Harlan Vaughn's Blog, page 75
January 10, 2013
Seeing mountains is good for the heart #rockies #30000feet...
Seeing mountains is good for the heart #rockies #30000feet #travel #airplanes
December 30, 2012
Is MoviePass Worth It?
Answer: No.
MoviePass is one of those things that’s great in theory. Especially if you live in a big city where theater tickets are $12 and up. At $30/month, you’d only need to see two movies a month to make MoviePass worth the time and effort. Which is why it sucks so, so bad. The time and effort makes it definitely, without question not worth it.
It’s one of those things where when it works, it definitely works.
And when it fails, it fails. SO. HARD.
Case in point: Say you’ve selected a 7 p.m. show at a theater of a reasonable distance. You have to be outside the theater to even check in. If the service won’t check you in for whatever reason, you have to call them. So you’re outside a movie theater, on hold with MoviePass and can’t get in. That is, if they even bother to answer the phone. If the show’s about to start, you might just have to buy your own ticket. Or go back home. They’ve set it up to where you have to go all the way to the theater to even see if it works or not.
I’ve had MoviePass for almost four months now. It works about half the time. When it doesn’t work, calling is pointless. The reps tell me to “send an email.” What the fuck? I’m standing outside of a movie theater! I don’t want to send a fucking email. I want someone to help me right then and there, and their reps are NOT empowered to do that. It’s completely frustrating.
Another example: The theater closest to me often does NOT display showtimes. Annoying. So I’ve called in the past to reserve a ticket anyway, only to have the card declined. It is extremely embarrassing, especially in NYC, to have a card declined at the point of sale with dozens of people lined up behind you. Then I have to use my personal credit card to pay for the ticket. MoviePass claims they will “reimburse” the cost. But how? In the form of a check? And guess how you have to handle a reimbursement claim? EMAIL. Guess how long it takes for them to respond? Your guess is as good as mine, because to date they’ve never replied to a reimbursement email from me. NEVER.
So, it’s basically a scam. They’ve got my $30/month, and then I end up buying my own movie tickets half the time anyway. I’ve never received reimbursement for a ticket I paid for with my personal credit card, and movie checkins often don’t go through. And the customer services reps sound like dumb sixteen-year-olds that don’t have a clue how to handle a customer complaint.
Back to the time and effort thing. My time and my effort is worth more than $30/month. Especially when a 30-second transaction gets turned into a long dragged-out brawl with multiple phone calls and emails required to people who are clueless or don’t respond. I’m better off paying for tickets individually.
I give MoviePass another month to significantly improve. If they don’t, which I don’t think they will, I will report them to the BBB, claim fraud for all the times they’ve charged my credit card, and always warn my friends and family against even thinking of getting the service. Yes, it is to that point. It’s not worth it. AVOID AVOID AVOID. I think this company is fraudulent, not worth it, and a scam. Just pay for the overpriced ticket if you want to see a movie and save yourself a lot of time and effort.
Verdict: Great idea, horrible execution. NOT LEGIT. NOT WORTH IT. STAY AWAY. AVOID AT ALL COST.
December 21, 2012
Here Lies Death is FREE to download 12/21 and 12/22. It’s...
December 21, 2012 @ 9PM
December 21, 2012 @ 7PM
Here Lies Death is FREE to download 12/21 and 12/22. It’s currently in the top 1000 overall and nearly to the top 10 in its category. This is a huge milestone for me as an author! Please download & share. Click “Like” at the top then grab a copy from here:
:) Thank you!
December 20, 2012
#Graffiti #StreetArt in #Williamsburg, #Brooklyn
#Graffiti #StreetArt in #Williamsburg, #Brooklyn
How I feel about the “End of the World” bullshit
How I feel about the “End of the World” bullshit
December 18, 2012
#Brooklyn #sunset in late #December
#Brooklyn #sunset in late #December
December 11, 2012
Final artwork for Cammie Ward’s ‘The Origin of...
