This and that and the other thing
Dec. 2nd, 2024 09:29 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkat1. I may be cancelling my cable soon - I can't get NY1 unless I upgrade to the $120 a month option, and seriously? Not sure it's worth it.
Optimum appears to have fixed the problem - the DVR is working finally, as is the internet. And it all went down briefly over the weekend. So, I may just do nothing. I'm annoyed with Optimum at the moment. They told me that NY1 was part of the basic package, it's not. They said I'd be getting an upgraded box - I didn't. Although, at least I got an updated (if harder to use) remote. It's black and the buttons are hard to see.
Ah, first world problems. (We'll see how long the US remains a first world country once the upcoming administration gets through with it. With any luck they'll be stymied from doing jack-shit, due to colossal ineptitude and the inability to figure out how to work the system. People who have never worked in governmental institutions, do not understand how they work. Or so I've discovered. Note: it doesn't work the way your own private little business or corporate entity works. There's more layers, rules, procedures, and hierarchy, and a lot of it isn't clear.)
2. I listened to several podcasts at work - because I was bored and gone were the days in which I had to entertain myself by doodling or listening to music or surfing the net... now, when I'm bored, I can entertain myself with podcasts on my mobile phone via youtube. Gotta love technology.
* Joss Whedon, His Life, His Work, He's Here via Connecticut Public Radio. It's basically a podcast/radio show with three people, Joss Whedon, Whedon's Professor (Jeanine Bassinger, the Chair of Film Studies at Weselyn University where Whedon attended, and was his mentor), and David Lavery who wrote a biography on Joss Whedon. (Apparently they reached out to Whedon, and he agreed to do it, because it interested him? After listening to it - I thought, okay, this guy is definitely a narcissist, no doubt in my mind, in case I had any - which I don't. Seriously, I'm beginning to think the only way to be successful in this world would be to be a narcissist. Empath? Forget it. You're doomed.) Although, tbf to Whedon he is still self-deprecating. He admits that he got to do this because his grandfather and father were television writers and show-runners. But I thought David Lavery was dead, and this is dated Septemer 2024.
* Willow, a podcaster, feels the need to talk about Neil Gaiman, prefacing it with the fact that she's been a huge fan of his works and now has to figure out how to deal with the fact that well...maybe she shouldn't continue to support him in any way The bulk of this - is the podcaster explaining why she's going to put her collection of Neil Gaiman books in a cabinet with the collection of Harry Potter books, out of sight and out of mind. And will no longer support him financially in any way - ie. by buying his books, etc.
But if people want to do something other than that - that's up to them and on them, and no judgement. (Actually there's lots of judgement, but she's trying very hard not to convey it.)
I also briefly listened to this Felicia Day Speaks to the Joss Whedon issue - basically she states: "I'm not going talk about Joss because I don't want my experience to negate someone else's experience with someone. He was an amazing friend and mentor to me, but at the end of the day, I can only represent me, and I definitely can't negate other people's experiences, so I'm not going to say anymore."
To wit, Michael Rosenbaum relates that he can identify - he knew Kevin Spacey, and never had any bad experiences. He did two movies with him, and never had any issues. But Day refuses to say more than, yes, that's the same thing she had with Whedon.
I give Day credit for that.
The problem with living things or mother nature is they refuse to be neat and tidy, or black and white. People like all living things refuse to fit into neat little categories. There are no clear saints or clear sinners, everyone is capable of horrible and wonderful things, and often, and annoyingly, at the same time, causing lots of cognitive dissonance as a result. So yes, Neil Gaiman can be a strong supporter of LGBTQA, give to various causes, a good father, and a sexual predator all at the same time. And yes, JK Rowling can be supporting of LGB, and pro-same sex marriage, and anti-fascism, and an entertaining writer, and transphobic all at the same time. And yes, Joss Whedon can be a supportive mentor, write feminist stories, into female empowerment, supportive of LGBTA, against fascism, and a narcissistic bully who hurt people - and used women at the same time.
