AFAIK, this isn't just a "gentleman's agreement", it's an industry practice. In my town, Cinemark built a big theater next to an aging UA theater, planning to put it out of business (since they couldn't show the same movies, being so close together)... But they didn't count on the fact that UA would also build a new theater in another part of town.
When it came to getting movies, the distributors would rather a movie play at both the UA's than just the one Cinemark... So the Cinemark's business went down the tubes.
This may depend on the state you are in, or what distributor you use, though - I'm not really sure about the details. I just know that those two theaters, with 10+ screens EACH, never showed the same movies.
Does it really? I'm gonna lose karma for this but I can't think of any software in my field that has a OSS version as good as the commercial. Photoshop, AfterEffects, Final Cut Pro, ProTools... Nothing open source can touch these programs. the Gimp is getting there, but has a good ways to go. As far as the others go, it probably has a lot to do with lack of good drivers, etc... But I still can't edit a video and mix sound using OSS like I can using Mac or Windows software.
OSS definitely holds or even exceeds in more "traditionally geeky" areas like web servers (nothing beats Apache IMHO), but in a lot of other areas it doesn't seem like it's there yet.
For several months I've (Link to Amazon/something about book) been working on a bottom-up, Net-based marketing program that permits me to push my own book in my own way
"Link to Amazon/something about book"? C'mon, you're a professional writer : please submit stories, not drafts.
Another thing -- how would the energy be transfered back to the Earth? Microwaves?
You could try reading the article, it says how he proposes it be done.
Not that I think his plan would work.
Re:Doesn't the earth receive more?
on
Lunar Power
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· Score: 1
More seriously, what I propose is to make lotsa saucer shaped balloons filled with helium or hydrogen clad with solar cells on top side and a cable on the bottom side and launch 'em high above the clouds and ozone layer. The only drawback is a ~30 km long power cord:-)
1. Can balloons (even helium ones) fly that high?
2. At that height, how long would it take for the gases to leak out?
3. How would you refill them without bringing them down?
4. How would you bring them down?
5. What happens when one is damaged and a solar panel flies down on people's heads from ~30km up?
As far as "using our tax money", it probably is pretty cost effective - use a impounded car, throw in a few grand worth of electronics. Less expensive than having a bunch of police on a stakeout.
Do the police not have enough real crimes to solve that they have to manufacture them? Comon now...
Stealing a car is no longer a real crime?
It stands to reason that someone who tries to steal these "booby-trapped" cars has also stolen other cars in the past. This seems like a good way to stop these people.
Yeah, the house I live in has no phone. We have 4 people living there, each with a cell phone. It's easier than fighting over the long distance bill. And, yes, I know that we could get long distance blocked, but it was still easier to just let everyone have cellphones.
Because I would like to have more than one handset in my house without having to pay 20-40 for each one of them.
My plan lets me hook up to 3 additional phones on my minute pool without paying extra. Of course, I'd still have to buy the phones... But you can get them pretty cheap now.
I agree though, if you have a house or a family, a regular phoneline is needed.
I agree with a lot of what you say, but not with the shareware analogy.
The thing about shareware is that the user has to make an effort to pay. With a music downloading service, they'd make an effort only once, when they signed up. After that, they'd just be billed.
Another difference is that with shareware, users feel like if they are willing to put up with the aggrevation of popup screens, wait times or other reminder methods, then they don't have to pay.
Also, with shareware you can just download a different program. "Drat, turbo-ftp expired, I guess I'll download nitro-ftp." You can't do that with music as easily. If you want a particular song, you want that one specifically.
For me to buy downloaded tracks instead of physical ones, the price would have to be at least half. As the price get nearer to the cost of an actual CD, I'd be less willing to pay. At $1 a track, a 15-song album would be $15, close to a real (major label) CD. Personally, I'd buy the CD and get the case, packaging, etc. Looks nice on my shelf, plus if my Empeg HD fails I can always go back and copy the songs again. Good to have a back up.
There are _lots_ of bands who have only one song I like. There are lots of songs I like that I don't even know who did them. $0.50 a song would work for me, especially if I could hear samples first, find those songs and buy just the ones I want.
And you said you don't buy books, yet you say you'll buy books from half and amazon... This comment is a whole lot of contradictory hot air.... A troll, and a very successful one because I felt compelled to reply....
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AFAIK, this isn't just a "gentleman's agreement", it's an industry practice. In my town, Cinemark built a big theater next to an aging UA theater, planning to put it out of business (since they couldn't show the same movies, being so close together)... But they didn't count on the fact that UA would also build a new theater in another part of town.
When it came to getting movies, the distributors would rather a movie play at both the UA's than just the one Cinemark... So the Cinemark's business went down the tubes.
This may depend on the state you are in, or what distributor you use, though - I'm not really sure about the details. I just know that those two theaters, with 10+ screens EACH, never showed the same movies.
Just look at how quickly planes started blowing up on tv (FOX's "24") after the Trade Center bombings.
well, to be fair, this was probably already filmed before Sept 11th.
