While I wouldn't mind hearing THAT, I'll quote my entire sentence and let you get another read at it.:)
I've always been a big U2 fan, and I'm willing to follow them musically in whatever direction they decide to go, as long as I enjoy the music that comes out of it.
Yes, Rattle and Hum is a lot of musical wanking. Perhaps they sold out, or perhaps they got into the idea of doing some musical wanking being fun. This being the case, good for them! I don't have any preconcieved notions of what kind of music they are supposed to put out.
Boy in my opinion has one or two tracks on it I like. The Unforgettable Fire is so-so, but I'd probably put it above Pop. War is probably one of my favorites, though my absolute favorite would probably have to be Achtung Baby, which was put out after they started selling their bodies and minds by your timeline, correct?
Bono has enjoyed becoming larger than life. In fact, he's created whole stage personas and written songs about becoming larger than life, making fun of it but acknowldging the fact that he revels in it. He certainly gets off on acting like the world's biggest rock star, and he certainly has been in the running for that title at points in his career. Good for him. He's earned it.
When they started as "passionate Irish kids," that's what they were. I would consider it two-dimensional of them to continue to push that image, even though they're among the richest bands in the world now. Nor would I particularly give a shit about their music if all their songs were about ending third world debt or curing AIDS in Africa. They still write songs about the situation in their homeland (including some songs on the much-detested Pop -- take a listen to Staring at the Sun or Please if you don't believe me).
If anything, their last album, All You Can't Leave Behind, was the album which to me seemed like they were whoring themselves the most. They made such a big deal of it being a return to "big, beautiful songs" and how they were "getting back to their roots" and shit. That to me sounds like they were trying to suck up to their alienated demographics. However, I still liked the music that came out of it, and that's the bottom line for me. Period. While we can go back and forth about whther or not this is a publicity stunt, and whether or not it's a good or bad thing to take actions for the sole purpose of selling more albums, we have a god-given right to like the music we like for no other reason than we like it. Not that you're arguing this point, I just want to make it clear that I like U2 because I like their songs.
Very well could be a publicity stunt. I wouldn't think that they needed to resort to stunts for publicity since they are like one of the richest bands ever, and they seem to have no problem selling out stadium after stadium every time they go on tour, but I confess I don't really pay that much attention to what's "hot" and what's "not" these days.
With U2, most of the songs I cherish most on their albums are the ones that don't become singles. If they get into concept polka in the future, I can honestly say that I'll probably download a couple of their songs (most likely after the album actually came out, though) before I decide whether or not to buy the album.
You are certainly entitled to your opinion. My opinion is all I'm expressing. It's just that I consider what you're expressing to be no more than that: your opinion. Not facts. Now I'm done rambling.
They've done it before. You've heard their album Pop, haven't you?
I personally don't consider a band experimenting and dabbling in different musical styles (which is pretty much what U2 has done with every one of their albums) to be pissing on their fans. In fact, I think if anything I would say it's more pandering to release album after album that sounds exactly the same, though that would include some of my favorite bands. Maybe I'm defensive, but I think Pop is a great album. I've always been a big U2 fan, and I'm willing to follow them musically in whatever direction they decide to go, as long as I enjoy the music that comes out of it. So far, I pretty much always have.
I also don't think it's pissing on your fans to want to have some control over the distribution of your own music, especially when the issue in question is the timing of the album's release, most especially if it's not finished. I think the slashdot backlash to the anti-p2p movement is going way overboard here. I would be very disappointed to hear about U2 trying to drag people into court for downloading their music, and I think the response they are threatening to a situation that they do not want is about as adult and mature a response as one can have. They are admitting that they cannot control what file sharers do, which is something a lot of the music industry has yet to come to grips with, but they are putting their money where their mouth is by saying that the actions of file-sharers will ultimately cause the end product to suffer. I don't think any true U2 fan would like to see that happen, and hopefully whoever stole the unfinished album will feel the same way.
But anyone who picks a PC based solution is someone with too much time on their hands, and needs to examine their lifestyle, perhaps.
That's silly. You know there are people who brew their own beer? Why would they wait months for something they could easily buy down at the store? Some people do things for the enjoyment they get out of doing them.
Of course, if the AV software had been bundled with the OS, there would be an outcry (maybe by you, but definitely by someone here, or many someones here) that this was anti-competitive, leveraging their monopoly powers to force other AV firms out of business, etc, etc. It's feasible that the Justice Dept wouldn't be too happy about it either.
On the other hand, I'm sure Symantec and the like are stoked that Microsoft is going to be charging for their AV software.
Oh, I'm sure it wasn't intentional. I haven't even ruled out the possibility that I (and other people) simply fucked up.. Doesn't change the reality of the situation much.
