We see what we want to see

I'm trying to recall what it is that I want to write for this entry but can't. Sorry. Next time I'll persist and write the moment the thought comes to mind!

Writers' Guild Strike

The Times, 29 December 2007: "Hollywood’s 2008 awards season is at risk of becoming the most high profile casualty so far of a strike by the Writers’ Guild of America (WGA) which began two months ago in a dispute with studios. No compromise is yet in sight as WGA members demand to be paid for TV shows or films broadcast over the Internet. Studios say that online technology is untested and agreeing fees now could prevent them from experimenting with new methods of distribution. Hit shows such as Lost and Heroes could disappear from TV screens as the writers’ protest spreads."

Unless you've been living under the rocks the past few months, you might've seen or heard about the strike of the (preceding) year. One that cut short the seasons for Heroes and Lost and puts other TV series under threat of discontinuation. I myself have heard about it but only today did I understand the true reason behind it. The gist that I got from reading the news is that the writers are demanding a fee hike, but I didn't know for what. NOW I get it! And I can see that this matter can't possibly be resolved anytime soon, because it's very challenging to track the internet downloaders and charge them for series & movies downloads.

Maybe movies and TV series should go the way of iTunes- let downloads take place, but at a minimal fee. At least the first distribution is charged, rather than nothing at all. Subsequent copies will definitely take place, as friends & families share the files. An alternative is to assign an application to the downloadable movies to allow them to be viewed x number of times- and the the file self-destructs (or becomes unviewable) after that.

That's my 2 sen... another alternative is to hire Malaysians/Asians to do the writing for a small fee, the world is getting smaller after all. It'll be interesting to see Asian curiosities written into Hollywood scripts :p

Superficial Needs

At this point in time whatever needs I have is subjected to a bigger goal- of making a difference. Enough said- everything else is secondary.

Integrity

Life gives you lessons even without you asking for it. After 1.5 years of plant neglect, I decided to visit our usual plant nursery. Part of the outfit was in the process of being dismantled by a local municipal authority (LMA) and the owner remarked how difficult it has been to keep up with the rent- he just had to give it up. LMA had been pushing up the rent bit by bit till it has become unbearable- partly because the owner simply refused to play the palm-grazing game.

The night before I heard from a good friend about a leader who misused his authority by promoting self-interest & charging exorbitant sums.

2 contrasting situations, 2 different choices & 2 different outcomes- huge lesson learnt.

School Registration

A whole lot of queueing and dull aching pain in the feet- that's how I would describe the process of paying school fees. Next year I'll send my children to school on the first day and come pay the fees the day (or week) after. I'd rather spend my 1 day of annual leave to go to the beach with the children. At least I met some friends in the same boat- all is not lost after all. The drama queen will now have her foot rub please!

Incentives

Our marketing team got away with 2 months bonus in December. Speculation is rampant as to why they got it to the exclusion of everybody else. The popular vote goes to this one: that their manager actually asked for it (rather, demanded it). Another speculation is that they've worked harder than everyone else last year (which I vehemently oppose). A third speculation is that they are being rewarded for doubling the number of current students.

Morale is low in other departments, for good reason.

I can almost imagine our CEO praising the marketing team to the heavens for their effort. And for the rest of us, no matter how hard we worked- "itu memang patut, this is what we pay you for"- nothing we do is above and beyond the call of duty. Sedih, kan?

Well, I'm not about to mope around and have myself a pity party.

Read a passage from Og Mandino's The Greatest Salesman this morning. 2 important sentences: This is my destiny. I will win.

Nothing else tops that. I'll attract beautiful, positive things to come my way and Life is Good.