When I went to buy my $9 Upper Deck seats for a Dodgers game last night, I didn’t expect to pay $327.50 per ticket in “convenience charges” to Ticketmaster. I mean, sure, they routinely charge us almost 100% of ticket face values, but 3633% ? For cheap seats at a baseball game it seems just a tad excessive.
On the bright side, it looks like they comped the face value of the seats for me!
I gotta give this dude credit (click the pic to enlarge) – it takes some cojones to flagrantly take 2 vacation days from your company and make a Grand Theft Auto 4 reference as your reason.
So paroxym from Shacknews, we salute you! For being potty guy of the week!
Read the thread [shacknews.com]
This video speaks for itself.
wat.
In a completely random maneuver, Cadbury Schweppes America Beverages is offering a deal to embattled Guns N’ Roses frontman, Axl Rose. If Axl can finish the oft delayed new GNR album, Chinese Democracy, anytime in 2008, the company will give everyone in the US (except for Slash and Buckethead – well played Dr. Pepper) a can of Dr. Pepper.
Axl has already responded to the press release on the Guns N’ Roses website:
If there is any involvement with this promotion by our record company or others, we are unaware of such at this time. And as some of Buckethead’s performances are on our album, I’ll share my Dr Pepper with him.
You know, I may be a jaded music industry expatriate, but of things I first thought of when I saw the press release, contrived label promotion did not cross my mind. Maybe I’m getting naive, or maybe i just want to believe in how awesome Dr. Pepper is because it’s my favorite soda.
Regardless, a high-five to the marketing dude at Dr. Pepper for thinking up these shenanigans. It’s unique and random in a way that’ll get people talking without being trite. It’s a helluva lot cheaper than buying TV ads too.
Minus points, though, for not ponying up the $10 for a domain to host the blog. Was the budget that low?
Read the press release [money.cnn.com]
As for the ‘old’ digital model, he [Rojas] suggested that the only people he knows who buy tracks from iTunes are people who get giftcards from grandparents for Christmas. By this point, audience members started getting agitated. One screamed out something about Rojas disregarding intellectual property.” Mico suggested that it was silly for Rojas to disclaim the traditional model since he called his site RCRD LBL (it’s pronounced ‘record label’) “It’s obviously a bow to the past.. The idea that oh it’s a blog and oh it’s radically different is bllsht.” Then Rojas returned with: “The different is is that we make money.” (Zing!) Mico: “You’re (still) selling music!”
I love it! This is the kind of stuff we need to see more often in the music industry. It’s a good change of pace to have a little mudslinging soften the apocalyptic overtones I always hear whenever someone talks about the industry. I’m disappointed I didn’t get to make it out for this. Those of you who who avoid the panels at SXSW, who’s laughing now? Would you rather hear grown executives sling potty at each other or see Indie Xerox Band #23?
Someone tell me there’s a panel with Bill Nguyen from lala.com and Bob Lefsetz PLEASE!
Read an account of the panel [paidContent.org]
Today’s Penny-Arcade post had me guffawing at the sheer ridiculousness of some of our public servants. It looks like a local Texas county District Attorney is under investigation for using taxpayer money to build what can only be described as an “uber-l33t” gaming computer for use as a “backup” server.
The computer – equipped with two hard drives, seven fans, high-end video and audio cards, a wireless Internet connection and cables that glow under ultraviolet light
Give the guy a break! It must get awful boring down there in Rockwall County, why not flaunt your e-penis a little? Next to $4,300 hookers, this might even sound… wholesome.
It is of my firm belief that Chad and Scott Stapp have an ongoing potty competition going on with each other. It’s the only rational explanation for this.
Your move, Scott.
Read about Chad’s “talent” [sun.co.uk]
ACTIVISION, PLEASE STOP MILKING GUITAR HERO BECAUSE YOU ARE TOO SHORT SIGHTED TO SEE WHAT AN AWESOME BRAND YOU HAVE.
Activision’s already run the once venerable Tony Hawk franchise into the ground with yearly sequels that have diluted the game so much that no one gives a shit anymore. Now it looks like they’re about to do the same with the Guitar Hero franchise in half the time. (Guitar Hero: Aerosmith is scheduled to come roughly six months after Guitar Hero 3) Take a look at Microsoft’s Halo if you want to see a franchise done right. There’s been two sequels since 2001’s Halo: Combat Evolved and each one has been a megaton event game of the year selling record numbers. Do you think the Halo brand would be nearly as strong if they cranked one out every 6 months with new levels being the only difference?
Yes, Activision should do what it can to keep the momentum of the sudden Guitar Hero craze, but they should do it with tactics similar to how Harmonix or Bungie are supporting their games – affordable and regularly available new downloadable content or, in the case of Bungie, listening to the community and tweaking/refreshing/adding game playlists. You could even figure out something new!
Whatever you do, just don’t bombard us with $60 “new” games that simultaneously insult and revolt a big part of your core audience.
I saw over on Nah Right that Prodigy’s latest blog post delineates in exquisite detail his numerous contributions to the rap community.
A few of my favorites:
#2 RAPPING WORDS THAT DONT ALWAYS RHYME
#12 PROTOOLS,,,,STARTED USING IT IN 98
#19 WEB SITES, I HAD INFAMOUSSTORES.COM AND WAS WRITING BLOGS BACK IN 99 LONG BEFORE IT BECAME POPULAR IN HIP HOP TO HAVE A WEB SITE.
#23 MAKING EXPOSING THE ILLUMINATI, SECRET GOVERNMENT AND HIDDEN TRUTHS THAT NEW HOT SHIT…
#26 I COULD JUST KEEP GOING BUT NOW I’M TIRED… HOW DARE YOU QUESTION MY TREND SETTING, LOOK AT WHAT I BRING TO THE TABLE.
For what it’s worth, P, I have never ever questioned your trend setting. You bring to the table a delicious feast of fresh and innovative actions that define the zeitgeist of the 21st century.
(Full list after the jump)