Out of the closet

 MY CAMERA is out of the closet and in my hands!

I used to take photos regularly when Kodak film was involved. Yeah, I took the shots, then took the film to be developed and waited to see how many were keepers. Fast forward to digital and here we are again. Yep, I'm using the Nikon DSRL the MITM purchased back in 2006 for stills to use in his documentary work. I did use it when we lived in SAV, but that tapered off as I started using my iPhone for quick pics. I decided to find/use the Nikon again when IDV suggested I start taking photos for the Infomaniac Garden Photo Extravaganza. 

So, there you go. Hopefully, unloading my photos will be more successful than my attempts at video uploads.

Wish me luck.

Strike!

 Whilst out today, we drove past EVERY.FUCKING.STUDIO here in Lalaland in support of the WGA (Writers Guild of America). Far too many people we know and love work in the entertainment business and are (or will be soon) affected by the inaction of the major studios. The WGA went on strike after repeated attempts to negotiate a fair contract that would protect writers. Once again, we have a situation where companies making HUGE profits are sharing those profits not with the people who are actually responsible for the content that generates those huge profits, but with their shareholders and CEOs, (who make salaries ridiculously higher than writers, below the line workers- camera, sound, prop, grips, actors, and directors!). 

The effects of an extended strike in this town will be felt by, again, all the ancillaries businesses, many of whom are still recovering from the pandemic lockdown, that are supported by entertainment industry folks. I'm talking about eateries near studios, catering businesses that work location shoots, dry cleaners, hair salons, and damn near every single business that depends on customers for their goods and services. The last strike here lasted 107 days and amounted to billions lost and had a profound effect on the economy of  Southern California.

Within the next few weeks, the Directors Guild (DGA) and Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) will begin negotiations over their respective contracts with the same group representing the studios and streaming services, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). At this point, folks far more knowledgeable than me, are saying that if the DGA and SAG-AFTRA join the DGA in striking, the entertainment industry will cease to function.  The Teamsters Union, Local 399, is already supporting the strike, as are members of IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees). The bottomline is if all the folks in front of the camera and behind the camera decide to stop working, then TV as we're currently used to will cease. All of the late-night talk shows ceased providing new content the day the strike was called and networks have been showing repeats nightly. Any series you've been watching are only showing content that were already completed. The impact of a prolonged strike will affect the upcoming new season which usually starts in September. There will also be an impact on film production also, but that is another issue.

I have no insight on the end result and I know this post is sort of my rambling rant today and will have absolutely no impact on AMPTP, but seeing all of those folks walking the line this morning touched my old radical rabble-rouser heart!*

* I have no idea why there's a white background on part of the post, but I can assure you it is all original content written by me.

Monday UPDATE

 The MITM passed his DMV test on the first try! His new license will be mailed at some point in the near future.

Failure is unacceptable, but it happened at the DMV!

 The MITM has a birthday coming up next month, so the California Department of Motor Vehicles mandates that because of his age, he must take a written test every 5 years in order to renew his driver's license. Well, that's what he tried to do yesterday and failed TWICE! Even the woman at the window, when he checked in, said she thought it was a ridiculous requirement and apologized to him that he had to take the test! There are groups here in California that are actively fighting for a change in this legislation, but that's a story for another post. 

Back to the test.

He had studied the handbook, but UNFORTUNATELY only studied the ACTUAL rules about sitting behind the wheel of a moving vehicle, and NOT what was on the test. Yeah, you know the rules about how often you can go to traffic school to have a moving violation not reported to your insurance company (once every 18 months) or what speed you should drive on compacted snow.* Oh, there were some really good ones, too, as in "What's the minimum age for a driver of a NEV** (wtf, right? aka Neighborhood Electric Vehicle)." At this point, I think it's important for me to say (in his defense) that the MITM has driven in more (developed and undeveloped) countries (and states) than most of the people who were in line at the DMV on that crazy Friday! But, because he erroneously thought that the test was about his actual comprehension of the rules of the road and not the finer points of the Department of Motor Vehicle law, so he failed twice! He was told he could take the test as many times as he wanted until he passed, but he had to stand in an ever-increasing line each time.

He's going back on Monday.

He's studying the handbook right now and will probably continue to do so all weekend.

I'll keep you informed.

*Half the speed at which you were traveling.

UPDATE:

**In California the legal age is 16 for a NEV which is NOT considered a golf cart. You have to be 13 or older to drive a golf cart, but you must have an adult with you.