TEXT*


    After years of wondering, I think I've figured it out.


    But it's rather hard to explain.


    I've been meaning to try to write it out in an essay form that actually
    make sense, but I'll try to sketch it out here.


    For me, it's about glorification of the (female) human spirit. The spirit
    is a beautiful thing. It fascinates me. And as with other non-physical
    things, such as God, we can see it in the clearest and purest sense when
    we are NOT seeing evidence of it, but simply know that it's there.


    What is a person? Look at a female. She's many things. She's every emotion
    she's ever felt, everything she's ever done, everything she has the
    POTENTIAL to do and feel and accomplish. She is every facial expression
    she has ever made, every time she's ever cried, everything she's ever
    seen, everything she's ever experienced. She is what she is, what she has
    been, and what she has the potenial to be.


    But, look at what we have. People, who are so much more than what we
    see, are running around in bipedal bags of goop & blood & guts called
    a physical body. They're running to and fro and living hectic lives and
    chasing after their goals and dreams. The spirit guides the body, the
    spirit is reflected on the face of the body, and in the body's actions,
    and because of the interlink between the body and the spirit, it's
    hard to tell where the body ends and the spirit begins, or where the
    spirit ends, and the body begins. In this active state, it's hard to
    see someone as a complete person, a single person, a sum of all that they
    are. We see what she's doing now, but we don't know what she was doing
    yesterday, we see what sort of mood she's in, but we don't know the
    bredth of her mind. Being forced to interact with the world, she's not
    able to be her entire self. She's not able to spend all of her time
    just being happy of who she is, or on an even lower level, being happy
    JUST EXISTING.


    I consider it wrong that women have to live this way. They should be
    able to be who they are, all of who they are. I consider actually
    being alive in an animate body to be the REAL bondage, the real captivity.
    It's sad that women must grow old, visit Wal-mart to purchase
    feminine hygeine products, pay taxes, etc. (but usually not in that
    order). By extending themselves into the world rather than into
    themselves, they're robbing both themselves and the world of their full
    potential. They are changing too fast to truly observe the beauty of
    their souls as it was meant to be observed.


    Enter a way of quantifying the spirit. Quantifying isn't the word I'm
    looking for, because quantifying implies numbering, grading, or
    labeling. But I can't think of any better word no matter how hard I try.
    When a woman is turned to stone, she is no longer reacting to the
    world except within herself. Instead of DOING, she IS. She exists in a
    more pure form.


    So why do I like turning women to stone? Simply because inside the
    statue exists the entirity of the woman. Her entire spirit, her
    entire mind, her entire potential, her entire being, exists within a
    single, static container. And that's the key. We see the statue. That
    is the body, one expression of her being. But I know that SHE is within
    the statue, in a state of completeness, free to be who she wants and
    think what she wants. And knowing this, I can truly see the beauty of her
    spirit. The world is a better place because a complete person exists
    within it. A person who is as free as any person in this physical world
    can ever be.


    (And then I touch her butt.)


    Did that make any sense at all to anyone? At all? I figure I'm
    completely out in left field here. But if anybody could manage a
    "yeah, maybe that kinda makes sense," I'd really appreciate it.


    *END PREVIOUSLY WRITTEN TEXT*


    Have a great day!

  40. Natalie Portman's Meat Curtains by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I want inside of Natalie Portman's meat curtains

  41. moderate this BACK UP!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    A few hours ago, this post was (Score: 5, Funny). Now, it's (Score: 1, Offtopic). Come on, meta-moderators, do your duty!

    UNFAIR!

    1. Re:moderate this BACK UP!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Really! This isn't any more off-topic than some of the others here that have been moderated up to +5 funny.

  42. Re:No Grits, no sale by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    hi. I am (was) the original grits boy. Unfortunately, I didn't preserve any of my posts for posterity. Looking back, I should have. I could probably go back and find it, but it would take too much time.

    Rob, if you're listening, can you do a quick search on "hot grits"?

    thanks.

  43. AMEN BROTHER by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    God bless.

    Petrified, heaven, there's not much difference I think.

  44. I will reverse engineer whatever MPAA dreams up. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    From USC Title 17. Section 1209:

    (f) Reverse Engineering. -

    (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a)(1)(A), a person who has lawfully obtained the right to use a copy of a computer program may circumvent a technological measure that effectively controls access to a particular portion of that program for the sole purpose of identifying and analyzing those elements of the program that are necessary to achieve interoperability of an independently created computer program with other programs, and that have not previously been readily available to the person engaging in the circumvention, to the extent any such acts of identification and analysis do not constitute infringement under this title.

    (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a)(2) and (b), a person may develop and employ technological means to circumvent a technological measure, or to circumvent protection afforded by a technological measure, in order to enable the identification and analysis under paragraph (1), or for the purpose of enabling interoperability of an independently created computer program with other programs, if such means are necessary to achieve such interoperability, to the extent that doing so does not constitute infringement under this title.

    (3) The information acquired through the acts permitted under paragraph (1), and the means permitted under paragraph (2), may be made available to others if the person referred to in paragraph (1) or (2), as the case may be, provides such information or means solely for the purpose of enabling interoperability of an independently created computer program with other programs, and to the extent that doing so does not constitute infringement under this title or violate applicable law other than this section.

    (4) For purposes of this subsection, the term ''interoperability'' means the ability of computer programs to exchange information, and of such programs mutually to use the information which has been exchanged.

    I am allowed to reverse engineer anything I legally get my hands on (like any player of audio/video). My goal is to facilitate making the playing of DVDs interoperable with Linux, BeOS, Windows, MacOS, AmigaOS, Kodak Digital Camera displays, FooOS, etc. The only way to achieve all of this is to make a generic player implementation with source code available for all to access and compile of what platform forsts their weenie.

  45. Re:parnership by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I refuse to buy from Fatbrain. They really insulted me trying to sell a used book to me as new. Bad customer service to boot.

  46. Gasp! A CD costs almost $2! Don't be so wasteful by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Don't blow $2 on that crappy movie!!!!! Please, I beg you!

    Actually, that movie probably needs *TWO* discs, how can I live in a world that promotes such waste!!!

    That movie is not worth the plastic it's made of!

  47. Remember all those losers waiting on line for TPM? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What a fucking bunch of homos they are. Waiting on line for weeks and weeks to see *A MOVIE* -- and a *SHITTY MOVIE* made by a *SHITTY GUY* at that. Go suckle on some kind of honeydew, you gays. Why don't you go camp outside blockbuster so you can be the first to rent this piece of human excrement? Oh, it doesn't seem like such a good idea anymore? Toobad, lippy. I am going to take all you Star Wars imbeciles and tape you down outside Blockbuster and glue your eyelids open so that you have to rent and watch this terrible waste of film. DeATH TO STARWARS!

  48. No Amazon! Better info here by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
  49. Better movie here by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
  50. loved it! moderate this up! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Don Knots man here. Moderate up! I fully support Natalie Portman man.

  51. An alternative is here by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
  52. Go away, Don Knots man loves this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    CNN Entertainment story here.

    1. Re:Go away, Don Knots man loves this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      i saw don knotts on a "target" commercial tonight. several times actually, on mtv. i thought of your picture, though he looks a little older in the commercial.

      -osm

  53. Very good! Mod up! More info... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
  54. thank you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
  55. Re:sad reflection by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You forget some of the /. audience is older.. 'Princess Leia' was masturbatory fuel for us when we were terminally single.

    Even at forty-something, Carrie Fisher is hot.. Admit it.. Give in to your obsession with Carrie Fisher.. Picture her on the pillow next to you in in the morning,,

    Don't admit it to your wife, however. You'll be dead in a span of time usually reserved for measuring Ethernet latency!

  56. Re:sad reflection by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    i had a massive crush on carrie fisher when i was ten.

  57. Re:I will reverse engineer whatever MPAA dreams up by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yep. The MPAA is way out of line. They can stamp their feet, stamp each others feet
    and throw a temper tantrum but they're
    still operating outside of the law.

    Too many companies are under the impression that they can roll roughshod over the laws and the constitution.

    A few million of us stop giving them money,
    they'll straighten up. Word travels fast on
    the 'net. Let's spread the word and save our
    cash for other things.

    4 cd's==64megs of PC100

    It's not a bad compromise. We'll crush one
    of the heads of satan and make our machines
    more powerful at the same time.
    Maybe we could boycott them right into
    the history books.

