Comments on: Climate Change, Popcorn, and the Movies http://www.kirstensanford.com/2008/03/31/climate-change-popcorn-and-the-movies/ The world according to a hula hooping, TKD black-belt wearing, radio show producing physiologist with aspirations of science journalism Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:41:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: thejesse http://www.kirstensanford.com/2008/03/31/climate-change-popcorn-and-the-movies/#comment-792 thejesse Fri, 11 Apr 2008 09:30:18 +0000 http://www.kirstensanford.com/2008/03/31/climate-change-popcorn-and-the-movies/#comment-792 Actually, the subsidy goes to the ethanol producers not the farmers. Farmers have long been paid a subsidy on corn, in addition to many other crops, as a means of keeping food prices low. The increased demand for corn created by growth in the ethanol industry has resulted in rapidly rising corn prices. For the farmer higher corn prices means we no longer qualify for government subsidies on corn and, for the first time in many decades, are being paid fair market value for our grain crops. Here is a brief explanation: http://snurl.com/243tf [www_prospect_org] Actually, the subsidy goes to the ethanol producers not the farmers. Farmers have long been paid a subsidy on corn, in addition to many other crops, as a means of keeping food prices low. The increased demand for corn created by growth in the ethanol industry has resulted in rapidly rising corn prices. For the farmer higher corn prices means we no longer qualify for government subsidies on corn and, for the first time in many decades, are being paid fair market value for our grain crops.

Here is a brief explanation: http://snurl.com/243tf [www_prospect_org]

]]> By: Gary http://www.kirstensanford.com/2008/03/31/climate-change-popcorn-and-the-movies/#comment-775 Gary Sun, 06 Apr 2008 13:21:55 +0000 http://www.kirstensanford.com/2008/03/31/climate-change-popcorn-and-the-movies/#comment-775 Yeah, I know theater food is expensive but that's what they have to do. Nearly all the revenue from tickets goes directly to the studio. Used to be the revenue share was split on a sliding scale. At first the theater got most of the ticket sales but the longer a film ran, the split slid more towards the theater. And movies stayed longer. Now they are out in a wink and popcorn keeps the theater open. But sneaking snacks in is OK by me. Yeah, I know theater food is expensive but that’s what they have to do. Nearly all the revenue from tickets goes directly to the studio. Used to be the revenue share was split on a sliding scale. At first the theater got most of the ticket sales but the longer a film ran, the split slid more towards the theater. And movies stayed longer. Now they are out in a wink and popcorn keeps the theater open. But sneaking snacks in is OK by me.

]]> By: Chris Cree http://www.kirstensanford.com/2008/03/31/climate-change-popcorn-and-the-movies/#comment-773 Chris Cree Thu, 03 Apr 2008 18:48:06 +0000 http://www.kirstensanford.com/2008/03/31/climate-change-popcorn-and-the-movies/#comment-773 Unfortunately, according to the current issue of <a href="http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,1101080407,00.html" rel="nofollow">Time magazine</a>, converting corn to ethanol has a net <em>increase</em> on greenhouse gases compared to petroleum. So we're not even getting the benefit of a healthier planet when we pay more for our popcorn. :( Unfortunately, according to the current issue of Time magazine, converting corn to ethanol has a net increase on greenhouse gases compared to petroleum.

So we’re not even getting the benefit of a healthier planet when we pay more for our popcorn. :(

]]> By: The Inoculated Mind » Blog Archive » What do higher food prices bring? http://www.kirstensanford.com/2008/03/31/climate-change-popcorn-and-the-movies/#comment-772 The Inoculated Mind » Blog Archive » What do higher food prices bring? Thu, 03 Apr 2008 16:59:22 +0000 http://www.kirstensanford.com/2008/03/31/climate-change-popcorn-and-the-movies/#comment-772 [...] bits of news resulting from the higher price of field corn. Kirsten at The Bird’s Brain notes that popcorn has gotten a little more expensive, and Jeremy at the Agricultural Biodiversity Weblog [...] […] bits of news resulting from the higher price of field corn. Kirsten at The Bird’s Brain notes that popcorn has gotten a little more expensive, and Jeremy at the Agricultural Biodiversity Weblog […]

