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Re: Re: Re: Response to the blessed first dozen (Reply to this comment)
by trust12345
Yes yes and yes.
And how about expanding the "Recent Reviews in Movies" to more than a measly 75-100 films! Music Category will often have double, triple, even quadruple our 3 or 4 pages (25 per) of reviews... It would benefit everyone to have the reviews longer in the rotation...
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Jan 02 '05
10:31 pm PST
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Re: Re: Response to the blessed first dozen (Reply to this comment)
by Stephen_Murray
Again, to paraphrase Leo Durocher, you shoulda been in bed -- at the hour of both your comment postings. And not standing, either...
A general movie category should be instituted. Although I do read books that don't have ISBNs, I should note that the three about which I included capsule reviews in this end-of-leap-year miscellany, do have them and there is not the slightest doubt in my mind that Grace would have added them if I'd asked her to. (Her efficiency goes beyond being impressive to the edge of uncanny.)
There is nothing like ISBN to use to find movies in the database, along with the chaos of movies that are in theaters being listed in the video section and movies that have not been in theaters any time recently being listed as currently playing in theaters.
It might be objected (re: a general movie category) that those looking for a review of a movie couldn't find it, but, unfortunately, many, many reviews cannot be found now due to the mislistings carried over from Muze (e.g., "Piquero" having the links to Piñero"). Thus, to find a review, it is already often necessary to go out to an external search engine such as Google. These should find the reviews with "epinions title" and the reviews would be counted as movie reviews for TR production quotas.
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Jan 02 '05
9:28 am PST
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Re: Response to the blessed first dozen (Reply to this comment)
by trust12345
Stephen-
John, Do you sleep? Posting at 4:24 am EST?
No. -- 3:54 am EST, and counting.
I can't post epinions about most of the movies I watch on TCM, because the movies are not available on VHS or DVD and are not currently playing in theaters. I think that there should be a category for movies that don't fit those criteria, one to which writers can post multiple reviews.
I've written the leads about such things, too. I know they're trying, though apparently without success. Music has such a place (General Music Reviews) for stuff not currently in the database, though of course it's always fun to see something added successfully... My Bergman "Saraband" review, for instance, was aided by Psychovant's adding the film...
I did try to draw inferences from your 25-best list, but failed. I have, however, gotten around to commenting.
Thanks for the comment. I've responded as all good epinionators should, in kind.
-John
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Jan 02 '05
12:58 am PST
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Re: Re: Re #8 (Reply to this comment)
by AliventiAsylum
It would be nice to give them some recognition. People like hard_to_please deserve some recognition. I have a feeling that it would degenrate into politics like so much else has on the site. Then there are people who wrote good, high-quality reviews and quit the site when the money dried up. I don't look at them with the same reverence as I do a roadiem or HTP.
Funny, I never mentioned any category in my comment...
Patti
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Jan 01 '05
5:19 pm PST
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Re: Re: Did you request those books, Stephen? (Reply to this comment)
by gracef
Moreover, those actively contributing to the site may (well, I know some do) feel that the honor is lessened by the continuance of the designation for some users the CLs knew and liked way back when.
Likewise, there are some who think that the title is MORE desirable because it actually means something to have your work being elevated to the same status of great writers.
There's no way to please everyone.
In the end, the CLs in Books have chosen to do what is best for Epinions, and that is to elevate the best written reviews to the top.
We continue to add active TRs to the list. Anyone who stays around for more than one selection would know that.
If someone is going to be discouraged from writing because a handful of people who can write circles around a large percentage of the members here (myself included) have TR status, then they have a MUCH bigger problem than those people and those titles!
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Jan 01 '05
5:02 pm PST
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Fallible memories (Reply to this comment)
by Stephen_Murray
Although-- unlike those who are able to forget yesterday's rationale for invading Iraq with a facility recalling that of the shifting Communist Internationale's party line -- I remember what Bush told the American people and Colin Powell told the world community about why it was necessary to invade Iraq, and -- unlike those who believed Vice President Cheney that Saddam was behind the 9/11 attacks -- my mid-term memory is somewhat functioning, listing the movies I saw and didn't write about has been a challenge. I knew that I'd seen multiple Luise Rainer and Greer Garson movies, and looking at their filmographies enabled me to recall which ones. Those with encyclopedic memories will recognize the clumpings in my list. Associations help trigger memories of others (I'm adding two East German movies), but keeping a list would have saved the need to flog my memory. A New Year's resolution that has more chance than most to be kept is to make such a list for 2005. (Revisiting "The French Connection" tonight will be the first entry.)
