Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Point of Clarification:
Google did not pay $250 million to get the Guild off their back. I apologise for saying they settled with such a large sum. The real number is more like $125 million. So, substantially less than pocket change for them...
Friday, April 10, 2009
I feel bad for the authors who already have their names in lights (well, ink, actually) because they have to deal with GOOGLE.
DumDumDum...
You see, Google has this thing now, where any book which is out of print now belongs to them. Never mind that the copyright automatically reverts back to the author when the publishers are done with it - now, just because Google said so, every out of print book belongs to them. They can post them online as part of their GoogleBOOKs thing. Free for the public. The author (you know, the guy who wrote the story!) gets no royalties or revenue, because technically the book doesn't belong to them anymore.
If an author (understandably) thinks this is wrong, and wants no part of it, they have to file paper work for every book they don't want Google to have. If they forget one, Google will assume that the book is rightfully theirs, and post it without consent.
You know what? THAT SUCKS!!! The Authors Guild took them to court, but they didn't have the resources to do anything more than force them to make an out of court settlement. Google paid $250 million for the guild to go away and leave them alone.
That's pocket change to them.
Some people think this a great idea. It's giving literature to the masses! Ah... no. That's the way Google justified it.
It's thievery, people! Google is tightening the noose on information every second. They already decide which internet sights are most popular. Which ones come up when you search them. You know what you get when you search www.missflea.blogspot.com? NOTHING! "Item does not exist".
I'm right here, aren't I?
The whole business is clearly a giant property-grab by Google, and just as clearly illegal, regardless of whatever fake "settlement" the Author's Guild has signed off on. Google books should work like this: if you want to be on it, sign up. If you don't, don't. None of this "we're using your stuff and you can't stop us" bullshit.
It is thievery. If it's not, then I should be able to claim each of Eric Schmidt's (Google's CEO) possessions as my own, unless he notifies me in every case, in writing, that I can't have them.
DumDumDum...
You see, Google has this thing now, where any book which is out of print now belongs to them. Never mind that the copyright automatically reverts back to the author when the publishers are done with it - now, just because Google said so, every out of print book belongs to them. They can post them online as part of their GoogleBOOKs thing. Free for the public. The author (you know, the guy who wrote the story!) gets no royalties or revenue, because technically the book doesn't belong to them anymore.
If an author (understandably) thinks this is wrong, and wants no part of it, they have to file paper work for every book they don't want Google to have. If they forget one, Google will assume that the book is rightfully theirs, and post it without consent.
You know what? THAT SUCKS!!! The Authors Guild took them to court, but they didn't have the resources to do anything more than force them to make an out of court settlement. Google paid $250 million for the guild to go away and leave them alone.
That's pocket change to them.
Some people think this a great idea. It's giving literature to the masses! Ah... no. That's the way Google justified it.
It's thievery, people! Google is tightening the noose on information every second. They already decide which internet sights are most popular. Which ones come up when you search them. You know what you get when you search www.missflea.blogspot.com? NOTHING! "Item does not exist".
I'm right here, aren't I?
The whole business is clearly a giant property-grab by Google, and just as clearly illegal, regardless of whatever fake "settlement" the Author's Guild has signed off on. Google books should work like this: if you want to be on it, sign up. If you don't, don't. None of this "we're using your stuff and you can't stop us" bullshit.
It is thievery. If it's not, then I should be able to claim each of Eric Schmidt's (Google's CEO) possessions as my own, unless he notifies me in every case, in writing, that I can't have them.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
I have a question for you...
Say there was a group of people who received Government benefits because of the colour of their skin.
Say they got Centrelink benefits, special grants and awards - got paid by the Government to attend school - because of the colour of their skin.
Now, say they formally excluded people of a different race from their sporting teams, ostracised them from their communities, and attacked politicians for pointing such acts out to the public.
This kind of racism would be unacceptable from the Anglo-European community. But they aren't Anglo-European.