    "2000AD - Media cartel boycotted into the ground
    shortly after attempting to sue the internet"

    No movies, no cd's, no DVD's while gently
    prodding the world to do the same. Who knows,
    maybe we are powerful. We'll never know if we
    don't try, right?
    Lets not be bullied on this issue. We are a
    potential force that just needs to hold
    together for a little while to see if this
    will work.









  58. Natalie Portman, naked and TERRIFIED! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    >I know, the statue stuff makes no sense... maybe we should start a "naked and terrified" splinter group.

    That works for me.

    I hereby declare a schism in the Natalie Portman cult! Follow me and raise the call to see... Natalie Portman, naked and TERRIFIED!

    1. Re:Natalie Portman, naked and TERRIFIED! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      you guys don't know what you're getting into... it's frustrating when posters write comments about the "natalie portman" guy and you don't know if they're talking about "open source natalie portman," "natalie portman naked and petrified," "natalie portman's insert some colloquialism for a body part here" or what...

      they think we're all the same person... but NO!

      you have been warned!

    2. Re:Natalie Portman, naked and TERRIFIED! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      you guys don't know what you're getting into... it's frustrating when posters write comments about the "natalie portman" guy and you don't know if they're talking about "open source natalie portman," "natalie portman naked and petrified," "natalie portman's insert some colloquialism for a body part here" or what...

      they think we're all the same person... but NO!

      oh come on, how many people can possibly be obsessed with natalie portman? ;-)
    3. Re:Natalie Portman, naked and TERRIFIED! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You'd be surprised.

  59. Promote this. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If this is the law, I can't figure out how you can go to court with a 'case'. Lawyers .. I guess the only way of supporting mpaa would be if they brought out drivers for linux, but as they were too dumb to do so, this law should skittle them good.

  60. Re:Spread the word -- Wait for DVD by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why would LucasFilm bother releasing TPM on DVD now when they can milk the market now, then next year get people to buy it on DVD too. Yes DVD is superior, but a guh-zillion (yes, this is a new number) people out there own VCR's. Lot's of people are gonna buy the tapes, and then they will buy them all again, say, next Christmas when lots more people own DVD players. It's not wrong, it's not right...it just is.

    Think like a money sucking businessman. :-)

  61. Re:Exchange Rates are Good! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Have it shipped as a parcel by Canada Post (our mail system). Shouldn't cost much more than $5 (I think...) for such a small package.

  62. They split up the DVD and wrote separate AV-Tapes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They already have an unreleased DVD.
    The DVD has:

    Widscreen
    Pan and Scan
    Spanish Audio
    French Audio

    For now, they somehow think that we will buy each feature that we want on a separate tape.

    Of course George will soon find out that DVD owners do not buy Analog Tapes any more.

    Hopefully, they let the DVD out then.

  63. Dont buy it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Isn's TPE sold by Fox, one of the companies behind the MPAA? boycott this movie, and see if they like it.

  64. Re:And don't forget to sign the petition! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What a tool, actually boycotting a company because they have a patent. It is not like it will really affect any of you in the end. I have spent at least a $1000 at Amazon over the years and will continue to do so. They have good prices, quick turn around, decent support and I like shopping on their site. Get of your really small horse and get a life. Boycotting Amazon because of a little patent. No offense, but I am willing to bet there are more important causes
    to devote your time and money too. When is the last time you worked in a soup kitchen? Hmm, guess never you spend most of your time whining about stupid meaningless problems.

  65. Re:Another stupid Don Knotts post by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If you liked the link(or hated it) then contact the author.

    Frank T. Clark
    230 East 9th Street #3C
    New York, NY 10029
    212-831-0882
    http://www.dorsai.org/~delchi/delindex.htm
    http://www.dorsai.org/~delchi/index.htm
    delchi@dorsai.org

  66. Re:Look mom I'm an idiot! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    >PS-DVD (progressive scan DVD) I'd like to see one of these players. I haven't heard anything about them - or at least never seen one in a store. What is better with them? Are there any features/problems with the players/format? Anywhere I can get some info? Thanks for your input. :-)

  67. WHAT DVD BOYCOTT???? BTW, DVD people==VHS people by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    There is no DVD boycott.
    In Linux, we can play using LiVid.
    You can't play VHS in Linux.
    MPAA sells the Tapes too.
    "MPAA, I'm not going to buy your stupid DVD. Instead, I going to buy obsolete disposable media from you."

    Episode I was a stupid movie. There are some Jar jar lovers though.

  68. Re:It keeps getting better and better! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Well, Since there's only VHS, I can only say...I have a very good VHS recording VCR...I don't even own a DVD Recorder....And as a business man, I think Lucas' idea is very good for my benefit!

  69. Re:It keeps getting better and better! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    VHS Duplicates will be out as soon as Original version is out. Support us! Go to Amazon Auction, CNET Auction, and Classified2000.com to buy one for your self! Our recording Quality is Never Less than the Originals. We have a very expensive SONY recording equipment. Phantom Of Menace: Price at $6 US Dollars, VISA, Checks or Money order. Shipping INCLUDED!!! Search Hint for the auctions is EWOK

  70. Re:Not everyone! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I have to agree with you on that one. Even though everyone seems to have an audio tape player including myself I still would not purchase another audio tape. Degradation of quality over time and the initial loss of quality compared to a CD is just as dramatic as from a tape to DVD. I am sticking to what I have invested my dunero in. Why would I buy a new pair of shoes just to wear the old ones?!

  71. Re:Spread the word -- Wait for DVD by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Actually, if you kept up with the trends
    (try http://dvdfile.com), then you would realize that there are more than enough DVDplayers out in
    people's homes to warrant full scale production
    of DVDs (on the order of millions of units). Laserdiscs had mass production with
    less support. In fact, SWTPM is being released
    on LASERDISC (an outdated format) in Japan. Go figure that one out. If Lucas doesn't get with the program, he surely will have to start dealing with bootleg copies of star wars on DVD.

  72. Re:StarWarsDot: News for StarWars freaks. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    OO, you got an insightful for that. Maybe we should give you the nobel prize for being such a panty wearer.

  73. OPEN SOURCE (SPECIAL EDITION) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    natalie portman is hiding in a room full of old ibm mainframes. open source man is trying to locate her.

    open source man: you cannot hide forever, natalie.

    natalie portman: i will not be open sourced.

    open source man: give yourself to the open source community. it is the only way you can save your friends.

    natalie portman strains to contain her thoughts.

    open source man: ah yes, your thoughts betray you. your feelings for them are strong. especially for... sister. so... you have a twin sister! now your feelings have betrayed her too. your parents were wise to hide her from me. now their failure is complete! if you will not be open sourced, then perhaps she will!

    natalie portman jumps out from behind a mainframe, wielding a can of mace. she begins beating open source man back with it.

    natalie portman: noooooooo!

    natalie portman sprays open source man in the face with the self-protection spray. he crumples to the ground, holding his arm out to protect his face from another attack.

    natalie portman is crazed with the power of open source.

    esr cackles evilly as he steps down from his platform toward natalie.


    esr: good. good! your firm young buttocks has made you powerful. now, release your sexuality and take open source man's place at my side.

    natalie looks down at the fallen open source man, breathing heavily as his sinuses sting from the mace. she harkens back to her youthful obsession with a hot young actor.

    natalie portman: never. i'll never turn to the open source side. you failed your highness. i am closed source, like open source man before me... err, something.

    esr: so be it, closed-source girl. if you will not be open sourced, then you will be bludgeoned with the open source sausage!

    esr grabs a giant sausage with a taxidermied gnu's head mounted on the end of it. he begins to beat natalie with it.

    esr: hot young actress... only now, at the end, do you understand! you have paid the price for your lack of vision!

    esr thrashes some more... open source man shakes off the mace.

    esr: your hot young femininity is no match for the power of open source!

    esr beats natalie again. open source man pulls himself to his feet and stands next to esr.

    esr: and now, young portman, you will feel the full wrath of the gnu!

    natalie portman screams in horror as esr thrashes her harder.

    natalie portman: aaaargghghghghgh! open source man! please! help me!

    open source man looks fondly open natalie's firm young buttocks. he looks at esr. with a final surge of passion for the hot young actress, open source man lifts esr over his head and carries him to the window. open source man tosses esr into the blackness of night, but not before esr gets several good whacks in with the open source sausage.

    open source man collapses to the floor. natalie portman crawls over to him and holds his head gently in her arms...



    thank you.

