Is "Good Old Boy Politics" good for South Carolina?
31 10 2009Is up to the people who vote to decide about it.
The Rugby Player | Jun 06, 2008
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Is up to the people who vote to decide about it.
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How 'Paranormal Activity' became the most profitable movie ever …
31 10 2009
If “Paranormal Activity” the ultra-low-budget, documentary-style horror flick that surprised box-office watchers by coming in No. 1 this past weekend, were a stock, it would be a Google share times 675.
First-time director Oren Peli spent just $15,000 making the film, which has so far grossed more than $65 million in the US and Canada. That’s a record-breaking rate of return of more than 433,000 percent.
The Wrap’s Daniel Frankel crunches the numbers , noting that the the previous record holder, “The Blair Witch Project,” cost $60,000 to produce and garnered a 414,000 percent return on investment. By comparison, “ET: The Extra-Terrestrial” returned a measly 7,541 percent return.
So how did Paramount, which distributed the film, manage to get such an astounding bang for their buck?
Step 1: Use the Interblags
The movie’s Facebook page has over 125,000 fans. Not too shabby, but it pales in comparison to the more than one million fans flocking to “ Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen .” “Paranormal Activity,” also has more than 8,000 followers on Twitter . Again, this is impressive, but Fake Michael Bay still has more.
The real genius was in the way the film’s distributors let the fans decide in what cities the movie would be shown. As the New York Times reported last month , Paramount, after initially releasing the film in 13 college towns, then set up a page on Eventful , that invited moviegoers to “Demand it!” in their town. As more and more “demands” rolled in, the studio gradually widened the release.
Students of social psychology will recognize this approach as not just a good way to gauge viewer interest, but also as a way to influence it. People have a general desire to be consistent in their behavior , and by having someone make the small, initial commitment of clicking on a button makes that person more likely to follow through and go see the film.
Step 2: Don’t spend too much
The key to having an astronomical return on investment is to start off with a tiny principal. Director Peli shot the movie using unknown actors in his own home, which he renovated for the occasion. The whole thing cost $15,000, and he got some hardwood floors and a new stairwell out of it.
By comparison, if, say “Saw VI,” which cost $11 million to produce, were to make a comparable return on investment, it would have to gross almost $50 billion, which is about 25 times what “Titanic,” the highest-grossing film ever, brought in.
Step 3: Don’t factor in the marketing budget
I don’t know which was more painful. Watching Tom Cruise walking around aimlessly for 60 minutes in Eyes Wide Shut or watching nothing walk around aimlessly for 90 minutes in Paranormal Activity. May have to go with Paranormal Activity since I did not have to stare at Tom Cruise the whole time. Boring movie IMO. Not scary at all.
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How old were you when your first saw the music video Thriller by Michael Jackson?
30 10 2009 I was actually born when the music video came out, but my cousin; who’s 2 and a half years older than me; was scared when he first saw it! And Thriller was his favorite song! 
About 7 and I’ve been in love with him ever since!
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Who has pictures of a C-130 from behind?
30 10 2009Im looking for a picture of it taking off from or landing.. from the back.
There are plenty on Google Images
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&am p;q=c130&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N& amp;tab=wi
Rick.. On A Steeeeek!!! | Jan 25, 2008
Most pictures athe back are from inside or stationary on the ground. http://www.kiwiaircraftimages.com/herc.h tml .There’s a flippant video on YouTube with some poor shots http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLnvlMtDl pk&feature=related
Dad's found yer scoo'er | Jan 25, 2008
Try an internet images search on "c-130." You will find hundreds of pictures of all sorts, and you can pick the ones you want.
Have fun.
aviophage | Jan 25, 2008
Here you go!
http://www.talkingproud.us/ImagesMilitar y/BlindbatLGB/C130TankDrop.jpg
Mike | Jan 25, 2008
www.airliners.net
just type c-130, or L-100 into the search field
(BTW, C-130 is the military designation, L-100 is the civilian, same a/c. Just like the Kc-135 is a B-707)
captsead0nkey | Jan 25, 2008
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What is the difference between an Lanebryant Outlet and a Lane bryant store?
29 10 2009I was searching for some tan colored pants and when i was at the Lanebryant website and put in my zipcode it came up a couple different locations but the closest one is a Outlet store im just wondering whats the difference between the 2 thanks alot everyone
The store Lane Bryant has things that just came out this season. After a while, whatever is left over of this season’s stock is marked down for a sale, and over time marked down even more. When the seasons change out from winter to spring or fall to summer, all of the left over marked down merchandise is moved to an outlet.
The only difference is that the outlet sells drastically marked down merchandise that didn’t sell in the store. That, or the clothes had a defect such as a missing seam or belt or something.
The clothes are just as good, and they’re cheap too. Outlet stores are awesome, you should go check it out, I get nice clothes at them all the time.
Ashley | Dec 07, 2007
Outlet sells overstock or last seasons clothes (normally everything is really cheap).
Stores sell whats in that season.
brooke | Dec 07, 2007
An outlet store normally has cheaper clothes. The reason being is this is were the styles from previous seasons go when they don’t sell in the regular stores. In many malls they have the Lane Bryant stores, much pricier.
