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Man Builds $1.5 Million Star Trek-Themed Home Theater (cepro.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the living-lavishly dept.

CIStud writes: This $1.5 million "Star Trek" home theater is the envy of every geek on the planet. The theater is a reconstruction of the bridge of the Starship Enterprise from "Star Trek: Next Generation" and also includes $1 million worth of memorabilia from the classic sci-fi TV show. The home theater was created by financier Marc Bell with the help from Jay Miller of Boca Raton-based Acoustic Innovations. The two started working on the home cinema in 2002 -- before construction of Bell's house even began -- and it took them four years to complete. CEPro reports: "A D-Box controller manipulates hydraulics installed beneath the floorboards, meaning the entire room shakes when anything loud happens on screen. The room also includes a JBL Synthesis sound system, which at the time of installation was only used in commercial theaters. The audio system is currently being upgraded to Dolby Atmos specifications and Bell plans to install a 4K projector. A big movie fan, Bell has had over 3,500 films digitized, which are stored and streamed through a Kaleidescape server. He also spent approximately $35,000 on a Prima Cinema system, allowing him and his family to watch films at home the day they are released in commercial cinemas. A wraparound control center surrounds the 11 custom leather chairs in the theater, eight of which recline into beds, while the doors that open into the theater are exact replicas of the Turbolift doors as seen on the TV show. When someone steps on the circular "transporter," the doors open with that familiar "whoosh" sound." Bell apparently likes to spend his money on others too. He has rented a local movie theater for every Star Trek film released in the past 25 years and has taken all of his employees, friends and their children along on opening night. The Wall Street Journal posted a video on YouTube of the home theater.

108 of 162 comments (clear)

  1. In his Mother's basement by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Mom? Look what I made!

    1. Re:In his Mother's basement by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 1

      I doubt that his mom gave him over a million dollars to build a Star Trek themed theater in the basement of her house, but if that actually happened I'd look up to him with envy instead of scoffing. Even that scenario is far more likely to get moist panties thrown at him than anonymously making fun of him on Slashdot.

      --

      "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)

    2. Re:In his Mother's basement by Tablizer · · Score: 1

      You mean Mother of All Basements. This is Slashdot.

      --
      Table-ized A.I.
    3. Re: In his Mother's basement by Zero__Kelvin · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I am a geek. A true geek. While I appreciate the submitter's belief that he speaks for all geeks I assure you he is wrong. I don't envy this person; I pity them. Seriously ... If you have a million dollars at your disposal and the most productive and cool thing you can think of to do with it is a themed entertainment center then you are truly pitiful. Every true geek on the planet knows that a massively parallel computer system with as many monitors as possible is correct use of large wads of cash.

      --
      Guns don't kill people; Physics kills people! - John Lithgow as Dick Solomon on Third Rock From The Sun
    4. Re:In his Mother's basement by GrumpySteen · · Score: 2

      "Bell's eight-bedroom, 27,000-square-foot home was listed at $35 million in 2014."

      Yeah... keep telling yourself that he's a pathetic, basement-dwelling geek who lives with his parents as you cry yourself to sleep after a dinner of ramen in your one bedroom efficiency that you can barely afford.

    5. Re:In his Mother's basement by cdrudge · · Score: 1

      I don't have a recreated $1.5m Star Trek bridge-themed home theater, so I'd say even in a one bedroom efficiency eating ramen I'm still better off in life.

    6. Re:In his Mother's basement by JonnyCalcutta · · Score: 1

      Or perhaps he suffers from the delusion that wealth and expensive toys aren't the only measure of a life's value?

    7. Re: In his Mother's basement by jellomizer · · Score: 1

      However...
      That computer will be out of date in a few years. But the home theater (Albeit quirky) will raise the value of his home and his assets that 1.5 million dollars didn't go to waste, as he can always sell his home with the extra addition and make up the money, as well he can sell off many of his collections at action for more than he bought them for.

      Getting that super computer is a bad choice.

      --
      If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
    8. Re: In his Mother's basement by edittard · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Spending money on a house doesn't necessarily increase its value at all, let alone by the amount spent.

      --
      At the bottom of the /. main page it says 'Yesterday's News'. Well they got that right.
    9. Re:In his Mother's basement by cdrudge · · Score: 1

      You think you're better off than someone who can afford to blow $1.5 million creating a play room in his $35 million house?

      No, I think I'm better off because I haven't blown $1.5m creating a Star Trek play room, regardless if that's a life savings or couch change.

    10. Re:In his Mother's basement by djrosen · · Score: 1

      Except you have no insight into his life so basing the statement on the fact that guy can afford the media room and extrapolating from that that they guy is some how living less of a life is beyond short sighted.

