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DVD DECEIT
With "Lord of the Rings" not ringing the money bell in DVD sales, it's clear that Drew, Mike (Deadguy) and Terence were right on in this anaysis of the situation (see The Unaplogetic DVD Enthusiast, PCR # 125---N). Not only is there a Lords Special Edition, there's a Lord's commemorative edition that includes cells of the films and 2 LOTR bookends. Where will it end!!! Certainly not with the commemorative!

The industry that brings us DVD has, to me, committed the ultimate consumer sin. What they have done, in essence, is purposely withhold features from DVDs in order to release another version with added features. And they're so blatant about it, they're letting us know the second we slide in the first edition!!!! I can hear them now........

"People are stupid. We can come out with a version of just the film, then a few months later, come out with a Limited Edition..right after that we’ll have a Special Edition. Then, when that’s sold, bookoos we’ll come out with a Director’s Cut. Of course, we’ll have to keep it to ourselves because we don’t want the suckers to figure out our deceitful strategy to screw them out of their hard earned money. Oh sure, we COULD do the decent, moral, ethical and righteous thing and just give them the ultimate version first, and not steal from them, but it’s okay for us to do it, because we have to make sure our gross margin is profitable.

There’s a word---oh yeah. SCUMBAGS.

It's more than great news that others feel as I do, and are now showing these thieves that we’re not the stupid, non-thinking consumers they suspected. Oh sure, at the conception of DVD it was easy to do. We didn’t know what to expect from the product at first, so Limited Editions and Director’s Cuts were cool and in demand. But now, the scummery of their practice is coming back to them. The same reason Lord of the Rings isn’t selling is the same reason my DVD collection hasn’t grown as fast as it did initially. There are several titles out there that I long to have, but refuse to pay up because now I'm smart enough to search the internet for news about special editions.

Just recently, I was checking on "Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan". I couldn't find a thing, but suspected the possibility because of the release of "Star Trek: The Motion Picture--Special Edition". Still, I had held off for some time, then had a chance to get "Khan", "Spock", and "Voyage" at about 40 dollars, so I jumped at it. The next day...THE VERY NEXT DAY....I was surfing the 'net and noticed that "Wrath of Khan" was, indeed, coming out in a special edition. Damn! Don't you just hate it when that happens. In fact, I also learned that "Search for Spock" (ST: III), as well as "Voyage Home" (ST: IV), are coming out in Special Editions with added footage.

Fortunately, my nephew doesn't care about special editions, so he had a very grand birthday present arrive at his house.

Add to that the recent re-release of "Evil Dead: Book of the Dead". For some reason they also came out with a Evil Dead:Special Edition. EDBOTD comes in a fleshy book resembling the Necronomicon, and is loaded with features. EDSE comes in the traditional DVD case and has the same features as EDBOTD with the addition of another special feature NOT INCLUDED on EDBOTD.

As a Christian, I must confess that I was filled with more than just remorse. Truthfully, I was pretty pissed off. It was at this moment of animated unhappiness that the reality of their treachery came into full view. What massive GoNads they must have to release both versions on the same day. Being someone who is completely disgusted with this world anyway, it just reinforced my belief that the world is being run, in every aspect, by people who are only looking to make a buck. Not a unique proclamation, I admit, but the realization of their true intent in all this is beyond comprehension. Worse than that, it's just plain wrong.

BASEBALL ON STRIKE? FANS ON STRIKE!!!
Unless you live on another planet or are completely anti-sport, you no doubt have heard by now that baseball players have set a strike date of August 30th if an new Labor Agreement can't be reached with the owners.

While things looked to be heading in the right direction, it is sad that once again unending greed has taken over on the part of the players association. At the heart of all this, is a plan for a "luxury tax" proposed by the owners, which would, in effect, make the financial structure of baseball more even-keeled, supplementing the income of poorer teams. Basically the richer teams with higher payrolls in cities like New York, would contribute to a fund to help financially strapped clubs like the Montreal Expos, Tampa Devil Rays, Florida Marlins, Minnesota Twins, etc who are nearing or at bankruptcy.

