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Sunday, May 28, 2006

 
10:05 PM: three dimensions [#] [0]

* not only did the smithsonian agree to give its filmmaking rights to to showtime, it did so for 30 years! even 10 years would seem like a very long time for the shifting television landscape, but it's even worse than that: the smithsonian can only do 6 other television programs outside of showtime each year, which means filmmakers will have to fight to produce anything based on smithsonian holdings -- including its experts. in essence, the smithsonian is renting its archive to showtime for 30 years. compare this to the bbc, which is opening its archives to creators. and this "deal" happened entirely in secret. in fact, much of it is still secret, as the contract is largely confidential. i can't even believe it. i know public-private partnerships are all the rage these days, but this is ridiculous.

* this sounds a deep, dark warning bell inside me somewhere: the southern baptist congregation is voting on a resolution to enable an exit strategy from public schools, primarily due to evolutionary teachings and homosexual influence. they call it an "exodus mandate." this is the third year it's been proposed and the next vote is in june. if it occurs (and even if it doesn't happen this year, i don't see the baptists getting more tolerant next year, or the year after that), i think it will move us one inch closer to the republic of gilead.

* oh, and if you ever get an invite to attend one of omsi's "member only previews," stay away! it's better to go when it's a little less packed and a buffet table w/ a long line isn't taking up most of the space. sven got seduced by the call of robots, though.