    1. Re:OPEN SOURCE (SPECIAL EDITION) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      How, where and WHY do you come up with this stuff? You are really, really sick. Funny stuff :-)

    2. Re:OPEN SOURCE (SPECIAL EDITION) by lubricated · · Score: 2

      what about Alan Cox the wooky

      --
      It has been statistically shown that helmets increase the risk of head injury.
  74. Sigh, Amazon! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    I find it offensive that a link to Amazon was even provided. It's mitigated somewhat by mention of the boycott and an alternate place to buy from. But really should Slashdot be providing Amazon with any free advertising, considering their outrageouos behavior?

    1. Re:Sigh, Amazon! by Len · · Score: 1

      By the same token, all Microsoft bashing should be forbidden, because every time someone mentions Microsoft it's like free advertising for Microsoft. (See how much mileage Microsoft is getting out of this one comment?)
      --

    2. Re:Sigh, Amazon! by gargle · · Score: 5

      In case you haven't noticed, Slashdot has a partnership with Amazon.com. There's even a nice big Slashbox where you can search for books on Amazon, and if you buy something, Slashdot gets a cut. When money is involved, professed principles get thrown out of the window.


      "The books here are brought to us in Partnership with Amazon.com.
      If you follow the links around here, and eventually buy a book, we get a percentage of the cost!

      Want books about any of these things? Perl, Linux, Unix, Gardening, CGI, Java?

      Still not finding what you're looking for? Visit Amazon.com from this link, and we still get some credit. Or you could even Search Amazon using this convenient form:"

  75. Decisions, decisions by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1
    Whatever is a geek to do? On the one hand we have the Phantom Menace available for our libraries (tho not on DVD) and on the other hand it's being peddled by a member of the MPAA.

    It ought to be interesting to see the general reaction to this amongst the /. "community". The self-same community that howls in righteous indignation when some of its members are persecuted by the sellers of that which they desire to possess.

    Interesting indeed.

    As for me: I'll not be buying nor renting a single thing from anybody associated with the MPAA.

    1. Re:Decisions, decisions by generic-man · · Score: 2

      Oh no. The couple hundred dollars you decide not to spend on movies will really strike a nerve with the people heading the multibillion-dollar entertainment industry.

      Boycott Microsoft. Boycott the MPAA. Boycott eToys. I'm sure they're shaking in their boots. Can you imagine?

      Geek's friend: "Hey, here's this cool little game I got where you throw snowballs at kids! It's awesome!"
      Geek: "I'm sorry, that game runs on Windows. Windows is evil because it is written by Microsoft, who do not support the software ideals that I hold dear. You, sir, are perpetuating the monopoly that Microsoft has over our collective consciences and are therefore insulting my intelligence."
      Friend: "Um, OK. Wanna go catch a movie tonight?"
      Geek: "No. That would be supporting the Motion Picture Association of America, whose selfish motions have deeply tarnished the entertainment portion of open source, which is obviously the future of the world once everyone learns to stop using Windows which is evil."

      And you wonder why geeks don't get out much.

      --
      For more information, click here.
  76. And don't forget to sign the petition! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    At the official Boycott Amazon site

    1. Re:And don't forget to sign the petition! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      DO NOT go to the above web site as it contains a very offensive picture and no petition.

  77. But *do* support DVD, now! Boycotting is wrong. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2
    Yes DVD has region coding. Yes it has macrovision. It is also, for all practical purposes, an open standard because it has been broken. Support it by buying lots of DVDs and demanding ones for movies that aren't in the format yet, like TPM.

    After all, what are you waiting for to support? A new uncrackable and closed format with even more restrictions than DVD? I don't understand the "boycott DVD' thinking.

    Because a new open standard just Ain't Gonna Happem (tm), the next best thing is to support the one that was cracked. Boycotting DVD will only make it easier for Hollowood jerks to point at low sales and say how it therefore won't be a big deal to dump the format in favor of the next DIVX2.0. Billions of DVDs in poeples homes create a "piss off" factor that even Hollywood must yield to.

    Support the DVD format now! Before something worse can come along to replace it!

    1. Re:But *do* support DVD, now! Boycotting is wrong. by CryptdotX · · Score: 1
      I support independant movies and Japanese anime on DVD.

      I made an exception for The Matrix... Is that bad?

      One thing that really bugs me about DVD players is that they sometimes disable the fast forward and skip buttons when they're in the FBI warnings or the movie company logo/intro things. That just sucks. I want a DVD player that will ignore those requests from the disc. I want to be able to fast forward through those things.

    2. Re:But *do* support DVD, now! Boycotting is wrong. by jasonw754 · · Score: 1

      Is that why they're not releasing TPM on DVD??? Well, I'm not going to waste a penny on an old VHS tape after switching to DVD.

  78. Other things you could be doing and spending on... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5
    These are a few of the things I'd rather do than give money to someone whose new trilogy is supposedly about the evil of greed and then sets new standards in it (the real reason SW1 not on DVD? I'm betting it's that there's only 5 million players out there now. Drive demand up, wait till there's an established base of 40 million, say, then flood it out).

    10) Install Windows 2000

    9) Surf the Gay Jedi fanfic page.

    8) Call up the MPAA and rat on people who link to DeCSS

    7) Make Natalie Portman posts on /.

    6) Try to make money by getting my friends to read my epinions (you too can be a spammer).

    5) Run Ultima 9 on a non VooDoo 3 card.

    4) Start a Daiktana fan page

    3) Meet Jeff K on IRC for hacking tips. (FrEE KEVIN NITMACK!)

    2) Code a DOS Emulator for Linux so I can play badass games designed for 486s

    1) Order DVDs from MPAA aligned studios on Amazon.

    These may sound evil - but they're probably more productive for your own karma in the long run.

  79. Re:No Grits, no sale by abischof · · Score: 1
    I keep hearing allusions to this hot-grits-down-pants thing.. It sounds like quite an amusing thread -- but, which story featured the original hot-grits thread that started all of this?

    Alex Bischoff
    ---

    --

    Alex Bischoff
    HTML/CSS coder for hire

  80. Re:Moderate down. It's redundant. by hank · · Score: 1

    Oh no! I'm blind!

  81. That made no sense. by Wakko+Warner · · Score: 2
    You miss the key point: There's actually a link in the article summary that lets you order the video from amazon. Your comment didn't contain any links pointing me to Microsoft so I could order a few copies of Visual Basic.

    Next!

    - A.P.
    --


    "One World, one Web, one Program" - Microsoft promotional ad

    --
    "Remember when the U.S. had a drug problem, and then we declared a War On Drugs, and now you can't buy drugs anymore?"
  82. And for the Canadians... by Alan · · Score: 2

    Hit chapters.ca for good prices (and no amazon!)

    Here's a link.

  83. Re:It keeps getting better and better! by CaseyB · · Score: 2
    ...it's $15 more than the regular VHS version. Why the dramatic difference? It looks like Lucas is screwing us over. To get the widescreen version, you have to get the Collector's Edition, which comes with a collector's book, 35mm filmstrip (?)...

    Maybe it's a 35mm print of the film. That would justify the $15. :)

  84. I want DVD by heroine · · Score: 2

    After watching a complete movie in DVD, I'm never going to bother with VHS again. DVD truly is spectacular on a computer monitor. VHS is truly a colossal waste of time and money. When you get your graduation presents, make sure they have a DVD drive. You don't need a decoder, just download a software DVD player. I don't care what Linus/Transmeta says. A Linux box and a computer monitor will always have better color and resolution than any crummy appliance.

    1. Re:I want DVD by Nonesuch · · Score: 2
      If you are playing DVD on your computer, and you are not flat broke, go for the hardware decoder.

      With a hardware decoder attached to your PC's DVD-ROM drive, little or none of your machine's CPU is used in the playing of the DVD. Plus, hardware decoders tend to come with S-Video output.

      Yeah your PC monitor might have 'better color and resolution' than a TV, but watching a 15" PC monitor from three feet away is painful compared to watching a 35" Sony Trinitron WAGA from six feet back, sitting on a couch with friends.

      Do that with your Linux PC and DeCSS software decoder.

    2. Re:I want DVD by enneff · · Score: 0

      My TV rocks over any computer monitor... But I suppose it is a widescreen digital, that cost about 10x more than a Sony 21".

  85. Spread the word -- Wait for DVD by Fastolfe · · Score: 2

    There will no doubt be those that would really prefer seeing the next film in the Star Wars saga in full DVD glory but are willing to spring for the VHS version today, as a DVD release is quite distant.