    11. Re:In his Mother's basement by LWATCDR · · Score: 1

      So you feel that you have the right to judge the value of someone's life as inferior to your because he has more money than you and spent it to create something he wanted?
      "Bell is managing partner of Marc Bell Capital and chairman of Terran Orbital, a company that manufactures satellite components for NASA, and was also a producer of Broadway’s Jersey Boys and Rock of Ages, among other shows."
      It seems the majority of the money is in collection of Star Trek memorabilia. Just how is this any different than some one that has a car collection, aircraft collection, or an art collection? Really over all at this point you just seem to be trying to make yourself feel better about your life.
      You are looking down on someone because they do not live the same way you do. That makes you a snob. It is just that you are a poor snob and not a rich snob.

      --
      See my blog http://ilovecookes.blogspot.com/ for light hearted technical information.
    12. Re: In his Mother's basement by Bing+Tsher+E · · Score: 1

      "The guy did something really dumb" is the implied takeaway. Not that he or anybody else can or cannot afford to do so.

    13. Re: In his Mother's basement by Cajun+Hell · · Score: 1

      Every true geek on the planet knows that a massively parallel computer system with as many monitors as possible is correct use of large wads of cash.

      You didn't look at the pictures of what's underneath his explosive consoles? Dude, RTFA!

      --
      "Believe me!" -- Donald Trump
    14. Re: In his Mother's basement by LWATCDR · · Score: 1

      Why is it really dumb?
      Is it any dumber than spending $50 going to a bar with friends?
      He is no different than a guy that collects cars, art, comic books, airplanes, or old computers. Most of the cost seems to be the collection.

      And this is the original post.
      "I don't have a recreated $1.5m Star Trek bridge-themed home theater, so I'd say even in a one bedroom efficiency eating ramen I'm still better off in life."
      Nope he is a snob.

      --
      See my blog http://ilovecookes.blogspot.com/ for light hearted technical information.
    15. Re: In his Mother's basement by GrumpySteen · · Score: 1

      And the implied takeaway is completely wrong.

      Hobbies are associated with better qualify of life and studies have found that seniors who stay active with hobbies tend to live longer than those who don't. This particular guy's hobby is collecting Star Trek memorabilia and he happens to have enough money to be able to do so on a larger scale.

    16. Re: In his Mother's basement by jedidiah · · Score: 1

      Even for something that is not a niche novelty item, money thrown into your home to "upgrade" it will NEVER be recovered. Your house will be able to fetch the market price per square foot in your area. That's it. Anything you add to your house to suit yourself is money you're never going to get back. So you better just do it for it's own sake.

      Amateurs...

      --
      A Pirate and a Puritan look the same on a balance sheet.
    17. Re: In his Mother's basement by jedidiah · · Score: 1

      I can appreciate the better AV gear. I can appreciate replicating a real theatre experience. I can appreciate creating a more casual version of the same thing. Beyond that, you've lost me. I am more of a purist.

      That includes watching black & white originals and avoiding other attempts to "tinker" with the original material.

      Overwrought home theatres are just not something that impress me in the slightest.

      --
      A Pirate and a Puritan look the same on a balance sheet.
    18. Re:In his Mother's basement by jedidiah · · Score: 1

      > You think you're better off than someone who can afford to blow $1.5 million creating a play room in his $35 million house?

      This is a requirements analysis problem. You don't have to replicate his over price Mac, you just have to come up with something that is suitable. We don't know what he had to do for that 35M house or what he still has to do for it.

      It may simply be not worth the trade off.

      --
      A Pirate and a Puritan look the same on a balance sheet.
    19. Re:In his Mother's basement by cdrudge · · Score: 1

      So you feel that you have the right to judge the value of someone's life as inferior to your because he has more money than you and spent it to create something he wanted?

      I feel I have just as much right to do so as you do judging me. It's an opinion. There's no right or wrong.

    20. Re: In his Mother's basement by jellomizer · · Score: 1

      Well for 1.5 Million I expect it was adding additional livable Square Footage to the home. Vs. just what I have seen on the renovations. I only see perhaps 200k vs of extra renovations to make existing rooms look treky.

      --
      If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
    21. Re: In his Mother's basement by loufoque · · Score: 1

      Take a look at the guy and his trophy wife. He must have tens if not hundreds of millions.
      A couple millions for a funny project? Why not.

    22. Re: In his Mother's basement by drsquare · · Score: 1

      However...
        But the home theater (Albeit quirky) will raise the value of his home

      It will probably make it unsellable.

  2. includes $1 million worth of memorabilia.. plus by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    a lot of over priced electronics, custom furnishings, wood work, etc.. the essential (albeit high end) components to view hdtv/dvd/bd probably cost 75-100k, tops. not that impressive, just some rich fuck with money to burn. sorry.

    1. Re:includes $1 million worth of memorabilia.. plus by MightyMartian · · Score: 4, Funny

      And worst of all, under the new rules, he can only sit in it for 30 minutes at a time!

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    2. Re:includes $1 million worth of memorabilia.. plus by peragrin · · Score: 1

      Why is it whenever i see one of these they look like crap? The theater is too bright, The ready room looks like quark's bar from DS9. So they don't go together. At least he could of used Ten forward for the drink/snack bar.

