Here’s a story by James R. on how far the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) has gone to stop people from taking camcorders – or any video recording device – into the theaters. This not only happens in the US… this event took place in Toronto. What bothers me personally is not the bad theatre experience, but how easily we’re giving up our privacy rights.
This was posted on politechbot (it was not emailed to me)
By James R:
My girlfriend and I are writers here in Toronto and I thought I’d share this, as if you needed evidence that privacy abuses are out of hand, here’s our completely insane experience with the MPAA from last night.
I wonder what kind of dystopian cyberpunk future we live in when you are physically searched before entering a movie theatre.
Last night (November 3rd), my girlfriend brought me along to see a screening of Derailed at the Paramount theatre in Toronto, which she had to review for a magazine she works for. The lineup for the screening was unusually long, as I think they also fill seats at press screenngs with radio call-in winners, who in hindsight, might have accepted such poor treatment in exchange for the ostensible privilege of paying for $30 worth of parking and fast food at a free $13 movie.
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A commercial for a not-as-healthy-as-you-think meal. If this location looks familiar, you’re right! This commercial was shot at the Grant Park Shopping Centre location in Winnipeg, Manitoba, although the patio is actually a parking lot and those are fake pine trees.
McDonad’s Monday idea by Jim SquiresÂ
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One of my co-authors over at fjetsam recently posted this video up at theBBPS, and I thought it was just too good to keep a secret.
If the internet has taught me anything, it’s that talent shows are a staple of Japanese TV. In this clip we see a man acting out a game of the arcade classic Breakout (think Arkanoid, only older) using only his mouth and marshmallows. Brilliant!
Jim Squires (JimmyCanuck) has a fabulous weekly “McDonald’s Mondays” post at fjetsam. He has kindly given me permission to post these McDonald’s Mondays here at SmartCanucks. Thanks Jim 🙂
All McDonald’s Mondays commentary and videos are by Jim Squires. You can read more of his wonderful posts at fjetsam.
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What better way to kick off McDonald’s Mondays than with a little clip from behind the counter? This is definitive early Late Show from way back when Dave was a brand new face in the CBS roster. Someone got the bright idea to put Letterman right there in the drive thru window, and hilarity ensues.
I love Dave, but for those of you who didn’t grow up watching him back in the day, this is an example of when Dave was great. And on a more McDonald’s related note, weren’t those pastel uniforms just the worst??
Days Inn changed its ugly logo to a better looking one. But no matter what the logo looks like, Days Inn hotels are one of the cheapest and crappiest hotel chains out there. A lot more than a logo change is needed for Days Inn to improve. Maybe it’s just me, but I’ve never had a single good experience with them.
Old logo:
New logo:
via brandnew
On SC’s forum we were discussing how we would spend our money if we won the jackpot.
Brad Duke pocketed a lump sum of $85 million after winning a Powerball jackpot in 2005. I like the way he’s spending his money and would probably do the same (although I think he should give a bit more to charity)
Here’s how Brad spends his money
In Forbes “World’s Fattest Countries”, Canada ranked as the 35th fattest country in the world. 61.1% of Canadian adults aged 15 and over are overweight.
Here’s the Forbes list of World’s fattest countries
Thanks Julie for mentioning this hilarious video 🙂
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Jim Squires posted a superb article at fjetsam about 20 things you didn’t know about Seasame Street. I couldn’t resist posting this interesting list here 🙂
1. Baby Bear is Jewish.
2. The Count is nearly two million years old.
3. The Count’s laugh after counting each number was discontinued over concerns of it frightening children.
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Must, bid the Morn awake!
Sad Winter now declines,
Each bird doth choose a mate;
This day’s Saint Valentine’s.
For that good bishop’s sake
Get up and let us see
What beauty it shall be
That Fortune us assigns.
~Michael DraytonÂ
Windows Vista is my favourite!
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Seems like the new iPhone ringtone has been leaked (but I wouldn’t be surprised if Apple changes it before launching the iPhone in July). Although not the most creative of ringtones, it’s actually not that bad… it reminds me of Sony Ericson’s old polyphonic ringtones.
I put the ringtones on SmartCanucks.ca for you to download 🙂 Note that you can use these mp3s on any cell phone that plays mp3s not just the iPhone.
Click here to download the original iPhone ringtone in mp3 format
Click here to download a remix of the iPhone ringtone
Click here to download the iPhone ringtone in mid
[via digg]
