Revolution Review

As always with most of my television posts: SPOILER ALERT.  If you haven't seen the show yet go visit my other blog: Milton Views.

After 4 long months Revolution returned to NBC last night.  The ratings I've heard aren't that great- down from something like 7.2 million from its fall premiere.  That really isn't surprising; everyone wanted to tune in, and see what it's like.  A new post-apocalyptic drama from J.J. Abrahams, executive produced by Steven Spielberg- obvious pedigree.

I was a little bit puzzled by this episode.  The season started off- girl leaves home, goes off searching for her brother.  In the Fall finale she finds him, and her mother alive.  And then then they kill the brother off... what?? Why kill the guy you spent the first half of the season trying to save?? Why give the family a happy ending only to have it brutally snatched away??

Initially I felt cheated.  Rescuing the brother was Charlie's (Tracy Spiradakos) raison d'etre for the entire first half of the season.  It seemed a waste to do get rid of the character.  I'm interested to see how they develop Charlie- will she become as cold and driven to defeat the Monroe army? Or will she back down?

Another storyline that could be really good is the one happening between Tom, and his son.  Tom beat his son up within eyesight of the rebel camp.  It'll be interesting to find out if this was faked to get intelligence on the rebels, or if this was somehow genuine- that he sensed on some level the son's heart was being torn between his father and any feelings he might  have for Charlie.

I'm looking forward to seeing what they do with Colm Feore's character Randall.  He looks like he's going to be head of an army of scientists meant to reproduce the pendants or something.

The only thing that I was left wanting was more scenes between Monroe and Miles the former best friends turned enemies. Sebastian now has electricity and will no doubt use it take over the United States from sea to shining sea, as he so sinisterly put it.

 The irony isn't lost on me. History nerds will know there was such a thing as the Monroe doctrine. Passed in 1823 by U.S. President James Monroe, it basically told European powers if they tried colonizing  the western hemisphere they'd have a fight on their hands. Would love to see how this fits into the show's development.

I'm ready for the Revolution to continue.

Deception Season Finale Review

Spoiler Alert-

If you watched the full season, you would've figured out by now that Robert Bowers (Victor Garber) murdered his daughter.  Heck after the the fourth, maybe fifth episode I had it figured out.  The only question I had was when Joanna was going to be finally and fully revealed to all as a cop; by the way that still hasn't happened yet.

Other reviewers have called it the poor man's version of Scandal.  I watch Scandal, and although it does compare in that they're both ensemble dramas, full of twists and turns that's where the comparisons end.  The big difference is the writing.  Like I said before I had Robert Bowers pegged for the murderer since the fifth episode; it's a little bit predictable.  In Scandal is so fast-paced and you truly don't know which character is behind what plot twist.  It's doubtful at times even the writers know on that show.

What got to me about last night's episode was John Larroquette's character Senator Dwight Haverstock.  The whole season the character's been a scumbag; hints that he even possibly raped Vivian, and of course is Mia's dad.  Now suddenly to turn on a dime; announce he's running for office and will eventually destroy Robert is a bit unbelievable to say the least; maybe bad writing.  I get suspending belief; Scandal has enough of that.  But there's been few hints this character has any redeeming qualities.

I hope this show continues.  I want to see how the try and redeem the characters, and if Robert slips up, as well as the many other plots and subplots continue.  We need decent dramas on television, and this could be one.
   

Kitchen Diaries: The colour scheme

"I miss the steel backsplash" my mom said.  My parents had gone and picked out samples (including the steel backsplash we both grew attached to) at another shop; we had them laying on our floor for a few days before we went back to Rona to check their selection out.

But alas, it wasn't to be.  Steel cost at about three times the price of ceramic; it would've been about $20/ sq ft. The backsplash in question was to go from the corner by our fridge, all the way down one side of the kitchen, down the other wall; above the stove ending at a bulkhead.  In short; it would've been too much money.

We picked the colour scheme out about a week ago.  It's a sandy-coloured with flecks of grey in it to bring in the cabinets, and complement the darker counter top.  The back splash is a glass tiles in a brick pattern with black, grey, and white. She wanted the "wow" factor, and I think the back splash gives it.  But we still want to put some silver in the kitchen; we're thinking a silvery green or blue for the remaining wall.

