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The opening of my memoir (The Writers Guild of Free Republic)
 
12/28/2024 2:19:27 PM PST · by Ciaphas Cain · 32 replies
Ciaphas Cain
Lazamataz started a Writer's Guild awhile back and last week he shared some of his thoughts about the novel he's writing. In the spirit of the endeavor, and because I'm really eager to hear what others think about it, I'm posting the opening of the memoir (actually more of a full autobiography) that I finished the first draft of last month.Please feel free to post your honest thoughts and opinions about it, no matter how brutal. It's the only way I'm going to improve. Bit of context: this is how the entire book starts. It's in first person just this...
 

Writing is HARD WORK! (The Writers Guild of Free Republic)
 
12/23/2024 8:51:04 AM PST · by Lazamataz · 125 replies
Original Content | 12/23/2024 | By Laz A. Mataz
Merry Christmas, all! I'm finding that the act of writing a novel is very hard work. My writing style tends to be very concise. I can pack a lot of thoughts and ideas into a small number of sentences. This does not work well with my current project. Various sources tell me that 90,000 to 100,000 words is the typical count for a given novel. I'm only at 15,900 words. I have quite a few chapters to go, but it's a struggle to flesh out this work to the right size. I have a first draft manuscript, and if anyone...
 

Your work is too short! (The Writers Guild of Free Republic)
 
11/17/2024 4:50:52 AM PST · by Lazamataz · 96 replies
Original Content | 11/17/2024 | By Laz A. Mataz
I've returned to writing my novel, tentatively titled "Dimensions of Essence". I've gotten somewhat deep into the first act, and I find that my word count is surprisingly low. I tend to be extremely concise. I need to do the opposite of what many authors do... instead of ruthless editing, I need to be more wordy. I asked ChatGPT what the size of the typical sci-fi novel is, and it replied: Science fiction novels typically range between 90,000 and 120,000 words. This length allows for the extensive world-building and complex narratives characteristic of the genre. However, some sci-fi novels can...
 

New York Times Tech Guild Ends Strike
 
11/15/2024 9:01:15 AM PST · by Salman · 8 replies
The New York Times ^ | Nov. 11, 2024 | Katie Robertson
The Times Tech Guild, which represents more than 600 tech workers at The New York Times, announced on Monday that it had ended its weeklong strike despite not reaching a deal on a contract. The union has been on strike since Nov. 4 and has regularly picketed outside The Times’s Manhattan headquarters. The strike was planned to coincide with Election Day, when readership interest is high. The Times Tech Guild workers, which include software developers, designers and data analysts, will return to their jobs on Tuesday. Kathy Zhang, the unit chair of the union and a senior analytics manager at...
 

Unveiling Masterpieces: Explore the International Guild of Realism's Fall Salon Online Exhibition
 
10/11/2024 11:55:34 AM PDT · by Beowulf9 · 24 replies
https://www.americanartcollector.com ^ | October 11 2024 | Me
The International Guild of Realism Fall online show. The paintings are some of the best out there. My painting, Golden Cholla, is in the show.
 

What an Examiner in the Piano Technicians' Guild Taught Me about Piano Manufacture
 
09/23/2024 8:41:03 AM PDT · by CharlesOConnell · 37 replies
apprenticeship | 09-23-2024 | CharlesOconnell
The worst problem, which prevents a piano from being put perfectly in tune across all "notes", is, for explanation purposes, "growling", lack of each string evoking uniform, neutral harmonics, lack of each string being supported by a bridge which is tangential, 90 degrees, able to be repaired by filing the bridge square when restringing. A tuner can only tune each "note" to a certain level of in-tune-ness, but if this "growling" is afflicting a string, it will never sound perfectly in tune, there will always be a vaguely "out-of-tune" tone. You can listen to various classical performances, to hear which...
 

Announcing the "Writers Guild of Free Republic"
 
03/11/2024 5:22:36 PM PDT · by Lazamataz · 168 replies
Original Content | 3/11/2024 | By Laz A. Mataz
Hello everyone! I am forming a ping list/community here, on Free Republic, that is intended to support, encourage, and mentor upcoming writers and connect them with professionals. Please contact me here and ask to be part of this community and its related ping list. WELCOME TO THE
 

Los Angeles Times plans 'significant' layoffs, guild says
 
01/19/2024 8:05:25 PM PST · by 11th_VA · 27 replies
Reuters ^ | Jan 19, 2024
Jan 18 (Reuters) - Los Angeles Times plans to lay off a "significant" number of journalists, the newspaper's guild said on Thursday, adding that they would organize a one-day walk-out on Friday to protest against the planned move. The layoffs could impact at least 100 journalists or about 20% of the newsroom in a move to address the paper's financial pressures, the Los Angeles Times reported separately, citing people familiar with the matter. "The management needs to come to the bargaining table in good faith and work out a buyout plan with us that would first articulate a clear headcount...
 

