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Why movie theater chains are terrified of MoviePass
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As Bloomberg reported, MoviePass, which helps feed peoples film habits by giving them movie theater passes for a monthly fee, recently dropped its monthly subscription price to $9.95... - photo by Herb Scribner
A writer from The Verge just made the case for why movie theater chains are so worried about subscription-based services like MoviePass.

Writer Nick Statt wrote over the weekend that he recently signed up for MoviePass, the monthly Netflix-like subscription service that allows customers one free movie ticket a day for $9.95 a month.

Statt wrote that the plan saved him a lot of money. He paid about $30 for his first three months and saw 14 movies, saving him bundles of cash. He even said that it saved him some space to spend money on concessions.

But Statt said movie theater chains are terrified of customers like him because he, like others, realized a dark secret: perhaps movies arent really worth what were told theyre worth, he wrote.

MoviePass has fundamentally changed the value I put on movie tickets. This is why its so controversial for theater chains, he wrote.

Statt said his mindset on going to the movies has changed. He used to worry before about spending too much money. But MoviePass has made movie tickets seem more affordable, which makes him more interested in going to the movies.

That idea, he said, terrifies theaters. Customers who sign up for MoviePass and subscription services will see less value in high ticket prices and always look for alternative options to purchase tickets.

"Now, nothing really gets in the way of going to the theater except how much free time I have," he wrote. "But once youve gotten something for what feels like free, its difficult to go back to paying for it. If MoviePass went away, Id still reserve money and time to see one or two films a month, but Id be more choosy than I used to be and more reluctant about paying full price for tickets. I can imagine other subscribers writing off theaters until something similar to MoviePass pops up again especially with so many other, cheaper entertainment options available."

MoviePass first gained attention back in September after it dropped its monthly price to about the same as Netflix. For $9.95 a month, customers could see any film they want from almost any theater. The average cost of a movie theater ticket stands at around $8.84, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

AMC Theaters released a statement at the time that condemned the subscription service, saying the price model wont work long term.

Cinemark Theatres responded by creating its own monthly club, called Movie Club, which gives customers one movie ticket per month for $8.99, according to the Deseret News. Customers receive reduced rates and discounts at the box office.
Its toxic: New study says blue light from tech devices can speed up blindness
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A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers. - photo by Herb Scribner
It turns out checking Twitter or Facebook before bed is bad for your health.

A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers.

That process can lead to age-related macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, according to the researchs extract.

Blue light is a common issue for many modern Americans. Blue light is emitted from screens, most notably at night, causing sleep loss, eye strain and a number of other issues.

Dr. Ajith Karunarathne, assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said our constant exposure to blue light cant be blocked by the lens or cornea.

"It's no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye's retina. Our experiments explain how this happens, and we hope this leads to therapies that slow macular degeneration, such as a new kind of eye drop, he said.

Macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease that often affects those in their 50s or 60s. It occurs after the death of photoreceptor cells in the retina. Those cells need retinal to sense light and help signal the brain.

The research team found blue light exposure created poisonous chemical molecules that killed photoreceptor cells

"It's toxic. If you shine blue light on retinal, the retinal kills photoreceptor cells as the signaling molecule on the membrane dissolves," said Kasun Ratnayake, a Ph.D. student researcher working in Karunarathne's cellular photo chemistry group. "Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. When they're dead, they're dead for good."

However, the researchers found a molecule called alpha-tocopherol, which comes from Vitamin E, can help prevent cell death, according to Futurism.

The researchers plan to review how light from TVs, cellphones and tablet screens affect the eyes as well.

"If you look at the amount of light coming out of your cellphone, it's not great but it seems tolerable," said Dr. John Payton, visiting assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. "Some cellphone companies are adding blue-light filters to the screens, and I think that is a good idea."

Indeed, Apple released a Night Shift mode two years ago to help quell blue lights strain on the eyes, according to The Verge. The screen will dim into a warmer, orange light that will cause less stress on the eyes.