This isn't an attack. Just an observation.
I asked my cultural studies lecturer in class about it the other day, and she says it's perfectly acceptable for a group of people so mistreated to want to keep themselves to themselves. But is it acceptable for them to have all-Aboriginal sporting teams? Aboriginal awards - which are the same as the regular ones, only Aboriginal heritage must be proven to qualify for them.
It's not just Aboriginals who practice formalised exclusion based on something which - if they weren't Aboriginal - would be offensive to the majority of Australians.
There are groups who refuse admittance to people of a certain gender.
They're called 'Women's Groups' - very big during the rise of feminism - and men are not allowed. Is that far? For people to be excluded based on their sex? Is it that women want men to "see how it feels"?
Isn't that a little petty?
I mean, I learnt in kindergarten to treat others the way you want to be treated. I learnt pretty early that exclusion based on difference was a bad thing, something that was likely to get me sent to the Principal's office. But it's celebrated in the minorities.
I just wonder why all these groups of people say they want acceptance and unity - then further segregate themselves. I wonder where the logic is. If you want to be treated the same as everyone else, then why do you keep stressing the fact that you are different?
It just doesn't make sense to me.
Say they got Centrelink benefits, special grants and awards - got paid by the Government to attend school - because of the colour of their skin.
Now, say they formally excluded people of a different race from their sporting teams, ostracised them from their communities, and attacked politicians for pointing such acts out to the public.
This kind of racism would be unacceptable from the Anglo-European community. But they aren't Anglo-European.
This isn't an attack. Just an observation.
I asked my cultural studies lecturer in class about it the other day, and she says it's perfectly acceptable for a group of people so mistreated to want to keep themselves to themselves. But is it acceptable for them to have all-Aboriginal sporting teams? Aboriginal awards - which are the same as the regular ones, only Aboriginal heritage must be proven to qualify for them.
It's not just Aboriginals who practice formalised exclusion based on something which - if they weren't Aboriginal - would be offensive to the majority of Australians.
There are groups who refuse admittance to people of a certain gender.
They're called 'Women's Groups' - very big during the rise of feminism - and men are not allowed. Is that far? For people to be excluded based on their sex? Is it that women want men to "see how it feels"?
Isn't that a little petty?
I mean, I learnt in kindergarten to treat others the way you want to be treated. I learnt pretty early that exclusion based on difference was a bad thing, something that was likely to get me sent to the Principal's office. But it's celebrated in the minorities.
I just wonder why all these groups of people say they want acceptance and unity - then further segregate themselves. I wonder where the logic is. If you want to be treated the same as everyone else, then why do you keep stressing the fact that you are different?
It just doesn't make sense to me.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
An long overdue memo
Long time no see my freaky darlings!
I've been doing lots of work since I last wrote, which is one of the reasons I haven't updated. I know, I'm a bad person. Plus my internet keeps going kerfluey, which makes it hard.
But let's move on.
Goodnight Angel is in its third draft. I plan to enter the manuscript in the Vogel Literary Comp (first prize is $20,000 and publication, can you guess why I'm interested?) and I've just finished the first draft of a sequel called Tell No Tales.
The sequel picks up were the original left off, after Robin has gone through months of painful rehab, kicked her alcohol addiction and moved out of her shitty apartment and into a house boat on the harbour. All's well and good, until a friend asks her to meet his new girlfriend.
The new girlfriend, Rachel, is an actress - OK, but not Angelina Jolie - and she's caught the attention of a playwright who's a little too keen on realism in his murder-mystery plays.
It's not a very good synopsis, I know. It's actually very bad, but I've never been good at the 20 second pitches. That's one of the reasons I'm entering that comp I mentioned, to hone my skills for when I start looking for agents. You have to hand in a one-page outline with your entry.
Anyway, the response to the sequel has been positive, even though the writing sucks and it's too short. Thank God for re-write! Draft, draft, draft.