LA Times Guild Calls Emergency Meeting as Layoffs Loom: ‘This Is the Big One’
 
01/18/2024 5:14:03 PM PST · by Red Badger · 27 replies
The Wrap ^ | January 18, 2024 @ 6:14 AM | Natalie Korach
The newspaper intends to “imminently execute another major round of layoffs,” according to the bargaining committee ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The L.A. Times Guild called an emergency meeting on Thursday after leadership was told that the newspaper intends to “imminently execute another major round of layoffs,” according to a memo. The Bargaining Committee told members that it can’t say exactly how many staffers the company is intending to lay off, however, in the memo obtained by the New York Times, the union says “This is the Big One.” The Times “has asked the Guild to gut seniority protections in our contract so that...
 

Late-Night Shows To Shut Down Immediately After Writers Guild Strike Called
 
05/02/2023 6:07:58 AM PDT · by Red Badger · 52 replies
Deadline ^ | May 1, 2023 | Peter White
The Late Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Tonight Show, Late Night and The Daily Show are all expected to pivot to re-runs. Colbert was set to have Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Chita Rivera on Tuesday’s show, with Chris Hayes, Zach Cherry, Michael J. Fox and Shonda Rhimes lined up for later in the week. Fallon was set with Ken Jeong and Emma Chamberlain on Tuesday, with the likes of Jennifer Lopez, JJ Watt, Elle Fanning and Bowen Yang among guests for later in the week. Kimmel was welcoming Dr. Phil, Gina Rodriguez and The Pixies on Tuesday, with Melissa McCarthy,...
 

Writers Guild Authorizes Strike, Which Could Halt Hollywood Production
 
04/18/2023 2:43:11 AM PDT · by Libloather · 13 replies
LAist ^ | 4/17/23 | John Horn
The Writers Guild of America has voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike against film and television studios and streamers, which gives WGA negotiators licence to launch a work stoppage in the coming weeks. More than 9,000 screenwriters - nearly 98% of those casting ballots - voted to authorize a strike if the WGA cannot reach a new agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and TV producers by May 1. The guild said the balloting set a WGA record for both turnout (nearly 80% of those eligible voted) and support for a possible strike. **SNIP** The AMPTP further said, "Our...
 

COVID Boosters Likely to Be Annual ‘For the Foreseeable Future’: Pharmacy Guild of Australia
 
11/08/2021 9:36:34 PM PST · by SeekAndFind · 25 replies
Epoch Times ^ | 11/09/2021
Australians will need to get COVID booster shots annually “for the foreseeable future” to combat CCP Virus, according to the country’s Pharmacy Guild.Trent Twomey, the president of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia (PGA), warned that people may need to get booster shots every 6 to 12 months to keep more deadly variants at bay.“The question is what booster and what interval we need to get that booster, whether it’s every six, nine or 12 months. Those decisions need to be based on evidence and facts and at the moment that is an evolving space,” he told Nine newspapers.Twomey noted that...
 

Trump resigns from Screen Actors Guild: ‘I no longer wish to be associated with your union’
 
02/04/2021 10:52:08 AM PST · by BlackFemaleArmyColonel · 43 replies
Fox News ^ | 4 Feb 21 | Brooke Singman
EXCLUSIVE: President Trump is resigning from the Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists after they threatened to expel his membership from the union after the Capitol riot -- to which he said, "Who cares!" The former president's letter of resignation Wednesday comes after the SAG-AFTRA board voted "overwhelmingly" that Trump violated the union's membership guidelines in the wake of the Capitol riot. Fox News exclusively obtained the letter sent to SAG President Gabrielle Carteris, slamming the union, the media and news organizations. "I write to you today regarding the so-called Disciplinary Committee hearing aimed at...
 

Guild Mortgage Company to Pay $24.9 Million to Resolve Allegations it Knowingly Caused False Claims for Federal Mortgage insurance
 
10/28/2020 6:13:43 PM PDT · by ransomnote · 1 reply
justice.gov ^ | October 28, 2020 | Department of Justice
Guild Mortgage Company has agreed to pay the United States $24.9 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by knowingly breaching material program requirements when it originated and underwrote mortgages insured by the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Federal Housing Administration (FHA), the Department of Justice announced today. Guild Mortgage Company is headquartered in San Diego, California, with branches across the United States.“Ensuring the integrity of federal lending programs is important to keeping those programs financially sound,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Bossert Clark of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division.  “Together...
 

