The Spirited Back Nine ...

Cody5294

Cody5294

Well-Known Member
Seeing the Osborne Lights one last time on Sunday. Very sad that Disney Worlds best holiday offering is biting the dust. Walking around Fort Wilderness Canpground at night looking at all of the Christmas lights has become my favorite tradition though and at least that won't be going away anytime soon
 
dhall

dhall

Well-Known Member
PhotoDave219 said:
That was very sophisticated level of computer warfare. Impressive beyond believe just meant to wreck havok.

So whats the answer? Because I'm more inclined to believe the Wired article that suggests it was China who made it look like it was NK. And I still think in this case they were empty threats, but thats just me.

Honestly, I'm not horribly worried about some movie studio and their lack of corporate IT security. I'm more concerned with public utilities, electrical grids, water supplies, power plants, etc. Thats the scary stuff. How do you secure those facilities?
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I think the most cynical/paranoid theory possible is that the hackers were actually employeed by


Sony


Knowing that without some totally outrageous marketing scheme, they're stuck with Rogen's worst film ever, and they came up with a scheme to make viewing this movie every 'Murican's patriotic duty.
 
BrianLo

BrianLo

Well-Known Member
WDW1974 said:
Hey, remember me? I want to thank all the MAGICal folks who have sent notes and/or asked others about my prolonged absence from this forum. It does mean a lot that folks care since we do live in a cold, sometimes impossibly to fathom (Pakistan school attack) cruel world.

As many of you know, my uncle passed away quite unexpectedly in September and the fall has just been a series of disasters culminating in a life threatening illness involving one of my parents. It has been touch and go at times and while this place has been a great stress reliever often in the past, I'm just so lacking in energy and can't ... or won't devote it going back and forth over things that while I'm passionate about really don't amount to a great deal in the bigger picture.

That's largely why you haven't seen me here. I can't even say I've done much lurking. ... It's sorta like loving food until you get sick and then the thought of eating anything makes you worse.

I guess what I am saying is that I am not going to be a regular member of this community anymore. I wish it were due to other circumstances, but it is what it is.

I am debating starting one last thread before I go off into the ether because in the midst of all the madness I recently spent a week on the Disney Fantasy (can't praise it enough) and another week at WDW and UNI with my favorite gal (Angie M.), a very high level German official :) .

I do have some news (nothing huge, but interesting nonetheless) and observations I'd like to get out and I won't be working at all until 2015 so ... we'll see if I can muster the interest. Guess I have some or I wouldn't be here typing this now.
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Sorry to hear about the tough fall for your family.

It's always sad to see keystone posters move on. I've seen enough forums come and go in the last two decades to know a select few members can drive a lot of traffic. Fortunately WDWMagic should press on in your absence, but clearly you'll be missed!

Before you go though, don't forget I've been ever so patient waiting to hear about the Asian parks (HKDL in particular).

Cheers and all the best!
 
GoofGoof

GoofGoof

Premium Member
WDW1974 said:
Hey, remember me? I want to thank all the MAGICal folks who have sent notes and/or asked others about my prolonged absence from this forum. It does mean a lot that folks care since we do live in a cold, sometimes impossibly to fathom (Pakistan school attack) cruel world.

As many of you know, my uncle passed away quite unexpectedly in September and the fall has just been a series of disasters culminating in a life threatening illness involving one of my parents. It has been touch and go at times and while this place has been a great stress reliever often in the past, I'm just so lacking in energy and can't ... or won't devote it going back and forth over things that while I'm passionate about really don't amount to a great deal in the bigger picture.

That's largely why you haven't seen me here. I can't even say I've done much lurking. ... It's sorta like loving food until you get sick and then the thought of eating anything makes you worse.

I guess what I am saying is that I am not going to be a regular member of this community anymore. I wish it were due to other circumstances, but it is what it is.

I am debating starting one last thread before I go off into the ether because in the midst of all the madness I recently spent a week on the Disney Fantasy (can't praise it enough) and another week at WDW and UNI with my favorite gal (Angie M.), a very high level German official :) .

I do have some news (nothing huge, but interesting nonetheless) and observations I'd like to get out and I won't be working at all until 2015 so ... we'll see if I can muster the interest. Guess I have some or I wouldn't be here typing this now.

Some quick thoughts though:

WDW was at least moderately busy when I was there at most parks (mostly MK and EPCOT at CP time). UNI was NOT. The UNI fanbois can crow about the quality of the product and they are right. But at both UNI/IOA EVERY attraction had waits listed at 20 minutes or less and were all essentially walk-ons ... yes, that included all the Potter attractions in each park. That was not the case at WDW. Fact.