      Oh sure he has a million dollars in props. but he could hire a proper decorator to create a consistent theme of the star trek rooms?

      --
      i thought once I was found, but it was only a dream.
    3. Re:includes $1 million worth of memorabilia.. plus by doconnor · · Score: 2

      The $1 million worth of memorabilia is an investment and he expects to get his money back and more from that.

      I don't fault him for spending a few hundred grand to enjoy his investment instead of putting it in a safe deposit box.

    4. Re:includes $1 million worth of memorabilia.. plus by jedidiah · · Score: 1

      I know a guy that has plenty of this kind of stuff. He's a real vulture. He waits around for bargains and then swoops. He buys from the people that pay too much for this stuff. He buys from the morons that would brag about how much they spent on this stuff.

      --
      A Pirate and a Puritan look the same on a balance sheet.
    5. Re:includes $1 million worth of memorabilia.. plus by tlhIngan · · Score: 1

      a lot of over priced electronics, custom furnishings, wood work, etc.. the essential (albeit high end) components to view hdtv/dvd/bd probably cost 75-100k, tops. not that impressive, just some rich fuck with money to burn. sorry.

      Not really, high end components can easily top out at $100K each.

      A Trinnov processor, for example, 32 channels can easily run $50K for the unit itself. They make 16 channel versions that average around $20K. This is the processor only, (This is measured in channels - your 7.1 audio is 8 channels, for example, so 32 channels give you standard 7.1 channels plus 24 additional environmental channels for Dolby Atmos or DTS:X processing.)

      Then you need 32+ amps for all those channels, which can range from hundreds to thousands each. Let's say another $16K ($500/channel). Then there's the speakers, which can easily be thousands to several hundred dollars each.

      And that's just audio, nothing fancy, just high end equipment, which if you estimate it out will probably be about $150K or so. A good screen and projector, can top $100K easily - using proper digital theatre projectors, not dinky little ones you find everywhere.

      The players are cheap - trivially so - maybe $5K if you fully outfit yourself with a high end Blu-Ray player ($1K), dozens of other sources and a matrix switcher that goes every which way.

      Then there's the huge labor cost - aligning and setting up, and even more importantly, integration. Creston and other integrators are expensive, so it's probably a quarter million for the equipment and installer to get it all hooked together and working as one cohesive unit.

      Wonder if the IMAX personal home theatre ($400K) includes options for Atmos and DTS:X processing when you're not using IMAX...

  3. Man with too much money is blind by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The theater is a reconstruction of the bridge of the Starship Enterprise from "Star Trek: Next Generation".

    I'm sorry but this barely looks similar to this.

    1. Re:Man with too much money is blind by gweilo8888 · · Score: 5, Informative

      Not sure why you've gotten modded down, because your post is quite correct. It would be accurate to call it Star Trek-themed. To call it a "reconstruction" is to severely overstate its accuracy.

    2. Re:Man with too much money is blind by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      "Man with too much money is blind"

      This is the same Marc Bell who owned FriendFinder, Penthouse, and other online Porn sites, and his devotion to his products may indeed be making him go blind...

    3. Re:Man with too much money is blind by Tablizer · · Score: 2

      Shhhh, it's only a model.

      --
      Table-ized A.I.
    4. Re:Man with too much money is blind by burningcpu · · Score: 1

      While that may be true, the compromises appear to have been made with good intentions. I mean, the guy apparently built it to share with his family, so some accommodations to comfort would be necessary. Anyway, can you really fault the guy for wanting a love-seat instead of those cock-blocker seats?

    5. Re:Man with too much money is blind by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 2

      Not sure why you've gotten modded down, because your post is quite correct.

      Welcome to /.

      --
      It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
    6. Re:Man with too much money is blind by MrKaos · · Score: 1

      I'm sorry but this barely looks similar to this.

      Yeah, a red shirt would never live long enough to sit in a captains chair.

      --
      My ism, it's full of beliefs.
    7. Re:Man with too much money is blind by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      In Star Trek TNG, captains were red shirts.

    8. Re:Man with too much money is blind by MrKaos · · Score: 1

      In Star Trek TNG, captains were red shirts.

      DOH, I'm handing in my communicator now.

      --
      My ism, it's full of beliefs.
    9. Re:Man with too much money is blind by Yvan256 · · Score: 2

      And how does that make you feel? - Counselor Troi

    10. Re:Man with too much money is blind by operagost · · Score: 1

      I don't have any problem with the seats. Indeed, when I pondered making this kind of theater (in my head, as I don't have a million bucks) I intended on replacing the seats... but that's it. His is significantly smaller, to the point that where the rear stations should be is the main entry "turbolift". Maybe he wanted it to be cozier? But for over a mil, I'd expect it to be full sized.

      The lighting appears to be off, but that may just be bad photography.