It's confusing I know. Discombobulating actually. But I've learned to look for and focus on the good in others as much as possible. Being deeply flawed myself - I can't seem to do with everyone, I honestly don't see the good in Trump. So Trump kind of trumps that ..(pun intended)?
At any rate, speaking for myself? I can't get myself to read or watch anything Gaiman related at the moment. Not that I was that much of a fan.
Nor can I get myself to look at the Harry Potter films or books again, not that I was that much of a fan to begin with. And I admittedly have struggled with re-watching Whedon's stuff - although less so, because Whedon's shows were so obviously collaborative in structure, and varied depending largely on who else was involved.
The former defense attorney in me, and my training as a public defender - leads me to be a bit more forgiving than most, and I find the whole cancel culture bit - repugnant.
Also listened to my audio book. And a mental health podcast, where an actor who had served in the War went off on the guy who wrote American Sniper, stating the man lied about Jesse Ventura, and wrote a book about how it was fun to kill people. It's not fun. And there were better sharp-shooters and snipers over there - and they didn't write books about it. I found that interesting. Also what he said about how it's very hard to readjust to civilian life after serving in the War. You are in fight or flight mode for an extended period of time, and you never quite move out of it. Some people get addicted to drugs, some go nuts with adrenaline sports or are adrenaline junkies - because they are always hunting that something. And everyone has some form of PTSD, which can best be described as being perpetually in that fight or flight mode.
3. Dancing with the Stars
Mother informed me that the people on this show were getting paid upwards to $650,000, and the winner got $50,000 on top of the signing fee of $100,000 or more.
I was shocked. I thought the contestants did it for free. They don't. They are paid for every episode they are in.
Mother got this information off of instagram or FB, she can't remember.
Also, apparently there was a huge controversy about Chandler (the Disney Star).
* I was apparently right, the audience didn't vote for her because they saw her as a professional dancer who hadn't improved.
* they resented that the race card was raised at all - since the audience didn't care about the race of the dancers. And considered it irrelevant.
* The husband of the choreographer, who did the final tennis ball dance number with the Bachelor and winner, was furious with Carrie Anne - the judge - for critiquing and ripping apart his wife's choreography, which he thought was fantastic. Carrie Anne wanted Chandler (Disney Star) to win not the Bachelor.
I looked it up. How Much Do they Make on Dancing with the Stars
"According to several sources, including Variety, the starting salary for celebrities is $125,000, which includes training for at least 20 hours per week, including several weeks prior to the premiere of the season.
But the money goes up if a celebrity gets votes and stays in the competition. Of course, no one wants to be eliminated in the first few weeks out of pride, but there is also a financial incentive to stay in the game. For stars who make it to weeks three and four, there is an added bonus amount of $10,000 per week.
If they make it to week five, the additional pay is $15,000, weeks six and seven add $20,000 per week, and then weeks eight and nine see $30,000 deposited in their bank account.
And if they are lucky enough to make the semi-finals and the finale, there is an additional $50,000 prize money each week, plus the winner gets the Mirror Ball trophy.
Added up, in an 11-week season, the stars who make it to finale have the potential to walk away with $360,000 if the rumored figures are correct. Not a bad pay day, but there is also a report that in 2019, the pay was cut so that the maximum the final three could earn was $295,000. Even so, it is definitely still an impressive amount."
Mother said the gymnast made about $650,000. The rugby player was up there as well, with at least $650,000 or more.
Well, that explains a lot. I wondered why some of these folks did this. I thought it was for exposure. Nope. Money.
Optimum appears to have fixed the problem - the DVR is working finally, as is the internet. And it all went down briefly over the weekend. So, I may just do nothing. I'm annoyed with Optimum at the moment. They told me that NY1 was part of the basic package, it's not. They said I'd be getting an upgraded box - I didn't. Although, at least I got an updated (if harder to use) remote. It's black and the buttons are hard to see.