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Jan 01 '05
4:01 pm PST
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Re: Did you request those books, Stephen? (Reply to this comment)
by Stephen_Murray
No. You have a perfect record for adding everything I've ever requested--and almost always instantly for all practical purposes.
Having been around the block more than a few times, I know that a book without an ISBN cannot be added, just as movies that are not in theaters or available on VHS or DVD in the US cannot be added.
Books is not the only category with long inactive TRs and I am quite ready to believe that the emerita book TRs are not in addition instead of other possible candidates. Nonetheless, those who are new to the site, and particularly those striving for the coronation as TRs are unlikely to believe that. Moreover, those actively contributing to the site may (well, I know some do) feel that the honor is lessened by the continuance of the designation for some users the CLs knew and liked way back when.
I proposed an alternative recognition for retired TRs in this posting. And I don't think that long-time TRs should be purged for silence through one selection round. But I think that no one who has not posted at least four reviews in a category during the twelve months preceding a round of selection (i.e., one review per quarter) should be dropped.
Of course, turning posted reviews into gibberish is a more serious issue!
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Jan 01 '05
3:51 pm PST
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Did you request those books, Stephen? (Reply to this comment)
by gracef
I swear that I didn't see the requests for those. If I'm mistaken, I'm really, really sorry. Just send me the ISBNs, and I'll see what I can do.
Now, I want to set the record straight on this TR business.
Please read this carefully. (All those people down there who think this is "SIN" read this too.)
NO ONE has EVER been denied a TR spot due to giving inactive TRs spots.
Got that?
NO ONE!
If a person hasn't achieved TR status and thinks that they deserve it, they can ask. We will be happy to tell them why they haven't qualified.
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Jan 01 '05
2:31 pm PST
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By the way, (Reply to this comment)
by weirdo_87
How dare you bash the president by saying the wars has been going poorly! Sure, there's 10,000 casualties recorded so far in Iraq. Sure, the average number of deaths has gone up since the overturn of power on June 28. Sure, our troops have to deal with almost daily attacks while making their patrols in poorly armored vehicles (Donald Rumsfeld, whom Bush said is so dedicated to the troops, basically told them to shut up about the armor). And sure there is a good chance that we'll be in there for a long time to come, even after the elections. And, of course, Bin Laden is still in hiding and laughing at the rest of the world.
But look at we we've done...um...uh...oh, freedom is being spread in the form of little girls going to school for the first time.
Hmm...if that's what the war was about, we should have just sent student loans. Would have been far cheaper than dropping guided bombs and having hundreds of soldiers die, now wouldn't it?
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Jan 01 '05
1:01 pm PST
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hey there again... (Reply to this comment)
by sleeper54
..
AliventiAsylum/Patti said...
"Found one person who hasn't written a review since 2002 still with TOP REVIEWER next to their name."
I can just see this TR (and others) receiving one of the Eps packages being gifted to 'Top Reviewers' ( see the member center for info ) and saying 'wtf..?!? I don't write there anymore!'
Just another bizarre 'we do it this way because we've always done it this way' policy of the CLs and the site.
...tom...
' feeling slighted because I didn't get a personal callout in the replys to earlier comments...:sob:... . . . ...:smiliemoment:... '
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Jan 01 '05
7:55 am PST
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Anne Shirley (Reply to this comment)
by jankp
Think that was the name of Anne of Green Gables, heh. Excellent points made here as usual. Happy New Year. Hope it's a better one!
Jan
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Jan 01 '05
1:54 am PST
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... (Reply to this comment)
by weirdo_87
A fine look back upon what was certainly a memorable year, in Epinions and my life.
I'm with you on many of the points you made concerning Epinions. Those text characters especially (The thing about those is that they don't seem to have a set pattern: They appear in some reviews of mine and not in others). Your point about top reviewers is also certainly interesting and should be considered. Maybe it's sort-of like the hot potato: Nobody wants to deal with the problem until they have to.
Just a curiosity question: Do you remember off the top of your head what movies you saw this year, or do you keep a list of them? I remember what movies I saw this year, but that's because I write down the titles (Besides, I only saw about 20 new movies this year. It was a lame year for filmgoing).
Have a happy 2005, Stephen.