      --

      Gamingmuseum.com: Give your 3D accelerator a rest.
    11. Re:Man with too much money is blind by MrKaos · · Score: 2

      Like millions of nerds all cried out in horror, and were suddenly silenced.

      --
      My ism, it's full of beliefs.
  4. Then Viacom comes along by fustakrakich · · Score: 3, Funny

    They order the house to be demolished.

    --
    “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
    1. Re:Then Viacom comes along by dwillden · · Score: 1

      *Paramount

      --
      I'm too lazy to compose a creative sig.
    2. Re:Then Viacom comes along by dwillden · · Score: 1

      I'm an idiot, Paramount is part of Viacom. But copyright enforcement efforts for the franchise usually come under Paramount letterheads.

      --
      I'm too lazy to compose a creative sig.
  5. Hater's Gonna Hate... by Proudrooster · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Wow, why all the hate?
    This dude has a sweet home theatre room complete with a pile of Tribbles in the corner.
    Be happy for the guy!

    This is America where you can live you dream!

    If Mr. Bell ever invited me to the USS Bell, I'd gladly come aboard and take in a movie along with some pinball.

    1. Re:Hater's Gonna Hate... by Billly+Gates · · Score: 1, Insightful

      I do think it is awesome.

      However, I will ask how many starving people he could have fed or provided clothes to school children or how hard his employees had to work to earn the money he took?

      I am not hating but sometimes life is not fair. My boss grew up poor and we got into a horrible argument with him yesterday. Another coworker was dating this girl who was broke and didn't have a computer to finish college. He had 2 spare laptops at home. We both argued he shouldn't give them to her as they are Macs and worth a lot. Also it was just 1 date. It got bad as we were accused of being heartless bastards.

      If I ever become rich I would prefer to donate money as my boss thinks burning money is the worst sin you could possible commit. How much better could society be if we spent the same amount of money we spent at Christmas to the homeless or disadvantaged?

      --
      http://saveie6.com/
    2. Re:Hater's Gonna Hate... by Dutch+Gun · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Is it really that black and white? Spending money on toys means a bunch of people have a job creating, installing or servicing those products. I work in the videogame industry, and I have a good job because people spend money on themselves (or their kids) buying videogames. In turn, I spend my own money on lots of different things, which in turn help other people out. That's how economies function. Does it really matter what the products are?

      Moreover, charity can be money down a black hole if you're not extremely careful. The *real* Bill Gates has learned that it's not always easy to ensure charity goes to worthwhile causes or produces any sort of measurable results, improving peoples' lives, even if you're giving away billions.

      --
      Irony: Agile development has too much intertia to be abandoned now.
    3. Re:Hater's Gonna Hate... by aliquis · · Score: 1

      Wow, why all the hate?
      This dude has a sweet home theatre room complete with a pile of Tribbles in the corner.
      Be happy for the guy!

      Those Tribbles are trouble.

    4. Re:Hater's Gonna Hate... by thegarbz · · Score: 2

      Because some people have interesting hobbies, and other people have bitching about everything and everyone on Slashdot.

      Quite frankly the internet is full of a lot of useless trolls and articles like this have a tendency to bring them out of the woodworks.

    5. Re:Hater's Gonna Hate... by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      That depends. We donate a bit of money here and there and companies like Kaleidescape and Prima Cinema lay off people and go out of business leaving even more people in the welfare line just so a few people have been fed for a few days.

      But we have endless waste in absolutely everything we do. Look down and ask yourself if you really needed to spend $40 on those shoes or if $35 would have been enough to protect your feet. Quite frankly $1.5m for a hobby is spare change in the world of premium spending. Instead of attacking the project of people who do what they love, how about attack the spending of people who spend for no good reason. How many times did Steve Jobs take his super expensive yacht out? I think it was close to zero.

    6. Re:Hater's Gonna Hate... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Trickle down is completely unrelated to spending.

      Trickle down is about giving tax breaks to the rich. The flaw with that theory is that they *don't* spend the saved tax money, they hoard it.

      People spending money does in fact stimulate the economy and make jobs.

    7. Re:Hater's Gonna Hate... by vivian · · Score: 1

      At least he is spending his money, which means it gets cycled through the economy employing other people. It would be much worse if he just hoarded it in some hidden offshore account like so many apparently do to avoid paying tax.

      When you have big piles of money sitting in offshore accounts, not only has the tax been dodged (oh sorry I mean legally minimised), it is also a drain on the economy because the money has been effectively taken out of circulation instead of being either reinvested in a business which employs people or spend on goods and services which also employs people.

    8. Re:Hater's Gonna Hate... by MrKaos · · Score: 1, Interesting

      My boss grew up poor and we got into a horrible argument with him yesterday. Another coworker was dating this girl who was broke and didn't have a computer to finish college.

      Is she hot? smart enough to talk to and have anything to offer or is she one of these 'take take take chicks'?

      He had 2 spare laptops at home. We both argued he shouldn't give them to her as they are Macs and worth a lot.