]]> By: George http://www.kirstensanford.com/2008/03/31/climate-change-popcorn-and-the-movies/#comment-762 George Mon, 31 Mar 2008 20:07:25 +0000 http://www.kirstensanford.com/2008/03/31/climate-change-popcorn-and-the-movies/#comment-762 I want to say 2 things right now, first off all, the Wired issue a few months back talked a lot about Ethanol, and from what I understand it's still problematic to refine it in an efficient way, or has that changed? Of course, even if it hasn't it will soon enough. The second thing is that once (I don't know if this was a stroke of genius or stupidity) some friends of mine and myself actually snuck a couple 2L bottles of coke and plastic cups into a Wallace and Gromit movie, so I understand where you're coming from. I want to say 2 things right now, first off all, the Wired issue a few months back talked a lot about Ethanol, and from what I understand it’s still problematic to refine it in an efficient way, or has that changed? Of course, even if it hasn’t it will soon enough.

The second thing is that once (I don’t know if this was a stroke of genius or stupidity) some friends of mine and myself actually snuck a couple 2L bottles of coke and plastic cups into a Wallace and Gromit movie, so I understand where you’re coming from.

]]> By: Dom http://www.kirstensanford.com/2008/03/31/climate-change-popcorn-and-the-movies/#comment-758 Dom Mon, 31 Mar 2008 15:07:15 +0000 http://www.kirstensanford.com/2008/03/31/climate-change-popcorn-and-the-movies/#comment-758 Movie theaters around the world are the same. They have a captive audience so charge what they like. But the problem is that snack revenue is a major part of cinemas' income, and here in the UK at least, partly subsidises the cost of the ticket. As far as biofuels go, isn't one of the main issues that we're not actually growing any *more* of anything - predictions I've read say that increased biofuel usage will simply lead to worldwide food shortages. Movie theaters around the world are the same. They have a captive audience so charge what they like. But the problem is that snack revenue is a major part of cinemas’ income, and here in the UK at least, partly subsidises the cost of the ticket.

As far as biofuels go, isn’t one of the main issues that we’re not actually growing any *more* of anything - predictions I’ve read say that increased biofuel usage will simply lead to worldwide food shortages.

]]> By: Daniel http://www.kirstensanford.com/2008/03/31/climate-change-popcorn-and-the-movies/#comment-757 Daniel Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:13:24 +0000 http://www.kirstensanford.com/2008/03/31/climate-change-popcorn-and-the-movies/#comment-757 Aloha! I definitely hear ya on the price of popcorn at movie theaters. It seems so absurd that something so cheap and easy to make would cost so much. However, there is what would appear to be a totally reasonable explanation for the cost. It is often cited that theaters charge a premium for popcorn in order to offset the cost of tickets to see a movie. The idea is, that for those without a lot of expendable cash, they can still see the movie and at a reduced rate, while those with the extra money purchase popcorn and other concessions to offset the reduction in the cost of seeing the movie itself. I can't prove this for sure and I wouldn't be surprised if there is a bit of price gorging going on, but at the core of it, it seems to be an attempt to allow more people to see the movie itself. I'd say the true issue is not the $5 bag of popcorn, but the ten million dollar movie stars. Just my two cents and at least that comes free :) -Dan Aloha!

I definitely hear ya on the price of popcorn at movie theaters. It seems so absurd that something so cheap and easy to make would cost so much. However, there is what would appear to be a totally reasonable explanation for the cost. It is often cited that theaters charge a premium for popcorn in order to offset the cost of tickets to see a movie. The idea is, that for those without a lot of expendable cash, they can still see the movie and at a reduced rate, while those with the extra money purchase popcorn and other concessions to offset the reduction in the cost of seeing the movie itself.

I can’t prove this for sure and I wouldn’t be surprised if there is a bit of price gorging going on, but at the core of it, it seems to be an attempt to allow more people to see the movie itself. I’d say the true issue is not the $5 bag of popcorn, but the ten million dollar movie stars.

Just my two cents and at least that comes free :)

-Dan

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