The flooring will also go into one of two bathrooms upstairs to be matched with a really dark bathroom vanity.

Kitchen Diaries: The quest for tiles

Those cabinets scream '80's don't they?

My parents and I have decided it's time to rennovate the kitchen.  The house is around 30 years old; we've updated a bit- new carpeting throughout plus painting as well.  We've never really touched the kitchen accept for  new flooring (around 10 years ago) and countertop.  This time though we're going for the whole thing.

We've opted for the contractor route through Rona.   The Milton Rona store has just recently changed personnel and has added a kitchen designer. This is the first large-scale kitchen rennovation they've had in a few years.

We've picked our countertop (a charcoal colour), and lighter cabinetry (a vanilla white).  Last night we went shopping for flooring/backsplash tiles.  We've decided on a ceramic floor tile; maybe some kind of combo of the two (either a grey, that would go with both or dark with flecks of white).  We found maybe one floor tile that would go with the colour scheme, a darker charcoal tile; it was nice, but we'd like to see what's on the lighter side of the colour scheme.

The keyword for the backsplash is "dramatic."  There will be an awful lot of it- planning to get rid of the peninsula, and stretch the coutner all along under the windows to the bulkhead; and also put an island in.  Since the countertop/cabinets are pretty simple, there's a bit of room to make a statement. My mother had the idea for some kind of stainless steel.  We found these at Rona along Mavis Rd.:

Peel & Stick staineless steel backsplash tiles.  We chatted with their kitchen designer who priced non-peel& Stick at around $20/ 4 X9 tile- a wee bit expensive for our tastes.  So we're back to square one.  I think we can introduce some colour- I'd like to see a grey-blue or silvery blue kind of blacksplash.  My mom's not a fan of the glass tiles, (I saw some I liked, but she didn't) so we're probably looking at some kind of ceramic tiles.  But nothing has hit us yet; I think we're both waiting for the  "ah ha" moment to look at something and say that would look great in our kitchen.

Media Musings

Hi, my  name is Laura and I'm a Freelance Journalist.  I used to be a Freelance Journalist looking for a home- a fancy way of saying I'm looking for a job with some health benefits. It's taken me almost four years to get where I am right now. I freelance now for two websites, and a magazine.  (Shameless Plug: Milton Villager, milton.net and DiscoverMilton.com)

And I love what I do- every second of it; and  wouldn't trade the experience I've gotten, and t he friends I've made through my job for the world.  But I'm struggling with the truth that media is becoming a freelancing business; I've seen that coming the longer I've worked/ looked for work.   Especially when you take into account the trend of citizen journalists- why pay people when there are others who would do it for free?

There is value in what I do.  There's value in knowing how to evaluate sources; knowing w hat questions to ask.  But I'm finding it's being cheapened. My first example comes from Storyboard, is from a well-known publisher Trans Continental Media (TCM), a contract in which the publisher asks the writers to give up both all copyrights, and by-lines.  Essentially TCM would be allowed to change the work without giving credit to the original writer. If there's one thing I've learned; you are nothing without a by-line.  That line that says "By Daisy Smith," for example gives you some ownership  over the work; it gives you that often hard-fought recognition. 

The other example the one that probably breaks my heart more than the others.  This one comes out of the twitter sphere courtesy of Susan Delacourt.  She tweeted today about a blog entry by Nate Thayer called "A Day In The Life of a Freelance Journalist.  It goes through an exchange of emails between him, and an editor... let's just say it's as if they spoke different languages.  The editor expected something for nothing- the journalist wanted payment for a job well done.

The problem with example two is we're all guilty of the freebies. I think it's born of ambition; there will/has come a time when journalists will do or have done anything to get their name out there.  Younger journalists are especially prone to this condition; you'll get out school, and  be so desperate for work, and to make your name that they'll even work for free.  And that's partially a symptom of the job market; it's tough field to a) get in, and b) stay in.