    Please don't!

    If we want to send Lucas a message, this is our chance to do it. If we can spread the word and get people to avoid buying the VHS version of the movie in favor of waiting for a superior DVD release, we can hopefully send a message in the language Lucas seems to speak fluently: his pocketbook.

    Poor VHS sales, with enough publicity, will hopefully be attributed to everyone's preference for DVD. Since it's quite likely he's trying to milk everyone for VHS purchases in addition to DVD purchases down the road, let's try to keep this from happening.

    DVD is a superior video format. Don't get suckered into getting a VHS version of the movie just because you can't wait, and for those that are even thinking about getting a DVD player in the future, STOP BUYING VHS altogether, the sooner the better.

  86. George Lucas made Star Wars, and then he unmade it by Brian+Kendig · · Score: 1

    Up until a few years ago, the 'Star Wars' trilogy was magic to me. I loved to watch the movies, I loved to read the stories based on the movies. George Lucas was a god; I had a lot of respect for the man and his work.

    This is no longer the case. After countless video versions, a prequel movie that's full of holes and weak on plot, and a senseless refusal to embrace DVD, Star Wars is now just another moneygrubbing franchise to me. It's a lot like what happened to Dilbert -- it was way cool at first, but now that it's merchandised all to heck, I've just lost my taste for it.

    Y'know what? Forget about Star Wars on DVD. I'm not going to go beg to a studio. If Lucas doesn't want my money, there are plenty of other studios with good movies who are supporting DVD, and I'm quite happy to buy from them instead.

  87. It keeps getting better and better! by Hrunting · · Score: 2

    Once you go widescreen, you never go back. Therefore, I went to Reel.com to see what the widescreen version cost (I don't get into all the boycotting BS and DeCSS bunk, so I don't really care; it was just the only link) and whoa, it's $15 more than the regular VHS version. Why the dramatic difference? It looks like Lucas is screwing us over. To get the widescreen version, you have to get the Collector's Edition, which comes with a collector's book, 35mm filmstrip (?), and a documentary. What if you don't want all that garbage? Well, you're screwed then.

    Does Lucas know how to make money or what? Seriously, this guy is starting to make Bill Gates look like a kid with a cheap lemonade stand.

    1. Re:It keeps getting better and better! by Hrunting · · Score: 2

      Yes, but Lucas is like a father to us. Look at how well he has entertained us, and how long he's been doing it for. Why not reward him for his work? It's only $15. Go to the theatre and you're likely to spend more than that, and you only get to watch it once there.

      Lucas isn't like a father to me. He's continually prevented me from watching Star Wars the way that I want to see it (widescreen, remastered, on DVD, etc.), and he's done the same with his other good movies. His bombs are crap. If I want my widescreen edition, I don't pay just $15 either. I pay $33, which is much more than I want to give the man for one of his movies, I don't care how much I like it or its predecessors.

    2. Re:It keeps getting better and better! by Hrunting · · Score: 4

      Well then here is a link for you my apathetic friend. You complain about an edition costing more. If you'd stand for something like the rest of us, it may just bring the prices down.

      Real mature. Amazon isn't keeping prices high for me (in fact, Amazon's continually got lower prices than my regular bricks-n-mortars locations) and DeCSS has only turned out to be a pissing contests between people who think they have the right to everything and people who think those same people have the right to nothing. I can choose better battles than Amazon's patenting rights (which isn't doing jack for prices one way or the other) and DeCSS, both of which are destructive battles, not constructive battles. Simply because I do not share your views about OSS legal views is not a reason to lessen my opinion about Star Wars marketing habits.

      The major point is, Lucas is releasing a common video format in a much more expensive 'Collector's Edition'. I'd rather he release a special edition with a DVD in it instead or a regular Widescreen edition, like he did with the Special Edition videos. It has nothing to do with boycotting Amazon or my views on DeCSS.

      And as far as prices go, Amazon is $4 cheaper than Reel.com for the same Collector's Edition. I could care less about their patent. Fifteen percent off is a good bargain, and the fact that they patented their e-commerce model is a trivial reason to not take advantage of it. I'm sure millions of shoppers also agree.

      You pick your battles. I'll pick mine. But my views about Star Wars have nothing to do with any of them.

    3. Re:It keeps getting better and better! by Accipiter · · Score: 2
      Once you go widescreen, you never go back.

      I agree. I love widescreen movies, and watching a Pan & Scan movie makes me sick. (Especially the ones where the Pan & Scan is done badly, and it's obvious. Ugh...)

      What I can't understand, is my brother and my parents. They HATE widescreen, and insist that you're losing the top and bottom when you watch it that way. (I've tried explaining to them that you are actually losing the sides of the picture when you DON'T watch it widescreen, but those "big black spaces" bother them.)

      My brother would rather watch a widescreen movie squashed horozontally to fit the screen, than watch it regular widescreen. God, you thought Pan & Scan was bad? Try squishing a widescreen movie into a square box, and watch it that way. (He watches all of his widescreen movies like that. Ugh....)

      -- Give him Head? Be a Beacon?

      --

      -- Give him Head? Be a Beacon?
      (If you can't figure out how to E-Mail me, Don't. :P)

    4. Re:It keeps getting better and better! by Juggle · · Score: 3

      Not to mention the already old dispute over why Lucas isn't releasing a DVD version. If he has the time to put together a special edition VHS version they why can't he also do a special edition DVD. (Which is the excuse given for no DVD release).

      I hate to think it but the only explanation I can come up with is trying to trick us into buying the movie twice. One on VHS since that's the only way we can get it and once on DVD so we can actually enjoy a quality version with good video and true surround sound (Not that lucas even bothers with dolby Pro-Logic on his videos instead claiming his THX crap is better. Even though all THX does is simulate suround from a non-suround recording and then only if you shell out the bucks to buy a decoder from someone who shelled out the bucks to guy the rights to put THX on).

      Sorry, but personally I wasn't impressed enough by the movie to run out a spend my money twice. Espically if I have to shell out more to get widescreen (How anyone can defent pan and scan I still don't understand.). Lucas, if you truly care as much about quality as you claim then stop bilking your customers for money and give us a true high quality home video. This crap just dosen't cut it with informed consumers.

      --
      --- Juggle juggle@hitesman.com
    5. Re:It keeps getting better and better! by Tower · · Score: 2

      Hehe - you are gonna have a tought time when you get an HDTV (in widescreen format)... "Now even Wheel of Fortune is cut off on the top and bottom!!! There's not even any screen there!!!" Oh well - trying to explain things to people who don't want to understand can be quite difficult. Drawing pictures helps though - maybe grab one of those explanation pages out of a Crutchfield or some other mag to show them what you mean...

      Just my $.0004^.5

      --
      "It's tough to be bilingual when you get hit in the head."
    6. Re:It keeps getting better and better! by spack · · Score: 1
      So you say,
      "I don't get into all the boycotting BS and DeCSS bunk, so I don't really care; it was just the only link."

      Well then here is a link for you my apathetic friend. You complain about an edition costing more. If you'd stand for something like the rest of us, it may just bring the prices down.
      --
      For those who fight for it, life has a flavor the sheltered will never know.
    7. Re:It keeps getting better and better! by lunatik17 · · Score: 1
      Okay, it's annoying as hell that we need to fight the DeCSS battle in the first place, but there is nothing destructive about it. The movie industry is attempting to take away our rights for their own profit; how is that a pissing contest? We don't think we have the rights to everything, we just want what's ours. The right to reverse engineer for interoperability. The right to fair use of a copyrighted work. If they get their way, you won't be allowed to make compilations of your favorite music cds or backup copies anymore. Maybe someday they really will be selling cars with the hood welded shut, and it would be our own damn fault because we could avoid that if we just stood up and said no.

      People who don't give a shit about their rights being taken away will one day wake up and find themselves in a police state right out of 1984.

      --

      Here's my DeCSS mirror, where's yours?

    8. Re:It keeps getting better and better! by Vis · · Score: 2

      >Does Lucas know how to make money or what? Seriously, this guy is starting to make Bill >Gates look like a kid with a cheap lemonade stand.

      Yes, but Lucas is like a father to us. Look at how well he has entertained us, and how long he's been doing it for. Why not reward him for his work? It's only $15. Go to the theatre and you're likely to spend more than that, and you only get to watch it once there.

      Be a good geek now, and get your Star Wars.