That, plus I have uni, which cuts heinously into my writing time. How can they expect me to do assignments and shite when I'm busy working on fun stuff? I swear...
So, the comp is in a few months, I'll let you know how I go. I've been sending stories to magazines (Just short ones, 4,000 words or so) but no luck yet. This is a buddy industry and I have no friends, so you can imagine what that does to my marketability. I'm gonna have to kiss some serious arse to get my name in print.
In the mean time I'm starting work on the third in the series. I've got a basic idea of the scenario, but half the time I just close my eyes and let the characters do their thing, so I never know how it's going to work out. I don't like plotting out their actions, because half the time what I think and what they do are two very different things. Characters have a mind of their own, at least mine do. If I didn't let them do their own thing, they'd end up all wooden and lifeless. Working out the plot ahead of time is the worst way to go.
And yes, I'm a crime writer, and crime books need to have subtle red herrings and the like sprinkled in the beginning - can you say 'Second Draft'?? That's where all that stuff goes, that where you spend weeks tightening the plot strings until they hum like a finely tuned viola.
Besides, if the characters are true to their own motivations, then the antagonist will reveal himself as a matter of course. It's more exciting for me when I don't know what will happen, and even more of a thrill because if I'm spending everyday with these characters, getting to know them, recording their lives, and I still don't know where they'll end up - then surely it will be a surprise to the reader too!
I've been doing lots of work since I last wrote, which is one of the reasons I haven't updated. I know, I'm a bad person. Plus my internet keeps going kerfluey, which makes it hard.
But let's move on.
Goodnight Angel is in its third draft. I plan to enter the manuscript in the Vogel Literary Comp (first prize is $20,000 and publication, can you guess why I'm interested?) and I've just finished the first draft of a sequel called Tell No Tales.
The sequel picks up were the original left off, after Robin has gone through months of painful rehab, kicked her alcohol addiction and moved out of her shitty apartment and into a house boat on the harbour. All's well and good, until a friend asks her to meet his new girlfriend.
The new girlfriend, Rachel, is an actress - OK, but not Angelina Jolie - and she's caught the attention of a playwright who's a little too keen on realism in his murder-mystery plays.
It's not a very good synopsis, I know. It's actually very bad, but I've never been good at the 20 second pitches. That's one of the reasons I'm entering that comp I mentioned, to hone my skills for when I start looking for agents. You have to hand in a one-page outline with your entry.
Anyway, the response to the sequel has been positive, even though the writing sucks and it's too short. Thank God for re-write! Draft, draft, draft.
That, plus I have uni, which cuts heinously into my writing time. How can they expect me to do assignments and shite when I'm busy working on fun stuff? I swear...
So, the comp is in a few months, I'll let you know how I go. I've been sending stories to magazines (Just short ones, 4,000 words or so) but no luck yet. This is a buddy industry and I have no friends, so you can imagine what that does to my marketability. I'm gonna have to kiss some serious arse to get my name in print.
In the mean time I'm starting work on the third in the series. I've got a basic idea of the scenario, but half the time I just close my eyes and let the characters do their thing, so I never know how it's going to work out. I don't like plotting out their actions, because half the time what I think and what they do are two very different things. Characters have a mind of their own, at least mine do. If I didn't let them do their own thing, they'd end up all wooden and lifeless. Working out the plot ahead of time is the worst way to go.
And yes, I'm a crime writer, and crime books need to have subtle red herrings and the like sprinkled in the beginning - can you say 'Second Draft'?? That's where all that stuff goes, that where you spend weeks tightening the plot strings until they hum like a finely tuned viola.
Besides, if the characters are true to their own motivations, then the antagonist will reveal himself as a matter of course. It's more exciting for me when I don't know what will happen, and even more of a thrill because if I'm spending everyday with these characters, getting to know them, recording their lives, and I still don't know where they'll end up - then surely it will be a surprise to the reader too!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
NAZI KIDS REMOVED BY AUTHORITIES
"Heath and Deborah Campbell's children, three-year-old Adolf Hitler and younger sisters JoyceLynn Aryan Nation and Honszlynn Hinler Jeannie, were removed by New Jersey social workers on Tuesday.