It's worth it to stick it out.  Because eventually the times where you'll say "I love this job" will eventually outweigh the frustration.  It's going to be okay; the industry will right itself, we just have to give it time. 

My Perfect Radio Station

I'm not an "app" person, although lately I've downloaded a couple of free ones just to try them  out.  The first was a Cineplex app to help me keep track of my Scene points, and give me previews, as well as movie news.  I tried using that when I last went to the movies, but I forgot I needed wireless Internet access for it to work (duh).  But it potentially could act as a "mobile scene" card- the theatre just scans the bar code from the app.

The second is a music/ radio one called: Slacker Radio.  I started playing with this a few days ago, and managed to create my own radio station.  The beauty of it, is it's programmed with music that I like, and features only 30 second commercials every few songs- none of this getting into a car, and listening to nothing but commercials until you get to your destination.

I've programmed it with some of the bands I like out today; The Killers, Maroon Five, Adele, Pink, Serena Ryder, Matchbox 20, Rob Thomas, Train, Mumford &Sons, the Lumineers, and Phillip Phillips.  I mixed them with some older stuff: Elton John, Beatles, McCartney, Sting, and Queen and presto a radio station was born.. as an example- I started my morning with Bohemian Rhapsody, and Under Pressure.. how can you go wrong with Queen?

The app has also done a great job exposing me to new artists, or new songs from older artists- I heard F---k me Pumps from Amy Winehouse for the first time the other day.  I've also never heard much of Duffy before I started listening to this nor the Sheepdogs. I've heard a few songs by The Script, The Muse, and The Wanted...

 

The late, great Amy Winehouse

My perfect music station is indie-rock vibe with dashes of pop, hip-hop and some old classics.  What would your perfect radio station be?

A free suggestion... the next one will cost

I went to the dentist this week.  Something I've tried my best to avoid because of the cost- generally as a self-employed person it comes out of pocket.  And it ranks high on my list of things I don't want to spend time on.

I only went because I had a tooth bothering me, and had a feeling it might have to do with an old injury.  I'd fallen off my bike when I was young and instead of breaking an arm/leg like most other kids do, I broke my two front teeth.  One had a root canal at the time, and I was told that the other would eventually have to have a root canal too (the one that was bother me).  Also a suggestion both teeth would need crowns.  This was the worst-case scenario- one that sent me panicking asking myself: how am I going to pay for this?

The answer obviously is some kind of health/dental benefits.  So going into my dentist appointment I did some research into the possibility.  I compared one policy offered by C.A.A. (Canadian Automobile Association) at a premium of around $113/ month, and talked to a friend who's in the industry, and the bottom line was- when you take into account my income, and the benefits I would get out of it, it wouldn't be worth it.  I could still potentially end up paying hundreds out of pocket.   I'm very lucky; my parents are stepping in and footing  the bill.  If they didn't, I could probably go broke trying to afford the work. 

My friend also admitted to me the fact it's a weakness of the system.  There are no affordable premiums for self-employed people, or for what she called "groups of one."  There have to be thousands of people in Ontario alone that are in a similar position.  Self-employed, but not quite making enough money to afford those insurance premiums.

This brings me to my free suggestion for politicians out there. Self-employment is starting to be a way of life in Canada.  It's time to look for ways to open up the private insurance system.  Maybe give these insurance companies a tax break.  Create an incentive; tell them if they sign on say 7-8 thousand people they get the break. 

Insurance packages should be flexible enough to have just one benefit; you should be able to get just dental or medical.  Maybe in the case of dental benefits the percentage of services covered becomes a loyalty perk.  Stay with us for 3 years we'll cover 20% of restorative, and then increase it from there.  You could limit it to people who are self-employed and who have made less than $10 thousand the previous three years. Maybe they have to show some kind of income statement.

We say we're broke, and we can't afford to spend much on health care. This is one way I think we could save money- maybe millions in the long term.  It's a win-win-win situation.  A win for the insurance companies; they save money and could possibly make some. A win for the self-employed they save money.  And it's a win for the government because they're saving money on health.

Hope you liked it... the next suggestion will cost.