      --
      -- Hi! I'm a .signature virus! Copy me into your ~/.signature to help me spread!
  88. Studios and the fall of videotape by Morgaine · · Score: 3

    Actually the message "We don't buy any more videotape" must be resonating quite loudly in studio land, ie. as a significant drop in video sales to accompany the rise in DVD sales.

    I wonder how long it'll be before they realize that tape is well on the way to becoming a legacy medium for film distribution (as distinct from TV time-shifting)? Nobody that I know buys films on video anymore, even if they don't (yet) have DVD players -- they know it's money wasted. I give it 3 years max.

    --
    "The question of whether machines can think is no more interesting than [] whether submarines can swim" - Dijkstra
  89. Let computer decode, but use your TV as display by Morgaine · · Score: 3

    No, you've got that wrong: DVDs played on the computer monitor do NOT look better than on video or TV monitors. At best, the picture might have better geometry, but the experience will almost always be worse than on any half-decent lounge TV.

    DVDs are encoded for presentation on an ordinary video display, so it's not surprising that that's what they display best on.

    However, you can have your cake and eat it too by using a display card with a TV out, such as for example some of the MPEG decoder cards, and they often have S-video output as well, which yields even clearer pictures on the telly. Hook up your computer to an infrared remote sensor (like the IRman) positioned next to the TV and watching DVDs becomes a far more enjoyable experience than you can have watching it directly on your computer.

    --
    "The question of whether machines can think is no more interesting than [] whether submarines can swim" - Dijkstra
  90. Lucas can kiss my ass by squarooticus · · Score: 1

    While I think the movie sucked ass overall, I will purcahse it for the Jedi fight scenes alone...eventually. The implication is that Lucas will get none of my money until the movie is out on DVD. 'Nuff said.
    --
    Kyle R. Rose, MIT LCS

    --
    [ home ]
  91. Re:no DVD, no sale by gid · · Score: 1

    Right on man, same here. I don't buy VHS anymore. Plain and simple. Damn the man, but respect his talent. I'm just not going to give him any of my money on VHS.

    ---

  92. Lifesize Queen Amidala by Magus311X · · Score: 1

    And for all you Natalie Portman worshippers, you too can own your very own 5' tall Natalie, available from Amazon.Com's zShops.

    Yes, it's cardboard. Sorry to dissapoint you all. You can continue building your Natalie sexbot from your Lego Mindstorms kits now. =)
    --

  93. 28$ Canadian for the widescreen version.... by MartinD · · Score: 1

    28$ Canadian for the widescreen version....

  94. Exchange Rates are Good! by MartinD · · Score: 2

    Hey, you could pre-order it from Amazon for 28$
    American, or you could pre-order it from Chapters
    (Chapters.ca) for 28$ Canadian (~20$ US).
    Consider are statement against Amazon if you wish.

    1. Re:Exchange Rates are Good! by generic-man · · Score: 2

      However, does it cost more than $8 US additionally to ship to the US from Canada? Last time I checked, that's technically an "international" shipment and is subject to higher shipping rates.

      --
      For more information, click here.
  95. Starwars.com by SupaFly · · Score: 1

    If you don't want to order The Phantom Menace from Amazon, go to Starwars.com and order it there. I am sure there are plenty of other places to get it as well, but that's where I ordered mine.

  96. But no DVD... by Gromer · · Score: 2

    This is probably as good a place as any to plug the Star Wars on DVD campaign, which has an on-line petiton up. Go sign it.

    Linking in comments seems to be broken at the moment, so the URL is http://www.dvdfile.com/interactive/guestbook/addgu est.html

    --
    "Never let your sense of morals prevent you from doing what is right" -Salvor Hardin
  97. Re:DVD isn't so great as all that... by jridley · · Score: 1

    Damn, if you think DVD and VHS are close to the same quality, you must be watching on a 10 year old 19" TV with the built-in speakers.

    I don't have a GREAT system, just a 27", an old Dolby Pro-logic receiver and some 15 year old crappy radio shack speakers, but even so, the difference between VHS and DVD is *very* noticable (when the studio does a good job with the transfer).

    Also, the special features are at least as appealing to me; there's HOURS of extra stuff on some movies. Maybe only appealing to fans of the movie, but that's the market here.

    Plus, I'm tired of spending $$ buying new copies of the same movies because the tapes have worn out. Lesse, I have 2 copies of the original Star Wars trilogy (both now in bad shape), plus a copy of the special edition (which will go to hell in 5 years), not to mention my CED disc of Ep4. All told I've spent over $150 on the first 4 episodes. Had I been able to buy them on DVD, I would have saved a lot of money, even if they weren't any better quality.

    (I'm not buying PM until it comes out on DVD. Maybe not even then; it wasn't a very good movie)

  98. Re:sad reflection by arivanov · · Score: 2

    Nerd also means a sence of humour. Usually a very wierd nerdy one. This is what you miss.

    --
    Baker's Law: Misery no longer loves company. Nowadays it insists on it
    http://www.sigsegv.cx/
  99. Re:DIVX by arivanov · · Score: 2

    A bootleg has been released in fourth world countries very long ago. About a week after the movie hit the screen. Go skying ;-)

    --
    Baker's Law: Misery no longer loves company. Nowadays it insists on it
    http://www.sigsegv.cx/
  100. Referral? by Fizgig · · Score: 4

    There is a referral link in that link, and I doubt it's Slashdot's (of course I could be wrong, but why would they still have links to Amazon?). I consider it extremely lame to try to get your affiliat link slashdotted. Really lame. And if it isn't supposed to be there, I forgive emmett :) He's new

    1. Re:Referral? by K'tohg · · Score: 1

      The real reason is called "Fair Game." We (The OSS comunitee) can't be so self centered to deny access to those that we dislike. Like the Linux advocacy-HOWTO says we shouldn't bad mouth Microsoft, that only lessens our side of the argument.

      The moment we start playing silly little games we look very childish and become exactly like the those we oppose.

      The real way to battle anyone is make yourself look better. (The 3 B's Bigger, Badder, Better) thats all anyone cares about.

      Look how embraced XML is by commercial bussiness and it's an open standard. Or GNU for that matter.

      So lets show this world what we are cappable of by continuing the awesome OSS programs/standards. Make these corporate dogs quivering in their boots from compatition!

      --
      > SELECT * FROM brain_cells WHERE synaptic_rate > 0
      0 row returned
  101. Grrr...no LD by Pope · · Score: 2

    Personally, I'm bothered that he's not doing LaserDiscs. He released the "Last Ever Original" set on Laser, and the "Oooh... I have a COMPUTER" Special Editions.

    Not that I'd buy TPM on ANY format, I'm just bothered that letterboxing, which costs less to make than Pan&Scan, is only a "special costs too much" edition.

    I've said it before and I'll say it again: Fuck Lucas. He's screwing his audience and only the ones smart enough to pay attention will notice anything unsavoury going on. I started getting suspicious when the letterbox "Final Original" VHS package wasn't released until *after* Christmas.

    Pope

    --
    It doesn't mean much now, it's built for the future.
  102. This is news? by mindstrm · · Score: 1

    This is news? Gimme a break.

    Slashdot is beginning to insult my intelligence.

  103. Where's the market for widescreen VHS? by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

    Anyone who's even the slightest bit interested in watching movies widescreen has access to a DVD player by now (either owning a player, or having a computer with a DVD player, or a friend with either).

    So who's going to buy the VHS widescreen copy? I personally can't stand the thought of buying another tape and watching it decay before my eyes - I'd sort of like to have the movie but I'll wait for the DVD. In the meantime, I'll eatch the Matrix another 100 times... per week.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  104. Boycott the big media companies! by HarryCaul · · Score: 2


    Don't buy TPM or anything else from the companies suing to stop deCSS or MP3s or whatever is next. Don't give them the money to finance these battles!

  105. Re:DVD isn't so great as all that... by 0ptimus · · Score: 1

    Well, maybe we should have stuck to black and white televisions too. Or maybe just moving picture cinemas.

    The point is progress, and DVD cannot become the standard unless people use it. The quality is much increased, and the disc is much less susceptible to damage.

    If you dislike progress, I'd have to question why you are a slashdot reader. Technology is _moving forward_, and DVD is definitely part of that path.

  106. Re:StarWarsDot: News for StarWars freaks. by CryptdotX · · Score: 2
    Right on.

    Anyone who thinks that TPM was even "okay" should think back to the couple of minutes when they were outside the theater after seeing TPM for the first time, on opening day. There were hundreds of star wars fans dressed in star wars costumes standing around talking trying really hard not to be disappointed. Hell, I played that game too. I tried to "look on the bright side". But it didn't work. You can only lie to yourself for so long.

  107. Very OT by PimpBot · · Score: 1

    /. promotes Star Wars because they feel its synonomous w/ Geekdom...and they're willing to take this idea to its irrational extreme.

    Of course, there's lots of other things that should be put in this catagory. I've never seen CUBE, but one thing I must question you on is Pi. I saw that film, and, imho, it sucked. Of course, all my friends thought it was good, but ehn, their taste is screwed up. :-)
    So, general question to that /. community: What makes Pi so great? I simply didn't get it...
    --------------------------

    1. Re:Very OT by Tower · · Score: 1

      The Cube was thought-provoking, but I wouldn't reccomend it... not really worth watching more than once. Better than Jar-Jar, I'll give you that...

      --
      "It's tough to be bilingual when you get hit in the head."
    2. Re:Very OT by duplex · · Score: 1

      So what if you hated PI. That's fine by me. I liked it because I found it entertaining even though it wasn't terribly deep. Same goes for The Matrix. But it doesn't really matter.
      What matters is that we don't have a /. section that allows as to discuss those movies (without being offtopic) and that's what I'm calling for here. I mentioned those few films as examples of SF movies that deserve a much more coverage than Lucases pathetic offering.
      BTW. grab a copy of Cube from their website. It's a debut of a canadian director. Even though it's made on a budget that would not even cover JarJar ears it features a lot more interesting action and suspense. Highly recomended!

  108. Not everyone! by Lancer · · Score: 1
    I'm done buying VHS - period! Particularly the Star Wars flicks - I now have three boxed sets of Episodes IV-VI (first-release, THX, and Special Edition WideScreen - jeesh). I refuse to go through it again - besides, Episode I wasn't all that great anyway - but I do want it in my collection.

    --
    Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside a dog it's too dark to read. - Groucho Marx
  109. Star wars was a big disappointment. by tippergore · · Score: 1

    The movie wad devoid of entertainment, why on
    earth would anybody want to see it again?

    Maybe we'll get interviews with a big fat blobby
    george lucas in a turtleneck.

    Man, I swear, whenever I see the triology
    interviews with that man, he looks like he's
    going to pop right out of that thing.

  110. DVD boycott doesn't apply to Star Wars? by qqaz · · Score: 1

    There seems to be a 'boycott' of DVD going on, but many of the same people are saying that they would only buy Episode 1 on DVD. Is there some sort of rule I'm missing? "Thou shalt not buy a DVD, unless the DVD is Star Wars." If we hate the DVD people so much, then we should be happy that Episode 1 is only available on VHS.

    --
    sup :cool:
  111. no dice by / · · Score: 1

    After a month or so, the comments get flattened and the -1 posts are thrown out. Inasmuch as the grits posts consistently get moderated to hell, you won't be able to find them. Once upon a time, Rob was tossing around the idea of selling a quarterly slashdot cdrom with stories and comments, but nothing ever came of that.

    --
    "If one is really a superior person, the fact is likely to leak out without too much assistance" -- John Andrew Holmes
  112. actually (and not offtopic) by / · · Score: 2

    Trusty google has turned up the following slashdot relic (it may not be the original, but it is quite old):

    It's the "grits" problem all over again
    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday April 10
    [, 1999], @02:00AM EDT

    ...Every boy from south of the Mason-Dixon line swears that grits are good eatin'. However, no Northerner can seem to figure out why. They suck. The answer every southern boy gives him is, "you just haven't had them the way my mom makes them."

    The point is, if it's that hard to do it right, it isn't as inherently good as all those southern boys (or .mp3 fans) try to make it out to be. Fact is, it's going to suck if it isn't done exactly right, and it's next to impossible to do it exactly right, so why not just dedicate the efforts to more worthwhile tasks (like developing affordable broadband internet connections so we can pirate raw cdda data instead, or eating oatmeal)?

    --
    "If one is really a superior person, the fact is likely to leak out without too much assistance" -- John Andrew Holmes
  113. Re:The dog! They named the dog... by razorwire · · Score: 1
    Apparently the DVD versions of the BTTF trilogy are finished and awaiting studio approval for release. They're being held up for "marketing" reasons (grrr)

    source: http://www.bttf.com/dvd/

  114. Re:No Grits, no sale by Foogle · · Score: 1
    Well if you emailed Rob, he could probably go back and tell you where the reference to pouring hot grits down one's pants first appeared. I doubt anyone here really remembers (except for the guy who made it up).

    It wasn't funny at first, because it was totally offtopic and stupid. Then I thought it was sort of amusing because it was at least a running gag. And now it's annoying because all the other little trolls are doing it too.

    -----------

    "You can't shake the Devil's hand and say you're only kidding."

  115. Re:no DVD, no sale by Tower · · Score: 2

    Yup... as a recent college grad, when I put together my home system I bought a DVD player - I don't OWN a VHS player, and don't plan on buying one for the purpose of watching a often poorly rendered Jar-Jar in less resolution... Last time I checked, my old VCRs really didn't have a digital out for 5.1, and weren't THX certified ;-) Oh, well - I can wait a couple of years to see the best lightsaber fight ever made...

    --
    "It's tough to be bilingual when you get hit in the head."
  116. Umm by Hobbex · · Score: 2


    People, weren't we going to boycott the MPAA?

    I guess we really do have the 20 second attention span that most modern movies assume of us.

    -
    We cannot reason ourselves out of our basic irrationality. All we can do is learn the art of being irrational in a reasonable way.

  117. Moderate down. It's redundant. by spack · · Score: 1

    Hello McFly's... This is old. A repost. It's not relevant. It is funny, but it takes up to much of my screen. I suppose that this is about as close to getting laid by Miss Portman as many of you will ever be... but get a life you dweebs.

    --
    For those who fight for it, life has a flavor the sheltered will never know.
    1. Re:Moderate down. It's redundant. by fluxrad · · Score: 2

      heh...originality is the art of concealing your sources!

      --
      "It is seldom that liberty of any kind is lost all at once." -David Hume
  118. A prime opportunity to send a strong message. by spack · · Score: 2

    Slashdotters, This is a great opportunity to send the message to all that we won't stand for Amazon.com with their ridiculous "One-Click" patents and the MPAA with their desire for "Corporate Marshall Law." The Amazon.com case is bad enough, but if that were the only problem, the solution would be simple. Buy from another. Yet, this whole DeCSS thing is out of control. Plain and simply put, the case FOR DeCSS must be won or else the precident that will be set will be dangerous.

    I am but one man. I don't know what will need to be done to effectively send the message. Boycotts are good. But we are all going to have to do it. I'm not buying DVDs. I'm boycotting movies. What else do I do? What else do we all do? Join the EFF? Ok, I'll do that too. But, what else?

    Let's win soon guys. I really want to buy a DVD player and DVD movies. And that includes SW:TPM (when it's on DVD)

    --
    For those who fight for it, life has a flavor the sheltered will never know.
  119. What about the TPM VCD? by kickerofelves · · Score: 1

    Wasn't their talk about it released on VCD in select Asian markets? If so, any information about the availability (truth or rumor?) of this version, and how to obtain it, would be appreciated.

  120. Re:no DVD, no sale by drivers · · Score: 1

    The Matrix is already out on DVD. shrugs

  121. no amazon by lubricated · · Score: 1

    Please send a message to amazon don't give them your money.

    --
    It has been statistically shown that helmets increase the risk of head injury.
    1. Re:no amazon by hreinna · · Score: 1

      What did I miss, why boycott amazon ?

  122. moderate this down please by lubricated · · Score: 1

    moderate this down

    --
    It has been statistically shown that helmets increase the risk of head injury.
  123. Re:"boycott Amazon"? WTF?? by punkass · · Score: 1

    Read about it here.

    --
    "Nobody owns the fucking words man." - James Dean
  124. DIVX by jlund · · Score: 1

    I was hoping they'd release it on DIVX. That would go well with my 200 disc Sony DVD changer... Oh, that's right DIVX is DEAD. Someday Lucas will get a clue and release it on DVD, but obviously it is NOT anytime soon. I guess I'll have to watch SW, ESB and RJ on LaserDisc again, since I won't be seeing any of them on my preferred format...DVD I NEVER buy VHS...