This is a poor troll. You're being too obvious.
Does it really? I'm gonna lose karma for this but I can't think of any software in my field that has a OSS version as good as the commercial. Photoshop, AfterEffects, Final Cut Pro, ProTools... Nothing open source can touch these programs. the Gimp is getting there, but has a good ways to go. As far as the others go, it probably has a lot to do with lack of good drivers, etc... But I still can't edit a video and mix sound using OSS like I can using Mac or Windows software.
OSS definitely holds or even exceeds in more "traditionally geeky" areas like web servers (nothing beats Apache IMHO), but in a lot of other areas it doesn't seem like it's there yet.
Sorry, the GIMP can't touch Photoshop for professional print work.
It's great for web graphics, but if you need serious features, you need the real deal.
If you look at the links, the police report repeatedly mentions he is Indian. This is probably why the poster mentioned it as well.
For several months I've (Link to Amazon/something about book) been working on a bottom-up, Net-based marketing program that permits me to push my own book in my own way
"Link to Amazon/something about book"? C'mon, you're a professional writer : please submit stories, not drafts.
Another thing -- how would the energy be transfered back to the Earth? Microwaves?
You could try reading the article, it says how he proposes it be done.
Not that I think his plan would work.
More seriously, what I propose is to make lotsa saucer shaped balloons filled with helium or hydrogen clad with solar cells on top side and a cable on the bottom side and launch 'em high above the clouds and ozone layer. The only drawback is a ~30 km long power cord :-)
1. Can balloons (even helium ones) fly that high?
2. At that height, how long would it take for the gases to leak out?
3. How would you refill them without bringing them down?
4. How would you bring them down?
5. What happens when one is damaged and a solar panel flies down on people's heads from ~30km up?
So is a cop arresting someone who offers to sell him drugs on the street entrapment? Doesn't seem mush different to me.
Wow, yes, that is rough. With that amount of money, though, it would have been really bad if you had kept it and gotten caught. Prison bad.
At least now you have a good story!
No. I don't use drugs.
I really doubt most car thieves (the ones that would be stealing late model cars off the street) would know much about jamming radio signals.
As far as "using our tax money", it probably is pretty cost effective - use a impounded car, throw in a few grand worth of electronics. Less expensive than having a bunch of police on a stakeout.
. I bet it would be possible to devise a situation in which you would knowingly break the law.
Devise a situation, I'm curious. (One that doesn't involve my MP3 collection, please - I'll admit to much of that being illegal.)
Do the police not have enough real crimes to solve that they have to manufacture them? Comon now...
Stealing a car is no longer a real crime?
It stands to reason that someone who tries to steal these "booby-trapped" cars has also stolen other cars in the past. This seems like a good way to stop these people.
Well, for one, I don't like the idea of giving my most important personal info to a company that has a lousy security record...
Yeah, the house I live in has no phone. We have 4 people living there, each with a cell phone. It's easier than fighting over the long distance bill. And, yes, I know that we could get long distance blocked, but it was still easier to just let everyone have cellphones.
Because I would like to have more than one handset in my house without having to pay 20-40 for each one of them.
My plan lets me hook up to 3 additional phones on my minute pool without paying extra. Of course, I'd still have to buy the phones... But you can get them pretty cheap now.
I agree though, if you have a house or a family, a regular phoneline is needed.
I agree with a lot of what you say, but not with the shareware analogy.
The thing about shareware is that the user has to make an effort to pay. With a music downloading service, they'd make an effort only once, when they signed up. After that, they'd just be billed.
Another difference is that with shareware, users feel like if they are willing to put up with the aggrevation of popup screens, wait times or other reminder methods, then they don't have to pay.
Also, with shareware you can just download a different program. "Drat, turbo-ftp expired, I guess I'll download nitro-ftp." You can't do that with music as easily. If you want a particular song, you want that one specifically.
For me to buy downloaded tracks instead of physical ones, the price would have to be at least half. As the price get nearer to the cost of an actual CD, I'd be less willing to pay. At $1 a track, a 15-song album would be $15, close to a real (major label) CD. Personally, I'd buy the CD and get the case, packaging, etc. Looks nice on my shelf, plus if my Empeg HD fails I can always go back and copy the songs again. Good to have a back up.
There are _lots_ of bands who have only one song I like. There are lots of songs I like that I don't even know who did them. $0.50 a song would work for me, especially if I could hear samples first, find those songs and buy just the ones I want.
I thought it was originally the life of the artist + some small amount? Lots of musicians from the 40s, 50 and 60s are still alive.
And you said you don't buy books, yet you say you'll buy books from half and amazon... This comment is a whole lot of contradictory hot air.... A troll, and a very successful one because I felt compelled to reply....
He said he didn't buy NEW books.
Used bookstores do none of this. Should they be illegal?
I think he was being sarcastic.
You know, it's a normal business practice, but if it's online it must be EVIL!