Moving to Rosemount was not in the plans. I was going to live in my lovely rambler, in Rochester, for the rest of my life. Eventually, meet a wonderful man (who didn't own his own house and loved my house as much or more then me!), we would marry, he would move in, we'd have babies, build a family room addition off the dining room, create a larger bathroom in the basement and live happily ever after. Sigh. Rosemount was not in the plans.
For anyone who's driven on 52 headed south of the Cities or going north towards the Cities, you have experienced the smelly stacks. They are located off of Hwy 52, near the Hastings exit and you can't miss them. They are huge, they light up the night with their white lights and smoke and they stink. Here's the funny, quirky thing about this plant and these stacks. Just west of the smelly stacks, there's no smell. And even better there's beautiful farmland, trees, small rolling hills and gravel roads that are never monitered by police ;)
Rosemount is just west of the smelly stacks and although it was not in the plans I am as Lewis wrote (i say this in a different context as him), "suprised by joy" that has been found in this random change to my pre-planned life. Less and less do I plan my future and suprisengly find more and more joy by this. Almost everyday now I drive on the back roads from home to 52 and vice versa. The gravel road that I can drive dangerously fast on provides great excitement and the feeling of freedom that I so desperately have needed to feel for a number of years. Just west of the smelly stacks I enjoy God's beauty in the nature surrounding my home. My life certainly can't be planned for a while, if ever again!, and I don't know how long I'll be in Rosemount so even though Rosemount wasn't in the plans I take joy in the fact that just west of the smelly stacks there is no smell, great beauty and exciting roads to travel on.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
The 2007 Writers Guild of America Strike
I am a TV and movie junkie so I thought I’d look into this whole Writer’s Guild of America strike and see how my TV shows are going to be affected. The histories of strikes in the past and the reason for this strike are somewhat interesting. All of the information that I’m writing about was found on Wikipedia.
The first strike in 1960 lasted for 22 weeks. The second strike in 1988 lasted only one day longer than the 1960 strike. The 1988 strike was based on residuals. Apparently the use of VHS in the household was becoming so common that the WGA felt they needed to renegotiate their contract. The outcome was the decision that a writer would receive .3% of the first million of reportable gross and (.36% after) of each tape sold as a residual. This stayed the same even as buyers moved from VHS to DVD.
Now, here’s an interesting fact, the home video market (presently) makes close to 3x’s the box office. Not too much of a surprise considering how cheap DVD’s have become and how pricey going to the movies is. Home video market brings in 4.8 billion, the box office 1.78 billion. So it’s no wonder that with changing technology and it being almost 20 years since the last strike the WGA is striking again due to “new media.” This 2007 strike is based on an inability to negotiate on “new media” residuals. What is new media? Internet and cell phones are the prime concerns for the WGA and I really can’t blame the WGA for being tough to negotiate with – once you’re done negotiating you’re usually stuck with what you agreed on for a significant period of time – despite what changes take places in the world around you.
Changing technology could have a huge affect on the public’s access to creative works…AND…the contract that the WGA finally accepts could also have a huge affect on the public’s access to creative works.
How will this affect our shows?, is what everyone’s asking. And it will have an affect, for most shows starting in Jan we will see more reruns. Wikipedia has a list of all shows and how many episodes have been produced before the strike – when looking for 2007 writers guild strike, take a peak at their link to effects of the 2007 WGA strike. I think this strike could have a great affect on America, maybe keep junkies like me from watching too much TV and finding something more useful to do with my time :)
The first strike in 1960 lasted for 22 weeks. The second strike in 1988 lasted only one day longer than the 1960 strike. The 1988 strike was based on residuals. Apparently the use of VHS in the household was becoming so common that the WGA felt they needed to renegotiate their contract. The outcome was the decision that a writer would receive .3% of the first million of reportable gross and (.36% after) of each tape sold as a residual. This stayed the same even as buyers moved from VHS to DVD.
Now, here’s an interesting fact, the home video market (presently) makes close to 3x’s the box office. Not too much of a surprise considering how cheap DVD’s have become and how pricey going to the movies is. Home video market brings in 4.8 billion, the box office 1.78 billion. So it’s no wonder that with changing technology and it being almost 20 years since the last strike the WGA is striking again due to “new media.” This 2007 strike is based on an inability to negotiate on “new media” residuals. What is new media? Internet and cell phones are the prime concerns for the WGA and I really can’t blame the WGA for being tough to negotiate with – once you’re done negotiating you’re usually stuck with what you agreed on for a significant period of time – despite what changes take places in the world around you.
