Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Entertainment/2009 January 20

= January 20 =

Expiration dates on Netflix streaming videos
Some of the movies and TV series which are available for streaming download are only available for a limited time. However, I currently have no way to find this out until I add them to my queue, which then tells me if they will expire within a month. I can't possibly add every Netlfix video to my queue to get this info. So, my question is:

How can I find out which streaming videos will expire (and when), without adding them to my queue ?

You may ask why I want this info. Well, there may very well be streaming videos I would choose to watch now, if I knew they will soon expire, but which I haven't yet added to my queue. There's a CATCH-22 here, that I would add them to my queue if I knew they would soon expire, but don't know that until I add them to my queue. StuRat (talk) 06:05, 20 January 2009 (UTC)


 * So, I am missing something ... what's the harm in adding them to your queue? Are you saying that you only have a limited amount of items to place in your queue, and you don't want any spots in the queue "wasted"?  From my recollection, the Netflix queue holds 500 items.  Are you saying that that is not enough for your purposes?  Thanks.   (Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 23:47, 22 January 2009 (UTC))


 * Of all the Netflix movies available for streaming video, some will soon expire. I want to watch those before they expire.  However, the only way I can tell which movies they are is to load every Netflix movie into my queue, and there are thousands.  I could, in theory, load  500 movies, check out if any of them will soon expire, unload them, load another 500, check them, etc., but that would take a huge amount of time, as each movie must be loaded and unloaded one at a time. StuRat (talk) 03:54, 23 January 2009 (UTC)


 * Then, I would say that you and I philosophically view the "queue" very differently. My philosophy is: "Here is a movie that I want to see, so let me add it to my queue."  (For that purpose, a queue of 500 is far more than sufficient.)  You reply seems to indicate that your philosophy is: "I want to watch each and every single movie available to me, but I want to watch those about to expire sooner rather than later."  If you embrace my philosophy, your problem is solved.  Pick 500 that you want to see and add them to your queue.  Then, once there, you can scrutinize their expiration dates.  Believe me, 500 movies will last you a long time.  As a last resort, if there is one that you really like ... simply add it to your queue, check the expiration date, then remove it from the queue.  Or, finally, contact the 1-800 customer service line ... I am sure they would tell you the expiration date, if you ask.  Good luck.   (Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 05:35, 23 January 2009 (UTC))


 * Ok, let's say I watch a movie a day. That's 365 movies a year, or 3650 movies in a decade.  Now, many of those 3650 movies will expire soon, and I would rather watch those while they are still available.  How can I do this ?  Also, there may be a 500 movie limit in the queue, but the practical limit seems lower, as their software is pathetic.  It appears to reload the entire queue from scratch each time you make any change, which brings things to a crawl quickly.  I currently have 100 movies in the queue, and it's already painfully slow. StuRat (talk) 16:49, 23 January 2009 (UTC)


 * I definitely understand your predicament and what you are saying. I am simply saying this, however, in response.  You make it sound as if you want to watch each and every available film -- the entire Netflix library.  And, furthermore, you want to not "miss" one because it expired without your knowledge that it would expire.  To me, personally, that whole process seems unrealistic ... namely, to watch every single available movie.  Why not just pick 500 that you want to watch, place them in your queue, and watch those 500 selectively by looking at their expiration dates?  Believe me, 500 will keep you occupied for a long time.  Probably two years or so, if you watch a movie every single day (which itself seems an unrealistic schedule).  If there are a few titles that you really want to not miss ... add them to the queue and check their expiration dates so as to be sure to not miss them.  Perhaps I don't understand your predicament ... do you really want to watch every movie ... and, furthermore, sort them / watch them by expiration date so as to not miss any at all?   (Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 15:18, 24 January 2009 (UTC))


 * The movies are likely expiring at a rate far beyond one a day, so I couldn't possibly watch all movies which are about to expire, but would like to watch the best movies which are about to expire, so I don't lose the opportunity to watch them. Also, as I've explained, 500 movies in the queue is unrealistic, because their software can't handle that volume with any reasonable response time.  But let's say I do it your way (which seems like the only option since I can't get an answer here): After I view all the movies in my queue I will go and add some more, but will then find that many I would then like to watch are no longer available. StuRat (talk) 15:38, 24 January 2009 (UTC)