      Set them up so she can use them and invite her around. No, you can't take them home.

      Also it was just 1 date.

      Translation: he is a pussy. Grow a set.

      It got bad as we were accused of being heartless bastards.

      Sounds to me it went like this: 'Hi I'm resonabley hot and if you like my ass and titties you might get to touch them if you let me take this computer home. You'll never see me again because I really despise pussy whipped pussys". Which he is because he has no balls.

      There is a difference between being heartless and having enough self respect so that you are not manipulated because you are a male with testosterone. Here is my reason I like to fuck: I have a penis it is that simple. It is not a leash, it's a cock. This is how this conversation works:

      M:Yeah, I got a mac you can use do your studies on

      F:OMG, you're a life saver, can I use it

      M:Sure, come on over and I'll split a pizza with you. I'll probably be chilling watching a movie or something while you study

      F:Oh, do you mind if I take it home?

      M:I'd prefer not, it has the death star plans on it and my boss would kill me if I let it out of my sight. It's cool if you use it though. I'll be home wednesday, but you'll have to leave around 11 so I can go to sleep.

      Now this doesn't neccesarily mean she is going to fuck him but at least she knows he's not a push over and she can choose yah or nah, no pressure and no big deal if she isn't really into him. Rub one out the first few nights before she comes around so you aren't all clingy and desperate. Have some dinner, civilized but not fancy, show her the computer, then just leave her alone and watch TV or something you normally do. Offer some tea, coffee or water. Make sure there is some not too loud back ground noise if the loo is within earshot and it is clean. Comfortable, not fussy. Throw her out when it comes time.

      At least he won't be down a laptop and she gets to kick off her studies win-win. Maybe down the track she finds another way and doesn't hang out, or maybe it works for her. If your house doesn't look like a shit hole (get a cleaner in every couple of weeks) and you don't stink (have a shower ffs) she might come back because you're a good option or you might decide you don't like this girl and aren't you glad you didn't hand over a mac just to find out you have no balls and move on anyway.

      At the very least a guy like that is going to get some experience talking to her for a little while and seeing if she has anything to offer or is just gold digging. It's an opportunity for sex, if the moment is right or she wants to stay longer, kiss her, then fuck her like a man that has needs. No commitment, it's not love, just a fuck. Nothing heartless about keeping your self respect.

      --
      My ism, it's full of beliefs.
    9. Re:Hater's Gonna Hate... by drinkypoo · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The 80s called. They want their trickle-down economics back.

      Trickle-down works when rich people spend money. It doesn't work when they don't. Rich people should be encouraged to spend their money as much as possible. If we take away tax havens and tax capital gains the same as any other income we can encourage them to spend money through investment instead of sitting on it to avoid taxes. It's totally worthwhile to give tax breaks to the rich, but only as an inducement to spending. Any other kind harms everyone, even them in the long term.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    10. Re:Hater's Gonna Hate... by JonnyCalcutta · · Score: 1

      Thanks McLovin

    11. Re:Hater's Gonna Hate... by judoguy · · Score: 2

      Wow, why all the hate? This dude has a sweet home theatre room complete with a pile of Tribbles in the corner. Be happy for the guy!

      Mod this up! Why the hate? Just because I probably wouldn't take his theater for free (not my design ethic at all), I don't begrudge him his fun.

      And another poster nails it with recognizing that the money spent on it benefits other people directly.

      "Why couldn't he just give that money to poor people?" The 2016 US budget just for Pensions, Health Care, Education and Welfare comes to around 2 1/2 trillion. His theater money ain't gonna help.

      --
      Peace is easy to achieve, just surrender. Liberty is much harder get/keep.
    12. Re:Hater's Gonna Hate... by LWATCDR · · Score: 1

      "had to work to earn the money he took?"
      What?
      Wow...
      If he is running his companies really well he is providing them with jobs and keeping them from getting laid off.
      Really?
      At at the same time you and your boss told someone with two laptops that he should not give one to a person that can not afford one for college?
      "However, I will ask how many starving people he could have fed or provided clothes to school children"
      Well do you have cable TV? How much do you pay? http://www.uniteforsight.org/h...
      It takes $10 to feed a child for a week. How many kids are you letting go hungry every time you go to a movie, Starbucks, Pay for HBO, go out to eat, or have drinks with a friend?
      Until you forgo all your luxuries and donate every cent to charity why do expect someone else to do that same. Also for all you know he does feed lots of children.
      The answer is simple. People want to have some fun. It makes life worth living.

      --
      See my blog http://ilovecookes.blogspot.com/ for light hearted technical information.
    13. Re:Hater's Gonna Hate... by operagost · · Score: 2

      Is this what progressives have devolved to? We point out the FACT that when a rich person-- any person-- buys something, it is a voluntary transaction that benefits both parties. Your response is, "HAH REGAN WAS TEH SEENILE TRICKLE DOWN ARGLEBARGLE". If a rich person saves the money, you complain "SCROOGE MACDUCK TAX WEALTH PUT IT BACK IN TEH ECONOMEE ARGLEBARGLE". Basically, rich people are supposed to put every dollar they earn into "charity" (read: taxes for government social programs that have about a 10% return) and then magically do it again next year, even though they have no capital or liquidity to put at risk anymore.