Changing technology could have a huge affect on the public’s access to creative works…AND…the contract that the WGA finally accepts could also have a huge affect on the public’s access to creative works.
How will this affect our shows?, is what everyone’s asking. And it will have an affect, for most shows starting in Jan we will see more reruns. Wikipedia has a list of all shows and how many episodes have been produced before the strike – when looking for 2007 writers guild strike, take a peak at their link to effects of the 2007 WGA strike. I think this strike could have a great affect on America, maybe keep junkies like me from watching too much TV and finding something more useful to do with my time :)
Friday, November 16, 2007
Privacy vs. Openess
I was enjoying one of my favorite shows last night, after I had created this new blog and the topic of blogs became a discussion on the show. A statement made in reference to blogging was, "does no one value privacy anymore" and the response made was, "the value now is on openess."
I may be a little off with the wording of the quotes but the point was that we used to view sharing of information online as giving away your privacy, and in a way not protecting yourself. We valued the certainty of knowing that others didn't know too much about us and in turn couldn't harm us, emotional, physically, etc. What about this value of openess, what does that mean. For some it may mean that they want to know as much about someone as they possibly can, that would make them feel closer to that person. For others, it means they want others to know about themselves, their thoughts, feelings so that they feel known.
I'm partial to believe that there may be a shift in the value of privacy to openess but I think the reason of why remains the same. I think for both the driving emotion is the fear of being misunderstood and harmed in the process of either sharing too much or too little of ourselves.
At times I seem like an extremely open person, I share my opinions, my feelings, my thoughts easily but I know that I am also an extremely private person, especially about my experiences, fears and convictions. I'd like to flip this in a way, learn how to be more private about things I'm quick to be vocal on, and become more open about those things that by becoming vocal make a real difference in my life and possibly others.
I may be a little off with the wording of the quotes but the point was that we used to view sharing of information online as giving away your privacy, and in a way not protecting yourself. We valued the certainty of knowing that others didn't know too much about us and in turn couldn't harm us, emotional, physically, etc. What about this value of openess, what does that mean. For some it may mean that they want to know as much about someone as they possibly can, that would make them feel closer to that person. For others, it means they want others to know about themselves, their thoughts, feelings so that they feel known.
I'm partial to believe that there may be a shift in the value of privacy to openess but I think the reason of why remains the same. I think for both the driving emotion is the fear of being misunderstood and harmed in the process of either sharing too much or too little of ourselves.
At times I seem like an extremely open person, I share my opinions, my feelings, my thoughts easily but I know that I am also an extremely private person, especially about my experiences, fears and convictions. I'd like to flip this in a way, learn how to be more private about things I'm quick to be vocal on, and become more open about those things that by becoming vocal make a real difference in my life and possibly others.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Becoming a Blogger
I will say, up front, I am nervous. An "online diary" is not something I start lightly or without reservation. I haven't even maintained a private diary for many a years so writing my thoughts, and posting them for the public to read is intimidating. Not that I really believe I'll have many readers! I do plan on writing substantial and hopefully interesting posts. Because I am nervous, intimidated and clueless still about the organization of my blog I am ending this post before it becomes a random mess. But first, 2 quotes as an intro to my blog:
"It is not easy to walk alone in the country without musing upon something." from the book, Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens
"For it is the mind which creates the world about us, and, even though we stand side by side in the same meadow, my eyes will never see what is beheld by yours, my heart will never stir to the emotions with which yours is touched." from the book, The Private Papers of Henry Ryecroft by George Gissing
I hope that my friends choose to muse with me as they see fit in this journey through the country we now refer to as the Internet. Your thoughts and feelings are important and I value them because we all see the world a little differently and can find much worth from our differences.
"It is not easy to walk alone in the country without musing upon something." from the book, Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens
"For it is the mind which creates the world about us, and, even though we stand side by side in the same meadow, my eyes will never see what is beheld by yours, my heart will never stir to the emotions with which yours is touched." from the book, The Private Papers of Henry Ryecroft by George Gissing
I hope that my friends choose to muse with me as they see fit in this journey through the country we now refer to as the Internet. Your thoughts and feelings are important and I value them because we all see the world a little differently and can find much worth from our differences.
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