Kimputer's Weblog

Waaaaaaaaaah, what a start, I’ll in bed soon, I’m starting 2004 with a migraine. Y’all have a good 2004, and keep to your new year’s resolutions (I know I won’t, so I never make’m).

Rate 1 (FR#^&% MESS !) to 5 (how very tidy !). Only rate the latest picture, otherwise I can’t keep track of the average.

Total: 952 out of 270 votes > Average is: 3.526

No, it’s NOT a mess, it’s xmas decoration !

Another year of law suits and settlements has gone by. Latest is the settlement of Microsoft with SPX/Imagexpo for patent #5206934, “Method and apparatus for interactive computer conferencing”. It costs dear Microsoft some $60 million bucks. With that even more ridiculous lawsuit between Microsoft and Eolas for a patent involving embedding a program object inside a browser still pending, it’s not hard to guess what will happen with an enough stupid jury.
And while all this wasn’t really happening a few months ago, I was laughing my ass off on knoppix.com, reading the back-out explanation:
“This can lead to the termination of many software projects such as KNOPPIX, at least within Europe, because the holders of the over 30,000 already granted “software patents” (currently without a legal foundation) can claim exclusive rights and collect license fees for trivial things like “progress bars”, “mouseclicks on online order forms”, “scrolling within a window” and similar.” Now, I’m not laughing so hard anymore.

Still the reigning king, $65.8 million for the last part of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Second was Cheaper by the Dozen (opens here 29 Apr), with an extremely favorable $36.4 million, starring Steve Martin, Hilary Duff and Tom Welling. Somewhat low for a John Woo release is sci-fi thriller Paycheck (opens here 26 Feb), with $19.2 million, starring Ben Affleck and Uma Thurman. Fourth place is for Golden Globes/Oscar contender Cold Mountain (opens here 5 Feb). This civil war epic with an all star cast rang up $19 million. Another Peter Pan remake is good for the fifth place with $15.1 million. Not surprisingly low, as the trailer was even more surprisingly bad.

Rate 1 (FR#^&% MESS !) to 5 (how very tidy !). Only rate the latest picture, otherwise I can’t keep track of the average.

Total: 950 out of 268 votes > Average is: 3.545

Don’t pay attention to the chocolate, it was gone before I had time to upload the picture.

With the Wayans brothers dropping out, and getting paid well enough to get mr. David “Airplane” Zucker to continue using the name, goes most of the vulgarities. Focussing on spoofing just a few movies, it keeps the movie going quite good, and the joining of the stories make a good hybrid scare/laugh. While there are quite a few predictable laughs, and also a few repetitions on the same joke, it still works well to make you laugh throughout the movie. Looking back on the previous movies, which I’ve clearly forgotten by now, it looks like this one is the most memorable, but only time will tell if that stays that way.7+.

Needless to say, all hail goes to the king this weekend. The last installment of the Lord of the Rings takes in $73.6 million bucks. Julia Roberts starrer, Mona Lisa Smile (opens here 22 Jan), didn’t hinder the return of the king at all, with just $12 million for this historic drama. Last week’s number one, Something’s Gotta Give (opens here 5 Feb), stumbles to the third place with $11.5 million.

Yupz, the makers Kazaa, the all too popular peer to peer sharing software, cannot be held liable for the copyright infringements of music and movies shared on its network. That’s the decision of the Dutch Supreme Court, which will set a precedent for whole Europe. The case, brought on by BUMA/STEMRA, is one of the many cases all around the world. For BUMA it’s a setback, because they’re probably going to follow the more time consuming road the American RIAA has taken (suing individuals).

Rate 1 (sucks) to 5 (cool). Only rate the latest pictures, otherwise I can’t keep track of the average.

Total: 441 out of 136 votes > Average is: 3.243

Hey, the close-ups seem to work, averaging quite higher than the wide shots. Let’s keep it up guyz !

Major WOW !!!! With a critical eye (one that matches the Eye of Sauron) you might find a few holes here and there, but for the people waiting the whole year for this finale, it’s quite a bang. More grand and more intense than the Two Towers, it keeps your heart racing for a full three hours. While Peter Jackson takes his time to close all the threads, I certainly hope the extended DVD has a full hour of restored footage, as with Two Towers, it gave the story that extra body and depth to make the change from awesome to excellent.9+.

Rate 1 (FR#^&% MESS !) to 5 (how very tidy !). Only rate the latest picture, otherwise I can’t keep track of the average.

Total: 949 out of 267 votes > Average is: 3.554

Too many 1’s coming my way. C’mon guyz, focus FOCUS !!!

So, now that Mr. Saddam Hussein has been captured, the most important question remains. Will some wicked US official shave him just the way he was before, or will the upcoming parodies on TV adapt to his new looks ?

Landing a romantic number one spot is Jack Nicholson with Diane Keaton in Something’s Gotta Give with some $17 million. Number two is the Last Samurai with $14.1 million. The Farrelly Brother’s end up number three, the premiere of Stuck on You earned some $10 million. A bit less than expected, with their headlined movies usually opening $20+ million.

Rate 1 (FR#^&% MESS !) to 5 (how very tidy !). Only rate the latest picture, otherwise I can’t keep track of the average.

Total: 936 out of 264 votes > Average is: 3.545

So, here I was, thinking I’m special. Getting a big envelope with an even bigger typeface, saying Royal Mail. Must be because of the birth of our new crown princess, right ? Something special, I’m being invited for a visit, or baby shower party, or something. NO ! It’s some freaking mail order stuff for some new coins that are worth rusting for. Royal, my ass.