The players immediately looked at this as a salary cap, which they don't want. You may know that a salary cap is just that....a specific money amount each team would be allowed to spend per year on players. In comparison, the Luxury Tax is just that....a tax that would be assessed a team if they surpassed a certain payroll figure. This would make payrolls across baseball more even. You would no longer have the Yankee's paying 120 million a year to its players and Montreal paying 30 million, which is how it is now. Naturally, given the team logistics of NY, they can afford 120 million, which is why you see them in the World Series every year.

The players of course are never wrong, and say the Luxury Tax was misrepresented to them, which is why they thought it was a salary cap. In its most simple form...it doesn't even look like a salary cap. I think the players were the same selfish, stupid, non thinking, money loving, egotists they always are....and just jumped the gun. Being selfish, stupid and non thinking would preclude them from any admission of error.

It's difficult for me to understand the callous, non-feelings for the baseball fan from the players association. Oh sure, we know they don't give a crap about us. We know they're grossly overpaid. We know most of them would probubly have a hard time keeping a job at Burger King with the attitudes they have. But still...... after the strike of '94....after so many fans left and never came back, after all the empty seats....after all the talk about how the fans mean so much to them and how they hope we come back.

Well...some fans did come back. Some fans, like myself, who used to be a baseball junkie, at present catch a game every now and then, but certainly not at the manic clip I once did. Now...on the verge of another players strike, which I believe they strategically put at the cusp of September 11th to force the owners hand, thereby purposely sacrificing the fans emotions and feelings, I am unwilling to wait until August 30th. Therefore, I propose to all sports enthusiasts to STRIKE BASEBALL NOW!!!!! Don't wait until August 30th......STRIKE NOW.

Quit watching baseball today. Don't watch on TV....don't go to the games....don't buy the merchandise in stores....and don't ask these losers for their autograph. The whole point of a season is to get to the post season for a chance to win a championship. This is why people go to games...to support their team. I'm hoping that ALL season ticket holders sue the players association for failing to live up to their contract with the fan. I'm sick of the lot of them. Even now...when I watch a game...all I can think about is how they're all a bunch of overpaid, conceited, egotistical cry-babies who act like their diapers are full. Unfortunately, the diaper is on their head....at least that's how they're acting.

The hardest thing for me to understand is that all....ALL.... of the players have decided to do this to the fans. Here with September 11th looming, and we all know the importance there, these assholes are STILL planning to strike. At a time when the fan needs them the most...more than any time in the history of this nation, they turn their collective backs on us. They will deny this, of course. But call it what it is. Fans shafted on behalf of greed.

The owners have been crying about the financial situation of baseball for years.....and it's so bad now that at least 2 teams are going to be contracted, or dissolved, because they've gone bankrupt and can't afford to continue. This, somehow, means nothing to the players. I guess that shouldn't suprise us, though, as the players don't care about ANY OF THE FANS....let alone those in Montreal and Minnesota.

From what I can gather, the only real snafu to getting a deal done is the amount of the luxury tax, which again, would help the struggling franchises stay afloat. The owners have offered 103 million per club as the top amount to tax.....the players want 130 million per club. This is payroll....not funds to run the team. 130 million per team!!!!!! It's not enough that these jerks also get about 200 bucks a day in meal money...over and above their contract. With all the people out there who are struggling to survive...and hoping just to have a scrap of food to eat a day....these prima donnas are weeping tears of sorrow becuase they only make 24 million dollars a year and think it should be 30 million. ASSHOLES.

Oh well....it's just another example in life of how you have to correct your children. Baseball doesn't belong to the players or the owners, it's merely held hostage by them. Baseball, in its truest essence, belongs to the fan that keeps them in business. To use the players mentality....money talks, so let these money worshipers hear our money loud and clear...as we keep it in our wallets. Not only will you have more money in your pocket, you'll feel pretty damn good about yourself. I know I do. Start today and follow the creed........

STRIKE BASEBALL NOW!!!!!!

Stand up for yourselves....and let them know how you feel the only way they understand....the greedy bastards!

How dare they!

Till next time, take care and God Bless
Matt