I am also very happy with Livejournal.. and I'm the type of dude who wrote my own PHP scripts to blog with at one point since I was too anal to use anyone else's because of one small reason or another.
And that LJ backup is a very awesome tool, I'd mod you up if I could. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
Well, this is how I *really* dealt with it, at least when it *was* blog entries that I lost.. I shrugged and went "it's just blog entries." However, I did not want to malign (intentionally or unintentionally) anyone who did have such an attachment to their entries, as I did at one point. To me, only the recent ones are interesting.. and I've always blogged to rant, ramble, practice writing, all that crap.
I totally agree with your point, but it may not hold true for everyone.
I remember the day when my Livejournal had been totally wiped. Emptied. Back to square one. I sat there dumbfounded, what had happened to my months of entries? I'm not the only one I've seen this happen to.. I guess all you can really do is move on. Losing data sucks.. Be more rigorous in backing up next time and hopefully it won't happen again.
I've lost unreplacable data a few times now (sometimes on my machine, sometimes on someone else's servers). I should have learned my lesson sooner. Even if it *shouldn't* happen, it does happen. Sucks facing hard immovable reality sometimes.
Someone jibed in one of the commentaries that this show has more PhDs in mathematics on their staff than any cartoon ever. Besides, what self-respecting nerd can't appreciate a show where the characters drink Olde Fortran?
Becuase other people don't know me as well as I know myself? And I wasn't implying that you should go around acting like you're going to fight anyone who gets too close to you. Only macho jackasses do that. More of those, the world doesn't need.
This is helpful and insightful advice if you are so desperate to get a woman that you're willing to manipulate them before you even meet them.
My experience is that most geeks aren't "players," that is to say, they don't treat relationships like games. They may get into fewer relationships, but the ones they get into tend to be more meaningful. Quality over quantity. You'll thank yourself in the long run. And you'll have more respect for yourself too, as will the woman you eventally get with.
Avoid the girls that don't make sense. 90% of the time they don't make sense because they have no clue what they want. I guarantee you that doesn't encompass all of them. The same goes for guys.
The experiences I've seen and heard about (I've never been mugged myself) have told me that the opposite is true, especially when a knife or a gun is involved. If you are not concerned with your own sense of self-preservation, that's fine. Most people would rather die after a long and fufilling life as opposed to getting stabbed in the kidney over a a wallet and a few pieces of plastic and paper. Most people are also smart enough not to confuse pride and machismo, which your comment, as well as your insulting subject line, is brimming with. I would never call someone a pussy for not trying to pummel a guy with a knife to your back.
However, I do think there is something to be said about the way you carry yourself being a good instinctual clue to muggers as to who is an easier mark than others, which is why it pays not to appear meek in public, even if you are.
If it weren't for William Shatner and his hokey, stilted dialog, there would be no Star Trek as we know it today! Pretend you don't love him, but you can't run from the truth.
The union is thinking smart and exploiting situations and people like management does. That's exactly what unions are for, to level the playing field. Better to move now than when management can sit back and chuckle at your requests and continue to shit on you in the same ol' ways as ever. If there's one thing unions are starting to lose in a big way, it's that "gonadal substructure" you were talking about.
I don't really look to movies for relevancy, or for its fashionableness. I look to movies to entertain me. Every Star Wars movie to date has fufilled that role for me, so I will certainly go to see the last one.
Also, if you're hearing anything, it's not crickets but cash registers. Last I checked, the Star Wars movies have all done quite well in the box office, and that's as big an indicator for the "relevancy" of a movie as anything else I can think of.
I actually have a bit of respect for George Lucas sticking to his guns despite protests from fanboys. There's a lot of stuff in the two prequels that I think is dumb or silly, but there are a few moments in the original movies I can say the same thing about, and in the end the movies are still good, so I want to watch them.
To those who don't like them, nobody will force you to watch them.
Star Wars is, was, and always will be FANTASY. There has never been any attempt to interject scientific reality into the star wars universe (execpt for all that midichlorian mumbo jumbo, and look how well that was recieved). The force isn't real, hyperdrives aren't real, lightsabers aren't real, and none of them have any basis in reality. I could go on, but I think y'all get the point.
Some people don't expect our movies to be scientifically sound. I've seen enough of reality; bring on the fantasy.
Slashdot Mirror
Me too!!
While I wouldn't mind hearing THAT, I'll quote my entire sentence and let you get another read at it. :)
I've always been a big U2 fan, and I'm willing to follow them musically in whatever direction they decide to go, as long as I enjoy the music that comes out of it.
