Michele
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Posts posted by Michele
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I really hate two of my three team members at work. They are lazy, take extra long lunches, hour long coffee breaks, and then try to pawn their work off at me and try to get mad at me when I call them out for it.
I hope one or both of them get fired when it comes time for contract renewal.
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I had problems with the website (assignments not submitting, teacher not receiving emails from me...). I had no problems with any of the teachers, in fact they all worked with me and didn't hold the technical problems against me.
Ah, well, glad they worked with you. I'm not a teacher there; I'm a systems engineer, but I am not involved with course work at all with the exception of the Web Design 2 course. I wish Indiana would have had something like that when I went to school. I would have taken the AP classes, which weren't offered at my school, and tried to get more college credit. I tested out of two English courses and four Spanish courses in college and started University with 18 credits. It was awesome because I had a whole semester done before I started! I would definitely recommend trying to get a head start to anyone. I didn't elect to graduate early, but I got to take a light load (12 hours) in the semesters I had really hard courses, like anatomy.
OK, OK, enough plugging where I work. (;
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Did you have any problems with FLVS? I took two classes on there about a year ago and so many freaking problems with it!
That's great to hear FairyCorpse!
I work for FLVS. Odd that you had problems. Most people don't. (;
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There's a difference between a copyright and a trademark. A copyright would protect a variation of Bloody Mary. The documents that were linked to specifically discuss a trademark, which is solely brand related and has nothing to do with an image or likeness.
Imagine I decided to make a red ice cream and wanted to sell it under the brand Bloody Mary. I could apply for a trademark for Bloody Mary, and as long as no one else got it, the only person who could sell ice cream with the brand Bloody Mary is me. If Ben and Jerry's later wanted to make a flavor called Bloody Mary, they would risk that I could sue them for trademark infringement since I have the trademark for Bloody Mary ice cream.
It's the same thing. Bobbie Weiner trademarked the name Bloody Mary and uses it to promote her make-up and haunted attractions. So, no one else in either of those two businesses can use the name Bloody Mary without paying her first.
Not that I agree with it, but it's all legal. And I still don't think Bloody Mary being gone is necessarily a bad thing. No one liked her house, remember? (;
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None of this was making any sense at all, so I did a little digging, and this is what I came up with.
Apparently, this makeup artist/haunt industry insider, Bobbie Weiner, has trademarked the name Bloody Mary. So basically, any else in the makeup/haunt industry cannot use the name Bloody Mary in their products because of brand confusion.
This lady has licensed her name and products out to the various theme parks through the years to let them do a Bloody Mary attraction. In 2008, Universal did pay her to use the name and also sold some of her products. It wasn't a "grand mistake" or a mistake of any sorts because they HAD to pay her, or they would have been/could have been sued for using her trademarked name in an industry that she is known in.
So, unless Uni plans to pay her again, which I'm guessing they will not, no Bloody Mary this year.
I couldn't care less.
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I guess I should have read Nocturas' post more carefully before I basically reposted exactly what he said. (;
Anyway, you don't have to be an attorney to know you can't copyright a public domain character. So, if we pretty much agree that Universal has copyrighted its version of Bloody Mary, how does that stop her from being used in the event this year? I don't see how the two go hand-in-hand.
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I really don't think that Universal can file any sort of trademark or copyright application for Bloody Mary in general or her use in haunted events. As others have mentioned, it is a public domain character that cannot be owned by anyone.
My guess is that Universal has filed a copyright application to protect its design of the Bloody Mary character as presented at HHN. That is to say, they will argue that they redesigned Bloody Mary in such a way that is a distinguishable variation over prior work. That will prevent other people from using their designs of Bloody Mary, which I know has done by other companies with other icons, Jack specifically.
This happens all the time. For example, anyone is free to use the Peter Pan character, but you are not free to use Disney's artwork (or design) of Peter Pan.
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I got an email asking me to complete a survey about HHN. Most of the questions focused on my interest in adding Fridays to the FFP and how much I would be willing to pay for a ticket that included all the normal FFP days and Fridays. Interesting.
Here's a link to the survey:
http://www.visitorsatisfaction.com/surveypanel/start.aspx?s=FF2010&e=
What do you guys think about adding Fridays to the FFP for a ticket that costs $100?
