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subego · 09:37 AM

Originally Posted by Shaddim

FPS is more like watching someone play a sport, because so few people can do it very well. I'm an RPG junkie, because anyone can play Skyrim.

The whole thing is pretty much nerd sportsball.

subego · Jan 21, 2014, 09:35 AM

Originally Posted by Shaddim

Is that really good in that field? I have no idea. Without knowing the pay scales and revenues I don't know if that's an unreasonable request.

I missed this question.

I don't really know either. It's a lot for podcasting, I'm sure, but it seems low compared to TV.

I'd have given him 250K. Even with the LA thing, no raise after a couple years of that kind of grind is bullshit IMO.

My understanding as of now is Leo's counter-offer was "same as you were getting".

subego · Jan 22, 2014, 05:21 PM

I think Leo pushed this a little too far.

Tom claims he asked for what he made in 2013 (no raise), and in fact offered to switch to freelancer status, thus pulling him from the TWiT benefit package.

I know who I believe.

The Final Dakar · Jan 22, 2014, 05:44 PM

This is a little unbelievable. Is TWiT still bleeding or something? Why would he offer to take no raise, and further, why would Leo want to cut his pay?

I still feel like the blame lays with the CEO here.

subego · Jan 22, 2014, 06:00 PM

What comes to mind is Tom's terms make it clear he's on the road to extracting himself from TWiT, and Leo (or Lisa, or both) didn't want to spend that kind of coin on departing talent.

subego · Jan 22, 2014, 06:10 PM

Also, I'd guess TWiT has a decent benefit package, but it can't hold a candle to the package he can get as the husband of someone at the Goog.

subego · Jan 22, 2014, 06:49 PM

I should throw in Leo has plausible deniability about this. The original numbers I listed came from a leaked email.

Tom's comments came directly from Tom on G+.

subego · Jan 24, 2014, 05:07 PM

Tom elaborated slightly. He wanted to lose the exclusivity clause, which fits my theory he'd indicated he wanted to go in a different direction.

Exchanging that for no benefits seems like an eminently reasonable offer.

I have no idea what kind of hit TWiT has taken over this, but I can't imagine it being less than Tom's entire salary.

Right before this happened, I was kinda anti-Tom, and quite obviously a true believer in Leo. Clearly, I didn't expect myself to flip. I imagine when analyzing this move, Leo didn't anticipate someone of my profile to flip.

Seriously. I feel like I never want to see the guy again. I'm still watching TWiT shows (I don't want to punish people I like because their boss is a dick), but I can't bring myself to watch the ones Leo are in. Security Now isn't really replaceable, so this is causing me active damage, but I'd feel too much RAEG at this guy who I used to look up to.

The Final Dakar · Jan 24, 2014, 05:20 PM

I think I said this before, but if this for monetary reasons, I think Leo is an idiot ad I rationalize that Lisa gets a good share of the blame. But if its for ego reasons, I'm sad because this is an unnecessary self-inflicted gunshot wound.

subego · Jan 24, 2014, 05:34 PM

I agree on both counts.

The Final Dakar · Jan 24, 2014, 05:36 PM

I don't share in your rage, probably because I only watch one show, but I hope at some point tensions clear and they at least get Tom on TWiT from time to time.

subego · Jan 24, 2014, 05:45 PM

Oh yeah. I really deep-ended on TWiT.

Having done that, I think I understand the "cult of personality" angle better than Leo does. That's where I think Leo's ego comes into play. If Leo had a better handle on this, he could have gotten rid of Tom, and not made it look like he's a greedy asshole.

ort888 · Jan 24, 2014, 05:57 PM

All I watch is TWIT, but actually, my daily routine has changed a bit and I no longer have time for as many podcasts... so as of right now, TWIT has gotten the Axe. I haven't watched in over a month.

subego · Jan 24, 2014, 06:12 PM

I still can't quite get the "hang" of podcasts. I want to focus on them, and I don't have time to do that.

As I'm sure I mentioned, I used to use TWiT like radio. It was on as background noise. I'm the type who needs that.