The Division of Youth and Family Services has refused to comment on the reason behind their action.
JoyceLynn Aryan Nation and Honszlynn Hinler Jeannie Campbell, who is named after notorious Schutzstaffel head Heinrich Himmler, will turn two and one early this year.
Both Heath and Deborah Campbell, 24, are both unemployed due to alleged disabilities."
....
....
Need I say more?
I shouldn't, but I will!
Naming a child a name that will invite ridicule is a form of child abuse. That was established in a case early last year involving a girl named - get this! -
'Tula-does-a-hula-from-Hawaii' (or TDAHFH).
TDAHFH, known as Kay to the people who could stop laughing long enough to make friends with her, had her name legally changed and her mother charged with child abuse, after she suffered years of bullying because of her moniker.
Her new name was never released, because the judge feared that if people knew she was that girl she would be placed in the same position she had just left, suffering emotional abuse at the hands of her peers.
TDAHFH is a crappy name - but she will never be accused of racism or mass genocide, which is what the bullies will do to little Adolf once they get to that chapter of the history books.
The fact that he personally has never gassed a Jew wouldn't matter to them, because bullies are only interested in finding a victim's weakness and exploiting it.
And although the child may not be very much like the old Hitler now, the parent's home was decorated with swastikas in every room.
It's clear how they intended to raise their son.
It's very lucky authorities got to the children when they did.
The Division of Youth and Family Services has refused to comment on the reason behind their action.
JoyceLynn Aryan Nation and Honszlynn Hinler Jeannie Campbell, who is named after notorious Schutzstaffel head Heinrich Himmler, will turn two and one early this year.
Both Heath and Deborah Campbell, 24, are both unemployed due to alleged disabilities."
....
....
Need I say more?
I shouldn't, but I will!
Naming a child a name that will invite ridicule is a form of child abuse. That was established in a case early last year involving a girl named - get this! -
'Tula-does-a-hula-from-Hawaii' (or TDAHFH).
TDAHFH, known as Kay to the people who could stop laughing long enough to make friends with her, had her name legally changed and her mother charged with child abuse, after she suffered years of bullying because of her moniker.
Her new name was never released, because the judge feared that if people knew she was that girl she would be placed in the same position she had just left, suffering emotional abuse at the hands of her peers.
TDAHFH is a crappy name - but she will never be accused of racism or mass genocide, which is what the bullies will do to little Adolf once they get to that chapter of the history books.
The fact that he personally has never gassed a Jew wouldn't matter to them, because bullies are only interested in finding a victim's weakness and exploiting it.
And although the child may not be very much like the old Hitler now, the parent's home was decorated with swastikas in every room.
It's clear how they intended to raise their son.
It's very lucky authorities got to the children when they did.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Happy NEW YEAR!!!!
How very nice it is to wish you all a happy new year from Sydney.
I managed to get a front row seat for the big night. A Pyrmont park was the venue I ended up in after several hours at a friend's house party were I was hit on by a red head and we listened to Katy Perry.
Anyway, the fireworks went off with a bang (literally) and the Harbour looked like a Christmas tree on acid. It got so crazy out there that the bridge was almost completely obscured by smoke from the crackers going off at regular intervals.
And of course the cigar smoke from my friends kept wafting over the breeze toward small children lined up behind us, but all in all it was a fabulous celebration - capped off by a mate's realisation right after the 12 minute salute to 2009 that he hadn't gotten laid all year.
So - HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
I wish I could say I have a new years' resolution, but I don't. I could steal one from the news.com article about weird resolutions around the world. I could eat more yak meat, or vote democrat (not bloody likely) or I could go with the usual drink less and quit smoking. I do neither, but it's the thought that counts!