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Jan 01 '05
12:34 am PST
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Stephen Babe (Reply to this comment)
by kristinafh
DANG! I thought I would try to catch up with stuff by starting in writer's corner and what do I find here but your year in review.
Random Thoughts:
* Had I been around recently to know about the screwed up punctuation crap, I probably wouldn't have posted my review tonight. I was forever going back and correcting stuff and then finally I was like - f it.
* I think the older I get, the scarier reality becomes from a politics perspective. I keep on hearing that the opposite of "faith" is fear. How can a person maintain any sort of faith when we have people in power who instill fear in us?
* I don't want to go back to work on Monday. Can you go for me? :>
* I hope 2005 is much better for all of us.
Much love and affection,
Kristina :)
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Dec 31 '04
10:43 pm PST
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Howdy Stephen (Reply to this comment)
by mcmaster
I just wanted to let you know that I do not place myself in any special category just for serving in Iraq. I have a strong view on the war on terrorism that is just my view, for what it's worth and nothing more. Where I get in trouble is when I start talking politics with political gurus like Jack or anyone who keeps up with them. Even though I disagree with a lot of people on political issues, I still respect them and their views. Your points concerning the V.A. are very interesting. I am not sure about the funding when I get out, but I know what kind of treatment I am receiving now. The soldiers are ran through some serious debriefings when they return. This treatment was started right after the first Green berets started returning from Afghan. You may recall about seven of them killed their wives for no apparent reason.
Compared to the soldiers returning home from Vietnam, there is a huge difference. Funding for the V.A. is a very serious issue that Bush and future administrations are going to have to deal with. There are a lot of disabled veterans and the numbers are growing every day. This will be one of the key issues that I will be looking for in the next election. Somersby stated that Bush was against additional VA funding. I am going to do some research on this. On the National Guard note,
I think that the US government should be planning and funding the facilities for treating the massive numbers of nonprofessional soldiers (National Guard personnel) who have been thrown into counterinsurgency and encourages to torture Iraqis.
Most Guard soldiers were active duty at one time or another and most of us are very professional. Those few yahoo's at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, knew they were screwing up! Every soldiers knows that they can refuse an order. Look at those supply soldiers that refused an order to deliver fuel to the frontlines. They were dead wrong and knew it! Hey I have to run...
Take care Stephen and Happy New Year!
Mac
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Dec 31 '04
9:39 pm PST
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Re: Re #8 (Reply to this comment)
by Stephen_Murray
Yeah, May 27, 2002? In that category I saw four top reviewers with no 2004 reviews. This has to discourage those seeking recognition by writing--all the more so in that many of the reviews of the dearly (or not dearly) departed would likely not receive "VH" ratings if posted now by a newbie.
There should be some other way to honor pioneers who have fallen silent on the site that does not stimulate resentment and hopelessness in those actively contributing now.
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Dec 31 '04
9:01 pm PST
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Re: Response to the blessed first dozen (Reply to this comment)
by CyndiA
LOL. I have been called much worse, and you have got my number there (-:
One thing though, you know I do read the answers. Always have. When I ask, I am curious.
OK on the adverb. Kind of hit my ear wrong on the first read. After a couple of extra reads . . . yeah . . . kind of like that.
I always enjoy playing with words. Sometimes I ask members how they are using a certain word. Think it makes folks kind of antsy. Really though, I am just curious. In person, it would be obvious that I'm just wondering. In print, it is hard to add that certain "something."
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Dec 31 '04
6:36 pm PST
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Re #8 (Reply to this comment)
by AliventiAsylum
I went and poked around a bit as I've heard people grousing about this for a while. Found one person who hasn't written a review since 2002 still with TOP REVIEWER next to their name. That is a sin, IMO. I've heard squawking that one of epinions biggest concerns is getting and keeping new writers - where's the incentive when they are being passed over for these titles because for whatever reason people who haven't written a review in 2 years have some indelible hold in the category.
Patti
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Dec 31 '04
5:50 pm PST
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Response to the blessed first dozen (Reply to this comment)
by Stephen_Murray
Thanks to the first dozen comment-leavers.
I did not anticipate anyone defending the introduction of gibberish for characters that used to display just fine. I can't imagine an excuse for this damage, but like the Bush administration, epinions management refuses to acknowledge its mistakes.
I did think that someone might defined the disastrous war on drugs with which I led off. It has been almost as disastrous as Prohibition was, and should be ended, as Prohibition was, by legalizing, monitoring purity of product, and TAXING recreational drugs.