Fat lazy people in ECVs who prevent handicapped children from getting on buses in 45 degree weather make me ill. I spent an entire bus ride from WL to MK trying to shame these worthless dregs because one of my big personality flaws is I care about what's right.

I want to live in St. John if I have to remain in the USA.

The fried chicken at the HDDR must be coated in pixie dust because it is amazing.

Meg retiring next summer. Georgie K spotted in Burbank and Paris in the last week. Yes, I am worried.

Illuminations really does have new lasers.

Enjoy the Ozzy and Sharon Lightacular while you can.

Apologies to my friends in O-Town who I didn't contact. I have limited time with Angie and meeting up this time just wasn't in the cards with a few exceptions.

Anyway, going to think about a real thread and see if I am up for it ... but please enjoy discussing politics here in light of the Sony decision.

Besides, Disney is already looking into options in Cuba and remember this post in five years. Really!
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Sorry to hear about your uncle and the family illness. It won't be the same without you here, but I understand where you are coming from. You will be missed and not just for your inside information and insight into the inner workings of TWDC.
 
Hakunamatata

Hakunamatata

Le Meh
Premium Member
WDW1974 said:
Hey, remember me? I want to thank all the MAGICal folks who have sent notes and/or asked others about my prolonged absence from this forum. It does mean a lot that folks care since we do live in a cold, sometimes impossibly to fathom (Pakistan school attack) cruel world.

...........

Fat lazy people in ECVs who prevent handicapped children from getting on buses in 45 degree weather make me ill. I spent an entire bus ride from WL to MK trying to shame these worthless dregs because one of my big personality flaws is I care about what's right.
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I found these two streams of thought quite ironic.

I wish you well on your future endeavors and improved health of your loved ones.
 
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AEfx

AEfx

Well-Known Member
PhotoDave219 said:
I get that... but I feel the other side is going to do bad stuff no matter what. Why cave to their demands?
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I want to feel that way, but I just don't. By all accounts the film is a piece of junk, anyway. Sony is already facing lawsuits from affected employees, if something really happened "bad" related to the film (actual violence) Sony would be out of business with liability lawsuits.

While again, on principle, I want to say - "Heck yeah!" to releasing the film - I don't think it's something enough to go to war over. It should have never been made in the first place. I'd fire everyone involved in approving it to begin with.

Not a week goes by that I don't hear about some school being evacuated and classes cancelled for a day or two because some idiot kid called in a threat or left a note, they are "giving in" as well to the demands. I don't blame theaters at all for not wanting to show this film, with threats from some entity that has already shown they are capable of damage - and if you can't book a film in major chains, there is no reason to release it financially, at least for now. It would cost more to ship the prints than they would get from the comparably scant few "independent" theaters that still exist even if they wanted to take the risk.

There was no good answer to this situation, except for them never being stupid enough to make the film in the first place.

That's been the real eye opener to our current cultural state, to be honest - because we view NK as a "bad guy" it's ok and folks say this film is "freedom of speech, man!" (even though as I am sure you know, it has nothing at all to do with freedom of speech, one of the most misunderstood rights ever). If this had been about...another topic, something we are supposed to be "culturally sensitive" to - it never would have been made in the first place, and if someone dared, it would have been condemned immediately as "insensitive" and meant to "incite".
 
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truecoat

truecoat

Well-Known Member
AEfx said:
I want to feel that way, but I just don't. By all accounts the film is a piece of junk, anyway. Sony is already facing lawsuits from affected employees, if something really happened "bad" related to the film (actual violence) Sony would be out of business with liability lawsuits.

While again, on principle, I want to say - "Heck yeah!" to releasing the film - I don't think it's something enough to go to war over. It should have never been made in the first place. I'd fire everyone involved in approving it to begin with.

Not a week goes by that I don't hear about some school being evacuated and classes cancelled for a day or two because some idiot kid called in a threat or left a note, they are "giving in" as well to the demands. I don't blame theaters at all for not wanting to show this film, with threats from some entity that has already shown they are capable of damage - and if you can't book a film in major chains, there is no reason to release it financially, at least for now. It would cost more to ship the prints than they would get from the comparably scant few "independent" theaters that still exist even if they wanted to take the risk.

There was no good answer to this situation, except for them never being stupid enough to make the film in the first place.

That's been the real eye opener to our current cultural state, to be honest - because we view NK as a "bad guy" it's ok and folks say this film is "freedom of speech, man!" (even though as I am sure you know, it has nothing at all to do with freedom of speech, one of the most misunderstood rights ever). If this had been about...another topic, something we are supposed to be "culturally sensitive" to - it never would have been made in the first place, and if someone dared, it would have been condemned immediately as "insensitive" and meant to "incite".
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Make no mistake about it, he is a bad guy. This isn't from a certain point of view, he is the real deal.
 