LIVE: Seattle Protesters Headed to the Police Officer’s Guild in SoDo — Last Time This Happened They Tried To Burn It Down
 
09/07/2020 6:17:23 PM PDT · by wrrock · 32 replies
TG ^ | 9/7/2020 | Evan
In Case You Want to Know The BLM Agenda in Seattle Tonight. They're headed to the Seattle Police Officer's Guild in SoDo. Last time this happened, criminal activists tried to burn it down. A 300+ anti-police March is now underway in Seattle’s International District. Plenty of folks dressed in black bloc and that generally means there will be destruction that city leaders will pretend didn’t happen. WATCH LIVE UPDATES.....
 

Commentary: Antifa’s Most Important Enabler Is Its Legal Arm, the National Lawyers Guild
 
06/02/2020 8:05:53 PM PDT · by MtnClimber · 17 replies
The Tennessee Star ^ | 10 Mar, 2020 | Bradley Betters
Antifa violence will feature prominently in the lead-up to this year’s election. The left-wing movement’s numbers skyrocketed following President Trump’s 2016 victory and campaign staffers for Bernie Sanders have already predicted serious street violence should Trump win again. Same goes for a Sanders primary loss. As another staffer recently predicted, this year’s Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee will be rife with attacks on police; enough, apparently, to make the infamous 1968 convention in Chicago “look like a f—ing Girl Scout f—ing cookout.” With the weight of the Democrat machine now transparently behind former Vice President Joe Biden (who was the...
 

Antifa Attacks! National Lawyer’s Guild Observers Turn Blind Eye
 
08/30/2019 5:27:21 AM PDT · by The Houston Courant · 8 replies
The Houston Courant ^ | November 25, 2018 | M. da Silva
Leftists are all about disparities. When they are not protesting gender gaps, pay gaps, racial disparities, and trans gaps; they are busy advocating policies which ensure these differences become more pronounced. The Justice Gap. Today, that semblance of a two-tiered justice system is starting to take shape in the form of legal precedent and jurisprudence as members of the domestic terror organization, Antifa, receive light to no punishment for felony crimes committed not only in the course of their political activities, but in their personal lives as well. In a startling ruling earlier this year, Eric Clanton aka the “Bike...
 

The Screen Actors Guild's 2019 Health Insurance (No They Don't Have Obamacare)
 
12/26/2018 12:07:24 PM PST · by EdnaMode · 14 replies
SAG AFTRA Health Plan ^
For 2018, the minimum earnings requirement for Plan I eligibility is $33,660 in covered earnings in your base earnings period. For 2019, the minimum earnings requirement will be $34,330. Download a copy of the 2018 Benefits Summary, effective January 1, 2018 and the 2019 Benefits Summary, effective January 1, 2019. Calendar Year Deductible: In-Network Provider: Hospital: The Industry Health Network ‐ $150/person; $300/family BlueCard PPO/Beacon Health Options ‐ $250/person; $500/family Inpatient (Room and Board and Ancillary Services): 90% after $100 copay Outpatient Surgery: 90% after $100 copay Emergency Room: 90% after $100 copay; emergency room copay is waived if immediately...
 

Screen Actors Guild awards ceremony to feature only female presenters (tr)
 
12/13/2017 5:13:53 PM PST · by EdnaMode · 44 replies
Daily Mail ^ | December 13, 2017 | DAILYMAIL.COM REPORTER
The 24th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards will be presented entirely by women. The organizers of the SAGs - one of Holloywood's biggest award shows and usually a strong pre-Oscars indicator - made the announcement on Wednesday. The tribute comes at a time when the entertainment industry has been roiled by a sexual misconduct scandal as well as the struggle for gender equality in front of and behind the camera. Women will present all 13 of the SAG awards at the January 21 dinner in Los Angeles honoring the best of film and television, in a first for the organization,...
 

Writers Guild Awards show gets political
 
02/20/2017 9:46:37 AM PST · by bgill · 14 replies
abc tv kvia ^ | Feb. 20, 2017 | Sandra Gonzalez
A few of the honorees at the Writers Guild of America Awards had strong words for President Donald Trump on Sunday night..."Donald Trump taking Obama's job would be like if the head of linguistics at Rutgers made fun of David Lee Roth, and David Lee Roth was like, 'I'm gonna take his job,'" Oswalt joked, as he mimicked a hit song from the '80s icon. Oswalt was accompanied on stage by two men dressed as "soldiers from armed forces of the Russian Federation." The gag continued all night, with the two uniformed men standing on stage as the evening's honorees...
 
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