Of course, I have to get offline now. Unlike all you lucky bastards, us journos actually have to go to work tomorrow. Yeah, I'm gonna have so much fun calling sources for stories on a god-damned public holiday....
Love Miss Flea xx
I managed to get a front row seat for the big night. A Pyrmont park was the venue I ended up in after several hours at a friend's house party were I was hit on by a red head and we listened to Katy Perry.
Anyway, the fireworks went off with a bang (literally) and the Harbour looked like a Christmas tree on acid. It got so crazy out there that the bridge was almost completely obscured by smoke from the crackers going off at regular intervals.
And of course the cigar smoke from my friends kept wafting over the breeze toward small children lined up behind us, but all in all it was a fabulous celebration - capped off by a mate's realisation right after the 12 minute salute to 2009 that he hadn't gotten laid all year.
So - HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
I wish I could say I have a new years' resolution, but I don't. I could steal one from the news.com article about weird resolutions around the world. I could eat more yak meat, or vote democrat (not bloody likely) or I could go with the usual drink less and quit smoking. I do neither, but it's the thought that counts!
Of course, I have to get offline now. Unlike all you lucky bastards, us journos actually have to go to work tomorrow. Yeah, I'm gonna have so much fun calling sources for stories on a god-damned public holiday....
Love Miss Flea xx
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa Review
Recipe for a sequel: Take one Madagascar film. Lightly dust it with some Lion King story arcs, and perhaps a little Happy Feet if you’re feeling in the mood. Add a touch of romance and sprinkle in dazzling animation. Keep the laughs scattered mostly through the minor characters, and cook the main ones until they’re nice and crispy.
And there you have it: Madagascar 2!
It’s a cute little film, beautifully done in computerized imagery.
The different plot lines of each character make the whole thing a touch less seamless than it should be, and much of the humour is left in the hands of the background characters.
But it’s still crackalackin!
The sequel starts as prequel, showing a small part of Alex's early life, including his capture by hunters. Directed by Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath, Escape 2 Africa then picks up where the original left off: with our heroes preparing to fly themselves back to New York.
Instead, they crash-land in Africa. In fact, they land in the very animal reserve where Alex the lion (Ben Stiller – who channels Zoolander quite nicely in the dance scenes) was born. His parents (Bernie Mac in one of his last performances and Sherri Sheperd) are thrilled to see him again, and his friends are pretty keen on their ancestral home too. Marty the Zebra (Chris Rock) runs with a herd for the first time, Melman (David Schwimmer) puts his many years of hypochondria to good use by becoming the giraffes’ witch doctor and Gloria (Jada Pinkett Smith) is loving the fact that with hippos – fat = sexy!
But trouble is afoot! While the penguins and monkeys try to fix the plane, Alex’s family’s pride is overtaken by Makunga (Alec Baldwin), an alpha lion with Elvis-esque hair. Alex’s father blames him for the take-over and says he’s not a “real” lion, because he’d rather dance than fight.
Meanwhile, Melman’s love for Gloria weighs him down since she is smitten by a very sexy male hippo named Moto Moto (Will.i.am).
And Marty’s running with the herd? Not so much fun when your best friend can’t tell which one you are.
These plots do tend to overwhelm the story, and much of the light heartedness is gone.
Now that Alex and Marty aren’t fighting for screen time, Melman gets the chance to step up. Schwimmer’s earnest nature comes through for him here, and Melman’s bravery is highlighted when he not only relinquishes his love for Gloria when she seems to care for Moto Moto more, he then offers himself as a sacrifice to the volcano Gods when the river dries up.
Yes, I know what you’re thinking. Volcano Gods?? That’s all King Julien’s doing. The film owes practically all of its comedy to the lemurs, the penguins and the humans who become lost in Africa as well.
Kids won’t be able to stop giggling when King Julien comes on screen wearing a coconut bra singing “I’m a lady, I’m a lady!” And that pretty much sets the tone for the rest of the lemur’s involvement in the story line.