 * Hi. I would simply do this.  Pick the 100 or so that you are most interested in watching and enter them in the queue.  Watch these 100 selectively, according to their expiration dates.  As you watch one, you delete it from the queue ... and you enter a new one.  Thus, your queue is always being replenished and always remains at 100 (or whatever number you like).  A list of 100 will always keep you busy.  Now ... at some point ... if a movie has expired from streaming video, you certainly can still get it from the "regular route" (postal mail of a DVD).  So, nothing is lost.  This would be my bottom line:  I would rather watch the 100 movies that I am most interested in seeing ... versus ... the 100 movies that are closest to expiring.  There's a big difference.  Don't be a slave to their streaming system.  Just enjoy the movies.  Watch what you like and what you want.  If something expires and you "missed" it, you can always get it in regular postal mail DVD.  With a catalogue of thousands, there are always going to be movies available to watch, movies that are about to expire, movies that already expired, new movies added, etc.  Who can be bothered with all that bookkeeping?  Just enjoy the films and watch what you want.  Are you seeing only the trees but not the forest?  Good luck.  Thanks.  (Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 17:27, 24 January 2009 (UTC))


 * Also ... think about it this way. Would you rather watch a movie that you "really, really, really" want to watch (but is not about to expire)?  Or would you rather watch one that you "kinda/sorta/somewhat" want to watch only because it is about to expire?  The second option makes no sense.  If you were to do that, you will constantly be watching your "second tier favorites about to expire" versus your "first tier favorites".  That just seems like a backwards way to "enjoy" films.  Being a slave to the calendar of expiration dates, I think, takes all of the joy out of the process.  I'd feel like I "have to watch this before it expires" (as the clock is ticking) ... versus simply sitting down and enjoying the viewing of a film that I am interested in.  Good luck!   (Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 17:35, 24 January 2009 (UTC))


 * If I was only planning on staying with Netflix long enough to see a few hundred movies, that might make sense, but I plan to see thousands. There are already hundreds of movies in my mail queue, which never were available as streaming vids, so adding more that have expired means I won't get to them for a long, long time. StuRat (talk) 20:41, 24 January 2009 (UTC)


 * I see what you mean. But ... if you are literally planning to view thousands of films ... then you won't get to many (most) of them for a long, long time regardless.  As I doubt you are planning to watch TV in a marathon-style 24 hours per day, with none of life's other activities interfering.  Good luck.   (Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 22:27, 24 January 2009 (UTC))


 * To illustrate the problem, I got the device for viewing streaming Netflix videos at Christmas, and started loading movies in the queue, and watched a few. These movies weren't going to expire any time soon.  I then went to load another batch, on December 30th, only to find out that many of those were set to expire on Dec 31st.  So, I wasn't able to watch all those.  I was kicking myself, wishing I'd loaded all those movies at XMAS, so I could have watched the ones about to expire first.  But, of course, I didn't know to put them in my queue, since I had no idea they would soon expire.  Now I've missed that chance, and they went way to the back of my mail queue, which was already huge. StuRat (talk) 18:52, 25 January 2009 (UTC)


 * I hear ya ... and I agree ... it is definitely a Catch-22. Did you call the Netflix 1-800 people?  They are always extremely helpful when I have had to call them.  They will help you, as much as they can ... and yours is certainly a valid question ... which I assume many of their other customers also have.  I'd at least give them a try.  They are actually the epitome of good customer service, in an age where such is in rapid free fall.  For real.  (Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 06:40, 26 January 2009 (UTC))


 * I did report it, and they did speak proper English, which is refreshing after talking to someone in India who says "How may I be helping you ?", with a suitable thick accent, and can do nothing for me but read canned responses from a book. StuRat (talk) 18:12, 26 January 2009 (UTC)

 Thx for the responses so far, but the Original Poster still needs an answer to the original Question.

So, to repeat, is there any way to find out which streaming Netflix movies will soon expire, without loading every single film into my queue ? StuRat (talk) 18:44, 25 January 2009 (UTC)

Royalties
How do I find out if I am due any money from book royalties from the book sales and from library lending. Is like a clearing house for receipt of the royalties? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 79.79.184.99 (talk) 11:07, 20 January 2009 (UTC)
 * Copyright Clearance Center.--droptone (talk) 13:14, 20 January 2009 (UTC)


 * If you have a litarary agent, ask them. Otherwise your publisher should know. Royalties tend to be paid each quarter. - Mgm|(talk) 23:04, 20 January 2009 (UTC)