AEfx

AEfx

Well-Known Member
truecoat said:
Make no mistake about it, he is a bad guy. This isn't from a certain point of view, he is the real deal.
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I have no doubt whatsoever. That's completely beside the point. And an /eyeroll thrown in for thinking I didn't already know that, LOL.

The simple point is, making a film about ANY real leader of ANY country in this manner was sheer stupidity. And it was simply done for the sake of being controversial to begin with - they simply got a lot more "controversy" than they bargained for. There is no artistic statement here whatsoever - there is no statement to be made that couldn't be about a fictional leader, if this story is so great that it needed to be told. It simply was the "hook" to drum up interest (in again, what I hear is a really bad movie, anyway).

But the larger point that I think you missed is that - if this had been, say, a cartoon of a historical figure dead centuries ago, Sony would be chastised for doing it to begin with, for "inciting" unrest and the country would be demanding it be pulled. It would be considered "culturally insensitive". I am amazed that I haven't seen one comparison in the media regarding this. Of course not, though, because they would be admitting their own hypocrisy. I only wish Bill Maher wasn't in his winter hiatus, because I have a feeling he would be the only one would would say it on the air.

To make a film about a current world leader (no matter what we think of him) and his death in a comedy? I mean, come on - if nothing is culturally insensitive, THAT is! It's a product of the studios being in love with Rogan, and some night that he and Franco got really stoned and playing, "you know what would be funny?" As one who has been in that situation before, as anyone else has, you know - yeah, those aren't always the best ideas to bring to fruition.


BTW, there is a new op-ed from Penn Gillette over at CNN that I found interesting. I usually agree with him but in this case he is looking at this all wrong. His comparison with Jennifer Lawrence is completely incorrect. Those photos were her private property on her personal cell phone. Now, granted, she shouldn't have been dumb enough to take them anyway, but it's far different from what Pascal and Rudin (as well as others) did.

They were using the corporate email of a publicly held company to say the things they did - which are all a matter of the corporate record. That doesn't make them public record, but gives them the potential to - should a lawsuit or other legal reason come for their disclosure. You simply don't put anything on the Internet you wouldn't want someone else to see, but if you work for a publicly held corporation, you really REALLY don't do it, because as a matter of doing business as such every single thing is archived and has potential for review.

I never thought much about Rudin at all, but I am really more upset about Pascal and her thinking those comments were OK to make - she was such a symbol for females in corporate America, and it's a shame she took these risks in saying things that should never have been written down and that will taint her otherwise rather impressive legacy.
 
truecoat

truecoat

Well-Known Member
AEfx said:
I have no doubt whatsoever. That's completely beside the point. And an /eyeroll thrown in for thinking I didn't already know that, LOL.

The simple point is, making a film about ANY real leader of ANY country in this manner was sheer stupidity. And it was simply done for the sake of being controversial to begin with - they simply got a lot more "controversy" than they bargained for. There is no artistic statement here whatsoever - there is no statement to be made that couldn't be about a fictional leader, if this story is so great that it needed to be told. It simply was the "hook" to drum up interest (in again, what I hear is a really bad movie, anyway).

But the larger point that I think you missed is that - if this had been, say, a cartoon of a historical figure dead centuries ago, Sony would be chastised for doing it to begin with, for "inciting" unrest and the country would be demanding it be pulled. It would be considered "culturally insensitive". I am amazed that I haven't seen one comparison in the media regarding this. Of course not, though, because they would be admitting their own hypocrisy. I only wish Bill Maher wasn't in his winter hiatus, because I have a feeling he would be the only one would would say it on the air.

To make a film about a current world leader (no matter what we think of him) and his death in a comedy? I mean, come on - if nothing is culturally insensitive, THAT is! It's a product of the studios being in love with Rogan, and some night that he and Franco got really stoned and playing, "you know what would be funny?" As one who has been in that situation before, as anyone else has, you know - yeah, those aren't always the best ideas to bring to fruition.


BTW, there is a new op-ed from Penn Gillette over at CNN that I found interesting. I usually agree with him but in this case he is looking at this all wrong. His comparison with Jennifer Lawrence is completely incorrect. Those photos were her private property on her personal cell phone. Now, granted, she shouldn't have been dumb enough to take them anyway, but it's far different from what Pascal and Rudin (as well as others) did.

They were using the corporate email of a publicly held company to say the things they did - which are all a matter of the corporate record. That doesn't make them public record, but gives them the potential to - should a lawsuit or other legal reason come for their disclosure. You simply don't put anything on the Internet you wouldn't want someone else to see, but if you work for a publicly held corporation, you really REALLY don't do it, because as a matter of doing business as such every single thing is archived and has potential for review.