Final artwork for Cammie Ward’s ‘The Origin of Song’ #art #painting #artist #nyc #brooklyn
December 5, 2012
Weather Review NYC 12/5/12
It’s a gorgeous day for a walk in New York. All you need is a hoodie.
I took my dog out for a walk. The sky was that kinda mid-range blue that had been washed out in a cloudless sky. Oh goody, I thought while kicking a piece of garbage, the crazies are out. This frumpy bitch is the ONLY person on the sidewalk except for myself and my dog. Of COURSE she had to make some stupid comment about my happy little dog. What a bitch.
As I walked further down the block, the sounds of construction radiated down the street. It was the sound of investment. Of money waiting to be made. I inhaled a deep breath of the warm air, mixed with so many free radicals and pollution, and walked back into my apartment. My dog panted.
The Mexicans left their stroller out again today. It was a pleasant walk that made me crave a beer. Let’s do it all again tomorrow. Cheers.
November 24, 2012
Skyfall - A Thirty Second Review
Structurally, it was a mess. It was obvious they wanted to switch up the cast and glaze over a few past plot holes.
The first 1/3 was AMAZING. I was like, wow, they’re really bringing it.
The second 1/3 was cool with the intro of the villain the underground stuff…
But the last 1/3: missed opportunity. And illogical. Completely rushed. Sort of uninteresting. Obvious setup for yet another movie. T
hat being said, Daniel Craig was amazing. But yeah… a 6. Maybe 7.
November 21, 2012
Beautiful Polarity: On Bad Reviews
In anything, I think it is an absolutely wonderful thing to be POLARIZING. All of the best artists, and all of the famous people in the world have their fans - and their haters.
Seriously, pull up any YouTube video - one you love - and read the comments. See the dislikes? Read any article on any website. Just for fun, check out this story on weather.com about Hurricane Sandy. This little test works with any story on that site, btw. A factual report on weather and climate ALWAYS devolves into a discussion about religion. On a weather site. Not even kidding. Unreal.
My point is that this is a good thing. I’ll bet you read and compare reviews before you buy an item online. I know I do. When it comes to books, movies, plays, or anything else that requires subjective experience, I’m always skeptical if absolutely EVERYONE loves it, 100%. Take a classic novel, like… I dunno… 1984.
Notice that out 1,814 reviews there are 52 1-star reviews and 39 2-star reviews. They’re pretty scathing to say the least. And yet, this work is considered to be a masterpiece of modern American literature.
I really started noticing it when it started happening to me. Polarity, that is.
On Amazon, I’ve only got one 1-star review. The girl, Lauren, complains about how she had to trudge through the novel, which was filled with one-dimensional characters and how lots of important issues were totally glossed over.
Yet in other reviews, other people said the complete opposite. From a 5-star review, Amy said she savored every detail, that the pacing was perfect - it kept her guessing until the end, which she found satisfying and shocking.
I think this is great! Having negative reviews shows you’re writing, performing, creating for a niche, that you’re targeting a specific audience. And for that audience, the work will be considered and debated. Furthermore, does anyone want to experience something that is universally loved? Think about it for a sec.
Over on Goodreads, there are MANY more negative reviews of my book (and books in general), but also more discussion overall about each title. It is a glowing example of beautiful polarity. And it’s helping me find my own audience.
All of the artworks I admire, the musicians I idolize, the painters I’ve grown to respect - have their fans and their haters. Even my favorite musicians have put out albums that are loved or despised within their own fan community. It’s good to have this sentiment, because it gives you a chance to constantly compare your likes and dislikes to your perceptions and experiences. And that is a good, good thing.
I’m happy the book has gotten reviews at all, both singing its praises and condemning it for being a piece of crap. It helps me to know what kind of art I’m making - and makes me think about what I want to create next, and for whom.
If you ever see something that’s praised by over 99% of its consumers, I say be wary. That sweet spot of 75%-90% is a better place to be. It’s polarity: dividing and conquering. And remember, even the D-List has its place in our culture’s bloody little heart. Everything has its place.