I agree with McMaster that the US was attacked, but it was not attacked by Saddam Hussein, a malevolent ruler but no worse than many with whom the US has been in bed with. Indeed, he is one of the dictators aided and encouraged by the US government in the Reagan/Bush administrations. At least while he was in power, Iraq was not a base for Islamicist terrorists and al-Quaida was not operating there.
The attack on the United States was launched by al-Quaida. Proactive would have been good, but the threat of terrorism in general and the warnings about commercial airliners in particular was dismissed by Bush as something exaggerated by the previous administration, and did not make the list of priorities of the Attorney General, who was far more concerned about medical marijuana, pornography, and assisted suicide.
Then, after lying to the American people and to the world about the threat posed by Saddam Hussein, the Bush administration pulled resources from Aghanistan (illegally, and impeachably in any nonpartisan view) and Osama has continued to elude capture, as al-Quaida cells sprout up in many places and the US is increasingly viewed as a pariah/rogue nation, as Iran and North Korea speed up nuclear weapons manufacture, as Vladimir Putin runs amok with Bush's blessing, etc.
I think that the US government should have planned for administering Iraq. I think that the US government should be planning and funding the facilities for treating the massive numbers of nonprofessional soldiers (National Guard personnel) who have been thrown into counterinsurgency and encourages to torture Iraqis. The Bush budget for the VA in general, and psychiatric services in particular are inadequate...
Thanks again to Mobiprof for telling us how to get around the massive contamination of epinions characters. I did not know that the wizards of Brisbane had done anything to correct the problem (but making it worse is not all that much of a surprise).
Cyndi, yes, I think that you are Pollyanishly naive. I like adverbs, and used "multiply" as an adverb not as a misplaced verb.
DavidMac: I'm surprised, 'cause IMDB has a place to indicate that a movie is available on DVD in Canada. Many good things, including good sense, do not make it across the 49th parallel.
Jack, I haven't seen Besson's "The Messenger." Some day. Appreciate William Hurt's work? That in "Kiss of the Spider Woman," never. My prejudice is not so great that he could not surprise me. And I prefer "pagan" to "heathen," though I was baptized and confirmed an Evangelical United Brethren.
Lily, yeah. For instance, your contributions to epinions in the period before the last round of selection/perpetuation was much greater than that of some long-inactive members, even if their once highly rated reviews are still online.
John, Do you sleep? Posting at 4:24 am EST?
I can't post epinions about most of the movies I watch on TCM, because the movies are not available on VHS or DVD and are not currently playing in theaters. I think that there should be a category for movies that don't fit those criteria, one to which writers can post multiple reviews.
I did try to draw inferences from your 25-best list, but failed. I have, however, gotten around to commenting.
And, Søren, I have no idea how long it took to write. I spent a long time checking titles on IMDB, and pulled out capsule reviews from my 2004 journal (along with an express review for a title that was in the epinions database).
Although I'd like to wake up and find that tomorrow was January 20, 2009, I wish all those who have responded to my miscellaneous posting a healthy, happy, and prosperous 2005 (that's the year that's going to start, right, Mobi?) and hope that I am wrong about the incubation of Islamicist terrorists by the ineptitude of the leaders whose lies and incompetence have been ratified by voting machine totals.
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Dec 31 '04
4:42 pm PST
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oh, I agree (Reply to this comment)
by ifif1938
with so much that you have written from LiLY to the annoying marks that appear on our reviews to the amount of TR's who haven't be active...Much more as well..
Great narrative and very timely,
Happy New Year,
Barbara
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Dec 31 '04
3:35 pm PST
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Scrambled diacritics, a modest proposal for punishment (Reply to this comment)
by Jiahong
It is really infuriating that many of my posted reviews now look like sh_t. Whoever made the change should be strung up by his or her thumbs for at least a week or assigned to go in and supply html to restore every epinion that was readable before and is unreadable now. Epinions has trashed a huge proportion of its reviews. I didn't know that anything had been done to try to fix the problem. Having just looked at one of my reviews that used to have Spanish diacritical marks (when it was posted) was painful to look at.
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Dec 31 '04
3:26 pm PST
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Stephen! Stephen! (Reply to this comment)
by macresarf1
You have not left much for me to say about the state of the World, but I might note that your sane suggestions for Epinions need to be punched home.
I, too, am puzzled by the strange counts and formulas Epinions Masters use. Do you think they are like Enron or Global Crossings? Perhaps they have put all the pennies belonging rightfully to us in a jar, divided them up last week, and are in the Bahamas, right now!