      --

      Gamingmuseum.com: Give your 3D accelerator a rest.
    14. Re:Hater's Gonna Hate... by jon3k · · Score: 1

      Wow, why all the hate?

      Because they're jealous. The guy's got a hot trophy wife and millions of dollars to burn. I say good for him. It's his money, he earned it and he's enjoying it.

    15. Re:Hater's Gonna Hate... by operagost · · Score: 1

      $35? Why not $30? Or $25? How many starving children in Africa are you willing to sacrifice for your kicks? You'll start sounding like this exchange between Milo and Opus in Bloom County back in the 1980s.

      Milo: I understand that my opponent supports the 55 M.P.H. speed limit.
      Opus: Saves 500 lives a year! I fully support saving lives.
      Milo: Then he'd support the saving of another 10,000 lives by lowering the limit to 40 M.P.H.
      Opus: 40?
      Milo: Or to 20 ... Saving 30,000 lives a year.
      Opus: Gee... 20 is pretty slow.
      Milo: Apparently my opponent would send 30,000 men, women, and children to fiery, mangled deaths just so he can zoom along to his manicurist at 55

      --

      Gamingmuseum.com: Give your 3D accelerator a rest.
    16. Re:Hater's Gonna Hate... by dwillden · · Score: 2

      The point is entirely valid. Rather than just giving the money away to be wasted by some NGO or spent on bribes or stolen or maybe maybe reach someone actually in need. He spent the money which went to employ people in order to build the room and equip and decorate it. Giving a man a job is far better than giving a man a bowl of soup.

      --
      I'm too lazy to compose a creative sig.
    17. Re: Hater's Gonna Hate... by anegg · · Score: 1

      Even more to the point, should we condemn someone for not getting a high-paying stressful job and using their excess income to help others? Selfish slackers who don't make the most of themselves are very unfair to those who could benefit from them sharing?

    18. Re:Hater's Gonna Hate... by lgw · · Score: 1

      and tax capital gains the same as any other income

      Inflation-adjust the gains and few would argue your point there. There is some economic stability gained, I think, from having a "cliff"-style reduction in tax rate after 1 year, instead, as it encourages longer-term investment, but I doubt it's that big a win. Short-term capital gains are of course taxed at the same rate as income now.

      It's totally worthwhile to give tax breaks to the rich, but only as an inducement to spending. Any other kind harms everyone, even them in the long term.

      Many investments are just spending, one level removed.

      --
      Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
    19. Re:Hater's Gonna Hate... by jedidiah · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Not at all. It's far better to give a man a job than a hand out.

      I have zero class envy or class hatred over this guy. The money he spent building this thing went back into the economy. It wasn't hoarded in some offshore tax haven.

      If you want the world changed, there's nothing stopping you.

      --
      A Pirate and a Puritan look the same on a balance sheet.
    20. Re:Hater's Gonna Hate... by jedidiah · · Score: 1

      While he provided a concrete example of his point, the only thing you could manage was some recycled propaganda.

      --
      A Pirate and a Puritan look the same on a balance sheet.
    21. Re:Hater's Gonna Hate... by jedidiah · · Score: 1

      Taxing capital gains like that is stupid. Your own retirement depends on capital gains. If you alter the tax code in this manner you're slitting your own throat.

      Attempts to "punish the rich" usually end up hammering the middle class instead.

      --
      A Pirate and a Puritan look the same on a balance sheet.
    22. Re:Hater's Gonna Hate... by jedidiah · · Score: 2

      People should be able to feed themselves. If they are unable to do this, then this is the real problem. Giving people handouts may make make you feel superior, but they don't deal with the underlying problem.

      --
      A Pirate and a Puritan look the same on a balance sheet.
    23. Re:Hater's Gonna Hate... by jedidiah · · Score: 1

      > How many starving children in Africa are you willing to sacrifice for your kicks?

      They have been starving since before you were born. Bleeding hearts have been bleeding over them since before you were born. When exactly is that problem going to actually get sorted out?

      --
      A Pirate and a Puritan look the same on a balance sheet.
    24. Re:Hater's Gonna Hate... by cbhacking · · Score: 1

      Retirement accounts are very much a special case of capital gains, with restrictions on accessing them and subject to different tax laws. Equating retirement accounts with the type of investments under discussion here is completely disingenuous.

      --
      There's no place I could be, since I've found Serenity...
    25. Re:Hater's Gonna Hate... by aliquis · · Score: 1

      Trump rule.

      Or well. Will rule. <3

      I love it. Give me European Hitler and remove Kebab.

