I want to put in my two cents on this whole writer’s strike business. For those of you who eschew “entertainment news” (one of my favorite oxymorons), the people who get paid to write the scripts, jokes, etc., for TV and movies have gone on strike. They want their union contract to include compensation for digitally delivered media. That is, they want a piece of the pie when their work is enjoyed via the internet.

I think the writers should not give in. Anyone whose “work” is of a creative nature knows how important it is to make sure you get compensated for it. It’s very similar to the “intellectual property” issues that software developers struggle with.

Besides, who really loses here? The studios treat just about everyone like dirt. The egomaniacs that produce and distribute our entertainment think that everyone should bow before their mighty power to… to what? What exactly is the value of big studio production? So they have money. It takes lots of money to make a “big picture”. Why? Why do the studios need so much money to produce a movie when, clearly, the studios don’t want to pay the people to actually make the movie. It’s a circular argument, really.

There are a number of articles online right now that show just how callused and cold these studio execs really are. Michael Eisner (of Disney fame) called the strike “stupid” and “a waste of time.” How’s that for belittling a cause?

Producers explicitly blamed the writers for all this hubbub saying that they refused to “compromise on their major demands.” Well isn’t that the point of major demands? Why did the headline not read that the studios wouldn’t compromise, because that’s equally true. The studios even went so far as to make secret, closed-door deals with the writers and then back out of those deals.

So, I say: Writers, stand your ground! Don’t let those jerks push you around. If they don’t think you’re worth a few extra bucks, see how well they can write their own darn scripts!

(Continue reading Part II)

I got an email from Adam, our favorite airman in Iraq. The first shipment of our chocolate drive has landed safe and sound.

Hello Trint and Tammy,

The package arrived today and it’s in perfect condition. Even the most sensitive chocolates were perfect and not melted! Thank you very much for what you have done, I am sure the patients will enjoy these treats very much. The variety is amazing, I have been here for only two months and my mouth started to water as soon as I opened the package! I can’t wait to see their reactions, believe me they will be blown away!!!

Again thank you,

God delivers,

Adam

I thought about harassing Adam for using the phrase “blown away” in reference to already wounded soldiers, but I decided that was too crass, even for me. (But not too crass for my blog!)

So many of the things we accept as normal, when you think about them, just don’t make any sense.

Why do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and put our useless junk in the garage?

And then, “we” (not me) pay another couple hundred bucks for a car alarm that only goes off during thunderstorms at two in the morning.