forget hollywood - go right to the internet

if ever there was a more certain clue that the corporate 'masterminds' behind the 'big seven' and the 'top three' were sorely missing their heads in the ongoing debate between the writers guild and the top bean counters it's this:

the writers are going directly to the internet alone.

while part of this pleases me a great deal, having posted on the discussion between thom yorke and david byrne before taking some well deserved time off with my family, i have to admit that in a negotiations battle this is a risky move.

at stake: the capitulation of the studios and television networks into recognizing that while they were able to shaft writers on royalty arrangements relating to dvd's - the future of entertainment distribution will include internet downloads.

we all know that michael eisenberg is complaining that he was barely able to break even with is mini drama prom queen but the reality of the situation is this: the studio heads (like eisenberg) need to realize that they cannot go it alone without the writers. barely breaking even in a a new medium is, in itself, a fantastic feat. how long did it take for amazon to make a profit?

the writers on the other hand - well they know how to spell out the letters on the wall (so to speak) and they are deciding to show just how easy it would be for they to dump the studios and start making money on their own.

the downside: well, as chuck d opined years and years ago when he was talking about how the mp3 format would upend his industry, there is less to be made in big packages. if the writers think that they will be able to make it alone and make the same kind of money they were making while writing for 'friends' let's say (my personal opinion is that there should be a ring in dante's inferno for everyone attached to that abomination - but, that's just me) then they are sadly mistaken.

the facts: from a sideliner's perspective the whole debate is a bit like watching a couple of five year olds in a shoving match. as an amateur writer myself it will come as no surprise who i'm rooting for in this particular push-pull of commerce. at the end of the day though, i only watch five hours of television a week and being in canada this means that the cbc shows slated to start should keep my interest at least until april.

what that means? let's just say that i'm willing to wait.

oh and one other thing directed at both sides: QUIT MAKING SILLY REMAKES OF MOVIES/TELEVISION SHOWS THAT WEREN'T THAT GOOD THE FIRST TIME AROUND!

'nuff said.

survival strategies for the 21st century musician

david byrne gives us a cool appraisal of the landscape and the money making opportunities available for the innovative musician this century.

survival strategies

same as it ever was?

recently radiohead turned everyone's head in the music industry spinning about 360 degrees and frothing pea soup at the mouth as if they were the demonically infested child from 'the exorcist' for one simple idea:

they put up the tracks for their upcoming album 'rainbows' on a server and suggested that the visitors 'pay what it was worth to them' and download the track.

critics and pundits were the first to cry foul (prompted probably by the strong arm of corporate nitwits who were screaming like that little green monster in the nicorette ads) and kept crying that 'it's the end of the age - the doom is upon us'.

funny thing that. after the album was downloaded, the band had made about $3 million dollars and the average payment was around $6. with no corporate payments - this was raw income free from the suits!

futurist song writer, former 'talking heads' front man, business experimenter david byrne sits down with lead singer thom yorke to talk about not only the controversy but also seek to find 'the true value of music'.

DJ Set Tutorial: Mixing Trip hop

'nuff said.

world's simplest motor

Unexplained Phenomenon - Simplest Electric Motor - Funny bloopers are a click away

commuting costs

the toronto star has a lovely article about the real impact of commuting and it's toll on family time.

not to be snarky, but it's obvious time over there. my wife and i were discussing this the other day how by the time we get home (we both have rather long commutes) to cook dinner and have a chat about the day, well it's time to go to sleep.

i used to be an avid, addicted television watcher. now, i tape two shows a week and watch the other one online at the global tv website. (for the nosy the shows are: torchwood, heroes, supernatural) and even though there's an iTunes in Canada the shows i watch aren't made in Canada so i can't download the episodes.

Commute's True Cost is Family Time

posting again

it's been a long time
i shouldn't have left you
without a strong rhyme to step to
- eric b. & rakim

just to say that i'm back again trying to take a few minutes each day and post links about what comes through my mental filter.

thank you for finding this as part of your reading schedule. i hope to not let you down again.