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I'm exhausted. Really exhausted. I would buy my kid any toy in the world if only he'd let me sleep in for a whole week.
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Wow, how exciting!
I don't ever think we'll see a parade again. The crowds are just too big, and there are too many drunken idiots who get brave and do stupid shit. I think it's sad, really, because I loved the parade, but I really can't see it ever making a return.
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I hadn't been out to the parks in about a month because of the cold weather. My legs hurt so bad, they feel like they are going to fall off. I forgot the theme park leg syndrome!
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Yea! More vodka. Seriously, I didn't think they were going to, and I'm really happy.
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Nice title!
Good trip report. I have to agree about a somewhat off year. I hope they are building up to greatness for 2010, as well!
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Nice set up! I'm jealous. You even got two lenses! If you need a bag, I know Target has a good selection.
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Great pictures! (:
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On Saturday night, I was at CityWalk with a friend of mine from England. One of the security guards that she knows mentioned to her that she might want to check at Universal a couple of hours after HHN starts on peak nights to see if they are letting FFP people in that night. Apparently, the reason that Universal did not open up Friday night for the FFP is because their projected attendance was very high. I guess the projected numbers didn't turn out like expected so Universal opened the event up to FFP holders after a couple of hours.
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Last night was really, really crowded for the first Sunday of the event. Jenn, Mark, and I did the UTH tour during the day and then Stay and Scream. We did Wolfman, Dracula, Frankenstein, and SAW for the first four houses. By the time we got over to the Spawning, it was like 45 minutes, I think. Chucky was also 45 minutes, so we just did Silver Screams (5 minutes). We were able to do Wolfman and SAW again, but the lines were too long so we just gave up after that. The rest of the night consisted of vodka and the bathroom. Heh.
SAW is definitely my favorite house at this point with the Wolfman right behind. I was glad to finally see C_D's cast last night in Frankenstien and had a good trip through!
Wolfman - 5
Silver Screams - 4
Frankenstein - 4
Dracula - 3
SAW - 3
Cleaver - 2
The Spawning - 2
Chucky - 2
Bill & Ted - 2
Rocky Horror - 4
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Hehe. I thought first set was 5:30, which is why my timing was off. I think. Maybe. Yeah, I'll go with that.
C_D, I definitely have to see your cast!
It's always one of the highlights of my year. -
This is a repost from my facebook notes if it reads funny.
Last night was the third official night of Halloween Horror Nights, and my fourth time attending. I had the honor of going to Employee Preview in addition to all of the nights so far.
This year, things are a bit off to me because I have to work 8:30a to 5:30p during the week and haven't worked for the company long enough to take time off to be able to get to the event early. I do have some comp time that I'll take one of these Thursdays when my coworker returns from his battle with the Swine Flu. Last night, it wasn't nearly as crowded, so it only took me 10 or 15 minutes to park and get in the park. On opening night, it had been more like a 30 or 40 minute process. Lines last night were quite manageable as well.
When I got through the gates, everyone I know either wasn't there yet or was at the back of the park, so I just hung out by myself for the first bit. I went through Frankenstein alone trying to see C_D, who has been my favorite scareactor since 2005. His house has always been my favorite house. Unfortunately, I either didn't see his cast or he didn't notice me because I didn't get an extra attention and had another almost-scare-less run through of the house. I do really like the costumes, though.
I hung out in my three favorite scarezones for the next little bit - Apocalypse, Hacktion, and Horrorwood. I don't know why so many people are rating Apocalypse so poorly. I think it is easily, hands down the best scarezone in the history of scarezones. Every time I go through there, I have three or four half-naked hot guys surrounding me trying to scare me. I get way more attention and scares in this area than I ever have before. Maybe they have a sixth sense about my nipple obsession, I don't know, but I love Apocalypse. (: Hackation is my next favorite scarezone. I finally got to see the guys in action last night, and WOW! Cast A rocked it. I saw one of the actors who was being attacked fall down on the ground, drag himself along over and over again. I know it had to be painful, but he did it all night long. I usually get one scare each time through, but I don't get the attention I do in Apocalypse. I went to Horrorwood to see my good friend, Bob. If one person could make a scarezone, he would! He gets around like nothing I've ever seen before. I was trying to get a picture with him last night, and I couldn't keep up. It took me five minutes to track him down. Unfortunately, he's the only person that's scared me in this area, but I'm hoping that changes.