At least, that's what I thought. It was Leo who pointed out to me radio is actually a companion. A constant companion who demands almost nothing of you. You pay attention when you feel like, and then switch to ignoring it on a dime. The radio doesn't take that personally. This is why Pandora isn't quite right (though I love it, and have been using it a lot more as of late). It makes demands, like a tamagotchi.

Shaddim · Jan 24, 2014, 07:23 PM

I no longer watch TWiT, unless Dvorak is on, I inexplicably want to punch Leo's smug face every time I see it now. Now I just do DTN each day and that's good enough for me.

subego · Feb 2, 2014, 03:12 AM

Eh... never mind.

subego · Feb 4, 2014, 03:37 PM

Reason #722 why the Padre is awesome.

Question: My roommate moved out and I have this big place all to myself. What should I do?

Padre: fapfapfapfapfapfapfapfap.

WWJF was somebody else though.

Shaddim · Feb 4, 2014, 10:11 PM

He's a PINO?

subego · Feb 15, 2014, 10:52 PM

He's being kinda cagey, but I think the Pope just offered him a gig.

subego · Feb 18, 2014, 06:04 PM

So, at diamondclub.tv you can see the live streaming of anything Shwood, Merritt, Belmont, Jury, or Mayne.

Direct quote: this is not a network.

subego · Feb 19, 2014, 02:57 AM

In I'm sure completely unrelated news, Shwood and Jury just bailed from TWiT.

The Final Dakar · Feb 19, 2014, 09:40 AM

Did a little googling, so basically they're doing the same show without the twit affiliation?

Leo has a growing problem on his hands.

Shaddim · Feb 19, 2014, 10:07 AM

Problem? I think there's probably not a more disliked person in his field, right now.

Jawbone54 · Feb 19, 2014, 12:52 PM

Originally Posted by Shaddim

Problem? I think there's probably not a more disliked person in his field, right now.

His comments throughout his shows are increasingly snarky and arrogant. I was never as big of a fan of Leo as I was his guests, but he's just become a scumbag.

Also, last Sunday's show was beyond boring.

subego · Feb 19, 2014, 06:07 PM

Originally Posted by The Final Dakar

Did a little googling, so basically they're doing the same show without the twit affiliation?

Leo has a growing problem on his hands.

I wanna say he's close to over the hump now. With the exception of Chad, who's has by far the most important non-hosting gig, the only regulars left are Sarah, the Padre, and Jason Howell.

The network has been basically busted down to what it originally was. Leo, and an off-site host, the big difference is now Leo is skyping out of an empty $1,000,000 studio.

subego · Feb 19, 2014, 06:45 PM

The new Shwood and Jury show has gotten close to $1,000 of pledges per show. My guess is that's somewhere between par and twice what TWiT was paying.

subego · Feb 20, 2014, 03:55 AM

Originally Posted by The Final Dakar

Did a little googling, so basically they're doing the same show without the twit affiliation?

Leo has a growing problem on his hands.

I realized I didn't really answer your question.

Basically, yes. Same show but with swears and the name Night Attack. Funded through contributions via Patreon. Ads are being considered.

subego · Feb 20, 2014, 03:59 AM

Shit... par?

Just learned they were getting $175 each per show.

Shaddim · Feb 20, 2014, 06:00 AM

That's pathetic...

The Final Dakar · Feb 20, 2014, 10:04 AM

Originally Posted by subego

I wanna say he's close to over the hump now. With the exception of Chad, who's has by far the most important non-hosting gig, the only regulars left are Sarah, the Padre, and Jason Howell.

The network has been basically busted down to what it originally was. Leo, and an off-site host, the big difference is now Leo is skyping out of an empty $1,000,000 studio.

Lesson: Don't build a $1,000,000 studio and then get cheap on the talent.*

*also, don't panic when you build a $1,000,000 studio and things gets a little tough

subego · Feb 20, 2014, 03:43 PM

I can't escape the feeling it was the studio which soured Tom. It fits timing-wise.

I think he (correctly) divined "this shit is coming out of my salary".

The Final Dakar · Feb 25, 2014, 03:31 PM

"Lisa wants buy billboard ads in Silicon Valley"

subego · Feb 25, 2014, 05:12 PM

I can see it now...

"Wanted: Pro Tech News Host"

subego · Mar 1, 2014, 12:56 AM

Reason 812 the Padre is awesome.