Side question
Do books actually get royalties simply from library lending? Really? Does anyone know? Thanks. (Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 18:33, 21 January 2009 (UTC))

See Public Lending Right. Britmax (talk) 22:30, 21 January 2009 (UTC)

Chords
Hi! can you name some songs that have "good chords"? That means you can clearly hear them. Please choose among old rock, jazz, soul and classical songs. Do you think begining of Stairway to Heaven is good? Help me, please (I am not musician...)! Thank you. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Atacamadesert12 (talk • contribs) 14:55, 20 January 2009 (UTC)


 * Not sure what you mean by "good chords". The opening to Stairway to Heaven is a series of arpeggiated chords, each given 1 measure.  That means that instead of being played together, the chords are played one note at a time, so there isn't a simultaneous "chord" being played.  Lots of classic rock songs are built on the standard "three-chord" progression, for example Wild Thing is built over a I-IV-V-IV progression (in they key of A if I recall correctly) and the chords are rather simple and obvious and unaddorned.  --Jayron32. talk . contribs  17:49, 20 January 2009 (UTC)


 * Adding some links to Jayron's sound advice: Examples are mentioned in the articles on three-chord song, twelve-bar blues, ii-V-I turnaround, and there is also an article on chord progression. More are listed under Category:Chord progressions, though these also include advanced progressions using substituted changes. Do you play an instrument? If so, which one? ---Sluzzelin talk  18:56, 20 January 2009 (UTC)


 * Louie Louie has chords that are very clear and easy to hear. Pfly (talk) 08:24, 21 January 2009 (UTC)

Simpsons quote
What episode of The Simpsons is this quote from:

''When I was young, I wanted an electric football machine more than anything else in the world, and my parents bought it for me, and it was the happiest day of my life. Well, goodnight.'' —Preceding unsigned comment added by 212.120.247.244 (talk) 21:17, 20 January 2009 (UTC)
 * Our article on electric football says that it's from Marge Be Not Proud. --Onorem♠Dil 21:22, 20 January 2009 (UTC)

Trying to remember two science fiction stories
I'm trying to find two science fiction(-ish) stories I read as a kid; I found them in my father's bookshelf in the late 1970s, by which time the books were already old and dusty, so I guess they were published sometime around 1970.

The first one, a short story, not exactly science fiction but was published in an SF anthology, was a slightly absurdist treatment of a world in which the hippies had won their revolution: everyone had to have long hair, everyone had to commit suicide on their thirtieth birthday (because, you know, you really can't trust anyone over 30). A group of youngsters set out to find out what happened to the world and go in search of Daddy-O (who they believe to be an actual person). In the end, they find an old man who tells them that Daddy-O is not a person but an idea.

The second one was a novel where alien energy spheres had taken over the world and enslaved humanity (I think the aliens were actually called "Spheres" in the book). I seem to remember that there were also pyramid-shaped police creatures in the book, but I'm not too sure about that. The aliens had transformed the earth into a paradise of geometry, those humans that rebelled against the Spheres were hunted down and "selected", a word the novel used to describe them being transformed into willing slaves. There were some sort of energy portals in that world, and one scene I remember vividly is the main character sticking his hand into one of those portals then pulling it back in terror because it was touched by another hand (his own from another timeline, as it later turns out).

I fear this is not much to go by, but maybe someone remembers one or the other of these stories...I'd love to read them again. Thanks a lot, Ferkelparade &pi; 23:23, 20 January 2009 (UTC)


 * The first one might be "Ishmael into the Barrens" by R.A. Lafferty, first printed in the 1971 anthology Four Futures: Four Original Novellas of Science Fiction. ---Sluzzelin talk  23:41, 20 January 2009 (UTC)


 * The first is familiar, but I can't place it. The second sounds like Lords of the Psychon by Daniel F. Galouye; I should have it buried on a shelf somewhere, but here is a review on Amazon. --—— Gadget850 (Ed)  talk  -  23:52, 20 January 2009 (UTC)


 * Thanks! "Lords of the Psychon" is definitely the novel I was thinking about, it even still has the same cover as the old edition I used to have as a kid (although reading the amazon review made me wonder if I should really read it again :P). The first one is (I think) not the Lafferty story; from the synopsis here, the setting is very similar, but the storyline seems different (and I'm fairly certain I don't know the other three stories in that anthology - I have certainly read the whole anthology containing the story I am looking for) -- Ferkelparade &pi; 00:19, 21 January 2009 (UTC)