I've only had a couple of scares in Cirque and War, so I don't have high opinions of those yet. And Containment I'm just going to write off.
My top two favorite houses right now are Wolfman and SAW. I've been through Wolfman three times now, and it has delivered, especially last night. I've only been through SAW once, and I'm hoping that it stays as intense. The rest of the houses have yet to deliver many scares. I'm hoping that changes as the month progresses.
The creative and A&D team did an excellent job of building a storyline and set pieces this year. I'm really impressed with the way most things look, all of the houses except The Spawning, and all of the scarezones except Containment. We just need the actors to amp up the scares a bit, and we'll have one of the best years ever.
Silver Screams - 3
Frankenstein - 3
Wolfman - 3
Dracula - 2
Cleaver - 2
The Spawning - 2
Chucky - 2
SAW - 1
Bill & Ted - 2
Rocky Horror - 4
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I hate that spinning tunnel! Drunk or sober, it makes me feel like I'm going to throw up, so I always close my eyes when I go through it. Too bad the lines are recorded. The one thing I really like about the Chucky house is the use of smells.
Agreed on the lack of scares. I'm normally very easy to scare, and I have gotten some scares, but only two good ones so far. It'll get better!
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Now that opening weekend has past, I figured I take the time to write about my initial reaction to the houses, zones, etc. I went to Employee Preview as well as both nights of opening weekend, but I still don't really feel like I have gotten a vibe about this year. Employee Preview is always short, and my group opted to see shows instead of focusing on the houses. Friday night of opening weekend, I had to work till 5:30 and trying to park and get in the event around 6:30 is basically a nightmare, and not the good kind. Saturday, our night gotten eaten up by the rain, so we didn't have a lot of time then either.
I've only been through the soundstage houses once each. I don't really feel like I can fairly rank them yet. It was too dark to see anything in Dracula and Frankenstein. I went in during daylight hours and it takes about the whole house to get your eyes adjusted. I can't remember anything about Wolfman other than I dropped my blinkie cup on the ground during the house. }:
I feel like I've been through the other houses enough to have an idea of where they sit. Leave It to Cleaver started out an early favorite but hasn't been as stellar since Preview. It's the oddball house, which normally appeals to me. If they can play up that factor and amp up the scares, I'll be a raving fan again.
Chucky isn't one of my favorites, but it's not horrible either. I got some decent scares in here, but it's not much to look at. Better than the "fun houses" and Cold Blind Terrors of the past, though. I hope the actors get creative and come up some good Chucky lines.
The Spawning is my least favorite house right now. I couldn't really see much of anything other than strobes, and there weren't any scares.
Silver Screams has potential. I like the transitions from movie-to-movie. If they could amp up the scares, they could be a top house.
Right now, SAW is probably my favorite house. The dark-horse, JAWS queue, throw away house is coming out swinging. They got the sets, the lighting in right even during the day, and they have the intensity.
I don't really have a good feel for the scarezones yet, either. A lot of them look pretty but don't do much at this point. Containment needs to go away, though. It feels cheap in a Cedar-Fair kind of way. Apocalypse is my early favorite, although that might have a lot to do with the fact that it's a scarezone with nipples.
I like the Rocky Horror Picture Show this year. I don't love it. I may love it before it's over, but right now,the cast last year was more impressive. I'm not overly impressed with Bill and Ted this year. I haven't been since 2006, though. I miss the target audience since I don't watch tv, and I rarely see the movies they feature. It can't be funny if you don't get the jokes.
As always, everything is subject to change...
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^Yea! This is good news!
I don't think I can be more tired than I am now. I need to sleep, sleep, sleep tonight, because I got a really busy weekend coming up. It's good busy, though!
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The two male ushers are both hot, IMO. Riff Raff can't sing as well as the guy that's done it the past two years, but he's not bad either. Frank, Magenta, and Brad are the same as last year. I had the biggest crush on Rocky last year, and I'm heartbroken that he's not coming back. At this rate, I might be on a two year program....
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Two more I forgot -
The most important one:
The facade for The Spawning
How much have you spent at HHN
in General Halloween Horror Nights - Orlando
Posted
I just figured this up so that I could figure out how much I could spend on a vacation this year. Last year I spent $721. That includes FFP, food, and lots and lots of vodka. (: