Talk of Lufkin

By Island_Guy

June 30, 2009 2:23 AM | Link to this

Look, kind folks, we have had this type of video/CD/DVD/PSR (Personal Song Recording) service in the Philippines since 1993. Nothing new at all.

You go into the small kiosk. You find what you want, press the buttons after defining what you want, and the item you signify comes out. Now, if you want to record a song with the actual orchestration of that particular song as background, and the words displayed on a TV monitor, simply sit down, select the song you want, record it in your singing style and own voice, and you get your personal CD.

Enjoy!

By here in the good ole usa

June 30, 2009 10:30 AM | Link to this

Wow Island guy We here in the backwoods of east texas had no idea that this type of technology has been around that long. Thanks to you for pointing that out to us hillbillies. You seem to think that we here in the Pineywoods of East Texas are technologically ignorant and are way behind in the technical world. However the redbox dvd rental kiosk while not new technology is still a relatively new concept on Dvd rentals. This DVD rental kiosk that you say is nothing new at all because the Phillipines has had this type of Video/CD/DVD/PSR service since 1993 while that might be true, this is still something of a new concept that people are still getting acustomed to. The Phillipines must be so far of The USA in technology advances that there is no way the USA can compete with them. We must be kind of like third world in the technology realm…

By Facts Facts Facts

June 30, 2009 10:31 AM | Link to this

First, there are three locations…Walgreens, Walmart and HEB. It’s on the Redbox website and you can see the machine at HEB.

Second, Netflix does NOT take a week. I use Netflix EVERYDAY because you can watch movies online and stream them to your television at no extra cost. Plus the movies they mail me get to me in ONE day.

Please, check me. You may want to let your readers know since this was a front page story.

By concernedtaxpayer

June 30, 2009 11:31 AM | Link to this

I doubt very seriously if Island_Guy was talking down to “us hillbillies” as it was so kindly put. The face of movie rental has changed leaving Lufkinites wondering how traditional video stores are staying in business. Well isn’t that just the most insightful news we have seen in weeks. As an obviously concerned citizen myself, I would wonder more how or why traditional video stores, Netflix, or any other video rental are staying in business at a time when we are losing jobs by the hundreds of thousands each month, and citizens may not have enough for that third meal each day but it must be really hard on the video store to stay in business with all that Netflix and DVD vending machines. Is this really the biggest issue you could find around town today?

By Marcia

June 30, 2009 2:59 PM | Link to this

I like it, but I wish they had more of a variety of movies (too many B movies) and a dedicated Returns slot so we don’t have to stand in line behind someone who wants to look at the whole inventory of movies at 8:53PM!

By Island_Guy

June 30, 2009 6:46 PM | Link to this

“here in the good old USA”; nope…I do not consider you great folks hillbillies in any way. I own a home in Houston, and lived in Lufkin for 7 years and love the durned place. Yes, the Philippines and Asia, IS far advanced from the USA in many technological ways. Examples: In Manila, there is a completely new “e-city”, (larger than Lufkin) which everything there is the center of electronic technological advances and even those that have not been put on the market yet. There are buildings rising up over 30 stories tall here. Maybe (but I don’t know) if the Internet has anything on this). We run analog and digital television broadcasts and broadband radio on one system here, and never have problems. Cell phones and texting and prepaid calling/texting has been here since 1987. I cannot tell more, but you must understand Asia IS actually more advanced this way, and maybe in other ways as well. Best to fly over here and see for yourself. Seems the only “voice of reason” here seems to be “concernedtaxpayer”, as always! This young lady is highly intelligent and has reasonable things to say…always! I have not met any “hillbillies” in my life as living and being born in Texas, folks. Everyone is just like me and I’m like everyone else. I don’t care where you come from or what color you are. I’m simply pointing out a fact of life in Asia when I see articles such as the “red box” displays; it is hard for me not to mention we have had similar advances years ago over here.

We have vid stores over here, but they sell videos, originals and pirated everyplace; on street-sides, street corners, out of “palengke” (outside shopping areas) kiosks, on rolling carts, or through walking vendors selling videos from the hand at bus stations, etc. Only in the super large cities like Manila are there video stores and other stores such as S&M and in megamalls, that have specialty video stores (which, by the way, sell original videos). All the videos, anyway, are compatible to all our playback units. Same as CD’s; even the newer 3” ones, which are in the majority of use right now and most of us have the newer playback units, anyway.

Thanks again, “cocernedtaxpayer” for your input, too; and “Facts3”.

By Island_Guy

June 30, 2009 6:50 PM | Link to this

By the way, I just checked “e-city” in Manila. It is an entertainment center. It is on the Internet. Plug-in:

e-city manila Philippines

Then check out which thread you want and get an idea.

By Longwinded

July 1, 2009 4:10 PM | Link to this

The developer’s website says it only occupies 40 hectares (less than 100 acres). That’s WAY smaller than Lufkin. I know people that have more private land than that.

By Island_Guy

July 1, 2009 9:34 PM | Link to this

I should have said, “certain areas in Lufkin”. Although, the photos and the actual layout of the area appears to be much larger when you see it in person, because of the tall high-rises and other high-story buildings within this 40 hectare area, if you lay it all out flat, it does cover quite a sizable area; and it does cover most of Lufkin if you see it this way. Did you think of that, Longwinded? Lufkin has little high-rise buildings to really boast about.

Anyway, thanks for checking out the web on this. Keep checking the web on Manila, the demographics, various parts of it all, etc. Check the SM Megamall and other mall areas.

We also have a condo in Makati, MM (Metro Manila). We go there every month at least for at least three days or so when school is open - longer terms when there are holidays or vacations. Our son attends school in the Province (Isabela) and he has the sister-in-law and the maid at home, so he is safe. Manila is a nice place, if you know where to go and how to get there.

By Longwinded

July 2, 2009 11:58 AM | Link to this

Why do you insist on fantastic claims?

Do you know how many tall buildings it would take (laid flat) to cover the city of Lufkin? Lufkin covers AT LEAST 36 square miles. You’d need 36 buildings that are a mile tall by a half mile wide to cover it. In other words, 36 buildings WAY bigger than the Empire State Building. The very footprint of that complex would not support such large buildings.

Just like you saying your Suzlon 2.1MW windmill only has 4m blades (Suzlon’s own website completely disagrees, by the way), you’ve completely missed your estimation/figures up and are now trying to justify your figures with some fantastical way of saying this tiny complex is somehow bigger than the city of Lufkin if you flatten all the buildings.

We understand that there are other places that don’t use donkeys and camels for transportation, nor smoke signals for communication. You’re only making your case worse by making silly claims about how big, good, or advanced other places are. No one thinks they’re as backward as you suggest; you’re just extremely defensive about it and it’s patently obvious that you’re willing to say and do anything to prove you’re in a better place.

By Longwinded

July 2, 2009 1:06 PM | Link to this

Sorry - brain fart there. It would take at least 36 buildings that were 2 miles tall by a 1/2 mile wide to cover Lufkin. Again, they’re way too big to fit on 40 hectares (vertically).

By here in the good ole usa

July 7, 2009 1:24 AM | Link to this

Hey Island guy I am and most of us here in the us realize that there are countries on the planet that are more technologically. We are not stupid as you seem to be implying.. I am proud that you live in another country that is far more advanced.. We are not as far behind as you would think. I recall seeing the Redbox style video renting kiosk severall years ago in a Frachising publication looking for Entreprenuers to franchise out in this business. However I feel that many people were reluctant to persue this when i noticed it for fear of it not being recieved well by the general public, mainly because of quanity selections which is posing a bit of a problem even now, versus the quanity that video rental stores like blockbuster and Movie gallery offers. I agree that this was not a big news story for lufkin, but it does raise some concerns for the fate of the walk in video rental stores that do provide jobs for citizens of our community as well as other communities across our great nation. A Nation that is losing jobs left and right..I think and feel thats what the original article was really about not that this is some new technology that has taken this city or country for that matter by storm… I have been to the Phillipines while yes it is a wonderful place to vacation at however it would not be my first choice of places to set up residence in. And to concernedtaxpayer I apologize if my comment offened you as it seemed to. It really bothers me to have people who do not live here in our community or country even put post up on here that seemingly is degrading to our city/country.. Most Americans are aware that the Asian countries are the center of the electronic and technological advancement leaders in the world. It was almost like ISLANDGUY was bragging that he lives in the Phillipines. Every comment that he seems to be posting no matter what the article is about. He has to mention that he lives in the phillipines and the phillipines have already done this or that or would do things this way or that.. Its getting a little irritating… Sorry…

By concernedtaxpayer

July 7, 2009 10:09 AM | Link to this

I took no offense from the sarcasm you implied with your hillbilly statement, but merely wanted to reflect on the negative implications such a statement would reflect on the fine citizens of this community.

The nation is global now, our recession has affected many more countries beyond just our own. It is one thing for the posts to bother you, and you have every right to state that they do. They would be better received and less prone to defense if you used reason to make your case instead of insults.

I too had this same curiosity on this issue about why Island_Guy is indeed not part of the community (as he was at one time). Before I let it manufacture into annoyance or anger I took it to the source and simply asked why someone who devotes so much time to his posts and keeping up with our community would leave it.

While I will spare the details of it, pretty much the way things were evolving around here with job markets, investment opportunities and the way things are being run, it was best financially to maintain support of his family to leave. It is relatively unfair to criticize someone for trying to bring a broader view to a community that is lacking in many areas.

Speaking from personal experience I have wrestled with this moving question myself. I have already had to seek employment over the internet from another state to maintain an income here. I was born and raised in this area and Love it as my home, but if status quo continues and recreation and entertainment as well as fast food and DVD vending machines continue to take priority over lay offs, dwindling job market and foreclosures or property tax auctions many of our youth are going to be forced to leave in search of life at all, much less a chance at a better life.

It is well within your ability to remain bothered by outside opinions or views, but I choose to remain humbled and flattered that someone we forced to leave for lack of opportunities would still care at all about what happens to our community.

By KM

July 14, 2009 8:55 PM | Link to this

I returned a movie to the local redbox, but it never registered and I got a $27 charge for “keeping” the video. I called and emailed customer service and they asked a bunch of questions which I had answered about 3 times at that point, then sent an email saying they’ll investigate the physical box and get back in 10-15 days…. that was almost 3 months ago. I frankly forgot, because I don’t sit and wait for this stuff, but I just sent another email about this matter. Another time, my wife tried to return a video for me, and the machine was down for 3 days. I got charged $7, and even after calling, they never returned the fee. I thought this was a great alternative to Blockbuster but not if I keep getting ripped off. I’ve lost more with Redbox than I ever did with Blockbuster’s late fees. Poor customer service, bad hardware …. They get an F.