link Sony Cancels Theatrical Release for ‘The Interview’ on Christmas | Variety.
All I can say is, where were the hackers when they released any movie in the past 10 years starring Will Ferrell or Jim Carey? Or any movie featuring Eddie Murphy, Oprah or Whoopi? How about any of the teen horror flicks featuring chain saws, isolated hotels, talking dummies and supernatural crap. This kind of carnage has been inflicted on the American public for years and until now, no one had the guts to stand up to Hollywood and say, “no more!”
Given the success of the James Bond franchise, with their depictions of evil
Eastern Bloc villains, it’s a wonder no one thought of doing what the North Koreans are allegedly doing today. Obviously the Koreans are a tougher audience. In this particular case, apart from the fact that they have criminally hacked Sony and are using extortionist methods, they are saving us from another Seth Rogan epic, so there is a kernel of redemption there. But isn’t it a bit galling that the evil mastermind purportedly behind this extortion resembles Elmer Fudd with a bad haircut?
It’s interesting to note that the reason Sony decided to pull the showing of “The Interview” is based not on threats of violence per se. It is really based on liability. In effect, the fear of lawsuits by people who may be hurt by going to the theatre is more of an issue than people who may genuinely be harmed. So the real fear is with the American legal system. It doesn’t take an evil genius to determine that this model can be used to attack all sorts of commercial operations.
What has happened to America in the aftermath of “The Greatest Generation”? Can anyone imagine this scenario being played out in the 1940’s? The entire mindset of American society has devolved from “Bring it!” in the face of adversity to “Bring me a latte” in our neutered times. Over the generations, people have been lulled into believing that “somebody” has the obligation to make sure people are safe; that some authority is charged with protecting people against all harm. We’ve seen this stupidity through the grotesque machinations of the TSA at airports. As a society, collective risk tolerance has fallen to comical levels. But it’s not because people are less brave, it’s because of legal liability in the event of misfortune. Lawyers again.
Eventually, people will be allowed to go to the theaters again, but it may be after the implementation of metal and perhaps body scanners and dogs at the ticket windows. The tickets will be 3 times the size they are now because they will need the room to print all the disclaimers of risk and acceptance of such. That still doesn’t take away the risk of viewing a crappy movie.
link Ferguson Decision Protesters Target Black Friday Sales.
One of the most useful techniques employed in the influencing of public perception is the shrewd use of language. As we all know by now, nobody ever calls a spade, a spade. It’s called a personal dirt removal apparatus, or a suit other than hearts, clubs or diamonds as the case may be. When you go to rent a car these days, the “mid size sedan” is actually a Mini Cooper. It’s hard to buy a plain hamburger anymore, the entry level is always the “deluxe” burger. The Rolling Stones go on their farewell tour…number 4.
In politics, the labelling of policies with Orwellian gibberish is standard operating procedure. Take for example, the “Affordable Care Act”; “Global Warming”; “man caused disaster” and of course, “Democratic Party”.
The recent violence in Ferguson, Missouri erupted after a grand jury verdict found no fault with the police officer involved in a deadly shooting of a black man. This provided the news starved media with 24 hour coverage that has been shamelessly portrayed through their prism. Despite overwhelming testimony by eye witnesses that Mr. Brown was shot dead because of his criminal actions and not because of his race, the narrative has morphed into a case of institutionalized racial oppression. What’s amusing is that the perpetrators of burning buildings and police cars and destroyers of businesses are benignly labeled as “protesters”. This is akin to calling the thugs who went on the riotous tear through Vancouver after a loss in a Stanley cup game years ago, hockey fans. In labelling the thugs who are destroying their community, “protesters”, they dignify the jerks who happen to enjoy a good wilding under pretext of a legitimate cause.
I’m not so sure that the public would be so accepting of their actions if they were labeled as what they actually are: criminal activities. What if the headlines read “Missouri town invaded by looters and hooligans”? Or how about “All you can smash day declared for Ferguson”. Or they could simply rename the town of Ferguson; call it Mad Maxville.
What if people had a bad meal at PF Chang’s and decided to ransack the town— and towns all over the country? What about annoying people who are only doing their Christmas shopping? People have cut these “protesters” lots of slack because the media has portrayed them as exponents of a festering racial issue. But they’re not; they’re simply criminals being allowed to run amok. I wonder if the media can be sued for aiding and abetting? It’s also going to be curious to see how long the thugs can go on creating havoc under cover of their cause. We’re not sure what the statute of limitations is on legitimate protest versus garden variety breaking and entering. I wonder if people can still run around causing havoc in “protest” over the O.J. Simpson verdict.