The penguins are trying to fix the plane, and enlist the help of the refined monkeys because of their opposable thumbs. They, in turn, enlist more monkeys to get the job done, and this leads to some amusing union meetings which will be lost on the kids in the audience – but give all the liberals a quiet chuckle.
And of course – the humans. The sequel sees the return of Nana, who kicked Alex in his special parts at the train station in the first film. She’s on African safari, and when the penguins use her tour’s jeep – and the jeeps from other tours – for spare parts, she rallies the humans together to form a sort of Lord Of the Flies society.
The film ends happily as all family films ought to. Alex and his father reunite and defeat Makunga, Melman gets the girl and Marty gets singled out in the crowd because;
3.5/5
And there you have it: Madagascar 2!
It’s a cute little film, beautifully done in computerized imagery.
The different plot lines of each character make the whole thing a touch less seamless than it should be, and much of the humour is left in the hands of the background characters.
But it’s still crackalackin!
The sequel starts as prequel, showing a small part of Alex's early life, including his capture by hunters. Directed by Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath, Escape 2 Africa then picks up where the original left off: with our heroes preparing to fly themselves back to New York.
Instead, they crash-land in Africa. In fact, they land in the very animal reserve where Alex the lion (Ben Stiller – who channels Zoolander quite nicely in the dance scenes) was born. His parents (Bernie Mac in one of his last performances and Sherri Sheperd) are thrilled to see him again, and his friends are pretty keen on their ancestral home too. Marty the Zebra (Chris Rock) runs with a herd for the first time, Melman (David Schwimmer) puts his many years of hypochondria to good use by becoming the giraffes’ witch doctor and Gloria (Jada Pinkett Smith) is loving the fact that with hippos – fat = sexy!
But trouble is afoot! While the penguins and monkeys try to fix the plane, Alex’s family’s pride is overtaken by Makunga (Alec Baldwin), an alpha lion with Elvis-esque hair. Alex’s father blames him for the take-over and says he’s not a “real” lion, because he’d rather dance than fight.
Meanwhile, Melman’s love for Gloria weighs him down since she is smitten by a very sexy male hippo named Moto Moto (Will.i.am).
“It sounds so good, you say it twice!”
And Marty’s running with the herd? Not so much fun when your best friend can’t tell which one you are.
These plots do tend to overwhelm the story, and much of the light heartedness is gone.
Now that Alex and Marty aren’t fighting for screen time, Melman gets the chance to step up. Schwimmer’s earnest nature comes through for him here, and Melman’s bravery is highlighted when he not only relinquishes his love for Gloria when she seems to care for Moto Moto more, he then offers himself as a sacrifice to the volcano Gods when the river dries up.
Yes, I know what you’re thinking. Volcano Gods?? That’s all King Julien’s doing. The film owes practically all of its comedy to the lemurs, the penguins and the humans who become lost in Africa as well.
Kids won’t be able to stop giggling when King Julien comes on screen wearing a coconut bra singing “I’m a lady, I’m a lady!” And that pretty much sets the tone for the rest of the lemur’s involvement in the story line.
The penguins are trying to fix the plane, and enlist the help of the refined monkeys because of their opposable thumbs. They, in turn, enlist more monkeys to get the job done, and this leads to some amusing union meetings which will be lost on the kids in the audience – but give all the liberals a quiet chuckle.
And of course – the humans. The sequel sees the return of Nana, who kicked Alex in his special parts at the train station in the first film. She’s on African safari, and when the penguins use her tour’s jeep – and the jeeps from other tours – for spare parts, she rallies the humans together to form a sort of Lord Of the Flies society.
The film ends happily as all family films ought to. Alex and his father reunite and defeat Makunga, Melman gets the girl and Marty gets singled out in the crowd because;
“They’re all white with black stripes. You’re black with whiteA sweet hunk of candy for the kids and it definitely has some belly laughs sprinkled in for the adults.
stripes!”
3.5/5
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