  125. Re:No Grits, no sale by technos · · Score: 2

    The first ref I saw was back in 98, when some anon poster said something 'did about as much good as pouring grits in my pants'

    The regular series of 'I just pored grits down my pants' appears to be unrelated to that, however. I figure that someone just thought grits in their pants would be funny. At least one of the posts have survived archival; I wasted three moderator points once making sure a terribly humerous example of the genre made it into the archives at +2.. I waste too many of my points making sure the AC's actually get the attention they are due.

    --
    .sig: Now legally binding!
  126. YALMP (Yet Another Lucas Merchandising Ploy) by bran880 · · Score: 1

    Does anyone else see the VHS-only release as another marketing ploy? That is, make everyone buy VHS, and then later release the dvd to sell to diehard fans who probably already have the VHS (so people who like the movie and have a dvd player and vcr will end up buying both vhs and dvd). Maybe we should rename The Phantom Menace to The Phantom Merchandising.

    1. Re:YALMP (Yet Another Lucas Merchandising Ploy) by bonebill · · Score: 1

      Not forgetting the other trick, as used on A Bug's Life.

      Make the first release 4:3 letterbox (even though all players can downmix from 16:9 to 4:3 at play time).

      Then re-release it on 16:9 as a "special edition".

      Throw in an initial VHS-only release, and you get to say "Look here, new release!" three times. Some punters will even buy it twice.

      If I were a shareholder I would demand nothing less.

  127. WE aren't doing anything. YOU do what you want. by Speare · · Score: 2

    I'm glad I don't have moderator points today; I'd more than likely get grouchy and use them the wrong way. I'd moderate every " Aren't we supposed to be boycotting blah blah? " article down. Of course, disagreement isn't what moderation is for, so here I post.

    YOU can boycott the MPAA if you like, because they like to sue Norweigians who put slashes in their Os or put k00l hacks in their websites.

    YOU can tell Spielberg that you don't want Schindler's List or Star Wars, Chapter One: Phantom Menace or anything else he sells, on DVD(tm), LaserDisc(tm), VHS Collector's Edition(tm), Special Remastered Widescreen Edition(tm), "Jar Jar in My Pants" Underoos Special Edition(tm), or whatever else he markets for a buck.

    YOU can firewall off DoubleClick if you like, because they write down your zipcode and tell a few online vendors that you also buy "Jar Jar in my Pants" Underoos.

    YOU can decide not to support Michael Dell, because he's "in bed" with Intel, and everyone knows that Dell should use AMD because they're both coincidentally in Austin, TX.

    YOU can fire off a flame at JonKatz when he writes about how so many kids are being cruelly taunted for wearing Jar Jar Binks Underoos, too.

    YOU can tell Amazon.com to take a trip up the biggest river without your paddle, because they spitefully try to litigate the number of clicks it took you to find and buy a copy of the "Jar Jar in my Pants" Edition on one of their competitors' sites.

    YOU can email billg@microsoft.com with your personal opinion of Windoze, Winhose, Winlose, Whinos (What leet name do you choose today?). You can giggle and gloat when you spend a few hours setting up a non-Microsoft solution that plays your legally obtained copy of "Jar Jar" DVD on your non-Dell computer, free of interruption from banner ads.

    YOU can do whatever you want, it's your dollars, it's your time, it's your pants. I agree that there's a lot of stupidity in corporate life, and a lot of people out there trying a little too hard to stake their claim in the first years of a massive new market of online consumers.

    Me, I just want to read SlashDot, hear about the various issues that are facing the geek community, and come to my own conclusions about what I should or should not do. When you assume that I'll follow like a lamb to every one of the causes posted here, you do me a disservice. Perhaps individuality isn't the hallmark of geekdom, after all.

    Thanks for letting me ramble on, on a news/discussion service that DOES post a variety of topics and lets ANYONE speak their mind.

    -----------------------------------

    p.s. Anagrams for "Jar Jar in my Pants" Underoos Special Edition, for those who like such things, may enjoy aspirins in maladjusted incorporate, after reading my journals despite draconian 'penis majority'.

    --
    [ .sig file not found ]
  128. no DVD, no sale by LocalYokel · · Score: 5
    No DVD, no sale -- and even if there was one, I'd be hesitant to get a copy of TPM before The Matrix and about a hundred other movies that I think were better, including episodes IV-VI.

    Can an article be moderated as flamebait? We've been over all of this, and I'm sure that it will just be a matter of moments before the forum is ignited and flames about the lack of DVD (like myself), the evil MPAA and their handling of DeCSS, the supposed "boycott" of Amazon.com for their software patent, and of course, the beautiful Natalie Portman start flying...

    --

    --
    E2 IN2 IE?

  129. I don't get *your* point. by Len · · Score: 2
    The article also contains a mention of the boycott against Amazon, as well as a link to an alternative source for the video.

    And that mention of Amazon has generated more negative than positive publicity for them. If you look at the rest of the comments, you'll see a lot of discussion of the Amazon boycott, including notes from people who didn't know about the boycott until they read this article.

    Maybe it wasn't fair to mention just two sources for the video, but Geckoman was trying to be helpful, and obviously couldn't list every e-tailer on the Web. (Note, btw, that contrary to the conspiracy theorists, the Amazon link seems to have been submitted by a reader, not put in by the Slashdot editors.)
    --

  130. No Grits, no sale by Issue9mm · · Score: 2

    Just wanted to beat a certain AC out of this one... Just seems funny to me, but moderate me down if ya want. .

    Bye karma

  131. Re:parnership by gargle · · Score: 2

    Have they switched? They're still using Amazon. Go to the book review section and you'll still see the Amazon slashbox. Perhaps /. is using Fatbrain as well, but Amazon is still there.

  132. sad reflection by zeck · · Score: 1

    It is a sad reflection on slashdot that the top moderated article in this thread (as I write this) contains the phrase "firm young buttocks" no less than twice and a graphic description of a young girl being bludgeoned with a giant sausage. News for nerds indeed!

    1. Re:sad reflection by zeck · · Score: 1

      This is what you miss.

      Unless I was excersizing subtle humor mixed with serious irony.

  133. Sticking it to the man! by Succa · · Score: 1

    Is it safe to say that most people in here are boycotting Amazon at this point? One-click shopping my ass.

  134. Re:The dog! They named the dog... by ringgiver · · Score: 1

    I'd say that the Back to the Future trilogy beats out the Indys and SWs... But again, no DVDs...

  135. Re:OPEN SOURCE (SPECIAL EDITION) OT by storem · · Score: 1
    Sorry for OT, but I don't get it:

    Ok, I know ESR, but who the f*ck is Natalie Portman (except being the actress) to deserve this big /. attention?

  136. Reel.com or Amazon.com? Videotape since no DVD? by bons · · Score: 2
    The questions that plague the loyal Slashdotter.

    To buy from Amazon despite their patent stupidity?
    To instead support reel.com, who are paying the LA times to print articles like Jack Valenti's rant's against DeCSS (check out the ads, they appear to have an exclusive).

    Meanwhile I can only purchase videotape, which seems reasonable since the MPAA doesn't want me to spend money on their products if I'm only going to watch them on Linux.

    I think I'll watch what may be the worst Superbowl in history and realize that the real purpose of the Internet is online trading. It would have been nice if the digital Christopher Reeve looked better. I think watching his dad in front of a blue screen looked more realistic...

    Final decision? I don't see a reason to increase the money of reel.com or amazon.com because they're both acting like jerks. If Lucas doesn't want me to watch his film and the MPAA feel the same way they don't need my money either. I think I'll make a trip to the local small science fiction specialty bookstore tomorrow. They deserve my money more than anyone else.

    -----

  137. Re:Preorder by SuperJ · · Score: 0

    I believe we've been over this before. NO!

    --

    Sheepdot: Open Source good, Closed Source baaaaaaad!

  138. In THIS case she is relevant... by mangu · · Score: 1

    ...because she played the queen in the movie being discussed.

  139. Why Can't George Give us the DVD?!??! by Paul+Maud'Dib · · Score: 1

    EEk! And i thought lucas was pretty cool for a while...but now no Star Wars DVD?

    I actually think i understand the *real* reasoning for it. If he comes out with the VHS now *everyone's* going to buy it. Then when he comes out with the DVD 5-10 years down the line everyone will have to buy it *again* It's all about the Benjamins...