Chrissy | Dec 07, 2007
An outlet store is a store with discounted items, usually ones that have fallen out of stock at a regular store. When these don’t sell, they go to an outlet store for less expensive prices. An example of this is the Nordstrom’s Rack.
Genevieve W | Dec 07, 2007
the outlet is cheaper than the store
midnightstar | Dec 07, 2007
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What paranormal activity has been associated with the Great Dismal Swamp?
29 10 2009What are your personal thoughts on the paranormal activity reported in this area?
I don’t know about paranormal, but how about cryptoids? I have heard of a big foot type creature in the Dismal Swamp Area, in North Carolina/Virginia. Probably the same creature sighted multiple times in Boggy Creek Arkansas.
Its my understanding that the Great Dismal Swamp played a big part in the civil war, and slaves would cross it while escaping to the north. There has to be a good bit of history, death and lore in the area.
wushuboy001 | May 27, 2009
There is no such thing as paranormal.
scottsdalehigh64 | May 27, 2009
ain’t no such thing as paranormal activity theirs is just bs
Khuong | May 27, 2009
I hadn’t heard of this before so I had to look it up. I love the Lady of the Lake stories.
I read a book about 6 months back and it was called Water Witch. In it, they talked about the eerie lights that you can see in the swamp. People think that they are ghosts but it is actually from a natural source. Since it is so very dark at night, it is easy to mistake these lights as apparitions.
*Like all good legends and mysteries, the Lady of the Lake is rooted in reality. Eerie lights in the middle of the night are not uncommon and have been attributed to ghosts, pirates, madmen, or flying saucers. What causes these strange lights is Foxfire (a luminescence given off by the decaying of wood by certain fungi), burning methane escaping from decomposing vegetation, or smoldering peat.*
http://www.coastalguide.com/tales/dismal swamplegends.shtml
I am inclined to believe that this is a good natural explanation. Sometimes nature is pretty spooky, especially in dark swamps. 
Witchy Mel | May 27, 2009
well…?I know that George Washington tried to drain it once an that environmental damage is taken its toll.maybe its mother nature herself warning an warding off humans,so the swamp will have time to heal.blessed be….!
belladonnasmoon | May 27, 2009
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When are the special NSW School Certificate results mailed out?
28 10 2009Hi, I’m just wondering when the NSW (an Aussie state) School Certificate results will be mailed out. I know my friends have their results but I had extra time to rest, does this mean my results will take longer to be processed?
Jan 1st.
Richie B | Dec 19, 2006
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Following plasmid purification what impurities could be present in the blob I can see at the end of the gel?
27 10 2009I did a phenol chloroform extraction and an ethanol precipitation ( started with E coli culture containing my plasmid – was in YT broth).
The photo of my gel shows a blob at the end of the lane( furthest from well) what impurities would be in this and how is it best to remove them?
Many thanks
I’d have to see the picture, but most likely it is the dye you used when leading the gel.
Bones | Nov 23, 2007
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Tell me about Karla Homolka and the battered woman syndrome?
27 10 2009Tell me about Karla Homolka and the battered woman syndrome?
The battered woman syndrome is not applicable to "Karla Homolka".
Karla Homolka is a cunning and vicious female of selfish intent and the manipulative means of a spoilt dog.
I cannot give a definative answer about the battered woman syndrome but I do know from what I’ve read, seen and heard of the woman that she was not a battered woman.
She was her husband’s accomplice without any battering at all.
the old dog | Oct 23, 2009
Re Karla Homolka being "battered" she is a sociopathic, amoral killer with no morals, no conscience and no decency, she is pure evil. She even helped kill her own younger sister. Maybe she would never have done these things without her husband, but she certainly took to it like a duck to water with no qualms. All those young girls, dead because of her.
Spindrift | Oct 23, 2009
Please see my blog, "The REAL Story Of Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka" at:
http://darkerinthelight.blogspot.com/
stephen | Oct 23, 2009
Don’t link that evil woman with battered women!
Christine B | Oct 24, 2009
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free nightmare before christmas pumpkin carving patterns?
25 10 2009i was wondering if anyone knew a place where i can print free pumpkin carving patterns…preferably for characters from nightmare before christmas…anyone who can give me a legible site will get best answer
Unfortunately, these were the only -free- Nightmare Before Christmas patterns I could find.
Jack:
http://www.dltk-holidays.com/t.asp?b=m&a mp;t=http://www.dltk-holidays.com/hallow een/images/bpatternjack.gif
http://scareo.com/images/Pumpkins/stenci l_jack_skellington.jpg
Pumpkin King:
http://www.dltk-holidays.com/t.asp?b=m&a mp;t=http://www.dltk-holidays.com/hallow een/images/bpatternpumpkinking.gif
I personally prefer Zombie Pumpkins! but they only offer four free patterns, none which are NBC-themed. They do have a separate section titled "Burton’s Nightmares." You can purchase a sampler pack from them for $2 or an all access pack for $5-20.
http://www.zombiepumpkins.com/patterns.p hp
Other sites with free patterns:
http://www.pumpkinlady.com/pattern.htm#2 008
http://www.dltk-holidays.com/halloween/m patterns.htm
http://www.pumpkinglow.com/Patterns.htm
I hope this helps! Happy Halloween!
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