Yes, Rattle and Hum is a lot of musical wanking. Perhaps they sold out, or perhaps they got into the idea of doing some musical wanking being fun. This being the case, good for them! I don't have any preconcieved notions of what kind of music they are supposed to put out.
Boy in my opinion has one or two tracks on it I like. The Unforgettable Fire is so-so, but I'd probably put it above Pop. War is probably one of my favorites, though my absolute favorite would probably have to be Achtung Baby, which was put out after they started selling their bodies and minds by your timeline, correct?
Bono has enjoyed becoming larger than life. In fact, he's created whole stage personas and written songs about becoming larger than life, making fun of it but acknowldging the fact that he revels in it. He certainly gets off on acting like the world's biggest rock star, and he certainly has been in the running for that title at points in his career. Good for him. He's earned it.
When they started as "passionate Irish kids," that's what they were. I would consider it two-dimensional of them to continue to push that image, even though they're among the richest bands in the world now. Nor would I particularly give a shit about their music if all their songs were about ending third world debt or curing AIDS in Africa. They still write songs about the situation in their homeland (including some songs on the much-detested Pop -- take a listen to Staring at the Sun or Please if you don't believe me).
If anything, their last album, All You Can't Leave Behind, was the album which to me seemed like they were whoring themselves the most. They made such a big deal of it being a return to "big, beautiful songs" and how they were "getting back to their roots" and shit. That to me sounds like they were trying to suck up to their alienated demographics. However, I still liked the music that came out of it, and that's the bottom line for me. Period. While we can go back and forth about whther or not this is a publicity stunt, and whether or not it's a good or bad thing to take actions for the sole purpose of selling more albums, we have a god-given right to like the music we like for no other reason than we like it. Not that you're arguing this point, I just want to make it clear that I like U2 because I like their songs.
Very well could be a publicity stunt. I wouldn't think that they needed to resort to stunts for publicity since they are like one of the richest bands ever, and they seem to have no problem selling out stadium after stadium every time they go on tour, but I confess I don't really pay that much attention to what's "hot" and what's "not" these days.
With U2, most of the songs I cherish most on their albums are the ones that don't become singles. If they get into concept polka in the future, I can honestly say that I'll probably download a couple of their songs (most likely after the album actually came out, though) before I decide whether or not to buy the album.
You are certainly entitled to your opinion. My opinion is all I'm expressing. It's just that I consider what you're expressing to be no more than that: your opinion. Not facts. Now I'm done rambling.
How is your opinion of U2 insightful in any way?
This is Slashdot. In most cases, Slashdot-style moderation almost always boils down to: Score +1, Me Too.
They've done it before. You've heard their album Pop, haven't you?
I personally don't consider a band experimenting and dabbling in different musical styles (which is pretty much what U2 has done with every one of their albums) to be pissing on their fans. In fact, I think if anything I would say it's more pandering to release album after album that sounds exactly the same, though that would include some of my favorite bands. Maybe I'm defensive, but I think Pop is a great album. I've always been a big U2 fan, and I'm willing to follow them musically in whatever direction they decide to go, as long as I enjoy the music that comes out of it. So far, I pretty much always have.
I also don't think it's pissing on your fans to want to have some control over the distribution of your own music, especially when the issue in question is the timing of the album's release, most especially if it's not finished. I think the slashdot backlash to the anti-p2p movement is going way overboard here. I would be very disappointed to hear about U2 trying to drag people into court for downloading their music, and I think the response they are threatening to a situation that they do not want is about as adult and mature a response as one can have. They are admitting that they cannot control what file sharers do, which is something a lot of the music industry has yet to come to grips with, but they are putting their money where their mouth is by saying that the actions of file-sharers will ultimately cause the end product to suffer. I don't think any true U2 fan would like to see that happen, and hopefully whoever stole the unfinished album will feel the same way.
But anyone who picks a PC based solution is someone with too much time on their hands, and needs to examine their lifestyle, perhaps.
That's silly. You know there are people who brew their own beer? Why would they wait months for something they could easily buy down at the store? Some people do things for the enjoyment they get out of doing them.
Are there enough remaining fan boys who loved the series the justify a purchase like this?
Yes.
Thanks for sharing.
Of course, if the AV software had been bundled with the OS, there would be an outcry (maybe by you, but definitely by someone here, or many someones here) that this was anti-competitive, leveraging their monopoly powers to force other AV firms out of business, etc, etc. It's feasible that the Justice Dept wouldn't be too happy about it either.
On the other hand, I'm sure Symantec and the like are stoked that Microsoft is going to be charging for their AV software.
Oh, I'm sure it wasn't intentional. I haven't even ruled out the possibility that I (and other people) simply fucked up.. Doesn't change the reality of the situation much.