    --
    Checkout taccom my worl war II simulator
  140. Lucas & Spielberg by dogbyte12 · · Score: 1

    I am not buying any movies by these two billionaires until all the star wars and indiana jones movies are available on DVD. What is the big hold up anyways? They know the fans want it, but they tell us to just eat cake(VHS) all the same. If they think so little of us, why do we keep going back to them waving our hard earned dollars?

  141. Re:Amazon (and why the boycott MADNESS?) by tidepool · · Score: 1

    For those of you who are un-aware of the amazon.com fiasco (neat!), read the below links:

    Yahoo - Amazon.com Receives Patent for 1-Click
    CNET.com - News - E-commerce - Amazon sues Barnesandnoble.com over patent
    Slashdot | Articles | Amazon Sues B&N over Software Patent
    The New York Times: News That's Unfit

    That is probably enough reading to get the general gist of things.

    Ben Brewer
    brewer@nullified.org

  142. Look mom I'm an idiot! by esobofh · · Score: 1

    Yeah.. i'll buy it on vhs the very next time i run out to buy my latest selection of cassette tapes and 8-track..

    Christ.. even dvd as a standard has been surpassed.. PS-DVD (progressive scan DVD) is already out and way better then standard dvd.. and they want me to buy a VHS tape? blah!

    ----------------------------

    --

    ----------------------------
    Esobofh - Currently drinking fresh mango juice.
    1. Re:Look mom I'm an idiot! by esobofh · · Score: 1

      Progressive scan DVD (currently only being put to market by panasonic - although it was first attempted by toshiba way back in 98) is a format that produces a picture resolution of 480 scan lines (non interlaced, as current dvd's are) - you will need a digital tv to take advantage of it. (i believe upscales it to 1080 lines to make it compatible with digital tv's.)

      More information can be found on one of the million hometheatre sites on the net, or at Panasonic Themselves.

      ----------------------------

      --

      ----------------------------
      Esobofh - Currently drinking fresh mango juice.
  143. calm down before someone gets hurt by grizzo · · Score: 1

    okay kids.

    it looks like some of us have gotten a little too excited by recent articles and controversy to remember one important fact: star wars.

    obi-wan kenobi. does that name ring a bell? of course it does, more so than amazon.com does in my mind. so if you're sitting here dreading the purchase of this video for personal reasons, do yourself a favor and think "darth maul. darth maul. natalie portman in the largest dresses ever constructed," and you'll feel all better.

    it's star wars. quit screwing around and order the movie (find a place to order it from that doesn't make you ill). you can complain on slashdot afterwards. "can articles be moderated as flamebait"??? who cares!!! did you not happen to see that this article had to do with STAR WARS?

    *shudder*

    --
    grizzo: totally insecure, but very convenient.
  144. Re:I've already got it... by grizzo · · Score: 1

    just about everybody has the [crumby] bootleg copy of the movie. that's not the point. the point is that it's being released now, without a DVD, so that we can all get ripped off.

    but i suggest that instead of whining, you either buy the tape or don't. if you buy the tape, don't buy the DVD. if you don't buy the tape, wait for the DVD. don't encourage this kind of behavior by acting like little-mr(s)-good-consumer and buying both (and buying poorly made jar jar action figures for all the kids).

    george lucas has obviously sold out. but the man and the movie are not one in the same, so don't think you're hurting his feelings by talking trash about his movie.

    --
    grizzo: totally insecure, but very convenient.
  145. HA! MPAA? I don't think so by HerrGlock · · Score: 0

    After what they're doing? Not even. Even though I want it. I'll wait.

    --
    Cav Pilot's Reference Page
    UNIX - Not just for Vestal Virgins anymore
  146. Re:Offtopic? by HerrGlock · · Score: 1

    Let's see, a post about a pre-release purchasing of a movie, I suggest that due to the current law suits going on that I might be a bit reluctant to purchase said movie, and someone moderates me as 'Offtopic'? Is that the same person who moderates Natilie Portman getting hot grits down her petrified pants up to 3? Oh well, said my $.02 HerrGlock

    --
    Cav Pilot's Reference Page
    UNIX - Not just for Vestal Virgins anymore
  147. parnership by elegant7x · · Score: 3

    slashdot also has a partnership with fatbrain.com, for books. After the whole one-click shoping thing they switched.

    Of course, fatbrain dosn't sell movies, as far as I know...

    Amber Yuan (--ell7)

    --

    "and dear god does this website suck now." -- CmdrTaco
  148. Who gives a F**k by duplex · · Score: 3
    Why is slashdot promoting Lucas Films so extensively may I ask? Are you guys into it for money? Because you didn't really enjoy The Phantom Menace did you?

    Neither is Star Wars series a real scifi classic nor is it of a particular interest to geeks/nerds unless they are younger than twelve years of age. I mean the episodes IV-VI were passable but the latest LucasFilm production has been such a bastardisation of the SF genre that I felt embarrased and conned with it.

    For crying out loud if you have a separate Section for Star Wars instead of a generic Science Fiction one then I demand the following be Slashdot topics too:

    • CUBE
    • The Matrix
    • PI
    • Alien(s)
    • Blade Runner
    ... and many many others. Why can't we have news on science fiction releases in general instead of ones on this particularly silly series. I'd really enjoy reading on new SF movies/books/authors but instead I need to have a StarWars filter applied (which still doesn't remove the icon btw)... Am I alone?

    Score:-1,Offtopic as there's no other place on /. to say this

  149. The dog! They named the dog... by Binar1 · · Score: 1
    ...Indiana.

    C'mon, we know that as a series, the Indy trilogy was better.

    Buy Empire for the best of the seven (SW+Indy), Raiders for the best of Indy, and Phantom for no one but Natalie.

    Jar Jar sucked. Big time. So did his computer animated buddies.

  150. I've already got it... by Ogre332 · · Score: 1

    ...and I've had since about a week after it came out in theaters. Thank god for technology and the black market. Only thing is I hate that little Z that floats around the screen.

    --
    Shut up brain or I'll stab you with a Q-Tip. - Homer Simpson
    1. Re:I've already got it... by Ogre332 · · Score: 2

      Personally, I'll wait for the DVD's. Hell, we all waited almost 20 years for the prequel, is everyone saying they can't wait 7 years for Lucas to release an "Extra Super Duper Limited Edition (only 5.2 billion copys made, get 'em while they last)Box Set" thats actually just the same old shit in a fancy new wrapper? Most Star Wars fans (myself included) are addicts: he could put out only the pan & scan version one year and we'd buy it. 2 years later he'd put out the widescreen version and we'd buy it. 5 years later he'd put out the special edition and we'd buy it. He knows the people are going to buy it no matter what. He figures he'll make as much money as possible off it.

      --
      Shut up brain or I'll stab you with a Q-Tip. - Homer Simpson
  151. loved it! moderate this up! by FreeBSDrew · · Score: 1

    I actually enjoyed that one. Nice job! Can someone moderate this up?

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    ***
  152. DVD isn't so great as all that... by samelot · · Score: 1

    header note {I understand the urge to want a standard in media technology, but boycotting must be done. Withouth such frenzies to dislike corporate tools, places like slashdot would be no more than a linux HOWTO site. But on to REAL dvd criticism... }

    I believe that DVD is just one more way for corporations to install their products into your telivision, dazzling you with high quality graphics, etc. I, personally, believe that $300 or so for a player, plus the cost of DVDs is a little high.

    VHS is better than I can tell the difference between (if that makes sense), is relatively cheap, and is a standard. As long as new things like DVD keep popping into our lives, we will be forced to keep spending money to keep up with the Jones'.

    Don't let them do this! Make DVD an ultimate failure--make people who bought the players regret it. You are probably right that they will start pushing other types (like divx or whatever), but those will be equally disliked. Wait for a real media type that you think will make a difference in your entertainment hours.

    (and while your add it, fill that uncontrollable urge to boycott!)

    --

    Sam Coskey
    1. Re:DVD isn't so great as all that... by samelot · · Score: 1

      Actually, it is a fairly old TV :-(, but I still can't tell the difference. But its interesting that you bring up the point of studio transfers--considering the fact that they are trying to bring about a new standard, you'd think they would do a good job! I have been disappointed several times (at freinds houses of course...)

      I agree with you that VHS don't last forever, but I think that people will start discovering that well used DVDs won't last forever (I can point out about 5 or 6 of my older but well taken care of CDs that are destined for coaster-dom).

      I will admit, also, that for hard core fans DVD can be a boon. And I would also agree that I am not buying phantom menace until it comes with $100 bill or something--the dialogue made my stomach turn inside out!


      --

      Sam Coskey