    26. Re:Hater's Gonna Hate... by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      It's totally worthwhile to give tax breaks to the rich, but only as an inducement to spending. Any other kind harms everyone, even them in the long term.

      Many investments are just spending, one level removed.

      Yes, and the problem is that many rich people are putting their gains in offshore tax havens where the only "work" it does is money laundering — instead of spending it by investing it, at which point theoretically it gets spent on making things happen.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    27. Re:Hater's Gonna Hate... by dwillden · · Score: 1

      And your brilliant reply indicates your level of intelligence. Giving a handout is a one time deal. And he's not just sitting on his money, he's returning it into circulation and giving people jobs.

      I am not the idiot here. Try attacking ideas and debating with facts rather than juvenile insults that just prove you have no real argument.

      --
      I'm too lazy to compose a creative sig.
  6. Freaking me out by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    The theater is cool, but the matching his-and-hers outfits are just weird. Seriously, who the hell colour coordinates their outfits with their wife? It's just a bit Stepford.

    1. Re: Freaking me out by easyTree · · Score: 1

      And is wearing red risky? If I were them I'd not be beaming down to the planet in those colours.

      --
      Requiem for the American Dream
    2. Re:Freaking me out by operagost · · Score: 1

      It's a photo shoot.

      And I hope that someday you meet a woman who you adore so much that you're willing to do corny, sweet things like wear matching outfits because what other people think doesn't even come into consideration.

      --

      Gamingmuseum.com: Give your 3D accelerator a rest.
  7. Haven't seen the /. effect in a while by mykepredko · · Score: 1

    It took me four reloads to get to the page.

    As for his home theatre? Meh.

    --
    Mimetics Inc. Twitter
  8. Keith Alexander ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    ... Probably has one too

  9. WTF? by pinzvidz · · Score: 1

    If you're gonna spend that much on a custom home theatre room, at least make it LOOK like the Enterprise D bridge. Not even fucking close.Picard disapproves...

  10. value is relative by bkmoore · · Score: 1

    It might have cost that guy 1.5 million to build, but that doesn't make it worth 1.5 million. Not very many Star Trek fans have 1.5 million in spare change. And most people who do have 1.5 million laying around to spend on a theater, probably wouldn't want it. They'd rather spend their money personalizing their own.

  11. Free the rights? by Octorian · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I wish a bunch of people like this would come together, and see how much of their money it would take to free the rights to Star Trek once and for all. The simple fact that "fan films" are approaching such a level that the studios are now reacting negatively to them, is proof positive that those studios can no longer be trusted to carry on the franchise.

    1. Re:Free the rights? by bkmoore · · Score: 2

      Why? just create a "star-trek-like" open source universe. We'll call it "Cosmos Odyssey", featuring the Starship U.S.S. Constitution. The Captain "Richard Fabius Nelson" and his science officer "Spork" from the planet "Titan" lead a multi-species crew on a six year mission to explore strange new planets, seek out new civilizations, and to bravely go where no species has gone before.

    2. Re:Free the rights? by mrbester · · Score: 1

      The NCC-1701 was a Constitution class starship, so you can't use that.

      --
      "Wait. Something's happening. It's opening up! My God, it's full of apricots!"
    3. Re:Free the rights? by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      In our universe that's probably already close enough that you get slapped with a DMCA bullshit order.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    4. Re:Free the rights? by symes · · Score: 1

      Excuse me? I happen to have a much loved Spork in my kitchen drawer... which will one day boldly go where no cutlery has gone before. Set the controls for the heart of the Pad Thai.

    5. Re:Free the rights? by DerekLyons · · Score: 1

      Seriously. I get so tired of the complaints "waaaah, I can't copy someone else's work because it's copyrighted!".

  12. Non-Sequitur by freeze128 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Man builds 1.5 Million Dollar Star Trek Bridge home theater.

    "It's a great place to watch Game of Thrones."

    AAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!

    1. Re:Non-Sequitur by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I personally like the episode where Khan beheads Captain Kirk whilst his daughter watches.

  13. Why bother clicking on the link? by bscott · · Score: 1

    ... no need to see the pics, we already pretty much know what it looks like!

    --
    Perfectly Normal Industries
  14. I'm trying to decide which is more incongruous by istartedi · · Score: 1

    Is a Gorn bobblehead more or less incongruous than a Spock bobblehead? Tough call, but I'm going with Spock. "Bobbling is not logical". Kirk bobblehead makes perfect sense though.

    --
    For all intensive purposes, "whom" is no longer a word. That begs the question, "who cares"?
  15. If he has as much money as he appears to have, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    ... why didn't he buy a better looking trophy wife?

  16. And he did it many years ago. by Lumpy · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Are we recycling old stories now? This has appeared on Slashdot no less than 6 times by now.

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
  17. About that lighting level. . . by Salgak1 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Appropriate light levels for viewing aren't appropriate light levels for film/video production. Unless, of course you want to see shadows moving in a mostly-gray environment that doesn't show any detail. . .