I never thought much about Rudin at all, but I am really more upset about Pascal and her thinking those comments were OK to make - she was such a symbol for females in corporate America, and it's a shame she took these risks in saying things that should never have been written down and that will taint her otherwise rather impressive legacy.
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It's easy to lose the larger point when you use so many air quotes.
 
WDW1974

WDW1974

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Spirited Clarification (not that I believe I wasn't clear but ...):

Some folks have been writing me thinking I am headed off to never be heard from again (sorry to my pals at Celebration Place, Burbank, George and Andy's private chambers, and countless Lifestyler corners, but that is NOT the case).

What I said simply was that due to some crappy situations in the real world, I will no longer be a regular member of this community. Doesn't mean you'll never hear from me or that I won't post here. It just means no more long Spirited threads (although, by all means, please keep posting to those that exist and support the site!) and me not stopping by here daily or even weekly anymore. It means that I most certainly won't respond when tagged (I think I'm about 254 of those behind) and that I can't guarantee timely responses to PMs/emails.

If I have news and can drop by, then I most certainly will. If not, then I'll either pass it to the hillbilly (that's @Lee if you had any doubts) or see if some blogger breaks it. Just not that important.

It means no matter how I'd like to jump on a thread (like the one saying how packed the parks, the WDW parks, were in early December when I saw firsthand that wasn't the case), I'm just not going to.

No matter how much I'd like to point out that fanboi angst of a fountain's removal at the Poly totally misses the much larger, more important, point of why change at WDW over the last 15-plus years has almost always been a bad thing and the reasons behind it, I'm going to sit back and let others do so.

No matter how much I'd like to play Fun With Tweets ...well, that one is something y'all can play for yourselves at home with no help from moi.

With that said, I've decided that (barring any more disasters this week) ending things on No. 9 just seems so wrong (yes, fanbois, even if it feels so right at the time), so look for a Spirited Numero Nueve Plus Uno coming soon where we can talk about DCL vs. WDW, DCL expansion, how empty UNI has been, why Iger and Co aren't happy with Big Hero 6's box office, why I was stuck at EPCOT while someone close to me was enjoying HKDL and, possibly, about a fully masterplanned Disney resort that never happened and you quite likely never heard of (nope, not for the USA!)

Thanks again to those who have sent kind notes. I don't forget things like that and I will respond to you all.

Happy Holidays to the entire MAGICal Community here!
 
bhg469

bhg469

Well-Known Member
WDW1974 said:
Spirited Clarification (not that I believe I wasn't clear but ...):

Some folks have been writing me thinking I am headed off to never be heard from again (sorry to my pals at Celebration Place, Burbank, George and Andy's private chambers, and countless Lifestyler corners, but that is NOT the case).

What I said simply was that due to some crappy situations in the real world, I will no longer be a regular member of this community. Doesn't mean you'll never hear from me or that I won't post here. It just means no more long Spirited threads (although, by all means, please keep posting to those that exist and support the site!) and me not stopping by here daily or even weekly anymore. It means that I most certainly won't respond when tagged (I think I'm about 254 of those behind) and that I can't guarantee timely responses to PMs/emails.

If I have news and can drop by, then I most certainly will. If not, then I'll either pass it to the hillbilly (that's @Lee if you had any doubts) or see if some blogger breaks it. Just not that important.

It means no matter how I'd like to jump on a thread (like the one saying how packed the parks, the WDW parks, were in early December when I saw firsthand that wasn't the case), I'm just not going to.

No matter how much I'd like to point out that fanboi angst of a fountain's removal at the Poly totally misses the much larger, more important, point of why change at WDW over the last 15-plus years has almost always been a bad thing and the reasons behind it, I'm going to sit back and let others do so.

No matter how much I'd like to play Fun With Tweets ...well, that one is something y'all can play for yourselves at home with no help from moi.

With that said, I've decided that (barring any more disasters this week) ending things on No. 9 just seems so wrong (yes, fanbois, even if it feels so right at the time), so look for a Spirited Numero Nueve Plus Uno coming soon where we can talk about DCL vs. WDW, DCL expansion, how empty UNI has been, why Iger and Co aren't happy with Big Hero 6's box office, why I was stuck at EPCOT while someone close to me was enjoying HKDL and, possibly, about a fully masterplanned Disney resort that never happened and you quite likely never heard of (nope, not for the USA!)

Thanks again to those who have sent kind notes. I don't forget things like that and I will respond to you all.

Happy Holidays to the entire MAGICal Community here!
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Glad to hear that this isn't the actual end, just a partial slowdown.
 

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