I am also very happy with Livejournal.. and I'm the type of dude who wrote my own PHP scripts to blog with at one point since I was too anal to use anyone else's because of one small reason or another.
And that LJ backup is a very awesome tool, I'd mod you up if I could. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
Well, this is how I *really* dealt with it, at least when it *was* blog entries that I lost.. I shrugged and went "it's just blog entries." However, I did not want to malign (intentionally or unintentionally) anyone who did have such an attachment to their entries, as I did at one point. To me, only the recent ones are interesting.. and I've always blogged to rant, ramble, practice writing, all that crap.
I totally agree with your point, but it may not hold true for everyone.
I remember the day when my Livejournal had been totally wiped. Emptied. Back to square one. I sat there dumbfounded, what had happened to my months of entries? I'm not the only one I've seen this happen to.. I guess all you can really do is move on. Losing data sucks.. Be more rigorous in backing up next time and hopefully it won't happen again.
I've lost unreplacable data a few times now (sometimes on my machine, sometimes on someone else's servers). I should have learned my lesson sooner. Even if it *shouldn't* happen, it does happen. Sucks facing hard immovable reality sometimes.
That I've missed. I've only seen the first two seasons though. That's so awesome. Futurama is the nerdiest cartoon ever.
Someone jibed in one of the commentaries that this show has more PhDs in mathematics on their staff than any cartoon ever. Besides, what self-respecting nerd can't appreciate a show where the characters drink Olde Fortran?
Becuase other people don't know me as well as I know myself? And I wasn't implying that you should go around acting like you're going to fight anyone who gets too close to you. Only macho jackasses do that. More of those, the world doesn't need.
This is helpful and insightful advice if you are so desperate to get a woman that you're willing to manipulate them before you even meet them.
My experience is that most geeks aren't "players," that is to say, they don't treat relationships like games. They may get into fewer relationships, but the ones they get into tend to be more meaningful. Quality over quantity. You'll thank yourself in the long run. And you'll have more respect for yourself too, as will the woman you eventally get with.
Avoid the girls that don't make sense. 90% of the time they don't make sense because they have no clue what they want. I guarantee you that doesn't encompass all of them. The same goes for guys.
The experiences I've seen and heard about (I've never been mugged myself) have told me that the opposite is true, especially when a knife or a gun is involved. If you are not concerned with your own sense of self-preservation, that's fine. Most people would rather die after a long and fufilling life as opposed to getting stabbed in the kidney over a a wallet and a few pieces of plastic and paper. Most people are also smart enough not to confuse pride and machismo, which your comment, as well as your insulting subject line, is brimming with. I would never call someone a pussy for not trying to pummel a guy with a knife to your back.
However, I do think there is something to be said about the way you carry yourself being a good instinctual clue to muggers as to who is an easier mark than others, which is why it pays not to appear meek in public, even if you are.
Actually, it's about appeasing the shareholders. Shareholders always want more.
If it weren't for William Shatner and his hokey, stilted dialog, there would be no Star Trek as we know it today! Pretend you don't love him, but you can't run from the truth.
Absolutely nothing. I was trying to be funny.
How can you be successful if you aren't honest?
Ask Ken Ley, Dick Cheney, Sam Walton, etc etc etc
Sorry, it's obligatory.
The union is thinking smart and exploiting situations and people like management does. That's exactly what unions are for, to level the playing field. Better to move now than when management can sit back and chuckle at your requests and continue to shit on you in the same ol' ways as ever. If there's one thing unions are starting to lose in a big way, it's that "gonadal substructure" you were talking about.
I don't really look to movies for relevancy, or for its fashionableness. I look to movies to entertain me. Every Star Wars movie to date has fufilled that role for me, so I will certainly go to see the last one.
Also, if you're hearing anything, it's not crickets but cash registers. Last I checked, the Star Wars movies have all done quite well in the box office, and that's as big an indicator for the "relevancy" of a movie as anything else I can think of.
I actually have a bit of respect for George Lucas sticking to his guns despite protests from fanboys. There's a lot of stuff in the two prequels that I think is dumb or silly, but there are a few moments in the original movies I can say the same thing about, and in the end the movies are still good, so I want to watch them.
To those who don't like them, nobody will force you to watch them.
Star Wars is, was, and always will be FANTASY. There has never been any attempt to interject scientific reality into the star wars universe (execpt for all that midichlorian mumbo jumbo, and look how well that was recieved). The force isn't real, hyperdrives aren't real, lightsabers aren't real, and none of them have any basis in reality. I could go on, but I think y'all get the point.
Some people don't expect our movies to be scientifically sound. I've seen enough of reality; bring on the fantasy.
You stole my thunder... Sounds like he still came out damn good on this one.