Ah, first world problems. (We'll see how long the US remains a first world country once the upcoming administration gets through with it. With any luck they'll be stymied from doing jack-shit, due to colossal ineptitude and the inability to figure out how to work the system. People who have never worked in governmental institutions, do not understand how they work. Or so I've discovered. Note: it doesn't work the way your own private little business or corporate entity works. There's more layers, rules, procedures, and hierarchy, and a lot of it isn't clear.)
2. I listened to several podcasts at work - because I was bored and gone were the days in which I had to entertain myself by doodling or listening to music or surfing the net... now, when I'm bored, I can entertain myself with podcasts on my mobile phone via youtube. Gotta love technology.
* Joss Whedon, His Life, His Work, He's Here via Connecticut Public Radio. It's basically a podcast/radio show with three people, Joss Whedon, Whedon's Professor (Jeanine Bassinger, the Chair of Film Studies at Weselyn University where Whedon attended, and was his mentor), and David Lavery who wrote a biography on Joss Whedon. (Apparently they reached out to Whedon, and he agreed to do it, because it interested him? After listening to it - I thought, okay, this guy is definitely a narcissist, no doubt in my mind, in case I had any - which I don't. Seriously, I'm beginning to think the only way to be successful in this world would be to be a narcissist. Empath? Forget it. You're doomed.) Although, tbf to Whedon he is still self-deprecating. He admits that he got to do this because his grandfather and father were television writers and show-runners. But I thought David Lavery was dead, and this is dated Septemer 2024.
* Willow, a podcaster, feels the need to talk about Neil Gaiman, prefacing it with the fact that she's been a huge fan of his works and now has to figure out how to deal with the fact that well...maybe she shouldn't continue to support him in any way The bulk of this - is the podcaster explaining why she's going to put her collection of Neil Gaiman books in a cabinet with the collection of Harry Potter books, out of sight and out of mind. And will no longer support him financially in any way - ie. by buying his books, etc.
But if people want to do something other than that - that's up to them and on them, and no judgement. (Actually there's lots of judgement, but she's trying very hard not to convey it.)
I also briefly listened to this Felicia Day Speaks to the Joss Whedon issue - basically she states: "I'm not going talk about Joss because I don't want my experience to negate someone else's experience with someone. He was an amazing friend and mentor to me, but at the end of the day, I can only represent me, and I definitely can't negate other people's experiences, so I'm not going to say anymore."
To wit, Michael Rosenbaum relates that he can identify - he knew Kevin Spacey, and never had any bad experiences. He did two movies with him, and never had any issues. But Day refuses to say more than, yes, that's the same thing she had with Whedon.
I give Day credit for that.
The problem with living things or mother nature is they refuse to be neat and tidy, or black and white. People like all living things refuse to fit into neat little categories. There are no clear saints or clear sinners, everyone is capable of horrible and wonderful things, and often, and annoyingly, at the same time, causing lots of cognitive dissonance as a result. So yes, Neil Gaiman can be a strong supporter of LGBTQA, give to various causes, a good father, and a sexual predator all at the same time. And yes, JK Rowling can be supporting of LGB, and pro-same sex marriage, and anti-fascism, and an entertaining writer, and transphobic all at the same time. And yes, Joss Whedon can be a supportive mentor, write feminist stories, into female empowerment, supportive of LGBTA, against fascism, and a narcissistic bully who hurt people - and used women at the same time.
It's confusing I know. Discombobulating actually. But I've learned to look for and focus on the good in others as much as possible. Being deeply flawed myself - I can't seem to do with everyone, I honestly don't see the good in Trump. So Trump kind of trumps that ..(pun intended)?
At any rate, speaking for myself? I can't get myself to read or watch anything Gaiman related at the moment. Not that I was that much of a fan.
Nor can I get myself to look at the Harry Potter films or books again, not that I was that much of a fan to begin with. And I admittedly have struggled with re-watching Whedon's stuff - although less so, because Whedon's shows were so obviously collaborative in structure, and varied depending largely on who else was involved.
The former defense attorney in me, and my training as a public defender - leads me to be a bit more forgiving than most, and I find the whole cancel culture bit - repugnant.