Get a rope!
Meanwhile, Happy Hogmanay!
Alex -- Macresarf1
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Dec 31 '04
2:11 pm PST
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curious (Reply to this comment)
by CyndiA
I was wondering how you figured this:
"epinionators leaving questions in comments and not reading the answers writers provide"
I must be a real pollyanna (-: I figure folks do come back but then don't have more questions or comments to add. So, I don't see more written but suppose anyone having asked a question would press alerts and check.
That also ties in with EP having the alerts go hinkie. I'm certain that during the time when many of us did not get the daily alerts that some of mine ended up lost in the abyss permanently. In fact, I've stumbled on a couple like that when reading back over old stuff a few times.
Interesting review. Enjoyed hearing your thoughts. I think there was one spot were you wanted "multiple" rather than "multiply." It was where you talked about the problems being increased.
Happy New Year!
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Dec 31 '04
11:56 am PST
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===== (Reply to this comment)
by DavidMac
I've never seen Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress but I know for a fact it's available here in Canada as well as Europe -- I've seen the DVD at our local Blockbuster, in the 7-day rental shelves. I've noticed quite a few times how quite a few (non-Canadian) movies make it to video stores in our part of the world but can't quite seem to jump over the 49th parelell to the south... odd.
David
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Dec 31 '04
8:37 am PST
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hey there... (Reply to this comment)
by sleeper54
..
Interesting thoughts...
I would steal John's 'omnibus' thought.
I would also steal mcmaster's thoughts about the political arena. I greatly value his 'been there, done that' viewpoint.
Your near-rant assessment of the functional state of Epinions will go unheard as have ten thousand and one other pleas. But it still is 'most helpful'.
Very nicely said.
...tom...
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Dec 31 '04
8:16 am PST
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Good morning Stephen (Reply to this comment)
by mcmaster
I am amazed by the TR's, Advisor's and some leads at Epinions. I have too much time on my hands lately so I do things like look at how often TR's write reviews. Some active TR have not wrote a single review in a year. Four to eight months without writing a review is common place. The way I understand it, is that the leads take care of the Advisors and TR's in their categories. This would explain why some areas make much more sense than others. I am not sure how active Eps is with their Leads but HOLY COW MAN!!!!!!! It is obvious that there is no practical system that is being used to select TR or Advisors in many areas. On the other hand, there are some leads that are on the ball.
That Microsoft word bug is beyond annoying. I have noticed that a lot of the reviewers have given up and just post it , as is and the bugs literally ruin some reviews. How do you rate these? I wonder why no one will fix the bug? A real bummer that could and should be dealt with.
War on terrorism. I respect your intelligence but wonder about your analysis. Not one pro-active thing has happened with all of the negatives that you listed? This is not Bush's war, we were attacked. We are and have been in Afghan with our most elite soldiers (thousands of Green Berets). Needless to say I see it different than you do. I understand what you believe is happening. Even if we ignored Iraq, Korea and Iran, they are not going to go away. These yahoo's have been trying to blow things up in America for years. They’re radical freaks!! I am going to shut up and leave it there.
Great review, I sure hope they get the bugs fixed.
Happy New Year!
Mac
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Dec 31 '04
5:09 am PST
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O (Reply to this comment)
by trust12345
SM-
Great omnibus essay. I particularly liked the State of Eps and modest proposals, all of which I heartily second. Nice to give mention to those particular 2004 newcomers, indeed worthy additions to the site.
I've started a belated love affair with TCM myself, and have begun to unravel one of the mysteries of how you find so many excellent movies to watch (and where you find them). The other sources mentioned are also compelling.
Clearly, I have more patience with film-going in theaters, but I completely agree-- audience behavior and commercials are often deplorable (always the latter, anyway). I'm generally able to evade these by arriving just before previews-- generally guaranteed a seat anyway since I like to sit in the second or third row (also put the most distance between me and the majority of people). I nearly hit a guy, though, who dared answer his fucking loud-ringing cellphone during a film...
I enjoy Manguel's works on the history of reading (a subject I was focusing on in my Ph.D. in literature), though haven't encountered the book you mentioned.
Happy New Year-
JS
P.S. Considering your massive film-background, I was a bit disappointed by zero comment on my Top 25 lists, even if only to upbraid me for not including enough X Y or Z. But that's neither here nor there.
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Dec 31 '04
1:24 am PST
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