  18. Hot wife by rfengr · · Score: 1

    Proof you can be middle aged with a gut, Star Trek cave, and a hot wife. Of course he seems to be missing the Star Trek Stategic Operations Simulator arcade game.

  19. Sorry.. by rikkards · · Score: 1

    but there is a point where frivolous becomes ludicrous. Sure it is neat and I am guilty of having a bit of an impulse control issue with gadgets but if he wants to blow his wad, I am sure there are better places (more philanthropic) to spend his money.
    The irony of it is hilarious that he would spend so much on making his media room look like a bridge from a starship from a galaxy where money is no longer coveted.

    1. Re:Sorry.. by LWATCDR · · Score: 1

      Do you pay for HBO? Do you go to the movies? By wine or a drink at a bar? Buy coffee at a coffee shop? Have an gaming console? Go out to dinner or clubbing?

      I am sure there are better places (more philanthropic) to spend your money.

      --
      See my blog http://ilovecookes.blogspot.com/ for light hearted technical information.
    2. Re:Sorry.. by vlad30 · · Score: 1

      I am willing to bet he gave away a lot more money for philanthropic reasons last year than most slashdotters did

      --
      Your'e all thinking it, I just said it for you
  20. Star Wars! by bozzy · · Score: 1

    Just to annoy people he should use this to watch Star Wars movies.

    --
    playmoney.me - The free alternative to paper board game play money
  21. Re:lover gonna lurrrrv... by MrKaos · · Score: 1

    You're welcome

    --
    My ism, it's full of beliefs.
  22. The bidding starts at $1,000,000,000. by westlake · · Score: 1

    I wish a bunch of people like this would come together, and see how much of their money it would take to free the rights to Star Trek once and for all.

    That would be the ownership and global distribution rights to fifty + years of commercially viable film and television productions plus all ancillary rights to books, models, toys, games, costumes. logo wear and other merchandising.

    Not to mention the expense of paying out residuals for the actors, etc. Oh, and you are going to need to set aside some funds to preserve and maintain all that film and video. Not to mention sets, costumes and props.

  23. Set phasers to sad by DrXym · · Score: 1

    Bad enough to waste money on this, but the cinema system costs $35k and shows new movies (from some studios) at a mere $500 a pop in 1080p. A total waste of money.

  24. This is so lame. by westlake · · Score: 1

    Why? just create a "star-trek-like" open source universe. We'll call it "Cosmos Odyssey...." featuring the Starship U.S.S. Constitution.,,,

    There doesn't seem much point in asking the geek to come up with something new.

    That said:

    The modern era of science fiction begins in the 1920s. There is a huge body of first-class work out there in the public domain that hasn't been touched in decades. But to make use of it you would have to design and build original sets and props. Re-imagine the characters and universe for a contemporary audience.

  25. Not a stage set. by westlake · · Score: 1

    I'm sorry but this barely looks similar to this.

    The stage set is not a practical home theater, family room or gallery for ST props and other memorabilia.

  26. This just in.. by bravecanadian · · Score: 1

    some people have way too much money.

    I say this as a Star Trek fan too.

  27. Nice Touch... by transami · · Score: 1

    The tribbles lining the floor are a nice touch.

    --
    :T:R:A:N:S:
  28. liek rain on your wedding day by Thud457 · · Score: 1

    That's a lot of money to spend to pretend to be living in a post-Capitalist utopia.

    --

    the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

  29. Hope he has enough to pay lawyers by kheldan · · Score: 1

    Anyone want to take bets on how long it'll take for CBS/Paramount to sue him for not only building it, infringing on their 'IP', but for posting it on YouTube? Will this be the first time in history that a 'DMCA Takedown' involved 'taking something down' with a wrecking ball and backhoe? Think they'll just destroy his basement, or demolish the entire house?

    Oh and all you assholes out there who are going to give me shit for liking 'classic' Star Trek and NOT liking the crap they're producing now? Especially after the Axanar incident? Shove it up your asses, fuck you sideways with a rusty chainsaw, drink Drano and die horribly, I do not give a flying fuck what you think or say or do, you are wrong, I am right, WE are right (classic Trek fans), YOU have no taste, fuck you sideways with a rusty chainsaw, eat shit, drink Drano, and die horribly. I eagerly await my negative-one 'Troll' or 'Flamebait' rating for this post. Jerks.

    --
    Are YOU using the TOOL, or is the TOOL using YOU? Think about it!
  30. Re:Someone else's money by jedidiah · · Score: 1

    > It's always easy to tell someone else what they should do with their money, isn't it? Let me guess, you're a hard lefter.

    I have ABSOLUTE ZERO envy for this. Other people feel the same way. Perhaps this is something you simply can't comprehend.

    --
    A Pirate and a Puritan look the same on a balance sheet.
  31. Great idea! by sentiblue · · Score: 1

    I'm jealous!!! If I hit the jackpot, I'll definitely get myself one of these home theaters.