Also listened to my audio book. And a mental health podcast, where an actor who had served in the War went off on the guy who wrote American Sniper, stating the man lied about Jesse Ventura, and wrote a book about how it was fun to kill people. It's not fun. And there were better sharp-shooters and snipers over there - and they didn't write books about it. I found that interesting. Also what he said about how it's very hard to readjust to civilian life after serving in the War. You are in fight or flight mode for an extended period of time, and you never quite move out of it. Some people get addicted to drugs, some go nuts with adrenaline sports or are adrenaline junkies - because they are always hunting that something. And everyone has some form of PTSD, which can best be described as being perpetually in that fight or flight mode.
3. Dancing with the Stars
Mother informed me that the people on this show were getting paid upwards to $650,000, and the winner got $50,000 on top of the signing fee of $100,000 or more.
I was shocked. I thought the contestants did it for free. They don't. They are paid for every episode they are in.
Mother got this information off of instagram or FB, she can't remember.
Also, apparently there was a huge controversy about Chandler (the Disney Star).
* I was apparently right, the audience didn't vote for her because they saw her as a professional dancer who hadn't improved.
* they resented that the race card was raised at all - since the audience didn't care about the race of the dancers. And considered it irrelevant.
* The husband of the choreographer, who did the final tennis ball dance number with the Bachelor and winner, was furious with Carrie Anne - the judge - for critiquing and ripping apart his wife's choreography, which he thought was fantastic. Carrie Anne wanted Chandler (Disney Star) to win not the Bachelor.
I looked it up. How Much Do they Make on Dancing with the Stars
"According to several sources, including Variety, the starting salary for celebrities is $125,000, which includes training for at least 20 hours per week, including several weeks prior to the premiere of the season.
But the money goes up if a celebrity gets votes and stays in the competition. Of course, no one wants to be eliminated in the first few weeks out of pride, but there is also a financial incentive to stay in the game. For stars who make it to weeks three and four, there is an added bonus amount of $10,000 per week.
If they make it to week five, the additional pay is $15,000, weeks six and seven add $20,000 per week, and then weeks eight and nine see $30,000 deposited in their bank account.
And if they are lucky enough to make the semi-finals and the finale, there is an additional $50,000 prize money each week, plus the winner gets the Mirror Ball trophy.
Added up, in an 11-week season, the stars who make it to finale have the potential to walk away with $360,000 if the rumored figures are correct. Not a bad pay day, but there is also a report that in 2019, the pay was cut so that the maximum the final three could earn was $295,000. Even so, it is definitely still an impressive amount."
Mother said the gymnast made about $650,000. The rugby player was up there as well, with at least $650,000 or more.
Well, that explains a lot. I wondered why some of these folks did this. I thought it was for exposure. Nope. Money.
no subject
Date: 2024-12-04 03:45 am (UTC)The incentive is pretty strong on the pro side too as they get a much bigger paycheck if their celeb ends up in the finals or wins. This has definitely led to pros pushing their celebs and participants continuing even when they're injured.
The thing is that as the seasons have gone on, what used to be a 3 person finale has been expanded to 4, and more than once 5 as it was this time. So the show is shelling out a lot more to those pros and celebs who would have been eliminated in the past. I'm fairly sure that with all the comments about how much voting was going on this season that the decision to keep it at 5 must have been in part due to ratings hopes if they stayed in.
Regarding the choreography issue, I too quite liked the choreography of that performance. However my partner, who still teaches ballroom dance, said he understood why Carrie Anne commented as she did because he thought that it wasn't done very well.
no subject
Date: 2024-12-04 01:13 pm (UTC)Hmm. I think in the end, it probably didn't matter - since that celeb won anyhow, regardless. Mainly because his main competition, the Disney Star, was considered by the "voting" audience to be a professional dancer and ringer. So failed on the likability factor.
Do you vote? I tried one year, then just gave up. Mother doesn't vote either.
no subject
Date: 2024-12-05 01:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-12-07 03:38 pm (UTC)