His favorite Jesuit conspiracy theory is the nuclear bomb filled with Jesuit sperm.

A/K/A "the Jesuit bukkake thing".

subego · Mar 5, 2014, 02:26 AM

Saw the first Shwood and Jury show. The guest was Tom Merritt, natch.

Back when Shwood and Jury were on TWiT, there were two ad reads by Jury which caused "problems". It never quite made sense to me why the advertisers were bothered by these ads. Anyone who would be offended by them would be offended by the show, and hence won't see the ad. It's a self-correcting "problem".

Shwood and Jury decided to explain one instance of that quite simply, while managing not to actually say anything about it. Take what's happening, and you fill in the rest.

The new show had one non-house ad. It's one of the same companies they did the "problem" ad for. In the ad on their new show, Jury made exactly the same jokes, except more of them.

For the curious, the company in question is a spam filtering company, MailRoute, and the "problem" metaphor was "spam is like rape".

The Final Dakar · Mar 5, 2014, 10:12 AM

Originally Posted by subego

I can see it now...

"Wanted: Pro Tech News Host"

I think it was in reference to gaining more listeners.

subego · Mar 5, 2014, 05:40 PM

I know.

subego · 10:28 PM

I guess this is becoming the Shwood and Jury thread. Leo's been too good at not trashing his own network lately.

Finally ponied up for their show. Was never moved to that point by Leo. Too many ads. I would have paid for a HD stream, but they never got that going.

Shwood and Jury are getting close to $2,000 per show now. When Tom started on Patreon, I recall Leo rolling his eyes and saying "I hope that works for him".

subego · Mar 9, 2014, 12:38 PM

I want to support Tom, but when it comes down to it, I don't need a daily tech news show. I liked it when I had it, but the Vergecast is plenty.

Part of me thinks the largest segment of his subscribers are probably tech pundits.

The Final Dakar · Mar 10, 2014, 11:47 AM

Did you know Steve Gibson has bit coins? He mined some early on and now they worth $x!

three times, Leo. And I'll I watch is twit.

subego · Mar 10, 2014, 02:48 PM

I miss Steve and his shenanigans.

subego · Mar 16, 2014, 04:34 PM

Yet another unhappy ex-TWiT gets slammed by Leo for doing a show on the same subject he did while at the network.

subego · Mar 20, 2014, 06:29 PM

Merritt hit $10K/month. Guess it worked.

Shaddim · Mar 20, 2014, 11:33 PM

I'm one of his Patrons, usually I try to watch it each day. It's worth it.

subego · Mar 21, 2014, 07:52 PM

I'm definitely tempted, but I know I wouldn't watch it. Still, I should toss him a fiver or something.

The Final Dakar · Mar 31, 2014, 02:31 PM

Interesting bit of perception (and bias): When a podcast does commercials for gear and services related to its content it seems normal. When a tech sow does commercials for glasses and shaving cream clubs it seems desperate.

subego · Mar 31, 2014, 02:41 PM

It always made sense to me.

Full-on nerds have fashion and grooming low on their list of priorities, and thus appreciate ways of "automating" the process.

Also, way less conflict of interest.

The Final Dakar · Mar 31, 2014, 02:43 PM

Originally Posted by subego

It always made sense to me.

Full-on nerds have fashion and grooming low on their list of priorities, and thus appreciate ways of "automating" the process.

Also, way less conflict of interest.

That's not where I'm coming from. The Ford commercials never bothered me, so it seems if it isn't a world class multinational or specifically relevant, I seem to read into it.

subego · Mar 31, 2014, 02:50 PM

Interesting.

The Ford commercials bugged me because, well... I had trouble believing them. Especially how awesome Ford Sync is.

Of course, the proof in the pudding is Leo drives an Audi.

The Final Dakar · Mar 31, 2014, 02:59 PM

Originally Posted by subego

Interesting.

The Ford commercials bugged me because, well... I had trouble believing them. Especially how awesome Ford Sync is.

Of course, the proof in the pudding is Leo drives an Audi.

But he owned two Fords before that. I'm sure he got some kind of discount or something that ended when their ads did. Not surprised that coincided with him getting a new car.